When the door opened, Anatoly immediately rushed inside, his heart pounding with emotion. He remembered himself enough to greet Svetlana with a chaste kiss on her cheek and explain who Lex was and why he was here.

The real focus of his attention was on his children and he fell to his knees with a soft cry, holding out his arms to them. They rushed over and he wrapped them into his arms, holding them as tightly as he could. He could feel his eyes start to water and his throat seize up with the effort of keeping himself together, but it didn't matter. He was finally with his beloved children and for a little while, he could pretend that everything was alright.