Anastasia looked at her mother as she spoke and swallowed. She didn't have a connect or relationship with her dad and hardly had one with the woman in front of her. But she felt a stinging at the corner of her eye as she looked at her mother. She practically threw herself at her as she hugged her, burying her face in her chest. She stood there just hugging her mother. Her entire life was spent with questions about what her real family was like. Her father was apparently amazing and her mother... she was great and brave and so strong. After a moment, Anastasia sniffled and looked up the woman and smiled softly, "I don't think in all of my years of imaging you and my father... I made up two people that are as wonderful as you are. And not because you are a Queen... but just because... I don't know if I could have done it.... If I could have handle doing what you did and making those choices... Being alone and knowing exactly where I was..."

She rested her head on the woman's chest again, "I.... love you."

Anastasia didn't know where the words came from. She hadn't even know the woman a week. She could hardly bring herself to actually think of her as any less than the Queen. But the words just tumbled out of her mouth without her even thinking. She smiled softly, did that mean she meant them. She spoke quietly, "I love you...."