A Little Too Much, A Little Too Deep

Chapter 32

Groaning as I roll over onto my side, I crack my eyes open to see reddish-brown hair, bright brown eyes, and a gummy smile. Blinking a few times and wince when Nadia's little hand fists a lock of my hair and yanks on it. I smile and try to untangle my hair from her hand and kiss it softly, pulling a gurgle from her. The older Nadia gets, the more her hair has a red tinge and it has made my Mom ecstatic.

"They both were up early, so I thought maybe they would go back to sleep in here. I was wrong," Dimitri chuckles, patting Artyom's bottom while he has tummy time on our bed. I lean down and plant a loud kiss on Nadia's cheek and pick her up, holding her up over me as I roll onto my back.

"Did you wake your Papa up at a ridiculous hour this morning?" I ask in a childish tone, lowering her back down to my face and I kiss her little mouth then push her back up again.

"Are you ready to go back to work?"

I nod while looking intently at Nadia. Lissa had pushed for me to take extended maternity leave, but I said that I wouldn't take a full year. There is too much to learn and understand before she is crowned in January, so I decided to take four months instead.

"I don't know how I'm going to leave the two of you all day long!" I sigh kissing Nadia again and placing her back on the bed and scoop Artyom up, giving him some love. Artyom seems to be a sucker for Mama lately, and always wants to be held against my chest, but I have no problems with that. We were fortunate that he outgrew his colic two weeks ago and he has been a much happier boy since.

"They're going to be with Adrian and Mia, it won't be that bad. Besides, Adrian has been chomping at the bit for "Uncle" time," Dimitri says softly, poking his tongue out at Nadia and making faces at her to make her laugh. Looking over my handsome fiancée, I notice he is already dressed, and I sigh, knowing I need to get dressed for work now. I blow a raspberry on my little man's cheek and set him down, rolling off the bed and stumbling to the closet. Pulling out a professional but pretty dress and the appropriate underwear, I walk back to the bed and lean down, kissing Dimitri intently before venturing to the shower.

Walking out into the kitchen after dressing, I pour a cup of coffee for Dimitri and me into travel mugs while nibbling on the piece of peanut butter and jam toast he left on the counter. I finish up and walk into the nursery and move to dress Nadia while Dimitri finishes with Artyom.

"Ready to go?" I ask picking up Nadia and holding her against my side. "Mhm," he hums and scoops Artyom up and puts his other hand on my back, guiding me out of the room.

Arriving at Adrian's a few minutes later I rap on the door, sighing while we wait for Adrian to answer. "It's only seven hours, Roza. You can do it," Dimitri says softly, and I nod with a weak smile.

Not a moment later Adrian opens the door with a big smile on his face. It's refreshing to see Adrian completely sober, and it seems to be suiting him well. He followed in Lissa's footsteps and went on medication that worked for him, and he can still access Spirit, but it doesn't push him to the bottle.

"I was starting to wonder if you were going to be late," Adrian says holding his hands out to take one of the twins, and Dimitri hands him Artyom, while I clutch Nadia a little closer to me. I don't think I'm ready to leave them alone to go back to work. "Hey, it's ok. They're going to be fine; Mia and I will send you hourly updates and photos ok?" Adrian says, trying to soothe me in my slight panic.

"You have all the phone numbers? And everything you need?" I ask, pouncing my baby on my hip. Adrian smiles while nodding, shifting to reach for Nadia while supporting Artyom. I hesitantly hand her over and kiss her little hand before kissing the top of Artyom's head. Dimitri says something quietly to Adrian and puts his hand on my shoulder, stirring me away from the front door as Adrian retreats into his house.