Chapter 17: Recollection

Anya was sitting in the hotel room. The three people she had trusted lied to her. She looked at the music box, "Why would he give me this?" Anya was just as hurt as the Dowager, maybe even just as stubborn. She was starting to pack her suitcase, ready to go back to Russia. She was hurting inside.

The door opened and closed. Anya spoke as she turned around. "Go away, Dmitr—I am so sorry, Your Majesty." She bowed quickly. The Dowager raised a brow. "I-I thought you were—" "I know very well who you thought I was," she spoke. Anya nervously chuckled. "Won't you sit down?" The Dowager sat down, and Anya stayed where she was. "Sit down, child." Anya hesitantly sat down beside her.

Anya looked at the Dowager, "Who told you I would be here?" The Dowager looked at the girl and sighed, "An old friend, Minka. The girl is like family. Only my Anastasia would know why she was." The Dowager got an idea. "How did my Anastasia and Minka meet? Leave out no details," the Dowager pressed, looking to the girl who claimed she was Anastasia.

"Minka was young... around ten. She was frail and weak. She collapsed in front of the gate... I shouted for Mama and Papa, and they ran into my room. I was supposed to be sleeping. Papa saw her and ran out into the cold. He picked her up and brought her inside. She was put in the guest room, and I went to the room with Mama, begging her to let me stay. She told me I could if Minka wanted me to, and Minka did, after she woke up. She was so weak. She'd walked for two months straight, all the way from Ufa to Petersburg."

The Dowager looked at Anya, then saw the music box. "Where did you get this?" the Dowager inquired. "You gave it to me. You were leaving for Paris. You never came back. She sang me a lullaby. Far away, long ago, glowing dim as an ember..." Anya began. "Things my heart used to know," The Dowager added. "Once upon a December," the two sang. The Dowager knew that the song that was just sang could only be known by a Romanov or the servant girl. "Anastasia," the Dowager spoke, pulling Anya, no, Anastasia in for a hug.

Anya wrapped her arms around her. Anya pulled away after a few seconds and looked down at the floor. "Oh my God, they were telling the truth," she whispered. "What do you mean, Anastasia?" the Dowager inquired. "Minka and Dmitry and Vlad... oh my God." "You lost your temper?" "I did." "That's why Minka came in, then. Because she knew I didn't believe you."

"Minkalina..." Anya spoke. "She betrayed my family," she breathed. The Dowager looked at Anya, "Minkalina told me what happened that night. She told me she felt guilty. She never wanted that to happen. Anastasia, do you know what happened after?" Anya shook her head. "She collapsed. Guilt ate at her. The girl had nightmares. Now that she knows you're Anastasia, they'll come back to haunt her. She told me that she wanted to save them, but due to her orders, she couldn't."

"If she knew what they were going to do, why did she join them?" "She was supposed to be a notetaker for her brother. Her father convinced her that she was wrong about you and the others. He had her stand there and watch with her brother in the..." "I know," Anya whispered. "I need to find her, I want to talk to her."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Gleb's Hotel Room, Minka's nightmare~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Minka was sound asleep when she heard the loud bang of bullets. She looked up at the sky. She saw it turn blood red. She saw figures appear by her bed once again. "How can you sleep so easily with the guilt you have?" the voice of the Tsar echoed.

         "I thought you loved me," Alexei spoke. Minka's chest heaved up and down in fear. Not again, please. I can't take it. "You stood there while they shot us," Nicholas's voice shouted. Minka flinched. Make it stop. Make it stop, please.

    "Answers, Minkalina. You're no more than a traitor. You let us burn, and soon you'll burn like us," Olga's voice cried. "You were supposed to love me," Alexei's voice contorted. "I do," Minka sobbed. "Then why are we dead?" the Romanovs questioned. Minka's lips quivered. "I---" "Do not speak, you are nothing more than a criminal," the Tsar's voice echoed.

        Minka felt tears roll down her cheeks. "I-I can't," she whispered. Make it stop! "You said you loved us," Maria approached Minka. "I do," Minka muttered. "You let us die," Tatiana spoke up. How do I get out of this? Minka looked around her at the faces of the Romanovs. How do I make it stop?

    The Romanovs voices chuckled. Alexei giggled, "It won't stop. It will never stop. You're guilty. You watched and said nothing. You let me die. Now, I want you to." Minka's eyes widened and broke into tears. She felt a hand shake her shoulder. It was Gleb. He wanted to wake her from the nightmare, rescue her from a silent storm that was brewing.

         "You let all of us die, Minka. You didn't try to stop them." Alexandra appeared. Minka cried, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Wake up, Minka! Her chest heaved up and down as she cried. "Please, leave me alone," Minka whimpered.

    Minka, this is an order, wake up! Minka gasped as she shot her eyes open. She was crying. Gleb took her in his arms. "Shh... shh..." Gleb whispered, holding her head protectively.

          "Oh my God, they're back," she whispered, a sob escaping her lips. "Who?" Gleb murmured. "The Romanovs." "Shh, shh, it's alright." Minka put her head against his chest. "I won't sleep ever again." "You have to sleep eventually, Minka," Gleb sighed. "Gleb, how do I make it go away?" Minka cried. "I don't know, Minka. I don't know."

    "Gleb, do you know what a nightmarish version of Alexei told me?" Minka asked. "No, do I want to?" Gleb pondered. Minka sighed and quoted Alexei, "'It won't stop. It will never stop. You're guilty. You watched and said nothing. You let me die. Now, I want you to'." She broke into tears. "I don't want to die, Gleb."

         "Shh, shh, you won't die." He lifted her and sat down on the bed, Minka in his lap. "I don't want to die," Minka whimpered. "You're not going to," Gleb cooed, rubbing Minka's shoulder. "It won't go away," she cried. "We'll figure something out." "I can't deal with this much longer!"

    "I'll take you to a doctor right now. It seems as though it's more than stress. You need to talk to someone other than me about this," Gleb whispered, scooping her in his arms. "Gleb, I'm scared," she whimpered. "I know, I know," he sighed, trying to keep himself calm. He needed to for his sister's sake. "You'll be alright. I just know it," he smiled reassuringly. Minka lay her head on Gleb's shoulder, arms around her neck. "Do you want Dmitry with you? Or would you rather he take you?" Gleb queried. "I want Dmitry to bring me," Minka admitted.

         "You better hope he doesn't mind me waking him up," Gleb joked with her. "Dmitry's not an old man like you, Gleb," Minka mumbled. Gleb laughed. "Honey, we're the same age." He looked down at her. "I know." She was quiet for a minute. "I'm still scared." "I know you are. Here, let's put this coat on you and then we'll wake Dmitry, alright?" Minka nodded.

    Gleb sat her down for a second and wrapped the coat around her trembling body. "There, that should keep you warm," he spoke as he buttoned it. Minka stayed silent. She was trying not to cry. Gleb sighed, picking her up once again and slipped out of the hotel room. He found Dmitry sleeping on the floor outside of the room Vlad rented. Gleb nudged the man with his foot. "Dmitry, wake up. It's Minka, she needs you," Gleb sighed, knowing Dmitry would wake at the sound of Minka's name.

         "What is it?" He groggily stood up. "Something's wrong, I don't know. Can you take her to a doctor so she can tell them about it?" He gave the man an uncertain look. "Why aren't you doing it?" Dmitry inquired. "She asked for you." Dmitry sighed as he took Minka into his arms.

    Dmitry smiled, "This won't be the last time I'm carrying you." Minka blushed. Her heart was pounding. What if Gleb figured it out? What would happen if Gleb said something? "And it isn't the first," Minka responded as she felt Dmitry kiss her forehead. "My little princess," Dmitry whispered. Gleb looked at him. Did he just call Minka 'princess'?

         Minka sniffed and rubbed her eyes, trying to get rid of the tears. Gleb didn't say anything, but watched as Dmitry carried her down the hallway. "What's going on out here?" Vlad scratched the back of his head after opening the door. "Minka's had an awful nightmare. There's something that's causing it, and it's not just guilt. I am hoping if she talked to someone... like a doctor, they'll go away." "What was it this time, Gleb?" Vlad stepped out of the room, closing the door. "She said it was the Romanov family."

    Vlad looked to Minka, who was shaking in Dmitry's arms. "The poor girl. She must be upset. She was attached to Alexei. It's her emotions getting to her. If your father hadn't killed them the nightmares wouldn't exist. She would be safe. She wouldn't feel as though she's a waste of organs. Gleb, she's had that nightmare while she was with us. She tried different ways of ending them, all of which aren't pleasant. Dmitry and I had to stop her from doing something she'd regret. That's why she begged you to leave your pistol or empty it... she's had those thoughts," Vlad whispered.

         "My God, what am I going to do?" Gleb ran his hand through his hair. "I-I can't lose her." "The first thing you're going to do is calm down," Vlad spoke. "The next thing, we'll have to talk in your room. Anya won't be happy if we wake her." Gleb nodded. Gleb walked the small distance between their rooms and opened the door.

    Vlad stepped into the room shortly after Gleb. Slowly Vlad spoke, "I'm surprised you didn't pick up on the fact that Minka and Dmitry are to be married at some point." Gleb, no longer concerned with what Dmitry had called Minka, sighed, "It seems like just yesterday I was giving her food while she was locked in a closet." "Yes, it seems it has been just days for you." Gleb shook his head, "I'm worried. You wanted to talk to me about Minka. What is it that you know about her?"

        "Sit down first, Gleb. You look exhausted." Gleb sat down on his bed and sighed. "Minka's been trying to get rid of the nightmares since she started to stay with Dmitry and I. She told me that she never dared to when she stayed with you. The first time, she stayed awake for three days straight. We both know that's not good for her health," Vlad began, sitting down on the bed Minka had been sleeping in. "She ended up sleeping for a while after that." "Exactly how long is 'a while'?" Gleb questioned. "Maybe twelve hours?" He nodded.

    Gleb eyed the Count. "That was the least risky thing she had done to end them. The second thing she did was the thing that caused Dmitry and I to worry. She opened a window and tried to jump. He and I had to pull her back and I had Dmitry hold her while I locked them. I wasn't going to let her hurt herself. She resisted at first, flailing in Dmitry's arms," Vlad explained. Gleb sighed, "My God..."

         "She screamed and cried, saying something about she just wanted it all to end. We tried to talk to her, she wouldn't talk. The third time, she had snuck off while we were sleeping. If Dmitry hadn't have woken up when he did, she would've gotten out of the door of the palace. I don't know what she was thinking or what she was going to do, but I naturally assumed she was heading for the bridge, or some high point in Peters—Leningrad. She never told us where she was going to go that night." Gleb covered his face with his hands and sighed. "What do I do?"

    "Gleb, do you know the Romanov lullaby?" Vlad pondered. Vlad knew that the lullaby was the only thing that would calm Minka in this state. Gleb sighed, "Why would I remember something from the mad imperial hay day? You live in the land of yesterday, lost in a mad imperial hay day." Vlad sighed, "Minka tried to end herself in the land of yesterday, guilty of a crime that made her not want to stay. She was trapped in a land before yesterday."

        "But to answer your question, no, I do not. To be completely fair, I didn't even know my sister was a Peterhof servant until she told me before this entire thing began." Gleb looked up at the former Count. "How and why would I know it? It's not like Minka's going to teach me a lullaby her employers — that she watched die, mind you— taught her."

    Vlad sighed. He knew he had to tell Gleb why the Romanov lullaby was important to Minka. "Gleb, that lullaby kept her calm. I was there when she was having an anxiety attack. I had to sing it to her when the Tsar was talking to Anastasia. It's not that hard to learn. I'll ask you some questions, if you answer them correctly, it's going to be easy for you to learn the lullaby." Gleb rolled his eyes. "Act like a gentleman, will you?" Vlad sighed. "Alright. You sound like my deceased father," Gleb spoke, huffing a sigh. "What glows dim?" Vlad pondered. "An ember," Gleb responded.

         "The last month of the year?" "December." "If you do something no more than one time, you do it...?" "Once." "Well, that's the basic ones. I'll try to teach it to you. But... maybe tomorrow. You look like you're going to faint," Vlad spoke, eyeing the man across from him.

    Gleb held in a yawn. "I'll be alright." "Gleb, please, get some rest," Vlad sighed as he started to head out of the room. Gleb sighed, giving into exhaustion. His head met the pillow. He couldn't help but let his mind wander. He was imagining each event that Vlad had told him. His poor sister.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Gleb's Nightmare~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        "Minka?" Gleb's brows furrowed when he saw his sister. She didn't respond. "Minka?" He walked over to her. He could tell she hadn't slept in a while, and he could see everything she felt. "Minka, why don't you rest—" "They won't go away," Minka ran over to Dmitry and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her head in his chest. "They won't go. I'm not going to sleep again, Dima." "Minka, you've got to," Dmitry sighed. It was then Gleb realized he was just a witness.

    "Do I need to get Vlad?" Dmitry questioned, holding the frightened girl in his arms. Minka continued to cry. "I don't want to close my eyes. I don't want to sleep ever again," she sobbed. Dmitry, knowing Minka would make herself ill, called out, "Vlad! Help!"

         Vlad stood up and walked over to them, rubbing his eyes. "What is it, Dmitry?" Vlad mumbled. "Minka—" "I don't want to sleep again. They'll get me if I do," Minka sobbed. Vlad sighed, "Minka, come here, my darling." Minka sniffed and pulled out of Dmitry's embrace, turning to face Vlad. "You need to calm down." "I can't," she whispered. Vlad sighed and quietly sang the Romanov lullaby to her. It had calmed Minka down, but she was still determined to stay awake. "I'm not going to sleep," she shook her head, stepping away from the con men.

    Gleb, still witnessing, heard the Romanov lullaby for the first time. He saw now why it calmed her. The next image came to him. The second event. Minka was at the window of the Yusapov theatre. Her hands reached out and opened them. She wanted to end it all. Gleb watched as the two con men ran into the room. It was a surprise for him to see Vlad running. He couldn't believe that the former Count had become a father figure to Minka.

         Dmitry grabbed her wrist and Vlad grabbed the collar of her shirt. "Let me go!" Minka screamed. "Let me go!" "Hold her, would you?" Vlad tried to speak above Minka's screams. Dmitry nodded and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Let me go! I want it to end! Let me go!" She fought against Dmitry. "I will not let you go!" Dmitry shouted, causing her to stop screaming. Minka looked up at him and broke down, tears beginning to run down her face.

    Vlad went to the windows and locked them. He went over to Dmitry and Minka. He calmly spoke, "Minka, darling, talk to me. You're all frightened, well slightly, now and then. Try and think again, take a breath, count to ten..." Minka refused to talk. Vlad continued to calm her, "You have courage and strength you barely know so blow that little nose, and dry those pretty eyes..." he dried Minka's eyes and dabbed her nose, running from how much she was crying, making sure that she was getting comfortable. Vlad saw how Dmitry was holding her and smiled.

         The scene changed yet again. He watched as Minka glanced around, making sure Dmitry and Vlad weren't awake. She tiptoed out of the room, gently closing the door behind her. Minka walked down the hall, heading for the door. "The bridge?" Gleb heard her mumble to herself. "I might as well go there."

    Dmitry, who had trouble sleeping, heard her and grabbed her torso. "No you won't," he spoke. "Vlad and I are counting on you. Anya is counting on you. Do I need to get him and carry you at the same time?" Minka sobbed, "I need to make it end." Dmitry shook his head. He cried out, "Vlad! She's at it again!"

        There was a thud that echoed off the walls. Dmitry rolled his eyes as the former Count stumbled to where they were standing. "Let me go, Dmitry," her voice cracked as she spoke. "I'm not letting you go," Dmitry said firmly. "I will stay up and stand by that door all night if I have to. You are not going anywhere, especially not the bridge!" "I want it to end! Let me go!" She tried to get out of Dmitry's tight grasp. "No, Minka!"

    Gleb just watched in horror as his sister repeatedly said she wanted it to end. He wanted to say something, but knew he couldn't. Minka wouldn't hear him. Vlad looked at the former Peterhof servant. "Minka, we can't let anything happen to you. If you died, your brother would think us responsible and put us in front of a firing squad," Vlad sighed. Minka's eyes lit up. "Vlad, you just gave her an idea that would make it end for her. It's a permanent solution to a problem that is temporary," Dmitry sighed heavily as he continued to hold Minka close. "I will hold her safe and warm. I will rescue her from her storm. I'll hold her close and see it through. It's what I have to do," Dmitry said to himself, unaware that Gleb was acting as a witness and could see how Dmitry cared for Minka.

        "Just let me go, Dmitry." Minka looked defeated as she put her forehead against Dmitry's chest, tears staining her pale cheeks. "Do you promise you won't run?" Dmitry muttered quietly. Minka nodded. Dmitry let his arms fall down to his side. "I just want it to end," Minka cried. Dmitry looked at Vlad helplessly. "Minka, darling, why don't we get you a glass of water, then we'll go back to the room and talk, alright?" "Alright," Minka whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Gleb's Nightmare~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Gleb awoke to find the Count in his room. "Dear God, you startled me," Gleb panted as he jolted upwards. "You were dreaming about the events I told you?" Vlad inquired. Gleb nodded. "You love your sister?" Vlad inquired. "Yes."

         "I don't mean to sound rude, but what are you doing here?" Gleb sighed. "Well, I came to check on you. I figured something like the dream you had would happen." "Caring like that can get you killed," Gleb mumbled. "Believe me, I know," Vlad chuckled. "I was in front of a firing squad, you know." "Yes, I do know that. Minka mentioned it." "Tell me what's on your mind, Gleb," Vlad sighed as he sat down.

    "A lot of things. Above all, I am thinking about Anya," Gleb admitted. "Do you love her?" Vlad inquired. "Just as much as I love my sister," Gleb replied. "About your sister, she's still with the doctor. He asked that she and Dmitry stay over night." "I suppose it's best that she stay there." "Now, you seem like you've been through a lot as well. You seem like a man who needs to hear the Romanov lullaby. It may ease your nerves." "I'm a grown man, I don't need lullabies."

          "You need something, Gleb." "I'm fine," he mumbled. Vlad raised a brow. "What?" Gleb uttered when he saw the man had his brow raised. "You're not 'fine', Gleb." "Yes, I am," Gleb muttered, standing up. "I'm alright. I've been alright for years now. What's the difference?"

    "The difference is now you know what your sister tried to do. Shall we go back to the questions?" Vlad sighed, trying to take Gleb's mind somewhere else. Gleb rolled his eyes and tried to sit up straight, but instead slouched. Vlad chuckled, "I see where Minkalina gets her bad habits from."

         Gleb sighed, "What on earth are you talking about?" "Rolling her eyes constantly, trying to sit up straight but slouching," Vlad chuckled. "Well, what am I supposed to do?" "Answer questions, learn the Romanov lullaby, as much as you don't want to."

    Gleb groaned. Vlad sighed and decided to sit beside Gleb. Gleb straightened his posture. "What questions do you have this time?" Gleb inquired as he looked at the Count.

          "I've got to figure out a way to word them so they'll make sense," Vlad patted Gleb's shoulder. Gleb quietly chuckled. "You seem unprepared, Count Popov, was it?" "Yes," Vlad chuckled. "It's not so much that I'm unprepared, more that the questions don't make sense." "Vlad, can I ask you something?" Gleb glanced at the man. "Of course. What is it?" "Minka said something about the twin experiments in Germany, and how she was captured. I believed her, of course, and the German giants that nearly attacked her confirmed her statement. They called her 'little Russian'. Do you know what they did to her?"

    "That was something Minka never spoke about. Each time I asked her about it, she was sent into an anxiety attack. Nicholas asked me to leave so he could take care of her. I remember what he said to her, I didn't leave fast enough so I heard him say 'Minkalina Nikolaevna Romanov, it's alright. It's over now. You don't need to worry about it anymore'. Judging by his tone and how she was shaking it wasn't pleasant. You've seen the scars on her hand. I'm certain you can guess. I assumed they sliced her hand to see how long it took her to heal. When I spoke to the Tsar about it, he said I was right," Vlad explained.

        "Minkalina Nikolaevna Romanov?" Gleb whispered. "He viewed her and treated her as his daughter. She was like one of the Romanovs, so there certainly wasn't in harm in the Tsar taking her in," Vlad shrugged. "So many things make sense now," Gleb mumbled to himself, remembering how Minka told him he wasn't to call her 'Minkalina'. She didn't like being called 'Princess' either. "When she got ill in the Ipatiev House... it wasn't just guilt. It was because she watched the people she viewed as family die."

    "Precisely. Now you know why she has those nightmares. I made the connection. The poor girl was so scared then. Her best friends and the man she viewed as a father died that night. Minka's always been a frightened girl. She was their little princess, next to the other Romanov girls. Minka learned so much. She learned about love. I felt bad for her when I learned about her being locked in that closet. The Tsar told me that, and he told me of the abuse she went through. I'm certain you know what it was. Now, let's think about the questions. I get ill thinking about what happened to her," Vlad sighed heavily as he found easier ways to word the questions.

        "What's one of the most dangerous animals in all of Russia?" "A bear." "Minka listens to her...?" "Heart," Gleb looked toward the window. "Do you know anything about Dmitry?" "No, why?" "I was going to use him as an example, but never mind." Gleb laughed, shaking his head. "Um... oh! Dmitry and Minka did this last night in the theatre." "Danced?" Gleb guessed, not entirely sure. "Precisely! Except the term is 'dance' in the lullaby. An animal that is commonly used for transportation purposes?" "A horse. How many questions are there?"

    "A lot. The opposite of forget?" "Remember." "A swan has white..." "Wings." Vlad was smiling. Gleb would soon have the Romanov lullaby memorized. "Snow can sometimes reflect..." Vlad started. "Silver," Gleb sighed. "Not drawn but..." "Painted." Gleb was getting tired of the Count's countless questions. "The opposite of a light dusting of snow?" "A storm," Gleb groaned. "You are going to make this so easy," Vlad smiled.

          "What are the words to the song? The questions aren't making sense." "I'll write them down for you. You know the music box Anya has?" Vlad questioned, standing. "No," Gleb shook his head. "Alright. I'll be right back. I'll get it and I'll bring a piece of paper and a pen. Minka and Dmitry should return sometime today." Gleb nodded.

    Vlad headed out of the room, getting a piece of paper, a pen, and Anya's music box. Vlad headed back into Gleb's room and set the music box down. Before even turning the crank and opening the music box, he wrote down the words to the lullaby. Once the Count had finished, he handed them over to Gleb. Vlad spoke, "Sing them to the melody of the music box." Vlad turned the crank and opened the lid, looking at Gleb and nodding, letting him know he could start.

         Gleb sung through the song, rarely tripping over the words. "You'll have it learned in no time," Vlad assured him. Gleb nodded. He set the paper down and sighed. "Do you think Minka will be alright?" He looked up to Vlad. "Yes, I do. It might take a while for her to... rid herself of the nightmares, they'll find a way, I'm sure. She'll be alright, Gleb." Gleb bit his lower lip. "I'm worried about her," he sighed. "I know you are, and you have every right to be. Your sister means a lot to you, you love her. She's always been there for you, hasn't she?"

    "Up until she was a servant at Peterhof," Gleb responded. Vlad sighed heavily, "Did she ever return to Ufa?" Gleb's lip quivered, his eyes watered. "She returned once a year. After 1910 I never saw her again. That's when I convinced my mother and father to move to what's now known as Leningrad. In 1912 I was roaming the streets and I saw her again. I was so thrilled, and as I saw her she was gone again. When she was in the streets in 1915, I worried for her. She was frail, waif-like. She was suffering from a cold and frost nip, as well as starvation. I brought her in and promised I would protect her. She was there for me, and I was there for her," Gleb explained.

         Vlad nodded, showing he knew what Gleb was saying. "I asked her to become my note taker, that way I knew she was safe at all times. I didn't know Father had asked her to stand inside the Ipatiev House and write down what happened. We both stood there, and after the Tsar received a bullet, she told me she was going to be ill. I couldn't let her go, Father would've killed both of us without a second thought at that time, so I acted like I didn't care. After that we mainly took care of each other, and it's been that way for years now."

    "My question now is how did you two manage to get out of the Ipatiev House?" Vlad inquired. Gleb shook his head, trying to shake the memory. He sighed, "Minka fainted. Father told me to get her out of there." "How did you get her to wake up?" "I may have slapped her," Gleb spoke with a twinge of shame.

        "I slapped her because she wouldn't wake up. It wasn't one that with enough force to cause pain. She felt it and she woke up, I suppose." Gleb stared at the floor. "I've done so many things that's ended up hurting her in someway, and she still stays with me. I don't understand her." Vlad patted Gleb's back, "She'll always be there for you. From what I've heard from Lily, that girl stood up for you in the Neva Club the other night." "She did?" Gleb's brows furrowed. "Something about a Count Leopold insulted you and Minka lost her temper, as per usual. Lily stopped the argument." Gleb chuckled. "Sounds like Minka. She's a little firecracker sometimes." "Yes, I know," Vlad laughed.

    "How do you know she's a firecracker?" Gleb inquired. Vlad chuckled, "The Romanov sisters. They thought it best to play match maker. The last time Minka saw Count Leopold was when she was fourteen. He asked her to marry him and in standard Minka fashion, she turned him down brutally. She had a temper and I witnessed. The two were dancing when she was set off. It was humorous to watch. Even the Tsar commended her for following her heart and normally royalty would marry other royals or the aristocracy."

         Gleb laughed. "Speaking of marriage, what was it you said about her and Dmitry last night?" "Well," Vlad cleared his throat, "as you know, Dmitry proposed last night." "Yes, you so graciously dragged me out of the theatre before I had the chance to say anything." "You looked like you were going to kill him." "It was a thought. But, if I did that, Minka wouldn't talk to me ever again." "Dmitry came back and told me she had accepted the proposal." "She didn't tell me," Gleb chuckled. "Well, you've told Dmitry on several different occasions that he would be a dead man if it weren't for Minka."

    Gleb's voice trailed, "Home, love, family... that's something that I've wanted, she'll have it too... Home, love, family, incomplete was she until she met Dmitry..." "Gleb?" Vlad inquired. "I want Minka happy. And I want Anya happy. I want the two girls that mean the most to me to be how they should. I want their lives complete." Vlad smiled, "Are you saying..." "Yes, I will allow it." "And you and Anya..." "I have to think on that, but I do love her." "You have your sister's heart, but you have one last chance. Anya is Anastasia. You have to tell her now or she'll leave you forever. Lily and I have the press conference. It all comes down to this."

        "I intended on talking to her today. With everything that's happening with Minka..." "Minka won't be back until this evening. You've got plenty of time to talk to Anya. Get dressed. I can get you in." Gleb sighed. "Alright. What's the point of going to Paris if you don't do at least one crazy thing while you're there?" Vlad laughed, "Exactly, mon ami. I'll give you five minutes." "I can talk myself out of this in three." "Two minutes, then." Vlad left, closing the door behind him. Gleb chuckled and stood up, grabbing his clothes. "That Count is going to be the death of me," he whispered, starting to change. Before he pulled on the jacket to his suit, he opened the drawer with the pistol in it, reaching in the very back of it. He smiled slightly at the sight of the ring and put it in his pocket.