Even if the sky is falling down - A Volodymyr Zelenskyy fanfiction

Chapter 20 - What has this life prepared for me?

*Six weeks later*

The nausea now hits me also during the day sometimes. The gynecologist has given me some pills to make me feel better, but they don't help me quite well. I try to distract myself with work and spending time around Volodymyr. But as a result of the nearly daily vomit, I don't eat as much as I should. Sometimes, I just can't get a bite down. I try to hide that and make Volodymyr believe that I try to eat enough and keep the food I ate. In addition to that problem, I recently suffer from dizziness. I'm not sure if it is a result of my bad eating behavior and the countless vomiting or if it is another normal side effect of my pregnancy. I try to deal with it by sitting down more often and leaning against something when I have to stand for a while.

It comes to the situation that I haven't eaten enough during the day again and had to follow Volodymyr and some stuff members through the endless corridor of the bunker to get to an interview with the Australian news-format 60 Minutes. Volodymyr asked me to join him for that interview because they want to draw special attention to his speeches and their rhetoric. He thought it would be a good idea to address some of these questions directly to me. So, I wear a very wide and loose blouse with a cardigan over it to hide my grown belly. We should also already sit around the table when the journalists join us. Volodymyr was sure that nobody will notice something because nobody would expect. I am not sure with that and had a nervous feeling from the beginning. But I follow his wish and that's why we walk down the corridor.

Volodymyr and I walk side by side. I carry some notes that I prepared as possible answers. We are stopped two times on our way 'cause somebody thought to give some special instructions on the last meters. It feels like forever to reach the conference-room.

Finally, it was just getting around the corner and we would have been there. But as if it had been thrown at me within one moment to the other, I feel nausea and dizziness setting in. Okay, Anna, it's just some meters left and you can sit down, I think by myself. But the next step is one too many. I feel my legs weaken, not able to carry my weight any longer. In the last second, I reach for Volodymyr's arm. Then I feel myself falling.

What I don't notice anymore, is Volodymyr beside me, reacting very fast. He catches me and slowly get on his knees to lay me on his lap. He caresses my forehead that is drowned in sweat.

Half an hour later, I open my eyes. I find myself laying in a hospital bed, receiving an infusion. It feels like a deja-vu. What is new, is Volodymyr sitting on the edge of my bed, fondling the inside of my right hand. "Oh no, did I... ?", I manage to ask. "Yes, you fainted. Luckily, I was there. Why didn't you say anything?", he asks in respond. "I thought that I would make it to my chair", I answer honestly. "Oh darling", Volodymyr says, looking concerned. "I'm okay", I say. "But what are you still doing here? What about the interview?" "I cancelled it", he says. "You did WHAT?", I nearly shout. "I cancelled it", he repeats. "I wanted to be by your side", he explains. I sigh. "You should not do that", I say. "I said that I'll put you first by now. So, I did", he says. "What did you say to the journalists?", I ask him. "The truth. That you fainted and I don't want to hold the interview without you. They understood that. I promised them to find another opportunity for the interview, so, please, don't worry about that", he concludes.

"Do you want to have a look at your baby?", the incoming gynecologist interrupts our talk. "For sure", we both say synchronous. I uncover my belly and Volodymyr stands up to come to the other side of the bed. He takes my hand into his. The gynecologist prepares the ultrasound-device in the meantime. She puts some cold gel onto my belly and starts to search for the baby. "Here you are", she says after a little while. "Oh, have a look! One can see the gender of the baby!", she says, showing us something on the monitor. "There, between his legs, can you see?", she asks. "A little Vova", I say, turning my head around to catch up Volodymyr's face. He smiles very bride. He comes down to kiss me. "I love you", he whispers.

"Oh, what is that?", the gynecologist suddenly says. We both look up, paying her attention again. "I think, there is a second heartbeat", she tells us. "What?!", I ask, disbelieving what I just heard. "Yes, here you can see, there is a second fetus! I can congratulate you to be pregnant with twins", she says. "How... is that possible?", I ask her. "I guess she was hiding behind her brother. We already had such cases that we didn't detect both babies from the beginning", the gynecologist explains.

I am not sure if I should laugh or cry about these news. Twins! To carry one baby through the war is already complicated enough. Now, we get two of them.

I face Volodymyr. In this moment, he bursts out laughing. I press his hand. "That's everything, but not funny", I rebuke him. But he forces me to smile also. What has this life prepared for me?

To get some rest and to make a complete check of the second baby, I was told to stay in hospital for two more days. Volodymyr manages to pick me up when I am allowed to leave. He has some blue and pink tulips with him that make me smile. "I'll bring you home, darling. There's a car waiting outside", he tells me. "Home?", I ask him. "Yeah, to your private apartment. I don't want you to stay in the presidential palace or even the bunker any longer. You need to be in a calmer environment", he explains. "And my work?", I ask him. "You can work from home by now, this is no problem. I have Piotr instructed to bring you the things you'll need. And we will stay in contact via Zoom", he promises.

As soon as we are in front of my door, Volodymyr demands me to close my eyes. I follow. He carefully guides me to a certain room and allows me to open my eyes again. As soon as I could see something, I notice that we're standing in the middle of the future children's room that I used as a lumber room before. There's already a twin bed, a changing table, a wardrobe and a little couch installed. There are also some stuffed animals, baby-toys and decoration. "Can you see? Nearly everything is ready for our two angels. Of course, you are able to change things if you don't like it like that and put your personal note on everything, but I wanted to make you feel that we'll manage everything", Volodymyr says. My mind is simply blown. "How did you manage? I mean, to buy and install all these beautiful things within only two days?", I ask him. "It is not just my work", he starts to explain. "Piotr helped me a lot. I trusted him to look for the right furniture and we worked during nights to get it ready. Within lunch breaks, I went undercover-baby-shopping", he tells me, smiling. Typical Volodymyr. Also using breaks and nights to work on something. "You're – incredible", I tell him. "So, do you like it?", he asks me. "Of course, I do. How couldn't I?", I say. I make a step closer to him. I lean my forehead against his. We remain in this position for a while. Afterwards, I lay one hand on his cheek, pulling him closer to kiss him. A warm feeling spreads through my whole body as soon as my lips reach his.

He then guides me over to sit on the couch. He lays an arm around my shoulders and I lean my head on his chest. "We need to find names for them", Volodymyr suddenly says. I sit back upright, facing him. My eyes shine. I haven't thought about this yet, although it is so obviously. "Do you have suggestions?", I ask him. "They will be called Zelenskyy, that's for sure", I add. "So, I'd love to give them Ukrainian names". "How do you like Angelina for the girl and something more conventional for the boy, like Mykyta?", he asks me. "Angelina is beautiful", I answer. "But for the boy we should find something else. Maybe also something with 'A' in the beginning?". "What about Andrij then?", he asks. "Angelina and Andrij", I repeat. "Yeah, I like that", I say. "Angelina and Andrij Zelenskyy".