The year went by quicker then any other. There were no riots or deaths. No shouting or fights. The world almost seemed peaceful. I knew better though. People had been too angry. Had wanted to see the end of the tsar. I knew it couldn't end that quick.
Alisa was 8 now and the smartest girl I knew. She could out cook anyone and could dance with the best of her group. Often she would be sitting on the bed reading any novels Andrey could give her. She was always laughing and jumping full of energy.
Andrey and I were doing better then ever. Happier then ever too. I got to see Papa every so often making us all happy. Papa had 'adopted' Alisa into the family. Madame Markova was ready to make me prima by next year. My training was almost complete and I had long ago proven myself to her.
Katya and Igorek were happy as well. They had a beautiful baby girl named Natasha. She was a beautiful blond baby girl that was the spitting image of her mama. She was nicknamed Natya by her favorite aunt.
"Here Katya let me take her. You look tired". It was July and I held 6 month old Natya in my arms rocking her gently smoothing her blond hair.
"Da that I am. Only 6 months and I am going to have another baby!" Katya had just found out she was going to have a baby in April.
I laughed gently. "Da but I know that you want this baby just as much as you want little Natya here." I kissed the baby's head and tickled her making her laugh.
"Yes you are right. Maybe Igorek will get his boy this time."
"Perhaps but we both know he isn't a bit disappointed in his little girl. She is in his every thought."
We both laughed at the truth of that. Igorek was a wonderful father. He took care of his baby girl better then any seasoned nurse maid. When Katya was tired he would gladly take his little girl to his study playing with her. He had even carved her little blocks to stack.
"Da I couldn't have asked for a better husband or father for my children."
"Ah who have we here? Three beautiful girls? Surely my eyes will fall out from this sight!" We turned around and laughed at Andrey's teasing voice.
"Hello Andrey. Natya is awake if you want to hold her. Or you could just sit."
"Pass up a chance to hold my little Natya? Never." He laughed and took the precious baby from my arms smiling down at her.
The child giggled and squirmed happily. It was a bright sunny day one of the warmer ones too. Alisa was inside playing with one of her friends.
Andrey handed Natya back to me breaking my thoughts.
"Here can you take her? I have to get something very important from the store. We are out of...ribbons." I laughed at the craziness of that!
"Andrey did you get into your fathers morphine?" I asked making Katya laugh even harder.
"No of course not I just know how you like your ribbons." He kissed my cheek and left.
"Well isn't he a strange one!" Katya laughed rocking Natya,
"Yes..he has been awful strange lately...." I had been wondering why he had been so strange but hadn't thought much of it until now...really I knew full well he wasn't really buying ribbons. Andrey was a horrible lier!
The day went by awful boring. Katya fell asleep holding little Natya. The baby's hair seemed to glow as the sun hit it. I picked the still awake Natya up and rocked her gently. She would have none of that though. In an instant she was grabbing clumps of hair laughing gently.
"Oh you think it's funny to pull Aunty Annika's hair?" I said laughing with her tickling her gently.
"Okay,okay enough fun. Your Mama's trying to sleep. Why don't we go inside and say hello to Aunty Alisa shall we?"
"Annika!" I soon as I stepped inside Alisa was running towards me smiling.
"What is it?" I laughed shifting Natya to my other hip.
"Andrey is going to give you a present tonight!!! Want to know what it is? It's a ..."
"Alisa Manova I am going to make you wish you were never born!" Andrey flew around the corner and gathered the girl up in his arms holding her upside down making her giggle uncontrollably.
Then they left without a word.
"Now what do you think Andrey is up to?" I asked looking at Natya. She just looked at me with innocent blue eyes and a stunning smile.
"I guess we will find out." I took the baby to my room to play with her while giving Katya the rest she so desperately needed.
"Faster,faster!!" Alisa said happily as Andrey ran around with her on his shoulders.
"Nyet. We are done now." He said lowering her down and taking a deep breath.
"Yes Alisa I think you tired poor Andrey out!" I said as she came over to my side.
"Oh alright."
"Alright everyone now that we have finished supper and I have to say we have had quite an unoffical party tonight. I think I should give Annika my gift huh?"
I caught the laughter in Katya's eyes and the sparkle of mischef in Madame Markova's. Something was up. Andrey had never had to give me anything in front of an audience and why did everyone look so odd? They obviously knew what the gift was.
"Honestly Andrey what is going on?" I laughed as he knelt down taking my hand. We were outside in the garden in my favorite spot just by the pond.
"Annika Manova. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Funniest too." He said with that usual twinkle.
"I was wondering Annika..would you marry me?"
It took a while for the question to register but when it finally did I nearly passed out.
"Y-y-y-e-e-s-s!!! Yes!" I shouted kissing him. When we pulled away I hear clapping and my face went beat red.
We were now officially engaged. A happiness I can't even describe went through me. I didn't care about Russia or it's problems at this moment. It was all about my new future. Which I didn't realize had so much to do with Russia it wasn't funny.
