North Meets South

Story: North Meets South: When Worlds Collide

Chapter: 19 Ivan, The Raging Russian Bull

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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Tony and Mitch enjoy their time on the Queen Mary II and make a very special Russian couple.

Ivan, The Raging Russian Bull

We decided that night to enjoy this stateroom. Now, I wasn't concerned with how much it cost. Not anymore. We didn't go anywhere that day. We even put the "do not disturb" sign on the door and spent all evening and night being together and made love many times.

Waking up, I answered nature's call and came back, opening the curtains to our outside balcony on the second floor of our stateroom. I smiled at what I saw. I heard Tony moving in bed and looked as he looked up as he curled my pillow under him and he blinked at the bright morning light shining in.

"You'll be happy to know..." I said smiling. "We're in a city now. No nature stuff today."

Tony grinned. "You love that stuff, baby." He got up and walked over next to me and looked out over the city. He gave a shrugging nod. "It's a bit smaller than I'm used to..."

I rolled my eyes and hugged him. "But you can shop and do what you want." I shook my finger at him. "But don't think I won't give you a hard time about it."

Tony chuckled. "Of course, you will." He said kissing me. "I would expect nothing less."

"I should order your kawfee." I grinned and turned to go to the phone, but he grabbed me and pulled me back to him as he hands went over me.

"I feel a lot better this morning." He smiled kissing me again but wasn't holding anything back. He really didn't before, but now...

I nodded as he kissed my neck, his lips tracing along my jawline. "There was an elephant in our room. We needed to discuss it." I said simply. I pushed him away just enough so he could see my face. "Now, we are going to enjoy this trip!" I said firmly. He was facing a potentially dangerous illness. I had heard there were stages he would go through. Talking about it helped some.

He kissed me deeper and with more intent. "I love you, Mitch."

I hugged him. "I don't ever tire of hearing it. I love you, too."

He smiled bigger. "Maybe you should hold off on calling for the coffee just now." He said as his hands were now roaming over me and we went back to bed and made love again.

Coffee was eventually ordered and we showered and got dressed. Then we went to breakfast.

"Is there something you want to do or somewhere you want to go?" I asked at breakfast. "They have shopping excursions to go on..."

Tony shook his head and smiled. "Nah, I prefer winging it." Then he shrugged. "I looked up on the Internet the places I could go, so we'll try that."

"I'm with you."

We did walk off the ship and toured around Auckland. This was not New York City, but it was a city. We went to several stores and looked at many things. I loved many of the shops with items and crafts made by the Maori people there. They were fascinating to me. While I knew they were Polynesian, they...to me had very unique appearance! There were a few handsome men, if I had been free and they asked me, I would not have turned down for a date. They were handsome people of course but liked a lot of tattoos. I didn't care, but not that many and over their face? I was surprised that Tony didn't go to a more...fashion-driven business. Then I thought, we'd been to Milan and bought in Manhattan for this trip, so why? We bought some beautiful pieces of art to send to my mother and father. We did buy shirts for David, Sasha, and Alik and had them sent home with the great designs on the front. Those great swirling designs and we even got one of the ceremonial masks they sometimes wore, not that they needed them with the elaborate face painting they often did.

We went up and down Queen Street and even had a nice lunch. It wasn't long when I noticed...quite happily, Tony was more relaxed and he was cutting up like he always did. We ate at the Mamak Malaysian Restaurant where...he'd been places I never dreamed I'd go, but he was looking uncertain at some of the dishes.

I chuckled as he was reading. "I gather this is chicken." He said. "Why is it in curry?"

I laughed. "If it wasn't, it wouldn't be Curry Chicken Laksa if it didn't," I said logically. "There are many other items." I pointed to the menu. "There's chicken or beef murtabak..."

"Murdabak...what the hell is that!?"

I laughed harder seeing the old Tony I liked was beginning to surface more. He could see it! I loved him, of course, but I liked Tony like this. "It's fried bread, babe..." I pointed to the menu where it said that. "Tony, not everything has to be Italian! If you wanted that, they have restaurants here that are Italian! You could have had your macaroni and gravy!"

"We can do that at home!" He stated his objection loudly indignant.

I pulled him to me kissing him. This was my Tony.

We had a great time! There was one incident that could have been...unpleasant. There was always a line when boarding as those key/ticket things had to be used to check us onboard. A good thing to do to make sure everyone was back, but if you didn't make it back...well, catch a transport to the next port of call if you wanted to stay on the ship. They wouldn't wait. As we were getting back on the ship with many other passengers...the lottery winners were in line as well. I don't recall their names and I don't want to remember. They were...middle age, but clearly didn't think about their appearance but looked like tourists. He was a little heavy and there were sweat stains under his arms on his inexpensive shirt. She was...well...big earrings and big hair. Should I say more? Clearly, they had problems with homosexuals when whatever conversation with his wife in a louder than necessary, used the words "disgusting queers" clearly aimed at us.

Tony smiled at me, but his smile wasn't happy and then turned to the man. I had seen Tony happy, upset and many emotions in between, but this look he gave...Tony walked up very menacingly to this...person. Tony was a few inches taller, but I don't think this man thought Tony could be violent. Tony was queer! We were all pansies, right? I had not seen this side of Tony before except once or twice. The man's eye grew at Tony's expression of almost pure hatred came through loud and clear to the lottery winner. The lottery man's wife grabbed her husband's arm in shock. I don't think lottery guy knew how threatening Tony could be and he didn't expect Tony to strike back. I didn't know Tony could look that way either! Well, he did growl at my ex...whatever he was that was Ted.

"Tony," I said cautioning him not wanting to let go of his hand.

He backed the man against the wall portion of the entrance. "Listen to me, you stupid pig of a man!" He said loud so everyone could hear. "I've enjoyed being here, so far. I don't know where you came from and I don't give a damn. Who the HELL do you think you are?" He said raising his fist but held back and instead got closer raising his finger to shake in the man's face. "You think you can just cast these insults at me or my husband and there will be no consequence!?" He said louder as he shook his head. "I don't know what sort of queer you're used to dealing with back where you came from. Again, I don't give a damn. This queer will promise you this, say anything again, there will be a potentially violent reaction. Stay away from us! In fact, when you see us approach on the ship...head the other way. If you say one more insult in our direction and you'll find out what that reaction will be! Go back to your white trash, doublewide life, trailer park world; enjoy the money for now, because from what I've seen, it won't last. You'll be broke soon enough, but I promise you this, you'll be swimming back to shore if I hear one more word from that gaping pie hole. I will toss your ass over the side!" He shouted making the man cower a little more.

"Tony you were insulting as well," I said to him so everyone else could hear.

"What!?" Tony looked at me surprised. "He deserves a hell of a lot more!" He thumbed in lottery guy's direction.

I grinned at Tony as I waved to the man. "Not about him..." I said putting my arm in his, "I'm talking the insult to pigs you just made! I've known quite a few pigs in my life, you know about me and animals. They're pretty smart; messy, but smart." I looked at the man. "You're not very smart. It's a big world and there are millions of us queers in the world. You're in it, but don't see it? Unfortunately, we're where you're from, too...poor people. We're everywhere!" Then I said. "Now, my Tony's Italian...and from New York City. Mobsters and all that. I would seriously consider that if I were you! You can only insult a New York Italian so long before the rest of our huge family gets involved."

Tony laughed drawing me closer. "And we do have a huge family." He turned back to the man and said angrily. "Stay out of our bedroom! I don't even want to imagine yours!" Tony shuddered as he handed his card to the crewman who checked us onboard who smiled at us a little carefully. Not because he was scared of Tony, but silently approved? The other passengers boarding suddenly started applauding. This lucky couple apparently made no friends on this trip. They were toxic! Tony took my hand as we entered the bulk of the ship. The toxic couple looked like they couldn't understand why we were being supported!

As Tony and I strolled slowly back through the luxurious area on deck two.

"I had a great time today," Tony said smiling. "That was fun." He said pulling me closer as he threw his arm over my shoulders and kissing me on the temple as we went.

"I did, too." I nodded and looked at him. "Sir Samuel's for coffee?"

He grinned. "You read my mind." He smiled at me. "You do that after all these years."

"Bravo!" We heard a British accented woman's loud voice behind us.

Turning, we saw Louise and Ben Parker, two of our friends at our dinner table.

"Hi, Louise!" I greeted our friends, waving at Ben. "Hi, Ben."

"You showed remarkable restraint dealing with that man," Ben said smiling. "For a minute there, I thought you would hit him. I would have." Louise hit him lightly.

Tony looked away and then smiled back. "It really was very tempting. I really wanted to."

"But you didn't. He's such a nasty, horrible man." Louise shook her head with distain. "Will we see you at dinner later?"

Tony nodded. "We'll be there."

We waved them as they headed for their cabin or wherever.

"I don't understand about him," Tony confessed to me. "He's rather dim. I'm bigger than he is!"

I shrugged. "I don't know, but...gay men are not always the fighting kind. Most of us in the past were sort of...seen as wimpy."

Tony looked astonished. "They're not like that in New York!" He said simply.

"And you certainly are not a wimp."

I had watched Tony as we were preparing to go here, but I watched as this cancer scare took a lot of his joy away from him. That unknown had weighed heavily on him, but we'd talked about it and I saw him start to come back. Now the weight was lessened and he was getting there, but now...I watched him smile wide and looked at me.

"We're on the Queen Mary." He said as he was finally getting it. The dark unknown threat had overshadowed much in his mind. I had said and knew there were stages he would go through. We would travel this path and there would many times he would get angry, deny and other parts, but for now, we had a plan, and he was finally becoming aware of where he was.

I nodded and smiled. "Yes, we are. We have been on it a week."

He shook his head. "No! I'm on the Queen Mary!!"

I chuckled at his realization of the obvious. "Yes, you are," I said kissing him. "Welcome aboard, babe."

I've used the phrase about a child on Christmas morning being excited about a present they always wanted. That kid had nothing on Tony's jubilation!

"I'm on the Queen Mary!!!" He shouted thrusting his arms in the air in triumph and grabbed me and did a fast waltz swinging me around in happiness. He even provided the music as he hummed causing many around us to move out of our way, but they all chuckled and smiled at his joy!

We had our coffees and went up to get ready for the night. I loved that he was happy again...for now. He was so happy; the man was whistling! As I was about to get ready after my shower, he suddenly grabbed me, brought me in the bedroom and threw me on the bed and proceeded kissing me hungrily which I gave back with equal force! To hell with dinner! I preferred him! We would order room service if we needed to. We made love again!!

We cleaned up and finished dressing, fortunately, it wasn't a formal night, and we were fifteen minutes late.

"Sorry, we're late," Tony said quickly as he let go of my hand and we sat down.

Rene Girard smiled at us, but his knowing smile said he knew why we were late...or at least suspected. We were on vacation, and he knew we were in love. Two plus two is four, right?

"Well, this is a special ship," Deon said with the light French-accented English and taking her husband's hand. "It's magical what it can do."

I agreed. "It can do magic."

"You'll be doing without us again tomorrow night," Tony said. "We celebrate our birthdays tomorrow."

Louise Parker smiled. "That's nice you do it together." She looked at our other friends and told them what Tony had done to the lottery winner when we came back from Auckland. Tony was blushing but smiling as they discussed it at length together.

Tony and I had a pleasant evening on the beautiful ship enjoying the warm weather and each other.

The next day we were at Bays of Islands. Again, we dressed, after the coffee was delivered and went to breakfast. On the way, however, we found a dark headed bear of a man in his forties; I mean he was huge! He towered over nearly everything. Well over six and a half feet tall and I bet nearly three hundred pounds! A giant. With his height, that three hundred pounds wasn't bad, but he was going to gain weight if not careful. He was...rugged, in a not bad kind of way. He was looking for...something. He was holding a shirt and something else and getting frustrated. He looked at us and pleaded.

"Help, please?" He pleaded in a very accented voice.

I smiled as I recognized the accent as soon as he spoke. "Конечно, мы поможем тебе." Telling him of course we'd help him. I told you the Russian alphabet was bizarre.

(The rest will be written in English. So, just relax.)

The man's eyes lit up and he smiled. "You speak Russian!?" He said surprised, but happy at this discovery.

Tony smiled and pushed me forward. "He does." He said it in Russian, which proved his what he just said, false.

I rolled my eyes and looked at this new man. "He can speak Russian, as you just heard he can."

Tony nodded. "He speaks better than I do."

"I am Ivan Belov." The man said shaking my hand. "I speak English a little..."

I smiled. "Okay, Ivan..." I remembered what Sasha told me about Russian intolerance to gays. "I'm Mitch McKenzie." I waved to Tony. "This is Tony Delveccio."

Ivan nodded. "I've seen you two around the ship! Yes."

"Then you know we're together, we're married," I said carefully.

Ivan nodded as he smiled. "Yes! I'm glad!" He said happily. "I could see you were lovers, I'm glad you are serious!" Then his eyes narrowed trying to understand. "Why do you speak Russian?"

I was relieved at his reaction. "We have a special couple of Russians as friends...one of which is joining the family. He said most Russians didn't really like us."

Ivan's face looked...embarrassed? "It is not really...accepted in Russia, but it's getting better." He smiled more. "You go out in the world and see it's not so bad...or rare." He looked at his shirt and piece of paper. "Now, if you can help me?" He held up his shirt. "This is to give the laundry instructions, but it's in English! Where is extra starch?" He waved the form. "I need to have this shirt for tonight."

Tony chuckled. "You could use the phone in your stateroom? Someone would help you."

Ivan looked surprised. "I am ashamed to!" He shrugged and gestured toward us. "I get to meet you!"

I chuckled and pointed the extra starch out on the laundry slip. "You came on this ship, which is British, sailing around major English-speaking countries. Why?"

Ivan looked surprised. "Why!?" He waved at the ship. "This is the Queen Mary! I tried for years to get on her! I didn't care where it was going, this is the Queen Mary!"

Tony nudged me gently and said. "Vedere? Te l'avevo detto." He said to say he told me so.

I looked back and grinned. "Zitto." I told him to shut up.

Ivan smiled. "That...I know is Italian."

A small woman in her late thirties came out looking in the corridor. "Ivan, I told you to use the phone to get that done. We have to go!"

"Okay," Ivan admitted embarrassed. "They come here after they find someone that speaks Russian and I have to explain...that's too much, this was faster!"

What was surprising was the size difference. He was well over six feet tall and huge! She was a petite little woman maybe a full foot shorter and thin with blonde hair, but this huge man was a marshmallow when it came to her.

"Katya, come meet my new friends!" He said proudly. "This is my wife!" He waved to us. "Meet Mitch McKenzie and Tony Delveccio. They both speak Russian!"

Tony smiled again. "He does." I reached back taking Tony's hand.

She smiled and held her hand out. "We've seen you around the ship!"

Tony pulled me to him closer, looking at our new friends over my shoulder. "We need to leave if we're to make the shuttle. We still need to eat breakfast." He said in English pitifully telling me he was hungry.

"Speak Russian with our new friends, Tony," I said in Russian and looked back at our new friends. "Well, he needs more coffee and breakfast, or he'll waste away. That is what he just said. We'll be around." I chuckled as Tony kept his arms around me as we walked. I waved to Ivan and Katya.

On the way to breakfast, Tony squeezed me as we walked. "Maybe I should invest more in that translation unit." He shrugged. "It works with Russian."

"I thought we were testing the unit; doesn't it need a better program?" I asked.

Tony nodded. "The software is being developed for other languages, but..." he chuckled. "It seems all you've downloaded on the computer is about Russian. And you've downloaded quite a bit." He shrugged. "I see great potential in it."

I hugged him as we walked. "Far be it from me to argue with the investing genius."

Tony's and my affections were not hidden by us and now, we were a lot freer. At long last, Tony got his breakfast! And kawfee!

We got on the shuttle and went to the Bay of Islands...after breakfast, of course.

"This will be more your kind of stop," Tony said smiling at me as we rode the waves on the shuttle. "A lot of nature and stuff."

I grinned at him. "Sorry."

He shrugged. "I'll deal with it."

"This is great!" I said defending where we were. "This is Middle Earth!"

Tony's eyes grew. "What!?"

I nodded. "This is where they're filming all those Lord of Rings movies. In New Zealand!"

Tony grinned and slowly nodded. "Oh."

The Bay of Islands was very...well...it was a beach town. It was not the big sprawling metropolis of Manhattan, more like the beach communities near Charleston I knew. We really didn't do anything, but what we wanted to do.

"To be fair..." I began to Tony as we were walking hand in hand. "Is there nothing you wish to do here? A tour maybe?"

Tony shook his head. "And be on a bus full of tourists...cameras out flashing and all the ooh's and ah's...the tour guide saying...and we're walking, we're walking...not my thing. There is no pressure to get in as much as we can. We do it at our own pace." He chuckled as he rested his lips against my temple. "I like being with just you."

It was again, that feeling; dreading what he might...probably did have, but I squelched it. He was here now and with treatment, he would be here with me a while, so just enjoy that he is here for now. "I love that you like to be with me." I hated that this horrible thing was happening to him, but did it have to overshadow everything? I hated to think what was going through his mind. We promised to talk if necessary, but not now. Not for me.

"We've got three days at sea starting tomorrow." Tony said. "The next stop is Brisbane...a city."

I nodded. "Three days at sea and we don't wonder what we're going to be doing."

"Why do you say that?" Tony smiled.

I shrugged. "We've got a great stateroom suite; we need to use it. I don't care if we don't come out those three days."

Tony kissed me. "We can do that."

The night was going to be special. We both were celebrating birthdays, so I was not surprised when Tony said we were dressing up. I was internally growling when I caught the scent after he showered in that body wash and washed his hair in that fragrance, I loved him to wear. I've said it many times; he was poetry in motion all the time to me. He was tempting me now!

I was putting my jacket on when there was a chime from downstairs. I looked up surprised at Tony who just smiled.

"I'll get it." He said happily and walked out of our bedroom.

He was up to something. "What did you do?" I asked him.

"You'll see." He called back. "Don't come down yet!" He warned.

I loved that he did things like this, but I wanted to do things for him as well. I heard him talking to someone and it took just a few minutes before...

"Okay." I heard. "Come down and get your present."

Smiling to myself I started walking down the stairs. "Tony...we're on the Queen Mary! I have my present. You didn't have..." I froze at what I saw.

He was standing next to a rolling cart with food. His back was turned, and he chuckled. "So, you don't want to unwrap your present?" He asked as he turned around. Here he was, in that great tuxedo of his, hair groomed nicely and looking stunning...and smelled wonderful, but right on his lapel was a huge red bow and a little sign that said Happy Birthday! "You can always exchange it if you don't like it." He smiled as he lifted his arms to me. "I'm all yours, Mitch. I love you. Happy Birthday."

Say what you will...I was such a sappy guy now! I was starting to cry! I never cry like this...no movie was sad enough and no one moved me to tears like he was doing. He was thoughtful, kind, romantic and damned good looking. He loved me! I walked into his arms and kissed him hard in that consuming way. So hard, it caught both our breaths. I often got a little lightheaded when kissing him and this time...I had it bad, I already had blurred vision and I would not faint! "I know we've said it many times in every day we've been together, but words are often all we have to express...I am so in love with you, Tony."

Tony nodded. "As I am with you."

I glanced at the cart. "I hope you're okay with lukewarm or cold dinner," I said pushing his coat off. "We won't be eating right away." I chuckled. "Then again, I'll be having Italian, and I know that's always hot."

Tony chuckled and raised the lid. "Caviar, oysters...strawberries and whipped cream," he nodded. He raised another lid to show a nicely done birthday cake. Not big, but enough for two. "It will keep." He said and began kissing back just as hard. "All the aphrodisiacs I could think of."

I smiled as we continued to undress each other. "After all these years...you know; you're the only aphrodisiac I need." His scent was now being allowed to work its magic and I was right. I needed nothing else. Between the light eating of his additional aphrodisiacs and lovemaking; this was a night we had fireworks! Maybe those aphrodisiacs worked a little extra addition to the loving because we did it all over this great stateroom, finally making to the bed upstairs! We did it for quite a while, edging close to cumming and then letting it drop a little, then doing it again, letting it drop again. Finally, I couldn't do it much more, we were both sweating...I entered him and...I know its soundproof in the suite because Tony and I were both grunting loud and then in a colossal build up, I came hard in him...one, twice, three times and one last major shot...four! I wasn't alone. Tony came equally as hard and as many times. I had enough foresight to put a towel down. Not to save the cabin steward, this was the Queen Mary and there was a lot of lovemaking onboard. Cum stained sheets were just a part of being human, but we had to sleep on it afterward. I didn't consider myself a top, I didn't consider Tony as a bottom, but we both had our preferences. He was more than willing to top me, as I was more than willing to bottom for him, but we knew what the other liked best and that's what we gave each other.

We were both sweating and trying to regulate our breaths as we basked in the post-euphoric sensations after we had stopped for the moment. My head dropped beside his as I felt my cock soften and finally fell out. Tony even moaned at the loss.

"That..." he managed between breaths, "...was..." he got out a little hoarsely, "...amazing."

I chuckled and pressed our heads together. "You...were...amazing," I said. My lips found their way to his temple and down his cheek. "Can I...ask," I smiled at him. "Let's come here again," I said.

Tony's eyes sparkled. "Come here? The Queen Mary? Or cum here?"

"Both," I said resting on my elbow as I gazed in his eyes. "I know you had this planned several years...but..."

Tony grinned. "Aren't you worried about the cost anymore?"

I shook my head. "That was silly of me to worry about that. It always was silly."

"That's who you are," Tony said simply with a shrug. "This wasn't you."

I nodded and pressed my forehead against his. "It was who I was," I confessed. "Not to bring up an ugly subject after this momentous lovemaking we just had...my priorities have changed. You are the most important part of us. You always were. We'll weather what's ahead together, but I will enjoy what we've got. Okay?"

He nodded. "Sure." He grinned. "I'll make arrangements tomorrow." He looked at the suite. "We may not get this suite again, but I know there are others that will be just as nice."

"And we have that wedding for Sasha and David coming up, that will be a cruise for them."

Tony nodded. "Which we agreed not to go on with them." He rolled us over. "That doesn't mean we can't take another somewhere else!" He proceeded to kiss me gently. "I love you."

I brought him closer if that was possible. "I know. I love you."

"I know."

We woke, in our usual positions. He was right behind me, spooned against me with his arm resting over me, pulling me slightly even in his sleep to keep me from getting away. Like I would even think of getting away? His soft snore heard and told me he was there; if the hold on me wasn't enough to tell me. I just laid there enjoying what I had. I drifted in and out of a light sleep a while before I heard the snore stop and felt his arm around me move. He brought me closer as he woke up. I smiled at that. I was not his possession, but he was possessive, and I loved that. I belonged to him. I dared to turn a little and felt his body move as he gave me space as I rolled to face him.

"Good morning, baby," I said softly as he smiled at me. "That was a spectacular birthday. Thank you."

He chuckled. "I hope you liked your present as much as I loved mine." He kissed me. "I enjoyed unwrapping you."

"I am yours." I nodded. "I always love to unwrap you."

He chuckled. "You don't have to unwrap me now." He raised the sheet to show we were both naked like I'd forget.

I laughed at him as my hand went down him to his morning erection. "I'm surprised if I have anything left after last night."

I felt his hand on my own erection. He grinned. "I feel evidence you do."

We made love again.

We had snacked...sort of...the night before. I shook my head as I heard Tony's stomach growl. "Okay," I said kissing him quickly. "Get dressed; we'll get you some coffee and something to eat."

Tony looked...not upset at the idea. He gave a light objection. "We can order something."

I nodded. "Yes, we can," I said kissing him again. "But we won't. Let's shower and change. Come on." I said pulling him out of bed to go shower.

"But we were to spend the day here." Tony almost whined, but not too hard.

I nodded in the bathroom and turned the shower on. "And we'll be back. I promise." I pulled him in after me into the shower. "Besides, we need to give the steward a chance to clean up." I grinned. "We sort of made a mess."

Tony gave me a look of uncertainty. "It's not too bad and we were careful when we made love...you're not going to clean up before she gets here like you always do?"

"No." I shook my head. "I was told before...she has a job that she's brought here and paid to do. That's how she earns her money. I don't do it often, but that was a special night."

He remembered saying that to me on our first cruise. "You're right."

"Besides, she'll get a good tip at the end. Right?" I said to him kissing him.

He nodded, kissing back. "Absolutely."

We changed into shorts and shirts...deck shoes and went to get something to eat. Once we consumed our meal, we strolled around the ship. We got down to the area that had all those shops...for everything from jewelry to clothes...novelty items and other assorted things. Artwork...at sea! A few shops we looked in but didn't really stop to buy.

"Tony! Mitch!" We heard a familiar booming voice...the Russian accent was known. "My friends!!"

Turning to the voice, I smiled as Ivan came over to us.

"Ivan!" I said not as booming. I don't think I could. I looked around him. "Where is Katya?"

Ivan gave a smirk waving at the shop. "She's buying." He thumbed back at a clothier and rolled his eyes tolerantly with a smile.

Then we heard something I never thought I'd hear on this...or any other ship. A scream!

Ivan turned and...his happy demeanor vanished, and he charged in the shop like a raging bull. Neither Tony or I saw what happened, but we heard a roar...literally and Ivan shouting in Russian to keep your hands off my wife! We heard a crash and by the time we got close enough to see...lottery man was on the ground, nursing a bloodied nose and mouth. Lottery man's wife stood, ready to take on Ivan!? Really? He was a foot taller and...well a little heavier. Suddenly there were crewmen rushing into the shop. Three of them. Ivan was comforting his wife to himself as she cowered against Ivan as he protected her. The woman that worked in the shop was shaking her head at the damaged display and Ivan was saying something to Katya, who was shaking. Ivan looked up at the crewmen that came in to access the situation.

"He should be taken off this boat!" The woman screamed at the crewmen and pointed at Ivan and then went to her husband who was still bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth.

"We'll wait for Mr. Simmons." One of the crewmen said calmly and spoke into a device...not a cell phone and not a walkie-talkie. "We need a medic on deck three...S3D."

I knew from seeing the crew roster, Patrick Simmons was the first mate for the Queen Mary.

"He hit my husband. Why isn't someone doing something?" The woman asked them and everyone. "He assaulted my husband!"

"We saw the whole thing." The crewman said calmly nodding. "Something is being done right now."

"You saw what?" The woman demanded. "You weren't here."

The crewman just nodded but ignored her for the moment.

Walking over to Ivan and Katya, Ivan was rubbing her shoulder and arm as he held her as she shook as he spoke to her softly assuring.

"Are you alright, Katya?" I asked her.

She nodded but was still upset. "Fine now."

The crewman walked over to us. "You speak Russian?" He asked me in English as he smiled. "Good, because I'm afraid none of us speak Russian that well. There is some on the ship, but..."

"We do speak Russian," I assured the officer.

"We'll gladly translate," Tony added but smiled at me. "He's better at it, though."

The ship's medical team came in and went to the lottery guy and began working on him, not that the lottery guy wanted tending to. Instead, he got up and was waving everyone off and was taking his wife's hand to leave.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Mr. Grison." The crewman said stepping in front of him. "I have orders for you to remain."

"I can go and come as I please." The man said sneering.

"No, you can't."

Then in walked Mr. Simmons and another officer. Mr. Simmons was not a bad looking man in his forties, losing some of the dark hair at the top of his head, but he had an air of authority. He walked over to the man and woman that won the lottery.

"If you would come with me, please?" Mr. Simmons asked the lottery man but reached out to take his arm, which lottery guy jerked the arm away.

"I won't." The man said. "Why?"

Mr. Simmons nodded. "Very well, since you insist, you're being put off the ship."

Lottery guy's eyes grew. "I paid for this trip! Why are we being put off?"

"Again, since you want everyone to know." He sighed. "There have been many complaints about you...from passengers and staff." He nodded to lottery guy's wife, "about you and your wife. This last incident, we will not tolerate."

The lottery guy's wife shook her head. "What incident?"

"He essentially sexually assaulted Mrs. Belov." Mr. Simmons said simply.

Mrs. Lottery Guy's wife shook her head. "What!? Maybe he bumped her, but she screamed and that...man there just hit him!"

Mr. Simmons nodded and held his hand out to another officer that was with him. The officer handed Mr. Simmons something that looked like one of those readers I'd seen. My guess was it did a whole lot more. "After the fifth or sixth complaint, ...we began watching you two." He waved at the wall of the shop. "Cameras followed you and the additional crew was notified when you were on deck." He pulled up something and showed Mrs. Lottery Guy. "Does this look like he bumped Mrs. Belov?"

Mrs. Lottery Guy's eyes widened, then she looked angrily at her husband and began hitting him herself. "You stupid son of a bitch!"

"Silence!" Mr. Simmons said loud enough to stop her. I even jumped. "The Queen Mary is not for you. You and your husband will come with these officers and pack your things. Your transport will be here in an hour. You will be on it." He said leaving no alternative. "All the damages will be billed on your account. The damages here and in your cabin."

All of this I was translating to Ivan and Katya but surprised these people were...so reckless. The lottery guy's wife was still trying to hit her husband while one officer was holding her back. "I want a divorce! I'll take everything we won!" She shouted as they were both taken physically out of the shop.

Mr. Simmons walked over to Ivan, Katya, Tony and me. He looked a very ashamed of what happened. "I apologize, Mrs. Belov. We came as soon as we saw what happened. He won't bother you or any other passengers again."

I translated again what Mr. Simmons said, making him smile that someone was here to do that.

"I..." Ivan began, "...fight...for wife." He explained in broken English.

Mr. Simmons nodded. "Of course. No problem." He turned as we could all still hear Mrs. Lottery Guy's wife screaming at her husband. He looked at me. "Everyone is welcome on board. You certainly are." He said to me and Tony telling us he knew about the harassment we had gotten, but we hadn't complained to anyone. Maybe the guy that logged us on board did. "But we have our limits." He smiled. "Enjoy the rest of your trip."

I translated again. Katya smiled and hugged Mr. Simmons which surprised the officer, but then nodded and hugged her back. Then nodded to us and left.

"And those people had a problem with us!?" Tony asked in Russian to no one.

"Your statement when we came back from Auckland was right," I said in Russian.

"What statement?" Tony asked.

"You called them residents of double-wide life and white trash," I said looking at Ivan. "That's the word Sasha taught me for white trash...gopnik? Is that right?"

Ivan nodded. "It is." Then he grinned. "That's just one the words that fit him."

"They are. White trash with money." Tony shook his head.

"This Sasha is the one marrying into your family?" Ivan grinned. "He obviously means a lot to you."

"He is and he did before he met my cousin." I nodded. "He taught me to cuss like a Russian, too!"

Ivan smiled even bigger. "Did he?" He looked as if he was going to test me until Tony held his hand up.

"No, don't start him. Believe me, he knows how." Tony assured. "What are you two doing right now?" He smiled. "I'll buy you coffees at Sir Samuels!"

Ivan looked at his wife who nodded. "Okay." Then he reached out and grabbed us both in a hug. "My good friends." He said kissing us on the forehead each.

I chuckled as I patted his back which was solid. "Yep, we are." As we were released, I reached and squeezed his arm which wasn't fat at all. Like his back, he had hard muscle was below his shirt. "Damn, Ivan. You could have killed him!"

Ivan laughed and shrugged. "I held back!" He said as we began to walk.

"Ivan is a Celebrity Wrestler in Russia," Katya said proudly. "He's on many networks back home, and he's the most popular. He's Ivan, the Russian Bull."

"You've got the size, so why not?" Tony said appreciatively, touching a bicep on Ivan. "Yep, you're big alright."

Ivan nodded. "That's what my father said!" He slapped Tony on the back, making Tony's eyes widen a little at the surprising force Ivan didn't seem to know he had.

I was laughing at what I was seeing. "I wonder if Alik knows about you."

"Alik?" Ivan asked.

"Sasha has a seven...soon to eight-year-old son, he worked to get Alik out of Moscow a couple of years ago because of the Bratva." I explained.

Ivan nodded vigorously understanding. "I agree...they are not nice at all."

Katya nodded. "Ivan is very popular with children." She leaned into me a little and stage whispered knowing Ivan could hear her. "It's all choreographed, you know?"

Ivan gasped and bellowed. "It is not! And I try to be a role model!"

"I know." She wasn't bothered a bit as she put her arm in his and then whispered to me again. "It is."

We went to Sir Samuel's and got the coffee. I asked permission from Ivan to take his picture, which of course he nodded say sure and even insisted we be in it with him. He had Katya take the picture. Tony on one side of Ivan and me on the other. Thanks to the Wi-fi and modern technology, I typed a note asking Alik if he knew this man and sent it to Alik and Sasha. It was early morning here, but late at evening or night back in Charleston, but Alik will get it when he gets up...so, I thought. Ivan and Katya were delightful people. The fact Ivan loved Katya was more than apparent and she loved him. She could fuss at him, and he would listen, kind of. However, I didn't count on a few things. I was startled when my phone rang. I gave my number to family, and they would only call now if it was an emergency. Looking at the screen, I saw Sasha's name, so I had a feeling what the emergency was.

"Sasha?"

"I wouldn't call if it weren't really important," Sasha explained quickly. "Alik was speaking with his mother on the computer...and before he left to go to bed, I pulled up the email you sent us and he is going crazy!" Sasha explained as I heard Alik in the background as he was so excited. "He wants to speak with you."

I grinned and smiled at Tony, Ivan, and Katya. "He got the email," I explained to them. "Damned this ship's Wi-fi is quick! Okay, put him on." It just took a second before I heard Alik taking the phone.

"You met the Raging Bull!?" Alik asked me excited.

"I'm fine, Alik..." I grinned, on purpose ignoring what Alik told me. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed, it's late there."

"Uncle Miiiitch!" Alik whined. "You met the Raging Bull!"

I nodded as I watched Tony smile knowing what was happening without hearing it. "He's sitting right here."

Alik was learning English and instantly said in perfect English. "No way!!"

I chuckled. "Yes, way." I said in English. "Have your Dad switch the phone to video-call," I instructed and did the same on my phone. I soon saw Alik's happy face. "See?" I held the phone pointed at Ivan who waved at the phone with a smile. I turned the phone back to me. "So, if there's nothing else..." I said like I was ending the call.

"Don't!! Uncle Miiiitch!" Alik pleaded. "That's Ivan! The Raging Bull! He's famous!" He said finding it hard to understand why I didn't know that.

"Famous people need vacations," I said simply as I looked at Ivan and pointed to the phone asking if he would talk to Alik. Ivan grinned and nodded. "He will even talk to you."

"No WAY!!"

"Your English is getting better. Hang on." I chuckled as I handed the phone to Ivan. Tony reached over and took my hand grinning, too. Ivan still used the video-link and talked to Alik. I smiled at Katya. "You married a very good man."

Katya nodded. "I know. He really is a good role model for children. He devotes a lot of time to various charities for children. He really is good at what he does. They love him." She said proudly.

We listened as Ivan told him to go to bed, study hard and be a good boy. Then he handed the phone back, but it was still on. Now, Sasha's face came in view.

"Well, he's off to bed." Sasha chuckled. "Thanks for that or I'd never get him to go, but I'll hear about it tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day." He smiled at me. "I hope the trip is going well."

I nodded. "It is. Very well. Have a good night." I ended the call but saw Ivan look at me questioning.

"What is it you do?" He asked me and Tony.

"I'm a former hotel manager...currently unemployed." I answered. "He's the brains..."

Tony frowned as he threw his head back a little. "I am not."

"He's modest, but he is a financial genius." I ignored Tony's statement. "He guides people with investments, stocks and all that...he's very, very good."

Ivan nodded. "And you work with just American Clientele?"

Tony shook his head. "I work with many people around the world...all currencies." He smiled as he added. "Including Russia."

"Really?" Ivan was now serious and gone was the happy go lucky Russian we'd gotten to know. "I'm always looking for good investments. Perhaps we can speak about possibilities?"

Katya shook her head. "Ivan, they are on vacation and so are we." She said shaking her head. "No business...we agreed."

Ivan nodded and raised his hands in surrender. "She's right." Then he leaned toward Tony. "But that doesn't mean we can't talk later." He said in the same whisper she'd used on him.

"Ivan," Katya said warningly.

Ivan looked at her like, how couldn't she see it? "It was fate or destiny, Katya. We meet here." Ivan pointed at the deck floor. "I can't find extra starch, so I go in the corridor and meet probably the only two that speak Russian well on this ship. Coincidence? Maybe. Then that terrible incident just now...again...they were right there! That's beginning to be too many coincidences. Why fight it? It was supposed to happen!" Ivan said helplessly pleading for her to see that.

Katya smiled but rolled her eyes. "Fine. Exchange numbers, emails and whatever, but talk...later." He said firmly to her husband.

Ivan nodded and smiled grandly at Tony and me. "Then, we'll become even better good friends! Yes?"

We visited with Ivan and Katya a little longer but separated after promising we'd get together again onboard. As we were about to separate, the officer that had been the first to respond during the "attack" on Katya came over.

He smiled at us. "Forgive the interruption, Mrs. Belov." He turned to Ivan, "Mr. Belov...you'll be happy to know that the Gisons have left the ship and on their way to Sydney."

I smiled and told Ivan and Katya.

The crewman nodded to Katya. "If you want, you can press charges. We have it documented if needed."

I told Katya who shook her head.

"It was just..." she shuddered, "so...it was just a second or two. He's gone." She told me and shuddered again. "His hand was in a very personal and private place." She said to us. "I'm not talking just a boob."

"He was obviously not sane." I smiled. "He should never have done that. Winning that money just re-enforced his belief that laws weren't meant for him...or even common decency." I put my arm around her shoulder gently. "I'm sorry."

Katya nodded as Ivan took her and hugged her him. "It will be fine now." She smiled.

"One thing, please...if you would," Tony said to Ivan. "You're a celebrity and you came here because you were...less known?"

Ivan smiled. "Like you, most don't know who I am here." He shrugged, clearly liking the idea. "I'm on vacation! There are some here that know, but they are more..." he thought of a word, "sophisticated and less likely to scream and pester me for an autograph."

I smiled at that. "I know you made a little boy back home very happy."

Ivan gave a gesture saying it was no big deal. "He is your family, right? Or soon will be. It was the least I could do for such good friends." I smiled at Katya. "Do you feel like shopping more?"

She smiled a special smile I knew was only for Ivan. "We should probably go back to our cabin." The way she said it left no doubt about her intentions. She needed more comforting in a way only Ivan could give her.

Ivan's eyes lit up and then he looked at Tony and me. "Okay. We will be on the ship." Suddenly he was in a hurry. "We will have dinner one night, perhaps in Brisbane?"

"We'll do that. You know where we are." Tony put his arm around me but smiled at Ivan as they hurried off. Then he looked at me. "We should probably head back to our cabin." He waggled his eyebrows, but then remembered something. "We will...after we take care of something." He took my hand and led me in a particular direction.

I was only a little curious until I saw the office we were going to. I grinned seeing the Travel Office and knew why we were here.

Inside, a lovely young woman in her late twenties greeted and spoke with us...or rather to Tony about future cruises on this ship.

"...we are booked several years in advance, but..." she pointed out. "Even we do have the occasional cancelations for many reasons. I can put you on a priority notification when that happens and you could book a cruise then." She said brightly. "As you're both passengers and traveling as VIPs and now in our best staterooms, you will have an even greater priority."

I grinned. "Do it," I said making Tony look at me surprised. "We're coming back to this ship."

"Any particular destination preference or length of the voyage?" She asked.

Tony looked at me and when I didn't answer, he just said to her. "No real destination preference, but we'd like more than a week."

She nodded and typed in her computer. "It could be next month or next year." She warned. "It all depends on the cancellation, but there will be one. I promise you that."

"Fine," I said again without looking at Tony which made him look at me questioningly.

She was very pleased with what was happening. "Alright, Mr. Delveccio and Mr. McKenzie..." she hit enter. "It's in. You're all set." She stood and stuck her hand out as we rose from the chairs. "Enjoy the rest of this voyage and you will be welcomed back the next one."

We left the office, and I could tell Tony had something to say. "We need to go back to our stateroom."

It wasn't desire that was making him say that, but something was bothering him and Tony and I would be discussing it in private. That much he didn't need to say.

After we were in the cabin and he shut the door, I turned. "What?" I asked.

"You tell me what," Tony said. "You are never like this. You didn't even question what we were doing. You're changing."

I nodded. "Of course, I'm changing." I waved at him. "So are you!" I turned away from him. "This whole situation is causing change."

"Because of my illness," Tony said to confirm what he knew.

"Yes!" I said louder than I intended to. I sighed realizing I wasn't angry, just frustrated. "This whole thing is going to change both of us." I turned to look at him again and thought what to say. "When you told me about the plane hitting the World Trade Center and you were in an office just below it...it changed you. You looked back on your life and realized you were missing out on something you wanted and needed." I shook my head. "You changed! Now, we are facing something...and as much as I was dismissing it for a while...you made a valid point. I was in denial until you said what you did. I'm not now. It may not be cancer yet. It could be pre-cancer, but you said it yourself. Dr. Keogh found something. You said you feel it. There is something there that we will deal with. Now, I changed. I'm still me, but I see things so differently now." I came closer to Tony. "I was in a comfortable place before you...but now I have you in my life and..." I waved at the stateroom. "I'm damned comfortable with you here. I had a wonderful life with you. I never dreamed I would find someone like you and have this life, but I do, because of you. My priorities have changed. Now my priority is you. Us. Our life together." I wrapped my arms around him. "I don't have to tell you anymore that I love you. You know I do, but I will say it every day often. That's what we do in a committed relationship based on love. I was not comfortable before...why? I asked you a while back why you needed all this...you said to prove to your parents their sacrifices were paying off." I chuckled. "A lot of my father's teachings did sink in. His...we don't do that because it showy...bullshit, that is silly. I was silly to hold on to that. I'm not now. You are my priority. Us. We have a damned good marriage...I know what's in the bank. We are more than fine. So instead of worrying about the future and possible loss, I will enjoy us, together, now." I watched as his eyes grow bigger. "I do love you, Tony...more than anything or anyone."

Tony smiled and leaned in kissing me gently. "You know I do you, too."

Then I looked around and realized, the stateroom was spotless again. "Damn, they are fast."

Tony chuckled looking around with me as he nodded, then looked back at me grinning more. "Want to mess it up again now?"

I kissed him deeper. "Yes, I do." I took his hand and led him to the stairs.

"Ya, know?" Tony began. "We've made love at least once or twice a day since we got together...sometimes more! That's a whole lot of sex."

"Your point?" I asked.

"Hell, one of us should at least be pregnant by now!"

Tony was right; we did have sex many, many times, made love often, too. There's a difference. We did, however, go to dinner and enjoyed our other friends' company on the ship. I saw Tony get on a computer and do something. He often checked the stock market, DOW Jones or whatever it's called and things to do his job, so I didn't question it. He had to keep up with global trends. I had an appointment at the Canyon Ranch Spa to have my tan added, not that it was really important to me now. We had a nice relaxing few days sailing from New Zealand to Brisbane. No rushing anywhere. We did enjoy a few nights of dancing and a show. Even a pretty damned good off Broadway of Rent! I'd never seen it, so why not? The performers were great! We woke the day we arrived in Brisbane with a light blinking on our phone. That only happened when someone on the ship needed to speak with us, be it the crew on the Queen Mary or another passenger on the ship. I activated the blinking button to retrieve the message.

"My good friends!" I smiled hearing Ivan's cheerful voice. "We are in Brisbane! We should get together and decide where to meet and where we can dine! We will be at breakfast about nine in the dining room if you want to do this."

Tony looked as I was smiling. "Who was it, or is it who I think?"

"Наши Ń...орошие друзья!" I saying our good friends imitating Ivan. "They are eating a nine. We gotta go." Making Tony chuckle getting up so we could meet them. "I really like them!" I said to Tony as I followed him.

"You just love every Russian you meet." Tony grinned as he commented turning the shower on. "We can't take these two home this time."

"We didn't the last time!" I stated. "Sasha just followed us home!"

Tony grinned at me. "You and lost puppies and any animal you find you want to bring home. The donkey you named Bucky."

I knew he was teasing me, but I gave him back the angry Italian persona I learned. "Bucky was home, on Ios!"

He grinned knowing how I'd react. "You would have if you could. You know that."

I looked at Tony who was smiling bigger. "You call Sasha a lost puppy," I said, "see what happens. You'll have a pissed off Russian at home."

We entered right at nine, I'm never late, remember? Instantly we heard...

"Here! We're over here!" The big Russian told us. There weren't that many diners at that time. Most other passengers headed to Brisbane or elsewhere. Katya was doing the shushing thing to him, which he ignored. We got to them we got the given Ivan greeting he always gave us. "My good friends!"

I'm a fan of hugging and our new friends were fans, too. Ivan's hug was always pretty strong, but he definitely meant it! Katya hugged us, too, but not like Ivan. We agreed to see Brisbane with our individual spouses and meet at eight thirty here, where again to go off the ship to The Black Hide for steaks. Ivan heard it was the best in town.

Tony and I got off the ship and I could tell Tony was happy at this stop on our voyage. It was a city! Bigger than Charleston, but not the size of Manhattan, but it was a city. With no rush to do anything we strolled around looking in many stores and saw exhibits. Our new perspective on our lives...we never hid our affection for each other, but we just didn't care who saw us now or their reaction. We did buy a few things and I would have loved to go to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, but we were running out of time. I made Tony promise we would come again and go next time we were in Brisbane.

When we boarded the ship again to change and get ready, even before the crewman took our cards to log us onboard, he smiled at us. He knew who we were before he got the cards. We made a memorable impression apparently. "You need to go to the concierge desk, Mr. Delveccio. The package you sent for arrived."

"Great!" Tony said as he handed him his card.

"Package?" I asked.

"For Ivan and Katya," Tony said smiling as we walked in the ship hand in hand.

When I saw the package, I remembered another package he had gotten for us to use. "Good idea!"

We met with Ivan and Katya to go to the restaurant. At Black Hide, we sat down as Ivan looked at the menu and frowned.

"I'm afraid my reading of English is worse than I can speak English," Ivan said sadly. "You will help us translate this?" He asked Tony and me.

"I could, I figured you might have trouble," Tony said smiling and brought the package out. "Here. Try this."

Ivan looked at the package curiously. Opening it, he held the little device up with the look that said, what's this? Tony reached over and turned it on.

"Go ahead." Tony encouraged. "Say something."

(This is the tricky part, but almost everyone knows about what's going to happen before I write it.)

Ivan looked at Tony. "Хорошо, почему ты дал мне это? Что он делает?" Then the electronic voice came out of the translator. "Okay, why did you give me this? What does it do?"

Ivan looked as his eyes grew, startled, as did Katya's. "Я только что сказал?" The voice came back. "Did I just say that?"

Ivan's eyes widened understanding enough English to know what was being said now held amazement. "ĐŻ просто так скаСаН! Это отличное устройство! Откуда это у Đ'ас?" The translator came back with. "I did just say that! This is a great device! Where did you get it?"

(Now, just back to single language reading. You know what they're saying and what language is used when.)

Katya took the device from her husband. "This translates Russian to English!?"

Tony nodded smiling. "And English to Russian." He looked to Katya. "I know you said no business on vacation, but this is something a man wanted to invest in...and he is but needs more backing financially. We got the translator before Sasha and Alik came to live with us and..." Tony chuckled. "My Russian is better now, but I was in trouble a while. I had a six-year-old that didn't speak hardly any English and, so I got this. It saved our lives, believe me." He waved at the translator Ivan had. "You were looking for investment possibilities..." Tony waved again at the translator. "...here it is. They are working on an additional device...a type of scanner that will take written languages, scan them and translate them also to a language you can read. That's in the works. We'd like it to do any language to any language, but that will take a larger database and memory."

"This is incredible!" Katya said staring at the translator. "Where can we get one?"

Tony shook his head. "I'm giving that one to you."

Ivan's eyes grew and he handed it back quickly. "We can't do that! This is too valuable!"

I nodded. "It is valuable, but if you get involved in this...you would be a part owner," I said logically. "You can see it really works and it was worked on by me, Tony, Sasha, and Alik to get some things ironed out with sayings and other local colloquialisms."

(The Russian word I used for colloquialism is разговор, that's what Tony looked surprised at hearing my using it.)

Tony leaned into me. "What's that mean?" Which I quickly told him.

"Oh." Tony pointed to me. "See, I told you he was better at speaking Russian...I didn't even know the word for colloquialism in Russian until now."

Katya and Ivan were laughing at us.

"It helps to speak with adult Russians, Tony." I grinned. "I doubt Alik knows the word either."

Ivan marveled at the translator shaking his head, still not believing the wonder of the translator. "This will be big; I tell you BIG!" He saw the waiter come over and held the translator up. "Теперь он может поговорить со мной и он со мной, и мы понимаем друг друга!" The translator promptly said. "Now he can talk to me and he to me, and we understand each other!"

Even the waiter was fascinated by what was happening. "Wow, what is that?" His eyes got big, too. The translator said. "Đ'ау, что это?" Making the waiter's eyes grow even bigger. "Cool!!" The translator came with... "Классно."

"Slang and what have you has to be programmed in, but..." I smiled as Ivan was studying the translator to see what buttons did what.

"The slang term Alik taught me was Прикольно." Tony was a little too proud he knew the translator was off.

I rolled my eyes and grinned at Tony and pressed on. "Next we'll get the scanner because the Cyrillic alphabet Russia uses is a bitch!" I growled. "I'm getting it, but not quite there yet."

Ivan and Katya were laughing harder. "As I am not understanding your...A,B,C's!" Ivan said as he laughed. "I can see we are going to become very old, very dear, very, very good friends!" He said confidently as he nodded, looking at the translator.

I took Tony's hand. "Sono sicuro che lo faremo." I said softer, in Italian saying I'm sure we will. Tony smiled nodding, knowing what I meant. "Ti amo."

Tony smiled more placing his forehead against mine. "Lo so." (That was Italian. You know what we say to each other by now. I shouldn't have to translate it now.)