POV: Anya

Sergey and Charlotte took us to our hotel. They were spending the weekend in New York and staying in the same hotel until the ceremony on Monday. We left Sasha in the room in her carrier while the four of us went out to eat an early dinner or late lunch.

At the restaurant Sergey leaned back in his chair and said, "This is really nice. Wouldn't it be nice if we could do this more often?" The rest of us exchanged uncomfortable looks. Sergey was the only one who didn't know what Alexi was planning which might allow us to get together more often. We were eventually going to have to tell him about it. It was just that none of us knew how to start that conversation. I decided I'd give it a try.

"Sergey, have you given any thought to taking up permanent residence in America?" I asked him.

"I definitely have, but I would not want to do anything that would reflect badly on Alexi."

"And if you didn't have to worry about that?" I asked.

"Do we really want to talk about that here?" Charlotte warned obviously anticipating where the conversation would lead.

"Why not?" Sergey asked. "If not for Alexi, I would definitely become an American."

"That's great Sergey, but this conversation should definitely wait until after the ceremony," Charlotte said looking at me rather than Sergey, but Sergey didn't pick-up on that and thought she was talking to him.

"You don't want me to become an American?" he asked sounding hurt. I couldn't help but think, these Volkov boys are so insecure. I wanted to tell him that of course she does, but that was for Charlotte to say.

She didn't. She took his hand and said, "Love, somethings have to be talked about in private. I'll explain later if it is okay with Alexi." She was cryptically asking Alexi if she could tell Sergey about his plan to defect, but of course, Sergey didn't know that.

"What has Alexi got to do with this?" Sergey was getting angry, so Alexi jumped in.

"Sergey, what we are trying not to discuss now is how you will no longer have to worry about my military career."

"And why is that, Alexi?" Sergey asked.

"And that is what we are trying not to talk about little brother," Alexi answered pedantically.

"Rather than a cab, why don't just Sergey and I walk back to the hotel after dinner. It will give us a chance to talk. If it is okay with you two?" Charlotte asked trying to head off a fight between the brothers.

I thought it was a good idea. Alexi nodded agreement saying, "Tell him when you are alone."