CHAPTER 49 - ONE STEP CLOSER

Alina POV:

Its been almost a month now since Giovanni's death, Romeo was shot and I found out that I'm pregnant. I'm just on fourteen weeks now and since Romeo found out he's been insistent on getting married as soon as possible. We discussed our issues and he's been amazing, I realised that night almost losing him, how stupid I was to even think of running, nearly losing him scared me half to death myself. So here we are in the South of France, where we are getting married in two days, with a very small wedding of fifty people, mostly family and one or two business associates Romeo couldn't refuse. His recovery has been nothing short of a miracle and I thank God everyday that he's still here and can see our bundle grow.

My last dress fitting is here and Jake has gone bridezilla and Mari is trying to calm him. "Alina, are you almost done? We need to see the dress!" Jake shouts into the change rooms. I have gone with Monique Lhullier, a silk sweetheart neckline, fitted with an A line floor length skirt. The dress is covered in fine delicate vintage lace, off the shoulder lace sleeves and it conceals my bump perfectly. We still haven't told anyone since I'm not carrying very big and thought it would be a very welcome surprise at the wedding. Jake and Mari just think I gained a little weight the past month looking after Romeo. Sex has been wonderful since my hormones take charge a lot of the time, I probably tired Romeo out once or twice.

"I'm coming Jake, hold the fuck on, I don't know why I made you co wedding planner!" I shout and I hear him grumbling. I slip the tulle veil on, adorned with the same lace around the edges, and my beautiful white stiletto heels with the cutest bow on the front. I check my bump one more time in the mirror and it still looks flat enough to pull this off.

The doors open to the show room and I walk out, Jake and Marie are speechless. "Well? Do you like it? I tried to keep it traditional but a bit modern, since we are both heavily Italian," I say nervously.

"You look like an Angel Lina, I can't believe we are standing here today, after all the shit we went through together, from strippers to Mafia women," Mari says and her tears run, Jake has yet to speak, he's crying so much.

"I take it you both approve," they nod and smile. I look one more time in the mirror and I can only hope Romeo loves what he sees, and walk back into the dressing room. As I stare back at my reflection I think back to the day Romeo saw our bundle of joy for the first time around twelve weeks, when he was able to move around a lot better.

Flashback

"Lina I can't wait to see our baby, I still can't believe you're actually pregnant," Romeo says softly as Tino drives us to the hospital, under the guise of Romeo needing a check up.

I can't help but break out into a bright smile and whisper back, "I know. Now you're a real daddy," I joke and Romeo let's out a hearty laugh unable to contain it. He shakes his head and we arrive at the hospital, parking underground to avoid attention. We make our way alone to the OBGYN's office. Nerves taking over I squeeze Romeo's hand, and he gives me a reassuring squeeze back. Romeo still has some trouble walking and staying up too long but today its as if nothing is stopping him. We let them know we are here and sit and wait, about fifteen minutes later we hear the nurse call, "Miss Russo? Please come through."

Romeo and I stand up and make our way into Doctor Bennett's office. "Hello Alina, lovely to see you again, I take it this is the Father to be?" Doctor Bennett says holding her hand out to Romeo.

"Yes that would be me, lovely to meet you," Romeo says shaking her hand and smiling that smile that makes any woman weak. Doctor Bennett doesn't seem phased though, which I am grateful for.

"Please call me Alicia, have a seat. So Alina how have you been feeling? I see we are at twelve weeks now," Alicia says tapping away on her keyboard and wiggling her mouse.

"Yes, well, I have been fine, no more morning sickness, honestly I feel fine," I say shrugging.

"Well, let's get you checked out, I need you to urinate in the jar, then lay on the bed and lift your top up and we can do your ultrasound. I know you wanted to wait to hear the heartbeat and see the baby until Mr De Luca was here, I do have your other scans and I will give you all of those," Doctor Bennett says smiling.

"Please call me Romeo," Romeo says smiling like he's a kid on Christmas morning. Alicia nods and laughs.

"Be right back," I say and go off and do my thing and urinate in the jar. I come back and Alicia goes off and checks my sample. She comes back as I'm sitting on the table.

"Everything looks great, no infections," she says jotting it down in her notes. "Now blood pressure," she puts the cuff on me and checks. "Alina your blood pressure is slightly elevated, nothing to be alarmed about but I need you to take it easy, but we will keep an eye on that. Now let's get to the good stuff, and see your baby!" She says excitedly.

She pushes my top up and I lower my pants slightly. "This is it bella, we get to see our baby," Romeo says holding my hand and kissing it as he stands next to me. Alicia applies the gel and turns the screen towards us.

"Ok, let's see how the little one is doing," she moves the wand and we finally hear it, the heartbeat. My eyes immediately start to well up with tears, it's the most amazing sound in the world. Romeo is standing still not moving, not even flinching as he stares at the screen, if it wasn't for his grip getting tighter I would think he's a statue. "Oh..." Alicia says and Romeo and I look at each other, "that's interesting..." she says to herself.

I can't take the suspense, "what? Is something wrong? Oh God, Romeo..." I start to immediately ball my eyes out.

"Lina, breathe..." Romeo finally speaks, his voice uncertain for the first time, in all the time I have known him.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you but, do you hear that?" Alicia asks and we both look at each other and back to her uncertain of what we are supposed to be hearing.

"Oh my God," I say finally. Romeo looks so lost.

"Will one of you tell me what the hell is going on?" Romeo says losing his cool.

"Romeo, there's a second heartbeat," I say smiling.

"Alina, I know that's you and the baby..." Romeo says and then he clicks. "Oh God..." he says and goes slightly pale.

"Twins!" Alicia says laughing. "It can be missed initially, but there are definitely two babies in there. I will be able to tell the sex on your next visit, they are so healthy too. I envy you carrying so small," she says taking measurements of the babies.

"Romeo are you alright?" I ask noticing Romeo actually looks even more pale than before. Alicia gets a chair and Romeo sits down nodding slightly.

"Twins... Like two..." Romeo says and both me and Alicia can't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, I just.... It's unexpected," Romeo finishes, but looks away from the screen and breaks out a megawatt smile.

"I'm a bit freaked, but I guess we will have two little munchkins running around," I say laughing.

"It's the best news bella, just a shock," Romeo says smiling but still looking slightly terrified. I can't help but giggle.

"So let me print out your pictures and then you should be good to go. Alina, I need you to keep the stress to a minimum, eat healthily, avoid salt and rest as much as you can, twins can be a lot on the body. Also sometimes they come earlier but not by too much, but we will keep an eye on that. You asked me if you can fly, and that's perfectly fine, for now," Alicia says and I nod still slightly in shock myself. We finish up and Romeo and I make our way out the office after making an appointment for the next check up.

End of flashback

In two days I'm marrying the love of my life and father of my babies, it's all so surreal. When I come out of the change room I see Mari is her bridesmaids dress, a beautiful gold silk sleeveless dress covered in fine gold chiffon, with a red band and bow at the back just under her bust. "You look beautiful Mari, my maid of honor," we jump and squeal, and I see Jake in his black tux with his gold bow tie and undercoat. "Looking handsome boo, Luc is a lucky man," I say teasingly and Jake winks at me.

"They got everything just right, now, we have your bridal shower this afternoon and bachelorette party tonight, tomorrow is your rehearsal dinner and then no seeing Romeo till your wedding day," Jake rattles off. "Oh don't worry Alina, as you requested nothing too out there for the party, and your tea is going to be nothing short of royal. Luc told me Romeo is having a poker game and some drinks for his stag night, and probably some bar hopping, no strippers," Jake says sternly.

"Well you have everything under control, and I don't have a single worry," I say smiling.

"Jake has a tight schedule, I wouldn't be smiling just yet," Mari says rolling her eyes and laughing. I know she's right.

"Chop, chop, come on girls we have a bridal tea to get too!" Jake says clapping his hands and we laugh following. We get back to the estate Romeo had been offered by Francois the head of the French mafia, a beautiful seaside Manor, and my bridal tea is basically just a lunch with all the ladies invited to the wedding all twenty something of them, my mother being one of them, yes my mother. Jake and Mari has done an amazing job since its in the gardens here on the estate. It's all gold and red with beautiful huge red bouquets of red tulips and roses with the odd yellow lilly. We have an extremely long table in the garden draped in gold and a red runner and gold chairs. It's absolutely breath-taking.

I make my way up to the bedroom to have a shower and get changed and Romeo is working on his laptop on the bed. "Lina, how are you and the babies?" Romeo asks as I walk over and give him a kiss.

"Fine, just tired. I have to get changed for the bridal tea, first a shower though," I say giving a Romeo a naughty smile and pull him up gently to join me.

"Don't mind if I do," Romeo jokes. We get a bit heated in the shower, but don't have sex, or I will never get ready.

As we get out Jake bursts into to the bathroom, "bitch, you better be dressed and ready within an hour." Romeo shakes his head and Jake pushes and shoo's him out of the bathroom with just a towel on.

This is going to be an incredibly long ass day, I think as I spot the hairdresser and make up artist. All I want is to be with Romeo right now, I slip on my robe and let Mari and Jake choose my dress.

One step closer to being Mrs De Luca, and I cannot be happier.