𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑺 - 𝑹.𝑵𝑰𝑲𝑶𝑳𝑨𝑰

chapter 36

THIRTY SIX

The next day, Fyodor found himself in the most bizarre situation of his life—accompanying Y/N to a baby store. The idea alone made him want to drink something stronger than tea, but alas, the "request" had come from Y/N herself, and Fyodor knew better than to argue. Not when her eyes were sparkling with excitement and her voice held that tone that made it impossible to refuse.

"Fyodor, look at this!" Y/N exclaimed, holding up a small onesie with tiny animals printed all over it. The pastel pink fabric practically glowed in her hands. "Isn't it cutesy?"

Fyodor glanced at the onesie, his sharp eyes flicking over the tiny, frilly design. He wasn't entirely sure whether it was cute or overwhelming, but that wasn't the problem here.

"Y/N, дорогая, you don't even know the baby's gender," Fyodor said, pinching the bridge of his nose as a headache began to form. "Are you sure about this?"

"It's a surprise! That's the fun part!" Y/N grinned, unfazed by his concerns. "Besides, that's why I'm buying two colors! One for a girl and one for a boy. Problem solved!"

Fyodor couldn't help the sigh that escaped his lips. The idea of a surprise pregnancy was one thing—he'd adjusted to that—but the whole idea of preparing for a child in such an unpredictable manner had him questioning his own sanity. On top of that, he couldn't shake the absurd thought that this child might call him "Grandpa" instead of "Uncle." He shuddered at the very notion.

"Two colors, Y/N?" Fyodor raised an eyebrow, looking at the pile of brightly colored clothes in her arms. "Do you think that will be enough? You'll have to buy much more than this."

Y/N smirked, enjoying his discomfort. "What? You don't think we should spoil the baby?"

Fyodor's eyes narrowed, his patience thinning. "I think this is... excessive," he muttered. His hand reached out almost instinctively to grab the onesie from her hands, examining it with what could only be described as mild distaste. "This is hardly suitable for a newborn. It's all fluff and no substance."

"You say that like you're a baby expert," Y/N shot back, clearly amused by his annoyance. "This is cute, Fyodor. And besides, it's not like you're the one doing all the hard work, huh?"

Fyodor was about to protest, his mouth opening slightly, but he immediately realized there was no winning with Y/N in this situation. She wasn't looking for a critique; she just wanted him to be part of the process.

"So, you're not concerned that this child will grow up with such an... eccentric taste in clothes?" Fyodor finally asked, trying a different approach.

"Not at all," Y/N replied nonchalantly, her voice filled with confidence. "I want this kid to have the best of both worlds—class and cute. Besides, they'll have you to spoil them with the 'class' part." She winked, clearly taking great pleasure in getting under his skin.

Fyodor felt his eye twitch slightly, but he remained composed. "It's... it's not the clothes that worry me," he said, glancing at the various garments hanging from the shelves. "It's the constant need for validation, the expectation to make everything perfect for something so... small." His gaze softened as he glanced around the store again, his sharp features slightly less tense than before. "What will you do when the baby actually arrives, Y/N? It's not as simple as clothes and cute onesies. Raising a child takes... effort."

Y/N looked at him for a long moment, her playful demeanor shifting to something more sincere. "I know, Fyodor," she said quietly, her tone more thoughtful than before. "But I'm not doing this alone. I'll have you, and I'll have Nikolai, and... well, the Decay of Angels might be a bit unconventional, but we're family. That's what matters."