Epilogue (II)

- H E A T H E R - E L I A S - A N G E L O -

- T H R E E - Y E A R S - L A T E R -

"Uncle Ivan, take your creepy kid away from me!" Troy shrieked as the toddler crawled after him, trying to chase him when Roman chuckled.

"Have kids, they say." Ivan muttered and rolled his eyes as he picked up his one year old daughter up while she babbled nonsense.

"Dada." She squished his cheeks between her chubby palms and he chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead before handing her over to Lily.

"Dada!" She cried, reaching for Ivan when Lily frowned.

"She loves you more than me." She pouted and Ivan chuckled, taking the crying baby back.

"Of course she does, I'm more lovable." He said smugly and I rolled my eyes, tossing a cushion at him.

"Oh, shut it, we all love your wife more." I wrapped my arm around Lily's shoulder who raised her chin high and grinned smugly while Ivan rolled his eyes.

"I know you love me, kotenok." He teased and I scoffed along with Lily when a crying child burst in.

"Dada!" Ember cried and made grabby hands at Roman who frowned and picked her up.

"What's wrong, baby?" He cooed gently when she snuggled her face in Roman's neck and not even a moment later, her twin came running in, crying as well.

"Mama!" Emrys climbed up into my lap, his chubby hands trying to get a hold of me when I shared a look with Roman.

"Prince!" Roman called out and a few seconds later, Troy peeked his head in.

"Yes, papa?"

"What's wrong with these two?" Roman asked and Troy stepped forward.

"Uncle Alex and Uncle Enzo scared them." He shrugged and Ivan burst out laughing, his daughter copying him when Roman scowled.

"Call Aurelia here." He stated and Troy frowned but nodded nonetheless and called Alex's older daughter to us.

"Yes, uncle Roman?" The little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes walked with grace, and you wouldn't think she was a four year old with how smart she was.

"Tell your father and Enzo if they scare my kids again, I'll put you and Enzo's kid in the basement." He said with a straight face and both mine and Lily's eyes widened.

"Rome!" I gasped, "Don't listen to him, Aurelia."

"It's okay, Aunty Thea, I know daddy and uncle Enzo are bullies sometimes." She gave me her toothy smile which made me giggle.

"That he is." I agreed and she skipped out the room merrily while Troy watched her with a weird expression.

"Why is she so weird?" He asked Roman who shrugged.

"You just threatened her, shouldn't she be scared?" He asked again and Ivan chuckled.

"Not everyone's a princess like you, malen'kiy prints."(Little prince)He mocked in Russian and Troy grew red-faced, his hands balling into fists when I narrowed my eyes at Ivan.

"On mne ne ochen' nravitsya, mamma."(I don't like him very much, mamma.) Troy gritted out in Russian and I sighed while Ivan chuckled.

"Prince." I called and my son immediately turned to me, his eyes softening and his body relaxing.

"Da?"

"Go play with Damien and the others, take Rys too." I patted Rys' back who sniffled softly and Troy nodded, taking his little brother from me and leading him out.

"Ember, baby, why don't you play with your cousins?" I asked and she huffed, clutching onto Roman who wasn't keen on letting her go either.

"Anya!" I called for my niece who was visiting us, and wasn't so little anymore.

"Yes, Aunty Thea?" The seventeen year old walked in with her book in her hand and smiled at me.

"Could you take Ember with you and Evie? And keep her away from Alex, please." I asked and she nodded, going towards Roman with a flushed face I knew all too well as Lily, Ivan and I looked at each other knowingly.

Poor Anya had a silly little crush on Roman, and all of us knew it. She would go red-faced every time he would enter a room and while it was entertaining to watch, it was also really sad.

"Thank you." She muttered to Roman, not really looking him in the eye as she took Ember from him and quickly shuffled out.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" Roman narrowed his eyes at me.

"Why would I do that? I don't want her to suffer more than she already is. She's a beautiful girl and knows her worth is more than you idiots." I gestured to Roman and Ivan who both frowned.

"Never been more right." Lily agreed and both men glared at her next while we both giggled at each other.

Everyone had left after dinner at our place and we had put the kids to bed without much difficulty since they were tired from the long day.

Now, Roman was kissing up my neck, my body trapped between his and his hand sneaking under my silky top all way up to my chest.

"Rome..." I whined and he hummed, coming up to kiss my lips as my hands wrapped around the back of his neck and he groaned when I tugged at his hair.

"Are we making baby number five now?" I mumbled into his kisses when he chuckled.

"If you want, angel," He pecked my lips, "You know I'd do anything for you."

"Then sleep." I said and pushed him off me and to his side when he chuckled, holding me close to him.

"But I want to fuck you." He murmured into my ear, my body getting hot at his words when I looked at the hunger in his eyes.

"You're insatiable."

"For you, baby."

"Oh, shut up Romy."

"Whatever, angel," He pulled me closer to him, "I'll pull out... maybe."

"That's what you said when you got me pregnant last time." I huffed and he chuckled.

"Wasn't so bad though, was it?"

"Sure, instead of one, you put two babies in me, Romy." I sassed and he laughed, placing kisses over my bare shoulder as he pulled down the silky spaghetti strap of my top.

"I quite like making mini-me's and mini-you's." He muttered and I gaped at him.

"Go get pregnant yourself and see where that leads." I huffed and turned to my side but he was already slipping his free hand into my silky shorts ad I gasped when his fingers stroked my clit.

"You were saying?" He asked in a smug tone and I bit my lip as I glared at him.

"I'll chop your balls off and feed them to you." I threatened and he full on laughed.

"Do it after I'm done with you then because you, mio angelo, are mine for the night." He climbed on top of me again, silencing my protests with a searing and passionate kiss as he pulled my shorts down and my top off, followed by his own clothes.

"You have fifteen minutes." I narrowed my eyes at him when he smirked, aligning himself at my entrance.

"Why?" He asked and I gasped when he entered me without warning while I dug my nails in his back as he breathed heavily, shuddering lightly.

"Because I said so." I panted and moaned when he pulled out to thrust in again, one hand pulling at his hair.

"I have you for the whole night, wife," He rasped as he slammed into me, "And no one can say otherwise."

- S I X - Y E A R S - L A T E R -

"Ember! Emrys!" I called and not even a minute later, I heard pattering footsteps and loud squeals along with a boyish laugh.

Unruly dark brown hair caught my eye and then long, black wavy ones as the two nine year olds skidded to a stop in front of the kitchen island, covered in paint from head to toe.

"I'm calling your father." I drawled and both their eyes widened, muttering various apologies, both of them clinging onto me when a laugh escaped my lips.

"Let me go, you monkeys!" I laughed and they both moved back when my eyes moved to the entrance of the kitchen.

"Mamma." Evie pouted as she crossed the space between us and hugged me and I rubbed her back, a small frown forming on my face.

"Princess, everything alright?" I asked, framing her face when she sulked.

"Someone likes me." She muttered and I smiled.

"Well that's great, what's not to like?" I beamed and she shrugged, chewing on her lip.

"But?" I asked and she sighed, pushing away Emrys before sitting up on the counter who scowled at her.

"Prince scared him off." She grumbled and I rolled my eyes. That boy.

"Roman!" I yelled and just a moment later, Roman walked in, donned in an all black suit and I drooled at the sight, quickly regaining composure though.

"Yes, angel?" He pecked my cheek and sighed when he saw the mess on the twins.

"What did you two do now?" He asked and Ember pushed Emrys ahead who glared at her and they both communicated with their eyes before speaking up.

"We were painting." Emrys explained and Roman scoffed.

"With what? Yourselves?" He asked sarcastically and Evie giggled, covering it up with a cough when I Roman threw her a withering look and she straightened up with her lips pursed.

"Sorry, papa." Ember mumbled and he sighed.

"Don't do it again," He looked at me with tired eyes, "These two are giving me grey hair."

I laughed at that, running my hand through his jet black, wavy hair.

"You don't have grey hair." I commented and he pressed his lips together.

"I will because of these little shits." He glared at the two who looked down at the floor and mumbled a few more apologies.

"Where is Troy? I'd like a word with him." I put a hand on my hip and Roman looked between me and Evie.

"Did he scare someone off? Again?" He asked, stroking his chin when I nodded.

"Dovrebbe ricevere una ricompensa."(He should get a reward.) Roman mumbled thoughtfully and I smacked his arm.

"That boy needs to stop meddling in Evie's life." I said and he raised a brow at me.

"That boy is merely helping out his sister from falling into the hands of the wrong person." Troy spoke as he entered the kitchen, freshly showered after his afternoon workout.

"You don't get to decide what's good for me!" Evie snapped and he glared at her as he took out a water bottle from the refrigerator.

"I do when I know the guy is an asshole." He bit out, and I sighed heavily as another argument came forward between the two.

"Language!" I exclaimed and he shot me an apologetic look.

"Why don't you do something about your own non existent love life instead of meddling with mine, prince." Evie sneered at him and he grunted.

"I only have god intentions, princess." He mocked and she crossed her arms, looking at her father.

"Papa?" Evie asked Roman who was watching the exchange with amusement dancing in his eyes and a small smile on his lips.

"Rome?" I called for him and he huffed out a breathless laugh as he brought me closer to them.

"You know what this reminds me of?" Roman spoke, his eyes glittering with amusement as he pushed my hair behind my ears.

"What?" Ember shuffled closer to us and Roman grinned at me.

"When your mother and I first started dating— or didn't." He looked at the kids before sparing me a teasing glance, a fond smile taking over my lips as our kids sat around the island, their faces full of curiosity.

"You mean you faced the same criticism?" Evie asked as she swung her legs, her elbows placed on her thighs when I nodded, leaning into Roman's touch.

"Yes. No one approved of us two together, so we had to..." I trailed off and Roman grinned, "Compromise."

"Like, sneaking around?" Ember asked us both and Roman shrugged.

"I didn't give a fuck about them not approving, because I was selfish enough to get what I wanted." His eyes shining with happiness as I recalled the struggle we went through.

"But why?" Emrys asked me.

"Because Russians and Italians had always hated each other and after what happened between our parents—" I referred to what happened to my mom and the kids nodded, lowering their gazes in respect.

"Tensions were at an all time high and since your uncles didn't trust the Italians or any guy near me, was the reason your father and I faced so many problems." I explained and they nodded in understanding.

"Now I don't care if you're nine," I looked at the twins, "Or thirteen," I looked at Evie next and then fixed my gaze on our little prince who wasn't so little anymore, "Or seventeen."

"We don't want you hiding things from us or sneaking around. We haven't put any big restrictions on you but you know that your safety is our top priority and being you kids automatically makes you one of the biggest targets." I looked at Troy and Evie.

"Especially you two, and you know that." I told them and they nodded, "We just want you to share everything with us, big or small, don't be afraid, okay?"

"We know, mamma." Evie whispered and I smiled with a nod.

"As for you, prince—" Roman started and Troy rolled his eyes at the nickname that had obviously stuck, "Do not roll your eyes at me boy or you'll find them in your hands the next time you do so, comprendere?"(Understood?)

Roman was firm yet gentle, being strict where it was needed and gentle where required. All in all, he was the perfect father.

"Si, papa." He spoke in a firm tone and I sighed as I looked at our son, Roman's carbon copy except for his ice blue eyes that scared the shit out of people.

They were much lighter than mine, that was for sure, and I knew that Alex had the lightest blue eyes in our whole family.

"Good. You will look out for your sister when necessary, is that understood? I don't want another Anton up my ass." He grumbled, making me and Evie chuckle while Troy huffed.

"Got it. Anything else?" He leaned against the counter and playfully glared at Ember and Emrys who stuck their tongues out at him.

"Did you do the paperwork I gave you?" Roman asked and he nodded.

"Uncle Enzo and Gabe helped, if that's okay?" He looked between the two of us and Roman nodded.

"You're still learning, there's no shame in asking for help." He told our son who breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Now go get these two to clean up, they're giving me a headache." Roman pinched the bridge of his nose and both twins groaned.

"Not prince, papa, he's mean to us!" Ember pleaded but Roman shook his head.

"Anyone but prince, I'll even sort your files out for you." Rys latched onto Roman's arm who grunted.

"Out, all three of you." He pointed to the door and Troy visibly tensed.

"I can't deal with these brats." Troy muttered to me and I smacked the back of his head.

"You're one of them, genius." I told him and he pouted at me, reaching to peck my cheek when I sighed and pushed at his face.

"Mamma." He pleaded with a drawl but I shook my head.

"Go, now." I said strictly and he groaned but left nonetheless, sounds of him scolding the younger two in a mix of Italian and Russian reaching my ears before it got quiet again.

"Princess." Roman warned and I turned to watch Evie making ponytails out of her father's hair and Roman sitting there with an annoyed expression, making me laugh at the two.

"Oh come on, you loved when I did this before!" She pouted and Roman rolled his eyes.

"I was lying, I hated it." He huffed and Evie gasped dramatically, putting a hand on her heart.

"You hurt me, daddy." She whined but he only rolled his eyes when we heard Troy's shout.

"Princess, get here and help me!" His sound echoed in the house and both Evie and I laughed before she hopped off the counter and kissed her father's cheek who seemed more than pleased.

"I knew you loved me!" Evie said smugly and he faked a scowl.

"I don't. I only love my wife, and if it were up to me, I'd return you to the baby factory." He sassed and Evie rolled her eyes playfully, hiding her smile.

"Love you too, papa." She spoke in a sugary sweet voice before going to help her brother.

"Stop being so mean, Roman." I chastised as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my closer to him.

"It's not a lie, I would return them if I could." He said with a straight face and I huffed out a laugh.

"You're the one who got me pregnant the moment I got out of college." I reminded him and he smirked.

"I did, didn't I?" He raised his brows at me when I pushed his face away and he chuckled under his breath.

"Sorry, angel." He murmured as he peppered kisses all over my face and I laughed in his arms, squirming in his hold when he sighed and hugged me.

I smiled, wrapping my arms around him as his head settled on my chest since I was standing and he was sitting.

"I love our children, because they remind me of all the struggles we faced and went through to be here, today," He pecked my nose, making me smile, "And because they remind me of you."

"I love them too," I whispered and kissed his forehead, "And you, Roman. I love you, with my life and everything in me."

"And I love you, mio angelo, amore mio, with my life and everything in me." He whispered back, a gentle and adoring smile on his face.

"I always knew you were a softy inside, like a marshmallow." I teased and he huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Way to ruin the moment, angel." He cupped my face as he stood up and kissed my lips while I sighed into his mouth, the feeling of being in his arms just as exciting and heart warming as the first time we met.

"Thank you." He whispered this time and I smiled at him, saying the one thing he always asked so cluelessly.

"For what?" I asked and he his dimples popped out as he smiled lovingly at me and he laughed softly, running his thumb over my cheekbone as he gazed down at me with those emerald green eyes I loved so much and he murmured in a soft voice.

"Everything, angel, everything."