Nadia only wanted to go because her brother said that he wanted to. “You continue what you are doing.” A small, soiled jockey came flying into Viktor’s chest from the direction of the doorway. He made haste to catch it with his right hand. “Nathan! You don’t have to undress to use the toilet.” “Ah fool you!” Nathan laughed, escaping the room. Viktor scowled darkly as he ran after his son. Nadia skipped behind them holding onto the legs of her teddy around her shoulders. Chubby teddy hung upside down without daddy managing to hold it in place. Audrianna sighed, hanging her head low in frustration before she looked back at the screen and focused on her report. A loud clash could be heard and she got up once more to search for the root of the sound. “What now?” She thought. She entered Nikolai’s room to find him laying on the floor holding his knee tangled in the sheets. The waiter that held his breakfast was collapsed on the floor. “Oh baby.” Audrianna scooped him up and laid her on the bed. “Are you okay.” Viktor loomed in the doorway, assessing the damage. “Jumping on the bed again. I thought I told you not to stop.” He turned in the doorway. “Arianna.” Her rasped for the maid. “I should make you clean up your own mess..” Tears welled up in Nikolai’s eyes and streamed down his cheeks still clutching his kneed. Viktor looked none too impressed. “Are you okay.” Audrianna cooed. “Oh, there is obviously nothing wrong with him Audrianna! Go to your room and finish up your work.” Viktor barked. Audrianna scoffed, hands on her hips. “Don’t take that tone with me.” Viktor looked miffed, he sighed. “Look, you go and finish do your job. I’ll handle the kids today. The sooner you complete your report, the sooner we can leave for the Carolinas. Now go!” Audrianna sighed, exasperated. Nathan, fully dressed and Nadia, teddy in hand came running curious as to what was causing all the commotion. “Nikolai, you hurt?” Nathan asked. “Aww.” Nadia sympathized. “Let me kiss it and make it all better.” She got up on the bed and kissed the injured knee. Nathan patted Nikolai’s knee. “You need a plaster? I have a octopus plaster.” “No no no! He doesn’t need a plaster. All of you back to your rooms now!” “No I want to stay here. Chunky nasty!” Nathan hugged Nikolai. “Me too,” Nadia whined. “I’m staying too.” She hugged Nikolai across his stomach. Nikolai, annoyed with the attention started to push the twins off of him. “Get off me.” He said. The twins looked at him before they both started to push him down forcefully, hugging him mercilessly. “No I’m not playing.” Nikolai screamed. The twins laughed, Audrianna hugged him close too, kissing him on his cheeks. Nikolai squirmed. Viktor walked over to the bed, he hooked to deliriously happy Nadia and Nathan around their stomachs and headed out the room. He caught Arianna at the door and filled her in on the mess created by Nikolai to clean up. Viktor then yelled at Audrianna to get back to work.
“Right.” Audrianna clapped her hands above her head. “It’s over.” She said with glee. The glow of the laptop illuminated her face. It was later that night when she watched the document save and she closed her laptop shut. She glanced at the bed in the mirror. Her husband was not there. She got up and ventured outside. The town house they occupied while in the city was both modern and comfortable. Audrianna loved the style of the darkly polished Mahogany woodwork and high ceilings. She walked down the spiral staircase with deep, red velvet carpet to the foyer below. She turned towards her husband’s study. She peeked inside. “Hey daddy. What ’cha doin’ ?” Viktor sat in his chair and seemed engrossed in what was on his computer screen. Grigori stood behind him. He looked up distractedly. “I’m almost done here.” He looked back at his desktop.