Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it, ? I've missed you guys!

No, really... I have. Daily I would get emails from this site from new followers. So here I am, four in the morning, writing the 10th chapter! If you are reading, I wanted to say thank you for sticking with me after such a long wait!

And Enjoy! A little hint of ReaderxLithuania as requested.

I'm sorry if he may be a little "out of character". I can see him having this playful act around people he is comfortable with, so I hope it works.

*EDIT* I came back and rewrote the entire chapter, hopefully Toris isn't as ooc as he was before.

*Kopek = I believe it is like a Russian penny... 100 of them make a ruble. A ruble is like the Russian dollar, and three ruble make about a little over one American dollar. :D Huh. You learn something new everyday!

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! (:
(Now an OC, no longer a reader insert.)

Ivan was gone as he promised, she could tell from the Palace's atmosphere of less tension. She skipped into the kitchen to find Toris. In one quick movement, hugged him and kissed his cheek at the sight of four complete warm breakfasts that consisted of bacon, eggs and blini.

"D-Dani!" Toris jumped, a shocked and rubbing his cheek to hide the blush unsuccessfully. "What was that for? If Ivan sees you-"

"It was for the breakfast, thank you! I've got a big day today." Daniella replied, taking her plate and usual seat at the dining table.

"Oh, you do?" Toris exhaled to calm himself and raised an eyebrow, seemingly interested as he took his seat next to her. "Seems like you're in a good mood today."

Soon the other servants would be there to join them. They were sleeping in, tired and exhausted. Nobody dared to wake them for their master who was absent.

"Perhaps Ivan is not here, no?" He asked, taking a bite from his pancakes.

Daniella frowned a little in confusion. Why is it that the servants like it when Ivan was away? She happened to like him, maybe Ivan was harder on the other three than her.

"He's letting me go outside today." Daniella replied childishly, swinging her feet under the table.

"Outside, by yourself? For what?" Toris choked on his food. Ivan rarely let them go outside. Especially alone. This would be her first time unaccompanied.

She sighed with a disappointed smile. "Just some groceries. Vodka... Oh! And he told me to get me something for myself!" Daniella beamed.

"Perhaps you'd like for me to come with you?" Toris shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his view continued to shift from his plate, to her, then back to his plate. "I'm not supposed to today, but I could change my schedule around I suppose." It was obvious he was worried for her getting lost in the great city of Moscow and it's markets.

"No!" Daniella shook her head. "No, I've been waiting for this day." Her smile grew even more modest as she stared slightly off into space with her elbow propped on the table, caressing her chin, fingers curled. Her other hand carried the fork that elegantly dangled over her food, barely playing with what was cooked for her on the plate. Daniella's eyes showed a small gleam in them as a reflection from the large chandelier over the dining table in the room as she stared off into nothingness.

Toris blinked as he realised that the room was left silent and he let his mind wander over the new house guest a bit too long. He placed his hands on her shoulders and they locked eyes.

Say something, be a gentleman. Now is your chance Toris.

"You don't really want to go out there by yourself. It's very dangerous and there are people who will try to steal your money. I think I should come with you. And if you were out too late and Ivan were to find out, he would think you ran away or something."

Daniella was quiet for a while, the couple seconds seemed like a couple minutes. As he mentally smacked himself, he didn't seem to notice Daniella's change in facial expression as she thought of a way to respond.

"Nonono, silly." Daniella giggled. Her expression settled on a surprised look. She was a classic showgirl to this decade. "I'm not running away. I quite like it here. I only plan on leaving when Ivan lets me, when I "relearn my morals" and begin to "remember" and "heal"." Daniela was obviously comfortable around Ivan, yet almost oblivious to his shaking servants in his presence.

"Then what is it?" Toris sighed with relief, dropping his hands.

"I think I'm going to buy candy and tea... ooh candles! More books? Tea! Hm..." Yet again, Daniella put herself in that same thinking position as before. This time Toris decided to play along with her act.

"Candy and tea? You're insane! Just like a child!" Toris quietly chuckled as he wiped a fake tear of laughter from his eye.

"I am not!" Daniella crossed her arms across her chest stubbornly. "I think it's a great idea!" Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout.

"Go for it, I say." Toris stood from the table to collect plates and grab Daniella's chin and childishly play the same way that an aunt would to her nephew before patting her head and leaving for the kitchen. "Just have you got enough money?" He began checking his pockets but Daniella stopped him with the wave of her hand.

"Ivan gave me plenty, thank you."

Toris began to take the plates into the kitchen and in the sink to rinse as Daniella slowly followed behind.

"So does Ivan pay you for service or does he just give you food and a room?" Daniella questioned, cocking her head sideways.

"Well, he pays us for service, but it's very little. We're considered "immigrants" here." Toris muttered something incomprehensible then his voice was brought up at normal tone again. "I've been snagging change from the pockets of everyone's laundry the past few weeks." Toris looked up from his wet dishrag in the sink to give Daniella a look of panic. He shouldn't have told her that.

"How brave of you." Daniella giggled with her delicate fingers hiding her red lips, Toris could see from the corner of his eye. "Just don't let him know."

"Oh please Daniella, don't say anything to any of the others."

"And if I do?"

"It was just the sake of a couple of kopeks*." Toris looked at her helplessly. She wouldn't really blackmail him, would she? He thought they trusted each other.

"My lips are sealed." Something about Daniella's voice was different from before, but Toris turned around to look at her expression to late as his two brothers walked in to have their food, interrupting the conversation.

"All right, I'm off then!" Daniella announced as she began to leave.

"Hey, have fun!" Toris ran after with his rag to see her grab a coat and his hat as she left. "And don't get lost!"

So she was gone. He had a burned image in his mind of her leaving through the front door in a large brown coat without her even taking a look back at him. Toris looked down at his hands as a small drop of soapy water landed on the ground from his dishrag. Sighing a confused sigh, unsure of being happy or unreasonably disappointed, he went back to work as his brothers ate their meal and chatted.