A Little Too Much, A Little Too Deep

Chapter 37

MAY

"Roza, you need to stop crying."

"My babies are a year old! Of course, I'm going to cry!"

Dimitri shakes his head at me with a chuckle as I try to wipe the smudged mascara away from my eyes, but the fat tears keep rolling. I chuckle at myself under my breath as Dimitri comes up behind me and places his hands on my hips, pressing his lips against my neck before looking back up at me in the mirror. "Oh Roza," he says with a final kiss against the side of my head and walks out of the bathroom, calling to his sisters to hurry up.

I wipe the last of my ruined makeup and smooth my hair down before exiting the bathroom and running into Olena. She grasps my elbows with a smile, and I smile back at her. Dimitri and I were so happy when we were able to bring his whole family to Pennsylvania for the twins' first birthday, and they have been spending every waking moment snuggling the two.

"Thank you, Roza," Olena says and I scrunch my eyebrows together at her.

"What for?"

Olena pulls me into a tight hug. "For making my son so happy. And for giving me two beautiful grandchildren." I smile to myself as I hug her back.

"I think it's you I should be thanking. I wouldn't have any of this without you."

Olena pats my cheek and pulls me down the hall to the living room that is packed with Dimitri's family. Vika is sitting on the couch holding Nadia's hands as she stands up on her little legs, a big smile across her chubby face. "Where is the party again?" Vika asks.

"Lissa offered to hold it in one of the private gardens," I say as I scoop Artyom up into my arms. I run my hand through his unruly hair and kiss his cheek. "Mama," he says and wraps his little arms around my neck. Artyom didn't start speaking until last week, and so far the only word he will say is Mama. Something I take much pride in since Nadia can say Papa, Nene, Dede, but cannot – or will not – say Mama.

"Are you all ready to go? We should have been there five minutes ago," I say, and Karolina shakes her head.

"We've been ready, Rose; we were waiting on you."

I stick my tongue out at her as I slip my shoes on and we all make our way towards the palace. I have come to know this place like the back of my hand since Lissa was crowned, and this has been the first weekend that both her and I have had off together. But they may be because Lissa almost demanded this weekend be cleared for the birthday party.

"Good morning!" Amilia exclaims as she catches up to us in the lobby, her arms laden with bags with tissue paper. I chuckle at her enthusiasm she has towards the kids. After her son Jamie passed after birth, she never tried for another baby, but she is taken with the twins to the point where she considers herself an Aunt to them, and Dimitri and I feel that way as well.

Dimitri steps forward and takes a few of the bags from Amilia and she gives him a smile as she pushes the door leading to the back garden open. I falter slightly when we enter the garden to find it completely decked out. Lissa has really gone overboard. The garden has tables and chairs set up and a large banner hanging over the table where the food will go saying 'Happy Birthday Artyom and Nadia'. Plus, the outrageous amount of balloons screams Lissa.

Speaking of Lissa, she spots the lot of us arriving and skips towards us, her hands out towards me. "Oh, hello birthday boy!" she squeals and takes him out of my arms. I shake my head and watch Christian approach Sonya who is carrying Nadia and he holds his hands out for her.

"We are never going to get them back this week, are we?" I whisper to Dimitri and he shakes his head, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing the back of my head.