We 7 Forever

Chapter 57: Nicholas

Above: Nicholas and Alix on the Standart

I slow the carriage to a halt behind a tree, We've been running for a while, Scared the soldiers were going to find us, "Are we safe now?" Anya asks as I get out and help her out of the wheelchair, She can walks with crutches "I believe so." I say gently as I lift her down, I look over the small port, The Volga is the biggest river in Europe and take us almost to the black sea, "We just have to get to Crimea." She says determinedly as I help her walk down to the port, No one should be able to recognize me unless they remember how I looked when I was Tsarevich. We walk to the ticket booth and I see a girl staring at me, I can't see her under her thick headdress that covers her face but it makes me uncomfortable but safe at the same time, Like I know her. "Two tickets please." I say, Barely anyone has ever heard my voice except in speeches so they shouldn't know it all the way here. The woman turns to me and takes her veil up "papa?" I hear her say in her soft voice and I recognize it immediately but I can scarcely believe myself, "Mashka?" I look into her luminous blue eyes "Papa!" Sheer cries out and leaps into my arms with joy as I hug her tightly. I can't believe it! How? My darling daughter is here with me! Safe! "Mashka, My Little mashka! How are you here?" I put her down and immediately quiet myself in case anyone would overhear us, "We should talk about this on the ship," A young soldier appears next to her side, I can tell in his eyes he recognizes me, I wonder who he is. Mashka keeps control of herself until we enter the stateroom that we are assigned too, Then she breaks out into tears and hugs me as tight as she can "Papa oh Papa darling," She hugs me as tears run down both our faces "How did you survive my Mashka?" i move the hair out of her face so she looks at me, "I ran Papa, I thought you were gone," I hold her tightly to my chest as she cries with relief, "Do not cry my little darling, We are here together," I say she sits up and the tears dry on her face "Oh papa! This is Sasha he's a soldier," She says and I look at him hen stand up and shake his hand, "Thank you for getting my daughter home," I shake his hands firmly "I'll let you get settled in," I kiss her forehead and walk out into the hall where Anna is waiting standing on her crutches, "Can you believe Mashka is alive?" She smiles at me and I remember how Alix told me she was infatuated with me, "Only by the grace of God," I make the sign of the cross and keep my distance from her but she just moves closer "She is such a darling girl," She stands in front of my lips and I try to step back but she grabs me by the collar and presses her lips on mine,