THE MANSION
One Year Later
The twins are in their crib reaching for the baby mobiles hanging over them. There’s a stuffed elephant, wolves, giraffe and the mandatory squishy gun specially placed by the not so gentle giant, Boris-who by the way is a hands-on uncle who prefers to hang out with the twins than to go out on a Friday or Saturday night.
Matushka and I just finished giving the twins baths that’s why they are both in a cheery mood. She has to leave early because she has a meeting with the team who handles Nikolai’s publicity- an image consultant/publicist as part of their plan to boost the business from the recent scandal. I am glad that she is slowly rebuilding her relationship with her sons and I know eventually they will be able to forgive her.
I found out from Matushka Irene that Nikolai called a truce with the Germans-or what’s left of them, in exchange for information of Victoria and Sergey and his wife’s whereabouts. He then ordered the release of the two little brothers of Otto provided that they now align their businesses to the Russian Mafia instead of the Cabana Cartel, giving Nikolai more leverage in the Conglomerate. Of course, it caught the ire of Sebastian who is also the twins’ Godfather together with Artan.
At this point, I’m now used to the love-hate relationship of Axel, Artan and Nikolai. I’m not going to be surprised to see them tomorrow plotting world domination together and fighting over something the next day.
“Hey B, I got something for Nikolai’s evil spawns.” Said Amy who just arrived with soft headbands thingy with blinking devil horns and count Dracula baby costumes.
She places them around Vyacheslav’s and Roustam’s heads carefully. “Seriously B, are you sure these two came from you? The way I see it, all of these are Nikolai.”
I know what Amy is trying to say. My babies are as Russian as they can be. From the color and texture of their hair, those dark green eyes and the color of their skin. It’s all Nikolai. It’s almost as if my only contribution was my womb and nothing else. No one would ever think that Vyacheslav and Roustam are half Palawians as well.
~
The night came and the babies are still wide awake. I positioned myself in the middle of the bed and stacked several pillows so I can rest my back while breastfeeding the two.
I can’t help but giggle because the costumes that Amy got for them really suits them well. They really look like baby count Dracula. I wonder what costumes will that crazy woman think of next?
While the twins are behaving like good boys, Nikolai and Alexei came home from VH. They made sure to clean up before jumping onto the bed with us- our usual nightly family ritual.
“Hey buddy.” Said Nikolai while slowly removing Vyacheslav from my breast and placing him on my side. “Papa’s turn.”
The cute little Dracula climbs up and tries to remove his father’s face off of my breast. Nikolai however slowly pushes him again, making the poor thing roll over a couple of times.
“Nikolai-” I warned.
Both Nikolai and Alexei just chuckle while looking at him struggle to climb back up as he starts to get irritated.
“Pa-pa!” Said Vyacheslav while looking at his father with a frown on his face.
The three of us froze in our position. Nikolai and Alexei are so stunned that they were not able to react for a good five seconds.
This almost left Nikolai in tears because I know how he patiently and diligently worked hard for this milestone as a father. Every day without a fail, he would say the word Papa to the twins and it now finally paid off- at least with Vyacheslav.
Alexei, as ever, is so supportive of his brother that he actually gives Nikolai enough space to be a father to Vyacheslav and Roustam even though Nikolai does not necessarily want his brother to be apart from us. That was one of the main reasons why Alexei refrained from going to the safe house no matter how much he misses being with his family.
“My boy. Say that again my boy. Pa pa! Pa pa!” Said Nikolai as he carries Vyacheslav to his lap but the hungry baby is already reaching for my breasts ignoring his father.
“Alright, you’ve earned it.” Nikolai said as he places the baby back on my chest.
This time, Nikolai attempted to remove Roustam’s mouth from my breasts but he was quickly welcomed by his son’s feet squishing his nose.
“Good job, Roust! My man!” Alexei cheered.
Nikolai kept on riling them up until the twins cried and cried like there’s no tomorrow for at least twenty minutes straight. Nikolai and Alexei were quick to cradle and hush the little draculas until they fell asleep- all four of them.
Nikolai is on the reclining chair with baby Vyacheslav while Alexei is on the bed with Roustam, both Pa’s snoring softly. I slowly took the twins from their fathers’ chest and placed them carefully in their own separate cribs.
I looked at the white strip test I took this morning and placed it on top of the side table right next to Alexei. I took a deep breath and sighed. Tomorrow is going to be a wonderful day in the Volkov mansion.
This is my forever and ever with my Volkovs- and soon plus one.
The End.