As you all guessed, Grace makes an appearance in this chapter! Please note that I will try my best to upload a new chapter every other day around 10 p.m. Central Time (GMT-5).

Disclaimer: I do not own the Embassy Row series and all the characters (except for Tanner who is my own creation). They belong to Ally Carter. I am merely using her characters and plotline to create this fanfiction. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and would not exist without Ally Carter's wonderful works.

Chapter Two: Look Who's Back

When I woke up, there was late afternoon sunlight streaming in through the windows. I checked the time on my phone and was surprised and dismayed to see that it was already past 4:00 p.m. I hadn't meant to sleep in so late but Tanner and I had been up until 3:00 a.m. playing Xbox. We would have played for longer if his father hadn't woken up in the middle of the night to check on him. It was kind of funny to hear him getting yelled at by his father for staying up late playing Xbox but it definitely dampened the mood on our gaming session. After that, we both decided it was a good idea to sign off and head to bed. However, I thought it would be a great idea to stay up watching YouTube and didn't go to sleep until almost 6:00 a.m.

I must have been pretty tired because I fell asleep pretty quickly and didn't wake up until now. My father was probably wondering why I wasn't out of bed yet. He had mentioned that he wanted me to get a job this summer or spend some time volunteering. I had spent a bit of time half-heartedly looking at job postings but I wanted to have the summer to myself, to hang out with my friends and do as I pleased.

I quickly showered and pulled on another button down and the same skinny jeans I wore yesterday. On my way down to the kitchen to get some food, I ran into my father.

"You're up late," he noted, looking at me disapprovingly.

"Yes, I accidentally slept in," I replied.

"I think 'slept in' is a bit of an understatement." My father made a point of checking his watch then raised his eyebrows at me.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." My father gave me a warning look then walked towards the main entrance of the embassy, no doubt heading to the tree-planting ceremony with the American embassy. I sighed once he was out of earshot. It seemed like no matter what I did, there was no pleasing my father. It really sucked at times, feeling like I was never good enough for him.

I walked into the kitchen and made myself a sandwich with some of the leftover beef from last night's dinner. The head chef also gave me some extra potatoes. At least the kitchen staff and the support staff in the embassy took a liking to me. I always treated them with respect and said hello to them. It definitely helped to have them on my side, especially if I was sneaking out through the service entrance or the back stairwell to meet up with friends late at night.

After finishing my meal, I headed out for a bit of air. It was a really nice day, with a cloudless, blue sky. There was a light breeze, bringing in the smell of the sea. As I walked out the gates surrounding the Russian embassy, nodding at the guards as usual, I glanced over at the American embassy. I remembered what Jamie had said about Grace coming to Adria and wondered if she had already arrived. Taking my chances, I walked over to the American embassy. The guards were changing shifts and it looked like Martin was just about to leave.

"Hi, Alexei! Nice day, isn't it?" Martin called out to me.

"Yes, it is," I replied. I decided to take a chance and ask him about Grace. "Hey, Martin, I heard that Grace was back in Adria?"

"You mean Grace Blakely, the American ambassador's granddaughter?"

"Yes, her."

"I think she just got in an hour ago. You wanted to see her?"

"A bit."

"I can take you inside if you'd like," Martin offered.

"Sure, that'd be great," I said, with a shy smile.

"I'm not sure where she'd be right now but you can wait around inside for her," Martin said. I followed him inside the main entrance of the American embassy. It was just as I remembered it, with American flags and memorabilia plastered all over the walls.

"I'm afraid this is as far as I can take you," Martin said, with an apologetic look, as we stopped at the bottom of the large, spiraling staircase.

"This is fine, thank you," I replied.

"I can't guarantee that you'll be able to stay here long before someone wonders what you're doing here," Martin continued, giving me a pointed look. It probably wasn't the best idea for me to be here, given that this was the American embassy and I was Russian. However, I just wanted to see Grace again. Was that really too much to ask?

"That's alright, thank you for letting me in," I said. Martin smiled and nodded at me then continued off towards the guards' quarters. I looked around, taking in my surroundings. It reminded me of all the times I had been here with Jamie and all the memories we shared.

A slamming door and pounding footsteps snapped me out of my reverie. I heard someone frantically rushing down the stairs and looked to see who it was. They were moving so fast that I couldn't tell who it was. Only when they reached the bottom of the stairs did they finally look up. When I saw who it was, I almost couldn't believe my eyes. She had gotten taller since the last time I had seen her. She was more beautiful than I remembered her being or maybe I just hadn't paid enough attention before. Even though her blonde hair was tangled and matted from flying, her brown eyes were still alert as she took me in.

"Well, if it isn't Grace the Ace," I said, breaking the silence between us. She just stared at me. The stunned expression on her face was mildly disconcerting, making me wonder if I had food stuck in my teeth or if my hair was messed up.

"Isn't that what your brother always calls you? Anyway, welcome back," I said, in an attempt to make her feel at ease. I gave her a friendly smile but she still looked at me like she was surprised to see me here. However, she should have known that I would have stopped by to see her. After all, I wasn't best friends with Jamie for nothing.

"So when did you get in?" I asked, trying to make conversation. I stared at her, taking her in after three years of not seeing her. She was just as I remembered her, only much more beautiful.

"I'm sorry," she said, stepping closer to me. She tilted her head, taking me in. "Have we met?" I couldn't help but laugh at her show of ignorance. We both knew that she knew who I was but I couldn't understand why she wasn't willing to acknowledge it. I supposed it must have been from the shock of seeing me here, in the American embassy.

"Nice try, Grace. So how's Jamie?" As far as I was concerned, he was doing just fine, based on our texts yesterday.

"Perfect. As usual. If you actually knew my brother, you'd know that," Grace replied curtly. How long was she going to keep pretending that she didn't know me?

"Oh, but I do know your brother," I pointed out, hoping she'd quit this act. "In fact, I know you." I gave her a charming, playful smile, hoping she'd pick up the hint and quit playing games with me.

"Oh, gee, I'm sorry I don't remember," she said, piling on the sarcasm. She stepped onto the main floor. "I guess you didn't make much of an impression."

"Sure I did. Of course, the last time we saw each other they were scraping what was left of you off of the German courtyard, so I can see how your memory might be impaired," I said, hoping I could get her to crack.

"Canadian. I was in the Canadian courtyard. I've never fallen into Germany," she said, trying to push past me. I easily moved to block her path so that she would be forced to talk to me. That little admission from her was enough of a slip to show that she did know who I was; she just didn't want to bring it up for reasons that were beyond me.

"How long are we going to play this game, Gracie?" I asked, looking at her seriously.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." That was a flat-out lie and we both knew it. However, two could play this game.

"Then allow me to introduce myself," I said, complete with a low bow. If I was going to play along too, then I figured I might as well go all out. "Alexei Volkov, at your service. I live next door," I nodded out the window towards the Russian embassy.

"Then shouldn't you be getting home? I'd hate for us to have an international incident. It's only my first day back." As if me being here could possibly cause an international incident. I was only here for a friendly visit, to see how she was doing. What could possibly go wrong in that?

"Actually, that's why I'm here. You see, I'm the guy your brother put in charge of you." She laughed at that and I didn't see how she could have found it funny.

"Oh, he did, did he?"

"Yes. I am to … and I quote… 'keep Grace from killing herself or anyone else.' Especially me. He was most emphatic about that last part," I said, recalling Jamie's texts.

"I don't need a babysitter."

"That is not what I hear." If Jamie's texts were any indication, then Grace most definitely needed a babysitter, or at least someone to keep an eye on her. I crossed my arms and leaned back against the wall, blocking Grace from going any further. As I did so, I finally got a good look at her and was once again struck by how beautiful she had become. It turned out the past three years had done her some good.

"You grew up, Gracie," I said quietly.

"People do that. Even little sisters."

"You will always be Jamie's little sister." Even though she was a lot more beautiful now, a part of me would always remember her as the little girl that used to follow Jamie and I around, begging for a chance to play with us.

"So he likes to remind me. But that doesn't make me your problem."

"I guess this is where we must … what is it you Americans say? Agree to disagree." My English was just as good as any American's, thanks to my education at the English-speaking international school, but I still spoke with a Russian accent. Tanner always told me to play up my accent and pretend that my English wasn't very good. According to him, girls loved foreign guys with accents. If he was here, he would be proud of me for actually following his advice, even if I was only using it to poke fun at Grace. However, it looked like the playful route wasn't working with her so I went for the caring route instead.

"How have you been, Gracie?" I asked softly, hoping the sincerity in my voice would get through to her. It seemed like it did, but it didn't have the intended effect.

"Alive," she said, lowering her head.

"Good." I suddenly remembered her mother and how I never got the chance to give her my condolences. "I was very sorry to hear about your mother. She was always very kind to me."

"I …" Grace started before a far-off, blank look consumed her eyes.

"Grace?" I asked, hoping she would respond to her name. I waved my hand in front of her eyes to get her attention but she still seemed lost in her own world. When she still didn't respond after a few moments, I started getting concerned.

"Grace, is everything alright?" I asked. I suddenly heard her whisper something quietly, under her breath.

"Grace?" I asked tentatively. "Grace, did you say something?" What was happening inside her head right now? What was she seeing that I wasn't?

"I … I have to go," she said abruptly. There was no way she could be leaving so soon, not when I had finally seen her again after three years and had gotten her to drop that stupid game she had been playing.

"Grace –" I started before she interrupted me.

"I have to go now!" she shouted. She seemed to have a destination in mind because she reached for the nearest door. I looked on in horror as I realized where that door led and what was happening there today.

"Grace, you can't go that way," I said, as she reached for the door.

"Watch me!" she shouted as she spun, throwing her arms out. I felt frozen in place as she backed into the door, pushing against it with all her weight. It easily swung open under her weight and she fell to the ground. I made a move to catch her before she fell but sighed in relief as the Russian ambassador grabbed her arm, to steady her and keep her from falling. However, she lashed out and hit him square in the nose. He promptly fell to the ground, blood rushing out of his nose. I tried to rush to his side to make sure he was alright but he was already surrounded by the American guards.

I heard a crash and looked up to see Grace tangled among the rosebushes. Cameras flocked to her, dying to capture her every move. I so badly wanted to help her up as she tried to crawl through the dirt but the international press corps had her surrounded, preventing me from reaching her. Nonetheless, I finally managed to wrestle my way through the crowd, getting to Grace's side. Belatedly, I saw my father standing by the edge of the crowd, looking horrified. He was not going to be happy about this.

"That's why," I said softly, almost like a badly timed afterthought to my previous statement. As the Russian ambassador spat out a mouthful of blood, I saw the realization dawn on Grace's face. Her grandfather finally managed to push his way through the crowd. I bet this wasn't how he imagined his reunion with his granddaughter to go.

"Hello, Grace, darling," he said. Grace squinted up at her grandfather, as if she had just realized he was there.

"Hi, Grandpa," she replied. He offered her his hand and she took it, letting him lead her away. They started heading in the direction of the Russian embassy, following my father and the Russian ambassador. I followed them inside, making sure to stay a short distance behind them. The ambassador was promptly ushered into his office, my father right behind him. Grace's grandfather exchanged a few words with the guards then headed into the office, closing the door behind him. The shouting started as soon as the door was closed. I silently tiptoed my way towards the door and stood beside it. The conversation was kind of hard to follow, given that the ambassador's office was almost soundproof, but I was able to pick up the general gist of it. I winced when my father mentioned that it wasn't the best idea to bring Grace here and that she should be made to stay away from the Russian embassy.

"I didn't mean to do it," Grace muttered from where she was sitting.

"I know." I continued to stay still, following the ongoing conversation.

"It was an accident. He should know better than to go around grabbing people."

"He was trying to help you!"

"I was fine," Grace said, with a lack of expression. I saw right through her words though. She most certainly was not fine, especially when that blank look had taken over her eyes.

"What happened back there?"

"You were there. You saw it."

"What did you see?" She recoiled and I knew I had hit a nerve. She didn't reply, no doubt lost in thought. Without saying a word, she started rocking back and forth, probably unconsciously. Were her thoughts really that bad, enough to make her shake without realizing it? I placed my hand on her back, in an attempt to calm her down. She froze underneath my touch then promptly pulled away.

"Don't touch me," she said, with a warning tone.

"Whatever you say, Gracie."

"Don't call me Gracie." I guessed she must not have liked her childhood nickname anymore. Or maybe she just didn't like me calling her that.

"Okay," I said, with a slow nod, accepting her wishes. "It's okay. At least, I hope it's okay." I looked at the closed door, noting that the conversation had taken a turn for the worse. I wasn't sure what this meant for the Russian embassy's relationship with the United States.

"What aren't you telling me?" Grace asked. I didn't reply as I continued listening to the conversation. It was getting worse by the second, with a low chance of ending on a good note. "Alexei, what is going on?"

"Things have been sort of … tense … lately," I said, stealing glances at the door every now and then. Tense was definitely an understatement.

"We're the United States. You're Russia. Things are always sort of tense."

"It's gotten worse," I said simply. There was nothing else that I needed to say. After all, Grace had grown up as an embassy kid and understood diplomatic relations as well as I did. We both knew this incident had the potential to completely destroy whatever small fragments of friendship Russia had left with the United States.

"Gracie," her grandfather said, as he opened the door. Grace stood up and limped towards him, into the ambassador's office. I hoped that she wasn't in too much pain. I sat down in the chair that she previously occupied. The door was left partially open. I leaned forward in my chair, getting a decent view into the office. I cringed as I got a look at the Russian ambassador. Blood coloured the front of his white dress shirt. There was a bandage on his neck and he was already starting to get a black eye.

"Don't tell me, Gracie. Tell him," Grace's grandfather said.

"Mr. Ambassador. I'm so very sorry for my carelessness. It was an accident. I guess I just don't know my own strength," Grace said, with a forced laugh. I couldn't help but smile at the way she tried to smooth things over with a bit of humour. At any other embassy, that might have worked but this was Russia. Russians weren't exactly known for being humorous. Besides, a little humour wasn't going to magically fix the deep rifts between Russia and the United States.

"I am sincerely sorry," Grace said again. I guess she realized that even humour couldn't save her.

"Very well," my father said. I heard him stepping out of the office and looked up to find him glaring at me. Great.

"Alexei. Come," he snapped at me. I stood up and started following him down the hall. He stopped at the end of the hall, glancing over his shoulder. There was a less-than-thrilled look on his face and I imagined that I was going to get one hell of a lecture.

"Good night, everyone," my father said. "I trust that this incident will not follow us into tomorrow."

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! What do you think Alexei's going to get in trouble for?