Chapter 67: Scarlett

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St Petersburg, October, 1913

8 years. 8 years have gone by since my last two children were born, 8 years of bliss and a hole in my heart for my Duckie being gone. But finally, Finally I get to see my son again after 12 years. I run around the house in a frenzy trying to get the children ready, Everything must be perfect for him, My little boy. I hate that I missed out on twelve years of his life, He's a man now, Not my little boy. I hear the wide front door swing open as I walk past it and Victoria runs into my arms. "Mama!" I smile at the word I hug her back, She started calling me it a while ago and I don't mind, She deserves to be loved and cared for, Much more then what Alice gives her. "My darling you look so pretty." I smile and hold at arms length so I can look at her, She looks so grown up now, She'll be 15 next year. I pat her cheek as Nicholas comes in behind her, He reminds me so much of my Duckie. Such a handsome pair of best friends, "Aunt Scarlett." Nickie kisses my cheek respectfully and I pat his cheek, it's a shame Alice doesn't let him come over more with Victoria, I suppose she wants to keep him safe just as I do my son. As long as he wouldn't bring that evil man along with him he will always be welcome in my home as my nephew. "Please sit down, George should be here in a moment." I usher them to the sofa and serve the tea as my hands shake, What if my boy has forgotten what I'm like in person? What if I'm just a distant figure that writes letters to him? I slowly sit down as I blow on my tea, I can't focus on what Nickie and Victoria are saying, Everything must be perfect when he gets here. I mentally go over everything, Alice is in the drawing room, She refused to come greet my Duckie, She has no respect for me at all, Ungrateful girl. Sergei's out courting some girl again, He and Misha will be back in time for dinner, They have to be, Everything has to be perfect for my son. And Julia and Nicholas are up in the nursery, My poor baby hit himself against a corner and his arm has been paining him ever since so he's commanded to stay in bed. I smile at the thought of Julia sitting by his beside and reading to him like she always does. The door opening jerks me out of my thoughts and I jump out of my seat like an eager schoolgirl, "His highness the Duke of York." A servant announces and I run up to him without a care in the world hugging him as close as I can and burying my face into his shoulder as I take in his grown up scent of cologne and sweat. "My baby's finally home." I whisper as he buries his face into my hair that smells of the rose water I used to wash him in, I drink in every scent I can manage from him, "I'm home mama." He whispers hugging me more tightly as I finally pull away and admire him, Wiping my silly tears off my cheeks quickly as I stand back and let Nicholas and Victoria greet him. "Victoria, I've heard much about you." He says in his deep voice so unlike my  sweet little Duckie I knew that always spoke while bouncing on his feet. This version of my son is a man well accustomed to the world now. "H-hello." Victoria says flustered and I sit back down slowly observing, They'd make a handsome couple with their good looks and personality and Victoria has always asked for more whenever I get a letter from him, Ever since she was six. "I'm sure you've heard much about me." My boy smiles charmingly and sits next to Nicholas and I see exactly why he's always the ones in the newspapers call the golden prince, Victoria sits down across from us and lets her hair falls down over her face, my poor girl I've never seen her this shy. "Yes." She says quietly and I can see her flushed face from under her waterfall of hair. "Vicky don't you remember George? Mama told me a funny story about you once." Nicholas laughs and I smile at the memory of my little boy snuggling in bed with the young woman I now count as my daughter. "I certainly remember her." George winks at Victoria "Mama only speaks about her in every letter" George smirks as Victoria flushes red and looks at me, I am proud of her as if she's my daughter and what am I supposed to say to George when he asks about her? "You are very bright darling, I am proud of you and want to boast. Besides you and George used to be best friends." I smile and squeeze her hand lightly, George will come to his own terms if he want to court her I won't ruin it. But he seems almost around her I think sadly. "Hey! I was George's best friend!" Nicholas laughs as I smile and sip my tea they used to be thick as the three Boleyn's. "Well Nickie you can't outshine me." Victoria jokes and smiles a little bit, My heart swells with joy as I seem them talk as if 12 years have not passed and it's just as if they saw each other yesterday. "Nonsense you are still my brother." George laughs and claps Nicholas on the shoulder "Any pretty girls you fancy?" He teases and I know my own daughter Alice fancies Nicholas but he won't ever take her, Not with her attitude towards everyone that's so hateful and spoiled even towards me. She is just sour. "No I am quite alright." Nicholas laughs and I hear something rustle outside the door like fabric. I know exactly what it is, It's Alice's taffeta dress that I got her as an early birthday present, I know she'll want to come in and see Nicholas but she refuses to greet George. Damn stubborn girl. "I found someone, I've been writing her." George says sipping his tea and I jerk my head up and look at Vicky in my head she's the perfect match for him, the thoughts of Alice immediately leave my head, "Who is it?" Nickie asks as Vicky stays silent and looks at her hands if he was writing to her she would have told me immediately. "Sophia, Your cousin. She actually wants to marry me." His eyes dart to Victoria as my jaw practically drops before I can pick it up again. That moon faced girl full of Malice? Daughter of Xenia and Sandro who cheat on each other constantly? I think of Sophia and the darkness behind her light blue eyes with her black hair flowing down her back, She is full of malice and would do anything to drag her elder sister Irina down. I see Victoria's face drop as she stands up hugging herself, "This was nice, thank you for having me auntie." She says quietly as Nickie continues asking George questions about Sophia. I know I must do something to save this, He can't actually want to marry that despicable girl over Victoria? "Vicky don't go we have dinner prepared." I stand up and take her hands gently, I have practically prepared a feast for my son's homecoming. "No one is home Victoria, Mama left for aunt Alexandra's." Nicholas says before turning back to George and continuing his conversation and I see Victoria cringe, "Oh." Is all she says quietly. Alice is always with Alix, whenever I see Alexandra she looks at me with an almost hatred and coldness, I've heard she has tried to preserve the autocracy as much as she can for her son and has pushed people away in the process, but all is lost since the October revolution eight years ago, They all lost the autocracy, We have a duma now, Any fool can see it's what Russia needs. It was Alexander II's dyeing wish. "Now you must stay with us." George smiles at her as I stroke her hair absentmindedly and I pull out of my political thoughts, It comes with being the wife of a Tsar's brother I suppose. "I'll help you." Victoria smiles at me while ignoring George, I don't know why she ignores him, Since I've read in the newspapers all the drab English women swoon for him. "Nonsense the servants can do it," I smiles as we sit down again. I've let many servants go over the years, We don't need as many as royalty once did. It only got me more criticism from the nobility but who cares? I stopped caring a long time ago what they thought. "Sophia is a prick anyways." I lean over to Victoria and smile slyly but she gasps in shock at my language. "I am sorry dear, Please forgive my language I forgot you aren't used too it." I laugh and take her hand I swear like a sailor almost everyday except around the children. "Mother tells me cursing is forbidden for a lady." She smiles at me and I almost spit out the words even if I didn't say them. Forbidden? Women can do anything they want, if someone doesn't believe it they can look at me, I was a nothing and I am married to the Tsars own brother. "Nonsense, How will you get anywhere in a mans world without acting like one somewhat?" I smile and look at my son proudly again hiding my bitterness, The answer to my question is nowhere. You won't get anywhere by being a spineless little lady accepted by society. "I assume you'll come to my wedding?' George laughs to Nicholas and I see the sunlight glint on his hair that I used to twirl between my fingers to make into little curls. "Of course," Nickie smiles at him "Vicky will be my plus one." I look at him with amazement, How can he have not noticed after all this time that she has a crush on his best friend? "I'm not going." Vicky states simply, No one would expect her too, Except the insolent world that is blind. "I didn't expect you too." George says and turns back to Nicholas "It's a secret so not a lot of people should know." My boy says and my jaw almost drops does Xenia and Sandro not know about this? My sons father who ripped him from me? "You don't have to be so rude." Vicky glares at George and I bristle slightly my son is perfect, My perfect little boy as he always was. "Why not go Vicky?" Nickie asks her, Of course I wouldn't expect her too go either and I would have said the exact same thing George did. "I apologize I just didn't think you would want too." He stands up and kisses my cheek as I take it in, Still light as a butterflies and full of love like when he was little. " I should go see the rest of my family." He looks at Vicky coldly but I ignore it, I'm too enthralled in him being a real member of my family with Misha, He hasn't even met Julia and Nicholas or Sergei. I see Victoria glare at him out of the corner of my eyes but I just smile and pat my sons cheek "I'll go with you George." Nickie stands up with him and they stand side by side and they could pass for brothers, Truly. Both and tall and handsome and blonde even though Georges is more like a spindle of gold. "Mhm admirers of their older cousin?" George laughs and starts walking with him, "Of course I see them all the time, They know me." He laughs and I watch proudly as they walk down the hall up to the nursery, I wish I could have a moment alone with him and hold him like I used too. "George is very rude." Vicky leans over and says to me in a whisper, I look at her surprised, He made one remark and she is suddenly defying her personality? I don't expect her to ever say a cruel word against anyone especially my son who she speaks of all the time. "What do you mean? He is just tired I'm sure." I look the way he left with Nicholas wishing to be next to him, To make up for 12 long years apart. "We shall see during dinner." She shrugs and sits up away from me, How could she call my precious son rude? I think to myself angrily. "He is very well mannered I'm proud of him." I stand up coolly and look down at the bridge of my nose at her, She doesn't know him like I do. She can't say anything about him, He's not her son. "Whatever you say auntie." She shrugs "I haven't seen my son in twelve years, Please excuse me." I say coolly and walk off to where George and Nicholas are conversing and my good instantly comes back, "Nickie, Alice was looking forward tp seeing you." I stand next to my son, I just wish for a moment alone with him now. We've greeted everyone else. "Oh-well it is always nice to see my cousin." Nicholas says stiffly and I know he's not excited to see her, I hear a door slam and know she's taking her place back in the drawing room. "I believe she's in the drawing room." I gesture to the door just wishing for him to be gone so we can be alone. "I'll go say hello." He says walking off to the drawing room and I immediately turn around stand on my tiptoes to hug George.

That evening we all sit in the parlor with the yellow lamp casting shadows on the walls, Vicky and Nicholas have gone a while ago and George rests his head in my lap as I stroke his hair gently, He's a lazy creature but I don't care he's my son that I'd do anything for. I hear a squeak from Julia as I open my eyes and see Alice has broken the head off her doll "How dare you!' Julia yells at her and I sigh standing up I just want to sit with my George with his head in my lap with no drama, "Excuse me my love." I kiss his head and stand up as he just keeps his eyes shut. Dinner was tiring for him and It made me even more angry at Victoria. "She can be Marie Antionette." Alice says sarcastically and I grab her ear, I'm tired of her being disrespectful to all of us, She can't be nice for one damn minute. She looks up at me with fire blazing in her eyes. "To bed, Now." I say and let go off her matching her stare with my own, She has the look of her father and I know she's been writing to her devil brother. "You don't control me." She hisses at me and stalks off to her bedroom as George stands up and kisses my cheek. "I must go Mama," He smiles his charming youthful smile at me and I look at him sadly, I wish he could stay at her house but he's a guest of the Tsar, Not us. "I will see you tomorrow my love." I kiss his forehead and he smiles at me before walking out into the hallways. "We should get the children to bed." Misha stands up with Nicholas in his arms, God knows where Sergei has wandered off to now, He's made as much a reputation for himself as that Yussupov boy. I look at my son concernedly as he sleeps, He wanted to come to dinner but now he is exhausted and I'm sure in pain from his legs. "Come my darling." I take Julia's hand and she trots alongside me as we bring them too the nursery, "Do I have to sleep mama?" She looks up at me making puppy eyes with her big green eyes and I see Nicholas shift restlessly in his sleep, "Yes, Now goodnight we love you." I kiss her forehead as she pouts then move over to my son and kiss his forehead as well, He seems hot. I look at Misha worriedly "The nurse will take care of him, He is getting better." He smiles and leads me out of the room gently shutting the door behind us. "You are the best father and husband." I say in front of his lips teasingly playing with the buttons on his shirt, He can't resist me when I tease him. I can see him swallow his desire "Not as much as my beautiful wife. He says in my ear breathlessly. "Of course." I kiss him teasingly then pull away walking towards our bedroom.


I lay with his arms around me as we are intertwined as close as we can be, "Are you happy my love?" He whispers kissing my forehead. "More then ever." I whisper back.

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