Stay With Me

34

A few months later

Alexei press a kiss on Mercedes's stomach. Now it was huge, very obvious that she was pregnant. Yet she glowed like she never glowed before. She was even more beautiful in Alexei's eyes.

It took some time and thoughts but he promised to stay in America with Mercedes since she didn't want to leave home yet. He bought a new house just for them and their unborn child. He had consulted with his cousins and they all agreed that his cousins would stay in Russia and run several of the businesses there until Alexei returns.

Alexei didn't mind leaving Russia but one day he would like to show his kid where he came from. His tradition, his culture, he wanted to show his kid exactly that and more. But he didn't want to rush, he felt nervous just thinking about the future.

"You make sure to be ready this afternoon for our class," Mercedes said pointing at him.

Alexei nods as he sits up in his bed. Mercedes bribe Alexei into going to parenting classes. Since they were first-time parents and Alexei was getting more stressed about the situation Mercedes thought it was a great idea. Alexei didn't mind, he would do whatever Mercedes says.

He gently places his hand over her stomach and sighed.

"If it's a girl we should name her Alina." He speaks catching Mercedes's attention.

Mercedes tilts her head as she hums, thinking about the name. She places her hand on top of his with a smile.

"I was thinking about naming her after my mother, Willow."

"We could combine them, that could be her middle name," Alexei suggests.

Mercedes nods before clearing her throat.

"What if it's a boy?" She asks with a smile.

Alexei's body tensed up almost immediately. Mercedes notices this causing her smile to falter. Her mouth opens but Alexei beat her to it.

"I don't want a boy." He says harshly before removing his hand away from her stomach.

Alexei gets up from the bed and walks towards the bathroom. Mercedes frowns slightly as she touches her stomach carefully. Hearing Alexei closes the door shut she let out a quiet sigh.

❍

Alexei places a kiss on Mercedes's forehead. After parenting class Mercedes was tired, she usually stayed home most of the day since she never had enough strength to be out. Her back was usually cramped up, she felt like she carrying a boulder, and her feet hurt just walking around.

He understood so after washing her body he helped her to bed. It didn't take long for her to go straight to sleep. Alexei walks out of the bedroom and walks downstairs. Just in time since he heard someone knocking at his door.

He walks towards it and unlocks it. To his surprise he sees Anna standing in front of him with a bottle of wine. He glares at her before walking away. Anna couldn't help but snicker as she walks inside. She closes the door shut with her right foot and then follows behind Alexei.

"You should be happy to see me. Where's my sister-in-law?" Anna asks with a smirk as she goes to the kitchen counter.

There she places her bottle of wine on top while Alexei goes to the upper cabinets. Opening the shelf he takes out two of the wine glasses then turns around, gently placing them on the counter.

"Sleeping and you're not meeting her until after she gives birth. She doesn't need that type of stress neither does my child." He answers her.

Anna tsks grabbing the wine bottle.

"Loser." She says rolling her eyes. "Do you have the nursery set up? Or the furniture-"

"Everything is under control. She will live nicely." Alexei tells her.

"She? It's a girl?"

"I'm very certain." Alexei states before grabbing the wine from his sister's hands.

He opens the bottle and pours the two wine glasses halfway. Anna crosses her arms over her chest, and a smirk appears on her lips.

"You don't want a boy?" She asks as Alexei places one of the wine glasses in front of her.

Alexei grabs his glass, his jaw slightly clenches while he looks down at the maroon-red liquid. He shakes his head before bringing the glass up to his lips. He gulps it, enjoying the sweet and somewhat bitter taste. Once he swallows his eyes land on his sister.

"A girl is what I prefer. She might come out looking like Mercedes, have her hair, maybe more of her brown skin, her eyes, and her personality. That's all not certain, but I could still handle it even if she looks and act totally like me." Alexei starts before letting out a deep breath.

"If I have a boy then I won't be able to handle it. I don't know if I could raise a boy. I don't want to become like my father. I don't know how much love I can give to him, I don't know if I can. How can I raise my son and turn him into a man when I don't even know how to do that?" Alexei complains before taking another sip.

Anna hums, as she drops her hands down to her sides.

"Wow brother, who knew you had these feelings." She sighs. "Raise him how you would like to be raised. The whole love thing, that's something you have to ask yourself, we weren't raised with love." She explains shrugging her shoulders.

"I suppose."