I do not own Anastasia or the characters. Just the plot of this story :D

"I really don't think it's a good idea."

"Sweetheart, it'll do you good." Empress Marie placed a caressing hand on her granddaughter's blushing cheek. Anastasia smiled softly at the loving gesture, still adoring and cherishing each and every little gesture of love and kindness she received from her friends and family. For that only, she could do her grandmother whatever she asked her to. "Besides, how long has it been since you impressed the crowd with your skills on the dancefloor?"

Anya chuckled timidly at her words. It was true, she had grown to be a real artist when it came to dancing, she loved it so much when she was twirling and spinning and the world around her would fade away and would look like a weird, surreal painting with each kind of colour she could imagine. She had to thank Dimitri for that, but she didn't want to be grateful to him for anything. He didn't want her to, anyway. So she wouldn't be. After all, she was over him, as if she had never felt something for him. Therefore, she had no reason not to dance with some young man. Perhaps he would turn out to be a nice, handsome gentleman who would sweep her off her feet like Dimitri had.

At that thought, she frowned and shook her head. Why couldn't she get through a phrase in her mind without him suddenly making his appearance?

"All right, grandmamma. But I'm only doing this for you!" she said in order to distract herself from her thoughts and make the image of a certain man dissolve.

The Empress chuckled kindly and took her hand in hers. "My dear child, I want you to do it for you, not for me. I want to see you happy and smiling again."

"But I am happy, grandmamma. What makes you think-?"

"Not as happy as you were the first time you came to find me in Paris." The sweet old woman cut her off softly and Anya could hear the words she would not speak. Her first time in Paris was with Dimitri. That's what the Dowager Empress really meant to say, she knew. But she chose to ignore it, pretend she didn't understand even though she knew she couldn't fool her grandmother.

With no other word but just with a smile, she placed her palm in Vlad's wide open one, who had been left waiting for some time,and she let him lead her through the cheerful crowd. It was weird not having people acknowledge her presence and greet and bow to her but it felt relieving. She liked it better this way. The only attention she enjoyed getting was from the people close to her, the people who loved her and whom she loved.

"He is a remarkable young man!" Vladimir exclaimed enthusiastically after a moment, abruptly shaking her off her thoughts. She rolled her eyes playfully and smirked, not sure who was more excited about her dancing with some stranger; her or Vladimir? Well, he was awfully thrilled and content, as if he had achieved a goal or something. She wasn't sure why he was this merry. He had been ever since they decided to visit Russia, a month ago. He even thought of hosting a ball the second night after their arrival. Strange.

"Here we are!" he announced almost immediately and brought her before a table at the other side of the immense ball room which hid so many lost dreams and hopeless memories. Instantly, a young man stood off his chair and bowed almost awkwardly. He didn't seem really excited about dancing as well, he seemed more bored than cheerful. Weird, at least their moods matched at that moment.

His black mask hid most part of his face and was accentuating his dark, mysterious eyes. He had matching chestnut hair and she had the impression that in his everyday life those locks would be actually unruly. She curtsied in the way Sophie had showed her to and felt stupid. Curtsy like the Princess she was could give away her royal state. And she didn't really want that. Thankfully, Vlad spoke again in his most excited manner possible. "I think I am not needed anymore!"

"Wait, Vlad, you forgot to…"she shouted to his direction but her exclaiming voice died down when she saw he had already gotten lost in the crowds. "…introduce us…" her whispering words had obviously not been unheard from the young man. Despite his masked face, he could see his knitted brows and distorted features in puzzlement. Not knowing what else to do, she smiled awkwardly, tangling her hands behind her back nervously as they stood staring at each other.

"He…he does that all the time, you know…" he spoke after a while, pointing to the path Vlad had ran off to. He seemed quite nervous himself which made her feel a bit more relieved. She slightly tilted her head to the side when he spoke, his heavy voice hiding a familiar yet mysteriously dark memory.

"Yeah, I know- I know him!" she said stupidly and bit her lower lip, looking away."He's a... friend."

"Oh, nice. He's a friend of mine too." he replied nervously waving some gloves he had in one hand to Vlad's supposable direction. They were probably his, she assumed. Sensing her discomfort, the young man shook his head and approached her with an inviting open palm. "Would you…do me the honour? Even though I'm not…really good at it!"

"Not to worry, I've had my share with bad dancers. One, in particular." She said so to find them some topic to discuss and as they seemed to lack of ideas, anything was better than the awkward silence. With a sweet smile, she placed graciously her hand over his and the way he gently wrapped his fingers around her delicate wrist gave her a feeling of familiarity she couldn't exactly place. In fact, everything about him were somewhat familiar but perhaps it was just her tired mind with the mix of little alcohol she had had.

"Oh, really? Well, we'll see if I can outmatch him in the art of awful dancing!" he joked nervously as he led her to the dancefloor. They stood in the middle and both raised their hands. They chuckled in funny awkwardness as they finally found the right position for their hands and lifted their heads so to gaze in each other's eyes. Finding, however, that their proximity and awkwardness was too much to handle, they looked away and only stole glances to one another as they chatted. Anya's feeling of weird cosiness to him only increased at that little moment but she had chose to not let anything destroy her somewhat content mood."May I ask who he is? He's a guest too?"

"Uh.." the girl looked away. "He's…a friend. More like was. It's been two months since I last saw him."

"Ahh…" he only exclaimed as if enlightened and that was the moment they started dancing. It was a classical piece of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, the kind of music that could sooth her and put a smile on her face. But his next words made her look at him in puzzlement and irritation. The fact is, she wasn't angry at him but at the actual truthfulness of his words. "You miss him."

"What? No! Whatever gave you that impression?" she objected raising a little her voice in a highpitched manner, making several dancing couples look to their way.

"The sorrowful tone in your voice did." He stated kindly and the way he spoke made it difficult for her to be annoyed by him. "Forgive me, if I've been too bold. I have learnt to speak straightforwardly. So if I may say, it's clear he was someone truly important to you, if not someone you actually loved."

"I… well… maybe, I don't know. Can we please find a new topic?" he had made her feel uncomfortable and she just wanted to escape the memory of her and Dimitri swirling in glee on the deck of a ship. As if reading her thoughts and feeling her unease, he decided to twirl her around herself. And when he did she felt as if she were in Dimitri's arms again. Actually, that was the feeling of familiarity she was getting from the moment she met him. How could have she not seen it before? But why? How?

"I'm sorry for upsetting you. I didn't mean to. Guess it's not just the section of dancing I'm awful at but the speech as well!" Well, she didn't know much about his speech but he surely was an awkward dancer. He had had his proper instruction of waltz, he knew the steps but he was late at executing them and he knew that. She could feel his tension and unease. He was trying hard not to step on her toes for he was stealing quick, almost invisible glances down at his feet. And yet again, only one man had danced with her like that and was at such nervous position.

"Excuse me but I don't think we've been introduced. My name is An…tonina!" she had been as focused on him that she had momentarily forgotten that she didn't wish to make her identity known to anyone especially a man whose every move and word –even his voice!- reminded her of Dimitri. "What's yours?"

"Well, you've got a beautiful name. Better than Dimitri anyway!" he chuckled awkwardly and twirled her one more time. Her eyes grew twice as big and a surprised gasp escaped involuntarily her rosy, full lips. He knitted his brows in confusion. "Something the matter, Antonina?"

She took the courage and made herself look deeply, truly in his eyes. They were chocolate, brown ones, the mysterious darkness so inviting and tempting she even forgot to actually breath. Only Dimitri's eyes had ever had the power to capture her, make her heart freeze and her breathing race. No, that couldn't be possible. "Wha- what's your-? Did you say 'Dimitri'?"

Ohhh *_* cliffhanger! jejeje but I won't have you waiting for very long, promise :) I know it wasn't a surprise it was Anya Dimitri would dance with but was it any good the way I wrote it? Anyone gonna guess what's going to happen next? Actually, anyone gonna review? Pretty please? ^.^ Chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with love and smileys are waiting for those who will :)