A/N: This chapter includes a nod to a line from the movie 'Anastasia.' See if you can find it. :)

Natalya gasped and blanched. Michael reached to steady her in case she slumped.

"Then I must return to Russia right away to make arrangements." Her voice was almost a whisper.

"That won't be necessary. Everything's already been taken care of," Michael quickly assured her.

"How did it happen?"

"He was driving drunk and hit a tree."

"Oh my God." Natalya began to sob quietly. Michael embraced her and stroked her hair. "Everything's going to be all right," he murmured.

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. "Whatever shall I do?" she asked forlornly.

"Marry me, Natalya." Gently Michael swept the hair back from her face with the fingers of one hand. "I love you, malenkaya." To him she looked as fragile as a baby bird with a broken wing. How he longed to sweep her up into his arms, to whisk her into his bedroom and lavish her with kisses and caresses, but he knew that he would have to be patient.

"Please don't be afraid," he gently urged her. "I'm not like him at all. I'd never lift a finger to hurt you in any way."

"I believe you, Michael," she said. "And I love you as well. But what would your family say? Grand Dukes don't marry commoners."

"Once they get to know you, they'll love you just as I do."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm certain they will."

She smiled. "Let's do it, then."

They headed for the courthouse. Luckily, the judge wasn't terribly busy that day, and they only had to wait a couple of hours until he was free to perform the ceremony. Karl and Eva were, of course, happy to stand in as witnesses.

The newlyweds spent one last night in Karl and Eva's home before beginning the long train ride back to Russia. Michael gallantly told Natalya to take the small bed while he slept on the floor. She knew that it would be of no use to try to argue him out of it; however, she found that she was unable to sleep with the knowledge that Michael lay on the cold, hard, uncomfortable floor. Finally she got out of bed and, taking care not to awaken him, lay beside him on the floor. Right away she felt his arms enclose her and hug her tightly to his body. They fell asleep like that, cuddled together on the floor.

Natalya felt genuinely sad to leave Karl and Eva the following day. She had come to love her benefactors almost as surrogate parents and knew that she would miss them.

"I can't thank you enough for the kindness you've shown me," she told them as she embraced them both.

"We were more than happy to help. As I said before, any friend of Michael's is a friend of mine," said Eva.

On the train that morning, Natalya watched the passing scenery and thought about how very different her return trip was from her previous flight from Russia. On her last train ride, she had felt scared, helpless, and desperate. On this trip she was excited, eager, and happy; looking forward to sharing her life with the man she loved.

That night they returned to the bunks in the Pullman car. Natalya smiled bashfully as she timidly tugged at Michael's clothing. He took her hands in both his own, smiling gently.

"Not on a train, my love. I want our first time to be special. Don't you?"

Natalya giggled. "You are so romantic!"

Michael laughed. "You'll find, darling, that that's only one of my many charms."

Natalya's arms went around his neck, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Let's just cuddle, then."

Michael chuckled. "You are so very cuddly, my love."

"So are you," she told him.

The gentle rocking of the train put them both to sleep within minutes.