(Belated Birthday Plans)

*October 20th, 1920*

*12:00pm*

*Rue Gutenberg*

It was a very peaceful afternoon as Anastasia, Yelena, and the Big Pair were having Lunch together while everyone else was out.

"I was thinking for a few days. I was thinking that we should throw a late Birthday party for Kaede since she never really had any friends to celebrate it with but let's keep it a secret from her okay?" Anastasia requested everyone in the room as everyone's faces lit up in excitement.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Kaede has been so kind to us over the past two years, So I feel like we should return the favor back before she leaves" Yelena wrote in her notebook as she showed it to everyone in the room as they nodded their heads in agreement.

"You and Yelena are right. I'm sure that this will mean so much to Kaede and a good memory that she'll forever cherish as well so we should definitely throw our friend a party" Olga had spoken to the pair with a smile on her face as she was met with nods from Anastasia and Yelena.

"We want to make this as special as possible so we should plan at least a day or two in advance so that everything can go well okay? I know of this wonderful bakery that Cousin Irina told me about so we should pay the place a visit today" Tatiana had spoken to the group as she saw everyone's faces lit up with joy.

"That sounds quite amazing! If they do ask us questions then we should say that we're taking a walk. That way we won't make it obvious" Anastasia said to everyone before taking a sip of water from her cup as she set it down.

"Should we let the others know or should we keep it a secret from them as well?" Yelena had written in her notebook before showing it to everyone as she was met with nods of confirmation from everyone.

"I think we should let the others know but we gotta tell them to keep everything a secret from Kaede okay? I really want my Bestie to be surprised" Anastasia answered back as she reached her hand out and stuck it out in the middle of the table as Olga, Tatiana, Yelena did the same thing as well.

"Alright! Let's commence with Operation: Birthday! Who's with me?!" Anastasia cried out with joy as she turned around to see Olga, Yelena, and Tatiana nodding their heads in agreement.

"I am most interested!" Olga added on before everyone besides Yelena participated in a shouts of joyful praise as they eventually began to map out their plans for the remainder of the hour.

*1:00pm*

Anastasia was finishing up with discussing the Birthday plans with Olga, Tatiana, and Yelena as they nodded their heads in agreement.

"It's good to say that everything can officially go under way correct? We truly want to make sure that everything goes according to plan and that we make little to zero mistakes as well" Tatiana asked everyone as she awaited her answers.

"Yes! When should we head to the bakery to get Kaede's cake? Should we do it today or tomorrow?" Yelena had written in her notebook as she showed it to everyone on the table.

"I'm with Yelena! Everything sounds very good! I think it's a good time to head to the bakery for the cake. It should be ready by tomorrow as well" Anatasia answered back with a smile on her face as she turned around in hopes of Olga agreeing with everyone so that the plans can officially move forward.

"Sounds like a deal!" Olga chimed in as she smiled and gave a thumbs up in the process indicating that everything can go as smoothly as possible.

"Wonderful! Me and Anastasia will head out to the bakery and place an order on the cake so in the meantime, You and Yelena can stay here at the house okay? Tatiana advised towards the pair as both of them gave her a thumbs up in agreement.

They heard the door open up to reveal that Kaede and the others had returned home from their morning out.

"What a terribly long morning! I'm eager to relax for the rest of the day!" Irina said to herself as she walked over to the couch and proceeded to rest after such a long morning.

"Where are you and Anastasia heading to? Can I come as well?" Alexei asked Tatiana as he was being assisted by Kazumi and Bartok towards the small couch so he could rest.

"Please rest my sweet Alexei, You've had a long day and we don't want you to get any more tired okay?" Tatiana answered back as she was met with a nod of understandment from Alexei.

"Hey guys! Where are you guys heading off to?" Kaede asked the pair as she stretched before sitting on the floor to catch her breath.

"Just for a small walk. We won't be gone for too long" Anastasia simply answered back with a smile on her face as she turned around to see Kazumi, Maria, and Bartok waiting for them at the door.

"We don't let you ladies walk around the town all alone and stuff. You'll never know what kind of creeps may come around" Kazumi had spoken to the pair while Bartok nodded his head in agreement.

"Such gentlemen! We would be very happy if you and Bartok came with us. Thank you so very much!" Tatiana thanked the pair.

"Besides! I don't mind spending time with my loving sisters as well! I want to make sure that I create as many happy memories as possible" Maria chimed in as she gave a thumbs up in the process.

"Alright! We're getting ready to go! We'll see everyone later!" Tatiana called out to everyone as she opened the door while doing so.

"Stay safe and watch out for thieves as well" Felix had spoken to the gang as he sat down in the process.

"We will and if anyone dares to try us then they'll have to get past Bartok and Kazumi to defend us" Anastasia replied back with a smile as she and everyone else eventually left the place to get Kaede's birthday cake.

"So, where does everyone want to go first?" Maria asked everyone as she started to walk with everyone else towards the main town area.

"Actually, We're heading to the bakery to place an order on Kaede's cake since we never really celebrated her birthday but this has to be something that we can't tell her okay? It's a secret surprise" Tatiana advised towards Maria which made her smile even more.

"Wonderful! Do you think we're able to get balloons as well? We should also prepare a huge feast as well!" Maria advised Tatiana in a joyful tone of voice.

"Kaede's birthday is coming soon? Or is it like a late celebration?" Bartok asked everyone as he awaited his answer.

"Kaede's birthday has already passed but we're just celebrating it right now since we've never really given her a proper thanks for everything that she has done for us for the last two years" Anastasia answered back with a smile on her face.

"That's truly wonderful to hear. Let's all make sure that Kaede truly feels at home okay?" Bartok had spoken back to everyone as he was met with nods of agreement.

"What are we gonna do about Kaede? We have to make sure that she doesn't know anything until the big day" Kazumi asked everyone with a slight look of concern on his face.

"Don't worry. I'll just take her out on a walk for an hour. That should give everyone plenty of time to prepare for the party" Anastasia answered back as she gave Kazumi a smile and a thumbs up in the process as everyone continued to walk towards their destination for the next ten minutes.

*1:34pm*

Anatasia and the others had arrived at the main town center which was filled with many lively people as everyone made sure that they stuck together.

"It's quite crowded so It's best to stay together okay? The bakery shouldn't be far" Tatiana advised towards everyone as she and everyone else made their way across the town.

"Was the town this crowded when you and everyone else was out?" Anastasia asked Kazumi as she was met with a nod from him.

"Yup, Irina told me that this side of town can get pretty hectic so that's why we must stick together or else we'll get lost" Kazumi answered back as he and everyone else continued to walk across the time as unknowns of them a pair of two kids were watching them.

"Those ladies look quite familiar! I just can't put my finger on it!" The young boy with short hair and who wore traditional poor man's clothes and had a cabbie hat to go with it had spoken to the girl as he was met with a nod of agreement from her.

"You're right. Could they actually be the lost Grand Duchesses! I've heard many rumors that one or two of them survived" the young girl who wore the same outfit as the boy while her hairstyle was the brushed out finger waves had spoken as well.

"Nah! It's just nonsense! All of them were shot to death in that basement! There's no way that anyone could survive such a terrible thing, Caroline!" the young boy had spoken back to Caroline as he shrugged it off as a simple rumor.

"I guess that you are right, But they seem like they have plenty of money so let's try to find a way to pickpocket them okay, Adam?" Caroline had spoken back to Adam as the pair nodded their heads.

"We'll take their money so quickly that they won't even notice a single touch!" Adam thought to himself with a smile on his face as he and Caroline were ready to pickpocket their next victims.