Valentin settled in at Sandringham right away. That week, Maria and Valentin were inseparable. They did everything together - Anastasia didn't like this one bit. She couldn't wait until Andrei arrived. Till then, she would have to race Vasili, who kept begging, claiming he'd finally beat her.

A few days later, the house received the news that Andrei had arrived. Anastasia was out riding Lavrenti when the news was sent so she didn't know he was coming.

While Anastasia was still riding, a black car pulled past the gates of the house. Just as it stopped in front of the house's porch, Lavrenti sprinted around the corner of the house and was spooked by the car. He reared up on his high legs and neighed frantically as Anastasia held the reins tightly, trying not to fall off. He came back to the ground and sprinted past the car.

"Was that Anastasia?" Dasia asked, shocked.

"I think." Andrei answered.

Anastasia tried to stop the horse but Lavrenti still dashed, making it to the back of the house. As he zoomed, Anastasia spotted Maria and Valentin walking, unaware that a horse was charging toward them.

"Maria! Maria!" Anastasia screamed, trying to alert her. The two turned dove out of the way just in time.

"Anastasia?!" Maria yelled, embarrassed by her again. When her sister disappeared, they continued their walk.

"Do you hear that?" Valentin stopped in his tracks.

"Hear what?" Maria asked.

Seconds later, they heard screams in the distance.

"It's Anastasia!" Maria shouted as she ran off towards the sound.

She ran to the front of the house where she saw her sister holding onto the saddle, whimpering as the horse jumped around. The stable boy confronted the horse, which only made it more scared.

"You're going to have to jump off!" Andrei shouted as he stepped out of the car.

"I can't!" Anastasia yelled above the horse's nickering.

"Trust me! It may hurt but you'll be safe!"

Anastasia let go of the saddle, just as the horse reared once more. She hit the pebble driveway with a thud, knocking the air out of her. Once on the ground, scared for her life, she sprinted to her sister, crying as she fell into Maria's arms.

"It's okay. It's okay." Maria repeated, comforting her sister. The stable boy finally managed to get the horse under control.

"Have you any shame! It took you this long to control a horse. She could have been gotten hurt! Maybe even killed!" Valentin lectured to the stable boy.

"Are you alright?" Andrei asked, concerned.

Just then, Anastasia's bottom lip started to bleed. Dasia had to look away.

"Oh, poor dear. You've busted your lip! Let's get you a rag." Maria led everyone inside and into the saloon.

"What's happened?" Alexandra asked, frantically when she stepped into the room.

"Her horse spun out of control. It ran around with her on it. It was about to throw her off. Luckily, she jumped off in time before anything else happened. She's just busted her lip." Andrei explained.

"Do release that stable boy. He did nothing whatsoever to stop it sooner. He needs to train his horses right to not get so spooked." Valentin added.

"Was not expecting that this was how'd I see you after all this time!" Anastasia laughed, holding the rag to her lip.

"You still have the necklace on!" Dasia gasped.

"I've never taken it off." Anastasia smiled.

The two Russians then introduced themselves to everyone.

"Andrei!" Valentin remarked once Andrei had introduced himself.

"Wait? Valentin?"

"Yes!"

"You two know each other?" Maria wondered.

"From school in Petrograd years ago! I didn't even recognize you!" Valentin remarked. He wore a white collared shirt with high-waisted brown pants and black dress shoes.

Andrei wore a tattered coat and an old white loose-fitting shirt that was now stained cream. He wore his father's old pants which still didn't fit him yet and boots that he had on when he worked in the mines. Valentin wore his blonde hair fixed and slicked back while Andrei's hair was disheveled and looked to be uncombed.

Time had certainly changed both of them.

Once dinner time approached, everyone was leaving the saloon when Anastasia tapped Andrei on the back.

"I'm so glad you're here!" she exclaimed as she hugged him. Andrei smiled as he hugged her back.

"I'm so glad to see you too."

-

November passed and December arrived.

December 14th, 1919.

"Don't you just love winter!" Maria exclaimed one frosty morning while looking through the saloon window, Joy sitting at her feet.

"The freezing air outside! The warmness of the fire inside! I do love summer but I think I love winter a bit more." she took a sip of her coffee.

Anastasia and Andrei sat on one of the couches nearby, putting on their coats.

"Well, I like summer more!" Anastasia disagreed. "I'd rather be at Livadia! Where the winters can be spent on the beach!"

Once they finished, Anastasia and Andrei went outside into the chilling air, their skates slung over their shoulders. They walked through the frozen courtyard, careful not to slip on ice.

"Tag!" Anastasia cried happily, trying to run away.

"Anastasia!" Andrei laughed, sliding after her.

They chased one another until they finally found one of the ground's ponds that covered over with ice.

Anastasia put her skates on and stepped onto the ice. Anastasia was a good skater, but Andrei fell with every step he took. They raced from side to side of the pond, Anastasia winning every time, of course. They skated for a few hours before returning inside to warm up where they both talked in front of the fire, blankets around their bodies as they drank cocoa.

"How was skating?" Dasia asked happily as she walked into the saloon.

"Amazing! Although, I'm not that good." Andrei admitted.

"He's terrible!" Anastasia giggled.

Once the two warmed up, went outside again. This time, they traveled to the stables where new horses were kept.

"You may choose your horses," the new stable boy gestured to the many stalls with horses inside.

"That's Winston." the boy pointed to Andrei's brown spotted horse.

"That one doesn't have a name yet. He's our newest one." he patted the raven black-colored horse. Anastasia stroked the horse's mane.

"His name will be...Tempest!"

"Tempest?" Andrei chuckled.

"Yes, that will be his name."

Once outside, they put on their saddles. Anastasia swung herself gracefully over the saddle with no help whatsoever. Tempest whined at the sudden weight change but settled down.

"You're still riding after that incident?" Andrei asked, referring to Lavrenti.

"Of course I would!"

"Well, I just thought you'd still be scared after all that!"

"I'm not scared."

"I'd be!" Andrei laughed.

"Hey! Wait up!" he yelled as Anastasia sprinted off without him.

Flurries of snowflakes began to fall from the sky as they rode over the hills of the estate, the horses kicking up snow as they galloped. Anastasia's laughter filled the air as she sped past Andrei, her long strawberry-blonde hair blowing in the wind. Andrei shivered under his thin winter coat but somehow he felt warm inside. Seeing the girl of his dreams laughing. He could still envision her heartbroken stare when he had told her that her family was dead that night in the cellar.

"I suppose we should be getting back to the stables," Andrei advised as the snow fell harder. They ran inside the house where they instantly sat in front of the fire.

"There you are!" Maria ran into the saloon. "I've been looking for you two everywhere! It's almost dinner! I've heard Alexandra has a surprise for us all!"

Dinner was served then came the surprise. As she was about to announce it, Grandmama winced in pain.

"Are you alright?" Dasia asked, alarmed.

"Is it another migraine?"

"Yes," Grandmama answered, her voice shaky.

"Let's get you to bed." Maria guided her Grandmama out of the dining room. Valentin followed.

"Let's wait until Maria and Valentin return then I'll tell you all."

"No, no. It's alright! Tell them now." Maria called from outside the dining room.

"I've arranged us all a sleigh ride tonight into town!"

Anastasia's eyes lit up. Andrei smiled.

"That's wonderful! But I'm going to have to pass. I'm not too good with the cold." Dasia admitted as she stood up.

"But you all have a good time! Good night!" she closed the dining-room door.

"I would love to go but I have to get back to Vasili," Xenia sighed.

"He's gotten worse. The fever is making him weaker. Liesel? Are you able to make a bit of soup? It's all he'll keep down."

"Right away, miss," Liesel ran out of the room.

"Good night darlings." Xenia followed Liesel into the hallway.

"So I guess it's just us. Don't say you two can't come," Alexandra laughed but became sad.

"No, I'd love to come!" Anastasia happily accepted. "I can't remember the last time I've been on a sleigh ride."

"I'd love to come too!" Andrei chimed in.

"If you two would like to go alone, I can stay back." Alexandra wondered.

"Are you sure, Auntie?"

"Yes! You both go and have a lovely time!"

"Thank you!" Anastasia kissed Alexandra's cheek. She skipped out of the room.

Andrei huffed as he stood up.

"She always leaves without me!"