𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠

Chapter 1

chapter 1

dimitri's p.o.v.

He sighed.

Just fourteen years earlier, he and the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov were young, and in love. Just after they had left the Alexander Palace, they married and moved into a small house on the coastline.

He quickly got a job as an Engineer to support the two of them, and Anastasia became known as Anya again, and after a few months of marriage, they had a special announcement.

They were going to have a baby.

Anya hoped for a baby, but he was terrified.

His father left when he was young, so he never got to experience life with an actual dad. His mother, on the other hand, worked as hard as she could to support him and his siblings.

He wanted to give this baby all of the love in the world - he never wanted them to feel unwanted- like he felt after his father left.

Soon enough, Anya gave birth to twins.

They decided to name the boy Darrel, and the baby girl Aria.

He and Anya were happy. Just the two of them, and their two newborn babies, ready to take on the world.

One night, he awoke to crying in the Nursery.

Running downstairs, he found his baby girl in tears, but his boy was gone.

He hadn't seen Darrel since, and he and Anya had come to the conclusion that the worst happened. They figured that Darrel was dead.

Ever since that night, he, Anya, and Aria lived together in that house by the sea.

He and Anya had also made the decision not to have any more children. Having just one was all they needed.

He loved his wife and his daughter. He felt complete.

The three of them had lived together since 1927.

Until the year of 1941.

World War II had just begun.

Being only age thirty-four, he had been drafted into the military.

Anya was only thirty-three. Aria was fourteen.

He didn't want to leave them, but he knew he had to.

He recalled all of these moments as he leaned against the barricade.

His squadron had been ambushed, and he was worried for his life. If he died, he would leave Anya a widow and his daughter fatherless.

He could not let that happen.

He stood, and did the first thing that came to mind.

He ran.

He ran far away, as far as he could get from that run-down base. He wanted nothing more than to go home.

He ended up in a nearby town.

Small houses lined the street, leaving no room for a backyard or privacy. You'd look out your bedroom window to see your neighbor looking back at you from theirs.

He knocked on the nearest house to him and waited for an answer.

A dog barked ferociously at the intruder, but stopped after an elderly woman opened the front door.

"Hello?" the woman said, looking up to the tall man in front of her.

"Hello miss, I need directions." he quickly replied, resting his hand against his forehead.

"Where to, sir-?"

"I just need to know where I am. I'm familiar with everything else."

The woman invited him inside and offered him some tea.

"I can't stay long, miss, but thank you."

"Alright.."

He busied himself in looking at the pictures on the wall. They were all of a man in a suit similar to his.

He assumed, since there was no one else there, the woman was a widow.

"You're in the outskirts of Petersburg, sir.."

"I know where I am, then. Thank you, you have a lovely home."

He left the friendly older woman and started his way down the path. It was going to be a long way back.

hours later

He opened the door to his home by the sea.

It was a medium sized-house, but it was beautiful.

Most of the credits for that go to his wife, but he did take pride in the estate he built.

He walked inside, slipping off his coat and dropping his gun at the door. It was early, so Anya and Aria would still be sleeping.

He took a brisk shower, and laid on the sofa in his undershirt and pajama pants.

He was utterly exhausted.

He heard someone in the kitchen.

He sat up, and looked over the counter that divided the two rooms.

Just seconds later, he felt the tiny body of his daughter just crash into him.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up so she was completely against him.

He was tired, but he hadn't seen his daughter in a very long time.

He heard Aria's sobs, and only held her tighter.

"Shh.." he whispered, kissing her head and pulling her up so he could carry her upstairs.

He set Aria down in her bed, and laid down next to her.

He looked down to Aria.

"I m-missed you.." Aria stuttered, her tears preventing her from properly speaking.

"I know, sweetheart. I missed you too.." he turned on his side to hug her.

Aria calmed down, but she still took shaky breaths.

"I'm right here sweetheart.."

He started to fall asleep, holding her close.

He heard Aria's bedroom door opening.

"Aria, honey, are you okay-?" Anya said.

"Dima-?!" Anya yelped.

"Anya-.."

He stood, quickly approaching his wife.

Anya hugged him, standing on her tippie toes.

He bent down to her stomach, wrapped his arms around her torso, and lifted Anya up.

"Dima.." Anya cried, holding onto him with all of her strength.

"Shh, Anya.."

He put Anya down.

"Please— Come downstairs, I need you.."

He looked back to Aria, who had fallen asleep.

"Alright."

Anya led him downstairs to their bedroom.

"Dimitri, I need you."

"I know, Princess. I need you too."

And with those words, he whisked her to the bed and made love to her, never wanting to have to leave her side again.

Thank you all so much for reading chapter 1! Let us know what you think in the comments! Remember, do all things with kindness! 

~Caissie