Into the Ether - Complete

Summer of Love: Part 7

"Guardian Quackford, can you pass me some pizza?" Eddie teased.

"Get it yourself," Mason snapped, making an obscene hand gesture.

I rolled my eyes at Dimitri.

"Will you two give it a rest? You're bickering like children, and it's bothering Roza" he barked, his rich baritone voice filled with authority.

"Yes Guardian Belikov," they said almost in unison. Although they were both now Guardians themselves, I knew a part of Mase and Eddie would always be a little frightened and a lot in awe of my Russian God.

Dimitri nodded giving them both a look.

"More pizza, milaya?" he asked tenderly, standing beside the boxes and reaching across for my plate.

"Yep. Pepperoni please Comrade," I said rubbing my bump. Junior had been going nuts all afternoon. I think it was the petit fours, scones, cupcakes, and cake I'd consumed at the baby shower. That much sugar had to be doing something!

"Oh my God, Rose," Mason said looking at my belly as Junior kicked. "Is something trying to claw its way out of your stomach?" he asked, referencing one of his favorite science fiction movies.

"Yeah, it's pretty full on," I laughed, putting my plate on the arm of the sofa and grabbing a throw. I pulled it over my legs and under my dress to cover my panties and the lower part of my bump before pulling my dress up so they could see my tummy.

"Wow!" Eddie said in awe as they could see my whole stomach undulate as Junior moved inside of me.

"That has got to hurt," Mason groaned looking at me in horror.

"It's not pain, more like my stomach decided to stand up, walk around the inside of my abdomen and sit on the other side of my body for a while."

Eddie looked fascinated. Mason looked like he wanted to hurl.

"Does that happen often?" he gasped.

"Kicks? Yep, all the time. Moving like that? Not as much, especially lately. Olena says the baby is starting to get into position."

"You must be excited?" Eddie said.

"Yeah. And fucking terrified," I stated with a shaky laugh.

"Roza!" Dimitri admonished, giving me a look.

"Sorry Comrade," I said immediately contrite. "Dimitri is trying to cure me of my potty mouth before the baby arrives!"

"I don't want the baby's first word to be profanity," he explained.

"You'll have to curb your tongue in Russian, too Comrade," I reminded him.

"I don't swear in Russian... that much."

"You are such a liar!" I said, hurling a cushion at my man, which he easily batted away. "I asked your Babushka about some of the words I've heard you use, and your Mama was furious. I think she wants to speak with you about it tomorrow!"

"You didn't? Roza!" he grumbled. "I'm going to be in so much trouble now!"

"No, I didn't. But if you don't teach me Russian curse words I might have to," I threatened with a huge grin. Ha – I'd be able to wheedle anything out of him, now I knew how frightened he was of his Mama.

Eddie and Mason were watching our exchange with amusement.

"You two are funny," Mason observed with a smile. It was nice to have my friend back, with none of the romantic bullshit complicating matters. While he never mentioned the issue after he found out I was pregnant, I suspected if I'd said the word, he would still have been keen. But from the moment he knew it was Dimitri who'd claimed my heart, he'd given me up. "Are you going to call Lissa?" Mason asked anxiously.