The Unexpected

Chapter 17

October 17th- Two Weeks Later- 34 Weeks-

Yuri's POV 1st Person

I sit on the couch with my feet in Otabek's lap, a book propped open on my bump. I sigh and pick it up, reopening it to the marked page.

Alisha

Aliya

Amelia

Anabella

Anastasia

Arianna

Ariella

"We're getting nowhere," I sigh, "We're never going to figure this out," My husband gives me a sympathetic yet encouraging smile,

"Sure we will,"

We're talking about names, and furthermore, finding it impossible to pick one. The topic was brought up, of course, by one of the Angels who asked what the gender was. And I, being unable to keep anything secret for long, told them. Seconds afterward, comments started pouring in; countless people inquiring about what her name will be. That was a bit of a rude awakening- don't ask me how, because I have no clue, but somehow, we've managed to not even discuss names yet. And as the time's fast approaching, we need to figure it out.

This has proven to be very difficult- there are simply too many names! Websites, stores, books, and, of course, humans, all have very specific ideas about good ones- it's frankly overwhelming. We've been scouring every source for a week and have yet to make a final list, each having a paper with a few options on it, but none of them feel quite right. "This is too hard," I shake my head, exasperated, "What if we pick the wrong one?" Otabek knows me well enough to see through the lightheartedness of my comment to the anxiety rooted beneath.

"We won't," He says reassuringly and squeezes my hand, "Don't worry,"

"I know," I pick up the book, "I just wish she could decide herself," As I leaf through the pages to the L's section it's removed from my hands.

My husband smiles mischievously, the telling glint in his eye betraying his intentions, "What if she does decide?" I raise an eyebrow,

"What?" He lifts my feet gently and places them back on the couch, coming up beside me and putting a hand on my abdomen. "Seriously?" I laugh and shake my head, "This is never going to work,"

"Let's find out!" He says brightly and grabs my list along with his from the coffee table. "Collette," Nothing.

"I told you," I say and set a hand on my stomach next to his own, "There's no way it'll work."

"Of course it will," He says with a mock patronizing air, "She just didn't like that one,"

"Uh-huh," I say skeptically, but still watch as he reads out from the list once again.

"Liya," A kick. He looks up at me smugly, "Told you,"

"Coincidence," I maintain, but just in case, open Notes on my phone and put a check next to the name.

"Mina," He says and gets no response. He tries again, "Taliya?" Another kick, small but distinct. I mark it on my phone and delete Mina from the list. "Rebecca?" Nothing.
"She does not seem to like my names," He laughs, "How about..... Alina" He reads from my list this time, setting his aside. I get a strong kick in response.

"Haha, mine are better," I say playfully,

"Always," He says and kisses me, "Now shut up so we can keep going," I oblige and keep silent as he scans the paper. "Yuliya?" A very strong kick in return. "Are you okay?" He says as I draw in my breath and looking worried, "That seemed like it hurt,"

I shake my head, "It's fine," I reply, although it did, "There's more right?" He nods,

"Sacha," Another strong kick. "That's all of them," He says and I remove the eliminated names.

"Round two," He nods,

"Liya," A weak kick, "Taliya," A slightly stronger one. "Yuliya," A very strong kick.

Ow.

"Yuri?" Otabek stops and looks at me, very concerned, "Let's take a break, I don't like that this is hurting you," I shake my head,

"No, keep going- we're making progress. It's better than going back to that stupid book," I glance at it, and then return my gaze to my husband, who still looks unsure. "It's fine, Beka," I nod slightly and he continues, but watches me more closely now, waiting for a sign that it's too much.

"Sacha," Another large kick, "Alina," A similar response.

"So we're down to the final three," I smile, relieved that this is working so well, although I still can't believe it is. "Bonus round."

"Alina," Two powerful kicks, "Sacha," Two more exceptional kicks, "Yuliya," Another pair of intense kicks.

"I guess it's a tie," I say and feel slightly disappointed- I was hoping we'd pick one like this.

"We're still much better off than we were this morning," Otabek reminds me, cheering me up some. I nod and he stands, offering a hand which I take, and whose help I rely upon far more than I'd care to admit. "Lunch?" He asks and I nod again. We walk hand in hand down the hall, him going slowly as I can't move very quickly anymore.

When we reach the kitchen I move to open the fridge but my ever-chivalrous husband beats me to it. "Sit down, I can do that," He says and grabs two plates from the cupboard. I wince slightly as I remember the cup dropping incident of a few weeks before, amazed that I used to be able to grab things from up high with the ease he currently exhibits. "What?" He asks quickly, not missing my small action.

"Nothing," I say and mentally roll my eyes at myself, drama queen. "Just hungry,"

"We can fix that," He says and pulls open the fridge, knowing well by now what I'll want. He's right, of course, being the perfect husband he is, and I'm struck by how happy he looks with this simple act of domesticity. We're very much the same people as we were when we met at our first Sr. Division Grand Prix Final, but at the same time so much has changed. It's good though, we're still happy and we're still ourselves, we just have something new now- and I'm glad we do, if for no other reason than to see my husband this excited.

"Thanks," I say taking the plate he hands me and giving him a kiss in return. He just smiles down at me, saying nothing, seemingly content with staring into my eyes. We stay like that for a while until our pleasurable little silence is broken by a kick.

"She wants attention," My husband laughs,

"Don't I know it," I groan playfully, and set the plate on the table, placing my now free hand on my abdomen. "Yes, I acknowledge you," My husband smiles and mimics my action,

"She'll be great on stage," He says with another telltale glint in his eye.

"Definitely," I agree, "She's easily strong enough to be a skater or a ballerina," And after considering for a second, "Maybe a kickboxer," He just shakes his head in an amused way, rolling his eyes as if saying, 'What am I going to do with him?' He loves me though, because, in all our madness, we work.

**Author's Note!**

Ew, the ending lol.
Also, one of the final three names they were considering; Alina, Yuliya, and Sacha (pronounced Sasha) is going to be the baby's name, I just don't know which. Comment and help me decide!!

It's definitely going to be one of those three so sorry if you hate them but any feedback is appreciated! See you next chapter! <333