Ooh la la! Shopping in Paris was more than I ever thought it would be! Sophie showed us around the town after being interviewed at her house, and I've never had so much fun in my life! We danced, ate, shopped, saw the sites...the best part was when I walked with Dimitri arm in arm down "la rue". Can YOU think of a better thing to do in ol' Paree?

Chanel	Fashions from the 20s -- Ooh la la!
Sophie's Townhouse	Take Sophie's quiz to see if you're royalty!
Notre Dame	Learn about Sophie!
Arc de Triomphe	Parlez-Vous Francais?
The Eiffel Tower	Paris in the 1920s -- and all that jazz!
The Place de l'Opera	Listen to lots of Anastasia sound clips!

Anya trembled as she stood on the steps of Sophie's townhouse that afternoon. What was she DOING here? She felt like gathering the skirts of her new dress and running off in an opposite direction. Smiling, Vlad knocked. A maid opened the door. "Oui, Monsieur?" she said. Sophie came to the door and gasped with delight at what she saw. Vladimir threw his arms open wide. "Sophie Stanislovskievna Somorokov-Smirnoff!" Sophie's eyes lit up. Her jaw dropped in amazement. "Vladimir Vanya Voinitsky Vasilovich! Well, this IS unexpected! Come in, come in everybody!" Bubbling with excitment, Sophie led her guests into her elegant drawing room. How wonderful to meet an old friend from Russia! Especially one as dashing as Vladimir Vasilovich! But Vlad had one more surprise. With a sweeping bow, he annouced, "May I present, her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolayevna!". Anya blushed and offered her best curtsey. "Oh my heavens!" Sophie gased. "She certainly does LOOK like Anastasia...but so did many of the others." When everyone was seated, Sophie began her questions: names, places, dates, times. Anya answered them all. At last Sophie leaned back in her chair. This girl had answered her toughest questions! Was she a clever actress or really Anastasia? "Finally, you may find this, an impertinant question, but indulge me. How did you escape during the seige of the palace?" Dimitri and Vlad exchanged nervous glances. That was one question they hadn't practiced with Anya. Would she be quick enough to fake an acceptable answer? Anya was silent for a moment, her mind blank. Then her memory snagged a wisp of something..."There was a boy. A boy who worked in the palace. He opened a wall..." she shook her head, her cheeks hot from embarrasement. "I'm sorry, that's crazy. Walls opening...". The others laughed. But not Dimitri. He rose to his feet, staring at Anya as if he'd never seen her before. It wasn't possible! He'd been the boy in the wall! Only two other people had been there, Marie and Anastasia. How could Anya possibly know unless she was Anastasia?! Dimitri quickly excused himself and hurried into the garden. It was soon decided by Sophie and Vlad that Anya would meet Marie later that evening. For now, they'd go shopping in Paris! After the shopping spree, they all prepared to go to the Paris Opera House to meet Marie. Dimitri and Vlad waited on the Opera steps. "We don't have anything to be nervous ABOUT. She's the princess," he told Vlad. "I know, I know..." "No you DON'T know," Dimitri insisted. He grabbed his friend by the shoulders and looked him in the eye. "I was the boy in the palace. The one who opened the wall. She's the real thing, Vlad." Vlad tried to insist that he tell Anya of his feelings for her, but Dimitri only replyed with a curt, "Kitchen boys don't marry princesses". They all watched the opera, filled with either hope or sadness...or both. Anya was surprised to see the intermission lights. She hadn't watched the ballet at all. During the first act, her heart had been thumping wildly. She wanted to be reunited with Marie, but she also wanted to stay with Dimitri! Dimitri turned to Anya. "Come on," he said sadly. "I guess it's time." Arm in arm, Dimitri and Anya walked down the aisle and into the corridor. Dimitri stopped in front of a wooden door, which led to the Empress's private box. "Wait here just a minute. I'll go in and annouce you properly." He turned away, but Anya pulled him back. "Dimitri? Look, we've been through a lot together...and I just wanted to...". She stopped. "Well, thank you," she blurted out. "Yes, thank you for everything." "Anya, I..." Dimitri began shyly. "I...I wanted to wish you good luck, I guess." He turned and walked inside to the Empress's box. Anya pressed her ear to the door. After a short and bitter talk with the Empress, Marie finally made her accusations to Dimitri clear. He wasn't the friend of Anastasia - he was a con-man with an imposter, hoping for the 10 million ruble reward! After being kicked out, he realized that Anya had heard it all, and was less than happy about it. After a confontation in the hallway, she slapped him and stormed off. Dimitri was dejected. What was he going to do now? Then the answer came to him: he'd hijack the Empress's car! After driving her to Sophie's townhouse, he presented her with the most extrodinary thing she could ever hope for - the musicbox! Marie agreed to see Anya. At first their meeting was stilted and harsh. Marie refused to get her hopes up that this con-man's girl was actually her long lost granddaughter. But then she saw it. The necklace she'd given Anastasia! Singing their secret lullaby together, the grandmother and granddaugther were finally reunited! Visit the Coronation Ball for more of the Story!

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