Chapter Twenty-Five - Fiona

Six months have passed, and things between Ruslan and I have gone through a 180-degree turnaround. Now, I have the attentive man I wanted in the first place. No, granted, he's not the mushy gushy guy, but his loving ways come out through his actions, and that's enough for me.

I pull the milk bottles out of the sterilizer, looking at the milk formula on the counter and screwing up my nose. I don't like to feed it to her, I prefer to give her the nutrients she needs through breast milk, but I do it sometimes so Ruslan can be more hands-on.

"I want to be involved too. If you give me the formula, I can give you a break so you can get some rest."

"That's so sweet of you. Okay, I'll let you know when."

It's a shame Roberto had to go back to jail. I would have wanted my uncle to be involved with his family, but he let greed get the best of him, and it's unlikely he'll get out for another five years. Maybe he'll be reformed by then. Although, it's going to be an interesting story to tell Arina when she gets older. "Did you know I conceived you in the middle of a kidnapping? And did you know right after the kidnapping your uncle robbed several mom-and-pop stores for cash?" If he asked me nicely, I would have given him some of the money Dad gave me, but I guess it wasn't supposed to go that way.

The Omerta files have changed Ruslan's operation in a big way. There's less opposition and many of the deals and strategic alliances he's been attempting to make have fallen right into his lap. I get to wear those pretty dresses I brought to benefits, and I've met some of the most powerful figures in the city, but still, I feel like that same na?ve country girl from Ohio.

My friends are the same and are welcome anytime. Ruslan's more relaxed, and we're planning all kinds of things for our future, including more children.

"I think I want five." I scoff, recalling our conversation earlier in the week.

"Five? Let's talk after the second one. Five is not a nice number." We'd play argued about it, but ended up making passionate love afterwards with him convincing me three could work as well. Must have been the postcoital glow.

Feeling grateful for how things have turned out, I mix the baby formula, listening to Arina gurgling through the baby monitor I have in my hand. I don't need it on, though, because Ruslan's in the room with Arina. Happy with the mix, I put the formula in the microwave, testing it on the back of my hand. Satisfied with its tepid temperature, I hum on my way to the bedroom, stopping as I see what's going on from afar. Ruslan's reading a story to Arina, but it's not just any kind of story. It's a pink book with princesses on the front of the cover.

Pressing my body against the door, I listen intently, disbelieving the sight I'm looking at. Ruslan, with his six-foot-four frame, his body covered in tattoos, and an intimidating beard is reading with plenty of expression to Arina.

"And the princess lost her shoe, asking everyone she met along the way if they could find it," he read, making my heart swell. Suddenly, Ruslan's arm reaches out behind him, sensing movement around the door. I scoot left so he can't grab at my shirt, giggling. What a beautiful moment.

"I know you're back there, Red October," he teases as I hear Arina coo, clapping her little hands together.

"Yes, it's me. I've got the bottle so you can feed. That's sweet you're reading to her already."

I enter to see Arina laying on her father's chest, Ruslan looking like the sexiest father alive with his dark hair hanging around his face. He hasn't cut it in a while. I asked him to keep it longer. I like him with it this way.

"I sure am, because our baby is smart, smart, like her mother and father. Aren't you, Arina." He showers her rosy chubby cheeks with kisses as Arina giggles.

"You sure are smart, and you are getting big! So healthy and strong; look at you," I coo, letting Arina curl her tiny fingers around my finger, always amazed at the contrast. I slide onto the bed next to Ruslan, handing him the bottle, but it appears Arina has other plans to play.

"Thank you." Ruslan leans over, kissing my cheek. "Do you want to take a nap for a while?"

"Umm, no. I'm going to hang out with you two."

"We want you to hang out with us too, don't we, Arina?" Arina climbs up Ruslan's chest, letting go of my fingers and clawing them at Ruslan's mouth. He pretends to gobble them up.

"Umm, yum, yum, we love fingers here." Giggling, I watch, enjoying him being a father. Sometimes you never know what's going to come out of people until it's the right time.

"You're good with her, you know," I tell him, laying on his shoulder, his hand easily cupping my leg.

"I'm good with her because I've learned to be. Arina's living up to her name it seems. She really is a peaceful baby for the most part, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is," I say, looking at the features shared between us. Since both of us have thick dark hair, it's a tie, but she has Ruslan's sharp aquiline nose, and my full lips and facial structure. From the sturdiness of her legs, and how quickly she's started crawling, she's going to have Ruslan's powerful physique. She will have to be tall as well. There's no way she won't be.

"Do you need some milk, Arina? Are you hungry?" Ruslan asks as Arina finds her equilibrium. Ruslan sets the milk to the side, his eyes wide. "Shit, Fiona, I think she's trying to stand up. Am I right?"

Watching Arina jiggle around her legs, she giggles some more wiggling her nappied butt as Ruslan holds out his hands and she steadies herself against his arm. She probably sees it like a huge tree trunk she can hold on to, and he lets her.

"Wow. I think you're right. Maybe we can try to put her feet to the floor and see if she wants to give it a try," I tell him, feeling excited about Arina's rapid progress. But it's too fast, and bittersweet for me as a mom.

"Okay, let's see what she does here first." We wait as Arina makes a few wonky attempts to lift herself up, holding on to Ruslan.

"That's it. Do you want to try again? Come on, get up again!" She drops down, having a rest and looking at both of us as if we've gone mad, but we want to see her stand up again. I start clapping to get her attention, but she stays put as Ruslan feeds her the bottle, resuming his book reading before we eventually fall asleep together.

***

Stretching, with my neck a little crooked, I yawn as I witness the proud Mommy moment. Arina is standing, crawling up her father's chest. "You wanna walk? Let's see if you can walk!" Gently, I take Arina off Ruslan's broad chest, placing her feet on the carpet. Her little feet hit the ground, but even as she wobbles, she can hold herself up okay, hanging on to my hand, and taking a wobbly step. Clapping a hand over my mouth, I shake Ruslan awake, one of his eyes opening.

"What did I miss?"

"Ruslan, she walked! Arina just took a step," I squeal, Arina delighted about how pleased we are. "Do it again for Dada. Go on, do it again." And without warning Arina puts on a stellar performance, taking two steps, not one.

Ruslan and I hug, sharing the gorgeous family moment, and it's in this moment, I realize we are like the couple in the doctor's office, just our brand of love is a little different.

Calling everyone I know on FaceTime, I show Arina standing up, and taking steps, and even start planning her first birthday party.

"What do you think, a princess party? Will you come?" I say to Rachael, who looks at me as if I'm an alien.

"Will I come? I better be invited. I need to oversee the cake and party decorations as the event planner, oh and we can share parenting tips."

I almost spit out my morning coffee when she sneaks the news in there. "What? Did you say we can share parenting tips? What am I missing?"

Rachael beams with a wide grin as I look at her FaceTime with scrutiny to see if she's pranking me. "Yep, it's official, I'm having a baby. Three months in the clear."

"Oh wow! Congratulations. I'm so happy for you. You and Raymond are great together."

"We actually are, but we've decided to postpone marrying until the following year."

"Whatever works for you. That's what's important." I knew she was dating an art director for the last eight months, and as far as I knew, they were slow and steady with it, but it's good news, because I knew right away that he was the right person for her.

"Yep. I'm nervous, I'm not going to lie, but I feel like I've got a good support system around me."

"You do have a good support system. Ruslan and I are here. That's going to make our babies no more than two years apart. That's amazing! Arina will have a playmate!" I just love how my life is falling together, and how my friends are doing well in life too. Sophia got a higher paying job, and I decided to go back to work part time in the future, my boss accepting my terms.

"I can definitely give you plenty of tips, though. One of them being don't have a baby in a basement." Ruslan and I laugh together as Ruslan waves into the screen.

"Congratulations, Rachael. So far, it's been a fun rollercoaster ride. But I disagree with Fiona, maybe you do want to have one in the basement if you want it to turn out as great as Arina."

"You guys are so funny, but I do prefer a hospital. Thank you. I do have to go, but I'll see you both on the weekend." We say our goodbyes as I feed Arina, content, snuggled in with my man. I'm just an ordinary Chicago girl, living my life in extraordinary circumstances. I guess this mob wife lifestyle does have its perks. I'm enjoying motherhood, and despite all the earlier strife, being a Bratva wife wears really well on me.

Who knew a one-night stand would turn out to be my forever guy. Sometimes it's worth taking the risk.

"I love you, Red October. You know that?" Ruslan whispers, his beard tickling my ear.

"I do know, and I love you right back."