The entire family gathered outside as Andrei and Ellis boarded their carriage, carrying two suitcases each and saying good-byes with a sad kind of expression. As soon as the servants took their bags, they waved and so suddenly the pair was rolling away.

The entire event was something surreal. Andrei and Ellis had been home so long, it seemed as though the family was sending the young man away for the second time and their newest daughter away the first.

All of them found it difficult to imagine the two going all the way to Vienna. The city was just too damn far away.

When the carriage had disappeared from sight, everyone went back inside. Ivan ran to his papers. Natasha wondered toward her novel. Dmitri shuffled back to his notebook. And Anna sat before her newest painting.

But no one could earnestly focus.

They were all somewhat possessed by that little doll named Ellis and her absence. As well as the absence of their son and brother. However, most of the focus was given to the newest member to the family.

After all, when one knows a person for nearly two decades, they become less intriguing. But Ellis-oh, Ellis was brand new.

So Anna stared at her blank canvas, while all her thoughts shifted towards that tiny Austrian woman. Because it honestly felt as though the artist had just sent away one of her greatest friends.

Perhaps that was simply the effect Ellis had on people. They instantly loved her and the moment she went running away, a hole opened inside their chests. She left black holes wherever she walked, in the kindest manner imaginable.

Andrei was an incredibly lucky man.

Oh, Anna could imagine the entire scene. Her poor, poor parents sitting at home and waiting in a sick patience, longing for the return of their sweet girl.

And how surprised they would be- to see her return with all that lovely hair missing. But that concern wouldn't be touched upon at first. No. Firstly, the embraces, and the puckered up lips, and then the comments. Her father would say, 'Your hair looks exactly like mine.' And her mother would say, 'Regardless, it looks really quite cute.'

And Andrei would stand outside that little circle of mother, father and child, waiting for his turn, holding back his upset at the loss of that ink-hued cascade.

This was all Anna' fault-this opening scene.

Suddenly, she felt like a thief, having Ellis' braid upon the wall.

Then, the entire family of pretty Austrians, a single Hungarian, and an out-of-place Russian man would all go inside and get something to eat, while discussing the trip over, and the stay within the Braginski household, and of course, the wedding.

Hell, perhaps a certain Anna Ivanovna might come up. Perhaps the family would know exactly who to blame for Ellis' missing locks. Maybe something kind could come up. Maybe Anna wouldn't be called a lunatic.

Wouldn't that be wonderful?

The artist gasped in a breath and let it all out.

The portrait was too hard to focus on. Firstly, everything seemed wrong with it. The pencil lines were far too dark. There was a smudge in the left corner. The man's face didn't look quite right.

In fact, Anna found that she could not even regard it.

So she got up and went to her brother's room; Anna was certain Dmitri was having the same problem.

The door experienced a few hard knocks and was answered promptly by a frustrated looking young man. Poor Dmitri's brows were dropping, thick and heavy lines weighing against those expressive eyes.

It occurred to Anna how much he looked like their father and how much Andrei almost looked like their mother.

Which was quite ridiculous, considering they were identical twins.

"Come on. Let's get the hell out of here." Those dainty thumbs smothered the elder siblings' eyebrows. "You can't write, can you?"

"No, I can't." A sigh. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe we could set something on fire-you know. Like a metaphor. We're both artists, aren't we?"

"Well, I have to be honest. I've been setting plenty of things on fire figuratively lately. How about some obnoxious French pastries? I could use something sweet."

"French?"

"Yes, Anna. French."

The young woman merely sighed. "Dima, you're going to be so fat one day. Fine. French pastries. Admittedly, I could use something sweet as well."

"Maybe we should invite papa too."

A nod in agreement.

Anna and Dmitri went to get their father, who was somewhat reluctant at first, but decided to accompany his children after some persuasion. So they all walked into town together, speaking of all things and attracting quite a few looks.

After all, not many families were made of enormous people and a very tall transvestite woman.

The entire party stopped outside of a French café and claimed their seats while rich coffees were delivered to them. Anna's was filled with chocolate, just as Dmitri's was. Ivan of course, was far too old for such a childish beverage.

"Oh, goodness. It's nice to be outside." The father, who barely fit within his chair, stretched out those humungous legs.

"Yes, it is." Dmitri offered a smile to his two opposites.

Anna lit up a cigarette.

Each one of them allowed a small sigh of contentment.

"I'm going to miss those two." Anna. "The home doesn't feel right, with either of them missing. It makes me uneasy."

"What makes you uneasy about it, Annushka?"

"Well…They're supposed to be there. They filled up the whole house, and now they've gone missing. It feels as though it's going to be a very long time until Andrei and Ellis return."

Either man nodded.

"Well, how are you two anyway? I spend so much time in that damn office, I barely get to see my children."

"I'm quite fine." Dmitri placed his answer first. "I'm considering getting some of my works published. I mean-I've been writing so long now, it seems as though getting my stories into print only makes sense. After this one-I think I'll try to have whatever I write next be introduced to the public."

"And what have you been writing about, Dmitri?"

"All sorts of things…"

As the brother spoke of all the ideas revolving around within his mind, Anna receded into her own thoughts-as though she was making a cocoon of dreams. Alfred appeared within that cloudy mind, as he always did when Anna was to have a fever. Her palm settled against her chin and the whole world suddenly had cute blond bangs, handsome blue eyes and sparkling lenses.

Yes. The American made it horrendously difficult to focus on anything.

Her heart skipped a beat when she imagined his smile.

"Anna-"

Ivan's voice shook her from her trance. "Huh? What is it?"

"What have you been up to lately?"

"I've been painting."

Dmitri took a moment to laugh at his sibling. "You cheeks are bright red. Who were you thinking about?"

"Well, no one…"

A wide smile from the center child. "Aren't you going to get angry at me for implying you're in love? You've been so out of character lately."

"Is it true, Anna? Are you in love?"

"No! Of course not! Even if I was in love it wouldn't be with that goddamn frog! Why are we in a French café anyway? I hate France!"

Dmitri and Ivan were laughing at the youngest member of the family.

"What? You two are just like a bunch of women! What does it even matter if I'm in love?"

"Anna, Anna…" Stifled joy. "Please, love. Calm down. You're in public." The father touched his daughter's knuckles. "We're only kidding. And really, its' quite alright if you've fallen for Francis. We're happy for you."

"But I don't love him."

Before anymore arguments could be made, a mess of cake and croissants landed upon the table; it all distracted from the look of disbelief against the men's faces and any retort Anna would have to make.

And inside Anna's realm of chocolate cake and buttery croissants, she began to think of all the people who had affected her so heavily in the past few weeks.

She wanted to be near Alfred again.

They had only seen each other a few days ago, and already, Anna' heart held a certain longing inside it.

The family returned after finishing their confections.