Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 2018

Time× 7:06 am

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 2018

Time× 7:06 am

The plane ride to America was long and both Viktor and Natalie were exhausted. Don't get them wrong, they enjoyed being on the plane but the whining baby behind them was just too much to handle. Neither one of them could fall asleep, matter of fact no one on the plane could fall asleep.

"We are never having kids," Natalie whispered harshly to Viktor.

Viktor chuckled and shook his head. "Duly noted Nat, duly noted." He said, pulling up their blanket.

Natalie glared at him. "I'm serious Vik, I'm so fucking serious." She pointed at the bags underneath her eyes. "This is a big no, I need my sleep or else I'll be cranky."

"You mean more cranky than usual?" Viktor mumbled under his breath, but Natalie heard him. She Leaned over and pinched him in the arm. "Ouch!" He shrieked in pain. "What the hell was that for?" He asked, touching his arm.

"You know why," Natalie said, still looking at him with a glare. "I don't know why they allow babies on planes."

"Maybe because they're humans and have places to go as well." Viktor resorted. "And if you think you're sleepy, just think about how sleepy the mother is." He said, turning around to look at the single mother who was trying to get her baby to stop crying. The passenger next to her seemed very frustrated, everyone was.

Natalie sighed, unclenching her fists. "Why do you always have to make me feel bad?"

Viktor shrugged. "Because you make it so easy too."

Natalie rolled her eyes and nudged him. "You're very annoying." She said, before standing up. Viktor watched as she walked away and towards the woman with the baby. His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Hi," Natalie said to the woman. "I'm just gonna be blunt and say that your baby is driving me insane." The woman looked up at her, on the verge of crying. You could tell she was going through a lot. "But it's fine because it's a baby and as strange as it is, they need to cry." Natalie shook her head and cleared her throat. "Anyways, I've decided to make our lives much easier and watch over the baby, while you get some rest. You look like you need it."

The woman shook her head, trying to keep the crying baby calm. "Oh no, I couldn't possibly ask that of you."

Natalie smiled. "Good thing you didn't ask. I'm offering." The woman looked hesitant. "I assure you, no harm will come to your child while I'm watching him or her. My seat is right in front of you, so you'll be able to watch my every move."

Having enough of the crying baby in her arms, the woman finally gives in. "My name is Marji and this," She looks down at the crying baby. "Is Henry." She handed the baby over to Natalie and Natalie gently accepted him into her arms. She began to pat his back, and he instantly stopped crying. "How'd you do that?" The woman questioned.

"Babies love me," Natalie responded, as she rubbed Henry's back. "You get some rest, we'll be here when you wake up."

"Thank you," Nicole said sincerely.

"No problem," Natalie said as she walked away. She took her seat by Viktor and gently shook her arms so that the baby could find comfort. Looking down at the baby, Natalie felt her heart swoon. The baby was so beautiful. His little face glowed while his big green eyes shined. He had a head full of black-brown hair, just like his mother. "Aren't you a cute boy." She cooed. The baby's miniature fingers grasped hers and held tight as he smiled at her. "You're such a cute boy."

Viktor watched the scene before him, his face emotionless. "You're going to be a good mother someday." He said as he watched Natalie smile down at the baby. Parenthood looked like it was going to suit her well. He couldn't say the same for himself. Viktor wasn't really a fan of kids... hell he didn't know anything about them, except for the fact that they made him uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. "You already have your motherly instincts."

Natalie smiled at him and lifted her hand up to touch his face. "Thank you, baby." She said, before pulling his head down and placing a kiss on his lips. Viktor kissed her back, before pulling away. He didn't want the baby to see them kissing. Natalie noticed and chuckled. "He's a baby Viktor, he doesn't mind."

Viktor smirked. "You don't know that in his mind he's probably weirded out." He ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe even thinks I'm attacking your face."

Natalie busted out laughing. "What the hell goes on in that big head of yours?"

"A lot." He answered. "But mainly naked memories of you."

Natalie gasped, a wide smirk on her face. "You just keep getting nasty and nasty. I'm starting to think I'm a bad influence on you."

"With the way we've been," Viktor caught himself. "Having fun, I'd say you've been a good influence."

Natalie knew the true meaning behind his words, which caused her to snort. "You are something else Viktor." She tilted her head back and sighed. "You see how peaceful he looks?" She asked, watching as the baby slept. "That's how peaceful I aspire to be. To sleep when I want to sleep. To wake up when I want to." She turned to look at Viktor. "To have no worries."

Viktor placed his head on her shoulders. "Everyone wants that Nat."

"I know everyone wants it Vik, but I really want it. I want it bad." Natalie said. "Sometimes I think that I even deserve it since my mother was taken away from me at a very young age." She laid her head on top of his. "I know it's pretty diabolical to think that way, but I just do."

"It's not diabolical. What's diabolical is me thinking that in some way the universe owes me." Viktor says, his eyes trained on the sleepy baby.

"What do you think the universe owes you? Success?" Natalie asked.

Viktor shrugged. "In some ways, yes. I've been working very hard for it since I was a kid, it's only right that I at least finally have it now. I believe that everyone who has put in hard work and dedication should have success. It's only right that they do so." He says. "I also believe that the universe owes me happiness as well. But in some ways, I feel like it's already gifted me with that." Viktor closed his eyes. "By sending you into my life."

Natalie couldn't help but smile. "I find it so sexy when you sweet talk me."

Viktor smiled too and placed a kiss on her arm. "I like it too because I know how wet it makes you." He said lowly, before lifting his head up. "If you want, we could have another round in the bathroom."

Natalie blushed, the memories of them having sex in the airplane bathroom flashing through her eyes. "As much as I would love to, we can't." She looked down at the baby. "We have a little Detka to look after."

"You're using that we word a little loosely." He chuckled. "You're the one who got up to go get the baby, therefore you have to watch him."

The smirk on Natalie's face instantly disappeared. She lifted her hand up and placed it on Viktors thigh, before pinching it. Viktor yelped at the feeling, quickly pushing her hand away. "Stop playing with me Vik, before I hurt you some more. And it's we because last I checked you're the one that made me feel bad for mentally cursing out a child."

Viktor sighed, his hand still rubbing the thigh that Natalie pinched. "Fine." He said, reluctantly. "We'll watch the kid together."

"Good," Natalie said, sitting up. "Fix your arms like mine."

Viktor's eyebrows raised. "Why?"

Natalie glared at him. "Because I said so, now do it."

Viktor sighed but did what she asked, fixing his arms in the position as hers. Natalie turned around and carefully placed the baby in his arms. His eyes quickly widened. "Nat no. Hell no." He could feel himself start to sweat. "Get this baby away from me."

"Viktor you're fine, the both of you are. Just keep holding him like that and rock him a little. And everything will be cool, he won't wake up for a couple of hours." Natalie grabbed the majority of the blanket and covered herself with it. "I'm going to take a nap, don't do anything stupid." She placed her eye mask on and got comfortable.

Viktor looked at her scared. "What if I drop him?"

"You won't, now shush and let me sleep." She closed her eyes. "We'll try that new position again if you succeed in not waking me up."

Viktor bit his lips. To him that honestly didn't sound that bad of a deal. Leaning back in his seat he let out a breath and looked down at the sleeping baby. "How hard can this be?" He mumbled.

——

An hour had gone by and Natalie was still asleep and so was the mother of the baby. Viktor had the baby on one arm as he used the other hand to scroll down his Instagram feed. He wasn't a huge fan of social media, but he did use it when it came down to promoting a fight and sometimes, but rarely posting a picture. He also used it to watch funny videos of dogs, since they were his favorite pet.

Besides that, you'd almost never catch Viktor on social media.

Viktor tried not to move as much because he didn't want the baby to wake up. So he stayed in an uncomfortable position, making sure to keep quiet.

"Do you need anything, sir?" One of the flight attendants asked Viktor.

Viktor nodded. "Can I get a coke soda and some chips."

The man nodded. "Sure thing." He looked down at the baby. "Would you like anything for your son and wife?"

Viktor coughed, completely taken back. He decided it would be pointless to correct the man, so instead, he said, "No, that'll be all." The flight attendant nodded, before walking away. Viktor felt movement in his arms and quickly looked down. He jumped when his eyes caught sight of big green eyes looking back at him. "Oh shit." He mumbled. He wasn't expecting the baby to wake up.

The babys face crinkled as he got ready to cry. Viktors heart sped up. "No, don't cry." He whispered, before turning to look at Natalie. She was still asleep. He was going to wake her up, but quickly remembered the new position she promised him. Viktor groaned before looking back down at the baby. "Don't cry, baby." He said in a very high pitched voice. "Don't you do it." He said once again in the same voice. Lifting the baby up, he placed him on his shoulder and began to rock him. Feeling eyes on him, Viktor turned to the source only to see that it was a male passenger staring at him. He frowned. "What? You never seen a man talking to a baby?"

The male passenger quickly lifted his hands up and surrendered and looked away.

Once the baby stopped crying, Viktor pulled him back down and let him sit on his lap. "Good baby." He unlocked his phone and went straight to YouTube, pulling up some baby shows to watch.

"Here you go, sir." The flight attendant said, passing Viktor his chips and soda.

"Thank you," Viktor said, placing the bag of chips on his lap and opening a can of soda. He lifted the van up and took a gulp. The baby's eyes went from the phone screen to the soda in Viktor's hand. He let out a sound that caught Viktors attention. "What? You want some?" Viktor asked, looking at him. The baby made the same sound, which Viktor took as a yes. "Babies can have soda right?" He asked himself. He nodded. "Yeah, of course, they can." He answered himself.

Taking the can he put it to the baby's mouth and let him get a taste, before pulling away. "Hmm." The baby said, looking at Viktor with a mug. Viktor rolled his eyes. "Sorry, geez. I didn't know you still want some." He gave the baby some more, before setting the can aside. Picking up the baby of chips, Viktor opened it and put a few in his mouth. The baby tapped his chest. "What?" Viktor asked. "You want some too? You don't even have teeth." He paused for a moment. "Wait. Do you?" He sighed. "Fine." Taking a piece of chetto's he put it in the baby's mouth and watched as he sucked on it.

"Hello passengers, this is your pilot speaking. Our plane will be landing in the next ten minutes. If you have any questions or concerns please voice them to a fellow attendant. Thank you." The intercom went off and everyone went back to doing what they were doing.

"Why the hell is the baby sucking on chips?" Natalie asked, which caused Viktor to jump.

"He wanted some," Viktor answered, frowning. "What? Was I not supposed to give him some?"

"No Vik, you weren't." She chuckled, pushing her eye mask off her forehead. "But good job on not waking me up." She sat up straight and placed a kiss on his cheek. "How was he? Did he give you trouble?"

Viktor shook his head. "Nope, he was surprisingly  very... chill."

"That's great baby," Natalie said, smiling at him. "At least now I know you can handle a baby."

"Let's not get carried away," Viktor said, chuckling nervously. He still didn't know anything about babies and even though baby Henry was calm, he knew that not all babies were. "I can't wait to get to the hotel and sleep." He admitted. "I'm tired."

Natalie yawned. "Me too."

Viktor looked at her sideways. "You just took a nap."

Natalie shrugged. "That doesn't mean anything. I'm still tired."

Viktor rolled his eyes. "Of course." He began bouncing his leg up and down. The baby liked it. "When we get to the hotel and after we sleep, I want us to look for some acting gigs for you. I don't want you putting your dreams on hold for me, while we're down here. Plus I'm sure you'll find a good opportunity in America since Americans like Russians."

"Bullshit. Have you not seen the Americans president? They think Putin is the one who helped him get elected. And they also think we're scary."

Viktor glared at her. "Don't curse in front of the baby. He's pure." He uncovered the baby's ears. "And we are kinda scary." He chuckled. "But that's beside the point. Getting you a role where you can be yourself is. I wanna see you succeed in your dreams, no matter the cost Nat. You deserve it."

Someone clears their throat, which causes both of them to avert their gaze. It was an elderly woman. "Sorry for eavesdropping, but you have a very good man right there if I may say. Any man that wants to see you succeed is a keeper." The woman said, causing Viktor to blush. "And might I also add that you have a beautiful son."

Natalie opened her mouth to say that Henry wasn't theirs, but Vik stopped her. "Don't even bother." He whispered, which caused Nat to smile. So instead, she said to the woman, "Thank you."

"You're very welcome ms." The old woman responded, before turning around.

"You heard that Nat?" Viktor asked, smiling. "I'm a keeper."

"Oh shut up." She said, before placing another kiss on his cheeks.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now landing it may be a little bumpy, so we ask that you buckle up for safety purposes." The Pilot explained. Everyone did as they were told.

The plane began to slow down and that's when the flight attendants began speaking. They explained to everyone that it was going to rain and how there would be some rain clothes waiting for them before they got out. Soon the plane touched down and Natalie could feel her ears pop as the plane jolted. The engines finally cut off.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at our destination. Before exiting the plan we must wait a few moments for the plane to decompress before we start letting you all out. It was a pleasure being your pilot and please come again. Thank you."

Natalie's eyes widen. "We are in America." She said, shocked. She took Henry out of Viktor's arm and began to clean his face with a napkin. "Like seriously in America."

"I know," Viktor said, loving how happy she looked.

"Baby thank you so much for asking me to come."

Viktor smiled, feeling his heartbeat hard in his chest. "No problem Nat." He said, placing a real kiss on her lips. America was going to be different, not because of them, but because of the great accomplishments, they were going to achieve.

Together.