Two Years Later

Erica sat at the dining room table, trying to get Toni to eat her peas.

"Here comes the plane!" she announced, swooping a spoonful of peas toward Toni's mouth. The little girl shook her head, pressing her lips together firmly.

"Wonderful news," Yuri announced, walking in from the living room. "War in United States is over. My country have new prime minister now. His name is Mikhail Gorbachev, and he want to be friends with United States. He has signed peace treaty and agreed to withdraw all troops. Also put pressure on Castro to withdraw his troops as well. Threatened to cut off financial aid if he refuse."

"That's great!" Erica exclaimed. "Now we can finally go back home."

"Home," said Toni.

"That's right, sweetheart. Now we can finally go back home." Erica picked her daughter up, hugged her tightly, and kissed her cheek. Then she carried her into the living room so that she could watch the rest of the news with Yuri.

"When can we leave?" she asked when the news was over.

"I will have to work at factory a little while longer and save up money to travel," Yuri told her. "Then we can get marrried and I can get work permit to get job in United States."

"That's right! We can finally get married now!" Erica exclaimed.

Yuri laughed and picked her up and spun her around and around.

Erica wrote to Jed and Matt, who were both still stationed in San Diego but living off base. Jed wrote back to tell her that she and Toni were welcome to stay with him for as long as they needed to, but that he didn't want Yuri to set foot inside his house.

"I'm so sorry," Erica told Yuri. "I have nowhere else to turn."

"It is all right," Yuri said. "I can understand his anger. I will just have to stay in motel for awhile. That will not be so bad."

At last the day for the family's departure arrived. Yuri and Erica packed all their belongings and took the bus to the train station.

"Go bye-bye on choo choo train," said Toni, waving her hand.

"That's right. Go bye-bye on choo choo train," Erica replied.

At last the train arrived at the station and the family boarded. Erica felt a sense of euphoria as the train rolled homeward.

"After all this time, we're finally going home," she said to Yuri, who frowned and didn't say anything.

"Are you all right, Yuri?"

He nodded. "My mother, she just send a letter to me. My little sister, Sonya, she is married now. I can't believe it. Little Sonya, married!" he chuckled.

Erica smiled. "You miss them, don't you?"

Yuri looked sad for just a moment, then squeezed her hand. "Do not be sad for me. You and Tonika are my family now."

"So, tell me about Sonya's new husband."

"His name is Felix, and his father is member of Communist Party. That is good for Sonya, means that they can have their own apartment, don't have to share with other families. Maybe can get a car, even."

"How are your parents?"

"They are all right. Wheat crop was better last year, so they are not too hungry. Still lots of shortages, long lines."

After several days and nights of travel, the train finally arrived in San Diego. Thrilled to see her friends again for the first time in over two years, Erica embraced Jed and Matt tightly.

"You look so much older now," she told Matt.

"Thanks a lot!" he chuckled.

"I didn't mean that like it sounded," she quickly amended. "What I meant is that you look so much more mature now."

"Military life does that to you," he told her.

"Say hi to Uncle Jed and Uncle Matt," Erica encouraged Toni.

"Hi," the little girl said solemnly. Jed and Matt both smiled indulgently.

Jed had relented and decided that Yuri could stay with him, after all, so Yuri and Erica slept on the fold-out sofa with Toni between them. The next day they went before the justice of the peace and got married.

As they were leaving the judge's quarters, Yuri was approached by several uniformed men.

"Are you Yuri Leonidovich Shikov?" asked one of the men.

Yuri nodded.

"FBI." The man flashed his badge. "You're under arrest for war crimes." Too stunned to do anything, Yuri stood silently as the men handcuffed him and led him away. He glanced desperately at Erica, his green eyes full of confusion and fear, and she felt utterly helpless to do anything at all.