-December 19-
There's a hearty stream of snowfall early this morning, and the Winter Palace is going to be covered in snow by mid-morning or noon, depending on how the clouds look, but the 7 trumpeter swans didn't care much about that as they flew on through the falling snow, searching for a place where they would be warm and safe in.
They then saw the courtyard, but it didn't have a pond, and the leader of the seven swans aka the bevy then saw a glimmer of water through a window, and he landed upon the windowsill, nudging it with a peck of his beak, and found out that the window is open, swinging it all out with a harder peck.
He then scented water nearby, and called his friends over with a trumpet sound, and they made their way in, landing into Nicholas's swimming pool-sized bathtub, enjoying the sensation of their webbed feet stroking through the water while they chatted in their language.
It was about 20 minutes after the sun rose, and upon waking up, Nicholas decided to take a bath, and after informing his wife of his decision, he then went to his favorite of all bathrooms which contained his beloved swimming pool-sized bathtub with a change of clothes in his arms.
Humming a childhood lullaby under his breath, he opened the door, flickered the switch on, and widened his eyes in shock as before him is 7 gigantic swans swimming in his bathtub, and the leader gave a mix of whooping and hissing sounds, opening his wings in threat, and Nicholas gave a shout of surprise as he ran the short few feet back to the door, shutting it loudly.
Alexandra looked over in confusion, sitting at her vanity as she was preparing herself for the day, "Nicky, dear, what's wrong?". Nicholas looked over, his face paling, "They're in my bathtub!".
Alexandra blinked in surprise, "The geese?". Nicholas shook his head, "No, swans this time! Seven of them in my bathtub, swimming!". Alexandra gasped softly, "Oh, my!".
Nicholas then looked at Alexandra seriously, "Do you think Alice is doing this as payback because I laughed at her yesterday?". Alexandra raised an eyebrow, "At this time of hour? You know she loves her sleep.".
Nicholas frowned slightly, "Well, no...Aurora was more of the type to do payback...How did they get in there, anyway?". Alexandra nodded slightly in thought, "One of the servants must have forgotten to lock a window yesterday.. After all, everyone has been cleaning up and down the Palace thanks to Alice's orders. You know how she gets with dirt and other similar things.".
Nicholas sighed heavily, "True enough...Do you mind if I use your bathtub? They're clearly occupying my bathroom!". Alexandra giggled softly at Nicholas's expression of annoyance yet embarrassment, and spoke warmly, "Of course you may. Just understand that you might smell of lavender.".
Nicholas nodded with relief and a bit of annoyance, "Thank you, my love. And please don't mention this to our daughters. Lavender couldn't be worse than my preferred rosewood!", bemoaning slightly while walking over to the other bathroom that Alexandra uses, and exited the bedroom into the bathroom.
Alexandra smiled softly, having a glimmer of mischief, "Not our daughters, huh? He forgets about his mother, Alice, and Alexei! This is going to be quite the story at breakfast.", giggling as she went back to focus on her makeup.
-December 20-
Another day, another morning. In the milking stations near the kitchens, is 8 maids milking the cows, having a few conversations here and there. Pails are getting filled while the cows are being fed hay, not minding the humans much.
Suddenly, the familiar voice of Alexei shouted from outside, "No, boy, no! Don't chase him into there!", before a adorable, little gray puppy busted in through the door, chasing a squirrel who was practically zipping all over the place.
The commotion caused the laidback cows to panic, kicking and slamming the pails of fresh milk all over, flying over the place. The familiar voice of Alice soon came to the door, yelling, "What's all the commotion?!", stopping at once as her eyes widened in aghast and shock.
The maids are all soaked, the cows are heaving heavily from the sudden adrenaline, and in the middle of the room is the clearly obvious cause of it all; the soaked prince holding the puppy who whimpered softly in shame, sensing the mood of the place as the maids glared at them angrily.
Alice looked furious as she took a deep breath, "Alexei Romanov, get over here now.", gesturing with a hand, and Alexei gulped visibly, coming over with his head down, still holding the puppy tightly in his arms, hearing the maids' muttered comments, "I was so close to finishing! Look at my dress! My hair's ruined! She's furious. He's going to be in so much trouble. I hear he would be grounded if he does something bad, and this is bad!".
Alexei finally made it to the doorway where Alice is standing, and looked up nervously at Alice, "Hi, Aunt Alice.". Alice exhaled slowly, "Don't say 'Hi' me, Alexei Romanov. Explain this and no excuses!".
The puppy whimpered again, causing Alexei to rub his chin upon the puppy's head momentarily, whispering softly, "It's okay, puppy. I ain't leaving you to be strung up alone.", before looking up at Alice, "I was having a walk in the backyard behind the stations, having a break before the morning meal, and I found this little guy stuck in a gopher hole. I freed him out, and he became friends with me, playing and tagging. He saw a squirrel, and went to chase it...".
The puppy whimpered guiltily as Alexei got a little more braver to look straight at Alice, "It's my fault. I tried to stop him, but he was focused on the squirrel, and got into here...That's why the cows went crazy, spilling over milk everywhere, ruining everything...".
Alice raised an eyebrow, and looked over at the maids, "Is what he's saying true?". The head maid nodded politely, "Yes, ma'am. That mutt chased a squirrel, panicked the cows, ruined our hair and dresses! The young prince clearly tried to stop him as we heard him shouting just before the mutt came in.".
Alexei protested angrily, "He's no mutt, he's my friend!", and Alice sharply whipped her head over to glare at him, "Did I say you'd talk back?". Alexei backed down, dropping his head as he held the puppy closer, his neck resting upon the puppy's back which caused him to lick Alexei's chin, trying to reassure him that everything's gonna be okay.
Alice noticed the tiny smile as Alexei looked down at the puppy who gave him a grin, and Alice sighed frustratedly, pinching the crevice of her nose with her fingers, and looked up at the head maid, "Please clean this place up. I will have some of the staff help you out, and as for your unfortunate messes upon yourselves, after making sure that there are no more spilled milk and such, you shall have the day off to clean yourselves. It's almost Christmas, after all.".
The head maid bowed her head almost in relief, "Thank you, my lady. The place shall be clean, and we appreciate your gift.". Alice nodded softly before looking at Alexei sternly, "Come along now so you don't bother them. Your father will not be happy once he hears of this.".
Sure enough, in the dining room, after Alice told of the situation, Nicholas was clearly angry, "Son, you realize what this means, don't you?". Alexei nodded, "I am to be grounded within my rooms. But please don't throw my friend out! He's a good puppy, honest! He didn't mean to do it, it was a accident!".
The puppy whimpered loudly, licking Alexei's cheek, nuzzling him gently, not wanting to leave his new friend. He never had a human boy before! He gave the best puppy eyes he'd do, looking at Nicholas as it was clear that he's the master of the big house.
Nicholas sighed deeply, seeing the sad, desperate looks of the two young ones, a child and a puppy, and he remembered all too well how he begged his father to keep his beloved dog, Venon at a time when he was young, and glanced at Alexandra who smiled softly, whispered quietly, "You know how he gets more lonely these few past years since our eldest daughters had been married off. He has friends in a few guards, but they get dreadfully busy here and there. Despite having Anastasia to decrease the loneliness, and with the staff, Alexei clearly needs a constant friend.".
Nicholas nodded slowly, and looked back at Alexei, "You may keep the puppy, Alexei, but you are grounded from going outside for the next three days, counting this one as well, understand?". Alexei gave about the biggest, widest smile that Nicholas and the family have ever seen since he was younger, and he nodded, "Oh, thank you, Father! I am so happy! You're staying with us, boy!", holding the pup up in the air before his face.
The puppy yipped happily, licking and barking as he felt the change of tone in the atmosphere, and Anastasia smiled softly, "I will take care of the little guy when he's in need of business and exercise.". Alice smiled softly, giving in as she couldn't help looking at Alexei, happy to have a friend, and sighed softly, "What is going to be his name? After all, I can't shout 'Puppy!' every time if he's around, or gets in trouble.".
Alexei looked at his new friend, and the puppy gave him a goofy grin as he wagged his little tail, and Alexei grinned softly, "Pooka. His name is Pooka!". The dubbed Pooka gave a woof, liking his name happily. Marie chuckled, "It fits him well as he's quite mischievous-looking.". Everybody else nodded, agreeing with Marie's words.
Alice smiled wryly to herself, and whispered, "Pooka is Alexei's Christmas gift, isn't he, Aurora? Thank you.", realizing that Aurora has noticed Alexei's loneliness, feeling empty without a companion to be at his side.