If I Was A Rich Girl (c)

[Pasha]

"My palace?" Pasha asked with a grin. He tried his best to remember what the palace he had seen looked like. If he had to, he could make up some minor details, right? It's not like she would know the difference. "The outside, it is very grand. With terraces and gardens and fountains. The inside has ornate woodwork. And chandeliers. Lots of chandeliers."

He studied her face slowly, especially her reactions to what he was saying. "Most people do not speak English. Some, but not lots."

[Annabelle]

Annabelle fought the urge to frown- no English? She definitely could not learn Russian. But she would be a beautiful princess! Everyone would have to learn English FOR HER. She grinned at the thought and downed the rest of her drink, feeling looser now. And more confident.

"This hit me faster than wine!" She giggled, touching his hand. "Your palace sounds beautiful, Pasha."

[Pasha]

"I told you it would," Pasha reminded her with a wink. "Thank you. It was very nice. Very big. As a child, I would often get lost in all the rooms!" He laughed at the thought of that, surely it had to happen to at least one of the royals at one time or another anyway!

He looked back over at her and smirked. "Maybe you shouldn't drink any more. We wouldn't want you going home drunk, would we?"

[Annabelle]

Annabelle laughed. She could come home pregnant with Pasha's bastard love child and it wouldn't matter because he was a prince. "Very. Very true," Annabelle continued to giggle, and stepped closer to him.

"You are awfully good looking, Prince Pasha," she purred into his ear.

[Pasha]

"Not as good looking as you are, dear Annabelle," Pasha replied smoothly as he let his hand casually slip around her waist. "In case you haven't noticed, my dear, you are the prettiest thing in this bar."

[Annabelle]

Annabelle blushed, although she was fully aware of the truth behind that statement, and let her fingers move up his chest. "When do you have to go back? To Russia?"

[Pasha]

"I do not know," Pasha replied with a genuine sadness. Out of all of the things he had said during the course of this conversation, this was the only truthful one. "I will not know until I am sent for. Could be months. Could be years." Or, you know, forever.

[Annabelle]

Annabelle frowned, understanding his saddened expression. "I'm sorry." she took a step closer to him. "would you...like to get out of here?"

[Pasha]

"Sure, that would be good," Pasha agreed. He slipped his hand into his pocket, pulled out some money, and set it down on top of the bar. "Where would you like to go?"

[Annabelle]

Annabelle smiled, taking his hand. "Would you like to get something to eat?"

[Pasha]

"Now that you mention it, I am hungry," Pasha laughed. He closed his hand around hers, wondering if he could use his faux-royal status to get free food from some unsuspecting restaurant owner. "Where is good to go around here?"

[Annabelle]

Annabelle smiled. "My dad and I usually go to Blackie's. It is a barbecue restaurant. Not very nice in there...but very delicious."

[Pasha]

"Taste is most important with food, anyway," Pasha reasoned with grin. He led her towards the exit, opening the door with his freehand. "After you."

[Annabelle]

"Thank you," Annabelle chirped, and led the way down the street. "I just figured a man of your class would want something nice...but you are living here for a reason, so Blackie's it is then!"

[Pasha]

"Lead the way," Pasha said with a grin as he followed her out onto the sidewalk. This "Blackie's" place, even though it may not have been nice by her standards, Pasha knew very well that it was probably going to be nicer than any place he had ever been before.