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Sorry this story's been on hiatus for a while. I've gotten an avalanche (or mini-avalanche at least) of new ideas for it lately, so you'll see more in the near future. This is during Dimitri's first week working at the palace at age nine, and the first time he lays eyes on Anastasia....I do refer briefly back to the first chapter, but just a mention of Marina, doesn't last long. Anyway, here you go.
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He was smart. He was capable. He was a hard worker and a fast learner.
So why was he in this kitchen? Because he was broke, that's why.
And because of her.
Fighting to push the blurred, blonde-framed face from his young head, Dimitri scrubbed at another pot and tried to think of something---anything---to amuse himself. Anything to make the chore go by faster. He remembered hearing kids in a schoolyard once singing a chant they'd learned, and he decided to try his best to remember it. Yet somehow, the words ended up a little different.
One, Two,
You weren't coming for me, were you?
Three, Four,
That's how old I was when you left.
Five, Six,
Maybe you got sick...
Seven, eight,
I'm not eight anyomre.
Nine, ten,
I'll be ten before you know it.
One, two,
Why didn't you want me?
Sighing, he forgot about the song. Silence was better than that. He refused...that.
At first he'd thought that a job in the palace would be the best thing in the whole world. But after a week on the job, he quickly realized he'd be seeing a lot more silver samovars than golden thrones. Maybe I'll quit, he thought to himself. There's got to be people out there who'd hire a nine-year-old. Shelters aren't that bad.
It was then that he heard laughing coming from the hall. Dropping the pot into the washbasin with a splash, Dimitri crept over to the door and poked his head out to take a look.
A beautiful young girl, barely older than six, was laughing from where she crouched behind a potted fern. It had to have been the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. Like home. Oh, how he wanted a home.
That must be the Grand Duchess Anastasia. He'd assumed he was out of her sight, but he was shocked to see her giggle and wave at him from behind a leaf. Dimitri froze. He didn't know whether to run back into the kitchen or walk out and take his punishment like a boy---er, man. But after a moment, it didn't appear that he would get in any trouble.
With another giggle, Anastasia held one finger up in front of her mouth and whispered, "Shhhhh." She pointed down the hall.
Sure enough, the second-youngest Grand Duchess came running, and with her cry of "Gotcha!", both of them squealed and tore off in the other direction. Anastasia turned back for the breifest second, though, and gave him a little wave.
When they were gone, Dimitri got back to work. His mother's image was gone from his head, though, replaced instead with a new one; with fiery red hair and kind blue eyes. Maybe I'll stay on after all, he decided. This could be more fun than I thought.
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