3 Hearts: A Sequel to An Unknown Romance

Chapter 23

5 months later...

December 2015

Maks and I were visiting his family for Christmas this year because we had Thanksgiving at my family's house. For the past 5 months, our marriage had only gotten better. We only fought maybe once a month now and we were beyond happy.

"You look different." Larisa, Maks' mom, whispered in my ear.

"I'm sick." I said through a stuffy nose. I had had a sinus infection for a couple of days and I was miserable. My antibiotics weren't working and I had a doctor's appointment in a couple of days to see what was going on.

"No, its not that. You look and act differently." Lina, Tony's wife, nodded as she held their new baby girl. I looked at them confused as I took another sip of water.

"Really? Maybe I've just gained weight with the holidays and all." What did they mean?

"No, it's like you're glowing and I can't figure out why." Larisa furrowed her eyebrows and put her hand on her chin.

"Wait, are you pregnant!?" Lina said loudly.

"No of course not." I responded quickly after sh-hing her. I couldn't be pregnant, Maks and I agreed that we didn't want kids after what happened with Erik. I'd been taking a birth control pill since August, there was no way.

"Are you hiding something from me, Meryl?" Larisa whispered in my ear and I shook my head.

"Fine." Larisa and Lina said at the same time.

//

That night, as Maks and I were lying in bed together, I began to think about what would happen if I really was pregnant. Before I knew it, Maks had his arms wrapped around my waist and we were both drifting off into a deep sleep.

I was lying in a hospital bed and there were doctors and nurses everywhere. Maks was holding my hand and standing next to me in sterile clothes. I was numb from the waist down and there was a blue sheet blocking my view of my midsection.

"You're going to feel a bit of a pinch." I heard a voice say in front of me.

"Welcome to the world baby Chmerkovskiy." I heard a baby cry out and Maks released a breath he'd been holding in.

"That's our baby, Meryl. We have a baby." We both started to cry.

I woke up to Maks staring at me.

"You okay?" He asked, drawing lazy circles on my hand.

"Of course, it's Christmas Day. Why wouldn't I be?" I smiled at the thought of Christmas, it was my all time favorite holiday.

"Because you were crying while you were sleeping." Maks hugged me tightly.

"Oh, it was a dream. They were happy tears, don't worry. Merry Christmas by the way." I smiled and kissed him gently.

"Merry Christmas. What were you dreaming about?" He noticed that I tried to change the subject and brought it back.

"We had a baby..." I responded quietly.

"Are you thinking about trying for a baby?" He raised his eyebrows.

"No, not trying. Just not taking the birth control and seeing what happens."

"Okay." He responded with a smile on his face.

"Okay? That's it?"

"Yeah. If you get pregnant, great. If you don't, that's fine too." We both nodded and went downstairs to find the whole Chmerkovskiy family sitting around the tree. Waiting on us.

"Merry Christmas!" They all screamed and handed us glasses of eggnog.