From Russia With Love

The interior of the house was as grand as the outside, Dominika realized as she followed Donna through the large double green wooden front doors of the home into the foyer, which was mostly overtaken by a large polished oak staircase leading up to the expansive second floor. A bronze chandelier hung from the ceiling over the stairs, washing the room in homely yellow light that made Dominika feel at ease.

“Put your things down, Dominika, I’ll give you the grand tour first so you don’t get lost” Donna said, smiling. She placed her things down and followed Donna through a doorway into a large formal sitting room, furnished in dark wood and forest green. A stone fireplace was the main feature of the room, surrounded by cushy couches.

“This is our receiving room where we normally see guests, you probably won’t use this room much, not a lot to do in here” Donna said, sweeping her hand from left to right.

The next room was an enormous kitchen with bay windows and industrial grade appliances that looked like they were designed to feed a crowd. This room was too decorated in dark wood and forest green.

“The kitchen” Donna stated “We have a chef in-house eighteen hours a day so you never have to worry about going hungry. He makes some of the best Russian cuisine I’ve had” she winked at Dominika.

Beyond the kitchen was a formal dining room, casual dining room, informal lounge or “TV room” as Donna called it, and Donald’s home office. As they climbed the stairs to tour the second floor, Donna told her about the house’s history.

“It was built in the 1920’s” she said, “It’s always been used for government officials and their families. We moved in when Donald became Vice President and the boys were barely in Elementary school”

Dominika smiled at the photographs of Gerard and his brother Mikey that lined the wall leading up the stairs. They began with the boys as babies, proceeding to toddlers and then children. The last two photos were obviously a recent addition, of them in full Military uniform with the flag in the background.

On the top floor, Donna showed Dominika down a long hallway spotted with countless doors on either side. She gestured from door to door as she walked, telling Dominika what each room was. Half way down the hallway she stopped and opened a door with a hand-drawn American flag posted on the front.

“This is Gerard’s room from when he was a boy” Donna said as she entered the room. It was painted dark green and had sprawling windows that overlooked the leafy street below. A single bed was in the corner with various cartoon character sketches and comic strips stuck to the wall above it. Dominika smirked as she found a stack of drawings of soldiers in American military uniform on the desk by the windows, all signed with a familiar signature.

Donna took her to the room that was to be hers last, all the way at the end of the hallway on the left hand side. It was bigger than Gerard’s, and painted in a neutral beige color with plush carpet in cream. A large bay window with seat and tasseled cushions was the source of natural light in the room and provided a nice view of the neighborhood. A king size bed dominated the main space, tall with four posts and fluffy tulle netting that floated down from the ceiling. There was a writing desk in one corner and a large dressing table in dark wood in the other.

“This is our best guest room” Donna explained “and it’s all yours, I hope you’ll be comfortable”

“Of course. Thank you very much” Dominika replied, grateful. Donna approached the bed and sat down on the edge of the white comforter, gesturing for Dominika to do the same.

“Can I speak to you about something for a moment?” she asked. Dominika complied but was hesitant, unsure what Donna was about to say.

“Sure…”

“I don’t even know where to begin…” Donna trailed off, distant. She stared out the window, deciding her words. Dominika waited in nervous anticipation, these kinds of talks usually had negative connotations.

“I just wanted to tell you that I want to be here for you. I have known you since you were a little girl and I feel an immense need to protect and care for you as your Mother would have done. Your Mother was a brilliant woman Dominika, so intelligent and loving, there was nothing she loved more than her people and her children”

Dominika felt hot tears prick her eyes at the mention of her Mother. She had indeed been an intelligent woman, maybe too absorbed in her responsibilities as Queen at times, but a loving Mother nonetheless. She had always been there to tuck Dominika into bed at night, even in the most chaotic of times. A primary female role model in herself and her sister, Monika’s lives, Dominika knew she would always treasure these fond memories of her Mother, queen of Russia.

“Am I upsetting you?” Donna asked quietly “I’m sorry. I just want you to know you’re not alone over here”

“I appreciate it” Dominika replied softly “it’s just been a lot to process over this past week”
“I understand” Donna replied, patting Dominika’s knee, “say no more”

Dominika nodded and wiped her eyes free of the tears that were brimming, threatening to spill over.

“Regardless of everything that has happened, I consider you the daughter I never had now, even if you don’t choose Gerard as the one in the end”

It took her a moment to interpret Donna’s words, but she quickly realized she was telling her she’d be a Mother figure to her even if she was not her actual Mother-in-law.

“Thank you Donna, I feel very fondly for you too”

She smiled warmly at Dominika for a moment before her face turned serious again.

“Now, there’s some other things I wanted to discuss with you” Donna began “security measures are going to have to be extra tight for you while you’re here, but I know what I was like when I was your age and it would have driven me crazy, so I want you to have a chance at doing some of the things you would be doing if you were still back in Russia”

Dominika held her gaze silently, unsure exactly what Donna meant.

“Ballet?” Donna asked “Ballet is your thing, yes?”

Dominika nodded earnestly, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her favorite pastime.
“My brother runs one of the most prestigious Ballet companies in Washington, I’ve spoken to him and he would be delighted to have you audition for his company”

Happiness swelled in Dominika’s chest for the first time since she’d disembarked the plane. She’d initially assumed much of her time in America would be spent hiding out in various government buildings, trying to keep in the loop about the state of affairs in her own country. If she was able to spend that time doing something productive instead, well that was a much better alternative to sitting around, fretting.

“Really?” she asked, truly excited for the first time in days. Donna laughed quietly and patted Dominika’s hand.

“Absolutely, they would be over the moon”

“When can I go?”

“Give yourself a day off first to recuperate” Donna said, motherly side taking over again “then the day after Johnathon will take you”

“Johnathon?” Dominika asked, confused. She’d never heard any mention of a “Johnathon” before.

“Your driver. Donald has arranged a car and driver to be available for you at all times. John is also a trained bodyguard so you’re safe in any situation. He will take you anywhere you need to go, wait for you and take you home again. We’re going to get you a cellphone so you can communicate with him and us whenever you need to”

A driver? A cell phone? Dominika felt dizzy from such a change in circumstances. She was about to go from spending all her time on the Russian royal estate where she’d spent most of her life, to being driven around Washington by a bodyguard, attending a prestigious American ballet company. What a difference a week could make.

“I’ll let you settle in now” Donna said, standing “your bathroom is just through the door there. Are you hungry?”

Dominika nodded keenly “Famished”

“I’ll have the chef make you something for lunch, come downstairs when you’re ready”

Donna turned to leave and Dominika called out suddenly.

“Donna?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Thank you so much. For this, for everything. You have no clue how much all this means to me”

“It’s our pleasure, Domi”

Notes

This fic had 500 views overnight after I posted Chapter 20, wow! I must have lots of lurkers, I love you too, lurkers! <3 Thank you to my regular comment-ers too, you guys are the best <3