A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Eighty-Seven

Six Months Later

"Mina, do not pick that... Markus get control of your wife!" Aldrik growled, snatching a basket of laundry from Mina's hands.

"Mina, baby, I told you I would carry the laundry." Markus pulled the basket away from Aldrik, ignoring his narrowing eyes.

"I am barely pregnant, Markus. I think I can carry the laundry. I went through far more when I was pregnant with Hans." She rolled her eyes, grabbing the basket out of Markus's hands without a second look.

"Lotte, talk some sense into this woman." Markus didn't pull his gaze off of Mina, waving his hand in her direction as if Lotte needed to remember where her friend was.

"She is fine." Lotte shook her head, laying down the newspaper she was reading. "Where is Hans?"

"Penny brought him outside to play. It is hard to believe he can walk now." Mina sighed, reminiscing over how quickly her little baby was growing up. She'd missed most of it since his birth, fighting instead of appreciating.

"Walk? That is what you are calling it? The boy is practically running!" Penny's hair was tussled up as she tried to hold onto a wild Hans. The child was squirming in her arms, making an attempt to escape the strong grasp that held him.

"Is Jyrgen still at the clinic?" Aldrik leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed in front of him.

"He should be back any minute. Which reminds me..." Penny set the wild child down, looking pointblank at Aldrik. "I would stay out of his way today if I were you."

An abrupt laugh forced Markus's coffee back into his cup. A mix of coughing and choking followed before he swiped the back of his hand over his mouth. Wheezing, he fought a smile. "Aldrik doesn't stay out of anyone's way."

Glaring, Aldrik looked back at Penny. "Why should I stay out of Jyrgen's way?"

"Oh, no reason. I just would suggest it today." Penny winked before her eyes widened at Hans trying to pull himself up on a chair. Without a second thought, she chased the child down.

Tapping Markus on the back, Lotte laughed at his choking spurt. "Serves you right for picking on Aldrik. Again. We have been through a lot. It just would not be right if you choked and died today."

Straightening up, Markus flashed her a teasing grin. "Aw, Lotte, you do care about me."

Rolling her eyes, she stopped patting his back and walked over to Aldrik. "I only care that Mina is happy. I could care less if you were happy."

Reaching out to grab Hans from Penny, Markus smiled at the woman. "She cares, she just pretends not to."

"Right." Lotte's voice couldn't have been any more sarcastic as she rolled her eyes.

A door banging open brought every eye to the front of the house. Jyrgen walked in, a cocky smile on his face.

"Well?" Penny took a step toward him, alert to every flinch or stumble he made.

"The doctor gave me a clean bill of health." He lifted his shirt, revealing his toned body with a circular scar. His eyes slowly met Aldrik's. "My body was perfect."

Shrugging, Aldrik shook his head, unaware of the sudden lingering chill in Jyrgen's voice. "It looks fine to me."

Snorting, Jyrgen worked his way over. "Looking beautiful as always, Lotte."

"And he's stealing my lines now." Markus shook his head, trying to hold Hans still in his arms.

"I have been around you too long, Markus. Your words are rubbing off on me." Jyrgen stumbled over one of Hans's toys.