This is our attempt at a modern drama|romance featuring Anya, Dimitri, Phlegmenkoff, and other characters, most of which arose from the depths of our imaginations. [The disclaimer is listed in the Yuna-and-Stefie profile.] We hope you enjoy our story as much as we enjoy writing it! Always feel free to review and offer constructive criticism, for it greatly helps and we enjoy getting reviews! Happy reading!

Sincerely,

Yuna Lee and Stefie D.

Prologue

"Anastasia! What have I told you time and time again?"

"Wha..."

"Child, stop daydreaming!"

"I'm sorry...I just..."

"I don't want to hear it. Go upstairs."

Anastasia nodded and carried a cardboard box up her aunt's old, creaky stairs. She tried desperately to push down the dull handle and push open her door. The door squeaked open and her cream-colored cat rushed into the musky room. She dropped her box of valuable possessions on her frumpy, hard bed. The box bounced, but Anastasia didn't notice. She wandered over to a window overlooking the ocean. She watched the rain trickle against the glass. It was just like that dreaded night. So many memories came flashing back... Anastasia fell to her knees and wept.

Chapter One: An Unexpected Call

Anastasia laughed with Cassie, her dorm roommate. Suddenly Anastasia's cell phone rang. "Hold on," she said as she glanced at the caller ID. A look of panic filled her face.

"Ana, what is it? What's wrong?"

"It's my dad..." she murmured as she glanced at her watch. "It's 11:30. He never calls this late."

"Answer it!"

Anastasia sighed and flipped open her phone. "Hello?"

"Yes, is this Anastasia Greene?"

"Yes, yes, this is Anastasia Greene. Who are you?" she demanded, panic flowing forth from her voice. Why in the world would a stranger have her father's phone?

"I'm sorry, but I'm Lieutenant Carl Weinberg of the San Francisco Homicide Department."

The phone slipped from her hand and hit the wooden floor with a loud clatter.

"Hello? Ms. Greene?"

Anastasia was a frozen sculpture, eyes wide and unblinking. Cassie, wondering what was going on, picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Ms. Greene?"

"No, this is her friend. Ana's not doing so well right now. Can I take a message?"

"I sent a cruiser to swing by and pick up Ms. Greene. She is needed immediately at San Francisco General."

O~o~O

Anastasia rushed through the waiting room, ignoring the stares of the few people sitting on the benches filling the room. She raced up to the receptionist's desk, panting, "I'm Anastasia Greene and I have to see Lieutenant Carl Weinberg!"

A man abruptly stood up from his chair. "Ms. Greene, I'm Lieutenant Weinberg."

"What happened? What happened to my father?" she asked as she pushed aside the wet strands of hair that were plastered to her face from the heavy rain outside. At that moment, Cassie, exhausted from trying to keep up with her friend, skidded to a stop behind Anastasia.

The lieutenant's tone was calm, but his eyes slowly gave himself away. Anastasia felt her own eyes fill with tears which were threatening to spill and overflow. Never having seen her friend in this much despair, Cassie braced herself for what might be to come. The lieutenant finally broke the silence. "Your father and mother were shot in a drive-by shooting."

"What!" Anastasia yelped. "Both of them?"

Cassie placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Ana, go sit down, I'll..."

"No, Cassie, I want to hear it for myself... Lieutenant Weinberg, are they...are..."

"I'm afraid that your father died on the scene, Ms. Greene."

Holding back tears of her own, Cassie outstretched her arms as she offered her friend a hug. Anastasia took the offer and cried softly onto her friend's shoulder. Cassie looked up, a slight hope ringing in her now shallow voice, "So, her mother is still alive?"

The lieutenant was slow to answer, finally responding, "Mrs. Greene is in critical condition."

Anastasia flipped around, her eyes wide on her tear-stained face, as she declared, "I want to see my mother."

Lieutenant Weinberg shook his head. "I'm sorry, but no one can go into the Operating Room but the surgeons, Ms. Gr..."

"Fine, when she comes out, I want to see my mother. Immediately," she said decidedly, her sharp blue eyes glaring through him. He nodded in agreement, not wanting to dispute with the stubborn girl.

Just then a doctor exited the Operating Room. Quietly approaching the group, he whispered something to the lieutenant.

"What? What? What?" Anastasia snapped, wanting to know what exactly what was happening.

"Are you Ms. Greene?" the surgeon questioned softly and sympathetically.

The girl nodded and curtly replied, "Yes."

"I'm sorry, but your mother died in surgery."