Into the Ether - Complete

Summer of Love: Part 4

"All Abe's Guardians are having dinner together tonight. Kind of a meet and greet," Dimitri said looking at me carefully. I'd had a sleep after swimming and lunch and felt relatively rested.

"That's a nice idea," I murmured, a little disappointed we'd not be dining together. I'd planned to visit the kitchen for ingredients after a nap, but here it was almost 5 pm, and I had nothing arranged. "I'll take your mother and grandmother across to the cafeteria. It's pasta and pork chops tonight. Not their worst meal by a long shot," I laughed. Like me, Dimitri knew just how bad St. Vlad's meals could get!

"I stopped by Mama's unit on the way here. Babushka is tired and wants to stay in. The kitchen is sending them their meals. I was hoping you'd join me tonight, milaya?"

"At the dinner?"

"Yes."

"But I'll be the only pregnant one there!" I moaned.

"That's because you'll be the only woman there!" he chuckled.

"Not helping, Comrade," I snapped. Looking up, I saw disappointment flicker across my Russian God's face. I moved closer to him, putting my hand against his cheek. "Why do you want me there?"

"There are a few reasons," he mumbled.

"And they are?" I probed, seeing his ears turning red.

"Well, firstly Abe suggested sometime in the future we might like to travel. He said we could stay at some of his other residences in the short term, or I could even command one if you wanted to experience living somewhere for a year or two? Since everyone's here, it's a good chance for them to see you and get to know you."

"That sounds reasonable," I agreed, knowing we hadn't yet got to the real reason. "What else?"

"Abe and Pavel were keen for you to go," he muttered.

"I'm sure they were," I replied noncommittally. "I feel there's more to it...?"

"I want to show you off," he whispered in embarrassment. "You should have heard those guys after they saw you in your bikini today, milaya. They were all ogling you! I want to show them you're mine!"

"Comrade, I'm thirty-seven weeks pregnant! No one was checking me out. They were talking about Celeste."

"You're wrong. I mean, she got a lot of comments, too – but it's you they were interested in. I don't think you have any idea how beautiful you look. I want them all to know you're my girl."

"Don't you trust me?" I asked raising my eyebrows, still pitifully unable to raise either singularly, much to my disgust.

"Of course I do, Roza," he grumbled. "I just don't like listening to other men discuss whether they might have a chance with the woman I love, or imagining what she looks like without her swimsuit on."

"They said that?" I asked in astonishment.

"And worse," Dimitri grumbled. "I know it's wrong, but I want to show you off. You're so beautiful - you could have any man. I want every man to know you chose to give your love to me."

And there it was. The truth.

"I'm sure they know I'm yours. They'd know from Kirk."

"He refused to tell them how he knows you. Half of them think you're with him," Dimitri growled childishly.

"And it's important to you I go tonight?"

"Yes," he admitted.

"Then help me choose a dress," I said smiling at him. He'd had me as soon as he'd said he wanted to show me off. It was a big boost to my fragile self-esteem to know that even heavily pregnant he thought I was beautiful. "I only have one condition..."