A week after her sexy fiancé proposed to her at the unforgettable, stunning, romantic restaurant, Olivia had a day off and decided to make her man some good old fashioned home food.

There was a permanent smile on her face, since his proposal and her acceptance. Every day was like living in heaven. Fedor showered her with love. He pampered her with little gifts, and treats each day. She told herself, she should have said yes, months ago.

'Mmm... I smell shchi,' Fedor came rushing into the kitchen. He lifted Olivia in his arms and twirled around with her.

'Fedor! You're home early,' she pouted, but threw her arms around his neck, as she kissed him back.

'You're making shchi darling. What's the occasion?'

'I love you,' she murmured, smiling into his eyes.

'And I love you too,' he hugged her, before setting her down again. 'And I love shsci,' he grinned, picking up a carrot and biting into it.

'I know,' she smiled.

Shchi (pronounced sh_kei) is a favourite Russian dish, more a soup, made with diluted cabbage, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and with a protein. Either beef, fish, or sausage, topped with sour cream and rye bread. Olivia was trying it with marinated pieces of cubed lamb.

'That smells divine darling. My tummy is rumbling,' Fedor poured Olivia and himself a glass of red wine.

'Thank you,' she took a quick sip of her wine. 'Okay, I will let you have a little now, as I prepare the pirozhki.'

'Thank you.' Fedor grabbed a bowl and helped himself to a little of the shchi. 'Wow. I did not realize it would taste so good with lamb.' Fedor fed a little to Olivia.

'Delicious. If I may say so, myself. Now go spend some time with Rebecca. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes.'

'Can I not stay here with you, and sample the pirozhki too,' he sulked.

Olivia laughed. 'You will enjoy it better at the table. Go!'

Fedor made a face and went in search of his daughter.

Pirozhki (Pronounced Pee_roz_kei) is a dessert option. It is little rolls, shaped like hot dog rolls. It is deep fired and one can put any fillings into the pirozhki. Olivia was just adding olives and mozzarella cheese into the pirozhki.

And for starters, they were having a vinegret appetizer of diced beetroot, onions, baby marrows and cherry tomatoes, glazed with Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar.

Olivia managed to get dinner completed, and the table set in less than fifteen minutes, when she called out to her family. Rebecca came running in asking for bliny (crepes).

Her Russian was coming along fine too. She could greet her mum and dad; say thank you and she could name many furniture; food items and she was getting good at her colours as well.

'No darling. No bliny. We are having supper,' Olivia patted the chair, for Rebecca to take her seat.

'You should have called me to set the table,' Fedor held two bottles of wine for Olivia to choose from.

'Red please. Thank you.' She placed some of the starter in a little bowl for Rebecca. 'Rebecca honey, don't be too long with your vinegret. I don't want your shchi to get cold.'

'Okay mama,' Rebecca directed her spoon into her mouth.

'Can I serve you darling?' Fedor reached for Olivia's plate.

'Thank you,' Olivia poured out wine for her and Fedor.

'Me ... me?' Rebecca reached for Fedor's wine.

'I'll get you a bottle of juice,' Fedor laughed. 'Wine is not for you. Darling, mum and dad will be here by Saturday,' Fedor opened Rebecca's juice for her.

Olivia nodded, as she tucked into the tasty beetroot. 'What's the plan? Are we taking them to dinner, or a show?'

'Mum wants to take Rebecca to the circus,' Fedor grinned.

'Oh, lovely idea,' Olivia smiled.

'You look happy,' Ilia smiled at Olivia.

'It's lovely to have you and Arseny visiting. Did you guys have a good time at the circus with Rebecca?'

Ilia laughed. 'Yes, we did, and so did Rebecca,' Ilian replied in her thick accented Russian voice, 'but what I mean is you look, joyful, and content.'

Olivia laughed. She smiled adoringly at the glittering ring on her finger. 'He told me that he loves me and wants to marry me, so yes I am very happy.'

'I've always known Fedor loves you. He's never looked at any other woman, the way he looks at you. And the other women he saw,' Ilia waved her hand dismissively. 'They were just acquaintances, nothing more.'

Olivia smiled as her eyes met Ilia's. 'You know I have no insecurity issues where Fedor is concerned. If he's with you ... he's with you. He does not stray. It's not his nature.'

'I told Luba,' Ilia snapped her fingers.

'What!' Olivia laughed.

'When you last visited in Russia with Rebecca. Luba came to our home for Fedor. Do you remember?'

Olivia inhaled, remembering her jealousy, at the way Luba was all over Fedor. 'Yeah. I remember,' Olivia responded casually.

'Luba did not believe that Rebecca was Fedor's baby. She thought you were being dishonest about Fedor being the father.'

'And you?' Olivia pounced. 'You do not believe some other man could be Olivia's father?'

'Pfah!' Ilia uttered with as much disgust as she could muster. 'Rebecca is my grandchild. My blood. That is Fedor all over again at three years old,' she laughed delightedly. 'He was a good child, always so sweet, never throwing tantrums.'

'Says his mother, so objectively,' Olivia grinned.

'Ladies! Are we getting supper, sometime soon?' Fedor popped his head into his bedroom, to find his fiancée and his mother in rather a deep conversation.

"'Always so sweet'" Olivia rose, arching her eyebrow at Ilia, as she proceeded to walk out of their bedroom, but not before she heard Ilia's spontaneous laugh.

'Can I have a vodka please son?' Ilia declined the glass of red wine.

'Off course mama,' Fedor removed her wine glass and served her vodka, straight up.

Everybody was enjoying the dinner, drinks and the conversations. Rebecca was going around the table, eating from her dad's plate and her grandma's plate. She was ignoring her mum's instruction to finish what was on her own plate. Eventually rubbing her eyes tiredly, she tapped her papa's arm. Fedor carried her to bed. Exhausted Rebecca did not even need a story read to her, she fell into deep sleep, as Fedor changed her into her PJs. Fedor returned to the lounge, as everybody progressed to after dinner drinks. He seated himself on the arm rest, where Olivia, sat, draping his arm around her shoulder.

'Why don't you guys, join us on the boat cruise?' Ilia invited Fedor and Olivia.

'We have plans,' Fedor hastily responded. 'Do not accept mamma's invite,' he whispered in Olivia's ear.

Olivia chuckled. 'We can always shift our plans,' she whispered back.

'No,' he shot back. 'We are not changing our plans.'

'Do you really have plans?' Ilia checked with Olivia.

'Unfortunately, yes,' Olivia grinned. 'We're going to France.'

'Then you'll have to come to Russia, for a long holiday too,' Arseny requested.

'We can do that,' Olivia accepted, without consulting with Fedor. 'I've taken three weeks off, from work. Fedor can shift his diary around,' she looked up into his eyes, smiling at him adoringly.

Fedor smiled back. He leaned forward, kissing her lips. 'I can do that,' he agreed.

'All settled than,' Arseny stood up, pouring another round of drinks.

'Not for me, thank you,' Olivia declined. 'I have had enough for the night.'

'I think, I'm ready for bed,' Ilia yawned, tiredly. 'These two will carry on till the morning, if you allow it,' Ilia side-eyed her husband and son.

'I don't have a problem,' Olivia laughed. She tapped Fedor on the knee. 'Take your time with you dad,' she stood up, pressed a kiss to his cheek and bid everybody good night.

'She is lovely,' Arseny murmured, as Olivia and Ilia both retired to bed.

'She is indeed,' Fedor agreed, downing his vodka.

'Why did you take so long to propose to her? So many wasted years. And Rebecca is a delight. You have robbed us of three years of being grandparents.'

Fedor sighed. 'I was wrong papa. Olivia told me when she was pregnant. I was a fool. And I am not deserving of her. But she has accepted me, now, so I shall eat humble pie, for the rest of my life. And you are also right about Rebecca. She makes me feel ten feet taller.'

Arseny chuckled. 'You're lucky, Olivia said yes. You know, she stands head and shoulders above all the rest of her species you dated.'

'Papa, you have no compliments for me?' Fedor emptied his glass again and poured out to more shots for his dad and himself.

'Olivia reminds me of your mama. Beautiful, self-assured, kind and sincere.'

'I chose well then?' Fedor laughed.

'Your mamma and I approve whole heartedly.'

'How did you and mamma manage to stay married for so long?'

Arseny emptied his glass in one gulp, and stood up. 'You don't have to make all the decisions. Respect the ones she makes and honour her before others,' he uttered and stood up.

'I can do that,' Fedor nodded with a grin. 'Good night papa.'

'Night son. Let's you and I do breakfast tomorrow morning.'

'Umm... okay.'

'And that's another lesson. Share the chores, especially when she is not expecting you to.'

'Clearly, I have a lot to learn. Night papa.'

Olivia reached for Fedor and discovered she was alone in the bed. She smiled, thinking that she had comfortably slept alone for almost four years, and here she was now after a few months reunited with Fedor, she was already feeling his absence, when he was not in bed with her. She was surprised that Fedor was not in bed. Checking her cell phone, she was about to get out of bed to check on Fedor, when she observed the outline of his form, seated on the chair. Olivia blinked in the dark of night, shocked to see Fedor sitting there, staring into space. He'd showered, slipped on a gown, chose the sofa, instead of their bed.

'Fedor!' She shivered, slipped on her gown and went to him. 'It's two am! Why are you sitting here? What's going on? She went down on her haunches, to be at eye level with him.

Fedor dragged his eyes to Olivia and heaved a heavy breath. 'He thinks I don't deserve you.'

'What! Who?' Olivia asked in confusion.

'My father,' Fedor growled softly.

'What?' She repeated. 'Why does he say that?' She rose and made herself comfortable on Fedor's lap.

'He feels I abandoned you, when you were pregnant,' Fedor sighed. 'He thinks I did a disgraceful thing.'

'Your father said that!'

'Not in so many words, he might as well have uttered those words.'

'I do not think your father was so scathing. Perhaps you are over reacting,' she murmured, cupping his face.

Fedor's eyes acclimatized with hers in the dark. 'I am sorry I abandoned you,' he murmured.

'You have apologized, previously. I forgave you already. Why are you banging yourself up, about this? Stop it! She whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. 'and don't think you can get out of marrying me!'

He laughed, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her. 'I want to marry you. I want to spend my life with you and Rebecca. I love you,' he murmured passionately.

'I love you too,' she smiled. 'Now come to bed,' she demanded.

Fedor chuckled. He lifted her in his arms and purposefully, strode to their bed.

-end chapter fifteen-