To Mai Surprise
Disclaimer: I do not own The Nine Lives of Chloe King, nor do I profit from any of my stories.
Warning: This story is rated M and is intended for mature audiences only. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter 22
"Jamie, your Uncle Z said you picked out a name for your sister. What did you have in mind?"
"Mummy said that her Mum's name was Diana. What if the baby was Diana?"
"I like that name. What about a middle name? Your middle name is Kent, after where I was used to live."
"Where did Mummy used to live?"
"In North Carolina, your Mum lived in Eden before you were born."
"When Mummy was playing Hide-'n-Seek?"
I suppressed a chuckle; James really is just too cute.
"Well son, it was something like that. Now go and wake up your Mum."
I feigned sleep as James ran into the room, tackling me down onto the bed.
"Mummy! Mummy! Wake up! Wake up!" James attacked, jumping up and down to punctuate his enthusiasm. "Daddy, she's not waking up? Doesn't she know what today is?"
At four-years-old, he asked more questions than all the AP tests I've ever taken.
"Huh? What time is it…" I mumbled, pretending to wake up, though James incessant planning woke me up hours ago. "Jamie? Baby? Wha..?
"Mummy, I'm not a baby, that's the baby!" He pointed to my stomach, before leaning down against the bed. "Good morning Mummy, good morning sissy." James bent kiss my cheek, and then my stomach.
"Good morning Jamie, what's up?" I struggled to get out of bed. It's been four years, but I still remember how much more difficult moving around is going to get. Only two months to go.
"Okay, okay, let me go potty then I'll go see whatever you've been scheming." I ruffled my son's blonde hair, sending him into Alek's arms with a push. "I love you," I whispered, for Alek's ears only.
Everyone from the Alliance came over. Good thing Alek and I splurged on a bigger house… People kept showing up, leaving their duffle bags and Pak-N-Plays in our spare bedrooms.
Isaiah, his little sister Deven, and the happily married Paige and Arun. After giving birth to Devi, since she had a C-section, Paige decided on a hysterectomy. Apparently two children are enough.
Amy and Paul, engaged. Finally, it took them long enough…
Kai, and his wife Rose, live downtown. Rose, originally human, turned Jackal when she 'mated' with Kai. Their son, Oliver, just turned two.
Rajiv and Mitchell, happily and irritably married, respectively. They now live in Seattle, but have flown down for the special occasion.
Meredith, and her new husband John, were in charge of the decorating.
Brian and Mimi, with Chance, their son, flew over from Vegas last night.
Lana, now a fashion designer in Los Angeles, decided to drag her husband to the event as well.
Jasmine and Zane arrived shortly after, accompanied with their toddling daughter Valentina, named after her late grandmother.
Alek and Z's grandmother, the infamous Babushka, didn't live to see her great-grandson.
I pushed those thoughts away. The death of Aunt Val and Babushka will always weigh heavily on my heart, but the past four years have all but erased the guilt. The five months I had to spend in hiding made me realize exactly how much we take for granted.
Seven months ago, I found out I was pregnant again. Apparently Alek only wanted his first child to be a boy so that James could protect his little sisters. I know when Diana is born, she will be her daddy's baby forever.
Nine months ago, I finished attending the City College of San Francisco, earning my Associates degree in Early Childhood Development.
Eighteen months ago, Alek and I moved out of our rental apartment in Jasmine and Aunt Val's building. We bought a beautiful forty-square-foot, five bedrooms and four bath, secure house, complete with a 'Taurus' surveillance system, indoor pool, home office aka 'headquarters,' and a playground in the back yard.
Three years ago, I graduated high school with the rest of my class.
Four years ago, word got out that the Order had been officially shut down. All members were terminated; those who cooperated were sentenced to life in prison, for their crimes against humanity, by their country's respective government. I was allowed back in San Fran only three weeks before James was born.
Four years ago, my Aunt Valentina was assassinated by the Order. My grandmother-in-law was tortured for weeks before she died. Babushka never revealed my location. Their deaths lead to the United States FBI's interest in the Order.
Five years ago, I gave birth to James Kent Petrov, my darling angle. His first word was 'Daddy!' so he will probably always be Alek's 'little protégé.' He is super shy around strangers, but when he feels threatened, little Jamie curses just as much as his father does.
Five years ago, I married the man of my dreams, my soul mate, my best friend, the Uniter.
Seven years ago, I met Aleksander Benjamin Petrov for the first time, when he smirked at me in the halls, my freshman year of high school.
Eight years ago, I started my transformation, my Mai senses finally reaching maturity.
Twelve years ago, I came to the United States to live with Aunt Valentina and Jasmine.
Thirteen years ago, my parents were murdered by the Order.
Twenty-one years ago, I was born in Yalta, Ukraine.
"Chloe, get your arse over here! We have candles that need… blowing."
"Daddy, language!" Oh James….
Today, I am twenty-one years young, surrounded by loving family and friends.
"Mummy! Hurry! The cake's on fire!"
Twenty-one, and I can't even drink.
Joy…
This fic is finished! But the story is not over, I promise. I am planning on writing plenty of stand-alone fics that will mesh with this perfectly. For example, Chloe's days in hiding, when James was born, as well as James and Diana as they grow up.
As always, feedback is wonderful! If you would like to read more, keep checking back on my profile page, or review/PM demanding more!