AN: I need to write past this part because it is gunna be awesome. I think the end could be coming up but I'm not totally sure so we'll see where it goes. This is a short chapter, I know, and I'm sorry but I hope you enjoy it none the less. I own nothing of Newsies as usual. I also want to apologize because I thought I put this up last night but it turned out to be chapter 9 all over again. Sorry.
Meet the Parents
Ana wringed her hands standing by the door a few steps back hiding in the shadows hoping somehow she would disappear into them. The patrons of Irving Hall shuffled out. Ana saw the Ambassadors looking around the deserted seats. She knew they were looking for her, but she kept quiet. Skittery stopped her hands from continuing another circuit and gave her an encouraging smile. She returned a weary smile that was hiding the fear she truly felt. The Ambassadors walked slowly past looking disappointed.
" 'scuse me." Skittery said stepping a bit more into the light.
Ana's mother jumped a bit and looked into the shadows to see them. "I've seen you before." She said in a thick Russian accent.
"He gave us a paper this morning, love." The man sad with sadness.
"No…he was a boy… waving on the boat." Realization struck the woman and she began questioning Skittery quickly, "Did you meet my daughter? Have you seen her? Is she well? Safe?" The man grabbed his wife's shoulders and pulled her away from Skittery.
"Natalya, he does not know Anastasia. She is far away." He said quickly in a whisper.
"I know Anton. I know." She mumbled.
"Or not." Ana said from behind Skittery. They both turned to the shadows not seeing the hidden girl till she moved out of his shadow.
Natalya just stared at Ana. She seemed to be trying to figure out if Ana was really the daughter she sent away so long ago. Ana shifted on her feet feeling uncomfortable but with Skittery still holding her hand she felt better. Natalya moved closer and then put her hands on Ana's face just taking in her features and seeing if they match the face of her daughter. Her eyes filled with tears as she pulled Ana into a hug. Anton stared at Ana in disbelief while his wife hugged her. Skittery dropped Ana's hand as Anton moved next to his wife and joined the family hug. He headed out the door looking back to see the happy family. Skittery was happy for Ana. On the boat she was willing to jump off a boat to get them, now she had them. Skittery felt guilt for feeling jealous of Ana finding her family. Her parents wouldn't approve of them being together. Skittery heard a conversation happening in the open doors of Irving Hall then there was someone running. He turned only to be knocked on his back.
"Stop it!" Ana's screams broke through the blur of Skittery's vision. He focused on Anton who was punching him in the face.
Suddenly Skittery was on his feet and he realized Ana had pulled him up. Anton stood up with a bloody nose, and Skittery realized what must have happened. Ana hit her father. Through his rage he attacked not realizing he was attacking his daughter. Skittery staggered to the side and only saw Ana holding her arms up stopping her father's attacks, and in a flash (to Skittery's eyes anyway) Ana had one of his wrists behind his back forcing him to the ground.
"He didn't do anything." She said through her teeth and the hair that was in her face.
"Then who did?" Anton said still fuming.
"No one. It was my mistakes and you don't need to know about them." Ana replied releasing her father and moving to Skittery where she gingerly touched his face that was bruised, battered, and slightly bloody and looked at him. "I'll walk you home." She said helping him off the ground.
Ana wrapped an arm around his waist and Skittery walking in a not so straight line. "What was that for?" Skittery asked.
"He thought you did…you know." Ana said squirming a little when she spoke. Her arm. They thought he carved into her arm. "I'm sorry." she said after a little while.
"It's fine, but shouldn't I be walking you home?" Skittery said with a little laugh.
As Natalya and Anton watched their daughter walk away, Natalya saw the love and caring in her daughter's eyes. She waited till they were gone from view to start talking to her husband about the woman their daughter had grown to be. He had the same idea.
"How did our little Ana learn to fight?" He said straightening his back and rubbing his sore wrist.
"This world changes us in many ways Anton. Anastasia living here without us changed her. Did you see the way she looked at that boy?" Natalya asked trying to get Anton off the subject of their daughter fighting.
"What way?" He asked in a curious way.
"She attacked you to stop you from killing him. I'm afraid to say our daughter is a woman, and a woman in love. We said goodbye to a girl who needed us and found a woman who doesn't." Natalya said in a sad tone.