Being a Volkov

Chapter 17

Aleksandr's POV

It's about five in the morning and I'm awoken my a noise downstairs. I grab my gun and slowly make my way to the source of the noise. I lower my drawn gun when I find the culprits to be my oldest son and his dog.

"Xander, what are you doing up at this time?" He jumps and turns to me

"I had a nightmare."

I glance past him and see that he's preparing to brew a cup of coffee.

"Sunny." I frown

"I know."

"Come on." I beckoned for him to follow me

He did and we went to sit on the roof

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"It's honestly really stupid." He sighed while playing with Jesse's ears

"I don't think that's true."

"If I open up will you buy me coffee?"

"Sure."

"I've been having nightmares for a couple of weeks."

"How much coffee are you consuming on a daily basis?"

"More than you'd approve of."

"Do you know what's triggering these nightmares?" I asked

"Graduation."

"I thought you were excited? What part of it is impacting you?"

"I'm moving across the country in September and turning eighteen in October. When that happens you'll no longer have any obligation to me and I'll be all alone again."

"What are you talking about?"

"You agreed to care for and protect me but I'm almost an adult. I don't expect you to support me forever but it still hurts to lose such a great family."

"Sunny, I don't care for you out of obligation. I care for you out of love. You my oldest son, how could you think I'd abandon you? You may not expect it but I plan to support you and your siblings for the rest of my life. You're a Volkov which means you're stuck with this family forever."

"My own sperm donor got rid of me the second he could. I guess all the guilt I've been suppressing started rearing its ugly head again."

"Well when it does just come find me so I can reaffirm how much I love you unconditionally. You don't need to feel guilty for all the things I provide for you because I do it out of love, not obligation."

"Thanks dad. I really needed to hear that."

"Do you think you can get a few more hours of sleep in before family day?"

"Could you sit with me in my room until I fall asleep?"

"Of course." I nodded

When we reached his room I sat in his bed with my back against the headboard. He laid his head on my lap and I massaged his scalp until he fell back asleep. Once he was in a deep sleep I slipped out of bed and went back upstairs to my room. Mabel was still asleep so I decided to go to my office to make preparations for our surprise trip to Russia and our summer trip to Cuba.

"Morning bunny." Mabel came in and sat on my lap

"Morning beautiful." I kissed her cheek as she hugged me

"What time did you get up?" She asked while nuzzling her face in my neck

"Five-ish."

"That means you only slept three hours. Today is supposed to be your day off so Why are you working?" She frowned