"Do we really have to be here?" Timo scowled up at the brick building covered in snow. The scent of roasted wood wafted from the stout chimney, casting plumes of smoke above our heads.

"It's fucking cold." Dima huffed, blowing hot air into his palms.

"Dima!" Alexei and I glared at our fifteen year old son.

Dima ducked his head, properly castigated. "I mean, it's exceedingly cold."

"Say that word again and I'll let Babushka keep you for the summer." Alexei massaged the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated.

Dima paled as Timo snorted.

I had a feeling Dima was intimidated by the Vasiliev matriarch. The woman adored the boys, but she had the tendency to frighten them with her harsh accent and unsmiling face.

"Sounds appealing." Timo nudged his brother on the shoulder. Dima scowled and muttered something undecipherable beneath his breath.

Timo and Dima looked nothing like me. They had taken most of their genes from the Vasiliev side with their golden brown eyes, inky dark hair, and alabaster skin. Sometime two years ago they had shot up in height, so they now towered over me. Alexei still held an inch over them, but I knew by the end of the year, they'd be the same height as their papa.

People often mistook the boys for twins, but Timo was a year older than Dima.

Timo was the angel of the two while Dima often played on the edge.

However, I loved them more than words could express.

"Alright, behave boys. I don't want any disrespect in Babushka's house."

"Ok papa." They both chorused, adjusting their winter coats.

I placed an arm around each of their waists, just as Alexei stepped forward and hit the wood with his fist three times.

We heard her footsteps from inside vibrate the house.

Babushka came to the door, her lips pursed as she scrutinised each of our faces.

I was aware we all weren't breathing.

Babushka had that kind of effect on all of us.

When she finished, she sought out the boys, taking them in with kind eyes. "Timothey, you have grown." She appraised him.

Timo's smile didn't waver as he took Babushka's frail hand, planting a kiss on her wrist. "Good to see you in good health Babushka."

Her lips twitched. Timo had a way of charming women. He was still growing into himself, but he was quick to pick up things that made people look up to him with envy. This included Dima, who would probably deny it to his very last breath if asked.

"Dima, you look forever scolded my child." Babushka raised a brow at the boy.

Dima offered a wonky grin, "I was scolded."

"Go easy on the boy Alexei." Babushka warned, almost immediately. "He's just a child."

Alexei readily nodded, not in the least stunned that he was getting called out. He respected the hell out of the woman to combat her command with anything other than acquiescence. "Of course."

I discreetly shared a glance with Timo, who returned a small grin as his eyes sparkled, showing more hints of golden than brown.

Timo had pretty eyes, just like his daddy but rather than exuding the savage edge in Alexei's gaze, Timo's eyes only expressed innocence and charm.

I never wanted that look to disappear but even I couldn't stop the path he would later walk in life, whether it be a path of suffering or not.

I would leave my boy in the hands of the Fates and pray like hell that the world gave him only good things.

I sought out Dima, who was pointedly ignoring the gaze of Alexei. Dima worshipped Babushka but even he could not dwell in her presence for too long. He once quoted to Alexei and I that 'Babushka was good in small doses'. Let's just say that Alexei hadn't reacted well to that, considering he chased the boy around the house until Dima squealed out my name for help.

As we stood in front of Babushka's place, we were all aware that the youngest Vasiliev was going to get a long lecture from Alexei once Babushka was out of ear and sight range. It was the only reason Dima avoided eye contact this long with Alexei as he gently snaked his way into the building, gripping Babushka's cotton dress. He began spouting out a flow of nonsense in Russian.

Alexei strictly spoke to the boys in his mother tongue at home, from the day they left my belly. I was still learning the language, but I was still eons behind, no matter how much I tried. Fortunately, Alexei was a patient teacher.

"Go make sure your brother doesn't stir shit up." Alexei told our oldest son.

Timo chuckled under his breath as he brushed by, "You owe me."

Alexei turned to me; his lips pinched. "I'm going to kill your son."

"Kill him and I'll kill you." I pulled him close by tugging on his black coat. I still found it funny seeing him wrapped up in winter clothes. He was close to leaving the airport with only his sweater but as soon as I spotted the harsh snowfall, I wrestled the heavy coat over his broad shoulders until he reluctantly succumbed. He only submitted to my demands because people were pointing at us, wondering why he was allowing some woman to fuss around him like an energetic Chihuahua.

"You'd miss me." He nuzzled my neck affectionately. "And my big cock." He added a few seconds later.

"Alexei!" I searched the open doorway, grateful that Babushka nor the boys were close by.

The man laughed against neck, squeezing me against his tall form. "I'm just teasing, not about my being having a big cock though."

"Unleash me you foul mouthed lunatic." I pried his heavy arms away, tossing my hair over my shoulder.

"Solnishko, come back here." He tried to grab my hand, but I was evading his tactics. I had to have all my senses on alert since we were going to be staying with Babushka for the weekend. We still had our old things tucked in the spare room of her home from our last visit, hence, we didn't need to bring much. I was the only one sporting a bag since it was filled with gifts we lugged from back home.

"Unhand me Alexei. You're making me think inappropriate things in Babushka's front yard." I told him.

The man released another peel of laughter. "Solnishko, baby. Wait. Come here. Just come here."

I reluctantly stopped slapping his hands away and waited to see what the man would do.

There wasn't much I could deny man.

I was ass over tits in love with him and he knew it.

"Now, it'd be great if you stop glaring at me." He chuckled, motioning to my face.

I controlled my expression, hoping I was reading 'unimpressed'.

He abruptly pulled me back into his embrace, cupping my cheeks with his cold palms. The man refused the mitts I had stashed away for his use. I watched his lips form a small, secretive smile as he studied my face. His thumbs brushed against my cheeks before sliding down and tracing the outline of my lips. "You're mine."

"Well, I don't belong to the man down the road."

"You're mine." He repeated, his tone mystified.

"Of course I'm yours."

"And I'm yours." He stated.

"And since we seem to be on a claiming thing, I should probably let you in on my secret." I took his hand and guided it to my belly. "I know we didn't plan for this but, here we are." I whispered.

Alexei blinked, then stared hard at where his hand was placed.

Alexei abruptly dropped to his knees, staring at my stomach with an indecipherable expression. There was no outward sign that showed that I was expecting but he caressed my belly like it was already protruding.

"How far along?" He asked quietly, enraptured.

"A few weeks."

"Anastasia." He whispered.

"Anastasia?"

"Her name will be Anastasia."

"You don't know if the baby will be a girl."

"She will be."

"You don't know that." I whispered, feeling moisture build in my eyes.

"She'll be loved." He shared this with me as he slowly rose to his feet, gathering me into an embrace. Those were the same, exact words that he told me when Timo was born and when Dima entered the world the following year. The way he promised these words never failed to make me find peace.

Just like that, I felt the tears I forced at bay, come spilling down my cheeks.

"Her first moments in this world, she won't be alone. She'll have me. She'll have her two big brothers and she'll have you. She doesn't know how lucky she is Solnishko to be loved by so many people already."

"You're making me cry. Stop." I begged, half kidding. I wasn't prepared to lose control over my emotions but then again, I had been an emotional mess when I had been pregnant with Timo and Dima. I didn't want to admit either, but I had an inkling that the baby I carried was our little Anastasia that we had been waiting for.

I noted that Alexei had gone awfully quiet. When I pulled slightly away from him, I caught him just as he wiped beneath his eye.

It was stupid but it made me cry even harder.

"Solnishko. Shhh. Stop. No crying." He stroked my back.

"It's the hormones." I lied. He was the source for my tears but not in the way he would assume.

The man never ceased to make my heart flutter.

"My own slice of heaven." He rubbed my belly. I wasn't showing yet, but I could feel our child in there. Safe. Loved.

"The boys will be excited to hear the news."

Once we entered Babushka's home, Alexei slid the door closed, keeping the cold outside. Babushka had her fireplace lit and the scent of cider graced the living area.

Alexei guided me through house, despite the many times we visited Babushka.

Once Babushka caught sight of us, she waved us over to the small table near the fireplace. Her living area doubled as the dining room. "Hurry up now. Even I can walk faster than you two and I'm well over a century."

Alexei laughed, "We're coming."

Alexei and I sat across from our sons. Babushka took the head of the table, smiling only a little as if she didn't want to but couldn't help herself. She clasped her thin fingers together under her chin and took us all in quietly.

Dima became uncomfortable when the quietness lingered. My boy lived in the loud. He didn't do silence well, unlike his brother who found the most comfort from it.

"So, are we going to eat soon or are we just going to sit here and give each other googly eyes?" Dima asked, when the silence became too much for him to endure.

"Dima." Timo warned.

"We can eat now." Babushka nodded.

I heard Timo swipe his leg under the table and knock it into his brother's knee. Dima flinched but otherwise dug into the soup Babushka prepared, praising her skill between bites.

I picked up my spoon but then I felt her gaze on me. When I glanced up, she grinned wide, displaying her surprisingly well kept teeth. "I guess congratulations are in order."

Dima paused mid spoonful. Timo stared at me, confused.

"Why am I not surprised you knew?" Alexei sat back into his back. His arm slid around my back as he brushed a brisk kiss along my neck.

"She'll bear the Vasiliev eyes." Babushka claimed, "I've seen her in my dreams, and she looks like Anastasia."

Alexei blinked rapidly.

I smoothed a hand over my belly, "How will she be?"

Babushka stared at me across the table. "A lot like you. She may look like a Vasiliev but she's all you on the inside child."

Alexei squeezed my hand.

"Hold up, I'm confused." Dima muttered.

Timo stared at me from across the table, "Are you- are you pregnant?"

Alexei took a slow sip of his water and nodded.

Timo beamed, "A sister?"

"A baby girl." Babushka added.

Dima hid his face behind his palms, "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy and all but I really didn't know that my parents were still bumping uglies. I think I just lost my appetite."

This made everyone laugh around the table.

I felt Alexei press into me, lacing our fingers together on his thigh. His gold ring on his finger shone against the light, catching my eye. I felt his love like an embrace.

Sitting at the table, sharing this moment with my family, I wanted to reassure the scared but fierce little girl who slept under the stars that she needed to hold on a little longer before she found her nebesa.

I wanted to embrace her and tell her that she wouldn't need to fear for anything because she would have the most incredible man standing beside her, ready to take on life by her side.

The thought made me tear up, but I held it in as Alexei brushed his lips against my ear, whispering his soft declaration of love.

I melted against him, resting the side of my head against his broad shoulder. "I love you more than life Alexei Vasiliev."

Alexei squeezed my hand.