Andrei and Anastasia waited outside on the house's porch for the sleigh to be prepared. The horse-drawn sleigh pulled in front of them minutes later, Oliver sitting at the reins.

"Hop in!" he smiled, his face shown only by a small fire lit lantern. The two sat next to one another on the cold leather seats. The wind blew softly as the sleigh traveled on the empty road leading to town.

"I've heard the whole town is decked out in lights and there's a huge Christmas tree in the square! Is that right, Oliver?" Anastasia asked.

"Indeed miss!" Oliver replied.

"Excite-" Andrei started.

"Yes!" Anastasia interrupted. "Sorry."

The sleigh traveled on for a few miles until they were at a clearing of trees at the top of a hill overlooking King's Lynn.

"Look!" Oliver alerted Andrei and Anastasia who sat facing away from the view. They turned around to see the huge town, illuminated by colored lights. They spotted thousands of cars that sped down the roads, some had Christmas trees, resting on its tops. Then, they all caught sight of the huge tree nestled in the square. Though they were miles from town, the slight scent of peppermint lingered in the air.

"What are we waiting for!?" Anastasia put her hand on her hip and a finger in the air as if she were a war general from out of a painting. "Off we go!"

The sun had fully set and the town came alive. Fires burned inside of street lamps. The air was filled with more scents like burning firewood. Men and women bundled their coats tightly as they carried rosy-cheeked children home. Smoke puffed out of chimneys in symmetrical rows.

Anastasia leaned over the side of the sleigh to see everything that went on. She spotted merchants selling their things, carolers singing merry songs to people that passed by, and families that walked the sidewalk, admiring the sights.

Anastasia felt somewhat saddened by this. Christmas had always been a memorable time for her family. She remembered the warm, joyous feeling of spending it with the people you love.

"You know you might fall out if you lean too far." Andrei chuckled. Not looking behind her, Anastasia leaned back into the sleigh and swatted Andrei with her hand.

"Hey!" Andrei called out, his chuckle now a laugh.

As the sleigh crossed a bridge, Anastasia and Andrei watched as kids ice skated on the frozen river, their laughter filling the air. Faintly in the distance, a church bell rang out. The sleigh traveled to the town square where the huge tree stood, decorated every bit with lanterns. Families stopped to admire the tree, children's faces painted with joy, anxiously awaiting the night Father Christmas would come.

"Can we maybe stop in one little shop? Just to look!" Anastasia asked Oliver once they had ridden past the tree. Oliver sucked in his breath. He knew Alexandra had strictly said not to allow them in shops but what did she know? She wasn't even here!

"I suppose! Just for a few minutes." Oliver smiled. He managed to park in front of a sweet shop for a moment before letting them off.

"I'll be just around the corner!" he directed as Anastasia sprinted into the shop.

"Andrei!" Oliver whispered as he shut the door of the sleigh.

"Here." he took a few pounds from out of his pocket. "Buy her something nice."

Andrei stashed the money inside of his coat pocket. Inside, the shop was a warm refuge from the bitter cold outside. The air was scented of fresh kettle corn. Andrei spotted Anastasia scouring the shelves.

"Hey, I gotta go tell Oliver something. Don't go out of the store until I come back. Okay?"

"Okay." Anastasia mumbled, totally ignoring him.

Andrei walked down the long block until he found a jewelry store. He went inside and managed to buy Anastasia a bracelet with the very little English he spoke. He returned to the sweet shop, the bracelet hidden in his coat pocket. He found Anastasia still glued to the shelves.

"Okay, I'm back."

"Yep." Anastasia still ignored him, hypnotized by the smell of sweets.

After much pleading to stay by Anastasia, the two finally made it out. They started their descent back home when Anastasia remembered something. Or a certain someone...

-

"Yes, that's the place!" Anastasia pointed down a road.

They had traveled into a lesser-known area of town. Christmas lights still gave off their glow and the occasional sounds of house doors shutting and people talking filled the air.

"Thank you!" Anastasia hopped out of the sleigh. She smiled as she proudly read the store name: Jantzens Swimwear.

Anastasia went in alone, the door's bell chiming as it opened. The store was lit up but no one was on the main level. She stepped further into the shop when she heard the clicking of high heels upstairs.

Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack.

"Charlie?" the voice called out as it stepped downstairs. It was none other than Rosie Bell.

"The boys are just-" she paused. "You're not Charlie."

"Nope. As you may know me from-" Anastasia started. Suddenly she was cut off by loud footsteps charging down the stairs.

"Daddy!" Voices called out. Once two boys had turned the corner, they stopped in their tracks.

"Who are-" the older boy started.

"Anastasia!" Hugo hugged her.

"Hugo! Stop that. She didn't come for you!" Rosie stepped towards her son.

"Actually I did come for him." Anastasia laughed.

"I knew you'd visit one day!" Hugo exclaimed. "Where's Maria?"

"Unfortunately, she's at home."

"Oh," Hugo answered sadly. "But, I'm glad you came!"

"I'm very sorry. I have to go now. I have a sleigh waiting for me."

"A sleigh!" Hugo pondered, his eyes wide. "Can I see?"

Anastasia looked at Rosie. She didn't look too happy.

"I would love for you to take a look but I don't think your Mummy wants you to."

Hugo quivered his lip. "Please Mummy! Can I please-"

The bell of the shop's front door rang out. A middle-aged man bundled in a coat stepped into the shop.

"Daddy! Daddy!" the boys shouted.

"Charlie!" Rosie rushed to her husband. The man kissed his son's heads.

"How I've missed you!" Charlie laughed.

Anastasia's heart ached. These boys were so happy that their father was home. Just like Anastasia's family was when her father would finally return home from military headquarters, spending months away at a time during the war. Now, he was never coming home. Her mind started to drift when she heard someone calling her.

"Anastasia?" Charlie asked. Anastasia suddenly came back to life.

"Yes?"

"Would it be alright if the boys accompanied you on a small ride?"

"Oh yes, that'll be fine!"

The boys ran from their father's arms out into the sidewalk.

"Boys! Get back here!" Rosie called after them, their winter jackets in hand.

"Who's this!" Andrei spoke in Russian. The boys looked at him, confused expressions on their faces.

"Andrei here speaks Russian!" Anastasia explained as she helped the boys, putting their coats over their pajamas. The boys happily stepped into the sleigh while Rosie pulled Anastasia aside.

"Please don't let anything happen to them! I'm trusting their lives with you."

'No pressure at all!' Anastasia thought.

"I won't let them out of my sight." she reassured Rosie. Anastasia climbed into the sleigh.

"Please do have them home soon! They have school tomorrow!" Rosie called.

"We will!"

As Anastasia stood up and waved, Oliver pulled the reins which made the carriage jerk, throwing her back onto the seat. This made Hugo and Paul laugh. The sleigh drove back into the busy part of King's Lynn.

"I've never been on a sleigh before!" Hugo marveled.

Andrei sat confused. If anything, he looked ashamed. Ashamed he didn't know much English or any other language.

"Ya nikogda ne byl na sanyakh ran'she!" Anastasia translated what Hugo had said.

"No need to translate all those words. I can just tell by the smiles on their faces."

Anastasia observed the boys. Hugo was happy, not a care in the world while Paul wore a sad look, his arms crossed as he slouched on the seat.

"Go to Andrei's side," Anastasia told Hugo. She then scooted next to Paul.

"Are you alright?'

"Yes." Paul snapped.

"Are you sure?"

"No..." Paul admitted.

"Why does Hugo get to have all the good things? The good grades, the good friends, perfect behavior. He's friends with royalty! I'm just the bad child to Mummy." Paul stared at his brother.

Anastasia wanted to tell Paul she wasn't royalty anymore but she kept that to herself.

"I feel the same way sometimes. I felt overlooked by my sisters. I wasn't exactly the smartest pupil. I remember I hated school. I used to climb trees to get out of lessons."

"Did your parents hate you?"

"I mean, not hate but sometimes they'd get angry when I would cause trouble."

"At least your parents notice or discipline you. Mummy is too busy with the shop. Daddy is always at work. We never spend time together anymore."

"I promise you that your Mummy and Daddy love you very much. I'm sure they want to spend time with you. Even though they may be busy with work, that doesn't mean they love you any less. They love you and Hugo equally."

"Thanks, Anastasia." Paul hugged her.

The sleigh then rode through the town square, the huge tree still enchanting people that passed by, its warm glow shining for all to see. The boys stared at the tree, hypnotized by its beauty.

As the sleigh left the square, the boys happily waved to people that passed by on the sidewalk, proud that they were riding with 'royalty'.

That happiness turned to dread when the carriage turned down the road where Janztens was located. Once the sleigh had parked, Rosie and Charlie, who had been looking out a window awaiting their sons, rushed outside to greet them.

"Mummy!" Paul yelled as he ran into his mother's arms.

"Hello, Paul!" Rosie smiled. She wore a surprised look on her face. If anything, she was surprised to see her oldest son in her arms. Anastasia grinned. It had seemed that her advice worked. It had always been Maria who had given advice to people but if Anastasia's had worked, she was sure she'd say some more often.

"We had the best time!" Hugo hugged his father.

"I hope we can do this sometime again! With Maria, of course." Anastasia sat back in the sleigh.

"Oh! Especially Andrei too!" Hugo added. Andrei perked his head up at the sound of his name.

"I like him! He's funny! He taught me a few Russian words! Rozhdestvo which means Christmas and do svidaniya which is goodbye!" Hugo smiled proudly.

"Do svidaniya!" The two heard Hugo shout as the sleigh turned into the main road of town.

Andrei and Anastasia called back to him in unison, their voices and laughter disappearing into the wind.

"Do svidaniya!"