Dmitri looked at the starlit sky nervously, knowing that he had to do it now… they were having dinner at a fancy restaurant, courtesy of the Dowager herself who helped him in the plan.

Two months ago…

"So… although it's been two months already… I felt like it had been eons since we were reunited…" Dmitri rehearsed awkwardly in front of Vlad "I can't do this! What if she says no? The least she deserves is a fancy proposal."

"Look…" Vlad began "I think it would be reasonable to point out that the woman who chose to run away with you is her!"

Dmitri sighed, running his hand through his chestnut-brown hair. "Yeah, but… I just… do you think she regrets running away with me? She sacrificed a life of fame and fortune just for a pathetic street rat like me!"

"You think she regrets everything?" Vlad asked, bewildered as the usual bravado of his friend faded away. The young man nodded solemnly. He looked at Dmitri "No, I believe that she loves you with all her heart and that she never regretted running away with you, Dmitri. What I think you should do is to confess your love to her like there's no tomorrow!"

"Wow, two months with a countess and a dowager and you're already spouting wisdom?"
"What? Can't an old man like me be wise?!"

But Dmitri knew that his friend was right… although Vlad was still the mischievous conman he had been in his youth, he'd matured into a good man, and he was even better company.

Now he thought of that conversation once Anya finished her dessert. Dmitri cleared his throat and said, "Now, for the surprise…"

"C'mon! Just for a moment!" Dmitri smiled as they walked towards the Pont Alexandre III… "And now!"

Anya opened her eyes and gasped, looking at the ink-coloured sky dotted with white. Letting the cool night breeze caress her, she looked into Dmitri's dark, chocolate-brown eyes.

Dmitri's heart started thumping violently against his chest and he blushed beetroot-red before taking a deep breath and smiling as he fiddled with something in his pocket. The young man walked closer towards the young woman before beginning "Anya… I…" However, as he stared into her deep blue eyes, he stammered awkwardly and rapidly "I… I wanted to talk to you about this thing I've been thinking about for a while now and I wasn't really sure about what to do and now, I think it's the right time!"

"Is…" Anya began, feeling scared "Something wrong?"

Dmitri gulped and took another deep breath "Anya… no matter who you are, even if you're a princess or not, I… I'll always love you for being yourself…"

Tears of joy filled her eyes as Dmitri continued "We've been together for a long time… from that day when you were eight and I was ten… to the day we found each other again… and not always as lovers… but as friends… I… can honestly say that day we can start our own family to cherish and care for… will forever be the best day of my life… It… almost never happened without your stubbornness and my feelings… and I don't want to lose you again…"

Anya gasped in shock, trying to grapple those feelings "Dima…"

"Being with you," Dmitri gave off his million-dollar smile "Has always meant the world to me… and I want that world to be a part of my life… forever…" Soon after; he pulled out a little velvet box, revealing its contents. A beautiful diamond engagement ring! She gasped in happiness.

"Anya… will you marry me?"

Speechless, she was overwhelmed with many emotions. A tear trickled down her cheek as she said "D… Dima? Yes!" Before nodding eagerly and smiling as tears of joy began to torrent down like a waterfall "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Dmitri reached out his arms to embrace the petite young woman and their lips met as the light from the Eiffel tower lit up the night. As they softly separated, he looked at her; a tender smile crossing his face. "I promise that no matter what, we will always be there for each other… And I am standing at the beginning with you…"

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!1