Dance Moms - Claudia (2) Sand and Wave

Chapter 3 : Motherhood

They arrived the house at the outskirts of Moscow. Brooke Hyland, now Brooke Severskaya by marriage, was living in one of many Seversky properties.

Sneaking quietly into the house, the two girls removed their boots and went upstairs. The master bedroom was lighted, with a gentle voice was telling a story. Chloe could make out the Russian words.

"...and your mother shot down the last terrorist in the theater, saving the lives of hundreds of children, and your Aunt Chloe bravely took down a heavily armed gunship, all by a swing of a wrist..."

On the bed, the father and daughter were lying on their bellies face to face, with Dima telling a bed time story, and four-years-old Sofia listening with her big blue eyes.

Little Sofia has all the resemblance of her mother, the significant dark hair and fitness, but the gentle eyes of the father.

"Those stories will give her nightmares." Brooke came into the room.

"MaMa!" Little Sofia hopped down the bed and hugged her mother, Dima got up and greeted her with a kiss.

Chloe was all heartwarming seeing Brooke's family. Brooke has always been the big sister in the team, a rebellious teenager who wouldn't take crap from anyone. Who would have thought she is now a loving mother?

"Aunt Chloe!" Sofia went from her mother to her.

Her embrace was heart melting. Chloe was asked to be Sofia's god mother, and after losing her own family, she sees Sofia like her own sister.

"Did you really take down a helicopter?" Little Sofia asked.

"Don't believe everything your father said." Chloe smiled rubbing her dark hair.

"Did you have fun at the party?" Dima asked.

"Oh, lots of fun!" Brooke answered in her usual sarcastic tone. "You should see Chloe kick asses!"

"We only had a few drinks." Chloe lied covering for Brooke.

"That sounds disappointing. I was expecting something on the news in the morning." Dima laughed seeing through her lies.

Then it struck Chloe that Brooke had no secret from her husband, that Dima enjoys the idea of having a heroic wife.

"MaMa, can you take me the next time?"

"No!" all adults in the room broke out.

* * *

After settling Sofia, Brooke walked Chloe to her room. The Seversky Estate has half a dozen guest rooms, and they constantly reserve one for Chloe whenever she stays over.

"Aunt Chloe... I still can't get use to that title." Chloe chuckled and began undressing. "It sounds so... old."

"Would you prefer being called Mom?"

"I'm so happy for you, Brooke. Having your own family, with Dima so trusted in you, letting you go out and all. Most husbands want their wives home."

"Not this one apparently. He likes to brag about me."

"I can see that!"

Watching her friend undressing, Brooke saw all the scars Chloe collected from the dark years.

"You should think about settle down too."

"I have nowhere to go. I sold everything back home." Chloe removed the last of her clothes, grabbing a towel.

"I meant with someone."

"I don't know anyone." Chloe shook her head. "Besides, I can't bear the thought of losing someone again, or them losing me."

"That's exactly what I'm trying to say. When you made a commitment to someone, you carry a certain responsibility, that you won't go risk your life for other things."

"Says someone who just came out from Death Ring?"

"Hey! That was just a game, nothing some bandage and stitches couldn't fix." Brooke stretched her shoulder, still aching from the game. "Well, I'm going to sleep, and you have an early flight to St. Petersburg."

"Are you sure you won't come? JoJo said she misses you."

"Nah, I have a PTA meeting, and believe me, these parents make Dance Moms look like stuffed bunnies!"

Brooke kissed her like a sister and exited the room, leaving Chloe all by herself. She stepped into the shower and turned on the water. She couldn't stop thinking what Brooke just said.

I can't stay in the Recovery all my life. She began telling herself. Brooke has a family, Paige is dating in college, Maddie and Kendall went into their acting career, but what am I going to do? I'm nineteen years old!