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Post by Angela on Apr 19, 2008 2:49:14 GMT -5
Scenes taking place in April, 2008, will be posted here.
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Post by Angela on Apr 24, 2008 12:13:29 GMT -5
It was a cold, rainy late April afternoon, days after Danil and Peter's wedding in Vermont, and Irina was sitting uncomfortably in the doctor's office, wearing a hospital gown. Next to her was her husband, his hands on her shoulders expectantly. Almost 18 weeks earlier, Irina and Zhenya of made passionate love. Soon after, she began to feel nauseous. Overjoyed at the possibility of having another baby, the couple set about rearranging the house, combining the office and library into one and buying nursery supplies.
"It just seems like I'm gaining more weight than I should be and in a shorter time," she relayed. "I've also had severe backache, so you can understand my concern..." She looked at the doctor, then her husband.
"She's also had more morning sickness than before," Zhenya piped up.
"So you still have morning sickness? You're well out of the first trimester," commented the doctor, a younger woman who seemed a little nervous. Her nametag said she was Elizabeth Anderson. "Well, first things first, I think you ought to get an ultrasound to see what you've got in there. How does that sound?"
"Well, I admit, it isn't so bad, but it is still there. But during the first trimester, it was torture," Irina groaned. "We've had a hectic few months, this is the soonest appointment we could get. We had a lot of travelling to do, you see."
"Yes, trips to France and Austria, and Canada, and back here. I hate to admit it but the travelling did little to help her health."
"I have no problem with an ultrasound," Irina said calmly, giving the woman an understanding smile. "I've had them before, it's not a big deal for me." She had not had this doctor before, but she still felt comfortable with her.
Dr Anderson checked Irina's chart. "That you have," she said with a smile. "Well, the ultrasound room is justdown the hall. I'll show you there and I could do the ultrasound, if you'd like. The technicians can be kind of slow sometimes.
"No problem, that's fine with me," she replied, the same smile on her face. "Magee is lucky to have you. You make everyone so comfortable." She stood up and Zhenya put his arm around her as they walked with Dr. Anderson to the ultrasound room.
"So, we'll be able to find out the gender of the baby? Because Ira said that this time, she wants to be surprised."
Irina giggled. "I just want to hear the doctor say 'It's a girl, Mrs. Potemerenko!'"
"Or boy," Zhenya pointed out.
"I think it'll be another girl," Irina disagreed with a wink.
"Alright then!" Dr Anderson got her gloves on and helped Irina onto the 'bed'. "You know the routine..." She got out the ultrasound gel and slathered it on the woman's belly. "Okay... I think I've found--oh! Will you look at that." She was apparently amused at something that appeared on the screen. "I think you have two in here."
Zhenya's eyes widened, and it felt as if he had no breath to inhale or exhale. His mouth opened, but no sound came out, nor did any breath. "Two?" he asked, shocked. "Two?" he repeated, a grin passing over his face. "Two?" he repeated one more time, each time coming with an exhale of breath. He grasped Irina's arm tightly, and seemed to be on the verge of hyperventilating. It was clear he was very happy. Irina, however, was pale.
"Tw... twins? My God..." she finally said, in shock.
"It looks like twins. Here's one," she said, putting the ultrasound wand over one baby. "And the other." Dr Anderson put the ultrasound to show them the other baby.
"Oh, my God, they're beautiful," Zhenya said, composing himself to look more closely. "This is incredible.. Twins, my God." He crossed himself, swallowing hard. All he could feel was pride, joy, and surprise. He never expected twins. He rubbed Ira's back, so happy to be with her. "This is an incredible gift and blessing."
Irina smiled, trying to show as much happiness as her husband. Twins... What was so great about that? Twice the work, twice the crying, twice the money... On the other hand, it was also twice the playtime, twice the laughter, twice the joy...
"It is wonderful," she agreed with a slow nod, looking at the screen. "It's amazing," she added, opening up more with a smile as she looked at the individual babies once again.
"Oh, God, I love you," Zhenya said with a laugh, kissing her lips.
Dr Anderson smiled a little over at the parents. "Would you like to know what they are?" she asked. She knew, having glanced while they were involved in chatting with each other.
Zhenya and Ira looked at each other, Zhenya having a bigger smile than her. Still, they laughed at the same time.
"This situation changes things a bit," Zhenya said. "I think we should know." He looked at Ira, who nodded with a giggle.
"We couldn't very well buy the wrong colored clothes for them. And we do want the nursery to look nice for them. So, let's find out here and now," she said with a grin.
"You'll be buying blue clothes, if you want to," joked the doctor. "Boys, both of them."
Zhenya let out a cry of joy, pumping his fist in the air. He laughed and embraced Ira, kissing her once more. It took a minute for him to calm down. "I can't believe it. Both boys! We should think up names on the way home!" he said with a laugh. "It's incredible! Such a blessing! We should celebrate! Dinner, dancing, a trip to the moon..."
Irina laughed. "Zhenka, let's not get carried away, there's a lot to talk about."
"I know, but let me enjoy this moment. Three boys. I've never been so happy!" Ira gave him a teasing look. "Oh, I would feel just as happy if they were girls, my rose," he said, stroking her cheek. Irina laughed. "I can't wait until September!" He laughed once more. Irina cringed.
"Please tell me I can have them by C-section? I gave birth to one boy and one girl, but not at the same time, and they were painful enough."
"Well, I can schedule one near your due date if you'd like. I don't generally advise elective C-sections, even with twins." Dr Anderson shrugged.
"Hmmm," Zhenya murmured, concerned. "I think we should consider that, Ira. Just examine the complications."
Ira nodded. "Yes, you're right. Besides, there's anaestesia, right?" she asked. "I'm sure I'll be fine with that."
"Of course. There's general anaesthesia, where you're completely asleep, and a spinal block or epidural. Lots of options, nothing you've got to worry about right now. If you wanted a C-section I'd send you over to one of our doctors who performs the surgery," Dr Anderson explained.
Irina nodded. "Thank you, that sounds fine. My husband and I will think on it."
Zhenya stared at the screen, rubbing Ira's back. "I just can't believe it. Wait till Mama finds out! Oh, you know Danilka will spoil them."
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Post by Angela on May 25, 2008 17:08:27 GMT -5
Later that evening, Evgeni was in the study, working out budget plans for the new children. With the economy the way it was, they had to sacrifice some of their luxuries to support them. But they were only luxuries, after all. He could certainly do without the fancy cars, and get a moderate model. He didn't even need the expensive clothes; he could keep a few formal outfits, and spend his money on less expensive clothes. It wasn't a big deal to him to sell things whose monetary value was greater than the emotional value that came with it. Even selling things didn't mean quite as much as just getting rid of them, so he could even donate his items to charities.
Lost in thought, he didn't hear the soft knock at the door at first. When it came again, louder this time, he looked away from the Excel worksheet he had started for the budget scenarios and called, "Come in."
Irina stepped inside and closed the door again. She folded her hands in front of her and walked over to Zhenya's desk carefully. He raised his eyebrows, confused at her demeanor, which was shy and a little fearful all of a sudden.
"Ira? Are you all right?" he asked.
Irina took a deep breath, and said, "Zhenya... I've been thinking a lot about the ultrasound today."
Zhenya smiled. "I know what you mean. I've already started working on budget scenarios," Zhenya said, turning the flat screen monitor towards Ira so she could see the budget scenarios. "What do you think? I figure if we sell the fancier cars, the ones that take up the most fuel, we can save a lot of money that way and we can sell some of the clothes that we don't wear often, or at least donate them to charity. There'll be no money that way of course, but I really don't care about that. My main objective is to get the space as well as the money."
"Zhenya, please... can we talk for a second?" Ira asked timidly.
He looked at her strangely. "Of course," he said, folding his hands on the desk in front of him. "What is it?"
After a deep breath, Ira said something that made him feel like he was punched in the stomach. "I don't want them."
After a few moments, he let out a soft chuckle. "It's a bit late for that, isn't it?"
"I just don't know if I can go through with it," Ira explained, her hands on her lap as she sat down in front of him.
"Well... if you want to give them up for adoption, we'll have to discuss this. It's charitable of you, but you're forgetting that they are my children too. We should both come to a decision about this. Now, I have no objection if we can still be involved in their lives, but I think that's for the adoptive family to decide. I don't know, we'll have to look into it."
"I'm not talking about adoption, Zhenya." Ira looked her husband in the eye carefully, gauging his reaction. Evgeni's expression turned critical and he folded his arms.
"Ekaterina Alexandrovna, you know how I feel about that. It's ludicrice, sacriligious, murder. That is absolutely out of the question. How dare you suggest such a thing."
"It's my body, I'm the one who's carrying them," Irina protested, but her tone was calm.
"They're our children, that means they are part mine," Zhenya insisted, "and I absolutely forbid this atrocious crime against humanity. Not in my own home. I forbid it." His voice never rose above a normal tone, but his anger was evident in his facial expression, tone and body language. Despite this, Irina stood her ground.
"You have no idea what you are asking of me," she said, shaking her head. "It's my body, I have a right to decide if I want to go through with the pregnancy or not."
Evgeni stood up, both hands on the desk. "I will never allow this."
Irina glared and stood up. "Allow me? You shouldn't have to allow me! This really isn't your decision! I'm the one who's carrying them, I'm the one who would have brought them into this world. I should have the right to change my mind about this. You have no respect for me as a person. All I exist for is to have sex with you, clean your house, cook your food, take care of your children and get pregnant so I can have more. I'm through being treated like I am second-class to you! You always talk about equal rights for Danil and Peter, well what about my rights? Shouldn't I decide whether to have these babies or not?"
"I will be dead before you murder my children!" Evgeni exclaimed, slamming his fist on the desk. Irina glared at him, tears welling in her eyes so much that she couldn't see. "Dear God in Heaven, you must be the only mother who sees her children in ultrasound, and hours later decides she wants to kill them. Well, I will not stand for it. Do you understand? I'll go to the courts if I have to." He went out from behind the desk, completely passing Irina by. "I need some air." He paused at the doorway, and turned to her, giving her a look that would turn Medusa herself into stone. "Ekaterina Alexandrovna, if you do this, I guearantee you that our marriage will be over. Don't you dare doubt that for a second. I mean it. I will divorce you if you do this."
"A fine position you've put me in, Evgeni Alekseievich," Irina said with a sigh, shaking her head. "Either I satisfy my own wishes or 'stand by my man.'" She scoffed. "You're even worse than my ex-fiance was."
This was too much for Evgeni. Without warning, his right hand reached back and swung forth, culminating in a fierce slap connecting with Irina's cheek. A loud crack was heard throughout the room. Irina's head swung to the right, her face contorted in pain and tears spilled from her eyes at the horror he had unleashed on her. Never before had her husband ever laid a hand on any woman, least of all his wife.
Immediately after his hand connected with her cheek, Zhenya's eyes widened, his right hand fell to hi side and he stared at his wife.
"Katya..."
He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she pushed him away.
"Don't you touch me," she said venomously, glaring at him. "Don't you dare touch me ever again." Without another word, she stormed out of the room and went up the half flight of stairs leading up to their room.
Zhenya paused, wondering if he should leave her alone or go after her. He waited a minute, then went to their room. He found her throwing some things in a suitcase.
"Katya, for God's sake, please, just listen to me-"
"Don't come near me!" she screamed, reaching over to the iconostasis and throwing a statue of Christ at him. Zhenya ducked and the statue smashed against the wall. "Get out of my f***ing sight! You'll be hearing from my lawyer! I'll be dead before I let you do to me what Paskevitch did!" She slammed the suitcase shut and stormed over towards him, keeping her distance but still intending to leave... Except he was closer to her than the door was. "Move aside, Evgeni Alekseievich," she demanded. She had her purse over her shoulder, her car keys in her hand.
"Katya, look, I don't intend to be like your ex. I don't intend to make excuses for what I just did, it's unforgivable," Zhenya said calmly, keeping his distance slightly from her. "No words or actions can ever make up for it. But can we please talk about this? Where will you go?"
"Apparently you forgot that I have ways of taking care of myself," she said with a shrug. "You're right, nothing can ever make up for what you did. Now don't you dare try to stop me from leaving, or I will repay you for that slap with something a bit worse."
"Katya, can you at least try to explain to me why you want to do this, why you want to kill our children?" Zhenya implored. "That's all I want, and then you can go."
Katya's lip trembled, and she stood there, shaking slightly in rage and sadness. The suitcase fell from her hand and she started sobbing.
"You don't remember?" she asked, looking at him with tear-filled incredulous eyes. "How could you not remember?"
"Remember what, Katya?" Zhenya asked, his heart aching as he saw her in such a sad emotional state. He longed to hold her and comfort her, but was hesitant to do so in light of what happened the last time he touched her.
"Fourteen years ago, I came to you excited about the possibility of having two younger siblings. My mother was pregnant with twins. Well,she did everything she was supposed to, she took care of herself just fine, did everything right, and yet one baby was stillborn." Zhenya's face softened, but Katya wasn't finished. "The other baby died a few hours later. My family was just devastated. I couldn't bear losing two brothers. I can't imagine losing two sons. Now do you understand why I don't wan this?"
Zhenya was quiet for a moment, and finally held out his hand to take hers if she wished to give it. "Katya," he said, and Katya took his hand, "I do understand. I am sorry. We spoke of it so rarely after that, it slipped my mind. I'm sorry for that. I should have been more considerate. But... Just because it happened to her doesn't mean it will happen to us," he insisted, kissing her hand. "Won't you at least give it some more thought, some more time?" he pleaded.
Katya sighed, lowering her head and standing still.
"To think I actually thought you cared," she mused, and went to grab her suitcase.
"I do care!" Zhenya insisted.
"Then why don't you act like it?" Katya screamed. "You're not listening to me! You don't care what my reasons are, you are just determined not to allow me to have control over my own body! And if I don't do what you say, you'll divorce me, is that right? What did I ever see in you?" she asked, turning away.
"What, you mean me, as opposed to that scumbag of a fiance your parents forced you to be with?" Zhenya demanded, lightly slamming his fist on the dresser. "I'm the only one who ever treated you decently!"
"Don't flatter yourself!" Katya screamed angrily. "You're forgetting about Natasha, Misha, Danil, Anya, Andrei, the Duponts, Alyosha and his father, my teachers, my nannies, my friends at school and the rink, plus many others, including and especially your own father, and that was before you left for America. You weren't the only positive influence in my life, you know! Let's not forget the countless men I've had swooning over me since I was fourteen, and unlike you, none of my relationships ever ended in humiliation, and I sure as hell didn't put up with them using me like you let Shura use you. The men I dated treated me as an equal, not as someone who was better or worse than they were. I had my pick of the cream of the crop! Why did I choose you? Who knows, maybe it was pity. Even my parents, as much as it pains you to know, loved me before I left them! They didn't know what they were doing when they fixed me up, they just did what was traditional. Happiness didn't cross their minds, nor did being treated well. So they made a mistake. The point is, I got out, safe and sound, and a lot of other women are not able to say the same thing. You don't seem to appreciate what I have gone through because of my love for you. I would give anything, do anything, say anything to make you happy, but I will not compromise my own self-worth for your backward morality! It's my body, I am a grown woman, mother of two, I can do as I please with it! Either accept my rights as a human being, or leave me the hell alone!" Katya screamed.
Zhenya stood there, staring at her, just watching and listening. Her words hurt, but that's because he felt they were true. His past relationships, even those after Katya faked her death, were never stellar. He was foolish indeed to imply that he was the only nice thing in Katya's life, and he was a fool not to understand what she had given up for him. She had never put up with being treated as inferior rom her past relationships, why should she let him do the same? "Katya, as I have said many times, this is your home. You do not have to leave it. I will leave, for a few days, so we can both have some time to think." He walked over to the closet and pulled out a suitcase of his own. "You're right," he continued as he started packing. "You're right about everything you said. I'm not the only nice person in your life and I didn't mean to imply it. You have sacrificed so much for me, and I do not honor it enough. Your relationships have always turned out nicely when you pick your mates out, and mine never have! I was never good enough for you, your parents were right, and I am sorry that I have let you down and that I am such a disappointment," he continued begrudgingly. "I don't know what you saw in me then, and I don't know what you see in me now. I wouldn't be surprised if it is indeed pity." He tossed some clothes in the suitcase, shut it, and turned to his wife. Trying to think of more to say, he could only say, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being a disappointing husband." He picked up the suitcase and left the room.
Katya looked after him, wondering whether to go to him or not. Instead, she flung herself to the bed, sobbing into the pillow.
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