ET here, first off let me apologize for the long wait. I have been busy with my job, stuff at home, and my writing mood comes and goes. Sometimes I can't force myself to write even when I want too. But I got my muse back so here's the awaited chapter 15! The gaps may be long between uploads, but don't worry, I have the story plotted out. I will finish it! Please leave comments and reviews, they help motivate me! Now onwards with the story!

Oliver, Alexei, Anya, and Dimitri continue into the mountains until their horses were worn out. At a mountain stream the quartet dismount and lead the horses to water. While the horses drink, the humans drink too. At first they were all silent.

"Well… that… that was… something," Oliver mutters, still in shock to an extent. Nothing could have prepared him for that. No matter how much reading and training, nothing could have prepared him for actual combat. His right hand is visibly twitching. The three Russians just stand there, staring at nothing in particular. Anya is rocking slightly, eyes darting towards a rustling limb or a snapped twig, afraid that the four of them will be set upon by Soviets at any moment. Dimitri has his hand in hers, knuckles white. Alexei is shaken up too, but seems to be recovering quicker.

"Yes, it was… um… something. Exciting and… and… terrifying at the same time," he says quietly. "I thought the allies would have a better plan."

"The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry," Oliver responds.

"What does that mean? What do mice have to do with the allies?" asks Alexei.

"Nothing Alexei, it's an expression."

"Hmph, seems trivial, the west worrying about mice. You English are a strange lot."

"I'm not British, I'm American."

"Is that better?"

Oliver pauses for a moment, then smirks. "It is, I can assure you. You're in safe hands your highness." Oliver pats Alexei's shoulder. It was strange to him, meeting a would-be emperor who's roughly his own age. Anya and Dimitri by this time had loosened up, thanks to Alexei's and Oliver's back and forth.

"Nice to see your brother isn't a royal bore," Dimitri remarks.

"Trust me, if he's the same little brother I remember, he isn't." Anya softly smiles. Dimitri brushes her hair away from her face.

"How are you feeling?"

"As well as one can be, considering I'm lost in a country whose government wants me dead, being pursed by said agents of that government. Other than that, I'm swell." Dimitri takes his wife's head and kisses it on top.

"Anya, please don't ever change. Let me talk to General Washington over there and see what he's planning." Dimitri walks over to Oliver and takes him aside.

"Excuse me your majesty," he remarks to Alexei. Alexei just stands awkwardly as Dimitri and Oliver begin to talk. "So maestro, how lost are we?"

"Lost? Who said we were lost? We're merely going home the scenic route. Everything is going as well as one of your cons." As they banter, Anya walks over to her brother.

"So Alyosha, enjoying the reunion so far?"

"I will be honest Nastya, I expected my rescue to be more… professional. Seems to me we were rescue by an office clerk rather than a professional soldier. But I will not be bitter. It is so nice to see you again Nastya. There is so much I want to ask. How is our family?" Anya winces at the question.

"Well, Grandmamma is well, she is very excited to have her only grandson back again. You will enjoy Paris, I have a feeling the whole city will be aglow just for you. Vlad, last I head, was going to pick out a new suit."

"Vlad?"

"He's a close friend and a member of the imperial court. Him and Dimitri smuggled me out of Russia."

"Ah! It's wonderful to know that the royal court is awaiting my arrival. I imagine mother and father will be there?" Anya gulped, this was not the time or the place, but once again the dreaded question went unanswered when Alexei asked another one. "Wait, what do you mean by smuggled? I thought you escaped on that dreadful night?"

"Well, yes and no Alexei." Anya motions to a log and they sit down. "I did escape, but I missed the train and fell. I lost my memory and for the next ten years I was an orphan in Russia by the name of Anya." Alexei's eyes go wide; he never considered the possibility that one of his sisters was stuck in Russia too. "The only thing I had that told me who I was, or rather that I was someone with a family, was this necklace." Anya pulls out the Together in Paris pendant. "Thanks to this, I kept going, motivated by the goal of finding my family. When I was old enough to be kicked out of the orphanage, I was, and I took myself to St. Petersburg. There I met Vlad and Dimitri, who taught me how to be a grand duchess again, and got me out of Russia to Paris. And now I have you back. But enough about me how have you dealt with the past 10 years or so? You sort of hinted at it in your letter?"

"Well Nastya, as I said, father threw me from the train while we were being transported. I just ran from the tracks, in case they stopped the train to come after me. As you know the whole country was thrown into chaos, I thought I would be lost forever in it. However, a kind man saved me. He later told me I reminded him of his own son who perished in the war. He and his wife took me and raised me as their own son. Once I learned he was loyal to the crown, I told him who I was. He and his wife swore to protect me with their lives. The villagers too learned my identity and the whole town made a pact to protect me." Alexei smiles, "but I did not sit around waiting to be rescued. The town taught me how to farm, make bread, sew, and live as a farmer. It was eye opening to see what life was for the average citizen of Russia. Unfortunately, I saw first hand how the Bolsheviks were cruel. Every time they came to town, I was hidden away. But I could her screams of fear and pain as villagers were either taken away or beaten. I can't wait to cleanse our country of red filth."

'You really need to lighten up,' thought Anya but she is glad that he lived comfortably the past decade. "Uh, Alyosha, how did you learn of my escape?"

"Oh! Well, some of the villagers were 'recruited' to different offices and spheres of the new government. One was sent to be part of a foreign trade delegation. He brought back an old newspaper about your coronation. That's when I decided to write my letters a recruit my own 'royal guard' to get me out of Russia." Alexei smirks, "That article was quite underwhelming compared to what you just told me. Made no mention of your escape, let alone your friends. Who is this Dimitri?" Anya perks up and smiles.

"Oh Dimitri, could you come here please?" Oliver and Dimitri had been discussing the best course of action, and also preventing the horses from wondering off, when Anya called. He jokingly salutes Oliver, who grimaces a sarcastic smirk, and comes to his wife's call.

"Yes dear?"

"Alexei, may I present my rescuer many times over, and husband, Dimitri Donovich Bluthov," Anya regally presents with a proud air about her. Dimitri smiles and nods with courtesy and extends his hand. Alexei leaves it hanging for a moment with a perplexed look on his face. He squints, looks Dimitri up and down, and then shakes his hand.

"For someone who's saved my sister, you're much thinner than I expected. I take it you're not a military man? Wait- husband?!" Alexei is startled, causing him to over grip Dimitri's hand. Dimitri takes his hand and rubs it. "You're married?" Anya couldn't help but chuckled.

"Yep, well not officially, but we've been inseparable and deeply in love with each other ever since he saved me."

"Yes, though I don't recall you having such a vice grip? Maybe that Romanov trait skipped you?" Anya rolled her eyes.

"Don't be such a baby Dimitri. Alexei said he worked on a farm, that's where he got his grip." Meanwhile, Alexei was still processing the fact his sister was married, or rather she wasn't.

"Wait, what do you mean 'not officially'? You're not married but you say he's your husband?"

"Well Alexei, we eloped and-"

"You eloped?! Nastya, how could you? That's not proper for someone of our family. It's scandalous. Do the Allies know about this? What about mother and father?"

"Alexei, Alexei, calm down," Anya puts her hands on her brother's shoulders, "it's all alright, we're planning a formal wedding. Besides, this day and age, we sort of have to keep a low profile."

"Says the woman who made headlines in Hollywood when she wore her crown in the Brown Derby."

"Shush you," Anya playfully elbowed her husband in the ribs.

"Wait, you wore a derby with your crown?" asked Alexei.

"I'll explain everything when we get back to Paris Alyosha. Mr. Cross, what's the plan?"

"Well," says Oliver, putting his compass away, "we need to keep heading south, we'll try to go to the rendezvous. At worst, we'll run the border and try to make contact somewhere in Turkey. We're still too close to hostiles, so I say we night march till we put a good deal of distance them and us. Hopefully, you're all up for it." The three Russians nod.

"Like we have much of a choice Oliver," Dimitri comments. Everyone heads to their horses with Oliver and Alexei on one, and Anya and Dimitri on the other. Just before heading off into the night, Alexei turns to the couple and says, "no funny business back there understand?" Anya and Dimitri look at each other with a 'is he serious look', which Oliver also shares. "Agent, we may move out."

"Yes your highness."

Major Karskov sat in the now deserted cabin, which now included recently added bullets from the skirmish, drinking what remained of the coffee the secret agents left.

"If it wasn't treasonous I'd say the capitalists have the best coffee I've ever drank," he mused to no one in particular. At that moment…

"Sir!" Major Krainliskov burst through the doorway, causing Karskov to sputter and spill the coffee, "We have searched the area and no sign of them anywhere. We found tracks, but I want to consult you for our next move."

"Thank you Major Krainliskov," replied Karskov as he cleaned himself up, "I was chatting with this traitor when he succumbed to lead poisoning." He motions towards the dead man in the seat. The gun on the table was still smoking. "He didn't provide anything useful. As for our next move, we'll simply follow the tracks while I-"

"They go in different directions, Sir."

"Spilt the force and follow every lead and any shadow." They leave the cabin. Karskov mounts his horse. "I'll return to headquarters and follow the situation from there. I'll alert our border and make sure they won't let them slip past. And we'll warn the Turks as well of what would happen if they intervene in anyway."

"They most likely complied with royals, how else would the enemy force get here? They supported an invasion, it's a declaration of war!"

"Easy Nikolai. There won't be any marching to the Mediterranean yet. We can't risk the citizens knowing that their former overlords' heirs are in the country. The wrong people may get the wrong ideas."

"And we would crush them just as we did before Fyodor!"

"The Civil War is over, no one is keen to start it again and it's going to stay that way. Don't worry. Our foreign network is strong. Captain Feliksovin is in Turkey as we speak. He'll make sure they won't escape to the west." Krainliskov wasn't happy, but knew his friend was firm.

"Alright Karskov," he replied, "we'll do it your way. Sometimes I think your fire has quelled since you joined intelligence." Karskov chuckled.

"Just because you don't see the smoke means there's no fire burning. Stay strong Nikolai." Karskov rides off with his guards.

"Men, we shall split up and track the capitalists. Break off into squads of 3 or 5, if you find them, do not engage and wait for back up. Move!"

"I thought we would be moving at a faster pace Mr. Cross."

"Alexei, for the last time, we are in the mountains and the trails are narrow, I am not keen on galloping at breakneck speed," Oliver retorts with emphasis placed where it needed to be. "And I doubt you would want to take a tumble either."

"But the Allied Army is waiting for us! Each day we delay them is putting ourselves in danger and giving the Communists opportunity to entrench. They must know an army is coming." Oliver and Alexei go back and forth for the umpteenth time, much to the amusement to Anya and Dimitri.

"And I thought you and I bickered a lot," says Anya.

"Who? Us? Nah." Dimitri responds with all the sarcasm he could muster. "But now we know how entertaining it is to watch." A light laugh escapes from Anya mouth. Dimitri did have a point. It was hard to take it seriously, watching Oliver and Alexei, two teenage boys, argue. If she didn't know what they were talking about, it might as well have been watching two boys argue who had the fastest bicycle or something trivial that teenagers argue about. Anya spurs the horse to be along side the boys.

"Are you two having fun?"

"Barrels worth," deadpans Oliver. Alexei does a double take.

"Barrels? What do barrels have to do with our speed? They would slow us down even more," Alexei said in exasperated seriousness.

"Not unless one of you were inside one rolling down the mountain," quips Dimitri.

"Well, if we find one you go first," Oliver fires back.

"Gentlemen enough!" Anya huffs, "this isn't helping. Oliver are we at least going the right way?"

"Yes, if we keep the pace, we should get to a safe clearing by midnight. I marked possible shelter on the way in on the map, so if we need to, we could rest there until morning. We'll be out of the USSR in 2 days or less." Alexei's look of disgust was indescribable, but Anya interjected before he started up again.

"Alexei, don't worry, we'll be fine. As long as we stick to Oliver's plan we'll be-" At that moment a horse's neigh was heard in the distance, followed by muffled voices. Anya, Dimitri, Alexei, and Oliver freeze and turn towards the sound with wide-eyed stares of terror.

"Don't run, dismount slowly and get down as close as you can to the ground and the rock wall." All 3 follow Oliver's instructions. Oliver. takes the four horses around the corner out of sight. He stoops as he makes his way back, his eyes still fixated to where the voices were coming from. He couldn't tell what language they were speaking. The 3 Russians were sprayed out on the ground not moving a muscle. Oliver joined them. They spoke in faint whispers. "Ok, horses are hidden, I think if go to them we'll be alright."

"I think it's better if we stay here," Alexei suggests.

"No, my idea is more safe."

"But it doesn't sound like there's that many, we can fight."

"And risk alerting the rest of the red army, I don't think so."

"I say stay"

"Don't argue."

"Don't argue? Don't tell me don't argue."

"Alyosha, go with Oliver," commands Anya.

"But sister-"

"Do it." Anya's big sister stare worked its magic on Alexei, who nods in agreement. He and Oliver start crawling.

"I'll come back for you two." It was an agonizing wait. After making it to the horses and making sure Alexei wasn't going to do anything he would regret, Oliver starts crawling back. "Ok, you two start, I'll bring up the rear." Anya and Dimitri didn't even wait. The air was tense. The voices were closer now. And even though the stars were beginning to appear in the sky, there was still enough light left. They could still be seen. Oliver starts to make his move. He neglects his own orders and gets up, albeit in a stoop once again. As he catches up to Anya and Dimitri he slips on a rock and falls on Dimitri's legs. The rock rolls off the path, down the slope intro the creek. Though the sound wasn't too loud, to Anya, Dimitri, and Oliver the effect was the same as if an orchestra played a loud note. They freeze, holding their breaths. Oliver looks over his shoulder. Sure enough, he sees a figure stand on an outcropping, further back and higher up on the other side of the creek. The figure stands there for what felt like an eternity. Oliver slowly reaches for his gun. "Just be ready to run if need be," he whispers, with fear in the tone against his attempts to prevent it. Just then the murmur of the voices broke into two distinct ones. They were still unintelligible, but Anya, Dimitri, and Oliver now know there's at least three people. The stranger turns back and leaves his post. A third tone was heard, and soon hoofbeats were heard, heading away from Anya, Dimitri, and Oliver. They waited until they felt the strangers were gone. They get up slowly and move to where Alexei and the horses were waiting.

"Let's get goin' while the get goin's good," Oliver says as he mounts his horse. He pulls Alexei on while Anya and Dimitri get on their horse. "We'll head for the shelter for the night, quiet like, and then we make whatever distance we can tomorrow." The Russians nod in agreement. That was too close.

So onwards once again. If you're wondering about Dimitri's name, it's a play on Don Bluth's name. Using Russian naming traditions, I have made Dimitri the 'son' of Don Bluth. It's fun sneaking little gags and references in. Please leave a review and stay tuned, I will finish this story.