“Oh.” Bernadette paused and swallowed. She hadn’t thought about getting married, though she certainly didn’t mind it. But between the baby and college, if they were going to do it before the baby was born then they should do it soon. “Well, do you want to get married?” She asked.
"I mean, yeah, I think I'd like to be married, but, I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it if I'm being honest...not in like a bad way!" Viktor was quick to rectify. "I love you, definitely, and I'm happy we're starting a family, but...I don't know. I just never really thought about marriage, but thinking about it now, I think it could be nice. What about you?" _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“Well, I hadn’t thought about it before either. But I know I love you, and I want to be with you. So as long as we’re together, I’ll be happy either way.” She explained.
"Well, Papa said if we wanted to get married...we should do it soon. It's very important to him that we get married by the church and he's worried that if we do it later on when, you know, you start showing, or after the baby is born, that the church might not do it." Viktor said, reaching up with a free hand to rub at the back of his neck. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
"Well...what if we do it before the semester starts? It doesn't have to be big or fancy...unless you want that. Then we can make it huge and beautiful." Viktor cracked a smile. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
"Oh man, the only suggestion Mama will have is that we throw a huge party like we did for Mila and Calloway, but...it might be fun to do that, maybe even make it bigger and outdo them." Viktor half joked. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Time had flown and just as Viktor and Bernadette discussed, they'd gotten themselves married proper.
It was as expected of a Nikitin affair. Hundreds of people showed up to the lavish event, only a handful that Viktor knew outside of his own family attending though they all seemed to know him well enough, or at least his father. It didn't matter though, the only person Viktor really cared about was in attendance, of course, as the event was for the two of them.
He thought Bernadette had looked the most beautiful he'd ever seen her walking down the aisle and he felt like he was the luckiest man in the world, though, he always thought she was beautiful and he always thought he was lucky that she chose to be with him.
It'd been a couple of months since the ceremony and though by all means the honeymoon phase should have turned into regular routine by now, Viktor was still enamored by his wife.
He was currently texting her while out on a job with Sasha for their father, telling her he'd be home in a few and asking if she needed anything in the way of snacks to sate her cravings. He didn't really mind his work, as long as he got to go home to Bernadette, but tonight was perhaps the night where he might change his mind as upon coming up on their predetermined point of rendezvous where things weren't quite right.
Sasha furrowed his brows when he realized there wasn't anyone immediately in sight, let alone the man they were supposed to be dealing with, but before he could say anything to his brother, there was a loud gun shot, then a yelp, and another shot, and another. He turned around to see Viktor crumpled on the ground, his phone skidded just a few feet away, and clutching his chest where at least two rounds of buckshot had exploded through him.
"Mostri! Al diavolo dove appartieni!" Someone yelled, but Sasha couldn't see, nor did he care to see, where they were hiding. Instead, he was already on his knees, trying to gather his little brother into his arms while he groaned and writhed in agony.
The wounds seemed to sizzle, which only horrified Sasha more. Silver. This wasn't a standard hit, this was done by someone who knew what they were. He reached down with a clamoring hand to place it over Viktor's wounds, his palm stinging as he did so.
He couldn't help but let out a panicked cry for help.
((FF))
Sasha had composed himself long enough to call for help before hefting Viktor onto his back as best as he could to drag him away from the scene and to somewhere one of the Nikitin foot soldiers could find them.
Once someone arrived, Sasha frantically called Peter and explained what had happened and told him they were on their way to him, all the while Viktor simpered and groaned in agony sprawled across his lap in the back seat. Peter assured him he would be ready and told him to make his other calls.
Which he didn't want to do.
He knew he'd have to tell his parents and that would have them in a frenzy, but more than that, he knew he'd have to tell his brother's young wife, which was more worrying. She knew that the Nikitins lived comfortably, but Sasha was sure she was oblivious as to how they gained their wealth, ignorant to the dangerous side of their lives.
But she still needed to be told.
Sasha opted to call his father first, who was at the main office doing work when he called. Their exchange was brief and, as expected, Adrik was instantly hysterical and worried. He was clearly trying to frantically find someone to drive him to Peters, or perhaps a set of keys to drive himself. He didnt' stay on the phone for long and that left Sasha to call Bernadette.
He dialed her number and waited, still holding on tight to Viktor's wounds. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Bernadette was humming happily to herself, sitting criss cross applesauce on the floor as she folded laundry. She was quite spherical, but hadn’t gained weight anywhere else so she looked a bit silly with such a bulbous gut on a petite frame. She looked like she had a basketball stuffed under her shirt, but thankfully her shirts hiked up enough to reveal her belly; all brown and purple, streaked with deep stretch marks, so she never had to be under suspicion at a sporting goods store.
They were both busy reasonably, Bernadette was doing exactly what she said she would, she attended university part time and worked a little as well. Her job wasn’t very demanding and didn’t make as much as Viktor's job but she liked being helpful. She mostly directed cars outside of a drive through coffee stand (like Dutch Bros), sometimes she would take orders. It was hard being on her feet even for four hours, but she’d never complain to her husband who she knew was working very hard himself. So with them both being busy, evenings were usually reserved for schmoozing and catching up about each other’s day, she was expecting him home soon.
Or she thought she was.
Her phone went off and she peeked at the screen, seeing the ID read, Sasha. That was a little peculiar, Sasha had maybe texted Bernadette four times? Why was he calling?
“Sasha, hi?” Bernadette answered, tucking the phone in the crook of her neck to continue folding.
Sasha opened his mouth to speak when he heard Bernadette answer, but ended up having to swallow thickly as his nerves stuck him.
"U-uh, Bernadette, I need you to not freak out, okay?" He said, knowing Bernadette was more...skittish than the other women in his life. Furthermore, she was pregnant and he didn't want to get her too riled up in that respect either.
When Viktor heard Sasha say Bernadette's name, he gave a groan and gently sputtered, "Bertie". _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Bernadette put down the slacks she had been folding. She was immediately concerned and even caught Viktor groaning in the background; adjusting the phone in her hand as though it would help her hear better.
“What’s wrong? Is Viktor sick?” She asked, already climbing slowly off the floor.
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