Epilogue III
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Kat
Ivan is running around the house like a crazy person. The man has directed missions and preformed assassinations but he can't take a contraction or two.
"Just get the bag, Baby. Take deep breaths." I have to giggle when he looks at me like I've lost my mind.
My water broke just a few minutes ago. We were both asleep when it happened so both of us were groggy and confused. I haven't had a contraction close together yet but we're going just to make sure everything is going to be alright. When one hits me I stop moving and wait for the overbearing ache to go away. It doesn't take it long, but it is long enough I am certain I want the drugs.
"Are you having another one? Oh God!" he starts running through the house and I have to remind myself that he's just anxious because this is happening to me. He comes back through holding our bags. "Come on Kitten, we don't want to have the baby in the car."
I waddle after him still laughing. He mumbles something about never making love to me again which I know is bullshit because I would throw him to the ground and take it if he tried to keep it from me. I have been especially horny all during my pregnancy. Before both of us drifted off to sleep we had quite vigorous lovemaking. Thinking back on that time as another contraction hits causing me to stop in the doorway causes me to wonder if that is what started this.
I am as big as a house but Ivan always makes me feel loved and wanted. He gives me hour-long foot rubs and goes out of his way to make my day better. I couldn't ask for a better lover, or mate, or husband. We married before the baby bump was even noticeable. Ivan comes running back to me and sweeps me up in his arms.
"The door Ivan, lock the door."
He sets me back down very gently and locks up. I breathe through another contraction. "Have you been timing them, baby? You know you have to time them."
"I'm sorry I've been a little busy keeping your kid in until we get to the hospital."
Ivan stops and looks at me like I have two heads and might breathe fire at any moment. I give him a little smile of apology. "Sorry, love. I don't mean anything by it."
"Doesn't matter if you meant every word of it, Kitten. I wouldn't stop loving you and taking care of you and being with you." He sweeps me up in his arms again and carries me to the truck. Once he helps me buckle up he runs to get in himself. "I love you baby. You are so beautiful I can't believe you are about to bring our child into the world."
He slips into Russian. Over the past couple of months between him and Ana I have been picking up more and more so I can tell he's telling me all the ways I am wonderful. The lucky bastard, if he wasn't so sweet I would be so pissy with him. Another contraction bears down on me and I squeeze the hand I've been holding in mine. He grunts but takes it.
"They're getting faster baby. I'll have us there in no time, my Kiska."
"I love you, my love. You are my world."
Twenty hours later we have a beautiful little girl lying on my chest getting the first drink of her life. Ivan looks exhausted. He wouldn't leave my side the entire time, giving me ice chips and fluffing my pillow and kissing me. He had all the nurses wooed, most of them telling me they would love a man like him. Apparently, a lot of men don't handle the birth of their babies very well.
He dozes in and out of sleep but every time I, or the baby, move he opens his eyes to check on both of us. Watching him with the baby makes me love him more fiercely than ever before. He held her for most of the day. Ace and Ana have called and will be stopping by tomorrow if we feel like it and their mom can't wait to hold the baby, although Ace wanted me to promise not to let her because he knew she would start in on him about giving her grandbabies.
Everything I love and need is in this room tonight. Thinking back on the months that I have been with Ivan I can't believe it hasn't even been a year yet. He makes me so happy that I can't imagine life without my rough, cranky bear of a man and he says I am his beautiful redemption. I'll be his redemption any day. My hard loving, tattooed Russian is worth saving.
The End!!!!