Moscow, still in 1986

Even though Eva hated Ivan's guts now more than ever, when he, eventually, had her summoned again, she just couldn't bring herself to hurt him.

He'd lost so much weight he was barely recognizable. His skin turned a disturbing greyish-white shade; dark circles and crow's feet only confirmed that he wasn't doing exactly well. All he wanted was for Eva to let him hold her while he got some sleep. His arms were so weak now she could leave anytime she wanted, yet she just lied there, motionless, perplexed by too many emotions.

By the way, Ivan was no exception. The wind of change was blowing through the whole Eastern Bloc. Kazakhstan's ribs, which, as others often mocked, were so prominent that one could play them like a xylophone, disappeared under a healthy dose of fat. Moldova realized she should probably start wearing a bra (her brother Romania had to help her find the right one, but that's a story on its own). Latvia was happy to notice he now needed to shave; he'd already given up hope of growing chest hair, though. And Georgia was just happy she hadn't grown any chest hair at all, contrary to what boys had told her.

One afternoon, Ivan gave Eva the key to the secret wardrobe, asking her to get him the little green book. She rummaged through all the toys, baby accessories and literature until she found the requested item, then sat down next to him and read.

It was called 'The Fairy Queen' and the story wasn't exceptional in itself – something about a magical forest creature that helped children in the bind. Only when she finished reading and slammed the book shut did she understand.

On the back side of the hard cover, there was glued an illustration of the so-called fairy queen. Eva realized not only the fairy's green dress seemed familiar; she was looking at a drawing of herself.

"The fairy queen. It's you." He smiled shyly.

"No, no." She shook her head in refusal. "That's not me. I'm just… me."

Her words seemed to have convinced him even more.

"Oh, please, please, help me!" he suddenly exploded, burying his face between her breasts. Eva was surprised how little of a man and how much of a child there was in that action. She let him cry while she absent-mindedly stroked his hair.

"… economy collapsing… all those constant revolts… and everybody hates me," he sobbed.

Eva realized it should probably feel weird to see her superior like this, but after all she'd witnessed by his side... it just didn't.

"It's too much… far too much… and Chernobyl… that was the last drop… I can't… I can't take it anymore… help me… help me!"

What do you expect me to do?! I'm so tiny and powerless, Eva thought. So she just went on caressing him.

"Help me," he whispered once more against her chest.

"You know, the planned economy," she finally started. Ivan stopped crying for a bit and listened. "It might not be as flawless as we'd like to believe. Remember when we wanted to draw rainbows, but there was a shortage of green crayons? On the other hand, there were plenty of white ones – nobody buys them, yet they are manufactured in bulks because it's a part of the plan. If they switched to making green crayons instead, people would buy those. And we would be able to draw as many rainbows as we want."

"My idea wasn't perfect, I admit that!" the Russian snapped. "But nothing is! Nobody is!" He started to weep again. "So how can they expect that from me? Worst of all, everybody says I am a liar! And I'm doing it all for their own good!"

Can't he just want to sex me like any other man?! the exasperated brunette mentally moaned.

"Vanya, the thing is... You can't tell a lie and expect the facts to change along. What is more, it takes time and energy to make up a satisfying lie, even more to maintain it. Like the time you told me you'd brushed your teeth, even though you hadn't. You had to keep your mouth closed for the whole evening so I wouldn't find out the truth. Which, in the end, I did. The next day, you just brushed your teeth and we had a really nice time meowing at that stray cat on the windowsill."

Ivan finally found the courage to leave the comfort of her arms and sat up, facing his companion. He heaved a profound, dolorous sigh.

"It's not just about brushing my teeth. There are other things. Like you didn't fall from the stairs. I hit you," he confessed in a weak voice.

"It definitely took you longer to confess to this one," Eva replied drily.

"I did not want to! It was an order!" he snapped. "And I don't even know how to apologize!" He curled up and rocked himself back and forth. "Sorry doesn't seem to be en-! Hold on, what did you just…?" He blinked. "How come…?"

Because I wasn't born yesterday, contrary to what the whole world seems to think! Eva thought to herself. Externally, she just shrugged and said she was good with wounds.

"It's not the country things that bother me, you know," she added.

"And still… you're here with me. Is it what they call capture-bonding?" He almost started to cry again.

"I don't think so. I love Vanya, just like I love every child in this world. But Ivan is a monster. He has brought too much hardship to me and those I care about. I'll never love him again. And, sadly, they are one person."

For a while, they just sat there in silence.

"Thank you for your kind services," he then breathed. "I won't be requesting them anymore."

It was time to go to bed. Eva tucked him in.

"Dobrú noc, Evka."

She smiled at those ordinary, yet, at the same time, special words.

"Dobrú noc, Ivanko."

He was happy for that one last smile.

-END OF CHAPTER 38-

Translations:

Dobrú noc (Slovak) = Good night

Ivanko and Evka are diminutive forms of their names as they exist in Slovak language.