December 19th, 1919

While at dinner, Alexandra announced more special news which made the girls shriek with joy. Well, Maria - not so much Anastasia.

"Six days from now, on Christmas Eve, we'll be having a party!"

Maria gasped. Anastasia gasped too but in disgust.

"A party?!" Maria repeated.

"Yes!"

Maria pretended to faint in her chair while Anastasia put her chin in her palms. She hated the idea of wearing big frilly dresses. She hated wearing corsets and tight shoes that she had to squeeze her feet into. She absolutely hated having her hair pinned. She'd rather not even brush it at all.

"Everyone will be dressed elegantly! The house will be decked out in decorations! I could just envision it all!" Maria dreamed.

"Why the sour face, Nastasia?" Xenia asked.

"I hate parties. Well, not your coming of age ones," Anastasia gestured to Maria. "But everything else!"

Maria scoffed. "Oh, have a little fun! We haven't been to one in forever!"

Anastasia didn't think they were fun at all. They were simply a waste of time.

Those few days passed with lots of preparations. Andrei, Valentin, Maria, and Anastasia all went to town one morning to pick out their clothes, stopping at Jantzen's to say hello to Paul and Hugo, of course.

One morning, Grandmama rushed into the dining room, an opened letter in her hands.

"It's Olga, Nikolai and Tikhon! They're on a ship coming to Russia now! Olga had her baby earlier this year! It's a beautiful little boy named Guri! They'll come in time for Christmas!" Grandmama was so relieved to hear her daughter was safe.

"I have more good news to add!" Xenia declared as she stood up from the table.

"Irina and Felix are coming! They'll make their stop here before returning to Paris!"

Maria and Anastasia squealed with joy. Then they remembered.

"We haven't seen Irina since nineteen o' nine!" Maria chirped.

"But Felix," Anastasia rolled her eyes again. Both sisters didn't like him very much. In nineteen-sixteen, in the basement of his palace in St. Petersburg, he had killed the family's holy advisor Grigori Rasputin. The whole family shunned him because of it.

Xenia sucked in her breath and continued her news.

"Oh, imagine all the babies I'll kiss!" Maria giggled after Xenia had listed all of the family that was attending.

During the last few days before the party, family started to arrive.

"You'll have a few children to take care of," Anastasia laughed under her breath as she nudged Maria's shoulder one day as they stood welcoming families.

The girls even traveled to Kings Lynn to invite Hugo's family to the party. They gladly accepted saying it would be an honor to attend.

-

December 24th, 1919

A church bell rang out faintly in the distance from King's Lynn, signaling the start of the most magical, yet mysterious night of the year - Christmas Eve.

The servants were at work, dressing the house in Christmas wonder. They placed garland on the brightly decorated trees around the house. The rooms were filled with glorious scents of rich perfume and gingerbread.

All of the family were in the saloon, exchanging presents. Andrei smiled with pride as Anastasia opened her gift.

"It's so pretty!" she placed the bracelet around her wrist.

Once the presents were exchanged, Alexandra announced the start of the ball. The public started to pour into the ballroom, all bubbling with excitement in their colorful dresses and suits. Upstairs, everything was chaotic. It was noisy but nothing was as loud as the screaming from Anastasia.

"Ow, ow, ow! Too tight!" Anastasia screamed as Maria pulled her corset.

"Coresets aren't supposed to be this tight! You're going to crush my bones! Thank you!" Anastasia exclaimed as she stopped.

Maria turned around so her sister could tighten hers. Anastasia pulled as tightly as she could to get back at Maria but she barely flinched as she crushed her waist.

Maria wore a beautiful white gown and fashioned her chestnut-colored hair into a braided bun.

(the dress I imagine she is wearing is below)

Anastasia wore a purple dress and wore her strawberry-blonde hair down with a bow.

(her dress is below)

Anastasia looked at herself in the mirror as she adjusted Natalya's necklace.

"You look so beautiful, Mashka!" Anastasia gushed.

"No, you, Shvibzik. That dress looks stunning on you! Purple is your color." Maria insisted. They walked out into the hallway to see the rest of her family standing at the top of the staircase.

"Hello, good sir!" Anastasia bowed jokingly as she walked up to Andrei.

"Hello, good-um-um-woman!"

They both laughed loudly causing Maria to shush them. White-gloved footmen stood at the top of the staircase, announcing people as they descended, each pair applauded by crowds of guests that stood at the bottom.

"Valentin Golovin and Maria Romanov!"

Finally, it was Anastasia's turn. She whispered their names to the footmen as they walked around the corner of the stairs.

"Andrei Dmitriyev and Anastasia Romanov!"

Anastasia was aghast with wonder as she walked down the staircase, her arm linked with Andrei's. Tapestries picturing Christmas scenes hung on the walls, decorated with garlands of holly. The chandelier above them shimmered with light. Anastasia spotted all of the people below her. She saw there were tears in Dasia's eyes as she passed. Everyone bowed as the King and Queen walked down the stairs, nodding to the crowd. As Anastasia walked into the ballroom, Maria pulled her aside. Soon, they were the only two in the hallway.

"Nothing bad tonight. I don't want to see you making mischief." Maria begged.

"You're being the governess." Anastasia sang.

"Please, Nastasia. No being naughty tonight."

"I make no promises."

With that, Maria walked into the ballroom.

Anastasia's eyes widened at the sight of the ballroom. The room was alive with people. The orchestra in the loft was just about to play a waltz. Around, people mingled in their Christmas finery, sipping port and eating pastries. As she walked further into the ballroom, her party dress swooshing behind her, servants passed by carrying gold platters of champagne. Anastasia could spot her sister dancing the first waltz of the night. At one end of the room stood a towering Christmas tree decked in blazing gold.

"Anastasia!" a voice called.

Anastasia turned around to see Rosie running towards her. Charlie, Hugo, and Paul were rightbehind her.

"You look so wonderful!" Anastasia gasped at the pink dress Rosie.

"And aren't you three handsome as ever!"

Hugo straightened the bow on his suit. Charlie smiled, his brown eyes twinkling in the light.

"Thank you for inviting us! The boys are having the time of their lives!"

He gestured to Paul whose mouth was too full of cookies to talk.

"Yes, we are!" he muffed out words.

They all talked for a few minutes but then carried on with the party.

Later that night while watching couples waltz, Maria spotted Anastasia lurking near a cookie table. She seemed to be holding something behind her back. Maria marched over, seeing what was in her hand.

"Salt! Nastasia! What did I say about mischief?"

"What! It's a perfectly perfect prank! Why'd you have to ruin it!"

Maria put the salt shaker under the table.

"Please, nothing more! Go talk or dance. I'm sure Andrei would like to dance."

"He's too busy with his little fan club." Anastasia pointed to the boys who were gathered around him.

"Oh, well, mingle with the guests."

"I don't know half of the people here."

"Even more the better! Make friends!" Maria tried her hardest. Anastasia wasn't pleased. "Go do whatever, just no mischief!"

Anastasia made her way outside onto the house's front steps. There, she saw Oliver on the porch. People were still arriving, their carriages and cars parked outside.

"Hello there, Anastasia!" Oliver exclaimed happily. "Doesn't the house look amazing?"

They both stepped onto the snow to admire it. The Sandringham House was decorated in all of its Christmastime splendor. Its rooftops were draped with lush garland that looped from balconies to buttresses. Every window was awash by the warm glow from within the house. Each chimney puffed with smoke, dissolving into the wintery night.

"It truly does," Anastasia smiled, soaking in the sight.

"Now that I'm finished decorating, I'm just waiting for my daughters," Oliver stepping back onto the porch.

"Charmian, Peggy, and Charlotte?" Anastasia asked.

"Yes! What a good memory you have. They're coming from London."

"Meg would have loved this." he smiled. She loved going to parties and getting all dressed up."

As he finished his sentence, a carriage rode into their view. When the carriage stopped, out stepped a tall young woman. She was dressed in an elegant red ball gown. Her light auburn hair was finished in a bun.

"Oh, Papa!" she hugged Oliver. Another girl stepped out. Two young men then stepped out, one holding a small girl. The last person to exit was a young girl, her blonde curls bouncing as she stepped. She was wearing a blue gown that was slightly too big for her. The blue bow in her hair was crooked.

"Girls. Gentleman. This is Anastasia Romanov." Oliver introduced her.

"Pleased to meet you." the girls shook her hand. The rest of the party did, except the girl with the blonde hair, who stayed behind Oliver.

"Meet my daughters. This is Charmian. Her husband William, and their daughter, Louisa." Oliver pointed to the first daughter.

"This is Peggy and Elijah." he pointed to the second.

"This is Charlotte," Oliver stepped out of the way to reveal who was hiding behind him. She hid her face in her hands.

"She's very shy. I'm sure if you meet her, she'll warm up to you."

Oliver led his family into the ballroom. Anastasia led her Maria over to meet the daughters and soon they were all talking while sipping cups of port.

As she sipped hers and looked out at the crowd, Anastasia saw Charlotte standing alone, trying to hide from view. Anastasia was determined to become friends, or at least give the girl someone to talk to. As she marched over, Charlotte rushed out of the ballroom. Anastasia chased after her.

"Wait!"

She left the ballroom to see Charlotte sitting against the wall, her face in her knees.

"Hello, Charlotte." Anastasia sat next to her. The girl didn't say a word.

"Do you hate parties?"

Anastasia feared she had said the wrong thing until Charlotte nodded her head slowly.

"Good! Me too! I'm dying to get away. Would you like to see my room?"

The girls went upstairs.

"Here it is! My sister, Maria also sleeps here." Anastasia gestured to her bed as she walked behind the folding screen. Joy, who was laying on the bed rushed over to Charlotte's side. A few minutes passed and Anastasia stepped out from behind it.

"Ah! No more corset!" she collapsed face-first onto her bed.

"Sit!"

Charlotte sat on the edge of the bed.

"Your room is very nice," she whispered, smiling.

Charlotte had talked!

"Thanks! Most of the decorating is by yours truly." she gestured to herself dramatically. "Want to see my photo albums! I've taken a bunch of photos!"

"Sure!"

Anastasia and Charlotte spent most of their time in her room, giggling as Anastasia showed the girl wacky things from around the room. They also danced to the music of the gramophone. All was going well until Charlotte stood up from laying on the floor next to Anastasia.

"I think we should get back to the ballroom. I don't want anyone to worry if they see that I'm gone."

Anastasia didn't want to go back but figured she ought to. People still mingled and danced but it appeared a few people had left. Mostly families with children to take home. Charlotte left Anastasia's side to go to her sister's, leaving her alone. Anastasia had only stood in place for a few seconds when she saw Maria charging towards her.

"Where have you been!"

"In my room with Charlotte."

"You shouldn't have left - where is your corset!"

"I took it off because it was bothering me!"

"Anastasia Nikolaevna!" Maria scolded. She knew any more arguing would be pointless.

"Fine, whatever. Just please don't disappear again,"

Anastasia walked to Andrei who was standing in the crowd watching everyone. "Wanna dance?"

"Sure!"

When the orchestra played the first notes of Johann Strauss's Fledermaus waltz, the two began to dance. As they waltzed, Andrei accidentally stepped on Anastasia's foot as she turned.

"Ouch!" she stomped on Andrei's foot for revenge.

"Hey! I'm not too good at dancing."

"What an oaf! You're not good at anything!"

The waltz continued and the two laughed as they stepped on each other's feet. As the last notes of the music blared, Andrei accidentally bumped Anastasia, making her fall to the ground as the music ceased. The crowds surrounding them, applauded as Andrei helped Anastasia from the ground, her cheeks blushing bright red. She soon laughed at herself for she'd always fall while dancing.

As the night went on, Anastasia retreated to the terrace alone, sighing in relaxation as the cold air hit her. As she was careful not to slip on the ice that covered the stone porch, she suddenly heard something.

She turned around to see a black outline of a person approaching her. Anastasia knew she had to fight it off. She needed a weapon, anything! Without thinking, she took off her heel, and threw it at the shadow, knocking it back.

"Ouch!" Anastasia knew that voice.

"Andrei?" she wondered, stepping forward. When she did, she started to slip, unable to keep her balance. Just in time before falling down on the porch steps, the shadow grabbed her arms.

"Anastasia?" the voice asked.

"Andrei! Thank you!"

"My first rescue of a damsel-in-distress, as it happens."

As soon as he said that, he slid backward. Anastasia grabbed his hands just as he had done for her.

"Me? A damsel? Now, didn't I just rescue you?"

It was hard to see but Anastasia could tell Andrei had a smile on his face.

" I suppose it was fifty-fifty but you're pretty good with a shoe," he felt the small bump in the middle of his forehead. Anastasia placed her shoe back onto her foot.

"Well, I'm cooled off enough. I'll meet you inside?"

"Yep!"

As Anastasia gazed at the stars a little longer, she heard talking in the distance. She decided to investigate and walked into the courtyard. Anastasia peered from behind a tall parterre to see Maria and Valentin walking through the snow. She followed them until they came to a clearing in the plants where they could see the whole sky was lit up with stars.

As she leaned forward to try to hear, she stepped loudly in the snow, making it crunch underneath her heel. The sound of talking ceased. Anastasia held her breath and stayed in her place.

Once she heard talking again, Anastasia peered her head out to see Valentin and Maria standing face to face under the stars.

Suddenly, Valentin kneeled down.

He was proposing to Maria.