A/N As a disclaimer I’d like to state that even though I am a US citizen, I don’t know whole lot about becoming one. I also don’t know a whole lot about the Fulbright scholarship program. So if there is some incorrect information in here about either, I apologize. Additionally this first chapter is gonna be a lot of background information, just to get the story rolling. This is also my first fic, so constructive criticism keeping that in mind is welcomed and appreciated.

Summary: Sasha and Johnny are about to be kicked out of the United States and forced to return to Russia because their scholarship programs are ending. Not only would it be extremely dangerous for them to return to Russia, but they can’t bear to leave the life and the friends they’ve made. To stay in the US, they have to make a decision that might affect their relationships. (This will be a polyamorous fic as the story progresses!!)

Sasha’s life had gone from a dream to a nightmare in a matter of a few short weeks. Sasha and her boyfriend have been living in New York through scholarship programs for the last couple of years. Sasha, a Fulbright scholar, had worked extremely hard for this opportunity and has been living a fantasy while getting her master’s degree in the US. Russia was obviously no place for a genderfluid, queer drag queen and she was able to live her truth everyday with her boyfriend, Johnny. But, all good things have to come to an end at some point, right? The ending of Sasha and Johnny’s scholarship programs had quickly approached without them realizing. Now, they had to either return to Russia, or find a legal way to stay in the US. The latter, however, was much harder than it seemed.

Sasha met Shea Couleé through the New York drag scene and they became friends instantly. They were perfect together; their minds connected in a way that allowed them to be both artistically collaborative and best friends. Soon after meeting, Sasha and her boyfriend moved into an apartment with Shea and her boyfriend. Shea, a drag queen, and Dan, a photographer and artist, were thrilled to find out that their Russian friends were in need of a place to live. Shea and her boyfriend had been looking for roommates for a while because unfortunately, people don’t like to pay for art, so they were pretty broke. Shea and Dan were originally from Chicago, but moved to Brooklyn because of the opportunities for them there. Not only did Shea like the Brooklyn drag scene more, but New York was an artist hub. The culture there inspired and amazed them every day.

To make things even better, they all had the best neighbors. Shea, Sasha, Johnny, and Dan had made many close friends through New York’s drag scene, and they managed to move in next door to two of them, Trixie and Katya. Initially, Sasha and Katya grew extremely close as a result of their shared Russian heritage. Since Katya had been living in the US since her teen years, much longer than Sasha and Johnny had been there, her accent wasn’t as strong as Sasha’s (but it was still noticeable). Shea met Katya through Sasha, and it’s through Katya that they met Trixie, Katya’s boyfriend. They moved into their apartments at the same time, being lucky enough to get apartments next door to each other. Another one of their close friends, Peppermint, lived in the same apartment building only one floor below theirs. Obviously these weren’t their only friends, but they were definitely their closest. They were another big reason Sasha and Johnny couldn’t bear to leave the US.

As soon as Sasha realized they were about to be kicked out of the country she went into full panic mode. Thank god Shea and Dan weren’t home to see her breakdown. Johnny, however, was. He walked into their shared bedroom to see her sobbing on their bed.

“Sasha?? What’s wrong babe? What happened?”

“I don’t know what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna have to leave. I can’t leave. I can’t go back.” Sasha rambled through her sobs.

“Sasha what are you talking about? What happened, why do we have to leave?” Johnny asked while making his way over to Sasha, wrapping his arms around her.

Sasha took a minute to compose herself, so she could talk clearly.

“Our scholarships. They’re done. We’re both about to get our degrees, we’re not citizens, so they’re gonna make us go back to Russia. I can’t go back Johnny, it’s too good here. We won’t survive back there.”

Johnny’s heart sunk listening to Sasha. He hadn’t realized any of this. And Sasha was right, they couldn’t go back. They had to find a way to stay in America.

“Listen Sasha. You’re right, we can’t go back. But we’re going to figure something out. It’s gonna be okay. Maybe we can take Shea and Dan out, sit them down, and explain the situation to them. Four heads have to be better than two. They’ll be able to help us. We’ll figure this out.”

Sasha nodded and leaned into Johnny’s embrace, more tears silently falling from her eyes.

“Everything’s going to be okay. We’re going to figure something out. We’re not going anywhere” Sasha thought to herself. She tried to convince herself not to worry.

After lying in bed for about an hour, trying to settle each other’s nerves, Sasha and Johnny heard Shea and Dan return home from shopping.

Sasha’s heart rate sped up, being reminded of their current situation and the need to tell Shea and Dan about it.

Sasha and Johnny walked out into their living room together and sat down on the couch together.

“Hey Shea, Dan? Could you guys come over here for a minute?” Johnny called.

“Sure! What’s up?” Shea asked when she and Dan walked in from the kitchen.

“We have something we need to talk about. Could we all maybe go out to dinner tonight? Maybe the pizza place on the corner?” Sasha nervously asked.

“Of course! What’s the matter? Is everything okay?” Dan questioned.

“No, not really. But we’ll talk about it at dinner, okay? Can we go in about 20 minutes?” Johnny answered.

“Yeah totally. I’ll go change.” Shea answered, pulling Dan in the direction of their room, leaving Sasha and Johnny alone in the living room.

About 30 minutes later they were all sitting in a booth waiting for their food.

“So are you going to tell us what’s up?” Shea asked, concerned.

Sasha looked down into her lap, nervously. “Our scholarship programs are almost over and we don’t know what to do. We didn’t realize, and I think we might have to go back to Russia” Sasha said with tears forming in her eyes.

Shea and Dan gasped.

“No, you guys can’t go back there. There has to be something we can do to keep you here.” Shea immediately responded.

Johnny sighed, “I wish there was something we could do. But it would take way too long to become citizens. I don’t know what else we can do.”

“We’re going to figure something out. We have to. I love you guys too much to let you just leave.” Shea said quietly.

“Yeah, Shea’s right. We can all do some research tonight, to find out other ways for you to stay here, okay? Does that sound good?” Dan asked.

They all nodded.

“This is gonna be one long night” Sasha thought.