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

Chapter 21 - Worth it

*Another three months later*

I stand in front of the mirror, hands on my belly. My baby bump has grown fast in the past months and I'm not able to hide it any longer. I also can feel the twins now. Their little kicks from inside. The first time when I noticed their activity was when I laid in bed beside Volodymyr. He was already sleeping to that time. At first, I thought, I was just a single kick from one of them, but the feeling was repeating. I woke Volodymyr up to make him feel from the outside what I felt inside. We both touched my baby bump with our hands to make contact to the twins. Volodymyr than hovered up over me to spread little kisses on my belly. I felt so happy in that moment.

The moment of giving birth to our babies comes nearer. Volodymyr and I decided for a planned Caesarean section in Kyiv Main Hospital. The doctors told us that this would be the safest way to give birth under these unpredictable circumstances. All in all, I try to prepare myself mentally and physically for the arriving of the twins. I take part in an online course for baby preparation, read appropriate books and talk to my friends that are already mothers. I also started to meditate to calm myself down.

I still continue my work, but just for half a day by now. Volodymyr doesn't talk much about the war with me to spare me as much as possible. He cared about me from the beginning of our relationship and even beyond, but with the forthgoing of the pregnancy, his caring gets on a new level. I'm thankful for that because it means that he focuses more on me and get a little distracted from the cruel things around him.

In the recent days, I observed him being really happy but also a little nervous when he was around me. I asked myself if it was due to my birthday that will take place tomorrow. And actually, he asked me to go on a "date" with him the next day. I was excited because I didn't know what to expect.

Of course, he needed to work during the day but he gave Piotr free for the day that I didn't need to spend it alone. Piotr was an angel and we had a lot of fun during the day. We ate a birthday-cake, watched a funny movie and talked about everything and nothing. I tried to get out of him what Volodymyr was planning for the evening 'cause I know that Piotr was informed. He always is when Volodymyr invests in our relationship because he is in fact the only one who does not observe this whole thing with a critical eye. But Piotr was silent as a grave.

Finally, the evening arrived. Piotr was gone and I was patiently waiting for Volodymyr to pick me up. I changed in a new red maternity dress in the meantime and put some makeup on. I want to look good for my Ukrainian date. It comes as a salvation when I can hear the key that is turned in the lock.

"Wow", Volodymyr says, as soon as he takes sight of me. "You look beautiful". "Thank you, darling", I say, smiling. "But you also look stunning. It's the first time for more than a year that you wear a suit, am I right?", I comment his special outfit. He also wears a red bow tie as if he had known that I would wear red this evening. I'm so in love with this man, I think by myself. "You wanna go out with me?", he pulls me back to reality, reaching for my arm to hook me under. "I want nothing else", I respond and follow him.

We get into the presidential car and are brought to a small but sweet restaurant in a hidden corner of Kyiv. Inside, a candle-light dinner is waiting for us. When we sit down, I notice Volodymyr looking at me with a certain glance in his eyes. "Are you happy today?", he starts the conversation. "Yes, I had a lot of fun with Piotr and for now, I'm enjoying my date", I answer. "Great", he says. He must have been ordering our meal before because a waiter serves two Bortsch as a starter. It is followed by something less Ukrainian and more Italian, pasta with pesto to be concrete, because it is my favorite meal. We don't talk much during eating, and I don't get rid of the feeling that Volodymyr behaves different.