Betrothed (currently being edited)

Epilogue

I felt as big as a beached whale even though Dimitri told me I looked perfect.  I waddled around the room trying to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything.  I was due any day now.  My parents, Dimitri's parents, the Costas brothers, Ana and Lana were all here.  Everyone wanted to be here for the birth.  We didn't know what we were having, we wanted it to be a surprise.  We had transformed our office into a nursery and painted and decorated in neutral colors until we brought the baby home.  My mom and Natasha both said it looked like the baby had dropped and I agreed.  The baby was sitting on my bladder and I had to pee every five seconds.  I had decided for the last couple of weeks to wear any kind of dress that way I wouldn't have to worry about taking off pants or leggings.    With it being the end of July it was hot and I was doubly hot so today I was wearing a pink sun dress that kind of hugged my figure and it showcased my baby bump perfectly.  Dimitri was always rubbing on it, talking to the baby and kissing it.  It was completely adorable to see.  

Everyone was in the kitchen finishing up breakfast when I grabbed the counter.  "Oh my" I breathed.  It got so quiet you could hear a pin drop.  Dimitri was by my side in a flash, concern all over his face.  "Car, are you okay?"  I looked at him, smiled and nodded and then all of a sudden there was a 'whoosh' sound and water all over the floor.  Lana and Ana jumped up and both yelled simultaneously "Her water just broke!"  Thank God for my mom and Natasha or the place would have turned into pandemonium.  We looked like a line of ants marching to the hospital wing.  Dimitri had already called Dr. Malikov telling him we were on our way so he was waiting and ready for us when we walked through the door.

"Mother and Father, come with me.  Everyone else we'll let you know what's going on every step of the way" Dr. Malikov said with authority as we followed him down to a room.  I was put into a dressing gown, hooked up to some monitors and then I had a heart monitor strapped to my belly.  Our baby's heartbeat was good and strong.  I also opted for no drugs.  I know I'm totally crazy but that's what I wanted.  The doctor told me that I could watch the monitor to tell when a contraction would come.  Dimitri already had a gown on and the mask laid on his chest just tied around his neck right now.  All of a sudden a tremendous surge of pain hit me, like a steel band tightening.  I looked at the monitor and saw that it had spiked.  I was having a contraction.  "Oh God!" I wailed clutching the bed rails and trying to control my breathing.  This went on for hours before we started noticing a change.

I was sweating and miserable but I kept telling myself to think about the big picture; our baby.  Dr. Malikov came in to check my progress.  Dimitri told him the contractions were happening every five minutes now and I was only at a 5.  About that time another one hit.  "Oh fuck me!" I groaned in pain, squeezing Dimitri's hand hard.  About three hours later Dimitri went to get the doctor to let him know that they were about a minute apart now.  He clapped him on the back and said "We're going to have a baby any time now!"  I felt like I was dying.  The pain was immense but I knew a baby was so worth it.  "Carina, you're at a 10 now.  This is it, my child.  When you feel the urge to push, bear down count to ten and let up.  Keep doing that as I guide you.  Are you ready to have this baby?" he asked smiling at me.  I nodded weakly and looked up at Dimitri; his eyes filled with tears; his beautiful eyes were all I could see due to his mask.

"Here we go" the doctor said excitedly as the urge became unbearable.  I pushed as Dimitri counted to ten then fell back against the bed, hurting and exhausted already.  It felt like it was taking forever as we repeated this step several times before Malikov yelled "I can see the baby's head!  Push Carina push!"  I was crying as I pushed for the allotted time and fell back again, panting and my heart racing.  "One more good one" Dr. M said as I pushed as hard as I could.  I heard a baby's cry and the doctor saying "Congratulations!  It's a boy!  Dimitri come cut the cord!"  Dimitri went to cut the cord as the nurses took the baby.  All of a sudden my monitors started beeping and I felt dizzy, seeing spots and then I fell back and the last thing I heard was Dimitri shout "Carina!" before everything turned black.

The birth of my son was overshadowed by the fact that my wife almost bled to death.  Dr. Malikov swept me out of the room as they worked on Carina for what seemed like hours.  He finally came out into the waiting room and told us what happened.  "She was hemorrhaging, quite badly I'm afraid.  We had to do a partial hysterectomy which means we took her uterus, Fallopian tubes and one ovary.  Dimitri I'm afraid she won't be able to have any more children.  Your son is a miracle.  She's resting comfortably in the meantime.  Give her about an hour or so to come out of the anesthesia and then you can all see her.  But in the meantime" he said motioning to another nurse carrying a bundle towards him.  She walked up to Dimitri and gently placed our son in his huge arms.  Tears streaming down his face he looked at his son carefully.  He could see dark black hair peaking out from under his little cap, he had Carina's mouth and his nose.  He couldn't see his eyes just yet because he was still sleeping.  (In Russian) "Hey little guy.  I'm your papa.  Your grandparents are here as well as your aunts and uncles.  Mama is resting.  She's very tired but you will see her soon.  I promise" he said placing a tender kiss on his little head.  He stirred and opened his eyes looking straight at his daddy.  Emerald green eyes stared back into his.  He was my son.

Dimitri walked around Carina's room holding his son and praying she would wake up soon.  His prayers were answered.  He heard her groan and walked over to her bed.  "Carina? Baby?" he said concerned.  "Dimitri?" she said still groggy.  "I'm here baby.  I'm here" he answered her soothingly.  "What happened?  Where is our baby?" she asked getting a little agitated.  Dimitri calmed her down saying he would tell her what happened later as he walked back to her bed with their son in his arms.  She pressed the button to bring her position up to sitting, grimacing a little, her belly feeling like a war had taken place in it.  Dimitri placed their son in her arms, Carina crying as soon as she saw him.  "Oh my little dorogayo.  I can't believe you're here!"  He started to cry as Carina asked when he ate last, her motherly instincts kicking in already.  "About two hours ago" Dimitri said.  "Well we need to get your tummy full" she said pulling her gown down and placing the baby to her breast; he latched on and began to suckle immediately.  "Oh boy!  You are your daddy's son!" she joked as he fed.  Dimitri said it was the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.  Carina looked down at their creation and breathed "Oh my God!"  Dimitri asked what was wrong.  She looked at him with tears in her eyes and said "He's got your eyes!"

They decided to name him Sergi Mikhail Alexandrov.  Once they had signed all the paperwork, birth certificate, etc. Dimitri explained what had happened after she gave birth.  He expected her to lose it but she stayed strong and said "That's okay.  When we're ready for another child we can adopt.  I'm so happy and blessed I can't even begin to be sad for something that will never happen again.  It already did as far as I'm concerned.  I have what I want; my husband and my son.  My life is complete now." I told him squeezing his hand.  "You're an amazing woman, wife and now mother.  I will live the rest of my life being worthy of having you, my lover, my wife, my betrothed."

THE END