Chapter 1

It was a rainy late August morning, the morning before Anya and Alexei were meant to leave for boarding school. She was 15 and her little brother was 9. It had not been an easy decision for her parents to have Alexei so far away but they both felt it was time he started interacting with other children his own age. St. Peter's was different from Anya's former school because it had been founded by people who had known Nicholas's Grandfather back in their homeland in Russia.

All of the Romanov children had been born there, but their father's work at the embassy had forced them to move for good to England when Alexei was just a newborn. They spoke several languages at home, including Russian and French.

That last Sunday together was bittersweet; they would be starting classes on Monday, with only Maria there to support either of them.

Olga and Tatiana, who were older, were in University, though they visited regularly. Anya, as she was affectionately called by her family, woke up late, her dog Jimmy slept in a small cot besides her bed, he had already been out and about a couple times that morning but Anastasia refused to shed her covers away. Having to wake up and start her day, meant Monday would be closer enough and she didn't want to have to face it.

She was finally called down by her older and closest sister Maria who was 17 and only had a year left at Boarding school although she was thinking of taking a gap year after she was done and stay at St. Peter's to work. Anya knew the truth though; she knew she was worried about leaving her and Alexei to their own devices.

"Good morning sweetheart, nice to see you are up." Her mother said with a knowing look as Anya dragged her feet into the kitchen. Alexei who also happened to have slept a little late was already sitting there having breakfast.

"I was just dragging out the inevitable." Anya said with a sigh.

"You'll like St. Peters. Your father did in his time." Alexandra told her. "And your Uncles Michael and George did too, it's not that bad."

"But it wasn't mixed when Papa was there. It was only for boys."

"Would you have rather preferred we've sent you back to somewhere like your old one?"

"No, because then I wouldn't be able to look after Alexei." Anya admitted. "I know they liked it but, it's just strange to have to go to a new one, although I know what it's like."

"Right well, we've decided it was best to have all of you together this year. It will make the transition easier."

Up until that year, Alexei had been home schooled and Anya and her sisters had gone to an all girl's boarding school nearer to where they lived, but now they had moved yet again and St. Peter's had seemed like the most suitable solution.

The day moved faster than Anya would have liked, she occupied herself with making sure she hadn't forgotten to pack everything, just like she had done before any new school year approached, after all, she had done this since she was 8 years old.


Gleb opened his eyes at the sound of something crashing, he was sure his little sister was up to something. He was the middle child of a family of 6 children. Eva had been born when he was 6 and was by far the one he was closest to. He liked his youngest siblings best for some reason and had taken to caring for them whenever he was home, as their mother had gone back to work after the Leo had been born although his little brothers were not old enough to attend school just yet. His older brothers, Ivan and David were more concerned about their own lives, especially David who couldn't wait to leave school and join the Military once he graduated like his older brother before him. Military was all that was in their minds given the fact that they were 18 and 21 respectively.

His father had been a military man his entire life, having been born in England and married a Russian woman while he was stationed there. Being British though had been a fluke according to Stefan, because, Gleb's own grandparents were both Russian. His Grandfather had moved with his family there temporarily at the time his father had been born.

But Gleb and his older brothers had been born in Russian territory, while Eva, Yuri and Leo had not. In spite of himself, Stefan had married a British lady when he and his brothers were very young and Lidia had cared greatly for the boys since the beginning, so much, she had convinced Stefan to give his children some kind of stability, that's why Gleb had been, for the last 8 years of his life, gone to St. Peter's boarding school along with Eva and soon enough, their little brothers would join them.

As it was expected, his father wasn't home and Lidia was probably still asleep, so he found his sister in the kitchen, trying to clean up the apparent mess she'd made. "I woke you didn't I? Sorry."

"You should have woken me." Gleb said as he reached down to clean up the broken glass. "If you were hungry, I could have made you breakfast."

"Yes, but...I wanted to do it myself. David's not here either, he left for his run and Mommy was sleeping. She worked late again last night."

"I noticed…" Gleb said with a small smile. "You know you can ask me for help if you need it, come on." He said, helping her up and grabbing the mop from her hand. "Where are the boys?"

"I left them watching cartoons."

"Good, well go and check on them while I make us something, please?" His sister nodded, she was 10 going on 40 because she was the most mature little girl he had ever known but still just a child.

He made breakfast for him and the little ones and left a bit on the stove for Lidia to eat once she woke up.

"Can we go to the park today?" Yuri asked. He was only 6 and Gleb had trouble saying no since he had been looking forward to it all weekend. Even if it was raining outside and he probably should be packing instead of taking them out for the day, yet he couldn't refuse to spend some time with them before he left.

So they walked to the small park near their flat, with Leo in a stroller as he was only 2 and a half. Yuri would always go crazy over just how many dogs there were. They hadn't been allowed dogs at home and only had cats and a ferret, but he had heard his little brother say that when he grew up, he'd only have dogs and Gleb wanted to make sure to be the one to give him his first one when he was able to.

They returned home after about an hour. Lidia was going to work in her office at home; she was a lawyer of some importance so she worked Sundays.

She thanked Gleb for watching the kids and breakfast and went on about her day after kissing her children as they told her about the park. She then put Leo down for a nap as Yuri went to back watching cartoons and she told Gleb and Eva to finish packing. The young boy sighed as he went back into his room, which he shared with David, wanting to make sure he had everything ready for the new term that was about to begin.


Morning soon came, Anastasia tried to quiet her phone before she had had enough of its beeping. She got dressed and made a mental note of everything she'd have to take with her. Jimmy was looking at her as he had done the previous years when she left and she'd tell him the same thing: "I'll see you soon boy, I promise."

She came down the stairs were she was met by Jeff, who worked for her father and usually drove them. "Everything's packed? I have to get it down to the car before we are late."

"Yes, thank you." She said, moving to the kitchen to see that once again, Alexei had beaten her to it and so had Maria, her father was also there as were her older sisters who had come home to see them off.

"Are you sure you have everything?" Alexandra asked her son. Alexei nodded again and Anya could see he was getting a little annoyed with everyone asking him if he was ready or if he had everything.

She smiled as she hurried to the car after having said good morning to her Father and sisters. St. Peters wasn't far from her home and yet it felt as if was a world away. In her old school she knew everyone, here she knew no one so she was as anxious as she knew her little brother to be.


Gleb walked hand in hand with his sister as David moved ahead of them a bit. "Do you think we'll have a good year big brother?" She asked.

"Yeah, most definitely. Why wouldn't it be?"

"No reason. I just… I have this feeling."

Evie and her feelings. "And is it a good one?"

"I haven't decided yet." She declared. Gleb smiled and let it rest for now. He hoped this would be a good year too.

The children were left to say goodbye to their parents in their dorms as they settled in. Gleb, who already knew this by heart, hugged his Stepmother and Father goodbye and promised to come visit in two weeks time.

Eva did the same and said goodbye to them, making her mother promise to bring her brothers along that Wednesday for a visit at her first soccer match of the term.

Gleb slid back into an easy routine at school on the first few days. On Tuesday, all students were required to gather around the school grounds for special announcements, so he gathered his things after breakfast and headed for the gardens, it was a path he knew well by now since he'd been in school at St. Peter's since he was 8 years old.

It was then that he saw someone who immediately caught his eye. A young girl he had not seen before. He'd heard of newcomers coming to the school and had known they had arrived the day before to adjust to being there but he hadn't seen many of them. The girl was accompanied by a younger boy, probably Evie's age that walked with crutches, arguably struggling to keep up with her but she kept her steps slow so she wouldn't outrun him.

Gleb watched them tentatively. It only took him a moment to put his bag over his shoulder and hurry his step by their side though when he heard a thud.


"You should just go ahead, I'm sure they wouldn't be mad at me if I took my time." Alexei was saying to Anya. "I'll be fine."

"Well you were the one who refused to use the chair we brought with us." She argued. "It's more useful on the grounds."

"I hate that thing" replied Alexei, trying to hurry his step. Anya could understand where her brother's frustration was coming from. He had been born with this affliction and he could hardly escape from it and the wheelchair made him feel less free, but it was still useful when it came to long walks and she would ask Maria for help next time they saw each other to convince him. For now, her sister was busy being the newly appointed Head Girl. Anya didn't want to worry her, but soon enough Alexei had other plans and in exasperation he took a tumble and fell face down on the ground, but before she could react...

"Are you okay?" A voice said behind Anya, she turned to see a boy, a bit older than her, dark hair and soft eyes, he somehow seemed familiar to her but she couldn't place where she'd seen him before. The older boy knelt beside her little brother.

Alexei sighed frustrated, tossing his crutches aside as he turned on his back. "Can I help you somehow?" The boy said again. He offered him a kind smile and Alexei returned it.

"Thank you, it's very kind of you, it seems we are having a bit of a morning, someone was a little bit stubborn today." She said looking at her brother who was now sitting on the ground as people had began to gather.

"No problem. You're off to the main grounds I take it?" Anya nodded. "I'm headed that way too, but maybe we should take him to the infirmary first…"

"Maybe, even though I know what the nurse is going to say." Anya scolded and Alexei sighed.

"It's fine, we just want to make sure you are not hurt, you took quite a stumble." Gleb told the young boy reassuringly.

"I'm used to it." Said Alexei and the other boy shot him a look, not of pity but of understanding.

"You really wouldn't mind? I'm terribly sorry about this." The girl said.

"No, not at all, I'm happy to help." The boy said again. "Is it okay if I pick you up?" He said to Alexei who nodded, the older boy instructed him to wrap his arms around his neck.

"Oh goodness, what is going on here?" A voice stood out in the crowd. It was one of the teachers. Miss Lily. "Oh Gleb, looks like you got here just in time. Is he alright?"

"He will be Miss Lily, it seems it's nothing but we best make sure. Would it be okay if I were to take…?"

"Alexei and that's Anastasia." He said looking at his sister.

Gleb nodded, turning to Anastasia for a moment and then back at the teacher. "Alexei to the infirmary?"

"Of course, please do and keep me updated, the rest of you, let's head over to the main grounds, come on, quickly now…"

Gleb nodded gratefully at the teacher and led the way with Alexei in his arms. "Thank you so much for this... Gleb is it? Is that Russian?" Anya said curiously as she picked up her brother's crutches and fell into step beside him.

"Yes, and so it's Alexei isn't it?"

"Are you from Russia too?" The little boy asked.

"I was born there but left when I was about four, I go, mostly during the summers though."

"Oh, we left when I was a baby…" Alexei said. "We go sometimes too." They had reached the main building now as Anya opened the door for Gleb to go in with Alexei.

"Mrs. Bluth…" Gleb said kindly, he seemed to know everyone. "Can we come in? I'm afraid my friend here took quite a fall."

The nurse was kind as she ushered them inside and then asked Alexei some questions while Anya and Gleb waited.

"I'm sorry; he just didn't want to use the chair." Anya said to him. "When this happens, he's usually fine, he just gets really upset about falling, I'm actually surprised he agreed for you to help us, he's usually very stubborn."

"Oh, it's no problem. I understand, it can't be easy for him. He must feel trapped in the chair; I know I would if I depended on someone pushing me around all day." Gleb said in all honesty.

"Yes, I'm sure he does, he prefers the freedom the crutches give him." Anastasia said, there was a bit of helplessness in her voice. "Maybe he just isn't ready to come to a school like this."

"Where was he before?"

"Actually, it's his first time at a regular school. He was homeschooled but my parents worried about him not being around children his own age." She explained.

"Oh, well I'm sure he just needs to find his footing here and he'll be fine." Gleb said with a small nod, finding it hard not to get lost in the girl's powerful blue eyes.

"I'm sure he will, thank you so much for all your help, I do hope we don't get you in any trouble."

"You won't. It's fine, so he said you were born in Russia? Where exactly?"

"Peterhof. What about you?"

"Yekaterinburg." He said.

"So, we're not exactly neighbors." Anya said.

"No and I don't remember much about it as I was a child when we left, right after my Mother died."

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you. It happened a long time ago." Gleb smiled. "It's better we moved here though, my Father's barely at home but we have a better life around here than we ever did back in Russia after my mother was gone. His wife is nice; she cares for all of us."

"I'm sure she is."

"Well, she did marry a man with three boys, when she had no kids of her own. Not a lot of people do that."

"True." Anya said. They remained quiet for a moment.

"Anya?" It was Alexei, back standing on his crutches. "The nurse says I should go back to the dorm and you should go to class before you get in trouble."

"He's fine, but I would like for him to rest for a bit. I'll ask his housemaster to keep an eye on him and make sure he has his work for the day." Mrs. Bluth said. "Gleb, would you mind?"

"No, of course not. We'll take Alexei back and then I can show...Anastasia where her next class is."

Before Anya could say anything regarding her name, the nurse added. "Yes, thank you, and please if either of you need anything, do let me know."

"Of course, thank you." Anya said to her. She stood up from the chair besides Gleb and followed Alexei outside.

Gleb offered to carry the boy again, back to his dorm which he gladly accepted.

They arrived to meet the housemaster who also happened to know Gleb. "Here we go." The older boy said gently placing Alexei in bed. "Are you going to be okay by yourself?" Gleb asked.

"He sure will be, right?" Anya replied.

"Yes, thank you for your help." Alexei offered with a kind smile.

"Anytime. You call me over if you need anything, alright?" Gleb said, taking a piece of paper from his shirt's pocket and a pen from his bag and writing on it before handing it to him.

"Get some rest; I'll come see you at lunch time." Anya said, taking his hand and squeezing it gently. She closed the door behind her and was assured by Alexei's housemaster that he would get her if something happened.


Anya walked beside Gleb quietly as she tried to learn her way around. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it soon enough. I did."

"Have you been here long?"

"Yes, since I was 8." He said.

"I have been at boarding since I was 8 too, but it was an all girls school. It's certainly different here."

"It's not bad. I have a feeling you'll like it here and it does have a great program for Alexei. I'm sure that's why your parents chose it."

"Yes, it must be one of the reasons, I've read it's one of the most accessible schools in the country and also my father and uncles spent a few years here so there's that." They had reached her lesson's building and Anya suddenly felt a sense of sadness at the idea of him having to go somewhere else but she knew he was older and his classes would have to be in another building.

"This is you, just go right ahead and ask for your year. You'll usually have all your classes here for the rest of term." Gleb explained. "It's not hard to miss."

"I feel like you know everything about this place." Anya said to him feeling a bit jealous.

"And I'm sure you will too sooner than later." He told her kindly. "Anastasia."

"Anya." She corrected him. "Anya is fine." She said, reaching out her hand for him to shake. Thank you Gleb, for everything again."

"Anya..." He said with yet another smile as she, he thought, blushed slightly and walked inside the building when he said,"I'm here everyday."

Gleb took a minute to turn around, placing his bag strap across his chest and hurrying to his own class.

Yes, this was beginning to turn into one good year, he thought.