Amelia

Lev sat beside me while Ivan introduced Amaliya to our children. Anya, Irina and Katya were the most excited. The twins, Damien and Dimitri were patiently waiting while their younger siblings got a look at her. Aleksandr was pulling Roman's hand away from her cheek since he was only three and probably didn't know what to make of the new addition.

"Are you okay?" I asked Lev.

"Yes, I can wait until everyone has met her," he said quietly, but I knew he sat with me because he didn't want me to be alone.

"She is the last one until you guys get married," I said with a sigh and put my arm around him.

He was already taller than me, and Ivan had started taking him to the gym. My son would soon be fourteen, and it was hard to comprehend where the years had gone. We had expanded our home to add more rooms so everyone had their own space. Only Dimitri and Damien shared a room, but that was their choice.

Lev snickered.

"Are you sure, Mum?"

I glanced at Ivan, who spoke to the children, but kept a watchful eye on Amaliya as Aleksandr held her.

"Yes, apparently, nine is your dad's lucky number," I said with a smile. "I didn't have any brothers or sisters, and I often wished I did when I was a child."

"Yeah, dad told me," he said.

I quickly looked at Lev, but he didn't look upset, which dispelled any concerns about how much Ivan may have divulged to Lev.

"Can I hold her again, Dad?" I heard Anya ask.

Roman came stumbling towards me, and I held my arms out for my baby. He was telling me all about the new baby in his own sweet manner. I kissed him and tickled him before settling him on my lap.

"You've been an amazing big brother, Lev. We are so proud of you," I said while I stroked his dark hair. "When you were little, and Anya came along, we were worried about how you would react."

"I remember when the twins came home. I couldn't understand why you had two babies," he said with a smile.

"Would you want a big family, or have we put you off?" I asked curiously.

His cheeks flushed, and he looked at his siblings. Roman got bored and climbed off me to join his siblings.

"I'd want more than one, but I guess it wouldn't be all up to me," he said.

I couldn't stop my grin because this is something Ivan would say.

"You have quite some time until you decide. Just enjoy being a teenager for now. You don't always have to be the referee to your siblings."

"Remember when the twins Irina and Aleksandr went away with Uncle Maksim?"

I nodded. It was the first time our family had been apart, and their week away had felt like a month. Our usual trips were abroad or to Russia to spend time with Ivan's family.

"The house felt quiet and—weird. You and Dad were acting weird."

"That was my fault. I was so worried that I couldn't relax, and it rubbed off on your dad. In another four or five years, you will go to University. We want you to live your life, but as your mother, I will always worry about you."

"I know Mum, and I love our crazy big family," he said as he hugged me.

"I love you, Lev. You will always be my first baby boy," I said softly as I hugged him back.

Ivan came over with Amaliya just as we moved apart.

"Another baby sister, Lev," he said with a smile as Lev held his arms up to take her.

If Ivan hadn't been such an amazing role model for our children, there was no way Lev would have turned out the way he did. Ivan sat beside me and put his arm around my back.

"You're feeding Amaliya, and then it's straight to bed."

"Yes, sir," I said.

He didn't reply because he was watching Lev cradle Amaliya as he whispered to her. His arm tightened around my waist and we sat back watching the chaos unfold as Dimitri opened the door for the dogs. It was an equal split between the children diving for the dogs and the new baby. They weren't Misha but we loved them all the same.

I grasped Ivan's hand. He lifted my hand and kissed it while he watched me with his dark eyes. This was the world he had given me, and I loved him all the more for keeping all of his promises.

The End.