Oxana was able to sneak out of the theatre without Augustine noticing her. After that they all went to the Dowager Empresses palace.
Marie: Are you excited to be a princess?
Oxana: I already am! Papa calls me one all of the time.
She said that with a fake snobbish look on her face and everyone laughed at the little four year olds innocence and cutness. After about an hour and a half later, Anya, Dimitri, and Oxana left. Oxana had fallen asleep on their way home. Bartok had heard the car coming, and he quickly flew upstairs.
Anya: Oxana, Oxana, come on, wake up.
Oxana opened her blue and picked her head off of her fathers arm.
Oxana: Are we home?
Anya: Yes, dear.
Anya got out of the car and Oxana fell over to the other side.
Dimitri: Oxana, are you going to be able to make it to the door?
Oxana: Carry me?
Dimitri picked up his daughter and carried her up to her room and laid her on her bed.
Dimitri: Good night, angle.
Oxana: Good night *yawn*, Papa.
He turned off the light and Oxana fell asleep. She was woken up almost immediately afterward by her mother scolding Pooka, who had been asleep the whole time that they had been at the ballet, for the mess in the kitchen. After that Anya went upstairs to say goodnight to Oxana.
Anya: Oxana? Oxana, are you still awake?
Oxana lifted her head up slightly.
Anya: Do you want to change into your nightgown?
Oxana shook her head and then she laid back down. Anya took off her daughters coat and shoes.
Anya: Good night, Oxana.
Oxana: Lullaby?
Anya: On the wind, cross the sea, hear this song and remember, soon you'll be home with me, once upon a December.
Anya gave Oxana a kiss on her forehead, then left her daughter to sleep and Bartok flew out of Oxanas closet and went to go sleep next to her.
X
The next morning Oxana jumped out of the bed, knocking Bartok off her bed.
Bartok: Whoa! What's with all the jumping and excitement?
Oxana: I'm sorry, Bartok. Mama and Papa promised to teach me how to ice skate today!
Oxana ran down the stairs and sat at the breakfast table in the dining room.
Oxana: Good morning, Mama. Good morning, Papa.
Anya: Oxana, darling, slow down.
Oxana: But, I want to get to the pond.
Dimitri: What's at the pond?
Oxana: Ice, Papa.
Dimiti: What's so interesting about ice?
Oxana: We can skate on ice, Papa.
Dimitri: How are you gonna skate?
Oxana: On skates!
Dimitri: Where are your skates.
Oxana: They're- Oh no! Mama, I need ice skates!
Anya smiled at Oxana. She went over to the Christmas tree and pulled out a package and handed it to Oxana, who tore into it. She pulled out two white skates. She ran to her parents to give them hugs.
Oxana: Thank you, Mama! Thank you, Papa! I love them! Can we go to the park now?
Anya: Don't you want to eat breakfast?
Oxana: No, Mama. I'll be right back!
She ran upstairs and put on a worn out pair of black tights, a simple black dress, and a blue and green plaid coat, and ran back downstairs and slipped on her black boots.
Oxana: Mama! Papa! I'm ready!
Anya: Are you sure you have everything?
Her mother came in holding her new ice skates, and Oxana ran to go get them
Oxana: Now, I'm ready!
Oxans parents walked while Oxana ran to pond.
Oxana: Mama! Papa! Hurry up.
Anya: We're coming, dear. Why don't you slow down?
Oxana: I can't wait!
Oxana tried to put on her new skates. She was able to actually put them on, but she needed her fathers help to tie the skates. She was able to get the hang of skating fairly early on she skated for about a half hour. She was doing great for her age… until she fell through the ice! Her parents rushed to the whole and tried to see if they could see there little angle! Dimitri stuck his head under the water and tried to grab her hand, but he kept losing it and it kept slipping out of his hand! Oxana tried to reach her fathers hand but her dress had gotten caught on something under water. She was trying to untangled her dress and grab her fathers arm at the same time. Dimitri decided to go under the water and he finally got a hold of Oxana and he was able to pull her out. When he did, Oxanas dress was bit torn and her coat and dress were a bit dirty. And oxana was soaked. Oxana looked like she was about to pass out.
Anya: Oxana? Oxana? Are you OK?
Oxana started to cling onto her mother for some warmth and then started to cough trying to get some of the water out of her mouth.
Oxana: Mama? Papa?
Her voice was very shaky. Anya and Dimitri clung to her and then Dimitri carried her home. He put he on the couch and Anya went to go get Oxana some blankets.
Anya: Oxana, are you feeling alright?
Oxana nodded.
Oxana: I'm fine, except I have a little bit of a headache. Could we go some place else for ice skating?
After she said that, she sneezed a couple of times. Dimitri was on a chair sitting next to her stoking her red hair.
Dimitri: No! I don't want you ever skating again!
Oxana: But, Papa-
Anya decided to step in.
Anya: Dimitri, maybe we could go some other time.
Dimitri stood up and tried to talk to her in private.
Dimitri: Do you want her to fall through another whole in the ice?
Anya: No, but it was just a bit of thin ice.
They looked at each other for about a minute before Dimitri realized she was right. He turned back to Oxana.
Dimitri: Okay, Oxana. We'll go again when you feel better.
Anya: Come on, lets get you in something dry.
Anya took her daughters hand and they went upstairs. Oxana put on pink satin pajamas with an 'O' an a pocket on the top. Anya tucked her into the big maroon bed and felt her forehead.
Anya: Oxana, darling, your burning up.
Oxana: Am I going to feel better?
Anya: Of course, darling, you just need to give it a day or two and you'll feel fine.
Oxana: Okay, Mama.
Oxana had spent the next two days in bed, wearing the same pink pajamas. By December 20th, she was able to run downstairs like every other day, and flung herself into her fathers arms.
Oxana: Papa! Papa! I'm feeling better, Papa! I'm feeling better!
And then she gave her father a big kiss on his cheek. He then showered her with hugs and started to kiss her cheeks and foreheads.
A few weeks had passed and Christmas had came. Oxana had gotten multiple dolls for Christmas. Now it was January 5th and Oxana was packing she was inside her play room. This would be the room she would miss the most. There were all sorts of porcelain dolls on shelves. Oxana was holding Ovdotia and Bartok was sitting on her shoulder. Oxana was wearing a sheer mint green dress lined with white lace. She started to tear up.
Oxana: Oh, Bartok. I'm gonna miss it here.
Bartok curled up a bit more on her shoulder.
Bartok: But what about the palace?
Oxana: It's not France.
Oxana started to cry a bit more when her mother came in.
Anya: What's wrong?
Oxana: I don't want to leave.
Anya: I know you're going to miss it here, but so are we. And we also know you are going to love Russia. We would never make you do something that you don't want to. If you want to stay here in France we can.
Oxana: I do want to move to Russia. I just don't want to leave the room.
Her mother smiled.
Anya: Don't worry. We'll find you a room ant the palace.
Oxana: Okay, Mama. How should I pack up my dolls without breaking them.
Anya: Your Great-Grandmama will send them.
Oxana: Why?
Anya: We are going to get to Russia by boat, then bus, then train.
Oxana: Why
Anya: It's safer.
Oxana: How?
Anya: I'll explain later. Come on, let's go pack your clothes.
They went into Oxana's room to pack. The next day, Oxana was next door saying goodbye to Sevastian. She had only told Augustine she was moving to Russia, nothing about Oxana being a princess. Oxana was wearing a bulky black coat and a blue dress with buttons above the waist, black knit gloves, black tights, black rain boots, and she was holding Ovdotia. Bartok was resting in the hood of her coat. She looked nothing like a royal, and that was exactly what her parents wanted. They thought that someone might be after them, not wanting them to reach Russia.
Sevastian: Well, uh, bye.
Oxana hugged him.
Oxana: Well, Sev, I'm gonna miss you.
Sevastian: I'm gonna miss you, too.
They broke apart and Oxana got on her tip toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek and he laughed and tussled her red hair and she tussled his chocolate brown hair. Then Augustine came out and gave Oxana a hug.
Augustine: Goodbye, Oxana.
Oxana: Bye Augustine.
Augustine patted Oxanas head.
Oxana: Goodbye, Sev.
Oxana gave him a quick hug and walked off slowly to the car. They decided not to go with the chauffeur. Oxana sat Ovdotia next to her.
Oxana: Don't worry, Ovdotia, we're going to go live in a beautiful palace.
Then she yawned. Her parents laughed at their daughter. They were headed to Paris to catch a boat to take them to Germany. When they were in Paris they said goodbye to their family and got on the Tasha. Oxana had been on vacations before and they had always taken the Tasha. Oxana had never understood why. Her parents had always said it was something about 'sentimental reasons', but Oxana had never understood what that meant. While they were on the boat, Oxana was getting bored in her cabin. She turned to her mother.
Oxana: Mama, may I go look around the boat.
Anya: Okay dear, but remember your just Oxana, not Princess Oxana. It's for your safety.
Oxana: Yes, Mama.
Oxana, still carrying Ovdotia and holding Bartok on her shoulder, walked around the little ship. She accidentally bumped into a girl who looked exactly like Sevastian. She had curly chocolate brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. She was wearing a beaded peach short sleeve dress with matching tights and shoes. She was carrying a doll with short blonde hair and wearing a white-blue puffy dress, hat, and carrying a white-blue heart purse.
Girl: Hello.
Oxana: Hello.
Girl: My name is Elizaveta and this is my doll, Fillipa.
Oxana: It's nice to meet you, Elizaveta. My name is Oxana, and this is my doll, Ovdotia.
Bartok cleared his throat.
Oxana: And this is my pet bat, Bartok.
Elizaveta looked at the bat a tad bit frightened at the cute little bat.
Elizaveta: It's nice to meet you too, both of you. Where are you going?
Oxana: Russia, and you?
Elizaveta: I am going to Russia, too! For holiday?
Oxana: We, my parents and I, are moving there.
Elizaveta: I was on holiday, with my aunt and uncle.
Oxana: Are you going to meet with your parents in Russia?
Elizavetas face saddened.
Oxana: Elizaveta, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-
Elizaveta: Call me Elise.
Oxana: Elise, I'm sorry.
Elizaveta: My parents died when I was three and my brother was one. I lost my little brother when he was three. We got separated in France.
Oxana: I'm so sorry.
Elizaveta: Thank you. So where in Russia are you moving to?
Oxana: St. Petersburg.
Elizaveta: I live there!
Oxana and Elizaveta laughed knowing that they were going to be friends for a long time.
Elizaveta: Do you have anymore dolls.
Oxana: Yes, but they're in France. My Great-Grandmama is going to have them sent from France.
Elizaveta: I have a whole collection too, but mine are in Russia.
Oxana: Come on! Back to my cabin! Come meet Mama and Papa!
The started to race around the ship going to Oxanas cabin.
Oxana: Mama! Papa! Come meet my new friend, Elise.
Elizaveta and Oxana were playing with their dolls for hours, while Bartok was lying on the top bunk pretending to be inanimate.
Oxana: Goodnight Elise.
Elizaveta: Goodnight, Oxana.
They each hugged each other, quickly becoming best friends. They started doing that every day while they were on the boat. Luckily they had the same bus and the same train. They sat together on the bus and they sat in the same compartment while they were on the train. A couple days later they got off the train at the train station at St. Petersburg. Oxana and Elizaveta said their goodbyes and promised they would see each other soon. They started walked into their new home. At the top of the grand staircase, their was a woman standing there. She was a little wrinkled but still very kind looking she had she had green eyes and somewhat gray hair. Anya and Dimitri started to walk towards her, while Oxana was waltzing her way up.
Woman: Hello, Your Majesties. My name is Theodosia Hudgevich. I will be governess to your daughter. What a lovely little darling she is.
Anya: Thank you, miss Hudgevich, but we don't need a governess.
Theodosia: But you'll be much to busy to take care of her.
Anya: We always have time for her.
Theodosia: But-
Anya put emphasis on her words.
Anya: We. Always. Have. Time. For. Her.
Theodosia sighed, accepting the fact that she would never win.
Theodosia: Very well.