"That's it?"

Dimitri stopped and turned back around to look at her. "What - "

"That's how you want this to end? Just like that?" she accused.

"Anya - Your Grace - I - "

"Don't call me that."

"But that's who you are," he said.

"But I don't want to be," she admitted.

Dimitri's jaw dropped. "We just traveled clear across the country so you could become the Grand Duchess Anastasia - "

"No, we traveled clear across the country so that I could find my family, and I did that," she argued.

"Yes, and now they're waiting for you," he countered.

Anya simply stared at him, and he simply stared back. Neither of them said a word. Finally, she dropped the crown she was still holding in her hand. Dimitri opened his mouth to question her, but before he could, she quickly walked over to him and, with no warning whatsoever, grabbed his lapel and pulled him roughly into a kiss.

Dimitri was too stunned to react at first. The part of his mind that had been arguing with him for so long, telling him that this wasn't right, that he shouldn't be with her, that they just couldn't, shattered in a matter of seconds, and suddenly all he knew was that this was right, that he should have done this long ago, that this moment was perfect. He was hopelessly in love with her, and nothing could ever change that, but it didn't need to be changed, because she was just as head over heels as he was, surprisingly enough.

Anya eventually released him, but kept her hands on his collar. "They aren't."

"Who isn't... what?" he panted, still dazed from the kiss.

"No one's waiting, Dimitri," she whispered.

"What are you talk - of course they are!" he debated.

She shook her head. "Grandmama wants me to choose."

"Choose?"

Anya nodded, still breathing heavily. "I'm Anya. Not Anastasia, not Anya the Orphan... just Anya. I belong somewhere... somewhere outside of a ballrooms and fancy dresses. I belong with... well, with you."

"Wait a minute, hold on - you have the opportunity to be royalty, to live in a comfy palace with servants and butlers and maids to cater to your every want, and you're giving it all up for the kitchen boy?" he asked in shock.

Anya released him and stepped back, looking rather annoyed. "You know, if you're going to keep talking about it like I'm stupid for making this decision, then maybe I should just - "

Dimitri stopped her by pulling her into another kiss, capturing her lips with his in a moment that he'd been yearning for for months. He couldn't believe it - he was finally kissing her. And better yet, she wasn't fighting it. Every time this scene had played out in his head, it had ended with her slapping him (again), because she didn't feel the same way. But she did. She felt exactly the same as him, and she appeared to be enjoying this moment just as much as he was judging by the soft sigh that she emitted.

He grinned. "You aren't stupid." He leaned his forehead against hers, both keeping their eyes closed. "You just don't know how shocked I am."

"If it's anywhere near how shocked I am, then I do, actually," she teased.

They both carefully pulled away, locking eye contact. "Anya, I..."

"Just say it this time, Dimitri," she begged quietly, hopefully.

He chuckled as he reached out and gently tilted her chin upwards. "I love you."

The smile that stretched across her face was almost uncharacteristically joyful for her. "I love you, too."

With a unified sigh of relief, wearing smiles of sheer bliss, they leaned in for another kiss.


Alright, a happy ending. Er, a happy beginning to a happy ending.
I really hope I'm keeping them in character. Please let me know if I'm not or if you have any tips.

There is more to come! Stay tuned! We haven't even gotten to the best part yet!

-Emily