THE COMMUTE
by MAMBFF
Disclaimer: The rights to "Vampire Academy" belong to Richelle Mead.
Author's Note: I usually would have had 1, if not 2 more chapters since the last.
I've been struggling with writer's block, which is never easy.
Thanks for your patience.
Chapter Eleven
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
Sleep was not coming easy to me. I was wide awake, running my hand through Roza's curls, so thankful she was right here with me. It was comfort I needed, to touch her in some way. Without disturbing her sleep, playing with her hair seemed the safest option. When she and my family were first kidnapped, it felt like there was a hole in my chest. The thought of losing my family, my Roza, it left a pain in my soul and in my heart.
Watching Roza sleep peacefully had not entirely eased that ache in my chest either. I know she was safe here in my arms, cuddled up next to me. But just the thought that I could have lost her forever, it really scared me.
It was that fear that led to my asinine proposal the night before. I'd managed to slip the ring back off of her finger about an hour after she had completely succumbed to sleep last night, and placed it in the box in my bedside table. I knew I needed to plan that better. The first step would be to make sure she's fully conscious.
As quietly as possible, I slipped from the bed, trying not to disturb her. I was getting fidgety and she needed her sleep. The exhaustion from the whole ordeal had gotten to her. It had gotten to all of us. But I was wide awake, going over my lame attempt at a proposal once more. "What was I thinking, asking her to marry me when she was practically asleep." I grumbled under my breath as I slowly made my way downstairs, careful of my leg. My shoulder wasn't too bad and I could lift it to chest level without too much pain.
Karolina was sound asleep on the couch, so I was making sure to be extra quiet. It was still rather early, barely 6:30AM and everyone had had an exhaustive and emotional day yesterday.
The coffee was percolating and I'd just pulled a mug from the cupboard when I heard the tell-tale sounds of the pitter patter of little feet. I smiled to myself as I slowly turned to see Katya, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her little fists. Her hair was a nest of tangles on top of her head.
"Unka?" She murmured, still half-asleep.
"Good morning." I grinned as she toddled over, raising her arms in a signal to be picked up. Being careful of my shoulder, I used both hands to lift her and hefted her to my uninjured side. "Did you have a good sleep?" I asked as she tucked her head into my shoulder, her little hands playing with my hair.
She nodded mutely in reply, before letting out a big yawn. "Blini for breakfast?" I smiled once more. Her adorable tiredness and cuddly nature were sweet.
"Yes, pease." She nodded, slowly waking a little more.
~VA TC VA~
Rose
Rolling over, I reached for Dimitri to find the bed empty, and cool to the touch. He'd been up for a while it seemed. Stretching my arms, I climbed from the bed and pulled on one of Dimitri's sweatshirts for warmth before I headed down to the kitchen.
Katya's giggles echoed towards the stairs and I smiled to myself as I peeked in on Dimitri and his niece as they made breakfast together. Karolina was seated at the island, a cup of tea in front of her as she watched her brother and niece.
"Auntie!" Katya squealed when she spotted me.
"Shhh…." Dimitri hushed. "People are still sleeping." He explained, smiling at me while ruffling her tangled mess of hair.
Karolina retrieved a hair brush and proceeded to make it a bit more presentable, pulling it up off of Katya's face so she could see better as I got myself a cup of coffee. Dimitri leaned down to kiss me sweetly as he added to the growing stack of blini.
Slowly, as everyone woke and gathered around the kitchen, breakfast was served among mild chit chat and excited giggles as Paul and Katya played with their food, more than actually eating it.
If anyone had walked in on that moment, it would have likely looked like a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting.
That was seven weeks ago. When we were all just thankful to have escaped the farm and grateful that Dimitri's injuries were not life threatening.
He was practically all healed up now, and was enjoying helping his sisters whenever they needed him. I think he really missed being needed by them and would often head over after work or after dinner to help with whatever they needed.
Mostly, it was small jobs around their house like little repairs to a cupboard door or hinge, and it was nice to see them reconnecting after so many years under Randall's thumb. When we'd both go over to their house after work sometimes, he'd fix one or two things, and we'd have dinner with them, before heading home.
Then came Christmas, which was a boisterous affair. The attention was mostly on the kids and the mountains of gifts they received.
The smile on Dimitri's face was infectious and I loved seeing him so happy. Although, this is where the 'but' comes in… But… things had been different in a way I had not expected.
We did Christmas Eve with my parents, but that was simple. A nice dinner, and some gifts exchanged. Christmas day, Dimitri's sisters and their kids came to our house. It was that day that I noticed a change in Sonya. She was abrupt with me and seemed to avoid me most of the day.
I don't know if there was one event or situation that led to this, but for some reason, Sonya's behaviour was becoming increasingly unfriendly towards me. She was careful about not acting rude when Dimitri was in the room, but for some reason, she'd started to make snide comments to me on each new visit. Some about me leeching off of him, or I was just getting in the way, or her favourite line to spout at me, that I was keeping him on a leash.
She was especially cruel if I showed up with him to their house while he did the small jobs or repairs. He felt bad about leaving me and was insistent that I was more than welcome to come with him. Maybe to Dimitri I was welcome, even Karolina and Viktoria seemed genuinely happy to see me, but it was clear Sonya had a problem. The worst part of it was how she'd act like it was just a joke.
Last night after work, for example, Dimitri responded to another message asking for help fixing the gate to their backyard. We arrived just as they were finishing dinner and her little quip was, 'Rose, my goodness, you can't even let him come by for an hour without you! Let him off that leash why don't you!' She'd taunt, then laugh.
There was no reason behind this behaviour that I could make sense of, and I didn't want to feel like a tattle-tale, running to Dimitri and complaining about it. So, I kept quiet, and just hoped that whatever the issue was, it would pass. When Karolina or Viktoria heard it, or witnessed it, they didn't say anything. Although, I would notice the odd glances from time to time that felt like they were sympathetic but were they themselves clueless to this insensitive behaviour.
Now, in the second week of the new year, Karolina was almost a week late in her delivery date for her pregnancy and we were all anxious for her. If she didn't deliver by this coming Sunday, then her doctor advised to look at planning a caesarean for that following Monday morning.
Friday was drawing to a close and work today had been the usual. But my mind continued to overthink these things while I prepared our dinner.
"Roza?" I heard him call, as I washed my hands from marinating our steaks.
"In here!" I hollered in reply, drying my hands on a dish towel as he came into the room from the basement where he'd retreated for a work out when we got home.
"Hey, I'm going to go grab a shower." He informed, wiping the sweat from his brow with the small towel in his hands.
"Okay." I smiled. "Dinner will be ready when you come back down." I nodded.
I watched him jog to the stairs, feeling a little sad for some reason. There wasn't tension between us necessarily, but I could feel this kind of separation happening and I didn't like it. It didn't help that for almost a month, it wasn't safe for Dimitri's leg for us to engage in sexual activity, so we'd been having a bit of dry spell.
That doesn't mean we were left wanting. A couple times, I'd helped him along with my hands or mouth, but anything more than that could pull at the wound in his leg. He'd reciprocate with his hands, and while we both had a release, it wasn't the same intimacy we were craving, needing.
Losing that tenderness and affection that we were so accustomed to had left a small wedge in its place. I needed to feel closer to him, especially now that he'd been cleared by the doctor to resume said sexual activities. We'd go to bed early for that very reason, but every time we tried to, his phone would blow up with a new message, usually from Sonya. Of course, she always needed him 'right away', and 'no', it couldn't wait. Not wanting to disappoint his sister, he'd go over, with my urging. Eventually he would crawl into bed, well after midnight, tugging me into his arms and always later than even he expected.
When Dimitri came back downstairs, ten minutes later, I plated our dinner and met him at the table. He reached for my hand before I could sit down and cupped my cheek in his hand affectionately.
"Come here." He murmured, tugging me into his arms and hugging me fiercely. "I love you, Roza. You know, that right?" He asked for confirmation.
"I know, of course I know. I love you, too." I smiled, but it wasn't a full-on genuine smile. It felt like he could tell something was on my mind, but I tried to smile through it.
"Do you though?" He asked in all seriousness. "Do you really know; how much I love you?"
"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.
That's when the surprise became evident on my face as he got down on one knee.
"Dimitri!"
He smiled nervously. "I should have done this over a month and a half ago." He confessed.
My hands were shaking slightly as he pulled a box from his pocket and held it up in front of me after opening the lid. My eyes were on the ring before my gaze moved to his. "Roza, when I met you it's like everything in my life finally made sense." He began as I tried not to cry. "You're the one I've been waiting for and I don't want one more day to pass without knowing that you'll be mine, for always." He paused, pulling the ring from the box and taking my left hand in his.
"You are everything I never knew I needed and I will always, always want you, Roza. Will you marry me?"
I'd never seen him look so vulnerable as the tears in my eyes, mirrored his own. "YES! Of course, I will, Comrade." I grinned. With a trembling hand, he slid the ring onto my finger before standing and lifting me into his arms.
Winding my arms around his shoulders, I pressed my lips to his, happier than I'd ever been. We were lost in our own little bubble for a short while as our lips touched and hands caressed. When he set me back down, he ran his thumbs across my cheeks, brushing away the tears of happiness.
"I love you, my Roza." He murmured with on last kiss.
"I love you, too." I beamed.
When we finally sat down to a lukewarm dinner, he pulled my place setting over so we were seated side by side instead of across from one another. Dimitri couldn't seem to stop running his fingers across mine, and over the ring that was now there. Leaning over, he kept kissing me periodically with added murmurs of 'I love you'. To be fair, I couldn't stop touching him either, and even giggled when he leaned down to rub his nose against mine affectionately.
We ate in relative silence, both with big stupid grins on our faces as we tried to conceal our glances at one another. When Dimitri finished, he pushed his plate to the side before resting his elbow on the table and his cheek on his hand. "You, know, I kind of proposed the night we got home, after you escaped the farm." He admitted. "But you fell asleep on me." He smiled, reaching over and pinching my cheek lovingly, before lifting my hand and kissing the ring…again.
"I knew it!" I murmured, almost inaudibly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I just, I thought I was having a dream, so when I woke up and didn't see a ring, I figured it was my imagination." I admitted shyly. "It made me kind of sad actually, it had felt so real."
"I'm so sorry, milaya."
"For what?"
"That I proposed when you were practically asleep." He smiled. "And that it took me so long to do it properly."
"The point, Comrade, is that you did it." I beamed.
"That's the smile I've been missing." He grinned, leaning over and kissing me sweetly.
"Where did you get this ring? It's beautiful." I questioned.
"It was my babushka's. She left it to me." He stated. "Karo gave it to me the same night I proposed when you were apparently already asleep." He laughed jokingly at his failed proposal again. "Do you like it?"
"No, I love it." I smiled, leaning over to kiss him again.
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
Friday was dragging and I couldn't wait to get home. I loved my sisters and was enjoying finally reconnecting with them the past seven weeks. But there was something going on that I couldn't put my finger on. Roza was definitely acting a bit different when we were at the house, and I didn't know why.
There was no problem for me, helping around the house with little things, I kind of enjoyed it. Roza didn't have any hesitations either and always encouraged me to spend time with my sisters. The issue had actually become more about how often Sonya was messaging or calling though. It was practically every other night now and it was starting to irritate.
It would make me feel guilty because I felt I would be disappointing them, but I also needed to be able to say 'no' sometimes, and try to schedule a better time to come by. It was clear that there was also some kind of disconnect happening with me and Roza, and I couldn't figure out how to fix it or why it was happening at all.
I had my suspicions of course. With my leg on the mend for the past month, we weren't able to be sexually active much, per the doctors' orders and there's a certain amount of comfort in that intimacy that we both needed from one another. I missed her in that way so much.
Glancing up, I noticed her leave her office to chat with Sydney before heading back inside. My phone pinged next to me and once again it was Sonya with another project, she needed help with. This was the moment I knew I needed to set some boundaries.
It was a work day and she knew I could be busy, so I didn't respond right away. She could wait for now. When fifteen minutes passed, I finally replied that tonight wouldn't work for me. It would have to wait until Saturday.
Sonya was bothered by my reply, but what got me, was the callousness in her retort.
Dimitri: I can't tonight, too busy. Earliest I can try to do is Saturday.
Sonya: Rose won't let you off the leash? Figures. Let me know when you're allowed.
This comment really bothered me and I didn't know why Sonya would say something like that. Roza doesn't keep me from my family, in fact Roza is a part of the family and deserves a hell of a lot more respect than that. Especially considering if it weren't for Roza's actions on the farm when they were taken hostage, who's to say what could have happened to them.
I was upset with Sonya now and needed to work off some of that frustration. I'd resolved to do something that night that I kept putting off. Things were about to change, in a big way.
Roza was quiet on the way home, not unusually so, but that slight disconnect I'd mentioned felt like it was getting bigger. I couldn't keep my hands to myself and made sure to hold her hand, or keep my arm around her on the train. It was simply about showing her some kind of affection, so she knew I was aware of where she was, always. Traffic wasn't too bad as we drove the ten minutes to the house, her hand clasped in mine over the centre console.
"What do you feel like for dinner?" She asked, once we'd locked the front door and slipped off our shoes.
"I think there are some fresh steaks in the fridge. Baked potato and vegetables?" I offered in suggestion.
"Sounds good. I'm going to shower and change, then I'll get it started."
"I'll be in the basement; I need a run." I stated, tugging her hand so she'd face me before kissing her and cupping her cheek. "I love you." I smiled.
She returned the sentiment but there was something in her expression. Roza wasn't the same as she usually was and while she did smile, it didn't reach her eyes. It made me sad. I could just chalk it up to her being tired from work, but that didn't feel right. Not at all.
After seeing that response from Sonya earlier this afternoon, I wanted to know if there was something, I wasn't aware of that could explain why Roza might not be quite herself, more so than usual.
Changing into some workout pants and a muscle shirt, I headed to the basement and started a slow jog on the treadmill before putting in my ear pods and calling Viktoria. Out of all three of my sisters, if I could count on true honesty, it would be Vik who shared, and bluntly.
It pained me a little when she confirmed that Sonya had been being curt with Rose, and she had no idea why. But knowing Viktoria, she had an opinion, or at least a suspicion of an idea.
"What are you not telling me, Vik?"
"Karo told us how she gave you babushka's ring." She started.
"Yes, I have it." I acknowledged as I upped my pace on the treadmill. "You think Sonya is bothered by that?"
"No, not that you have the ring. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that maybe she thinks you've proposed and Rose, said no."
"You think she's upset about something that hasn't even happened?" I asked in irritation. Not to mention that one little proposal when Roza was asleep.
"Maybe. I can't be sure. But I do know, it started three weeks ago, after Karo told us about the ring."
"That doesn't explain her comment to me today." I replied before sharing the exchange with Sonya.
"You've never not come over when she's asked, and Karo and I both have asked her to stop calling you over so often. It's not just about spending time with you, Dimka, it's not fair to interrupt your weekly routine so much or your time with Roza." Vik prattled on.
"I like helping out, spending time with all of you, and to be clear, Roza has never asked me not to come over. In fact, she's the one who urges me to when I think I should decline and set another time."
"Roza hasn't done anything wrong, Dimka. I just don't know why Sonya's being so rude."
"When was the last time Sonya was, -" Viktoria interrupted before I could finish.
"A bitch?" She laughed sarcastically. "The other night when you two came over after work." Viktoria confirmed.
"Do you know what she said to Roza?"
"Sonya acted like she was joking, but she definitely wasn't." Viktoria shared. "In a snarky tone, she looked at Roza and said something like, 'Rose, you can't even let him come by for an hour without you! Let him off the leash!', then she laughed and Roza just kept quiet, but looked a little sad too." She explained.
"And you and Karo both have no idea why she's saying this kind of stuff to her?"
"No, I mean I have suspicions, but nothing makes sense." Vik added.
"What is it?" I pressed; I could tell there was something else Vik wanted to say.
"Well, there's also the possibility that if she believes a proposal was declined, Sonya might think that Roza is holding onto you, but won't marry you." She stated. "I thought that might explain her comment about 'keeping you on a leash'."
I thought about her words and while it might make sense to Sonya, it was no reason for her behaviour. "Sonya's opinions aside, that's no reason to treat Roza like she has."
"I agree."
"I'm not happy about not knowing about this, Vik." I confessed.
"I didn't know how to tell you, mostly because it seems to have come out of nowhere. It still doesn't make any sense to me. Roza doesn't deserve this, not at all." She paused. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Dimka."
"It's okay, I get it. You were trying to figure it out yourself."
"Wait, does that mean Roza hasn't told you about any of the comments Sonya has said to her?"
"No."
"Oh, I didn't know that."
"Yeah. Thanks Vik. I better go. I have something I need to do." I explained before ending our call and going full force in my run for a good ten minutes before doing a cool down and heading back upstairs.
~VA TC VA~
Rose
Once we finished dinner, we quickly washed up the dishes, and headed to the living room where we cuddled up on the couch. Neither one of us moved to turn on the television, we just cuddled together, enjoying the simple intimacy of one another's embrace.
We were laying on our sides, my back to his chest. "I wanted to ask you about something." Dimitri stated, running his hand through my hair and gently massaging my hip as he trailed his hand down before pressing his palm into my abdomen, keeping me snuggled against him.
"Sure." I replied, turning to face him. "Lay it on me." I smiled.
"When did Sonya start treating you so rudely?"
"How did you, never mind. It's nothing." I tried to brush off.
"Roza, it's not nothing. Not to me. I won't stand for her treating you unkindly. You've done nothing to deserve it." He comforted, tugging me closer and kissing my forehead as I snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"It's her problem. Not mine." I grumbled. I felt his chest rumble lightly with a laugh and I smiled.
"It is her problem. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to be talking to her about it." He paused. "How come you didn't tell me, milaya?"
"I didn't want to cause trouble by complaining." I explained with a meek shrug of my shoulders. "How did you find out?" I asked, pulling back to look up at him.
"She texted me this afternoon. Another project at the house." He explained. "I told her I was busy; it would have to wait and she said something that bothered me." He added, sharing the text from her he'd received.
"Yeah, she says that lot. The other night included. I don't know why." I admitted.
"I'm going to be talking to her about it. I will not allow her mistreatment of you to continue." He reaffirmed.
"Comrade, can we not talk about her anymore?" I smirked, looking up at him and kissing the underside of his jaw.
"Well, what would you like to talk about?" He grinned, rubbing his nose against mine adoringly.
"Actually, there was something that I thought might be better than talking." I flirted. "I wanted to take my fiancé to bed." I teased, running my hand over the front of his pants, stroking him through the fabric.
"Fuck, yes." He agreed, managing to lift himself and me off the couch in one fell swoop, causing me to burst into laughter as he jogged up the stairs.
"Wait!" I called when he reached the top.
"What?" He asked, setting me down as I giggled at the look on his face.
"We have to make sure everything is locked up downstairs first." I snickered when he realized I was right.
Dimitri raced back downstairs and did his usual check, while I stripped and climbed into our bed, keeping the sheets and comforter pulled back for him to join me.
He was back a few minutes later, and stripped while he sauntered closer to the bed. Crawling over me, I opened my legs so he could settle himself between them.
"I've missed this." I murmured, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his hips as he teased my entrance with his fingers, testing my readiness.
"Me too, milaya. So goddamn much." He agreed. "I know my leg was part of the reason we've been a bit disconnected lately, but I needed you so much. I always will." He confessed, pulling my arm down to kiss the ring one more time.
"I love you, Dimitri. Always."
"I love you, my Roza." He replied, pressing his lips to mine as he entered me slowly.
Moaning at the feeling of him, my hips arched up to meet his. His thrusts were slow and long as he cradled me against him, his lips never leaving mine for long. When they did, he gazed at me with such reverence and love.
Brushing my hand through his hair, his hips bucked faster. "Harder." I cried, my hands trailing down his back as he rolled us, so now I was on top.
"Ride me, take what you need." He pleaded, his hands on my hips to guide me.
I could feel his eyes traversing my body and settling on my breasts as my pace quickened, causing them to bounce more. Raising a hand, he cupped a breast, and gently massaged, while pinching at my nipple. A few moments later he sat up, and pulled me tight against him, kissing the tops of my breasts while one hand pinched and plucked at the other nipple.
"Dimitri, I'm so close." I panted, pressing myself even closer to him.
"Come for me, Roza." He urged, gripping my hips and pushing and pulling me over him. He watched my face as I rode him, the moans and pants of pleasure erupting from me in small gasps as he fastened his lips to my neck before trailing them down to my chest where he suckled a nipple, flicking at it with his tongue.
"Yes, yes, yes." I cried, as my back arched, the orgasm rippling through me.
Dimitri rolled us once more and raised my legs higher around his waist as he quickened his pace, thrusting into me desperately. My eyes held his gaze as he leaned closer to press his lips to mine.
"You feel so good." I moaned, raising my hips to meet his, thrust for thrust.
A few moments later, I felt his hips still as he spilled into me. Reaching a hand down, I felt him rubbing at my clit, helping to bring me to a second release. I came moments later and pulled him against me, needing to feel him close.
"Don't pull away yet." I asked as he turned us on our sides, keeping me close, so he wouldn't crush me.
"I love you, soon to be Mrs. Belikov." He grinned adorably.
"I love you too, my fiancé."
"My fiancée." He smirked in reply before we reluctantly climbed from the bed to clean up before getting some much-needed sleep.
Around 3:00AM I woke with the need to use the bathroom. Quietly slipping from the bed, I did my business and was about to crawl back in next to him, when Dimitri's arm moved back and forth a couple times. I giggled, because he was reaching out for me.
"Roza?" He murmured tiredly, turning his head.
"Right here." I replied, slipping back into his arms.
"I missed you." He mumbled as I curled up next to him.
"I was gone for three minutes, Comrade. I had to pee." I laughed.
"Still too long." He joked, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
Two hours later, I jerked awake at the sound of a shrill ringing from a phone.
"Shit," I heard Dimitri murmur, as he gently released me from his embrace and sat up grabbing his phone from the bedside table. "Yes?" He answered.
It was a one-sided conversation, and I moved closer, running my hand along his back. Turning, he reached for my hand and brought it up to kiss the ring that glinted slightly at the light from his phone.
"We'll be there soon." He finished, ending the call.
"Is everything okay?" I asked in concern.
"Karo's in labour." He announced, standing from the bed and heading to the closet. "We'll meet them at the hospital." He added, tugging on some jeans before heading to his dresser.
"Oh, okay." I smiled weakly. There was a knot in my stomach at the feeling like our bubble had just burst.
"Roza?" He asked, crawling onto the bed. "You're coming with me. Aren't you?" He pressed, brushing my hair off my face.
"Are you sure I should? I mean Sonya, -" He cut me off.
"You're coming. Sonya will get an earful if she tries to say anything hurtful to you." He relayed, kissing me assuredly. "You're going to be my wife. You are a part of me, if she doesn't like it, too bad." He added.
"Okay." I nodded. "Your wife, I like the sound of that, Comrade." I giggled, leaning up to kiss his jaw.
"Come on, wifey" He urged with a smile, gently tugging my hand so I would climb from the bed.
Dressed in yoga pants, one of Dimitri's hoodies, and my hair piled on my head in a ragged mess, we climbed into the truck and headed to the hospital.
When we arrived, we followed the signs and headed to the right floor and met up with Viktoria and Sonya. Katya and Paul were sound asleep, laid out on a couple chairs nearby while we settled in the waiting room.
Dimitri held my hand firmly in his grip, keeping me close. Almost protectively. I was still tired, and rested my head against his shoulder as we took a seat, but I tried not to fall asleep as Viktoria filled him in on what they knew.
"She's five centimetres dilated. That's the last news we heard about twenty minutes ago." Viktoria relayed.
"When did her water break?" I asked.
"Around midnight." Viktoria informed. Sonya was being quiet, but I could feel her watching me and I kept my eyes down, looking at Dimitri's firm hand holding mine as his thumb rubbed against the inner band of the ring on my finger.
"Is someone updating us regularly?" Dimitri enquired.
"The nurse is trying too, but she's also busy." Viktoria replied.
"She wants you in the room with her." Sonya finally spoke up, looking at Dimitri. "Alone." She added for emphasis, while glaring at me.
"Why are you just telling me this now!? I could have been in there already." Dimitri replied angrily, but keeping his voice low, so as not to wake the children.
"Well, you've been attached since you arrived. On a leash, so to speak." Sonya replied rudely.
"Sonya, stop attacking Roza with your rude comments." He growled angrily in a hushed whisper before he switched to Russian. He released my hand to lean forward and get a little more in her face.
I couldn't understand what he was saying by this point, but Sonya looked rightfully chastised and Viktoria had a huge smile on her face. I looked at her cluelessly, asking for some kind of idea of what was being said.
"Milaya?" Dimitri murmured, turning to me. "I'm going to find the doctor, will you come with me?" He asked. I nodded in reply and we quietly excused ourselves.
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
After giving Sonya a piece of my mind, I reminded her that her cruelty to Roza was unacceptable, and if she wanted to remain in my life, she'd smarten up. Not to mention, how would she explain to her daughter why Uncle Dimitri wasn't coming by as often. The truth would be because her mother was treating Auntie Roza like shit. But you can't tell a child that.
I pressed her for a reason to her cruelty and she either didn't have one or just didn't want to share her motivations for her actions. But that didn't matter. I was done with being mistreated by anyone, and I was not going to stand for Roza being disrespected, especially not by my own family when there was no basis for it. There was an intense feeling of protection when it came to Roza.
With her hand still firmly in mine, we headed to the nurse's station where I gave my name and asked for an update on Karolina.
"Oh! Mr. Belikov, your sister has been waiting on you." The nurse replied. "Please, follow me." She instructed. I felt Roza, clasp her other hand around ours nervously.
"Dimka!" Karolina called in excitement when we were led into her room. "Roza! I'm so glad you're both here." She smiled, adjusting her position to be more comfortable.
"Sonya said you wanted me in the delivery room with you." I stated as I leaned down to hug her carefully, before kissing her cheek.
"I do, please say you will, you both will. I'm tired of Sonya's behaviour right now." She relayed, shaking her head, as the nurse helped her breathe through a somewhat short contraction.
Looking to Roza I reached out my hand for her to place hers in mine and raised them. "I thought I'd share some good news." I grinned, showing Karo the ring on her hand.
"FINALLY! You are a slow one, little brother." Karolina teased.
"Congratulations." The nurse commented, as she passed by us before turning back to Karolina. "I'm going to fetch the doctor, you're almost fully dilated, and if you're going to be joining her in delivery, you need scrubs." She added.
"Roza can come too." Karolina interjected, causing the nurse to pause before leaving.
"I couldn't." Roza tried to protest.
"Of course, you can! You are the woman my brother is going to spend the rest of his life with. YOU are the reason he's here right now back with his family. You found a way to bring him home to us, Roza." Karolina cried, reaching out a hand. Roza stepped forward and took it and I watched as they both cried. "You saved us from God knows what at that farm. Please." Karo pleaded. "Sonya is being a bitch to you, and she needs to know her actions have consequences."
"What about Viktoria? Wouldn't you rather have her here with you?" Roza suggested.
"I asked her, she'd prefer not to see so much of me." Karolina laughed.
"Fair enough." Roza complied.
After convincing Roza to join her and both drying their tears, the nurse handed us each a set of scrubs, and directed us where to change before leaving to fetch the doctor.
We were directed to the delivery room where Karolina was just wheeled into.
"Comrade," Roza called as she stood to the side. "You're not going to want to stand there." She informed, grinning at me mischievously.
"Why not?" I asked, perplexed. Looking around the room. I was out of the way after all.
"You seriously want to have a full view of your sister's vagina while a baby's head starts coming out." She relayed and I think I almost threw up in my mouth a little.
"Point taken." I shuddered, moving to stand closer to Karo's head. "No offense, Karo, I don't need to see that part of you. No matter how close we might be." I smiled.
"Nice, Roza. Scaring him like that. What about when it's your turn." Karolina teased.
"That's totally different." Roza replied. "He likes to see mine, regularly." She chortled, making me smile.
"That's true." I nodded, as another contraction hit and I held Karolina's hand, helping her to breathe through it.
"Even if our baby's head distorts it for a few weeks." She laughed, looking at me for a reaction.
"It goes back right?" I asked. "I mean this is Karo's second, so it has to." I added.
"Yes, Comrade, it just takes a few weeks." Roza laughed.
Winking at Roza, I smiled at her knowingly. I wasn't that dense, even if they thought I was. I knew that women healed up after birth, but I liked to see the bonding happening with my sister and future wife.
"Ms. Belikov." The doctor announced upon entry.
"Dr. Olendski?" I questioned in surprise.
"Mr. Belikov, what a surprise. Is this your wife?" She asked, gesturing towards Karolina.
"No, no, my sister." I explained. "Rose is my fiancée." I gestured as Roza waved shyly.
"Well, congratulations, Uncle!" She smiled kindly as the nurse handed her a pair of gloves. "And new auntie!" She added with a polite grin.
Dr. Olendzki was the doctor who attended to myself, Roza and the rest of our family after our kidnapping including the farm and hostage situations. I didn't realize she was also an obstetrician. She explained that they can often be short staffed, like on that particular evening, and she offered to check in with other patients to help things along. Another doctor had done my surgery to remove the bullet, but she was very capable in reading his notes and answering any questions about my condition at the time.
"Okay, Karolina, when I tell you to, you push. Okay?"
Karolina nodded emphatically as she panted, breathing through another contraction.
Forty-five minutes later, we all had tears running down our cheeks at the glorious sound of wailing cries from the newest member of our family.
"Congratulations, mom. You have a beautiful baby girl!" Dr. Olendzki announced, placing her on Karo's chest.
"Uncle or Auntie, who wants to cut the umbilical cord?" The nursed questioned, readying the scissors.
"You do it." I stated, nodding at the nurse who handed the scissors to Roza. When the time came. I'd be cutting the cord for our own child.
"She's so beautiful. And my goodness, tiny. She's going to look like the size of a grape in her Uncle's hands." She teased, causing everyone to laugh.
The nurse instructed her where to cut the cord and she adorably stuck her tongue out in concentration as she did so.
"Good job, auntie." The nurse complimented. "Mom, we're going to get her cleaned up. Take her measurements." She added, carefully lifting the new little bundle off her chest.
The nurse informed us that Karolina would need a bit more tending to as she passed the afterbirth before cleaning her up. Then she'd be back in her room in about a half hour to forty-five minutes.
"Roza? Will you go tell the others?" Karolina asked.
"Sure." She smiled, and it was nice to see it actually reach her eyes this time.
"You did amazing." I stated, using the cool cloth provided to wipe along her hairline. She was in a sweat and needed a little relief.
"I wanted to talk to you while Roza was out of the room." She stated, signalling for me to move.
"Of course." I replied, edging around the bed to stand more in her line of vision.
"I have a pretty good idea why Sonya is being so rude to Roza."
~VA TC VA~
Rose
There was a 'pep-talk' happening in my head as I headed down to the waiting room to let everyone know that Karolina had done amazing and they had a new family member. I tried to act like Sonya's comments were not a bother to me, but in reality, they were. I couldn't fathom what I could have possibly done to warrant her attitude but I knew it was important to act like it wasn't getting to me.
If I reacted to her words, it could just make things worse. As I rounded the corner, the waiting room in view, I could see Katya toddling around with a small toy clutched in her hands. Paul was sitting next to his aunt Viktoria and Sonya and Viktoria seemed to be having words, even if they were in hushed tones.
"Auntie!" Katya called loudly, getting everyone's attention.
"Hi sweetheart! Auntie Karolina wanted you all to know that you have a new healthy cousin and niece, and most importantly a little sister." I smiled, although strained, while glancing at Paul and keeping an eye on Sonya in my peripheral vision.
Katya started bouncing up and down excitedly and Paul smiled shyly, a blush forming on his cheeks at the attention.
"I'd rather get the news from the people in the delivery room, thanks." Sonya shrugged irritably, crossing her arms over her chest like a petulant child. She must think I was wearing these scrubs for fun.
Viktoria looked at me, shaking her head at Sonya's comment, and I smirked at her before replying. "Well, rest assured Sonya. You just did hear it from someone who was in the delivery room." I stated with a little attitude of my own before turning to Viktoria once more. "She'll be back in her room in a little while. The nurse will let us know when we can visit." I added before turning to walk away.
A final glance at Sonya showed the bothered look on her face. Her lips were tight, like she'd just sucked on a lemon.
"Roza, wait!" Viktoria called, jumping to her feet and heading towards me before I could walk away.
"Hey, Vik." I smiled kindly.
"Karo's doing okay?"
"Yes, she's perfect. Really." I smiled reassuringly.
"Good. Look, I'm sorry about Sonya." She offered.
"You're not the one being a bitch. So, don't even worry about it."
"Well, it doesn't mean I don't want to smack my own sister." She laughed lightly.
"Let's just focus on Karolina and your new little niece." I grinned. "I'll let you know when she's in her room and can have visitors." I added before departing.
I found Dimitri in the hallway, waiting for me outside the nursery. They were helping Karolina to clean up and get into a fresh gown before moving her back to her room.
"Hey, milaya." He smiled widely, reaching for my hand. "How did it go?" He asked, referring to my sharing the news.
I detailed Sonya's comment and my reply, before he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and tugged me against his chest. "Karo thinks she knows why Sonya's being like she is, and it's nothing you actually did, but it involves you in a roundabout way." He explained.
"What is it then?" I urged as he tugged me along the hallway where we had a view of all the babies in the nursery.
"Come, look first." He grinned excitedly. "Your new niece, Auntie Roza, is that back row, last on the right. Zoya." He shared and I couldn't help but giggle.
"You're gonna look like a giant when you hold her, you know." I teased.
"I can't wait until it's our baby, one day." He admitted, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist while nuzzling his face next to mine.
"Comrade." I harrumphed.
"What is it?" He asked, pulling back slightly.
"Please tell me." I pressed.
"Come with me, we'll talk where we have a bit more privacy. Okay?" He replied, pulling back and linking his hand with mine.
We walked to the opposite end of the hall where there was another waiting room that was currently empty. Dimitri gestured for me to sit down, as he sat across from me while he began to explain what Karolina had shared with him.
"Shortly before Christmas, we were at our house having dinner, and during the clean-up, you were in the kitchen with Viktoria, who was helping you. The kids played in the living room with Sonya, Karo, and myself." He began.
I could glean that whatever stick was up Sonya's ass, happened while Viktoria and I were in the kitchen, which also would explain why she would have no idea why her sister was being so rude. I waited for him to continue, but he reached across to hold my hands in his.
"I can't recall exactly how the conversation started but we were talking about our Mama, and just how odd it was that she left the letters for us when she supposedly wasn't very clear in the head. Then Paul asked why we call her 'Mama', not 'Mom' as he tends to call Karo 'mom'. But Katya is like a sponge, and absorbs things around her as she hears them, without really understanding what she's repeating."
"Okay…" I murmured.
"Katya just blurted out that she wanted to call you 'Mama Roza', instead of auntie."
"Oh…"
"Yeah, oh." He smiled slightly. "We explained to her then that you weren't her 'mama' and that you are her auntie, and she just shrugged it off and has always called you 'auntie' since. Not a mention of the word 'mama' towards you."
"But Sonya is upset that she even said she wanted to call me 'mama' in the first place." I surmised.
"Roza, like I said, it's nothing you've done wrong. Sonya just needs to grow the fuck up and explain it to Katya." He paused. "If it even comes up again, which I doubt she even remembers saying it. Katya doesn't even really understand what it was she was saying so it's completely irrational for Sonya to be this unkind to you."
"Thanks for telling me." I nodded. "I'll just give her space and let her work it out I guess."
"Well, despite her being upset for something her daughter said, I'm still bothered that she's referring to you keeping me on a leash."
"Well, Comrade, soon, I'll be the ol' ball and chain and you'll have me on the leash." I giggled. I realized he didn't understand that saying and explained it.
"When a guy gets married, they refer to the wife as the 'ball and chain', kind of like holding him back."
The perplexed look on his face made me laugh. "Seriously? That's insulting, Roza, you're no ball and chain to me and I'll happily let you lead me around on any leash you like." He smirked, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"You're a dork." I laughed, as he moved forward to kneel in front of me, peppering my face with kisses.
After a one more super long kiss, we headed back to Karolina's room, where the nurse informed us, she was just going to get Zoya's bassinet to wheel her into the room. When Karolina gave the 'okay', we would get the others to come for a visit and to meet the newest member of the Belikov family.
"Hey guys!" Karolina greeted, nodding for us to fully come into the room.
"Would you like to hold your niece, Uncle Dimka!?" She grinned.
"Roza, let's hold her together." He suggested. "You get your new niece and come sit on my lap." He grinned, taking a seat in the armed chair next to the bed.
"Come on," Karolina invited, gesturing to the bassinet where the tiny little bundle lay swaddled. "She was just fed, so she should be good for a little while." She added.
"I feel like I'm going to break her." I stated nervously.
"You'll be fine. Just support her head." The nurse instructed as I carefully lifted her into my arms.
Moving around the end of the bed, I allowed Dimitri to settle me into his lap, sideways and together we peered down at the sweet face of our niece, Zoya.
The smile on Dimitri's face was infectious as he moved his head closer to mine and gently rubbed a finger on her hand. She opened her fist and we watched with rapt attention as she tried to grip it.
"Can you tell the rest of my family they're welcome to come in now?" Karolina asked the nurse. She nodded politely and left us.
"How are you feeling mama?" I asked, taking in Karolina's tired face.
"Amazing. But I wouldn't mind sleeping for a week." She laughed.
"Well, I know you'll have no problem finding a babysitter!" I giggled.
"Well, about that. Just quickly Dimka, before they all get here. Be careful about when you're holding Zoya. I fear Katya might feel a bit jealous, maybe even left out because everyone's focus is on a new baby." Karolina reasoned. "And you're her favourite 'Unka Dimmie' after all." She smirked.
"That did cross my mind too, so I will make sure to keep an eye out." He replied as a knock sounded on the door.
"Mom!" Paul called, running to the bed.
"Hey. Do you want to meet your new little sister?" Karolina asked, as I stood from Dimitri's lap. He lifted Paul up to sit next to his mom, and I lay Zoya in her arms.
"Everyone, meet Zoya." Karolina announced proudly.
"My goodness, she's so tiny!" Viktoria commented.
Dimitri directed his attention to Katya, who was standing back. "Katya, you want to see your cousin?" He asked. She nodded meekly, walking over to Dimitri.
I could tell Sonya wanted to say something, but it if she did, it would only hurt her. Then again, depending on what it was she wanted to say, it could hurt Katya's feelings as well.
Dimitri lifted her into his arms, and cuddled with her as she looked down at a sleeping Zoya. Everyone's attention was on Karolina and the baby, but I couldn't help but glance at Sonya out of the corner of my eye.
She looked like she was about to burst into tears and currently, I was the only one who seemed to notice. Looking over at Dimitri, I managed to catch his eye and nodded in Sonya's direction.
"I'm going to take her out of here, talk." I mouthed to him. He nodded in understanding. "Come on, before you break down and make a scene." I stated, ushering Sonya out of the room.
Leading her down the hall, I helped her take a seat in the same waiting room Dimitri and I used earlier.
"What's going on Sonya?" I urged.
"I'm sorry." She cried as the damn broke and her shoulders shook with her sobs. "I'm so sorry, Roza. I've been such a bitch to you. I'm sorry." She rambled. "Even now, you're being nice to me when I was so mean." She added.
"Can you tell me why?" I asked. "Did I do something wrong?" I think I knew the why by this point, but there had to be something else going on for her to react to a comment from an innocent child like this.
Sonya shared the same thing Dimitri had about Katya's innocent comment about calling me 'Mama Roza'. But that wasn't what had upset her. The honest truth was, she felt like a failure as a mother because she couldn't even give her a proper father figure.
She was jealous of Dimitri and I, because although Katya loved her 'Unka Dimmie', we had what she wanted and it was jealously that sparked her crude comments. Not Katya's innocent statement.
"Just now, seeing you all around Karo's bed, it made me jealous that I can't give Katya a father who's a good man." She cried. "When you and Dimka have babies, you'll be a whole family. Complete. That's why Katya is so attached to him. He's the only real male figure in her life." She cried.
"You might not think so, but you guys, all of you, are a whole family. Who says there has to be two parents to every child? You, Viktoria, Karolina, you're all a family together." I tried to comfort.
"Are we though? Without fathers."
"Of course, you are, Sonya. The most important thing is that those children are loved. And you know how to show them that love spades." I offered.
She nodded. It was clear she couldn't speak for a moment as she tried not to cry again. After taking a deep breath, she looked up at me once again. "I really am sorry I was so mean to you." She apologized. "Dimka loves you so much and the fact that he finally proposed! It's about time." She laughed, wiping the tears from her face.
"So, no more comments about keeping him on leash?" I joked.
"No." She smiled timidly. The shame of her actions was evident in her posture and in the expression on her face.
"Come here, give me a hug." I ordered, reaching over to wrap my arms around her.
Sonya returned the hug and I held her close as she cried it out a little more. It was really her own insecurities that got the best of her and who hasn't done that to themselves at some point in their lives.
When she seemed calm enough, I suggested we head back to the room.
"I'll apologize to Dimka too. He needs to know I am sorry." She stated as we headed back down the hallway.
"He already knows. Trust me." I comforted as we walked back into Karolina's room to see Katya on Dimitri's shoulders giggling away as she played with his hair. Paul sat next to Karolina in her bed, little Zoya supported in his arms as Viktoria took photos.
"Sonya, come on, it's your turn to hold your niece." I urged, winking at Dimitri.
"Hi Auntie!' Katya waved. "I'm a giant!" She beamed.
"You certainly are." I grinned, loving her excited giggles as Dimitri walked over to me.
"Everything okay?" He murmured.
"Excellent, Comrade. I'll fill you in later. But forgive her, okay?" I stated, as he slipped his hand into mine.
"You're okay?" He asked for confirmation.
"We're all good. Trust me." I nodded.
Lowering his voice to a whisper, he leaned closer to me. "What do you say we make this one," He gestured to Katya on his shoulders. ", feel super special right now, and Paul." He posed.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Flower girl, ring bearer?" He hinted.
"Oh! Yes." I smiled as he looked back at everyone around the hospital bed as Viktoria now took photos of Sonya holding Zoya. I caught Karolina's eye and she nodded at Sonya then me, in a muted question. I gave her a thumbs up and she smiled knowingly.
"Can we get your attention for a moment?" Dimitri called, but not too loud as to wake Zoya.
"As you all know by this point, Roza and I are getting married!" He grinned widely.
"I get ta be a fower girl!" Katya called unexpectedly wiggling around on her uncle's shoulders excitedly. Dimitri's shoulders shook with his laughter at her excitement.
"How did you know you're our flower girl?" He teased, swinging her down into his arms and tickling her.
"I kinda told her while we were waiting." Viktoria chimed in.
"And Paul, what do you think of being our ring bearer?" I asked.
"What does that mean?" He asked.
Karolina explained to him what his role would be and he seemed very happy about that.
"Alright, everyone. It's time for mom and baby to get some rest. Maybe you could all come back this afternoon, or even first thing tomorrow?" The nurse interjected.
"Tomorrow, guys. Let us bond today." Karolina instructed as we each gave her a hug before leaving her to rest.
Dimitri and I had to change back into our regular clothes, and we agreed to meet everyone at a favourite restaurant for brunch. We were all starving.
When I exited the changing room after tossing my scrubs in the bin, Dimitri and Sonya were embracing as she had tears in her eyes once more. I waited until they were done before approaching.
"We'll meet you there." He stated as Katya insisted on kissing his cheek before they left.
Hoisting her up into his arms, he peppered her face with kisses, noisily, making her giggle and she did the same to him, leaving a big sticky wet mark on his cheek.
He laughed raucously as Sonya carried her in her arms out to the car and I handed him a Kleenex to wipe off her slobber.
"Just wait, Comrade. Soon, you'll have two nieces for each cheek!" I teased as linked his hand with mine as we trudged out to the truck.
"I need so much coffee right now." He groaned tiredly as his stomach followed with a loud rumble.
"Gawd! Me too. I'm exhausted." I complained, as he helped me climb into the truck.
"So, fiancée." Dimitri teased. "When do you want to get married?"
"When do you want to get married?" I teased in reply.
"Well, honestly, yesterday, but alas, that's not possible." He smirked.
"Seriously, how about next fall?" I suggested. "I know Lissa will want to be a big part of the planning, she's good at that kind of thing. "And we have Mia and Ivan's wedding coming up soon. I'd hate for ours to feel rushed."
"Can I ask you something else, sort of personal?" He posed.
"Of course." I agreed, waiting for him to continue.
"How would you feel about trying for a honeymoon baby?" He asked, seemingly unsure.
"After what we just saw today. I can't wait to have babies with you, Comrade." I grinned. "You're going to be such an amazing father, Dimitri."
"I love you." He smiled, pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant.
"I love you, too." I replied.
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
Brunch with everyone felt really good. Especially knowing Sonya had admitted to her true feelings, apologized to Roza and myself and really felt terrible for her actions. It was a simple matter of jealously and envy on her part. I tried to point out that instead of focusing on what she thought she didn't have, focus on what she did.
She was thankful for that 'brotherly advice', because to her, she'd never even considered looking at things from that perspective.
Viktoria had mentioned the letters from mama again, about how she kept re-reading it, and it had gotten me thinking. All of us couldn't understand how we could all get such coherent letters from someone that was supposedly of unsound mind at the time.
When we got home from brunch I went in search of that letter. Roza found me sitting on the floor of our walk-in closet, the box her parents had left me with my mother's things in front of me and the letter in my hands.
"Hey, Comrade. What are you up to?" She asked, hanging the hoodie of mine she'd worn today over the clothes hamper after changing into a clean t-shirt.
"The letter from my mama. Something about it is bothering me." I admitted.
"Can I see?" She asked. I handed it to her and I watched as her eyes scanned the page before she flipped it over. "What's this?" She queried, pointing to something on the bottom of the back of the page.
"I don't know." I admitted, taking the page back from her to examine it closer. "It looks like a set of numbers, like a code." I shared. The print was so small that you'd barely notice it unless you knew where to look.
"There's nothing anywhere else on that page except for there, right at the bottom." Roza pointed out. "I wonder if your sisters' letters have something similar." She added.
"What do you mean?" I prodded.
"Well, if they have something like this on theirs, maybe they're all different." She paused.
"What, like a secret message?" I laughed.
"Well, maybe. She did have to hide from your father after all. Maybe she was trying to tell you guys something else. If he ever found her, or the letters, this would ensure he might not catch it." She reasoned.
"Maybe…" I murmured.
"Sorry, we're not in some spy movie with ciphers and codes." She laughed. "It could be nothing at all." She added
"No, not a spy movie." I smiled. "But it's curious, no?"
"It is. I agree."
"I should call Vik. She and Sonya can check their letters to see if they have anything on theirs. If they're the same sets of numbers or not." I suggested. "But I'll worry about it later." I stated, setting the letter back in the box and leaving it on the dresser.
"Let's go have a nap." She urged, tugging my hand.
"Yes, please." I agreed, following her to our bed, and cuddling up with her. We'd been up so early; we needed a little rest.
~VA TC VA~