Chapter 106. Back Home, to Texas

Chapter 106. Back Home, to Texas
MV Silver Monarch
Morning sunlight spills through the open balcony doors, carrying with it the scent of the ocean and the gentle warmth of another clear day at sea. The curtains sway lazily in the breeze, filling the suite with soft golden light that makes everything feel quieter than it had only a few minutes ago.

Alexandra remains comfortably propped against the headboard, one knee bent beneath the blanket, her tablet resting across her lap. She has been reading reports from New York while occasionally glancing at the endless stretch of blue water beyond the balcony. It's a habit she never quite manages to leave behind. Even on vacation, work somehow finds its way into her hands.

The peaceful silence is interrupted by the rapid sound of footsteps across the wooden deck outside. Before Alexandra has time to look up, Roxanne bursts through the balcony doors with a smile so bright it almost rivals the morning sun itself.

Without slowing down, she crosses the room in a few quick steps and throws herself onto the bed, landing directly against Alexandra with enough momentum to make the older woman laugh as she instinctively steadies her.

"Oof..." Alexandra chuckles, wrapping an arm securely around her waist. "Sweetheart, you look excited."

Her free hand comes to rest naturally on Roxanne's thigh, gently rubbing absent circles through her bare thighs while she studies the younger woman's glowing expression. Roxanne can barely contain herself.

"He said yes. "She's practically glowing.

Alexandra smiles knowingly. "I assumed he would."

"He told me I can go back to Texas." The words tumble out one after another.

"I can see Caleb. I can see Maddie." Her smile grows even wider. "I can see Dad."

The excitement in her voice is impossible to miss. It's the kind of happiness Alexandra rarely sees from Roxanne, completely unguarded and wonderfully genuine. "And..." Roxanne continues, trying to suppress another grin that refuses to stay hidden, "...he told me to talk to you about the accommodations."

Alexandra raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"He wants you to come with me." The smile on Alexandra's face immediately flattens into an exaggerated look of disbelief.

"Why?" Her voice carries unmistakable amusement beneath the annoyance. "Because I'm supposed to be your mother?"

Roxanne can't help laughing, happy that the thought annoys Alexandra. Instead of answering immediately, she shifts closer until she's comfortably straddling Alexandra's lap, her knees settling on either side of the older woman's hips. She tilts her head with exaggerated innocence, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"No," Alexandra waits. "He said..."

Roxanne struggles to keep a straight face. "...because you're an adult."

Alexandra nods thoughtfully. "A very sensible observation."

"And..." Roxanne bites her lip to stop herself from laughing but gives a cute pout, "...I'm just a baby."

For a heartbeat, Alexandra simply stares at her. Then she lets out a rich, warm laugh that fills the room. "I agree with him."

Roxanne's mouth immediately falls open. "What?"

"I agree." Alexandra calmly sets her tablet on the bedside table before placing both hands comfortably around Roxanne's thighs.

"You're absolutely a baby." Roxanne pouts so dramatically that Alexandra has to fight another laugh.

"I'm twenty."

"Mhm."

"We agree that once I'm an adult, you'll accept my feelings."

"I do, and I did." Alexandra can't stop her smirks.

"We slept together, you accept my feelings, right?" Roxanne says again.

"Yes, we are." Alexandra can't stop being amused, her smile widens.

"So how am I still a baby?" She pouted.

Alexandra's smile softens into something infinitely more affectionate. "Because," she says quietly, "you're my baby."

Before Roxanne can protest again, Alexandra gently pulls her closer until only a few inches separate them. She brushes a lingering kiss against Roxanne’s lips, smiling when she feels the younger woman melt into it almost immediately.

It's a slow yet passionate kiss, the soft pressure of their mouths against each other speaking a language of patience and reverence. Alexandra’s hand cups Roxanne’s jaw, her thumb tracing a featherlight stroke along her cheekbone as the kiss deepens into something tender and unhurried.

When they finally separate, Alexandra rests her forehead lightly against hers. "I love seeing you like this."

"Like what?"

"So happy." Her thumb strokes slowly along Roxanne's leg.

"So excited." Another small kiss finds the corner of Roxanne's mouth.

"So wonderfully giggly." Roxanne laughs softly, unable to hide the warmth spreading across her face.

Alexandra reaches up and slips Roxanne's suite robe from her shoulders, tossing it carelessly onto the nearby chair before smoothing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I much prefer this version of you."

"The serious heir isn't your favorite?"

"Oh, I adore her too." Alexandra smiles tenderly.

"But this Roxanne..." Her fingertips lightly brush against the younger woman's cheek. "The one who runs across a cruise suite just to tell me she's going home to see her family..."

She leans forward and kisses her forehead with quiet affection. "...this is my favorite."

Roxanne closes her eyes, resting comfortably against Alexandra's embrace while the morning sunlight continues pouring into the room around them. For the first time in years, Texas no longer feels like a place she has lost forever. It feels like somewhere she can finally return to, knowing that when she leaves again, she will also be coming back to the woman holding her so gently in that quiet, sunlit room.

\-

Alexandra moves quickly once the decision is made, arranging transportation from the middle of the ocean proves to be nothing more than another logistical problem waiting to be solved. A few phone calls are all it takes before a flight plan is approved, the necessary authorities are informed, and a helicopter is dispatched to intercept the cruise ship at its next scheduled position.

Within an hour, the distant rhythm of rotor blades begins echoing across the open sea. Passengers naturally gather along the upper decks, shielding their eyes from the bright morning sun as they watch the sleek black helicopter descend towards the ship.

The aircraft hovers for a few seconds above the helipad before lowering itself gracefully onto the painted landing circle, the spinning blades sending powerful gusts of wind sweeping across the deck. Crew members quickly move into position, guiding the pilot through the final landing procedure while securing the surrounding area.

The sudden activity attracts curious glances from nearby guests, though no one approaches close enough to interfere. Privacy has always been one of the luxuries offered aboard the MV Silver Monarch, especially when members of the Romanov family are involved.

Roxanne stands besides Alexandra, one hand instinctively holding onto the older woman's as they wait for the crew to finish preparing the helicopter. The salty breeze catches loose strands of her dark hair, pushing them across her face before Alexandra quietly reaches over and tucks them behind her ear with practiced familiarity.

Neither of them notices the amused smiles exchanged between several members of the crew. By the time everything is ready, word has already reached Vladimir.

Vladimir Romanov appears on the helipad surrounded by only a handful of personal security staff, dressed in a light linen shirt instead of the tailored suits he normally prefers during business meetings. Despite his age, he carries himself with the unmistakable confidence of someone who has spent decades commanding both boardrooms and families alike.

His sharp blue eyes immediately settle on the joined hands between Alexandra and Roxanne, and then he sighs dramatically. "Why are you taking her away from me so quickly?"

There's a clear disappointment in his voice as he looks directly at his youngest daughter. "I'm not finished talking to her yet."

Alexandra simply smiles. "I need to take her back to Texas."

She squeezes Roxanne's hand gently while speaking. "Her siblings need her, her brother is in an emergency."

Vladimir's expression immediately softens. The disappointment disappears almost as quickly as it comes, replaced instead by genuine concern. He turns towards Roxanne, and the intimidating businessman whom countless executives fear during negotiations seems to disappear entirely.

"Will the boy be all right?" His voice becomes unexpectedly gentle.

Roxanne nods. "The doctors say he'll recover."

"Good." Vladimir studies her face for another moment before asking quietly, "Do you need anything?"

The question catches Alexandra completely off guard. She has watched her father dealing ruthlessly against people and coldly managing a billion-dollar Romanov empire, dismantling rival companies without blinking an eye, and terrifying experienced executives with nothing more than a look. Hardly any people ever receive this version of Vladimir Romanov, one that speaks with warmth instead of authority.

Yet somehow Roxanne does, Alexandra has noticed it almost immediately after introducing them. Her father likes Roxanne, perhaps it's because of her intelligence. Vladimir openly admires that. Or maybe because of her business instincts, despite praising them repeatedly throughout the cruise.

He likes her, Vladimir Romanov likes her. The realization still feels oddly surreal, seemingly Roxanne has a magic power that can make any Romanov being smitten with her.

Roxanne offers Vladimir a small, grateful smile. "I'll ask if I need something."

Vladimir's face brightens almost boyishly. "Oh?"

He steps forward, reaching out to gently smooth a few loose strands of hair away from Roxanne's forehead before affectionately patting the top of her head. "That's a promise, then."

"It is."

"Good." His smile widens. "I don't like people suffering in silence."

Standing only a few steps away, Alexandra watches the exchange with growing disbelief. She has spent her entire life around the Romanovs and understands better than anyone how difficult genuine affection comes to their family. Love exists, certainly, but it is rarely expressed through simple gestures. The Romanovs are more likely to solve someone's problems than tell them they care.

Yet Roxanne somehow seems to bypass every carefully constructed wall each member of the family has built around themselves. Sergei teases her like a younger sister he never realized he wanted; the other cousins talk loudly and animatedly around her. Even Vladimir, whose approval has always been earned through years of achievement rather than weeks of acquaintance, instinctively reaches out to fuss over her before she leaves.

Alexandra can't decide whether it's Roxanne's sincerity, her blatant honesty, or simply the gentleness she carries beneath her composed exterior, but whatever it is, it seems capable of disarming Romanov's cold upbringing. It is almost unbelievable to witness.

Vladimir takes one last look at the younger woman before shifting his attention towards Alexandra. His expression becomes more serious, though the warmth lingering in his eyes does not disappear.

"Take care of her." The request is simple, yet Alexandra understands exactly what her father means.

He's asking as a father who has unexpectedly grown attached to someone. Alexandra nods without hesitation. "I will." There's no need to promise anything further. Both of them know she intends to keep those words.

Around them, the flight crew finishes securing the last of their luggage inside the helicopter's baggage compartment. The pilot exchanges a brief signal with the ground staff before beginning the final pre-flight checks. The rhythm of the spinning rotors grows louder, whipping the sea breeze across the helipad and sending strands of Roxanne's dark hair dancing around her face.

Alexandra reaches over instinctively, brushing the loose strands behind her ear before intertwining their fingers once more. Together they walk towards the waiting helicopter.

The crew member stationed besides the open cabin door greets them with a respectful nod before stepping aside, allowing Alexandra to help Roxanne climb aboard first. Once she's comfortably seated, Alexandra follows, fastening her seatbelt before checking that Roxanne's harness is secured properly.

Outside the cabin window, Vladimir remains standing on the helipad. He raises one hand for a farewell. Roxanne smiles warmly and waves back until the cabin door slides shut between them.

Moments later, the engines increase their power. The helicopter lifts smoothly from the deck of the MV Silver Monarch, rising above the endless blue water as the cruise ship gradually becomes smaller beneath them. From above, the vessel cuts elegantly through the ocean, leaving a long ribbon of white foam stretching across the calm sea behind it.

Roxanne watches the ship disappear into the distance until it becomes little more than a bright shape against the horizon. The flight north carries them across breathtaking stretches of Alaska's rugged coastline before descending towards Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Waiting on a private apron is a sleek business jet that has already been fueled, cleared for departure, and prepared for the next leg of their journey.

There are no commercial terminals, no security queues, and no unnecessary delays. Within the hour, they will be airborne again. Their destination this time is Texas, back home.