Nancy woke up to find Damon's arm on her. She moved it away and tried to get up but Damon whined. It went mixed with the whining she heard from her baby crib. "Let me go and see Ivan,"

Damon rose up and was quick to go look for Ivan instead. He held him out of the crib and told her.

"Dmitri used to be the same, right? They wake up exactly at the moment their father wants their mom." Their door was knocked and Nancy got the door knowing well it would be Dimitri.

"Mommy, I didn't fuss today. Mrs. Dexter said I am a good boy today." Nancy held Dimitri in her arms and picked him up before looking at Damon. "Yes, that's because you are a big boy now." But Dmitri was loud and full of energy when he said, "I am a big brother too. I am Ivan's brother."

"Yes, Ivan is a bad boy today, Dmitri. He kept Daddy awake all night." Nancy had the rule to keep her baby in her room for at least a year.

"Do you think Eliza will like our gifts?" Little Dimitri asked his parents. He was excited to attend Eliza's birthday. "Of course, she will. You are her baby brother. She must be waiting for you..." Mrs. Dexter, Dmitri's nanny who was looking for Dmitri came to look for him and apologized. "He is very energetic today. Come, Master Dmitri, you have to get ready."

Nancy smiled before telling Mrs. Dexter. "Get him to Eliza's house right after he finishes his breakfast. They will play and wait for the guests. Will you welcome your parents well, Dmitri?" Nancy asked her son who was quick to ask. "Yes, when will you arrive?"

"Once you finish taking a round around Uncle Robert's house." Nancy knew Eliza and Dmitri would get distracted by all the birthday commotion going on before they could ever take a round around the house.

Dmitri left and Nancy asked Damon. "Robert should have come from Russia already. Eliza would be upset if she had to cut the cake without her daddy around."

Damon walked to Nancy and handed over Ivan. "He is sucking his fist. Feed him already,"

Nancy smiled looking at her baby. Damon walked to get to the phone all the while telling Nancy. "And, more than Eliza, think about Selena. She looks at you as if she would eat you alive. The only thing she wanted from Andersons was her husband. And, he is away on another Russian trip that was supposed to be a week long."

Nancy sits on the sofa and starts feeding Ivan. "It had been more than a month, right?"

Damon nodded. "Russia has lost against Afghanistan and is weaker than ever before. This is the right time for Robert to get our roots strongest there."

"Yes, but you can't explain this to Selena. She wants her husband and I think she is quite fair to demand this." Nancy said but Damon huffed. "She knew what she was getting herself into. Perhaps, not entirely but she should stop acting dumb. If we are strong, we are secure. It will be better for her kids too."

"Please, calm down. She is pregnant. You better not annoy her more." Nancy suggested,

Damon picked up the phone and dialled for Robert's secretary in Russia. They had their own phone centers by now to connect the international calls. It added more security to their privacy too. "Ah, ok, fine," She heard Damon talk on the phone.

"He has left for Alaska," Damon informed Nancy putting the phone down.

"Gosh, it is better. I am not going to the party until Robert doesn't land." Nancy announced while Damon came to kiss her head and told her. "I have a meeting with the mayor. I was hoping this year Robert could be the mayor but he has other responsibilities."

Nancy nodded and shared a kiss with him too. Damon got ready and left while Nancy took her time to look at her little Ivan. Damon had worked hard to make Russia lose the battle even though he did supply it with the guns. There was a lot going on at the time in the world but the least Nancy wanted was for her family to be safe.

Ivan cooed getting his mother's attention. Nancy kissed him and wondered what her sons would be. It pains her to accept that there will be no exception for them. They will have to be what their father is. In the end, they will have to play with the cards they are dealt with. But this reality and future only made Nancy more aware of how valuable this time is for them.

Nancy could understand what Selena was going through. As the complete merger of Ivanov and Anderson was nearing, the realization was ever palpable that they were to be fiercer and more heartless to keep their hold on such a vast empire.

Nancy got ready around the time she knew Robert would be landing. She tried for Damon but he didn't pick up. It was only when Damon's guard Joseph came to see her, that she smelled something suspicious. "What happened?" Nancy asked,

"I am sent to make sure you don't leave home. And, stay right here with Master Ivan." Nancy gulped and walked to the maid who was holding Ivan. Nancy picked up her baby and asked, "I demand an explanation."

"It seems that Todorov's current family head invited himself to Eliza's birthday party."

"Dmitri! They have every reason to hurt Dmitri. Oh my God!" Nancy gasped before telling Joseph. "I have to leave."

"Please, lady Anderson, do not make it difficult for me." He requested,

"Is Robert there?" Nancy asked,

"He still has half an hour before he lands." Nancy walked around before telling him. "Get me a car ready, or you will face consequences," Nancy warned.

"Lord Damon is already there."

"What do you mean already there?..." Nancy yelled at the guard but then ordered one of the maids. "...call someone there. Ask them what's going on there."

But when the maid told her that no one was picking up she ordered one of the maids. "Get me my gun," The maid ran to quickly follow the order. Nancy pointed the gun at Joseph and told him. "Get me to Robert's house."

A maid came forward to take Master Ivan from Nancy's arms while the guard had to follow Lady Anderson's order. Nancy prayed for the safety of her family during the whole drive. And, the moment her car was pulled over she looked at the party decoration. It didn't let her see much. She slowly made her way inside the estate. Around twenty-five guards of the Todorov family were standing. She crossed them and looked at the side of a mature gruff man sitting on a lawn chair. He seemed to be smiling while Dmitri and Eliza were talking to him not knowing he was an enemy who could be here to take revenge on them.

The moment Ruslan Todorov looked at her, Nancy held her breath. He looked at her carefully before he got up and told Nancy. "For a moment, I wonder if I was looking at Leslie."

Nancy carefully walked to Eliza and Dmitri. Damon hated Nancy for ever daring to come here. He could always have more kids from Nancy. But once she is gone no Ivanov could come into this world. The Ivanov family would be gone entirely. Damon finally walked to Nancy and the mighty Ruslan Todorov could see right through him. Ruslan noticed that he didn't care about the kids but he did care about his wife. Ruslan believed he was right to care about the cow rather than the milk.

Little did Ruslan know that Damon's worry stemmed from the fact that he didn't want Nancy to bring up the mention of her brother's death because Todorov had no part in it.

"Why are you here?" Nancy asked to which Damon replied, "To eat the free cake,"

Nancy looked at Damon but he huffed and said, "Not my words. Ruslan said it to Eliza and our beautiful Eliza has asked him to stay."

"For Todorov a family mean everything. I wanted to see Robert for something but was told he had left for his daughter's birthday party. I thought it was an auspicious time to forget what was in the past and look at the future." Ruslan had finally stood up from his place and now was towering Nancy.

"Well, it is really a surprise coming from you. If we want peace or not, my husband will decide for it." Nancy said before she took the kids away from the big men and slowly walked to Selena. Nancy and Selena both were aware that they couldn't show their emotion of fear and weakness. But Nancy still noticed how Selena had stopped breathing and hugged Eliza to her chest the moment she walked to her.

"We will take it away from here." Damon told Ruslan using a firm tone but Mr. Todorov smiled before he said, "I am here to talk to Robert."

"Too bad he isn't here. You will have to go back." Damon told him.

Ruslan smiled before he said, "But you are here. The head of Andersons?"

Damon looked into his eyes and Ruslan started. "In my family, I decide everything. I am sure it is the same as yours. I want to propose a marriage for Eliza to my eldest son. He is the future head of Todorov." Damon looked at him and realized he wasn't here to joke.

"I must say it is a good marriage proposal but we have already promised Eliza to the Thornton's eldest son."

"Thornton's from Yorkshire?" Ruslan asked,

"The very same," Damon replied but was quick to add. "But I can accept your only daughter from your third wife for my son Dmitri. He is going to be the future head of Ivanov and Anderson alike."

Ruslan inhaled sharply before he looked into Damon's eyes like a hawk. "It's a pact then," Ruslan said before Damon nodded, "Of course, it is."

"Come, why don't you stay until our Eliza cut the cake?" Damon offered. It felt weird that in these years their relationships were only at extremes. There were either altercations or talks through letters.

"I could have stayed but my ailing mother is waiting for me." Ruslan excused himself. He was escorted by his guards out. Nancy wonders what they have talked about and impatiently looks at Damon for an explanation. He shook his head and replied, "It's nothing, they wanted to discuss a peace treaty."

Robert arrived after half an hour. Selena seemed mad at him but at least he stood a chance because he didn't miss the birthday party. Nancy was having a hard time believing Damon wasn't lying to her.

Though Damon wanted to talk about this to Robert it seems if he left Selena he would be in trouble. Nancy excused herself from the party early because Ivan was home alone. Damon wanted to leave with Nancy too but Dmitri didn't want to leave early. The party was still on with kids going on different rides.

Dmitri had to request his uncle Robert who subsequently asked Damon and Nancy to leave Dmitri there. Nancy agreed because she realized she had something to talk about with Damon.

On the drive back home, Nancy couldn't help but ask, "What was it about?"

"He offered peace through marriage." Nancy got alert.

"Eliza!" Nancy asked and Damon whispered, "Yes,"

"Did you..." Nancy was scared for her little girl.

"Of course, not, I declined saying she is already promised to Thorntons." Nancy looked at Damon.

"But she is not," Nancy replied,

"She will be. They have asked for her hand several times since her birth."

"But you denied saying you will not throw your niece into such promises. You said she will decide for herself." Nancy reminded him.

"Todorov take everything to their ego. The only way to decline them was to tell them that our daughter was promised elsewhere. And, Thorntons seems far more reasonable than Todorov. Small family, big vaults, and respect for women. I am going to call the priest and tell him that we are accepting Thornton's proposal for Eliza. She will be far better in Yorkshire, UK than in Bulgaria's mountains and sea."

"Fine," Nancy said leaning her back to the seat. Their car was pulled into the driveway when she mentioned. "He must have felt disrespected. He offered his child in marriage and you didn't accept it."

Damon took a moment before he replied, "No, I made sure that he doesn't leave empty-handed from my estate." Nancy looked at Damon but instead of giving her a response he got out of the car. A guard opened the door for Nancy and Nancy walked to Damon. Tapping her heels aggressively against the marble. She stood beside him and asked, "What did you offer him then?"

"I offered Dmitri. His third wife has birthed his first daughter." Nancy was stopped in her tracks.

"He didn't accept it, right? Tell me, he didn't." But Damon turned to her and said, "Only a fool will reject my son. Especially, when he is getting his manners from you." Nancy sighed before she passed him. Damon held her elbow but she told him. "Ivan needs me. I better see him,"

Damon let go of her but walked right behind her to their bedroom. He knew if she had chosen not to react it meant she was beyond mad.

"Please, say something. You can even raise your voice at me. I won't mind." Damon seemed to be requesting but Nancy shook her head. "I had asked you to decide, Damon. You have decided. I don't think I have it in me to oppose it." Damon realized her voice said otherwise.

"We both know that Dmitri is to take care of most of Russia. Then, why not marry someone from a family that has supported the region too? He will be a family to Todorov..." Nancy knows Damon won't let go of the matter until she too doesn't believe that he has taken the right decision.

Nancy dismissed the nanny who was taking care of Ivan and started feeding him immediately. But Damon kept walking behind her and added all the while, "...you don't ever have to worry about him getting killed or assassinated by Todorov. They will do the opposite from now on. They will use their intel and agents to make sure that he is protected."

Nancy turned to Damon, "Right, they will do all of it. But what will they do if Dmitri chose to marry someone else?"

"Why would he do that?" Damon seemed surprised,

"What if he fell in love with someone else?" Nancy said as if it would make any sense to him.

"Then he can keep his lover here. But he has to marry only one girl that I have decided for him."

"He is your son. Will he..." Nancy tried to resist.

"I will make him fall in love with the girl I want for him. Also, what love. Todorov will demand marriage the moment their daughter turns fifteen. I don't think Dmitri will find anyone this soon."

"Oh God," Nancy shook her head in disbelief.

"What? It's their culture. It will be your son's culture. His kids are going to be half Todorov from now on." Damon added,

"I don't want to talk about it," Nancy announced in a hush trying to get Ivan to sleep.

"Fine," Damon said and got his suit jacket out. "

But Nancy now looked at him with so much revulsion in her eyes when she said, "You do realize that you take advantage of how I don't go against your decisions anymore. But now I seem you have started to abuse this power of yours." Damon widened his eyes listening to Nancy's claim.

"I don't think so," Damon refused flatly before adding. "Sleep tonight. And, tell me how it was when you didn't have to worry about Dmitri's or Ivan's safety. I did it for you too," Nancy widened her eyes to stop him from raising his voice. She didn't want to disturb Ivan's sleep. Nancy carefully put Ivan in the crib before she walked to him.

"I haven't forgotten what you have done for me. But this is about my child. I feel like I have clipped his wings." Damon held her shoulders and told her. "Believe me, he won't see it the same way. I know. I can tell,"

Damon held her close and realized she had started losing weight. "Aren't you eating nowadays?" Damon asked to which Nancy shook her head. "Of course, I am eating. But I have to look for my weight." But Damon held her face and asked, "How will you have the strength to give birth to another baby then?"

"I know. I know you want nothing from me but kids who can be Dmitri's workers."

"Of course, we better give him four more brothers," Damon said as if it made sense.

But Nancy widened her eyes. "Please, it will be a lot."

"I know but we will have to try to see if we can or not. It took you a while after we planned for Ivan. I say we should try and then see where it can go."

"Damon, you are not serious," Nancy asked, "Yes, I am, let me show you right away." Damon got her to the bed and started taking her dress off. He deepened his kiss before he mounted her without protection all night.

Nancy woke up in the morning and realized that where are her kids wasn't her first thought. Perhaps, Damon was right. She wasn't scared for her children's safety anymore. And, Dmitri could give up this much for his younger siblings.

Nancy knew Damon still hadn't told Robert about deciding for Eliza. But she knew Robert wouldn't object. He wanted to accept Thornton's proposal for long.

It wasn't every day when Nancy makes breakfast but today Dmitri and Eliza reached her place early in the morning. And, demanded of her to make their favourite pancakes. Nancy could already imagine that Selena and Robert would be having a serious discussion at the moment about Robert not giving her enough time. Only God knew what was to follow when Selena would realize that Eliza was promised to Thornton's now.

Nancy noticed Damon coming down the stairs. She looked at him with a smile and offered him to have pancakes too.

When she proposed marriage to Damon escaping death was her sole goal. Later on, she only wanted to reach a point where she wasn't hurt every day. But never in her wildest dreams, she could have imagined that Damon would change. But then she shook her head. Damon wasn't changed. There was a time when she was his enemy and then there was a time when he loved her. And, the day he fell for her he never let her fall.

Damon came to hug her and kissed her cheek before he said, "Sometimes I wonder why I am given your companionship,"

Nancy smiled and looked at him before replying, "Because God knew only you could tackle the mess, I would be bringing in with myself." Nancy replied, but Damon denied it in an instant, "No, you have brought nothing but abundance to my table. Let's pray,"

Damon sits down and Nancy who has started the tradition of praying at the table starts with the prayer. Damon held Nancy's hand at one side and Eliza's on the other. He didn't hear what Nancy was saying but prayed for none of his enemies to ever cross his path. Or he would be killing them without a blink to protect what he had in his hands right now.