Once Upon A Lie 2

Twenty-five: 

Summer came to a close, without any word about Nikolai's killer. The interest around Aleksander died down, especially once he was cleared. They returned back to their apartment. They'd been living in a dreamworld since that summer and now, as the heat faded and fall came to Os Alta, with the air becoming crisper, Alina found herself worrying.

On their first night when they got back, Alina woke up in the middle of the night. "Aleks!"

Aleksander woke up, and gripped her hand tightly. "Wha----what's wrong? Alina, are you okay? Is the baby okay?"

"We're having a baby!" she shouted.

Aleksander frowned. "I know that, Alina. And I would assume you know that, considering."

Alina swatted his chest. "Obviously, I know that we're having a baby. But this summer, I wasn't thinking about that. I was too wrapped up in you. In making sure you were okay, and everything with Nikolai and.... I wasn't thinking about being pregnant. I'm going to be a mom. I can't be a mom. Aleks, we can't even legally drink yet!"

He sighed. "Lina, everything's going to be fine. You're kind, and sweet, and caring. And you've got me. Not to mention, we're incredibly fucking rich. We can hire help if we're miserable at the parenting thing."

She swatted him again. "Aleks, that's not funny!"

He chuckled. "It's a little funny."

Alina glared.

He frowned. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry I shouldn't laugh."

"We've got to get things for the baby."

"Alina, we have everything already, remember? That was the point of the baby shower that my mom and yours threw."

"All of that stuff is in the summer house. Your mom and mine got super excited about turning one of the guest rooms into a nursery. We've got to get stuff for here. We need a crib, baby monitors, and----"

Aleksander kissed her deeply, cupping her face in his hands. He pulled away from her. "Are you feeling better?"

Alina took a deep breath. "There's no crib for the baby and if there's no crib for the baby---"

He kissed her on the forehead. "Alina, look, I promise that tomorrow we will go shopping and we'll get everything that the baby needs."

She locked eyes with him. "Really?"

"Really," he said, "but Princess, I need you to go to sleep for now. Think of the baby, okay? The stress isn't going to be good for the baby. Sleep is good for the baby."

"Are you just saying that because you are tired?" Alina asked.

Aleksander shook his head. "I'm saying it because it is true. I love you, Lina. You're going to be wonderful. And we're going to do this together. You'll have nothing to worry about, because you've got me. And soon its going to be you, me, and the baby. We'll make our own, perfect, little family."

"I love you," Alina said.

"I love you too," Aleksander said. He kissed her again, and she fell asleep, snuggled up on his chest.