Chapter 21
When Nastya entered Natascha's trailer, she instantly ran over to the young girl's side, being reminded of an event a few years ago back in Russia. The young girl had also fainted due to suffering from attacks of respiratory distress quite frequently at the time.
It had soon turned out that she was suffering from asthma and required special treatment. In England they had been at the seaside, the salty sea air seeming to work wonders, noticeably improving Natascha's state.
'What has caused this? I do not understand.'
She quickly rushed up to grab the medkit, preparing a syringe filled with the drug, carefully injecting the small girl with her medicine, hoping she'd soon recover. Kate had by now arrived as well alongside Phoebe, both looking on in shock at the sight.
The older Janeway sister asked her lover. “What did you give her there, Nastya? Is Natascha seriously sick?”
Her heart sank when the blonde nodded, her tone dejected. “She is suffering from asthma. The attacks come at random but are typically provoked by stress or physical exertion.
"I have just injected her with a dose of cocaine which should help relieve the pain and improve her state shortly.
"Phoebe, what has transpired before the attack occurred? I have to know this. Please, be honest with me.
"It is of utmost importance if we want to ascertain Natascha's well-being.”
Kate looked at her little sister who had started to fidget nervously, confusing her.
The redhead looked at her sister gently. “You care for Natascha's well-being, Pheebs. Don't you? No matter what has happened, we won't scold you. Just please tell us.”
Phoebe had dreaded this conversation to come, her eyes downcast.
To all their surprise, a small voice disrupted them. “It wasn't Phoebe's fault. She didn't know I'm sick. I should've known better. I'm sorry for worrying you all and for delaying our journey...”
Nastya sat next to her little sister, gently caressing her hair, telling her in Russian. “Tascha, I was so worried. Afraid I would lose you...”
The younger girl's heart ached at the tears brimming in the older girl's eyes. “I'm sorry, Nastya. I was reckless earlier.
"For a moment there I appeared to have forgotten my sickness, but I promise that I won't simply leave you behind like that.
"I will be more careful from now on.”
Nastya was admittedly still curious as to what had happened that had provoked the attack and so was Kate, but the younger girls were persistent in keeping their lips sealed, Natascha reassuring the oldest girls that it was irrelevant what it had been and she would not be doing it again in the future to which Phoebe agreed.
Nastya and Kate had reluctantly gone back to the oldest girl's trailer after having talked to Pjotr and updating him about the status.
Their journey finally started, Nastya clearly out of sorts, sitting on the bed, staring blankly ahead, deeply concerning her lover.
Kate asked hesitantly. “Are you alright, my love? I'm sure the kids had their good reasons for not telling us what had transpired back there.”
Nastya sighed heavily. “I know, Kate. You are most likely right, but... I am simply so worried. When your sister came here earlier and said that something had happened to Natascha, I had feared for the worst.
"I have already almost lost her many times over the years she has been under my care. I can not risk losing her. She in a sense is not merely like my little sister but like my daughter.
"I have watched her grow, raised her, provided for her as best I could, watched over her, protected her...”
Kate took her lover who had started to cry heavily in a warm embrace, whispering words of reassurance, running her fingers through those soft golden locks of hers.
Nastya blushed when she noticed the younger girl's shoulder was soiled by her tears. “I apologize for soiling your dress, Kate. It was foolish crying like that. I am usually more well-composed...”
Kate smiled sympathetically. “I'm aware of that, my love. It's fine. I don't mind it. You have nothing to apologize or feel ashamed for.
"Crying has a cleansing effect. It seems like you needed it.
"Are you hungry, by the way?”
Nastya cocked her left brow, stating nonchalantly. “You do not wish to cook. Do you, Kate? Your mother has told me that your qualities lie in other fields than cooking.”
Kate snorted, her cheeks turning crimson. “What exactly has she said, Nastya? I doubt she's put it that nicely.”
The older girl recited, clearly trying to imitate Gretchen Janeway. “Katie is a sweet girl, I love her to bits, she has lots of talents, but heavens forbid if you let her near a kitchen, a stove!
"Unless you wanna burn down the place, Katie should stay out of the kitchen! I tried teaching her cooking, but it's clearly not her forte...”
Kate barked out a laugh which sent a flutter to Nastya's lower abdomen. “That sounds more like mom and that was quite an impressive imitation of her you did there, my love. It's obvious you are working as a performer. You have a great talent for acting.
"From what I've gathered so far you're a great cook. Are you?”
Nastya blushed softly at her lover's compliments, shrugging. “I do not know whether I am a great cook per se, but so far I have received no complaints by any of the people I cooked for.”
The younger girl remarked. “I'd say that's a good sign. You don't usually eat much, Nastya. Do you?”
The blonde nodded. “You are correct. Due to my abdominal implant, I am merely able to ingest small amounts of solid nutrition at once. Are you 'hungry', Kate? Shall I prepare 'food' for you?”
Kate didn't want to force her lover to cook solely for her, knowing she needed rest.
She shook her head. “It's fine, Nastya. I'm not hungry. Let's get some rest, alright?”
The older girl agreed and they laid down together, Kate asked. “By the way, do you have any idea when we are going to reach our first stop?”
Nastya pondered for a moment before stating. “I believe we should arrive there soon. The town we will perform next is fairly close to your hometown.”
Kate nodded, cuddling into her lover's embrace, both soon drifting off to sleep...
Kate stirred awake and was met by shocking blue. It took a moment before she realized that she was looking into her lover's eyes.
'That sure is a great way to wake up and kinda frightening too. I didn't remember her eyes to be this intense.'
A surprised soft whimper escaped her at a familiar set of plush lips pressing against hers, her eyes soon closing, returning the kiss in kind, a wide grin forming on her face.
Her voice sounded slightly raw due to the early hour which in Nastya's opinion only added to its appeal. “Good morning, my love. I love being woken up like that.”
The blonde smiled softly, caressing her cheek. “Did you sleep well, my love?”
Kate nodded. “I always do with you next to me.”
Suddenly the redhead noticed something, asking in surprise. “Have we already reached our destination?”
Nastya nodded. “It appears that we have. Do you wish to go out and take a look around the area?”
Kate always up for exploration and adventure jumped up from the bed, taking one glance down at her appearance she said sheepishly. “After I have freshened up and changed into fresh clothes.”
Nastya whispered in her ear. “Shall I help you get ready, my love?”
Kate blushed. “I'll manage, Nastya. Maybe you could help me get dressed and do my hair again once I'm finished washing myself, however. I would truly appreciate that.”
The older girl smiled and readily agreed. “Of course, Kate. I will be waiting.”
Kate asked over her shoulder. “Did you already get ready, by the way?”
Nastya inclined her head. “I did.”
The redhead was stunned, her lover usually seeming to enjoy sleeping in, but she shrugged it off, musing that maybe she had woken up early because they had arrived at their destination.
The blonde's inner clock seemed to be shockingly accurate. Kate couldn't help wonder if this was one of the Doctor's doings as well, but pushed those grim thoughts away quickly, not wanting to delve too deep into that.
Nastya had already laid out a new outfit for her lover. The blonde had a hard time not growling as her lover approached her in the nude, long hair covering her breasts, hands shyly covering her intimate area which sent a flutter to the older girl's heart.
'She is too precious. Acting so shy despite us being lovers and me knowing her quite intimately by now.'
The older girl couldn't help blurting out. “You resemble the Venus of Botticelli right at this moment, my love. Have you ever heard of the painting before?”
Kate's cheeks turned crimson. “Of course, I've heard of it, seen pictures of it in art books. You're flattering me, Nastya. The Venus is absolutely gorgeous, a goddess, while I'm merely an ordinary girl.”
Nastya declared. “You are no ordinary girl, Kate. You are extraordinary, gorgeous, your looks much like those of a deity, or a celestial being, not that I personally believe in these kinds of things.
"The being that by far reminds me the most of you, however, will forever be a faerie.”
Kate chuckled. “Because I'm short, hu? Well, enough of praising my looks. I'd like to get dressed now. If you don't mind. Please work your magic, my love.”
Kate at this moment once more was grateful for her lover's efficiency, allowing the younger girl to be ready to go within less than fifteen minutes when usually this kind of affair could easily take twenty to thirty minutes.
Nastya, as Kate only noticed now, had dressed in her disguise as Nikolai again.
The redhead asked curiously. “Nastya, is there a particular reason you're wearing your disguise?”
Her eyes turned wide when her lover admitted. “I am registered as a male, so if anyone should wish to see my papers and I am not dressed accordingly, chances are high I will get arrested.
"I had trouble with law enforcement before. I do not wish to experience that kind of ordeal again.”
Kate's eyes went wide. “Wait a second there. You are registered as a male? What does that mean? That Nastya, my lover doesn't even exist?”
The blonde bit her lip. “Not officially, no. I deemed it best to register as a male back then when I had first escaped the Doctor's fangs.
"As I told you before, finding work was much easier for boys than it was for girls in my home country, so I was forced to take on this new identity. That is how Nikolai was first born.”
Kate nodded slowly, asking hesitantly. “Nikolai...? You have never actually told me your last name, Nastya.”
The blonde swallowed, having dreaded this question. “Romanow.”
Kate's jaw dropped. “Wait... That's the name of the royal family of your home country. Isn't it?”
Nastya sighed and nodded. “Indeed, it is. I am as you can see, by no means, a 'blue blood', of royal descent, however.”
Kate frowned. “Are you sure of that, Nastya? Your appearance does seem quite regal to me.”
Nastya chuckled. “Kate, I am a mere peasant, a lowly performer. It is a mere coincidence and not a good one, in my personal opinion, that I share the same last name with the royal family.
"Are you ready to depart and 'go into town' now, my love?”
Kate nodded. “Yes, of course. Let's go. I'm excited to see if this town's any different to my hometown, or not. Also, maybe we can find a place we can get something to eat. I am quite hungry.”
Nastya chuckled. “Very well. Good thing I brought along some money then.”
Kate beamed and leaned against her lover, sincerely hoping they would find a place that would be selling decent food which wasn't easy to come by these days as she knew in many places around the country due to the Great Famine.
Kate found herself hoping and praying this year's harvest would be better. Although her family, thankfully had been mostly spared so far, chances were with the upcoming summer most likely going to be hot and dry negatively affecting their crops as well...