Epilogue - Valentina
Epilogue – Valentina
I stand at the counter, my hands busy chopping vegetables for breakfast. The baby inside me shifts, and I pause, placing a hand on my swollen belly. Eight months along, and every movement is a reminder of the life growing within me. The kitchen is quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board.
Dmitri enters, his footsteps barely audible over the chopping. He stops at the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with those intense eyes. “Valentina,” he says, his voice firm yet gentle. “You should let the staff handle this.”
I sigh, setting the knife down and turning to face him. “Dmitri, you won’t let me do anything. I need to feel useful.” My words come out sharper than intended, but the frustration has been building.
He steps closer, his expression softening slightly. “You need to rest,” he insists. “Stop being so stubborn.”
“I’m pregnant, not disabled,” I retort, crossing my arms over my chest.
“All the more reason to rest,” he counters without missing a beat. He places a hand on my arm, guiding me away from the counter. I resist at first but eventually relent, allowing him to lead me toward our bedroom.
As we walk, I feel a mix of annoyance and gratitude. Dmitri has always been protective—sometimes overly so—but it’s hard to stay mad at him when I know he’s only trying to keep me safe.
He helps me sit on the edge of the bed and brushes a strand of hair away from my face. “I’ll make breakfast for you,” he says softly.
I nod reluctantly. “Alright.”
Dmitri leans down and kisses my forehead before heading back to the kitchen. Left alone in our room, I settle back against the pillows and try to relax. The sounds of cooking drift in from the kitchen—clattering pans and sizzling food—and I can’t help but smile despite myself.
After what feels like an eternity but is probably only fifteen minutes or so, Dmitri returns with a tray laden with food. He sets it down gently on my lap—a plate of scrambled eggs with herbs, toast with butter and jam, and a glass of fresh orange juice.
“Thank you,” I say quietly as I pick up a fork.
He sits beside me on the bed, watching as I take my first bite. The eggs are perfectly seasoned—just like how I taught him.
“You’re welcome,” he replies, a hint of pride in his voice.
Dmitri sits beside me, his strong hands moving to massage my legs as I eat. His touch is gentle, almost reverent, as he works out the knots and tension. The sensation is soothing, and I let out a small sigh of relief.
“I finished painting the baby’s room,” he says, his voice a comforting rumble. “We should go shopping for clothes soon.”
I nod in agreement, taking another bite of the perfectly seasoned eggs. The idea of preparing for our baby’s arrival fills me with a warmth I hadn’t expected. Despite everything, there’s still hope and excitement for the future.
But the worry lingers at the edges of my mind, refusing to be entirely pushed aside. I stop eating, setting down my fork and looking up at Dmitri. “I’m still worried about my father,” I admit quietly. “With him out there...”
Dmitri’s hands pause on my legs, and he leans in closer, his eyes locking onto mine with that intense focus he always has. “Stop worrying your pretty little head, my love” he says firmly. “Sergei will not be a problem for us ever again.”
I want to believe him, but the fear is hard to shake. “How can you be so sure?”
“He has no friends left, no money,” Dmitri explains. “He’s hiding like a rat in the dark. And I’m ready for him whenever he decides to crawl out of his hole.”
There’s a fierce determination in his voice that reassures me more than his words alone could. He leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my belly.
I place my hand on top of his head, feeling the familiar softness of his hair beneath my fingers. “Thank you,” I whisper.
Dmitri looks up at me. “For what?”
“For being here... for everything.”
He smiles slightly and resumes massaging my legs. “You're my world, Valentina. I’d do anything for you.”
***
I’m nestled into at least five pillows. Dmitri is in the corner, fiddling with something on his phone. I glance up at him and suddenly feel a wave of longing wash over me. I set the book down.
“Dmitri,” I start. My voice catches his attention immediately. “We’ve never been on a date before.”
He raises an eyebrow, his intense eyes meeting mine. “A date?” he echoes, sounding both curious and cautious.
“Yeah,” I say, sitting up a bit straighter. “Like normal people. Dinner, maybe a movie. Just us.”
He seems to ponder this for a moment before replying. “Would a home-cooked, candlelit dinner be okay?”
I shake my head, smiling despite myself. “No, Dmitri. I want to go out.”
He looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. Finally, he nods. “Alright then,” he says decisively. “Get ready. I’ll book us a reservation.”
Excitement bubbles up inside me at his words. I practically leap off the bed, feeling more energized than I have in weeks. “Thank you,” I say softly before heading toward the bathroom.
As I step inside and start running the bathwater, I catch my reflection in the mirror. I look more excited than I realized.
I sink into the warm water, letting it soothe my aching muscles. The scent of lavender fills the air as I close my eyes and let myself relax completely for what feels like the first time in forever.
After bathing, I wrap myself in a plush towel and head back to our bedroom to find something to wear.
I stand in front of the closet, and frustration soon bubbles up inside me as I pull out dress after dress, only to find that none of them fit over my swollen belly. Each failed attempt makes my irritation grow, and I finally throw a dress onto the floor in exasperation.
"This is ridiculous," I mutter to myself, fighting back the tears that threaten to spill over.
Dmitri appears in the doorway, looking concerned.
"What’s wrong?" he asks, stepping into the room.
I sniffle, unable to hide my emotions any longer. "I can’t fit into any of my clothes," I say, my voice trembling. "Nothing fits me anymore."
His expression softens immediately. He walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. "Valentina, don’t cry," he says gently. "We can go shopping tomorrow and get you some new clothes."
I shake my head, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. "But what about our date tonight?" I ask, looking up at him.
He pauses for a moment before a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "You could wear some of my clothes if you still want to go out."
I stare at him, incredulous. "Are you calling me fat?" The words come out sharper than I intend, but I’m too upset to care.
Dmitri looks flustered, clearly caught off guard by my reaction. "No, that’s not what I meant at all," he says quickly. "Valentina, you’re beautiful. I love your body just the way it is."
His words catch me off guard, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him. Then the tears come again, but this time they’re different—softer, almost relieved.
Dmitri steps closer and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a gentle hug. His warmth seeps into me, and I let out a shaky breath as I rest my head against his chest.
"We’ll figure it out," he murmurs into my hair. "We always do."
"Okay," I whisper finally. "We’ll go shopping tomorrow."
He pulls back slightly to look down at me, his eyes filled with a tenderness that makes my heart ache in the best possible way. "And tonight?"
I take a deep breath and give him a small smile. "Tonight... maybe we stay in and have that home-cooked dinner you mentioned."
Dmitri smiles back at me and nods. "That sounds perfect."
I sit in the living room, munching on popcorn, my eyes glued to the TV screen. The reality show I’m watching is ridiculous but entertaining, and it's the perfect distraction. Dmitri and Alexei are huddled on the other side of the room, intensely focused on their game. The sound of rapid game pad clicking and occasional curses fills the air.
“Dmitri, you’re going down!” Alexei taunts, a grin spreading across his face.
“Keep dreaming,” Dmitri retorts, his fingers flying over the buttons.
A particularly funny moment on the show makes me burst into laughter. As I do, I feel a sudden trickle of warmth running down my thigh. My heart skips a beat.
“Uh, guys?”
Both Dmitri and Alexei glance up from their screens simultaneously, concern replacing their competitive expressions.
“What’s wrong?” Dmitri asks, standing up immediately.
“I think the baby’s coming,” I say calmly, though my mind is racing.
Dmitri’s face goes pale, and he looks like he’s about to panic. “What? Now? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I confirm, trying to stay composed. “My water just broke.”
Alexei jumps to his feet as well, looking between Dmitri and me with wide eyes.
“What do we do? Should we call an ambulance?”
“No need for that,” I say, holding up a hand to calm them both down. “The bag is already in the car. We just need to get to the hospital.”
Dmitri looks like he’s about to argue but then takes a deep breath and nods. “Okay. Let’s go.”
He moves toward me as if he’s going to scoop me up in his arms, but I stop him with a raised hand. “I can walk,” I assure him. “The contractions haven’t started yet.”
Both men hover around me as I stand up from the couch. Dmitri takes one side while Alexei takes the other, their hands ready to support me if needed.
“Easy does it,” Alexei murmurs as we start walking toward the door.
Dmitri looks at me every few seconds, concern etched across his features. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks for probably the tenth time.
“Yes,” I reply patiently, squeezing his hand for reassurance. “I promise I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
We make it outside and toward the car without incident. Dmitri opens the passenger door for me while Alexei heads around to start the engine.
“Just breathe,” Dmitri says softly as he helps me into the seat.
I can’t help but smile at his concern despite my own nerves starting to kick in. “You too,” I tease lightly as he buckles my seatbelt.
Dmitri chuckles weakly and kisses my forehead before closing the door and getting into the backseat himself.
Alexei glances back at us from the driver’s seat with a determined look on his face. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Dmitri and I say in unison.
As Alexei pulls out of the driveway and heads toward the hospital, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what’s coming next.
The hours in the hospital pass in a blur of pain and anticipation. I grip Dmitri’s hand tightly, feeling each contraction ripple through my body. The nurses move around us, offering words of encouragement and instructions that I try to focus on through the haze.
Dmitri stays by my side the entire time, his face a mixture of worry and determination. “You’re doing amazing, Valentina,” he whispers, his thumb gently brushing the back of my hand.
I nod weakly, focusing on his voice to keep myself grounded. The pain intensifies and sweat drips down my forehead. “I can’t believe this is happening,” I manage to say between breaths.
“You’re strong,” Dmitri assures me.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the doctor announces that it’s time to push. I muster every ounce of strength I have left, and with Dmitri’s support and encouragement, I give it everything I’ve got.
And then, suddenly, it’s over. The sound of a baby’s cry fills the room, and I collapse back against the pillows, exhausted but relieved. Tears well up in my eyes as I look at Dmitri.
“We did it,” I whisper.
Dmitri’s eyes shine with pride and love as he leans down to kiss me softly on the lips. “You did it,” he corrects gently. “You’re incredible.”
The nurses clean up our baby and wrap him in a soft blanket before bringing him over to us. My heart races as they place him in my arms for the first time.
“He’s perfect,” Dmitri murmurs, his voice thick with emotion as he kisses my forehead.
I look down at our son, overwhelmed by a rush of love and joy. Tiny fingers curl around mine, and I can’t hold back the tears any longer. They flow freely down my cheeks as I gaze at his little face.
“Hello, Daniil,” I whisper softly, cradling him close to my chest. “Welcome to the world.”
Dmitri wraps an arm around us both, his lips brushing against my temple as he continues to murmur beautiful words into my ear. “You’re amazing, Valentina. Thank you,” he says again.
I nod through my tears, unable to find the words to express how complete I feel at this moment. Daniil stirs slightly in my arms, making soft cooing noises that melt my heart even more.
“I love you,” I say to Dmitri.
He tightens his hold on us both and presses another kiss to my lips. “I love you so much more,” he replies softly.
The world outside may be dangerous and uncertain, but here in this room—with Daniil in my arms and Dmitri by my side—I feel nothing but peace and joy.
For now, that's all that matters.