
Yes, I have read in many books how Alexei and Anastasia had a special bond - something like "ESP" I think they called it!

I don't know how to post pictures (hopefully someone else will) , but if you look at some of the Anastasia pictures in her section, I'm sure you will find some of her and Alexei. I have seen many of them together - one of the sweetest is of the two of them in a chair on the balcony of the palace - they look like they just adore each other!

I think that is why sometimes Maria felt a little "out of sync" - she was the inbetween girl and didn't really fit in with Anastasia (or was bossed around by her) and certainly didn't with the "Big Pair" either.

It seems to me that as Anastasia and Alexei got older, the closeness was a little less apparent, but when they were young, they were very close.
Janet R.