| PART 2: Buffy didn�t know what the hell was happening. The last thing the Slayer remembered quite clearly was the endless snow...not to mention just how bloody cold the stuff was. But now, here she was, toasty warm, laying sprawled out in a very comfortable bed and wrapped in heavy silk sheets and a duvet. Overall, it was a very nice place to be. Save for the five woman staring curiously over at her from their various places around the bed. One inparticular, who was sitting in the older woman�s arms, was smiling brilliantly at her and her eyes seemed to sparkle. Gaping, Buffy scooted up the bed to get away from them, holding the sheets close to her body protectively. With wide, bewildered eyes she moved over all of them, wishing they would just stop staring at her and explain who they were. And as she had read her mind, one of the older girls leaned forward, smiled at the Slayer kindly and spoke a few quick words the Buffy had never heard before. Marrying her brows together in confusion, she asked, �What?� Her response was immediate. The girl�s face lit up in charmed surprise before quickly and effortlessly switching languages. Laughing, she told the baffled Slayer in heavy English, �I�m sorry, we didn�t realise you didn�t speak Russian.� Snorting, Buffy crossed her arms across her chest defenceivly and tried to not think of the slightly distressing fact that she was obviously laying in one of their beds. �Why in the world would I speak *Russian* or all languages?� she asked them in a odd tone. But as if it was obvious, the girl looked quickly at the others before turning back to Buffy. Speaking with a strong accent that Buffy had strangely not noticed before now, she told her bluntly... �Because we *are* Russian.� ****** Marie didn�t know why the girl was so stunned by Olga�s reply, but her mouth fell open and without a word, she threw back the heavy covers that had before this kept her confined to the huge bed, and with speed Marie found quite unusual, she jumped out of the bed and sprinted off across the bedroom in the direction of the large, French windows, making the long nightgown that she and her mother, Alexandra, had spend ages putting her in fly out behind her. All of the Romanov woman watched, not quite knowing exactly what to do, as their strange visitor stopped before the windows and threw them open, completely ignoring the thick blanket of snow-drops that flew into the bedroom suddenly. Then she froze, both of her now freezing hands still griping the window latches on either side so tightly that her knuckles were white. She didn�t move, just stood there in the freezing air, staring out of the palace window down onto the streets of Russia�s majestic capital, St Petersburg. Slowly, as if she was frightened to scare the bird, Marie got up from her mother�s lap and softly padded across the carpet, wincing as the still wet clothes she had been wearing since the find slapped against her skin. But trying to ignore it, she reached the suddenly shaking girl and stood silently behind her, knowing that the rest of her family were watching them from back at the bed. Reaching out with her delicate hand, she rested it on Buffy�s shaking shoulder and gave her a squeeze of comfort. The girl�s shoulders seemed to sag with the touch and Marie breathed a huge sigh of relief. Coming to standing beside the slightly taller blonde, the Princess joined her as they both stared out the window onto their royal village, Tsarskoe Selo and of course, St Petersburg. The city shone back at them in all its glory, the unmistakable Russian domes of the Cathedral that was the centre of their lives shooting up proudly into the frozen sky like some mystical castle of a fairy tale. Looking at the city like this had always held a strange appeal to Marie, she didn�t know why. But it was probably something to do with the fact that no other city in the world could match the simply stunning beauty and elegance that St Petersburg had held since its founder by her ancestor hundreds of years before. �Where am I?� The girl suddenly whispered in a awed voice, Marie frowning slightly with the strange lift in her accent. But not wanting to insult her with what was obviously her native tongue, Mashka smiled softly and lifted her hand, seeing the slight turn of her companion�s eyes as she too, watched the snow flakes dance beautifully and come to a soft end on her outstretched palm. �Your in Russia...do you like it?� Marie couldn�t wait for her answer. But the American didn�t reply straight away, her bewildered gaze travelling slowly over the Golden Gates that separated Tsarskoe Selo from the rest of the city that could just been made out on the horizon. �It�s the coolest thing I have *ever* seen.� Marie gave a tinkering laugh, not understanding her wording but getting the main idea. But when the girl suddenly sighed and turned back towards them, she sobered up, putting on a straight face as she regarded her with critical eyes. �But that still doesn�t explain just *where* I am...not to mention who you guys are.� She threw up her hands in annoyance and slowly made her way back towards the warmth of the bed, leaving Marie to quickly pull shut the windows behind them. �The last thing I remember is the snow...� She send baffled looks around the impressive Empress� bedroom, noting the large framed originals that hung from the beautifully painted walls and the impressive drapes and even the large wardrobe that she found on her travels. Empress Alix just gave a charmed laugh as Buffy finished and sat back down on the bed, up against the headboard. She sat there, arms crossed once again over her chest, waiting for someone to explain. �Marie found you almost catching your death out there in the wilderness...� she smiled gently. �You would have surely died if not been found.� Buffy gave a sigh and asked bluntly, �Who's Marie? Sorry, I didn�t catch your names.� Alix raised her eyebrows in surprise, surely thinking that the girl should know just who they were, even if she was obviously American. But deciding to indulge the blonde, she pointed one delicate finger backwards and tapped herself on her chest lightly. �My name is Alexandra and these are my daughters...� she ruffled Marie�s hair and smiled. �Marie, Olga...and that�s Anastasia and Tatiana over there.� she replied, jerking her head in the two silent girls direction from where they sat on the end of the bed, Anastasia leaning her head up against her sister�s shoulder. Buffy looked at the each in turn, smiling in greeting. �I�m Buffy.� she told them quietly, still totally bewildered by the fact that she was here in the first place. Marie frowned at her name. �Is that your real name? Or is it short for Elizabeth?� she asked, thinking the obvious. But the Slayer bristled, rolling her eyes. �No. As weird as it may seem, Buffy�s my real name.� The girl raised her eyebrows in surprise, noting that her mother and Olga did the same. Catching their glances, Buffy smiled and gave a little laugh. �Blame my mother.� was all she said and was strangely accepted by the woman. The room fell into a comfortable silence before Tatiana quietly spoke up in her soft voice, �Do you have any recognition as to how you came to be here?� Buffy just shrugged her shoulders casually, turning to look at the pretty, dreamy eyed girl of 18. With a sad look on her face, she replied, �No actually. The last thing I remember is walking down to street with my friends, then bang!...you know the rest.� Alexandra frowned, leaning forward to place the back of her hand gently on Buffy�s forehead. �You must have fainted.� she told the girl, at the same time running other possible answers in her in her head, just the same as Buffy was. Pulling back, she sighed. �Well, you don�t have a fever, so that�s good.� But then she frowned at Buffy, putting her hands on her hips. �What were you doing walking around the streets for at this time of the night? Do you have any idea the danger you could have put yourself in.� Buffy looked at her in surprise. She sounded just like her mother, Joyce. But knowing Alexandra obviously thought Buffy was talking about being in Russia when she talked, the Slayer wisely clamped her mouth shut before she revealed too much to her. All she needed to do was find the nearest link with the Watchers Council and arrange for a plane ticket home to America so she could yell at Giles for screwing up whatever he had been trying to do behind her back and accidentally sending her here! She had never really had a yearn to see Russia anyway, especially now that she had seen just how badly they dressed. They looked like something out of a history book! �Especially with the war on...� she smiled a sad smile. �The streets just are not as safe as they used to be.� Buffy looked at her oddly, not remembering hearing anything about a Russian war on the news when she did actually get around to watching it. �What war?� she asked them. They all choked, sending disbelieving looks in her direction. She saw the youngest girl, Anastasia, she thought her name was, get up from her spot and walk around her side of the bed, Buffy�s eyes glued on her face the whole time. She stopped by the Slayer, leaning forward so that their faces were just inches away and stared into Buffy�s face with her own huge blue eyes. �Are you sick or something? What do you mean what war?� she asked bluntly with her childlike voice. �There has only been one! The Great War of course.� Now, Buffy might not have been very good at history, but if there was one thing that she remembered from all of her and Willow�s study sessions, it was that *that* name was only used for one war...and that was World War One. �Pardon me!?� she practically yelled, her eyes popping. But then, as she looked once again at the five females state of clothing; their long, white dresses that had more lace on them than Buffy had on her christening dress, their strange manner of speech; so formal and polite...it all seemed to fall into place. She moaned, covering her face with her hand, knowing that her problem had just gotten a whole lot worse. ****** Buffy was not amused. Of all the things she had had to face of the years of being the Slayer; burning down the gym at her old school, getting killed by the Master, killing Angel then getting him back..only to lose him once again down the track...nothing could have prepared her for the shock she felt when she realised suddenly that she had been thrown back in time. Not just any time, mind you...but Russia, 1915, in the middle of the bloody First World War. Over all...the Slayer knew she was screwed. And here she was, laying in a bed surrounded by four of the loveliest girls she had ever seen and their mother; people who have just saved her from freezing to death out in the snow where she had been dumped...trying to decided quickly just how much she should tell them about who she was. She had no doubt that they wouldn�t have a clue what she was talking about, they already thought she was mad for having no idea what so ever that there was a war raging around her ears! �Ahh, i�ve been out of touch from normal society for a long time,� she told them quickly, as it was the best excuse she could think up on the spot. �We didn�t know anything about a war.� Alix still looked at her in disbelief. �That is the oddest thing I have ever heard, my girl. How long have you been in Russia?� Buffy gave an ironic laugh. �Not long, believe me.� Looking over their faces, Buffy stopped on the girl from the window, Marie. She was staring at her strangely and Buffy had no doubt what so ever that she knew she was lying to her mother. Wincing, she looked away quickly, turning her attention back to Alexandra who was still speaking. �Do you have anywhere to stay?� she asked in her heavy English and the Slayer grimaced, only then realising that she spoke the truth. She had been so preoccupied by the fact that she was here in the *first place*, her only thought had been how she was going to get home to Giles and Willow and the others. But knowing now that might end up taking more time than she would have originally liked, Buffy shook her head at the kind looking Tsarina. �No actually.� Anastasia was off the bed in a shot. Clapping her hands, she begged her mother, �Please, mama? Can Buffy stay here with us?� She stopped, her eyes going wide as she hurried to make the plans in her head concerning the fact that only her and her darling Marie knew just who the girl really was. �She can stay with me and Mashka, mama! Our rooms big enough to fit *all* us girlies!� Olga chuckled and with the maturity that came with being the oldest, she tried to calm her youngest sister as Tatiana and Marie looked on smiling. �Don�t you think Buffy would like her own room, Ana? After all, we have over a hundred in the palace, I think it would only be fair.� Anastasia stopped her jumping and sulked, sending pleading glances in the Slayer�s direction. But the bewildered Buffy just looked at Marie again, and although her face was strangely calm and blank of any emotion, Buffy could tell that she too, wanted desperately for her to take up her little sister�s offer...but for reasons that were totally different from Anastasia�s. Not taking her eyes of Marie�s face, Buffy slowly nodded her head. �Sure, Ana. I�d love to sleep in your room.� Then quickly, she looked at the grinning Tsarina and added quickly, �Only if that�s alright with you, of course.� But Alexandra only smiled and nodded her head. �Of course it is, my girl.� Anastasia gave a yelp and started to jump up and down again, then quickly rushed over to Buffy and threw her arms around her neck and gave the baffed Slayer a huge hug and three Russian kisses; one to either check then a quick peck on her lips. �This is going to be great!� she raved. �Your�ll see!� Buffy just looked sadly at the excited 14 year old, smiling softly as her long hair flew out behind her as she spun around in circles. It only then figured to the American that she didn�t really know any thing about this family except their first names. Although deep down she knew she probably wouldn�t be here long enough *to* learn anything about this beautiful family, she did know she would miss them already when she found a way back to her world...not that she had the first clue how she was going to do that yet. Anastasia abruptly halted when there was a crisp knock on the door. Alexandra turned her head gracefully towards it and asked, �Yes?� The door slowly opened and Buffy saw a timid, young, black haired girl enter the room and walk briskly across the floor to where the Tsarina was sitting. Bending down, she whispered something in Alix�s ear and then straightened. The Empress� face brightened suddenly as she waved the maid out of the room. Standing, she turned to the five girls and looked mostly to her daughters as she told them all, �Baby�s awake.� She stood quickly and helped Buffy out of the bed, producing a thick, floor length dressing gown for the baffled girl and eased it over her shoulders. �Come.� she told the Slayer as Marie and her sisters all hurried to the door. �I�d like you to meet the other members of our family.� ***** As the Empress gently hurried the Slayer out the bedroom door, Buffy got the first glimpse of the home that she would be staying in until she found away to get home to the 21 century. If you could call it a home that is. It was more like a castle. A palace to be exact. As the hurried down the hallway, the other girls already out of sight, Buffy gaped at the shear size of the place. To her guess, they were on the third story, the huge grand staircase winding its way down to the biggest marble floored foyer Buffy had ever seen. It was bigger than her entire *house*. There were closed doors everywhere, the roof higher than a churchs and the chandlers that fell from them bigger than her and Willow�s bedroom back at the dorms. It was simply the beautiful and grandest place she had ever seen. Knowing she would just *have* to give herself the tour later, Buffy let to Empress guide her down the corridor and through a door at its end. Looking up, she knew instantly that this was a child�s bedroom, the blue walls and toys that scattered the floor evedence of that. Looking around, she saw the four girls all gathering around a small bed that was in the corner of the pretty room, talking and laughing with whoever was in it. Buffy caught a quick glimpse of a man sitting on a chair at the bedside through Tatiana�s dress before he vanished again. But when the girls suddenly parted and he stood up, Buffy didn�t catch his face instantly. But then, as he started to walk towards her and Alix, she looked up...and found herself staring up and the kindest, gentlest face she had ever seen. Stunned into silence, she watched the dignified man reach them and embrace Alix, giving her a loving hug and a kiss on the forehead. Buffy could tell instantly that the two of them were deeply in love. But when he turned his gaze of her, his eyes sizing her up and down before smiling, she had no idea that standing before her was one of the most powerful men in the world. A figure who made history to her and her generation, but who stood there now in flesh and blood. He was the Autocratic man who ruled one sixth of the globe...the Tsar of all Imperial Russia. �Hello.� he told her quietly, picking up her hand gently to place a kiss of its surface. �My lovely wife tells me that we have a visitor staying with us.� Buffy blushed, ducking her head. But the man only chuckled, placing a finger underneath her chin and pushing it up, forcing her to lock eyes. �It�s fine, my girl. A pleasure, even.� He smiled again before suddenly bowing in front of her gracefully. Straightening up, he told the strangely silent Slayer... �Its a charming pleasure to have such a beautiful American staying in my household...My name is Nicholas. Nicholas Romanov.� And Buffy felt her blood run cold. ****** Buffy never thought she was overly good at history, it was one of her worst subjects actually. But there was one topic that she remembered quiet clearly...having Willow there to teach it to you did that, she figured. And that was the Russian Revolution. She knew the name Nicholas Romanov, or course, who didn�t? And as she stood there, her now terrified eyes locked on his own gentle ones, she knew how this story would play out...And most importantly... ...she knew the horrifying ending. The figure in the bed caught her attention and she jerked her hand out of Nicholas� grasp. Turning her head quickly, she was stunned to see a little boy, no older than 11, laying there watching her silently. He had the face of an angel. Blonde hair and shinning blue eyes stared at her curiously. She knew before asking that this little boy, laying weakly in the bed, was the centre of this family's lives. She knew that his sisters worshipped him and that he was his parent's pride and joy. �Hello.� he said, simply like his father. �I�m Alexei. Are you going to be staying with us?� Buffy didn�t reply, she couldn�t. And it was at that moment that she knew she didn�t want to be here, she would rather be anywhere else but here. To see this little boy�s shining face, his delicate fingers gently gripping around her�s when she slowly sank down in the chair that Nicholas had been sitting in moments before, and to know that it would be him, this boy who seemed to be bathed in sunshine, who would be the direct link that destroyed his father's reign...and his beloved family's deaths. For she knew, that in just over three years time, this family would be the centre of one of the greatest murders, the greatest *mysteries* the world have ever seen. And the Slayer closed her eyes in dread. |
| Alexei |
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| (Downwards) Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia and Alexei |
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| Alexei and Tatiana |
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| 16 August 1904 Peterhof Dear Papa, "Today there is a strong rain and we are sitting at home. Marie went to sleep in the afternoon, and Anastasia crept under the mattress and slept there with Marie on top of her. When she got up we all laughed, and so did she. We are all waiting for you to return here. Is the weather good where you are? I have not seen Mama and our brother, I hope I will see them this evening before bath time. I send you a big kiss dear papa. Olga" |
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