When We Were Young

Seventy-seven:

Seventy-seven:

When they got home, they were kissing as the two of them made their way from the elevator. Aleksander had worked off Alina's jacket and was running his hands through her hair. He let out a low growl. "I want you so bad, sweetheart," he told, "I've been thinking about nothing but having you all day. I got distracted in class."

Alina laughed into his mouth. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're beautiful," he told her.

"And you both are causing an international incident." The two of them froze as they heard the voice of Baghra Morozova say to them. Alina and Aleksander both froze, and quickly pulled apart, like two guilty teenagers being caught doing something that they shouldn't have.

"Mother," Aleksander said irritably, "what are you doing here?"

"I was visited by a very, very gruff Fjerdian man today saying that the two of you are holding Fjerdian secrets and that if you don't release them, they are going to come after the both of you. Miss Starkov, I understand that you are carrying Aleksander's child, and my grandchild, but there are some things that even I cannot stop. It might be best if you---"

"NO," Alina said sharply.

Baghra flinched. "You haven't even let me finish my suggestion."

"My whole life has been ruined because of your suggestions Miss Morozova, now I know that you have been courteous enough to let us stay here but if it comes down to it, I will find accommodations elsewhere if that means that I can be free of you."

"Aleksander," said Baghra, "surely you have to see reason. You've delt with these people just as much as me. You know that they are dangerous."

"She's my girlfriend, Mom," Aleksander said, "and she's the mother of my child."

"She was never meant for you. She was always supposed to be someone else's. It is not too late for the both of you to rectify this mistake. Or if you wanted, you could have the child and give it up for adoption and---"

"Get out!" Alina shouted. "Get out, Baghra, and don't come back."

"Alina," said Aleksander, "we've been threatened a few times by Jarl Brum----"

"You can't be serious!" Alina said. "This is our baby, Aleksander. You went to the ultrasound with me."

He sighed. "I'm just worried something worse is going to happen to you. Maybe you should at least have Baghra arrange a meeting with the prince so we can figure out what he wants and see if there's some way we can give it to him without hurting you or the baby."

Alina shook her head. "No. No. I'm not.... no." She glared at him. "I can't believe you could possibly suggest any of this."

"Alina, they shot at me. I'm not talking about our baby, never our baby, but---"

"I'm not meeting with the prince. I refuse to." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Look, I can't...I can't be here right now." She turned and started to go back to the elevator.

"Alina, please," Aleksander said, and he grabbed her wrist, "come on. You can be mad at me, just don't go."

"I don't want to be around anyone that would suggest that I meet with people that are trying to hurt me." She pulled her wrist away. "Let me go, Aleksander. I'll call you when I'm ready to go home."

The elevator came, and she got in before Aleksander could stop her.