Chapter 26

twenty-six

Avery

I sit at my parent's gravesite for the first time since I ran away. It's drizzling. I'm gripping the letter my father left me as tears spill from my eyes.

"I miss you," I rasp. "I'm sorry I haven't been by. When I ran, I was adamant I'd return as soon as I hit eighteen, but then it got harder because, if I came back, it would mean you're both gone, and I'd be alone." I sniffle and wipe my cheek, keeping the unopened letter in my hand, gripping it tightly. "I've tried for years to read this damn letter, but I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I don't want a stupid letter; I want my parents back." I let out a sob. "I c-can't d-do this a-anymore, I-I don't w-want to be a-alone anymore." My body shakes with my sobs, and I'm cold from the drizzle. I'm only in a tank top and slacks that I wore underneath my graduation gown. I can feel myself giving up, I know I need to be strong and think of my twins, but maybe they'd be better off with someone who isn't tainted. What do I know about being a good mother? The only one who mattered to me is gone. I lay down between their graves stones and close my eyes, letting the rain wash away my pain.

I whisper, "Everything was better with you two, now I just feel alone. Peter's trying to be in my life when he denied me, and Sergi lied to me, threatened me, and cheated on me. I want my parents back, you made everything better." My tears continue to fall, and the rain gets heavier, but I don't move, I can't.

I don't know how long I lay here when the rain suddenly stops landing on my face. A warm hand moves my hair from my forehead. I slowly open my eyes to see beautiful, green, pain-filled ones staring back at me.

" Dragotsennyy …" he rasps, and my tears fall faster.

Sergi picks me up bridal style. Still clutching the letter, I grip his shirt as I sob. He kisses my head, whispering that he's got me over and over, and walks over to a black Mercedes SUV and climbs in the back with me still in his arms. Dimitri sits in the driver's seat, his eyes holding sorrow, and I close my mine, finally allowing my mind to drift off, feeling safe in Sergi's warm arms.

I don't know how long I sleep for but when I wake, I realize I'm in dry clothes, Sergi's shirt to be precise, and in a warm bed. I don't sit up, instead I turn to my right side, leaving my head on the pillow as I watch the rain pour down on the window of the hotel. The twins start to kick and move, and I smile a little, placing my hand on my bump. I hear the door open, but I don't move, I continue to watch the rain while my hand roams over my babies in my belly. The bed dips and another hand splays over my belly, his musky scent taking over my senses.

Sergi.

He kisses the back of my neck and I feel him smile when the twins move against his hand.

He murmurs, "Our little angels are active." I hum in agreement, and we both lay there for a while, watching the rain fall while feeling our twins move. Finally, Sergi speaks again, "I know you feel alone, and I know I'm mostly to blame, but you have a family, Avs. We all love you, me most of all." I snort at his attempt at humor, and I turn in his arms. He places his other arm under my head so his hand can play with my hair like he used to before everything fell apart. I lift my hand to trace the letters of my name on his neck and smile a little.

He smirks and rasps, "I was wondering when you'd notice that."

I admit, "I noticed it two days after you got it, you were asleep, and I cried because it made me realize…I'm loved."

His arms tighten around me. "You are loved, Avs, more than you realize. I just got lost somewhere along the way and forgot to show you every day." A tear leaks from my eye, but I don't stop tracing over his tattoo.

"I've missed you," I whisper. He leans down and kisses me lightly on the lips, then rubs his nose against mine.

"Not as much as I've missed you, dragotsennyy ."

A sob gets loose, and I finally ask the question I've needed to ask for too long, "How c-can you t-touch me? I-I'm tainted, d-dirty."

I hear him mutter, ‘Fuck,' before he moves us. He sits up, leaning against the headboard, dragging me up with him, and makes me straddle his lap. He plants both hands on my cheeks, making me look into his eyes.

"Baby, you're a survivor, do you hear me? A fucking survivor. You're not tainted and you're not dirty. You're mine just like I'm yours. I love you, so much. I never want to hear you say that shit again. What you've been through proves how fucking strong you are."

I sob in his arms, my face going into his neck while he tightens his hold on me. Once I've calmed down, he forces me to look deep into his green eyes. Love shines back at me, making my heart race. I lean forward and kiss him gently, once, twice, three times, before he takes over and his tongue tangles with mine. I thrust my hand into his hair, making him groan. I swivel my hips against him a little to try and release some pressure from my throbbing clit, and the kiss gets faster, harder. His hands travel down between us, his fingers rubbing my pussy through my panties.

He groans against my mouth, "Fuck, you're soaked, baby."

He tears the material from my body and quickly shoves his sweats down a little and frees his hard cock. He guides my hips over his hard cock, and he rubs his tip it over my entrance, covering it in juices, making me moan. He slowly guides me down on him, filling me up. He grips my ass as he rasps, "Fuck, you're tight. Ride me baby." I lift slightly, before slamming back down, and swivel my hips, then repeat the process. After a few strokes, he's had enough, and places me on my back. Next thing I know, he's pulling out of me and, before I could complain, he slams home, making me moan. Over and over, he thrusts into me. He tears the shirt, buttons going everywhere, and takes my enlarged, sensitive nipple into his mouth. I gasp and hold onto him, keeping him where he is as he gently licks the tip, and then gently bites it as he thrusts faster. His other hand travels down my body, over my bump, and toward my pussy until he finds my enlarged clit. He pinches it at the same time he bites my nipple ,and thrusts into me. I tighten around him and come with a scream.

Sergi thrusts two, three, four more times before moaning, "Avery." He kisses up my neck to my mouth and kisses me while still pumping his hips. When he stops, he rubs his nose against mine, his hand cupping my bump.

He whispers hoarsely, "I know I have a lot of shit to make up for, but know this, dragotsennyy , I'm not letting you go. You will be my wife soon, and we'll be a family." More tears fall from my eyes, and he kisses them away. For the rest of the night, he makes love to me, fast and hard, and nice and slow, before we finally fall asleep.

The next morning, after Sergi woke me up by thrusting into me from behind, and after I've had a shower and gotten dressed in the only spare clothes I brought on the flight with me—leggings and a gray sweater—I walk back into the bedroom to see my dad's letter on my pillow. I stop and just stand there staring at it. Sergi comes in five minutes later, and wraps his arms around me.

He advises, "I think you'll get much-needed closure if you read his words, baby. We can do it here or we can go into the living room with Dimitri. He offered to read it out loud for you, or I can. It's up to you, dragotsennyy ."

I nod, knowing he's right, but I just can't seem to get my legs to move. My heart beats frantically in my chest, my head going hazy. Sergi gently kisses the back of my neck, bringing me back, before he rasps, "You got this, baby."

I nod again and take a deep breath, and walk toward the letter. My hands shake as I pick it up and I turn to face Sergi, who looks mouth-watering in his black Henley and jeans. He tilts his head and must see the decision in my eyes, because he nods and takes the letter from me. Grabbing my hand, he leads me toward the the penthouse living. Apparently, we're at the Plaza Inn, the most expensive hotel in downtown Seattle. I mean, seriously, a cheap room would do fine.

When we get into the large white and cream room, Dimitri looks up from his newspaper and smiles gently at me. Sergi passes the letter to him, and he nods in understanding while Sergi sits down, placing me in his lap. I tremble. I know this needs to be done, I'm drowning in my grief, and having Dimitri read it will be easier, because then Sergi can hold me through this. I think need him. I curl up into his lap while I stroke my bump, feeling our babies move as Dimitri clears his throat.

"You ready, Avery?" he asks gently. I shake my head, then nod, making him chuckle. "Okay, sweetheart, let's do this." Sergi holds me tighter in his arms. Dimitri opens the letter and clears his throat, and when he starts reading, my eyes fill with tears.

To my dearest Pumpkin, Avery,

If you're reading this, then it means my heart condition, CHD, has caught up to me. Now, I'm not telling you what CHD is because you should know now, my little doctor.

I snort at that making Dimitri and Sergi smile before he continues.

And, if I know you, then you're mad at me for not telling you about it. But, darling, I couldn't. Losing mom nearly destroyed you. Its why I made sure you had everything before this disease took me. I knew you wouldn't go back into foster care, and the thought of you on the streets…it broke my heart, baby girl.

Dimitri takes a deep breath, my heart beats fast in my chest while my tears run down my cheeks.

The day you ran into me was the best day of my life, next to marrying your mom. You made us a family; you made us parents. We loved you so much, and I knew, the moment I saw you, that you were destined to be my daughter, our daughter. You were everything we never knew we wanted but needed, you completed us.

I'm worried, Pumpkin. I'm worried you won't let anyone in, and you'll be alone. I'm worried you'll give someone a chance, and if they hurt you, you'll give up on life. My old heart wouldn't take that. I need you to live, I need you to forgive, and I need you to be happy. You have been through so much for someone your age, but you're a fighter, and you're a survivor. I want you to go live your life full of laughter and fun. Fall in love, get married, and start a family. It'll make your old man rest in peace happily, knowing his daughter, the light of his life, is happily living, creating new memories for herself.

Don't give up on life, my baby girl. Live for me, your mom, and most of all, live for yourself. And know that your mom and I, we love you more than life itself, and we're so proud of you, and proud to call you a Gibson.

Live life fully, my sweet girl.

I love you.

Love always,

Daddy xxx

My whole body shakes with my sobs while Sergi runs a hand through my hair. Dimitri stands, walking over to us. He kneels and places one hand on my cheek.

He whispers, "He loved you so much, he wouldn't want you to keep grieving this way. You pushed it all aside and never dealt with it. Peter showing up forced you to embrace the loss and the pain." He smiles gently, then hands me something. I take it from him, and my tears fall faster. It's a picture of me, Mom, and Dad outside of a water park, smiling. I'm wearing Mom's oversized shirt.

I show Sergi and he chuckles. "Baby, please tell me that's not a Spice Girls' shirt you're wearing." Dimitri chuckles.

In a voice cloaked in tears, I tease, "I may be wearing it but you're the one who recognizes the band."

Dimitri full on belly laughs while Sergi curses, his cheeks going red, making me giggle.

I trace my parents' smiling faces, both grinning at the camera.

To Dimitri I say, "Thank you. Thank you for coming here, and thank you for reading the letter when I couldn't."

He smiles gently. "I may not have shown it well before, but you're family; you are my daughter now. You need me, I'm here. You understand?"

I nod, tears sliding down my cheeks. Leaning forward, I wrap my arms around his neck and squeeze him tight. When I let go, he cups my cheek, all while Sergi strokes his fingers through my hair.

"Peter wants to see you." I tense but he continues, ignoring my response, "I understand you're not ready, but he owes you an explanation. You need to find peace, not just for your sake but also for my grandbabies."

I know he's right, but I just don't know how I can face it. Sergi squeezes me, getting my attention.

I look at him and he rasps, "One month." I furrow my brows and he smiles. "That's how long we're staying here for. Just you and me. Dimitri will be heading back to New York tonight. I've spoken to your work and given notice."

I go to shout at him—how dare he quit my job? I need it.

He puts is hand up to stop me, which makes me scowl at him. Dimitri chuckles, and I turn my scowl at him. He puts both his hands up as Sergi gets my attention again.

" Dragotsennyy, you're about to go on maternity leave, then you'll be an actual doctor, starting your residency. And don't even think about putting it off, either. You'll start in January of next year, and I'll be with our babies. You worked too hard for this. We'll be spending the next month here, where you'll show me your life. The good and the bad, and if you show me the people who hurt you, then I'll kill them for you." I look at him wide eyed while Dimitri chuckles.

I rasp, "As nice as it is here, it's all very…." I let the words drift, and Sergi chuckles.

"I have a place. I just bought it as a family vacation home, so you can come visit your parents whenever you need."

My tears fall again. This man. Yes, he screwed up badly, but the love he has for me shines through.

He wipes my eyes and says, "But know this, baby, when we get home, you will be moving in with me. Our family are packing your stuff up as we speak. And whatever belongings you have in the storage unit here, we'll take with us, and you can either keep the storage unit here, or we can get you one in New York, okay?"

I nod frantically, my love for him soaring. The pressure of years lifts off my shoulders, and I throw my arms around his neck and squeeze him tight.

"Okay, baby, let's get going. I've already placed everything in the car, including your clothes I grabbed when I was at your place." I look at him in shock while he helps me up, chuckling, then guides me toward the elevators.

Dimitri comes over, just getting off his phone, he states, "Your car is at Sergi's. I know how much it means to you. I'll leave you both now and come back in a few weeks with Juan, and I'll let Peter know to give you this next month alone with Sergi, okay?"

I smile and nod. I hug him tight as the twins kick his belly, making him chuckle. Sergi hugs him too.

I hear him whisper, "Thank you for everything. Love you, Dad."

My eyes tear up when Dimitri tears up, too. "Love you too, son."

Then we leave, heading God knows where.