Hi guys! I got some good reception on my first little Anastasia ficlet, so I'm back again. I hope you guys enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. They're my favorites.

Disclaimer: Ya girl owns NOTHING.

"Maria. Maria. Maria Dmitrievna. Dmitry, can you do something about her." Anya sighed, setting the sapphire earrings back onto the vanity. She redirected her attention to the baby, who had just turned six months old in the past week. The infant was practically hanging off of Anya's leg, her tiny fists gripped tightly around a small tiara- that the Dowager and Lily insisted be worn this evening. She was gnawing on the metal and stones with her toothless little gums, much to Anya's dismay. "Can mama please have that back?" She pleaded with the baby, but when she went to tear it away, soft whimpers that usually preceded screams emerged from Maria.

Dmitry emerged from the ensuite bathroom, his bowtie still undone around his neck. Other than the untied tie and the coat, he was fully dressed in his suit for the evening. Anya could not say the same for herself.

"What's the little princess doing, big princess?" He smirked as he leaned down to pull Maria off of Anya's calf, kissing her cheek as he situated her in his arms.

"Did you ever see a day coming where you would let a baby suck on crown jewels worth more than our flat?" She slid a final pin into her hair as she spoke, sliding her hands over the finished updo. Finally. All she had left to do was slip her dress on. Anya stood, untying the silk ribbon around her waist as she spoke.

"Well I let her suck on you and-"

The back of her hand brushed his bicep lightly, extreme displeasure etched onto her face. "Dmitry! NOT funny." She narrowed her eyes, in an attempt to glare at him. "Nana's tiara is not meant to help her break her gums in."

Dmitry gently pried the baby's fingers from the jewelry, before quickly handing it off to Anya so she could put it in her hair. "To be fair, I never expected to live to have a child. And even if I did, I didn't factor crown jewels into the equation. Why are you wearing a tiara anyway?"

"You know Lily. Over the top in everything she does. Well, Mr. Sudayev, since it is her wedding, and I am publicly her niece, the countess' niece must look exceptionally grand

For the occasion." Anya replicated Lily's voice as she spoke, securing the piece in her hair. She grabbed the gown off of the back of the chair, slipping past him to get ready.

"You're always beautiful, Anya. You know that. Jewels or not." Dima told her, though his attention was on his daughter, who he did his best to distract from the loss of her new favorite toy.

Once in the ensuite, Anya slipped the cornflower colored chiffon over her head. It was arguably her new favorite dress, though she'd never give Lily the pleasure of knowing. The soft fabric flowed from her hips to the ground, swirling around her ankles as she walked. The bodice, which was tighter than Anya remembered it being, was covered with dozens of white and clear stones that caught the light when she walked. The dress was strapless save for gauzy strips of chiffon on the curve of her shoulders. She reached behind her to tug the zipper up the rest of her back, and much to her dismay, it simply wouldn't budge. Anya groaned, holding the dress together with one hand.

"Dima.. help." She pouted from the door frame, which she leaned on as she spoke to her husband. Anya turned, wordlessly showing him her dilemma.

Dmitry set Maria on the floor, letting her crawl over to play under the soft fabric of her mother's dress. He took the small metal zipper and gave it a few tugs, holding the rest of the fabric together as he made futile attempts. "Anya..I don't think this is going to work."

Anya let out a scream of frustration, arching her back a little. "Try again."

"Anya, I really don't think-"

"Dima! Please." She insisted, hands falling to her sides. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath.

"did they just..sew it too small?" He tried, his hand now coming up to hold her chin in his hands. He tilted her face to look at him, thumb catching the tears that snuck out of her eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I have never, and I do mean never, not had something fit. I nearly starved to death the past ten years. I just nursed Maria, it isn't that. Okay sure, maybe I indulge on a croissant more than I did a few years ago but there is no reason that this..stupid..dress doesn't fit." She leaned her hand into his palm, squeezing her eyes tighter to keep tears from running down her face. "I'll just get Maria in her dress. Take her with you, tell them I'm not feeling well." With the back of her hand she wiped her tears away- this was unlike her. Crying over a dress. She kneeled to pick up Maria, carrying her to the bed.

The six month old was almost ready for her final nap of the day anyway, and as Anya dressed her, her eyes fluttered rapidly. She slipped the white and blue, the same blue as her own, dress over Maria's head. Anya hummed softly, as she so often did when it came to her little girl, which accidentally lulled her to sleep. With the infant asleep, it made the rest of her preparation easy. Anya ran her fingers through the baby-soft curls, which got lighter by the day, more and more like Anya's own strawberry blonde than Dmitry's chocolate brown. She tied a white ribbon over her hair, admiring the chubby cheeks as she did so. What a blessing it was- not only to have a daughter, but one with health and joy in her tiny life. Anya swaddled her in the royal purple blanket that Nana had given them the day she was born, kissing her head as she did so. "Mama loves you, Maria."

Dmitry had finished his tie and slipped his coat on as he watched Anya. It was true. On that day on the bridge, he was convinced he would never love her more than he did in that moment. When she gave up her title for him. Yet, every day, he loved her more than the day before. It was as if his heart actually grew every time he looked at her. When Anya walked over to him, their sleeping daughter against her chest, he felt his own chest tighten.

"I'm not just taking her without you."

"One of us has to go, Dima. Just.. tell Nana I'm not feeling well. She'll understand."

"Just wear another dress." What a luxury it was to have multiple dresses, he thought to himself. "Lily won't care."

"It's not just this dress, none of my dresses fit anymore." She shifted their daughter to his arms, finally allowing a smile. "You're a good father, Dima."

"Can't you borrow something from nana? One of those furs or something?"

"Dima.."

"Wear the one you wore to the brunch yesterday, that Lily put you in. it's white, it matches, it'll cover the back."

"I can't very well wear a fur the whole time.." She scoffed.

"Just come to the ceremony, for Vlad. Please?" Dmitry begged, eyes wide like a puppy. "He loves you like his own, please, come for him. You can leave.."

With a huff, she grabbed the white coat from the closet, slipping it over her shoulders. He was right, it did cover her back well.

"For what it's worth, that dress wasn't going to last long anyway, It would have been in a pile on the bed in a few hours anyway-"

"Dima."

He laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he lead her out of their room at the palace in which the party was held.

"I know, I know. But at least there's free Champagne."

She gave him an eyebrow raise, before glancing at their sleeping daughter knowingly.

"Okay, fine. No Champagne for you. Which means more for me."

Anya bumped his hip with her own playfully, before leaning her head on his arm as they walked. "you're going to bring me brunch to bed in the morning, right?"

"Your wish is my command, your majesty."

I really think I could extend this, to the party itself as well, and the day after. Lily would NOT let Anya get away with skipping.

Let me know what you think, if you'd want more or not!