Chapter 10: Conflict Arises

The sound of a phone ringing filled the large home. It was the morning in Moscow, so to have phone calls at a relatively early time was understandable and considered even normal in the household. Unfortunately for the caller, everyone was busy to pick up the phone.

"Can someone please pick that up?" Natalya's voice came from upstairs in her room where she had still been getting ready for the day. Even though she worked from home most of the time, she did always try her best to have mornings off so that way she could spend it with her family for breakfast.

Anneliese had been in the kitchen with her uncle preparing breakfast. While he was in charge of preparing some fried eggs with kolbasa, 'Anastasia' was in charge of peeling the fruit and bringing the prepared fruit to the table. The second the phone went off and she heard her mother's voice, she looked at her uncle and asked politely if she could go answer, to which he answered with a nod.

Life in the Braginsky home was much different than it was back home with her father. One of the biggest differences was how the schedules were laid out, and also the rules. For example, if she wanted to eat a snack, she couldn't eat in the living room. She had to always eat in the dining room and once she was finished, she had to clean up after herself. There was bedtime too. On weekends she was only allowed to stay up until midnight, but on weekdays she had to be in bed no later than an hour or two after supper. If she was caught awake, then she would have to spend an extra hour in bed in the morning.

All she couldn't help was to be grateful that Anastasia had warned her about all of the rules while they were still together. If she were to enter the house without a clue of how things worked, she'd give herself away easily to her mother that she really wasn't Anastasia.

The first couple of days since her arrival, she spent it with her mother. This would be done by either doing chores with her, going out to run errands, or even go to work with her at the studio. When it was days where her mother had to go to the laboratory she worked at, then she would spend the day with either her aunt or uncle, which she didn't mind since they always managed to keep her occupied too.

Even that morning when her uncle had asked her if she wanted to assist him with making breakfast, it never ends. And honestly, she loved it. It beat experiencing a boring day at her father's house where she couldn't do much other than go swimming or horseback riding, or even staying inside to play video games. She liked the idea of helping her family out when she could. Even though she couldn't back in California, she made sure to enjoy the experience with her family in Russia while she was at it.

What she wasn't expecting though when to retrieve the phone was to see her aunt beat her to it. Almost immediately, her face paled upon hearing her aunt speak in confusion.

"Anastasia?!" Katya began in shock when she spoke into the phone.

Immediately, Anneliese interrupted this by approaching her quickly, "Yes, Tetya?" She asked innocently while tilting her head.

This was enough to confuse the Ukrainian as she looked down at the child in front of her. She then turned back to the phone and proceeded to cover the microphone with her hand, "I swore it was just you on the other line…" She whispered before lowering her hand and clearing her throat; shifting the language of conversation to English, "Yes, I'm sorry. Whom do you wish to speak to?" She began with a heavy accent. On the inside, Anneliese was giggling since honestly, it was adorable to see her aunt attempt to speak English. It only showed that her mother and uncle were better at speaking it, "What - speak to Anastasia?"

Anneliese looked up at her aunt now, patiently waiting for the phone to be handed to her. She didn't want to address her aunt's confusion, but by her tone of voice, it was enough to reveal that the Ukrainian truly thought that she was speaking to her niece on the other line. What confused Katyusha though was that her niece was right in front of her!

"A.. uh, Elizabeth, wants to speak with you?" Katyusha began as she handed over the phone to the child, "She sounds just like your twin!"

"My twin?" This made Anneliese laugh nervously and cover the microphone with her hand. There was no need to address the whole twin deal now. She was playing Anastasia, and Anastasia didn't know that she had a twin. It was there that she shook her head innocently; dismissing the statement that the other had given her. "That's very funny, Tetya. It's just a friend, no need to worry."

Katyusha had been just about to ask something else, but seeing that 'Anastasia' only found the statement funny, she shrugged off the thought. That was right - 'Anastasia' didn't know about her twin, and probably will continue to be unaware of it… So she thought. It was there that she left Anastasia in the hallway now on the phone, though kept a close eye on her in suspicion.

"Elizabeth? Oh, hello there." Anneliese played along with the Elizabeth name that came from the phone, "How are you doing?"

"Hey, how's it going over there?" Anastasia had been speaking in a lowered whisper once the phone was given to her sister. If she had only expected that her aunt would be the one to pick up the phone first, she would not have exposed herself that easily with her normal accent.

Anneliese was truly happy to hear from her sister. Even though it was a close call with their aunt almost finding out, everything seemed to be okay now that she had left the room, "Everything's good. Elizabeth, could you hold on for just one moment?"

Hold on for a moment? Maybe for a couple of seconds, but Anastasia wasn't talking to directly check in on Anneliese with things. She had to break the news about the new woman that suddenly entered their father's life, "Okay, but hurry 'Lise, I have to tell you something now."

If they were to have a conversation, it couldn't be out in the open like this. Their aunt was just in the other room, and easily their mother or uncle could enter the room that Anneliese was in. If she was speaking in a normal American accent, that would raise flags instantly. Luckily there was a closet right next to the phone, so ever so quietly the child opened the door stepped inside before closing it.

"Okay, now I can talk," Anneliese knelt down onto the ground with the phone in hand, "Oh my god, mom is absolutely amazing!" Were the first words that came from the girl's mouth. A small chuckle came from Anastasia on the other line; a bit glad to hear that her sister was enjoying her time so far in Moscow, "I seriously cannot believe I spent my entire life without knowing her! She's beautiful and smart, and fun when she isn't angry, and I LOVE the gowns she designs-"

A heavy sigh came from the other line. Anastasia could happily talk the same about their father as well, but right now there was something more important to be addressed at hand.

"-I also managed to get her talking about how she and dad met too." Anneliese continued; the expression on her face just lighting up at the thought of the conversation her mother and she had a couple of days before.

Anastasia decided she let her sister talk enough. Before Anneliese had a chance to continue talking, she interrupted her, "Anneliese! I'm glad to hear that you're having a good time, but we have a major problem here. You're going to have to bring mama out here immediately!"

"Immediately!?" Anneliese stood up in the closet with her arms crossed at this point. As she stood there, she kept the phone pressed to her ear. She didn't want to let her mother know who she really was just yet! She only got to spend a couple of days so far with Natalya; there was no way she wanted to let that end just yet, "Are you nuts!? I've only been here for three days, it's not enough time. I'm just getting to know her too! I can't. I won't-"

"-BUT THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!" Anastasia shouted from the other line. This was enough to get Anneliese to silence and listen to her sister calmly. If Anastasia was shouting, then that means whatever she called about, it was very important, "Dad's in love!"

Anneliese froze in place when she heard this. Silence came from her line of the phone call for a couple of seconds, before laughter came. Anastasia held the phone away from her ear during that laughing period with Anneliese, especially with how loud she was laughing. All she wished she could do at that moment was tell her sister to quiet down. If she was hiding, their mother, aunt or even uncle could hear her easily from laughing that loudly.

"Get out of here!" Anneliese tried to calm herself down from her small laughing fit. The laughing fit had been that bad, that her face became very red and tears had welled up in her eyes. Their dad in love? That was absolutely hilarious! "Good one, Ana. But dad doesn't fall in love. Don't joke about it because it's way too funny."

….Did she see it as a joke? Did Anneliese really think that she'd be lying to her? Anastasia sighed heavily as she sat down in the bathroom floor now. All she did in response to hearing her sister's statement was to mutter, "You're an idiot."

"Hey, that's not nice."

"I'm serious, Anneliese." Anastasia's tone of voice shifted from a more annoyed one to a much more serious one. This definitely caught Anneliese's attention as she now was paying much closer attention the phone and not laughing again, "There's this woman he's been spending a lot of time with - and I saw it with my own eyes. He's always holding her hand, kissing her neck, and letting her touch the no-no zone. It's gotten to the point where I wish someone could come gauge my eyes out!"

This made Anneliese shiver in disgust at the statement. Not only based off of the description her sister had been giving her, but hearing the part of the gauge her eyes out, "That's gross, Ana." She sighed heavily before thinking for a moment. There was nothing she could really do with the situation at hand. She wasn't in America right now, and she sure as hell didn't want to be back anytime soon, "Well, do what you have to do, then. Sabotage the dates, try to break them up - do whatever you have to."

"I'm trying," Anastasia responded and approached the window that was in the bathroom. She knew her father hadn't gone to bed yet for a fact. Based on seeing the fireplace lit outside with him and Alice sitting around it; holding each other and snuggling… It was enough to confirm her suspicions, "I'm in a bit of a disadvantage, though. He doesn't seem to realize that the woman's only after his money, and even uncle Matthew seems to be the only one who's noticed! Anneliese, you have to get back here now."

The more and more Anastasia pestered her about having to come back to the states, the more Anneliese wanted to hang up the phone. She listened to her sister beg about needing help for the situation, but right now she didn't want to deal with it. The American began rummaging through the pockets of whom she presumed to be her uncle's coats, and that's when she found it. A single piece of candy that was still wrapped up. She didn't need the candy, per say - only the wrapper would be needed. "Anastasia, I can't." Anneliese began as she unwrapped the piece of candy, "I want more time with mom."

That was when she took the said wrapper and crinkled it around the microphone on the phone. On the other end, Anastasia couldn't help but to be startled by the sudden sound as she looked at the mobile device in her hand. Were they breaking up?

"Anastasia? You still there?" Anneliese began with a fake tone as she proceeded to crinkle the plastic wrapper more, "I think I'm losing you!"

"Anneliese, I'm still here!"

After Anastasia had spoken, that was when the click was made. The end of the call, and the end of trying to get help from her sister. Anastasia sighed heavily as she lowered the phone and turned away from the window where she had been examining her father and his new mistress. It seemed like she was indeed alone now with the plan, "Thanks for the help, 'Lise." She sighed and exited the bathroom where she put the phone away and proceeded to her room. With the major time zone difference, it was very late at night in California, so she knew she had to head to bed as soon as she could.

Once she got her sister off of her tail, Anneliese smiled in victory before slipping the empty wrapper into the pocket of the dress she wore. She was quiet when she opened the door of the closet to get out and put the phone away… But of course, as Anastasia had warned her, her laughter didn't get away so easily within the household.

It took Anneliese one glance up to see not only her mother staring down at her, but her uncle with an apron on and carrying a plate of the fruits 'Anastasia' was supposed to bring to the dining table, and her aunt with her arms crossed with a similar concerned face from earlier.

This was not how she wanted things to go.

"What the hell are you doing?" Natalya was the first to break the ice as she knelt down and helped her daughter off from the ground, followed by closing the closet. By the look on her mother's face, Anneliese could tell that she was just as confused as her siblings - and rightfully so.

Anneliese panicked at the moment with being unsure of how to respond to the sudden question, "It's uh… Tradition!" She answered with a small nod. It was there that her mother looked at her with a concerned look, followed by turning to her siblings to ask if they had ever heard of this, 'tradition'.

"...A...tradition?" The larger Russian male questioned the child.

"Da!" Quick nods came from Anneliese as she crossed her arms behind her innocently and bit down on her lower lip. Hopefully playing the innocent act would be enough to get her mother and her siblings off of her tail this time too, "It's a camp tradition… You see, when a friend calls, it is always expected that you answer from a closet. It's very stupid, I know."

That was one thing that Natalya couldn't help but to nod at. Yes, it was very stupid indeed, especially since she didn't understand why her daughter decided to bring that tradition into their home too, "Mhm, I'm not letting you stay in America for that long anymore because a smart girl such as yourself shouldn't be doing anything stupid as such." She presumed it was the culture shock from being in the states for a while still taking an effect on her. Hopefully after being home for a while, her daughter would return to normal.

To change the subject, Anneliese simply laughed nervously again at her mother's statement before smiling innocently.

"So, breakfast time?"

Hello everyone!

Just want to take a second to thank each and every one of you for reading thus far! I hope you're enjoying this AmeBel adaptation of The Parent Trap too. Also to clarify how I decided on the names for the twin daughters, I just put together a list of girl names that would work for twins, and Anastasia/Anneliese seemed to be an interesting combo that I figured I'd use for the story.

There's still a lot more to the story too, so stay tuned for more chapters! :)

-TheSovietsAreHere