Disclaimer: I wish I was making money off of writing fanfiction. If I did, I'd be rich and be able to pay for my college education. As of right now I need to discover oil in my backyard or get hit by a car on campus so I can get my tuition payed for. However neither one sounds very likely to happen. I am making no money off this. This is for enjoyment purposes only.

All Men Are Babies-

Chapter 8: Oh, The Irony

"I'll be fine," Anya smiled in Dimitri's loving embrace. Dimitri did not want to leave his wife and go out job hunting that day, especially not after the dream she had the night before. Quite content to stay home and hold her safe and warm, Dimitri refused to go.

"I don't want to leave you," he argued, "especially after your dream."

"It was just a dream, Dimitri," Anya rebutted, "I'm fine."

Dimitri sighed, not wishing to argue with her. His brown eyes store deeply into her glossy blue Romanov eyes as they silently debated. Eventually he gave into her. Nodding, Dimitri said, "Alright, but if there is any trouble, any trouble at all, you'll go to Sophie's?"

Anya rolled her eyes at her husband's protectiveness and worries. "Of course," she replied stroking his cleanly shaven cheek. Smiling she added, "Besides, I've got Pooka here and Pooka won't let anything happen to me."

Before leaving the house to begin his job search, Dimitri kissed Anya goodbye. "I've seen cats bigger than that mutt," he muttered as he left.

The morning weather in Paris was chilly, but it promised to warm up as the day wore on. With his hands shoved in his pockets, Dimitri began whistling as he wandered along the sidewalk to the heart of the city to begin his search. As the heart of the city and the Eiffel Tower roamed into view, Dimitri smiled, taking his hands out of his pockets and swinging them merrily at his sides. Remembering their first night in Paris with Sophie, Dimitri chuckled. That night had been a crazy night with Sophie dragging them all over Paris and the Russian Ballet. Then again, his entire stay in Paris had been full of crazy events.

The first place Dimitri went into to apply for a job, was a small family owned restaurant. Immediately upon entering, Dimitri felt at home within the friendly atmosphere. The feeling of home vanished as Dimitri felt scrutinizing eyes looking him up and down. Granted that his appearance screamed "Poor and worthless" and his smile shouted, "conman," Dimitri was tolerant of the looks and stares and was confident that he would be able to get a job. Confidently, he strolled up to the bar and sat down on one of the stools.

"I'm looking for a job," he stated to the waitress.

"Please wait right there," she said and disappeared through the kitchen.

Two minutes later, she reappeared with a man following behind her. The waitress pointed Dimitri out to the man before continuing with her tasks. The man that appeared with the waitress was quite a bit older than Dimitri and had hard eyes with a stern gaze. "So you're looking for a job, huh son?"

"Yes," Dimitri stated.

"We are looking for a part-time cook," the man explained and Dimitri's spirits soared, hopeful. "Do you have any experience working in a kitchen?"

"Sort of," Dimitri replied.

"What do you mean 'Sort of'?"

Dimitri sighed, "I was a servant boy who worked in the kitchens at the Catherine Palace back in Russia-"

"Yeah," the man laughed sarcastically at the explanation. "And I was the Tzar!" He along with nearby bystanders boomed in laughter.

Dimitri's hope was crushed at that. The irony of it hurt worse than the sarcastic comment. A kitchen boy can't even get a job working in a kitchen.

Many of the next places that he tried to get jobs at, turned out pretty much the same as the first attempt for Dimitri. Although the other shop keepers that interviewed Dimitri weren't rude and sarcastic, the end result was exactly the same, no job. Mechanics didn't want him since he had no experience, They didn't need any help at the radio station, and he didn't have any experience in factories, one place said they didn't need help now but would be sure to get a hold of him when a position opened up. Dimitri also tried other restaurants. The owners were glad that he had had some experience in a kitchen, but they just didn't need help.

When it was going on three o'clock in the afternoon, Dimitri was getting tired and a little irritated that he wasn't able to find a job. Although going back home to his beautiful wife sounded appealing, Dimitri knew that it would be best if he did not confront Anya without a steady job lined up. Besides, he really didn't feel like having her call him a baby when he complained about not being able to find a job. So then the only option left was to continue on in his search.

Dimitri came across another restaurant and sighed. This was better quality than the first one. If he couldn't get a job at that first place, then there was no way he would be able to get a job here. This was the last place though, so he opened the door and stepped inside. He definitely felt out of place, seeing as someone with money belonged there, not a poor conman. Confidently, Dimitri walked up to a waiter and asked about a job. As the other places, Dimitri was instructed to wait for a manager or owner, or someone to talk to him.

"Bonjour," a middle-aged man greeted Dimitri with a hand shake. "I am John Roux, the owner. And you sir?"

"Dimitri."

"Alright, Dimitri, what can I do for you?" Mr. Roux asked.

"I need a job," Dimitri explained.

"Do you have any experience in a kitchen?" Mr. Roux asked. "My cook could use some help in the afternoons."

"Yes," Dimitri replied. "This sounds crazy, but I worked in the Catherine Palace in Russia as a kitchen boy ten years ago and-"

"That's not crazy."

"And I could really use this job, Sir! You see, my wife and-"

"Can you work from 11:30 through 6:00?"

"Yes, whenever you need me."

"Welcome aboard, Dimitri. You can start tomorrow."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Roux!" Dimitri smiled and thanked him shaking his hand.

"If you come with me, and I will introduce you to the cook." Dimitri got up from his seat and followed the owner to the kitchen. The kitchen was huge and absolutely fantastic. The way everything was arranged reminded Dimitri of the kitchen in the palace ten years ago. "I found you some help for the afternoons," Mr. Roux said to the cook, who's back was to them. Slowly the cook turned around. "This is Dimitri."

Dimitri looked up at and sheepishly smiled at the man he would be working under. "Uh Oh," he said as his smile faltered recognizing the cook from the Catherine Palace. The same cook he spent most of his time trying to get away from and the same cook that Anastasia spent so much time terrorizing.

Well, I love irony, don't you? What did you think of this chapter? Please review. Yes it is important for Dimitri to have a job in this story, you will find out in the upcoming chapters.