Surprise to Start a New Year

[theprivate_ryan]

She had not been able to get what she wanted for him before Christmas, so she had given him other things. However, when the searched for items finally arrived, Ryan was as excited as a little kid, bouncing around until everything was just perfect

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[theprivate_ryan]

Ryan was confused, for a minute, at what Altaf said about the pet store. When she realized, she laughed and shook her head. "Oh, no, I don't mean get one. I just thought he might enjoy looking at them. He seems to like animals." Taking a drink, she thought for a few minutes, then nodded. "I think a fish would be a nice start, for him. They are beautiful, and it will give him something to take care of in his room." She could see that this was pretty overwhelming for the boy, quite a culture shock. "I think maybe a few days at home would be good, let him get used to us, the house...we can swim with him. Nice and peaceful, then we can try more outings." Ryan forgot how noisy and bright and loud America would be to a small boy, and she berated herself internally for aiming for too much, too soon

[theprivate_ryan]

Ryan was already up, in the kitchen, cooking. She surmised it was her Russian nana's influence, this need to cook when she was stressed or feeling a bit off kilter. So much had happened in just a few days! Her own stomach felt a bit queasy, so she took some of the Pepto and drank some green tea, and it seemed to settle. She walked past the bedroom door, as they were kneeling to pray, and Ryan smiled, watching for just a moment. Kamil would have the best of both worlds, as Ryan was a bit of a lapsed Russian Orthodox Catholic. He would have Christmas, as well as the holidays of Altaaf's faith. Ryan felt that it was good for both of them to show him their world, and he would grow up to respect both sides

[theprivate_ryan]

Ryan laughed at the rumbly tumbly of her future stepson. "My goodness, that sounded like a big old bear who woke up from a long winter's sleep!" Ryan took her fiance's kiss, liking the sound of the word he called her. Pretty soon, it would be 'wife', and as much as that made her a bit nervous, it also made her really happy, too. "Morning, fiance." She kissed him again, before turning and seeing that Kamil's Mickey pancake was ready to flip. She used the thin, flexible spatula, and flipped it over with a flourish, before pouring three more pancakes on the rest of the huge griddle

[theprivate_ryan]

"Fee-on-see" Ryan smiled, as she helped him say the word. "That means someone who you are going to marry." Ryan cut up her own pancake, and she thought she was really hungry, but after a few bites, she felt like she couldn't eat any more. Plus, her coffee didn't taste that great. She figured it was just all the crazy stress, and the shooting. It was all catching up with her, and her stomach

[theprivate_ryan]

"Married will make me your PaPa's wife." Ryan thought carefully about how to approach this, because Sufi was newly deceased, and she did not want to disrespect her in any manner. "Kamil...your ammi was a very brave lady. She loved you very much, and she will always be with you, in your heart and as your special angel." Taking another sip of milk, Ryan glanced at Altaaf, before continuing. "I made your ammi a promise, that I would love you and look out for you, and I will keep that promise. If you want to call me ammi, that is fine. I would be honored. But if you want to just call me Ryan, or mama, or something else that you feel comfortable with, that is fine, too. I want you to be okay, with whatever you feel right with. I will love you, no matter what you call me

[theprivate_ryan]

Ryan was following the antics of the kids, relieved to see that Kamil was getting along with the others, particularly the twins. In the question of whether Kamil should spend their wedding night with the Jacks-Stokes clan, Ryan ultimately deferred to Altaaf. He was, after all, the child's father. Of course, neither one of them was experienced as parents, but she couldn't imagine any problems

[theprivate_ryan]

"So are you." Ryan whispered back, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. The ceremony seemed like a blur to her, the words of the two officiants flowing over her, as her entire focus was on the man beside her. So this was what love was... Ryan clutched her bouquet tightly, to cling to something, until Carolina gently eased it from her. They had already come to the part with vows and rings