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!

"Kristy's Big Decision"

CHAPTER 19

Later that night, the kids were especially excited about our plans for the next day.

As the minutes ticked by, I was starting to regret letting Karen have ice cream for dessert.

The only two who weren't jumping up and down were Charlotte and Emily.

Emily was fast asleep and Charlotte was reading her copy of "Charlotte's Web."

Alex was semi calm, but she was also looking forward to the trip to Typhoon Lagoon.

She had laid out her bathing suit already. I was surprised that it wasn't Ariel or Anastasia themed.

It was bright yellow with different colored cats adorning the front. They were all wearing tropical bathing suits.

Karen's bathing suit had Ariel on it with a blue and pink border around it.

As for Emily, she had a traditional pink one piece as did most of the other kids in various colors.

Gabbi's bathing suit was the coolest of all. It was rainbow and had My Little Pony on it.

I was sporting one with different colored soccer balls, while Claud's had an array of different candy on it.

As for Mal, she had a light purple one with different colored smiley faces on it.

Margo's had Mickey on it and was red. It also had a picture of Pluto in the upper right corner.

As for Sari, she had a red, blue and white striped one with stars on the sides and a picture of Goofy on it.

Charlotte's was one that was pink and yellow with a picture of an apple on it that said I Love New York.

I had a feeling she had gotten it when Stacey had taken her to NYC last summer.

As for Mariah, she had a bathing suit with Stitch on it. It was blue and pink with different Hawaiian prints on it.

Alex had a Lilo and Stitch bathing suit as well, but she had left it back home in Stoneybrook. Hers was also blue, but it had Lilo instead of Stitch on it.

Sari had some beach toys with Goofy on them that she wanted to bring along.

Claud and I convinced her to leave most of her toys at the hotel.

We allowed her to bring one Goofy figure that she could play with in the water.

As for the others, they were content to use the toys provided by the park.

Anya agreed to bring her kid kit with her just in case any of our charges got bored.

The only one who didn't like the no toy rule was Claire. She wanted to bring her lamb along. She almost pitched a fit when Mal said no.

After she had convinced Claire that Ba-ba wasn't a swimming lamb, all was said and done.

The kids hung out for a little while before we put them to bed.

Anya sung "Once Upon a December" For Alex, Sari, Karen and Gabbi and then sung "Journey to the Past" after Charlotte and Karen requested it.

Once the kids were asleep, us baby-sitters stayed up for a while and talked.

"So," Claud said, raising her eyebrows at our newest member, "when's the wedding?"

"What are you talking about?" Anya asked as she popped a pretzel into her mouth.

"Just what I said." Claud reiterated. "When's the wedding?"

Anya laughed.

"Not for a very LOOONG time if ever. Jon and I are just friends. He is pretty cute though, especially when he smiles."

"Does he have dimples? " Claud wanted to know.

"One on his chin." She said. "It's visible when he smiles."

"I want him!" Claud playfully whined.

"You already have a boyfriend back home." I reminded her. "Besides, I think it's a royal offense to steal one from a Grand Duchess."

We all laughed over that one.

Just then, Anya's cell phone rang.

She picked it up and answered in Russian.

The blush that crept up her cheeks made me realize the person on the other end hadn't understood her.

"I'll be right there." She said. She hung up a minute later.

"What was that all about?" Mal asked.

Anya shrugged.

"It was Ava." She said, referring to the woman who had rescued Pluto for Emily. "She said I have a visitor."

Claud exchanged a look with me. She jumped to her feet and started rummaging around in her suitcase.

I cautioned her to keep it down so she wouldn't' wake up the kids.

"What are you doing?" Anya questioned her.

"If it's who I think it is, you can't go downstairs wearing that." She said, gesturing to Anya's outfit from earlier.

"Why not? " She asked. "I think it looks fine."

"Pardon me, You're Grace," Claud said. "But trust me on this. If there are two things I know well, its fashion and guys."

"Okay. " She said uncertainly.

By the time Claud was done, Anya looked like she was ready for a ball.

She was wearing a dark purple dress that reached just above her knees and sandals to match.

Her hair was pulled back in a French braid with a few bangs framing her face on either side.

She was wearing her usual necklace that Sara had given her the day she was born and Claud had added a pair of purple earrings shaped like music box keys to finish off the outfit.

"Thanks. " Anya said when she got a look at herself in the mirror.

"No problem. " Claudia replied.

"I'll give the earrings back tomorrow."

"Don't' worry about it. " Claud replied. "You can have them. I have another pair."

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Positive." Claud assured her. 'I made them."

"You made them?" She asked.

Claudia nodded.

"She makes all kinds of jewelry. " Mal put in. "She sees everything with an artist's eye."

"That's incredible!" Anya said as she admired her new earrings in the mirror.

Before leaving, she kissed Alex on the cheek and whispered to her that she loved her before leaving her in our capable hands.

After Anya was sure Alex would be okay, she took her purse and headed for the door.

"Good luck." Claudia said.

"I don't need it. " Anya replied. "But thanks anyway." With that, she was gone.

"Do you think I should have reminded her to be back before midnight?" I asked.

Claud giggled.

"Kristy!"

"What?" I asked.

"The last time I checked, her name was Anastasia, not Cinderella."

"Still." I insisted. 'I wouldn't want her to get locked out of the hotel."

Claud shrugged.

"Well if worse comes to worse, she can always bunk with Mickey or Goofy."

"I don't think their club house is opened that late." I said. "Besides, you have to pay by the cheese pound to get in."

We both started cracking up at that one.

"I wonder how the others are doing back home. " I said after the laughter died down.

"I know the triplets are fine." Mal said. "Mom sent them away to sports camp."

"Jeanine's studying abroad in Europe." Claudia piped up.

"You must love having the house to yourself when your parents go to work." Mal said.

"its fine most of the time. " Claudia said with a frown. 'IT does get lonely sometimes."

I could tell she was thinking of Mimi. Mimi was Claudia's grandmother. She and Claud had a special relationship and she loved all of us as well. We were all sad when she passed away a year ago.

Even though we all miss her, it's nothing compared to how much Claud does.

Sometimes I Think that Mimi was the only one who truly understood her.

"How do you think our walking disaster's doing?" I asked in an effort to change the subject.

Claud laughed at this.

"He'll probably have dozens of stories to tell us when we get home."

"I think it's time to throw Anya in the deep end. " I said as I leaned against my pillow.

"What do you mean?" Mal asked.

"Well, she's proven she can not only handle your family, but handle herself very well in an emergency. I think it's time we give her a chance with Jackie."

"Kristi, we want her to stay in the club. " Mal pointed out. "Not quit."

"Mal!" I said with a laugh. "Jackie's not that bad. He has a good heart."

"Not that bad?" Claud asked. "Need I Remind you about the time he got himself stuck in a tree or the time he got a mayonnaise jar stuck on his hand. Or the time he made Cokie Mason fall out of the tree when he hit his first home run."

"That was definitely memorable." I said. "In fact, I'll go as far to say that it was one of Jackie's finer moments."

We talked for a little bit longer before Mal started to get tired.

Claud went to bed soon after, which meant I was alone. I started reading the latest issue of Disney Adventure Magazine until I too fell asleep.

My last thoughts were of Anya and what she and her mystery guest were up to.

I just prayed she didn't' get locked out.

Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

Meanwhile, Anya was sitting in a food court, sipping at a non alcoholic pina calotta.

She liked the taste of them and enjoyed one whenever she could.

As for Jon, he was absently twirling his spoon in a cup of coffee.

Anya looked slightly amused.

"You're gonna stir the sugar right out of there if you keep doing that." She said.

"That's what I'm aiming for." He said. 'I like my coffee black."

Anya nodded.

"So what brings you over to the hotel so late? " She asked. "Not that I Have a curfew or anything. I'm on my own here."

"I was bored and I couldn't sleep." He replied. He took a bite of his hamburger which had a few fries in it.

"Alex does the same thing with her milk shake when I let her have one." Anya said with a grin. "She loves dipping her French fries in it."

Jon smiled.

"Well then I'm in good company." He said.

"She also loves tartar sauce on chicken nuggets as well as fish sticks."

"So much for saving neemo." He said.

Anya laughed.

"Strangely enough, that's one movie she can't stand. Dory got on her nerves. She did like the sea turtles though. She has a big plush of Crush in her room. She also liked Bruce. In fact, he was the one who helped her not be afraid of sharks anymore."

"Well that's great. But not so great for Neemo and friends."

Anya blushed.

"I'm sorry. You probably wanna talk about something else. WE can change the subject."

"no. I'm flexible. " He said.

"Still. I'm sure you didn't come all this way to hear me ramble about my daughter."

"How do you know I didn't?" He asked. "Maybe I'm psychic and that was the reason I came."

Anya smiled.

"Enough about me and the little girl I would do anything for. What's your story?"

"It Could be anything." He said.

"Okay. Let's start with your job. How did you get involved with Disney?"

"Well a lot of luck and a college program was recruiting people. Right place, the right time."

"Gotcha. You must have a lot of fun helping the kids."

"It's a very rewarding job." He replied.

Anya glanced down at her cell phone, relieved that it hadn't rung this whole time.

"Do you have any pets?" She asked.

"A dog." He replied. "But they don't allow pets here."

Anya smiled.

"SO do we." She said. 'I mean have a dog. His name's Pucca. Alex named him. He's a bit Chan. He's really cute. He's a people dog. He's really protective of us though. He's brown and white with really cute, big brown eyes. And I probably just embarrassed myself beyond repair."

"A four legged teddy bear." He said. "Or a teddy dog."

Anya giggled.

Jon did too and Anya noticed two things.

"Your laugh sounds a lot like Goofy. " She said.

"I get that a lot from people." He said.

Anya nodded.

"Are you okay? " She asked. "You seem a little distracted."

"This is how I always am." He said. "I'm fine."

"Care to try again?" Anya asked.

"I'm fine." He insisted.

"Wanna take a walk?" She asked. "I promise I wont' put you on a leash."

"Aww." He said playfully.

Anya grinned.

"And if you're really good, I'll buy you a biscuit." With that, she paid the bill and they left.

They ended up going to the Magic Kingdom and got aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover.

They started talking about this and that and just enjoying each other's company.

"So do you have any siblings?" She asked as the ride made its fourth go around.

"A couple sisters." He answered. "How about you?"

"I have one older one." She said. "She's twenty-three, soon to be twenty-four."

"What's her name?" He asked.

"Sara." She replied. She noticed he was leaning towards the edge of the ride. "Watch out. " She said. "You might fall out."

"Oh, I should have paid more attention." He said, sounding like Genie.

'This is not gonna be good.' She thought to herself.

"So are you on your own?" She asked.

"For now." He replied.

"Are your parents living somewhere else?" She asked.

"Yup. As a matter of fact, they are." He said. Then without thinking, he asked, "How about yours?"

Anya got quiet for a few minutes, which led him to think he had asked the wrong thing.

"They're not around." She finally said.

"I'm really sorry to hear that." He said.

"It's okay. " Anya replied. "It's better that way."

"Why do you say that?" He asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

Anya shook her head.

"Our Dad left when I was two and then he was killed in a skiing accident. And our mother…let's just say she found other ways to occupy her time. Sara was more of a Mom to me than she ever was to either of us. We went to live with my Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve when Sara was fifteen and I was eight. Then when Sara was eighteen, she moved out and Alex and I Moved in with her three years later. I'm sorry. You probably didn't need to hear all of that. I don't know what's wrong with me tonight. I'm usually not that open with people."

"It's okay. Trust me." He said. "Besides, I have my own demons to deal with."

"I know about them all too well." She said.

"Some people have skeletons in their closet. I have a warehouse full of them."

Anya grinned a little.

"Don't you mean wearwolves?"

"Nope. Warehouse." He said.

As the ride was going around for an eighth time, Anya glanced at her watch and realized it was getting late.

"Do you mind if we head back?" She asked. 'I promised Kristy I wouldn't be too late. And I don't want Alex waking up and me not being there. I Must sound like the worlds worst over protective mom you've ever heard of."

"Actually, it's very refreshing." He said.

"Really?" She asked.

"Definitely, yes." He said.

"You're not just bating me, are you?"

"No. Not at all." He said.

"Thanks. Some people don't get it." She continued. "If only they knew what she and I Have been through just to stay together."

"The problem is, people don't care."

"I guess you're what they would call a diamond in the rough?"

"The keyword is the rough." He muttered.

"What was that?" She asked.

"Nothing." He said.

"Okay." With that, they made their way back to the hotel.

Upon arriving, Anya stuck her right hand in her purse and rummaged around a little bit.

She said something in Russian that Jon figured was something she didn't' want to repeat.

"I got a great idea."

"Does it involve me finding my room key?" She asked.

"Yes." He said. With that, he raised his fist as though to pound on the door.

With the reflexes of someone who had lived on the streets for a while, Anya grabbed his hand before it could make contact with the wood.

"What are you doing?" She hissed.

Jon smiled.

"Knocking on the door." With that, he laughed.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" She asked.

"Nope." He said, sounding just like Goofy. " I have an idea. I'll knock on the other door and ask the people in there what time it is."

Anya growled in frustration.

"I don't have time for this." She said.

As Jon went for the door again, Anya grabbed his hand.

"Now wonder you do the voice of Goofy so well. Come on." With that, she led him away from the door and back down the hallway and back outside.

"I still wanna know what time it is. " He said.

""

"It's time for you to be quiet so I can think." Anya said.

"You think and I'll go see what time it is."

"Just stay close to me." She commanded rather than asked.

"Oh, it's one-thirty am." He said. "It sure would have been Goofy to knock on those people's doors."

Anya didn't answer. She let out a frustrated sigh and muttered something in Russian again.

"Come on." She said. "We need to find a place to sleep for the night."

"You know our resort has several different hotels."

"Outside, genius." Anya replied.

"Do you have a tent?" He asked.

"not with me." Anya said.

They walked a little while until they came to a pretty looking park.

"Come on." Anya said. "We can rest for a while in there." SHE pointed to a pavilion and led the way inside.

Settling down on the ground, she tried to get comfortable.

"I know it's not what you're used to." She said. "But it'll due for now."

Jon nodded.

"I got a better idea." He said.

"What?" She asked, already half asleep.

"Wouldn't you just love a pillow?" He asked.

"Will it make you be quiet so I can sleep?" She asked.

"Not likely." He said honestly.

"Shh." She said as though she were talking to Alex. "It's time to sleep now."

"Oh give me a home where the buffalo rome…." He started to sing.

She made an impatient noise with her teeth and raised her eyebrows.

"You are very hard to sleep with." She said. Then realizing what she said, she added quickly, 'I did NOT mean that in a romantic way."

"That never crossed my mind." He said.

"Well is sleep crossing your mind any time soon? Like now maybe?"

"You know something? You're worse than Pucca during a thunderstorm."

"It's not my fault that I'm over caffeinated." He said defensively.

"Go to sleep." She said firmly.

"I'm not tired."

"Well, I'm going to sleep. Sweet dreams." She mumbled something in Russian before drifting off.

The last thing she heard was Jon singing the first verses of Ricky Raccoon.

Shortly after falling asleep, Anya found herself in an entirely different place altogether. A place she never wanted to be again.

Just then, she heard someone calling for her. She didn't' have to listen hard to know who it was.

"MAMA! Mama help!" A small voice cried.

"Alex!" Anya yelled in desperation. She ran to where her daughter's voice was coming from and found herself in a hallway lined with staircases and many doors.

When she got closer, she heard someone call her name. This time the voice was menacing and evil as the blackness that surrounded her.

"Anastasia. " It said. "Anastasia."

"Whose there!" She demanded.

"You and your daughter both need help with your memories." It commented. "Maybe this will help yo uremember!" With that, Anya found herself on the deck of a ship with fire blazing from every corner.

She coughed and sputtered, even though she knew the fire couldn't burn her this time.

She frantically searched for her daughter, but couldn't find Alex anywhere.

As she climbed up on a pile of barrels, she felt someone push her from behind.

She heard an evil voice whisper, "Dosvedanya" before she felt herself falling to the icy water below.

Hitting the water, she started to flail about.

As she got her barings, she yelled her daughter's name and prayed she would find her safe and sound.

As she started to swim, she felt someone grab her shoulders and start to shake her. She lashed out and managed to hit whoever it was.

All she wanted was to find her daughter. She had to find her. She just had to…

As Anya struck out again, she felt herself hit solid ground before her eyes opened all the way.

She could still feel wetness on her cheeks and realized a minute later that she was crying.

As she felt the person touch her shoulder again, she struck out once more. This time, she felt her hand connect with something soft and heard a slight crack.

"Anastasia!" She heard someone shout as though they were trying to get her attention.

As she started to come to, she let out a shuddering sob as her surroundings came into better focus.

As she realized where she was, she frowned upon seeing the blood on Jon's nose.

"I'm sorry. " She whispered. "Are you okay?"

Even though she was still visibly shaken, she wanted to make sure he was all right.

"That's okay. I didn't need that nose anyway. " He said.

"Alex." She breathed as a chill ran up her spine. "I have to make sure she's okay. There was so much smoke and the fire was. I couldn't…I couldn't find her and then someone pushed me…I called out to her, but I couldn't find her anywhere! It felt just like it did three years ago when it actually happened."

"Now I think we should start at the beginning." Jon said.

Anya took another shuddering breath as more tears came.

"Alex." She said again, getting more distressed by the minute. "I have to make sure she's okay! I can't let him…not again. Not after I promised her I wouldn't…" Her voice trailed off as she broke down.

Jon reached out and cautiously drew her in for a hug.

When it became apparent that she wasn't going to hit him again, he tightened his hold a little bit.

"Shh, shh," He soothed. "It's gonna be okay. She's back at the hotel. I'm sure Claud and Kristy have everything under control. Wait a second! If you go to the front desk, maybe whoever is there can let you in."

"It's too late." She said, wiping at her eyes. "It's just…that dream was so real…it felt like I was back on the Mariata when it caught on fire. I was so scared I was going to lose her…and I almost did..." She took a shuddering breath as she tried to stop the tears as well as the unpleasant memories from coming to the forefront.

Once she had calmed down, she looked at Jon and blushed.

"I'm sorry. " She said. "You're probably tired too. I'll leave you alone so you can get some sleep."

Jon shook his head.

"No." He insisted. "It's fine. I wanna help you feel better. Do you wanna talk about it?"

Anya thought for a few minutes.

"I don't wanna bore you." She said as she wiped the last remaining tears away.

"It wouldn't bore me at all." Jon insisted.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yeah." He said.

"Okay." She said. But as she started her tale, she yawned. "maybe it's better if we wait until tomorrow."

"Fine by me. " He said. "Sweet dreams."

"Thanks." Anya said as her eyes started to close once again.

The nightmare had taken a lot out of her and she felt worn out. The whole evening had been tiring for her and all she wanted to do was sleep.

Well to be fair, the whole evening hadn't been tiring. Going out with Jon for something to eat hadn't been tiring at all. She had rather liked that part a lot.

In fact, she had enjoyed it immensely. She was starting to enjoy spending time with Jon.

If only Jon lived in Stoneybrooke. But that was wishful thinking on her part.

She would date him in a minute if they lived closer to one another. She felt they had a lot in common. And the fact that he liked kids was a plus in her book. She had made a promise to herself and to Alex that she would never date anyone who didn't like kids or treated them with the respect they deserved.

Jon was perfect in that way.

Anya also liked his antics and found them funny most of the time.

As she drifted off to sleep once again, she wondered if she would meet anyone like Jon back home. She highly doubted it, but one could hope…