Eli had never had experience with bombs, but he was starting to get an idea of what it was like to be tied to one. He was laying on the couch with Nikola sleeping on his chest. The last two times he tried to sit up, she started to fuss until he laid down again. Until Viktoriya got home, he was trapped in the living room with his weeks-old daughter holding him hostage. He was starting to get stiff.
Dinah and Ceres didn’t seem to care for their owner’s fate. The sisters were sleeping in their bed, in front of the fireplace. The flames were dying, but neither seemed to notice. Wrapped in a ball of fur with long hunting dog legs sticking out from every direction, there was enough warmth there to keep them satisfied.
It was almost starting to feel like home here. Eli and Viktoriya had been living in the house since they returned to Moscow with Nikola. Miro and Vikenti were waiting at the train station to pick them up and deliver their combination wedding-baby-apology gift – a home of their own. At one point in its life the building had been a firehouse, with two sets of large doors still on the front of the building, now opening to what will be a garden and patio, come spring. The exterior was still classic and old, fitting with their neighborhood of shops and restaurants, Miro’s being one of them. The interior, however had been completely renovated. The living room and kitchen took up the entire first floor, utilizing an open floor plan. The second floor held the master suite, nursery, guest room and a small library, and a third story was completely open, and left unfinished of any real design. Viktoriya had suggested putting in a small gym. Eli didn’t need one, a decent pool had been installed in their modest yard, but the idea was still nice.
Eli absently gently rubbed Nikola’s back through her adorable kitten themed pajamas. The quilt Viktoriya had made for her was covering the little baby’s back. Nikola had tiny fists full of Eli’s tee shirt. He could hear her little breaths. He could feel her little heart beating. After so many weeks and months, even as he held her, he couldn’t believe he was a father, and that this tiny incredible little person was his daughter. Of course, he didn’t doubt that he was Nikola’s father. Eli trusted Viktoriya, and Nikola was starting to look like them, her eyes were almost dark violet-blue, and her thick dark hair was taking a curl. Eli had just never imagined being able to love so blindly as he loved his daughter. He never imagined being loved so blindly as Nikola loved and trusted him.
This house was starting to feel like home, but it didn’t matter. Hotel rooms, borrowed bedrooms in family homes, hospital rooms, military barracks, rented apartments or purchased houses, it was all home as long Elijah, Viktoriya and Nikola were together. As long as he had his family with him, he’d be happy.
The door creaked, soft footsteps on the hardwood in the foyer, the door opening and then shutting. Viktoriya was home. She smiled as she saw them, Eli’s head lulled to the side to see her. When she spoke, her voice was soft, not wanting to startle the baby.
“You look so sweet like that.” She cooed, knowing it wasn’t the first time Nikola trapped her father like that. It likely wouldn’t be the last. Viktoriya deftly scooped her baby off Eli’s chest, and cradled her in her own arms. Nikola woke and started to fuss almost immediately. “Did she eat?”
“Yes. A bottle about two hours ago, we played, I read to her. Bath time, fresh diaper and then we came down to watch the news and she was out like a light.” Eli stood and stretched. He put out the fire, and turned off the television. He followed her through the house, turning off lights, and making sure doors were locked.
Viktoriya always took her time putting Nikola to bed. He hardly blamed her. Though Viktoriya had a troublesome pregnancy, and at times may have doubted the future, but now that Nikola was here with them, she loved her as unconditionally as Eli did. Viktoriya would spend almost an hour in the nursery, in the rocking chair, singing to Nikola, or telling her stories, or just looking into those big trusting eyes. Even after she put the baby into the cradle her father made for her, Viktoriya would stand over her, caressing her cheeks, letting Nikola grab at her fingers, listening to her daughter babble at her.
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Looking For The Light (Book 2)
ParanormalElijah's life has been thrown for a loop. His girlfriend left him, he's leaving his home behind, and setting off into the unknown. Doubting his mission and himself, the young telepath struggles with many of the great questions of life.
