DISC: I DO NOT own any of the chars from BSC. They belong to Ann M. Martin. I Do however own anyone you don't recognize!
Enjoy!

A/N: I know a lot of the things that are in this chapter aren't really in WDW. But I just wanted to have fun with the story!

"Kristy's Big Decision"

CHAPTER 16

Anya didn't know how long she was sitting there. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

The dream that followed felt more like a warning than an actual dream.

She woke up gasping for air a few hours later, tears streaming down her face.

She wasn't even aware she wasn't a lone anymore.

The first indication that someone had joined her was when she heard a familiar voice beside her.

"Mama, why are you crying?" Alex asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Anya replied as she pulled her close. "I just had a nightmare."

"Was it about Rasputin?" She asked.

"NO." She replied. "Thankfully not."

Though silently, she wished it was. Those nightmares she knew weren't real. The one she just experienced was.

She had a feeling the promise she had made to be with Zoe until the very end was about to be put to the ultimate test.

"Did you sleep okay?" She asked as she ruffled her daughter's hair.

UH-huh." Alex replied as she snuggled in for a cuddle. "Karen snores though"

"I do not!" Came an indignant voice from inside the hotel.

Alex ignored her.

"Hey, what's going on with you guys anyway?" Anya asked as she wiped away a few stray tears.

Alex shrugged.

She answered her mother in Russian, so Karen wouldn't understand.

"Alex!" Anya admonished.

"What? She is." Alex insisted.

"Oh my cherina," Anya said with a sigh. "I know she can be a little…" Her voice trailed off as she tried to think of the best word in Russian that wouldn't backfire on her. She finally found it and finished her thought. "…but she does like you."

"I know." Alex said. "I like her too." Without warning, she said, "Mama, I miss Aunt Sara. Can we call her tonight?"

"Sure." Anya replied. "She's probably worried sick about me."

"She knows you can take care of yourself and me."

"I know." Anya said. She ruffled Alex's hair before starting to tickle her.

Once the giggles had subsided, Anya pulled her close once again and held her for a few minutes.

"You know I Love you, right?" She asked.

"Yeah. " Alex replied. "I love you too."

Anya nodded. She was grateful for once that Alex was too innocent to understand what was really going on.

It was true that her daughter was wise beyond her years, but she didn't really want to have to explain what was going on with Zoe just yet.

Mother and daughter stayed like that for a few more minutes before I called that breakfast was getting cold.

Anya let Alex go and the two went to get ready for the day.

"Mama, I think you should wear your hair like Anya did in the movie."

"You know what?" Anya said. "I think I will."

Once she was ready, she followed Alex down to the elevator.

Halfway, Alex insisted she had to go back to get her purse full of money she had saved for the trip.

Anya went with her to make sure she was okay. She secretly had a suspicion that Alex just wanted to avoid Karen in the elevator.

Anya prayed that Alex and Karen would make up soon. She knew kids had normal disagreements, but she also knew Alex was a sweet kid most of the time. She didn't stay mad for long and she hated seeing anyone she cared about upset.

Anya had a feeling the girls would make up soon. The only question was how long would it take?

Before Anya knew it, it was nearly dinnertime. She got ready and left a note, telling us where she was.

She also took her cell phone with her just in case of an emergency.

Around seven-thirty, she stood outside the Burkes' hotel room, trying to calm her nerves.

She wasn't' nervous about spending time with Zoe. She was nervous about her nightmare coming true.

After saying a silent prayer, Anya knocked on the door.

Valerie opened it a minute later. She grinned broadly when she saw her standing there.

"Come in." She said. "I told Zoe we were having a special guest for dinner tonight, but I didn't tell her who."

Anya nodded.

She walked into the hotel suite and was surprised by what she found.

It was decorated and looked very bright and cheerful.

It actually looked like any other hotel she had been in. She didn't know why she thought it would be any different.

Anya was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a very excited Zoe address her from behind.

"Anastasia! Anastasia!" She squealed excitedly.

Anya whirled around in time to see Zoe running to wards her.

She gave the little girl a hug and greeted her warmly.

"Where's Alex?" She asked.

"She's back with my friends." Anya told her.

Zoe nodded.

"Do you like pizza? " She asked.

Anya grinned.

"I love it. " She said.

Zoe's face lit up.

"Awesome!" She said. "Do you want to play a game? Mommy bought me Candy Land."

"You're on!" Anya said.

Zoe led Anya into the living room where the game was set up.

Anya sat down across from Zoe and the two started to play.

As the game continued, Anya noticed the little girl was becoming distracted.

She decided not to say anything. She had learned from experience with Alex that if she said anything about her being tired, her daughter would deny it.

Halfway through the game, Zoe put her piece down and got out of her chair. She rounded the table to where Anya was sitting and made herself comfortable on her lap.

Anya's heart melted as she fought back tears.

"Hey kiddo." She said. "Are you getting tired of the game?"

Zoe nodded.

"A little." She said. "Can we do something else instead?"

"Sure. What do you want to do?"
"Can you tell me a story?"

"Sure. Which one do you want to hear?"

"Yours. Please?"

Anya nodded. She put her hand through Zoe's quickly thinning brown hair and kissed her cheek.

As she started the story, she glanced down to see that Zoe was fast asleep.

She knew she was still alive because she could hear her breathing. But a part of Anya knew she wouldn't be for long.

She almost tucked her in, but thought against it and remained where she was.

"Zoe was tired." Valerie commented as she came into the room. "She didn't' take a nap today because she was excited about you coming. I mean I didn't tell her you were coming, but she knew something wonderful was going to happen today."

Anya nodded. She felt Zoe stir in her arms and did what she always did for Alex when her daughter would move in her sleep. She started humming "Once Upon a December."

The technique worked for Zoe as well.

By the time room service arrived with the food, Zoe was slowly waking up.

"Hey sweetie." Anya greeted. "Are you ready to eat some pizza? I think it's here."

"Anastasia, I don't feel good!" Zoe whimpered.

Anya's heart raced. She thought of calling for Valerie, but she remembered she was still talking to whoever had brought the food.

As she heard the door close, she was about to call for Valerie when Zoe threw up all over her.

Anya didn't let it bother her and tried to stay calm as Zoe apologized to her over and over again.

She assured her she wasn't mad and made a mad dash for the bathroom.

As she was trying to get Zoe to drink some water, she glanced in the mirror and saw something that made her blood run cold.

There were red splatters on her shirt. This could only mean one thing.

They had to get Zoe to the hospital and fast.

"I'm sorry about that." Valerie said as she poked her head in the bathroom, "Danielle's a friend of mine. We went to…" Her voice trailed off when she saw the state her daughter was in.

She rushed to her side and tried to take her from Anya, but Zoe wouldn't let go.

After Anya explained that she had to change her shirt and she would be back, she put Zoe in her mother's arms.

She threw on a shirt that she found in the dresser and rushed back to Valerie and the little girl.

"What happened?" She demanded.

Anya explained quickly and agreed to go to the hospital with them.

Valerie called 911.

Before Anya knew it, she was riding in an ambulance while Zoe squeezed her hand.

She sung her "Once Upon a December" all the way to the hospital and a few more times during the exanimation.

The doctors allowed her to stay since this was a special case.

"You don't have to stay. " Valerie said as she took the cup of coffee Anya was offering her. "I know you have a daughter to take care of."

"I don't mind staying. " Anya said sincerely. "Alex is fine. She's with a friend of mine."

After the nurses and doctors were done examining the little girl, they told Valerie that all they could do now was make sure Zoe was as comfortable as possible.

The young woman understood. At the same time, the thought of losing her little girl broke her heart.

Zoe slept fitfully for the next few hours.

Anya stayed by her side the entire time. She sung "Once Upon a December" more times then she could count, but she didn't' mind.

Somewhere around two in the morning, Zoe awoke and squeezed Anya's hand tightly.

Anya had a feeling she didn't have much time left.

"It's okay." Anya soothed. "I'm right here. I didn't go anywhere."

Zoe nodded.

"Anastasia, I'm scared!" She whimpered.

"I know." Anya said softly. "I know. But you don't have to be. I'm right here and so is your Mom."

"That's right." Valerie said. She kissed her daughter's forehead and brushed a few strands of hair out of her face.

"Will you sing again?" She asked Anya.

"Sure." She replied. She sung "Journey to the Past" before switching back to "Once Upon a December."

As the chorus of the song came around, Anya had a sudden realization.

Sitting on the bed, she carefully picked Zoe up and held her close.

As she held the frail child in her arms, the chorus of the song began to have a deeper meaning for her.

As she finished singing it, she realized the little girl was gone.

Anya held her for a few minutes before setting her down. She landed a soft kiss to her cheek and whispered a final good-bye as she left to give Valerie some time alone with her.

"Dosvedanya." She whispered. With that, she was about to leave the room when the young woman spoke.

"Thank you. " She managed to choke out.

Anya nodded. She was trying hard to fight back tears and was losing the battle fairly quickly.

"Even though I'm going to miss her, I think this was a perfect ending for her. Both of her dreams came true. I couldn't have done it without you."

Anya nodded as she tried to fight back more tears. She understood exactly what Valerie was saying.

When Anya returned to the hotel, she didn't' have the heart to go inside just yet.

She sat down upon a bench and let the tears fall. She had only known Zoe for a little over two days. And in that amount of time, she had made an imprint on her heart that would never go away.

Just then, she felt someone sit down beside her.

She glanced up to see Danielle's concerned brown eyes gazing back at her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Well, I saw that you were crying and I wanted to see if you were okay." She replied.

Anya shook her head.

Her reply came out sarcastic.

"Yeah. I'm great." She said.

"You don't look fine." She countered.

Anya sighed.

"Zoe died tonight." She said.

"I'm sorry." Danielle said. "It's really sad." She reached out her arms and Anya allowed her to hug her.

After they pulled away, Anya wiped at her eyes and Danielle regarded her with concern.

"It's not fair!" Anya blurted out. "I mean I know she was in pain, but she was just…she was just a little girl! She didn't deserve to have her life cut short."

"Well, you're right. " Danielle agreed. "I completely agree. But as sad as it is, she couldn't have had a happier ending. Her dream was to come here and meet Anastasia. In her eyes it was a perfect ending. It doesn't minimize how sad her death is, but she had a perfect ending."

Anya nodded.

"But it still doesn't' make it any easier." She said.

"No." Danielle said. "Of course it doesn't. But just take solace in the fact that you made a difference in her life. You were there for her and stayed with her until the end. Not many people would do that. You showed more loyalty and royal determination than any other princess who's worked here. If you ever need to talk, here's my cell phone number."

"Thanks." Anya replied. She took it and pocketed it. She stood up from the bench and started making her way back to the hotel.

Before leaving, she turned around.

"Dosvedanya." She replied. With that, she was gone.

Arriving back at the hotel, Anya was grateful that their room was empty for a few minutes. She knew it wouldn't last long.

Even though she wanted nothing more than to be alone, she also wanted-no she needed-to know her daughter was okay. More than that, she needed her there with her now.

Just then, Karen and Alex's excited voices could be heard floating down the hallway.

Karen's was slightly louder than Alex's.

"I can't believe you rode Tower of terror twice!" Alex said as they approached the door.

Karen grinned.

"A bet's a bet." She said. "David Michael had it coming to him. He owes me two Mickey bars now."

They entered the room a few minutes later. Karen went right for her fun bag while Alex spotted her mother and ran to her.

"Preveit. " She said. She then got a good look at her. "Mama, what happened?" She asked. She looked deep into her mother's blue tear stained eyes as realization hit her. "Zoe went to Heaven, didn't' she?"

Anya nodded as she pulled Alex into her arms.

"Whose Zoe? " Karen asked curiously.

Anya ignored her for the moment.

"I'm sorry you're sad. " Alex said. "But Zoe's happy now. She doesn't hurt anymore. And you helped her. We'll see her again."

Anya managed a small smile through her tears as she kissed Alex's forehead.

"You're right." Anya said lovingly. "You are so right."

Feeling ignored, Karen stamped her foot on the ground.

"Who's Zoe!" She demanded.

Anya counted to ten in Russian silently in an effort not to lose her patience.

"Karen, please." She said. "Not now, okay?"

Karen glared at her.

"Just tell me!" She said.

"That's it. " Anya said sternly.

Alex actually backed up a little at her mother's change of tone.

Karen however wasn't phased in the least.

"What?" She asked innocently.

"Where's everyone else?"

Karen crossed her arms over her chest.

"Why should I tell you? You didn't' answer my question. Why should I answer yours?"

Alex stepped forward.

"Mama's watching us." She said. "You have to listen to her."

"No I don't. " Karen said stubbornly.

"Come on." Anya ordered. "We're going to find your sister."

Karen followed her and Alex out of the room.

They found me and Claud, along with Mal, Margo, Claire and Emily in the hotel's game room.

I was helping Emily whack Donald, while Margo and Claire played Mickey's ski ball.

Mal stood close by to make sure Margo didn't' cheat.

As Margo won some more tickets, Claire ran up to her big sister.

Can I play Goofy golf?" She asked. "Please, Mallory silly-billy goo-goo?" She asked.

Mal nodded.

"Sure." She said. "Come on." She took Claire's hand and asked Claud to watch Margo.

"Sure thing." Claud said as she bit into her fifth Mickey bar. "No problem."

Mal rolled her eyes.

It was then that Anya arrived with her two charges in toe.

She walked purposely over to me and nudged Karen forward.

"What did you do?" I asked.

Karen avoided her my stare.

"Nothing." She replied.

"Karen Brewer…" I said warningly.

"I got Anastasia mad." She said.

"How?" I asked.

Karen shrugged.

"I don't know."

Alex piped up.

"She wasn't listening."

"It figures." I said.

"Do you mind watching her?" Anya asked. "Alex and I need to go somewhere for a little bit."

"No." I said. "Just be careful and don't be too late."

Anya nodded. She took Alex by the hand and led her out of the game room.

The minute they were gone, I rounded on my sister.