Disclaimer: I am making no money off of this. I just do it because I'm a hopeless romantic and am a fan of Anya and Dimitri!
All Men Are Babies-
Chapter 2: The Perfect Beginning.
Dimitri loved the weather in Paris. It was so much better than the freezing cold in St. Petersburg any day. He was delighted that he and Anya were going to make Paris their home. Knowing that Anya did want to go back to Russia, Dimitri kissed her lips and told for the thousandth time that if the Soviet Union discovered her true identity, they'd kill her. His beautiful wife would then sigh and agree that Paris was probably the best place for them to live.
The hot afternoon sun shone down on the couple as they stood on the front steps of Sophie's place. Dimitri had his fingers intertwined with Anya's. Anya glanced over at her husband and noticed him rubbing his temples with his other hand. Without saying anything, Anya knew that Dimitri was nervous about speaking to the Dowager Empress. After kidnapping her just so she would speak with Anya, Dimitri knew that he was probably the last person on the face of the planet that she wanted to see.
"Everything will be alright," she assured him by whispering in his ear. "Grandmama will like you." She composed herself and waited for someone to greet them. "I'll make sure of it," she quickly added.
Dimitri knew that the princess was right, he probably didn't have anything to worry about. Being in the presence of royalty had always put him on edge ever since he worked in the palace ten years ago. Yet Anya was different and Dimitri didn't know why. It was fine pretending to be royalty and dressing a girl up to play the part as a grand duchess, but those were lies. Lies that he had told many times. Talking with the Dowager Empress Marie and marrying the grand duchess Anastasia was another thing. Why wasn't he nervous around Anya? She was in fact royalty. The lost princess of all Russia! Pushing his current thoughts away he nodded, hoping that Anya was right.
The door opened and the young couple was greeted by a skinny french maid. The maid was dressed in a black dress and white apron. In her hand she held a feathered duster. "Bonjour," she greeted Dimitri and Anya.
Dimitri glanced over at Anya to see if she was going to say something. However she remained silent and made no indication to speak at the present time. "Hi," he greeted the maid in English. "We're here to see Sophie," he said calmly. Yet gulping before he spoke only told Anya that he was still nervous. After opening his mouth to say something else, Dimitri quickly shut it again realizing there was nothing more to say.
Sophie saw who her guests were and screamed in excitement. Squealing, she knocked the maid out of the way with her wide hips and kissed Anya's and Dimitri's cheeks. "Anya! Dimitri!" she exclaimed excited to see them. After receiving Sophie's unnecessary greeting, Anya was about to speak, but was interrupted by Sophie. In a louder voice than necessary, Sophie said, "I'm sorry sir, but the princess Anastasia has already been found and returned to her grandmother."
Dimitri and Anya exchanged confused looks. "Has she lost it?" Dimitri mouthed to his wife. Anya shrugged. Realization dawned upon them and they smiled understanding that Sophie wanted a third party to hear her. Meaning that the Dowager Empress was there.
"Uh Sophie," Anya said stopping the excited french woman. "Do you think we could see my grandmother?" she asked.
Sophie winked as she led them inside. Vladimir walked into the room to see who was with Sophie and throwing his arms out to hug them, he knocked over an expensive flower vase in the process. With cat like reflexes, he caught the vase and set it back on the stand. "Sh!" Sophie warned him as she continued to lead the young couple up the stairs to see the Dowager Empress.
Dimitri let out a loud sigh as they watched Sophie disappear into a room and bid them to wait where they were. She closed the door completely shut behind her. Anya unlaced her fingers from Dimitri's and placed her hand on his hunched shoulder.
"Relax," she whispered.
Inside the room, the Dowager Empress Marie was seated comfortably in a window seat sipping on hot camomile tea. Sophie stood before her cousin. "Oh Madame, Madame!" she said dramatically. "There is a young man here saying that he found the grand duchess Anastasia. I told him that she has already been found, yet he refuses to leave until they see you. Oh Madam, what should I do?"
The Dowager Empress did not want to bothered by anymore conmans or phony Anastasias. She's been bothered enough by them for the ten years. Sighing in discontent, the Dowager Empress rubbed her temples unsure of what she should do. Knowing that she couldn't be hurt anymore, because the real Anastasia has been found, the Dowager Empress nodded. Looking out the window, she ordered Sophie to let them in. Sophie bowed and left the room.
"She will see you now," Sophie said to Dimitri and Anya after she left the Dowager Empress. The friendly french woman winked before going back downstairs.
Dimitri let out a deep breath. In all truth, he felt that kidnapping the Dowager Empress was easier than talking with her, even though her granddaughter was with him. Smiling at him, Anya grabbed his hand and led him inside the room where her grandmother waited patiently for them.
"Grandmama!" the princess exclaimed excited to see her grandmother again.
"Anastasia!" the Dowager Empress joyfully exclaimed wrapping the young woman in a loving embrace. Anya dropped her husband's hand to hug her grandmother. After embracing her granddaughter, Marie stepped back and looked at Dimitri.
Under her scrutinizing gaze, Dimitri bowed in respect to her. "Your majesty," he said as he bowed. The Dowager Empress extended her hand out to him allowing him to kiss it. Dimitri did.
"Dimitri," she said.
"Yes, your highness?"
"You're family," Marie started to say.
"Only through marriage, your highness," Dimitri replied.
"Will you do me a favor, Dimitri?" she asked him.
"Anything, your majesty."
"Stop with the titles, you're part of the family!"
"Yes, your majesty," Dimitri said.
"Anastasia, my dear," the Empress said to her granddaughter, "is he always this slow?"
"Usually," Anya replied with a laugh. Drawing the mood serious once again, Anya said, "Grandmama?"
"Yes, child?" the older woman asked her granddaughter.
"May I-we ask you something?" Anya asked gripping Dimitri's hand for support. Dimitri squeezed it in assurance, though Anya knew that he was nervous about asking the Dowager Empress as well.
"Of course you may," the Dowager Empress replied motioning them to take a seat at the marvelously crafted silver table and chairs. When they were seated, she took a seat across from them. "Now what is your mind?"
Sighing, Anya glanced at Dimitri before voicing her thoughts. "Grandmama," she nervously started. "Dimitri and I wish to make Paris our home." She stopped and looked at Dimitri. Receiving no emotion or reassuring touch from Dimitri, Anya continued. "The problem is, neither one of us has money to even put a down-payment on a place. We were wondering if you would led us some money-just enough for a down-payment- we'll pay you back every penny. I swear! It's just" The princess' voice became more rapid the more she spoke.
"I'm going to get a job," Dimitri cut in and was about to say something more if the Dowager Empress hadn't of cut him off.
Raising her hand commanding them to stop their ranting, she said, "Enough. Enough." Anya and Dimitri looked at each other afraid of what she was going to say next. If she wouldn't lend them the money, then they weren't sure what they would do. Living on the streets wasn't something that appealed to either one. "I'll buy you a house," the Empress continued, "and I refuse to be paid back."
"What?" Dimitri asked shocked, not sure if he heard her correctly.
"Grandmama?"
"Consider it your wedding present."
Looking at his new wife, Dimitri grinned. The Dowager Empress was going to buy them a house, a perfect beginning to the rest of their lives.
Well, this is the end of chapter 2. I hope it is a good start for this story. Please let me know what you thought in a review if you so desire. Since I have up till chapter 6 planned out in a notebook, updates should be quick.