"Has Roderich sent any letters?"

"No…" The man moved nearer to his Goddess, engulfing that petit figure in his own warmth. "No, he hasn't."

"I see."

"Don't worry, Elizaveta."

There was not a reply made.

"I love you…"The susceptible doll was swept up and placed upon the large man's chest, Ivan against his back. Kisses surrounded her visage and caused those cheeks to blossom as gorgeous pink blooms. And then the man rolled again, catching that poor muse beneath him and once again assaulting that glowing visage in his affections.

She nearly fell from his sheets.

So she laughed.

"Stop…" Limbs wrapped around the burly man's anatomy, to keep the corpse from damage upon the floor. "Put me back."

"Put you back? No." A sweetened attack to those supple lips. "No…" And another. "I like you here."

"Well I don't like me here."

More of those sugared blows.

"Vanya…Please."

He caught her lips. "I like it when you call me Vanya." And the poor woman was moved back to her previous position. "There. Is that better?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Elizaveta relaxed against that strong build, wishing to capture that evasive sleep. And she was not dressed, but between the blankets and the warmth exhibited from her Russian's snow white flesh, there was no need for such foolish garments.

"I'm tired."

"I know, Elizaveta." The ruler rested his gorgeous wells a silent duration. "I have to go on a trip soon…"

"Really? Why?"

"I have to meet up with my superiors. I'll be gone for a few days."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm not allowed to tell anyone. But don't worry. It's nowhere too far. And I'll be alright." A lengthily peck to the goddess' brow. "I want you to watch over the house while I'm away."

"You want me to do that?"

"Yes, Elizaveta. I trust you."

"But I don't know much about running households, much less telling people what to do."

"Isn't that what you did previously?"

"No. Roderich put out a lot of the orders. I just kept him company and occupied my time with a few hobbies…And after we split up, I didn't have much control at all. I only went to visit for long periods of time." Those shimmering emeralds grew dull and expired within sudden misery.

"Well, you're an intelligent woman. I'm sure you'll do a fine job. Just keep everything in order while I'm absent and make sure no one does anything against the rules…You know what they are."

"Who is usually in charge when you go off?"

"Toris. Sometimes Katya. It really just depends on who's shown the best behavior."

"But I've been lazy."

"Well, I told you to be lazy. And you followed my instructions perfectly. So I commend you, Elizaveta."

"I think you're playing favorites."

The man omitted sunny amusement. "Perhaps. Can you blame me?"

"No. I can't…I am pretty fantastic."

An additional round of bliss. "That's probably why I love you. Amongst other things…" The enormous palms came to the queen's shoulder blades, that grand cascade of tresses twining with Ivan's thick numerous. "You're very lovely."

"Thank you, Ivan." Those wells once again fell to their peace. "I like the texture of your skin…You're soft." The woman's hands gently rested along that wide collar bone. "And you eyes are pretty."

"I thought you said they were sad."

"They are sad…But that makes them even more striking. It takes a while to notice, but I can tell you've been through some harsh ordeals…" Those daring pads traced a small laceration about that hide. "You have some scars."

"I know I do."

"That's alright…" Lethargy set in, potent as rich opium. "We all do."

"Hmm."

So the pair relaxed against one another.

"Are you happy, Elizaveta?"

"I don't know, Ivan. Are you happy?"

"I am right now."

"I am too…"

"Life is hard. Sometimes it's difficult to be completely happy, even when you do have someone to love. But I'm happy when I'm near you. And I'm happy that I got to have you so close to me. And I'm unhappy when you're away from me."

"Stop loving me so much. Your poor heart is going to make you sick…"

"I know it will, Elizaveta."

A brief time of peace. "I'll miss you, Vanya. Don't think of me too often. I'm enough of a distraction." The Hungarian fell into the realm of partial dreams, when former logic crumbled and consciousness nonsense ruled.

"I'd rather think of you than all my stupid papers."

There was not even a response.

"Are you going to sleep?"

"Yes…"

"Then I'll let you rest. I love you, Elizaveta."

"I love you too…"

And the pair was capitulated by those subconscious notions, and that woman found herself haunted by her former darling, while the man was daunted by that great mountain stacked against him, his documents and the man who ordained them.

Those faux realities cried in their greatest hollers.