Erica must have been more tired than she realized, because when she awakened from her nap, she saw that it was several hours later and getting darker. She smelled a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen and entered it to find Yuri busily cooking meat, chopping potatoes, and whistling a happy tune. He looked at her and grinned.
"You were tired, so I do evening meal today," he explained.
"You're so sweet." She went to him and gave him a hug. He hugged her back and kissed her forehead.
They listened to the Canadian news while they ate dinner. There was extensive coverage of the American-Soviet war. Both sides had suffered many losses, but it was difficult to tell which had the upper hand at the moment.
"I sure do hope Jed and Matt are safe," said Erica.
"They are only family you have left, yes?" asked Yuri.
"My family's gone now, but I'm so close to Jed and Matt that they might as well be my brothers," Erica told him. Suddenly remembering, she put her hand on her slightly rounded abdomen. "Well, not really my whole family. Not anymore," she quickly amended.
Yuri hugged her tightly. "I love you, Erica. When this is all over with, when war ends and there is peace again, I will marry you, and you will have family again. Me and baby will be your family. I make you happy again, dear little Erica."
"You already have," Erica told him.
The second half of Erica's pregnancy went fairly smoothly. She worked at the factory until her legs and feet became so swollen that standing for hours at a time became very uncomfortable. Yuri gave her foot massages, and later, when she began to get backaches, he gave her back rubs as well.
Erica went into labor one evening after Yuri came home from work. She was setting the table for dinner when a contraction doubled her over in pain.
"Baby is coming?" Yuri looked at her with concern.
"I've got time for you to grab a quick bite to eat first," Erica said bravely.
"No. We go to hospital now," Yuri said firmly.
When they got to the hospital, Erica was taken to a room in the labor and delivery department in a wheelchair. Yuri went with her.
"Is this your first child?" the nurse asked. They both nodded.
"How long have you been married?"
Boy, she's nosy, thought Erica.
"Two years," Yuri said without skipping a beat. Erica looked at him in admiration.
"I was married four years before I had my first," the nurse told them. "Everyone kept asking me, When are you going to start a family? When the time is right, I would always tell them. We planned to wait until we could afford it, but we finally decided, if we wait until then, it'll never happen, so I went off the pill, and bang! Along came Christopher. After he was born, I went back on the pill for a couple of years. Then we decided, another one would be nice, so I went off the pill again, and guess what? Along came Jessica! After she was born, I said, well, now I have my boy and my girl, might as well get my tubes tied, so that's what I did."
While she was talking, she'd hooked Erica up to an IV and a fetal monitor.
"Can I have something for pain?" asked Erica.
"Sure," said the nurse, putting some Demerol into her IV. A moment later, Erica was woozy and had an incredibly dry mouth.
"Are you all right, Erica?" asked Yuri.
"I'm so thirsty." Her voice was barely a whisper. Yuri held a cup of ice water to her lips and she took a few swallows. Instantly her mind went back to the time she'd been in the hospital after the bombing of the farm, how Yuri had done the exact same thing.
"Thank you," Erica said gratefully. "That's much better." She closed her eyes and dozed off until the next contraction jarred her awake.
For Erica, it was like that for several more hours, short respites of dozing between contractions, only to be suddenly awakened by intense pain when the next contraction hit. Finally the nurse examined her again.
"You're dilated five centimeters," she said. "You can have an epidural now. I'll go fetch the anesthesiologist."
"Thank God!" Erica sighed. Yuri grinned.
The nurse left and returned a few moments later, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry. All the anesthesiologists are busy right now. There are three other women in labor."
"Oh no!" Erica's eyes widened in panic. "What am I gonna do?"
"I am sure he will be here soon," Yuri said soothingly.
"But it hurts so bad!" Erica groaned.
"It will soon be all over with," Yuri assured her.
The nurse examined Erica again. "You're dilated ten centimeters," she said. "Don't start pushing until the doctor gets here."
"But I have to push!" Erica cried, groaning and bearing down. The nurse, panicking, frantically tried to push Erica's legs together.
"Leave her alone!" Yuri snarled, roughly pushing the nurse away.
"Security!" the nurse screamed.
Erica bore down again, and the baby slid into Yuri's waiting hands.
"Oh, Toni! Toni!" Erica cried, clasping the newborn to her chest and sobbing hysterically.
"The doctor's here now," said the nurse. "Just let us take her weight and vitals, and you can have her right back," she continued, reaching for the baby. Erica continued to sob, shaking her head vigorously.
"Leave her alone!" Yuri said harshly, stepping between Erica and the nurse. "Can't you see she grieve for her sister who die?"
Erica covered the newborn's face with kisses. Then she handed the baby to Yuri, who passed her on to the nurse, then took Erica into his arms. Erica clung to him.
"It was just like she was really here, Yuri," she said. "I know that sounds crazy, but it's true."
"You are very brave woman, Erica." Erica saw that tears were streaming from Yuri's eyes now as well. "I never know anyone, man or woman, as brave as you."
"I feel a lot braver when you're with me, Yuri."
"I always be with you, Erica. Never leave you."
"Please don't let go of me, Yuri."
"Of course I won't."
He held her and stroked her hair until she fell asleep in his arms. Then he gently laid her down on the bed, tucked the covers around her, and held his new daughter as Erica slept.