The Belikov house seemed to have been the target on one of those extreme makeovers...well the back yard at least, which only made me regret not taking pictures of before and after. During that very awaited August day, we had arranged the white chairs Olena and Lissa had agreed on around a long white wood table, laid out the lighting – since the wedding was happening near sun set due to the amount of Moroi present – put on a sort of dance area with a green carpet (thank god it was green, for a moment I dreaded if Lissa had insisted on white, I can't imagine it very pretty after being on the grass with people passing over it) and helped in the kitchen. Basically we spent the morning like… headless chicken was the first thing that came to my mind. Everyone was running around carrying stuff from one place to another, some literally freaking out. Me however well, how do I put it… you know those youtube videos where there is one person who seems to be in slow motion while everything around them is motion in high speed? Yeah that was me. I was trying to help in any way I could, only to have someone – this being Olena, Lissa, Sydney, Sonya or any of the Belikov sisters – tell me to bugger off, that I needed bridal rest or some other similar shit. I honestly just wanted to help, but apparently I wasn't on duty anymore and so I reached a point where I was tired both from watching them fumble around and from being told to get lost.
I decided to go to my room and take a nap. I was going upstairs when I started to hear music playing. I recognized the decade theme. I slowly approached the origin of the sound. I could see from the distance that the door was opened just a slightly. I couldn't see much inside, just part of the empty bed, hand made quilt over it. I thought about moving closer, I thought about opening the door and just throwing myself into him - a bit dramatic I know… you have to realise that the worst thing you can do is wanting something that's right next to you and that you can't have… okay we had lived in that situation basically since we first met, but reasonably, at that time we weren't sure about our feelings for each other… even after we displayed those feelings… it still wasn't a certain thing. Now…now is different, when we were away at university was one thing, he was miles away, but these last, he was right next to me god dam it! Literally a room apart! It was just plain teasing…
I gave one step back… stopping myself from going to him… I held on for two days I could, no, I would do it for a couple more hours. I returned to my room thinking about how that nap might help. I laid down but I couldn't sleep…which was weird for me. I guess I was too pumped up. I hated waiting…which was a nuisance since most of what we do as guardians is just waiting around. But yeah I hated it…specially since we had been planning this freaking wedding for months now and the anticipation was killing me.
Surprisingly I wasn't even freaking out anymore, I just wanted this thing to start and to get my 5 days of absolute bliss with Dimitri. I looked out the window, the backyard was starting to look like something out of those magazines Lissa so often bought. My recollection was interrupted by the amusing sight of Christian and Adrian carrying huge bouquets of flowers. I hurried to take my phone out in order to photograph the hilarious situation, thinking it might come in useful in the future.
My attention was once again caught in the music coming from the next room. It was faint but I could hear it. If neither of the women of the house would let me speak to Dimitri, I would communicate with him in another way. I pulled out my laptop and went onto youtube. I chose the most recent pop hit – because in my mind I knew it was what would annoy him most – I put it high and pressed play. The song filled the room well enough but I was afraid it wouldn't reach the next room. Of course I only had to wait a couple of minutes before I had my answer. Suddenly the 80's song became much louder. I grinned. It was working. I increased the volume so that the sound would overpower his. It took him about 20 seconds before he did the same. And I responded. We basically got to a point where neither of us could hear anything clearly, it was a mesh of lyrics and tunes no one could understand. Obviously I was feeling the vibe of it all so I was dancing like a crazy person in the middle of the room – also it helped to release the anxiousness. So there I was, a mixture between one of those contemporary dancers and someone having an epileptic seizure. I realised Lissa and Karolina had entered the room and where staring down at me. I had no idea for how long they had been there. I stopped suddenly, almost tripping on myself from the unbalanced movement. I was breathless.
"Hi" I said catching my breath, noticing they were just staring at me with an amused look.
"блин" Said Karolina. Basically shit in Russian, but with a lighter use…more of a surprise expression – yeah I knew my Russian swear words.
"You should be resting, not… well, whatever you were doing. Could you turn the music down? Please?!" She screamed. I hurried and closed the laptop clumsily. They both turned to face the opposite wall. Dimitri's 80's song was still playing. They looked back at me with arched eyebrows, silently asking what was going on. Thankfully Dimitri realised the absence of noise because a few seconds after he toned down his music.
"Okay it's time to get ready, have you showered?" Lissa asked with her motherly voice – I had been hearing a lot lately.
"Hum….no…" I grinned apologetically. She responded with a highly reproving look.
"Well go now! Karolina and I will try some make-up and hair solutions" they smiled at each other. I couldn't help but notice that despite the age difference they seemed to be good friends already. Karolina sat down in the chair near the wooden desk – where someone had put a mirror – and Lissa started to play with it. I heard them say something about Karolina's hair colour being more similar to mine as I went to the bathroom. I finished blow drying my hair and came out into the room where Victoria was now sitting down near the desk with Karolina behind her, Sonya and Lissa were chatting on the bed. Sydney and Jill were playing with Declan on the floor. I realised they all had different hair styles and make-ups. I stood there under the door frame looking at this picture-perfect scene. All of a sudden they all turned to look at me.
"Rose!" they said practically at the same time. Gosh this really seemed to come out of one of those bridal movies. I felt the urgent need to pinch myself.
"Come here Rose, sit" Karolina said leading me onto the chair Victoria had quickly got out of. She turned it around "So with of the hair styles and make-up do you prefer?" she asked making a gesture to the girls who were now almost lined up side by side. I felt like I was in a shop choosing between mannequins. I looked at them, they all had different styles of tied up hair, some with some strands falling, others more of a high bun, another was braided. I looked back at Karolina and smiled.
"I want my hair down… you can tie back a few strands, but I want most of it down"
I turned to look myself in the mirror. I had two very good reasons. One of them was my molnija marks, wore my hair up for battle and official situations, but here…now, I didn't want to be guardian Hathaway. I wanted to be simply Rose…his Roza. The second reason, well, the obvious reason, Dimitri loved my hair. He revelled in it. It was his favourite part – although he said he liked everything about me – so yeah I wanted to parade the hell out of my fantastic hair.
"Okay then, I'll just braid a little bit of it" She said, her hands already busy at work. Pulling some strands from the front, braiding them back and clipping it with something. She then proceeded to shape the rest of it with a curling iron. The chatter continued in the background as all of the girls talked happily.
"So rose…where is the honeymoon?" Sonya asked, I looked through the mirror she was now on the floor playing with Paul and Declan. She looked at me with an expression I wasn't used to seeing in the Belikov girls, I guess I always kind of thought of them as I would a little sister, even though they were older than me and even though they had kids of their own. So when she sent me a flirty mischievous look I actually was a bit stunned.
"I don't know…your brother insists on not telling me" I looked to Lissa reflection "Are you sure you don't know Liss?"
"I don't…Christian doesn't want to tell me…but even if I did I wouldn't blab! He wants to make you a surprise just shut up and enjoy it" she smiled to Katya in her lap as she said this, contradicting he authoritarian tone to her voice.
"I bet is somewhere romantic…like a picnic in the middle of the desert…" Victoria said.
"…Or a tree house in the Amazonian forest…" Sonya continued with a day dreaming expression.
"Well, it doesn't matter really does it?! It's Dimitri we're talking about…so basically they could be in the middle of a blizzard with only Dimitri's godly arms protecting her from the elements and it would still be the best dam honeymoon ever…" Sydney said - although i think it was something that had just came out, and wasn't necessarily to be said out loud - basically putting a stop to the conjecture, because after that comment everyone went silent for a few seconds, like they were considering the situation and then one by one they started nodding in agreement. Dimitri's younger sisters just giggled.
"Sydney is right though I really couldn't care less about where he is taking me… I'm just afraid we will be bored…you know, we've never been truly alone, with no sifts no responsibilities, just us. We'll have nothing to do…"
Karolina leaned down so hear face was next to mine and spoke softly "Oh you'll have something to do…" her eyes twinkling with mischief. I think I went red because it was like my face had caught fire. I bought my hands to cover it, keeping my laugh muffled. Giving it another though, I couldn't disagree with her.
"I think she's ready for you Your Mages- Vassilisa" she corrected last minute looking at the severe look Lissa had given her. For strangers it was usually hard to lose the formalities. Lissa got up and Karolina took her place.
"So…how do you want your make-up?" she asked with a smile, half-squeezing my shoulders.
"Something that lasts…and neither of your corpse pale lipsticks….other than that, I trust you" I ended, grinning widely.
"You are such a piece of work…"
"But you love me either way" I stuck out my tongue making her laugh.
She turned me around so I would face her and starting brushing some blush on my cheeks. In the mean while Olena had come up and brought us some Kotlety – meat fried thingies that were absolutely delicious – and left us to, what would seem from an outsider, a girls' play date. She also let us know that my parents were 20 minutes away which I don't know why left me a little nervous. Gosh Rose, hold it together! You are a badass, strong women, why in the hell are you freaking out…again!? I asked if they shouldn't meet us at the church instead but apparently my father had something he wanted to say to me… my lord…
The sun was getting closer to the horizon and I felt like the time was coming closer and closer. It wasn't until when Lissa pulled out the dress from the plastic wrapper and everyone got out of the room so I could get dressed that something faltered inside me. I tried to hide it, to push it down, but I couldn't.
"It's going to be okay isn't it?" I turned to look at her, I wasn't thinking. The words just came out unconsciously "We're going to be okay…right?"
Somehow I knew that she knew who I was talking about. She put the dress on the bed and came closer, wrapping her arms around me.
"You are going to be fine, everything is going to be okay" She pushed away and looked straight into my eyes. I knew she was going to say something, it was one of those times where she understood what I was feeling more I did myself. I was praying for some words of wisdom right now, because I had no idea what was freaking me out about all this, so I was hoping that she did.
"Just because things are going good right now it doesn't mean something bad will eventually happen. I know everything had been crazy for the last years, but there isn't always a shoe waiting to drop on you okay? You deserve to be happy. Enjoy it."
And like that my mind cleared. She made sense of it…Dam it and her sixth sense. Apparently my subconscious was freaking out because things had been going well for the past months…weird I know…only a crazy person would become stressed about being happy, but there you go. With everything that happened over the last 4 years I think I had started to develop trust issues with my own life. Whenever something nice happened I could basically start a countdown until something bad would happen as well. And if I looked back I think I wouldn't have to count for very long. St Vladimir's, the bullying, the car crash, Dimitri, Victor, the Snow Resort, Mason, Dimitri and I agreeing to come forward, me almost losing my mind and him being turned into Strigoi, me being accused of murder, running from jail, reconciling with Dimitri, being shot in the heart, finally being able to be a guardian for Lissa and living with Dimitri, Jill gets attacked and we have to go to Palm Springs, being away at university and all of the Court's problems. My own fate had tricked me. You could easily see the reason behind the trust issues. So yeah, now I was afraid something bad would happen…again…I was truly happy, for a while now…and that…well, that was absolutely terrifying.
She picked up the dress again and opened the zipper in the back, giving me a hand so I would get in it and pulling it up to its proper place. I suddenly noticed the silence that surrounded us. The music next door had stopped.
"Where is Dimitri?" I asked trying to hide the panic from my eyes.
"He probably already went to the church…he said he wanted to walk there. Christian went with him" she answered, zipping me up and adjusting the fabric. I looked properly at her. She looked absolutely stunning, that light blue dress and her gold locks in a classic braided bun "It's time Rose" her words snatching be back into reality. She gave me the bouquet, the lilac peonies just as I imagined on that day at the flower shop. I took a last glance at the mirror. Smile Rose this is happening, and you very well better be ecstatic, because the sky isn't going to fall down on you…not today. I put on a smile and went out the door.
Downstairs everyone was waiting, all dressed up in gorgeous dressed, except of course for Adrian, Declan and Paul who looked adorable in black and white suits.
"You better allow me to take this jacket off during the ceremony, little dhampir, because I'm burning up in here" Adrian said using one of Victoria's magazines as a fan. I just laughed and nodded.
"A vision to behold…" I heard a familiar voice coming in through the kitchen door. My dear father never disappointed and always exceeded expectations when it came to fashion. His bright emerald green suit shinned under the lights of the living-room, contrasting with a black shirt underneath and a gold chain that hang around his neck. Thankfully I couldn't see any of his dazzling hats…but maybe he was just saving it for later. My mother slowly appeared after him, I was used to see her in her guardian attire and even in informal situations she had a very rigid and severe fashion sense, so you can imagine my fascination when I caught sight of her in a chocolate brown cocktail dress and high heels. I don't thing I quite succeeded in hiding the baffled look of my face. I went down the stairs with Lissa coughing hold of my dress so I wouldn't trip in it.
"You look beautiful" said my mother, giving me a kiss and a very motherly smile - if I may say so.
"Rose, we are going now, okay? Abe and Janine will drive you and you'll meet us there" Lissa said pulling me in for another quick hug and walking away to the door with the whole army of women following her. Finally – and I actually though about throwing some fireworks in celebration – Yeva emerged out of the kitchen and was headed to the door. She looked the same as ever, despite her old age she never looked debilitated or sick, her penetrative look always suggested that she could take on an army with a swing of her walking stick. She look deep into me and smiled, if I didn't know better I could swear it was a teasing smile…who am I kidding I did know, it was.
"Everything is going to be glorious…" I could swear her smile had just grown a little bigger "I predicted it…" You would think I would sigh exasperatingly and start the all-so-known debate with Dimitri's grandmother wouldn't you? Well I didn't. This time I just smiled back and gave a firm and assertive nod, to which she responded with the same movement. Almost like a silent parlay between us, and walked out of the house.
I heard the cars starting and the sound they made on the gravel as they moved away from the house. I looked back at my parents who were looking quite expectantly, if I would guess I would say they didn't know what to say, which for Abe at least was very uncommon.
"You look nice mom" I smiled at her but then redirected my look to him "But I think Abe here will catch more attention…" she looked amused.
"I'm used to that…and besides it's useless to swim against the tide" he laughed at her remark.
"Well shall we go?" I said anxiously.
"Yes, but first I have something for you Rose" he paced forward taking something out of his jacket inner pocket. He took out a thin black leather box "This was my great-grandmother's … It is supposed to pass down in the women of the family, I had no sisters, so it is rightfully yours" he opened it. Inside showed a 3 centimetre wide bracelet, composed by of a series of marquise-cut and square-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum. It looked like it had several hundred years, but it still shined brightly, catching any light in the room. My mind could help but think how expensive it probably was, and the fact the flashiness must have run in the family. I was probably being really rude because I didn't say a word, I just kept staring at it blankly. "May I?" he asked taking the bracelet out of the box and holding my wrist with his other hand. I nodded and he gently put the jewellery around it "Now you can go" he smiled widely.
I on the other hand was still behind a few seconds, admiring the bracelet on my arm, quite dumbfounded about all of this.
"Thank you dad, it's…beautiful" and I hugged him. If you were to tell me 4 years ago that I would be getting married and I would be here with my mother, and well, hugging my father after receiving a family heirloom, I would probably tell you to fuck off. But there we were.
When we broke the hug I just couldn't stop myself from smiling. He just winked at me and then finally said "Let's get this show on the road shall we?" presenting me with his arm for me to take into mine, like something out of a Victorian era movie. I linked my arm in his watching Janine stare at us with a loving and caring smile. I bet even she didn't see this coming a few years back.
After we got in the car it was quite a quick journey to the church. The sun was finally setting and the sky was painted in tones of orange and purple, the air was still warm and sultry and it didn't give any sign of cooling down. At the entrance Lissa was talking to Adrian who, shocker, was smoking. Instinctively I looked around checking on the guardians in the proximity perimeter. When she saw we had arrived whispered something to Adrian and fast paced towards us.
"Everyone is waiting" she said in a very eager tone "Come on, I'll go in first"
"Jack and Logan are staying outside right? At the entrance, to clear the long range security procedures…" I stopped as she turned and gave me a very disproving look.
"Yes. Rose, everything is taken care of, take of mind of the guardian-mode okay?!" Janine automatically snorted at Lissa's remark. Probably thinking the same as me: that it was useless telling me not to worry.
"Okay okay you win Liss…go ahead on front" I said giving her hand a friendly and reassuring squeeze. She obliged and walked into the church followed by Janine who gave me a quick "Good Luck" and went to find her seat.
Abe and I started walking to the main door. As we came closer I felt the urgent need to take some of the pressure off. So, naturally, I had to make a joke.
"I'm surprised you didn't bring that feathered hat you love so much…" I kept my eyes fixed right ahead but I could sense he had looked down at me.
"Well I didn't want to overshine you" he let out with an amused tone "And anyway…entering a church with a hat is considered to be impolite" he said just before the music started playing. Lissa had chosen a piano version of the bridal march, very calm and soft, I didn't know who was playing but it was really nice. Everyone stood up. And just like that I couldn't thing about anything, my mind went completely blank, my nerves were gone, it was like any other day. Dimitri was waiting for me and I had to go to him. The church was just as how I had remembered it. It wasn't very big but the detailing in the ceiling and walls was just as mind-blowing now as it was the last time I was here. It wasn't as full since we didn't invite many people but they all turned to look at me with the biggest smiles in the world. There were some flowers along the aisle, the same peonies that were on my bouquet.
I put on a smile and we walked slowly forward. He stood with his back turned to the aisle, for a second I thought if he was gathering up the courage to turn around. It was only when we were half way to the altar when he turned and we looked straight into each other's eyes. I realised he was trying to keep a straight face but slowly a smile was breaking out, and the happiness was palpable all around him. At that moment he seemed like the sun.
We reached the altar in a heartbeat and our eyes hadn't stray from each other's. I had completely forgotten about my father until he put my hand in Dimitri's and walked away to sit down. I looked at the priest for the first time. He was an old man, very small, especially next to Dimitri. His voice made it seem like he was a hundred years old, and he had a very thick Russian accent – I had asked Lissa to arrange a priest who could speak English, I wanted to understand my own wedding ceremony after all. Everyone sat down.
"We are gathered together on this beautiful afternoon to join in everlasting love Rose and Dimitri.
We are privileged, therefore, to witness the joyous love of a new family - a family that will be nourished and nurtured through the devotion of two separate individuals growing together through the common bonds of love. May their marriage bring them the peace, joy, comfort and contentment that is known in the hearts of all God's children. And may Dimitri and Rose both look forward to each new season of their marriage - just as the world looks forward to each new season of the year. For all seasons bring with them their own special moments and memories. To truly love another person is to be willing to accept both their strong points, and their weak points, with equal measures of understanding and respect.
The vows you are about to exchange, will serve as a verbal representation of the non-verbal emotions that are as real as anything that can be seen, heard or touched.
For it is not the words that you will speak today that will bond you together as one - but the strength of the love and commitment found deep within your souls."
At this time we took each other's hands and began again the silent conversation between our eyes.
"Dimitri, ты возьмешь Rose, чтобы быть ваша жена, ваш партнер в жизни и вашу одну настоящую любовь? Будете ли вы ценить ее дружбу и любовь ее сегодня, завтра и навсегда? Будете ли вы доверять и уважать ее, и быть верными через хорошие и плохие времена, в болезни и здравии, пока вы оба живы?"
"Я буду… I will" He answered. I didn't understand what the priest had said but the way he said it sounded beautiful. Dimitri's eyes were like a kaleidoscope, reflecting the sunset light that came in through the coloured glass. He gently slid on my finger the silver ring
"Rose, will you take Dimitri to be your husband, your partner in life and your one true love? Will you cherish his friendship and love him today, tomorrow and forever? Will you trust and honour him and be faithful through good times and bad, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?"
"I will" I said so softly that I was afraid nobody had heard me. His ring fitted perfectly this time. I started at his hand for a while, time seemed to go by in half speed, so much that I was actually startled when the priest's voice echoed through the church once more. We both looked to him attentively.
"With this exchange of rings as a materialization of your ethereal bond, I now declare you husband and wife…You may now kiss the bride" Looking back at each other I couldn't help it I smirked at him. Almost like a i-dare-you smirk. We stood there for a couple of seconds, just seeing who would fold in first, who would move that single inch and give in. We could both feel the anticipation hanging in the air.
Dimitri winked at me and his face mimicked mine. I could hear his answer hovering in between us. I'll surrender, this time… and just like that he kissed me. I could hear the claps, the cheering and the congratulations being said. And at the same time all I heard was silence. All that existed was me, and him. My hand on his chest was his hand, my lips were his lips. And there was no one. Eternity had passed in a few seconds. And we pulled away from each other, feeling it was time to come back to reality.
We turned to the crowd with the biggest smiles in the world. I say this because I had a feeling everyone was staring at Dimitri, even between our group of friends there present is was a rare expression for him, but so clear of his feelings right now. Lissa snatched me for a quick hug like he couldn't go on another second without doing so. We then walked out of the church, and I thanked the lords Lissa hadn't decided on the throwing-rice-thing people usually do at weddings, or else I would spend the evening probably discovering little bits of rice all over me.
The sun was gone but the darkening orange sky still lingered. We stood there for I don't know how much time, just receiving everybody's congratulations and taking the usual routine wedding pictures. It wasn't until it was totally dark when we got into the car and headed back to the Belikov house. Everyone was super cheery and ready well…to start the party. When I said before that the time seemed like it was moving in slow motion, well now, at the reception, time seemed to move 5 times faster…and we hadn't even gotten hold of the Russian vodka. This time Dimitri and I went alone in a car. He drove, obviously, because I wouldn't dare in driving with this dress. My hand so easily slid on to his right leg and caressed it gently. He looked at me. I had a feeling I was going to melt.
"You look beautiful, have I told you that?" he smiled at me with an expression of absolute bliss. I leaned in so my head rested on his shoulder, he wrapped his arm around me, keeping only one at the wheel.
"You hadn't, but I forgive you" I giggled, I found that, today, around him, I just couldn't start laughing.
Unfortunately we arrived all too quickly. We got out and met the others on the back of the house and I realised that Dimitri had proposedly been driving at 20 km/hour so to prolong our time alone in the car. The back yard looked like a fairy tale, it was picture perfect. All around there were sticks carved into the ground, looking up I noticed each of them was holding in place a mesh of hundreds of lights that illuminated the area. The long table, headed by the two only chairs that were covered with white fabric, was more to the left of the garden. On the right there was a little table with a laptop and 3 sound columns, placed on the perimeter of the big square shaped dark green carpet that I imagined served as the dance floor. On the opposite side of the table was a projection screen… I looked suspiciously at Lissa…I had a feeling I was not going to enjoy whatever she had decided to show everybody, but I decided to worry about it when the time came, for now, I was famished. Still chattering about random things we sat down. Of course the fabric covered chairs were for me and Dimitri, next to me was Lissa – my maid of honour – and then my parents, and next to Dimitri – by the same logic – was Christian and then Olena.
The food was absolutely from heaven, Olena and the girls had chosen my absolute favourites, although I noticed that in one of the courses, Dimitri's dish was different than mine. I was curiously looking at his dish when Dimitri realised my sudden attention in his food.
"Do you want to try it?" he asked putting some of the food – that honestly looked like a dark red soup with…thingies…inside – on his spoon and raising it up to me.
"I don't know…from the colour it seems like something Lissa would eat…" I said, looking at him with puppy eyes. He just laughed at my remark.
"It doesn't have blood… It's Borscht!" I looked at him surprised. Many of my funny comments about living in Siberia had involved Borscht in some way of another, but I had never actually tasted it…or seen it actually…although the words itself had not fail in perceiving me that it was a weird looking dish.
"This is Borscht?" He looked amused"
"For all the times you have mentioned it I thought you had tasted it already"
"No…never…and apparently I had good reasons…even without knowing"
"Come on you have to taste it now…" I gave up and opened my mouth as he brought the spoon closer to it. I swallowed it at once. Honestly it wasn't as bad as I had picture it, clearly the aspect as worse than the actual taste. But I wasn't going to let him win…not completely at least.
"Well?" he asked in anticipation.
"It's not bad….but it's not particularly good either…" I finally said after a few seconds, amused by his reaction to my answer.
"You just eat your vampire wanna-be soup and I'll be over here with my delicious kugelis" I grinned at him, to which he surprised me by bluntly kissing me on the lips.
Everyone was happily talking to each other. Christian was discussing something very passionately with Abe – I'm sure it was a shady subject – Janine every now and again jumped into the conversation. Olena was sharing recipies with Lissa and Sonya was attentively listening in. Sydney, Jill and the Belikov sisters were chatting excitedly about something I couldn't quite hear – but from their expressions I'm sure it had something to do with the opposite-sex – while trying to feed their respective children. Adrian, Eddie and Mikhail were quietly listening to everything around them.
The hours passed and the food had disappeared, and even I needed a break before dessert came. I had a feeling Dimitri felt the same way once he pushed the chair slightly away from the table and passed his arm around me, stretching himself on his seat. Suddenly music started to play. I looked surprised to find Lissa – of course – fidgeting with her phone, probably activating the playlist by Bluetooth. I smiled and turned to look up at Dimitri. He leaned his head forward and kissed my forehead fondly.
"Wanna dance?" I asked.
"Sure" he said, knowing very well it was just to humour me, since he never liked to dance very much – although this was in no way a reflection of his ability to do so, he was amazing at it.
Dimitri got up and held his hand for me. I took it and he lead me on to the improvised dance floor. His hands quickly found way to my lower back as I wrapped mine around his neck. The slow song continued and we swayed back and forwards. I rested my head on his chest and sighed.
"Are you tired?" he asked almost a whisper in my ear.
"No" I said promptly, hesitating afterwards "maybe….a little bit" he laughed softly.
"Well you can sleep on the plane" his words made my head jump up in alert, only to be face with his teasing expression.
"This means you are going to tell me where we are going?" I bat my eyelashes at him, knowing very well it had no effect whatsoever. Dam him, he just smiled for a few seconds, in silence.
"No" I frowned.
"You tease…" the music had changed into a lively disco tune and without a moment's notice I felt a hand pulling back.
Lissa had pulled me away from Dimitri and was now holding both my hands making us both swing merrily to the beat of the music. I quickly realised everyone was moving to the dance floor for some pre-dessert exercise. The songs kept changing, from 90's hits to last month's pop releases back to 70 and 80's dance songs, and as they did so did our partnering. From Lissa, Abe had snatched me into his arms and I saw from the corner of my eyes Dimitri dancing with his mother. Then all the girls grouped up around me for a classic and mandatory single-girls dance routine – to which I was thankful I now had a perfect excuse to abstain from – even Christian and Adrian danced with me. I was talking to Mikhail while we swayed slowly when suddenly we stopped with the sound of a glass tingling and the disappearance of the music. Before we could search the origin of the sound Lissa started to talk.
"Can I have your attention please?!" she put down the fork with which she had been making the noise and carried her champagne glad all the way to the table where the computer was "Since I am the maid-of-honour I felt the need to prepare something special, so I put together a little slideshow…"
"Oh my lord…" I said out loud, although that was not my original intention. We all returned to out seats, shifting them a little so we would face the projection screen. I griped Dimitri's hand like my life depended on it. Lissa started a very deep and touching speech but I was honestly paying more attention to the pictures. The first one was of us when we were around 7 years old, a particularly fantastic photo since it had been taken in Halloween so I was dressed as a spider and Lissa as a fairy. The specific dreadful detail was the missing front tooth. Of course everybody started laughing at it. I just covered my face with my hands as Dimitri gave me an encouraging squeeze in my leg. Obviously he had nothing to worry about, his picture was as cute as it can be, a miniature Dimitri with 6 years old, his hair surprisingly a lot lighter than now, waved to the camera with one hand and with the other held on the wobbly figure of his younger sister.
The next couple of ones were cute enough, first day of elementary school, a video of little Dimitri sprinting away in high speed. A couple of shots of us skiing with Lissa's parents – which actually bought a tear in my eye, I really missed them sometimes, after all they were a kind of parents to me – a 14 year old Dimitri embarrassed when caught helping his mother on the kitchen. And then another humiliating shot for me – of course – a 15 year old Rose in a dam party at St. Vladimir's dancing with a guy, and when I say dancing I say I was all over him. Everyone started laughing…again and I felt Dimitri's burning stare on me.
"Well…as Lissa said, I liked to have fun okay?" I said quietly to him, repeating Lissa's words from her speech. He just laughed as well, teasing me.
"Oh, I know" he winked.
A couple more shots of my celebration outbursts after some ridiculous stunt I was infamous for back at St. Vladimir's. Everyone start making comments.
"You really were a wild one Rose…" said Sonya Karp endearingly, as if she remembered that time with nothing but fondness – something that could not be said for all my teachers.
"Well, she is her father's daughter after all" replied Abe, detecting a hint of proudness in his voice.
"Always the trouble maker" obviously my mother had to jump him.
Dimitri's pictures as always were much…toned down…him with the punching bag showing of his fighting skills. Him laughing with a bunch of kids in the playground. Him with Ivan. I looked up at him, his nostalgic smile disguising any other emotions he was most definitely feeling right now. I was grateful that Lissa hadn't put any pictures of Mason, even though my mind couldn't help but think about him in a time like this. I scotched closer against him, resting my head on his shoulder in a comforting gesture. Finally appeared a picture of the two of us, and I realised I didn't know what I was most afraid of, embarrassing photos of young Rose or pictures of our pseudo-relationship time, but most definitely illegal at St. Vladimir's. Thankfully Lissa had been sensitive on the matter and had chosen only two – taken during an extra hour training she had been assisting and it portrayed my early on…not hate….dislike for Dimitri. He was sitting in a chair in the gym a book almost falling from his hands and I had stopped running and was sending him a very nasty look. Oh good times… All the other ones were taken in the last 3 years and made me confirm that we were just two cute to handle. When the slideshow finished she raised her glass and said.
"May you have many more happy years together. To Rose and Dimitri Belikov!" everyone raised their glasses and repeated the last part, taking then a sip of champagne. Meanwhile the desert had been served.
"Rose Belikov…it has a nice ring to it…" said Eddie teasingly from afar, after the comotion had died out.
"Rose Hathaway Belikov" I corrected with a smirk "There can only be one guardian Belikov in existence…I would hate to overshine him" I looked at Dimitri with a playful smirk. He just pinched my arm in retribution "I'll still be guardian Hathaway to you Eddie" I stuck out my tongue, he did the same – suddenly we seemed like we were back at school.
The dessert was fantastic and then the wedding cake, which as simple but very pretty. Syndey insisted I threw the bouquet, all the girls lined up behind me and Karolina caught it becoming suddenly very red. We chatted and danced along until the first hints of twilight came and the sky was progressively turning lighter into a greyish blue. With it came everyone weariness showing up. Christian also reminded Dimitri that they were a little late for the plane. Which made Dimitri start to freak out. We said farewell to everybody. A lot of best wishes and last-minute photographs. Eddie helped getting the bags to the car. As we listened to some motherly advices from Olena.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do…" said Janine, pulling me in for a hug.
"Just enjoy" Abe winked at me from behind her "And don't get into too much trouble, it's a long way for me to come to rescue you"
"As if…" I sniped back. Lissa had showed up behind me, saying everything was ready.
"Thank you for all of this Liss, it was perfect" she just smiled and hugged me "Be safe okay?" I whispered in her ear, my voice overwhelming with concern.
"I will, don't worry about us, it will be the most boring week of our lifes…" we both laughed.
We got in the car, with some help from Lissa to put in my dress. Dimitri got in behind the wheel and we took off. I looked to the review mirror, at the image of everyone cheerily waving us goodbye, our wonderful friends. The roads were deserted at this hour, the only lights illuminating the way came from the dimming moonlight and the ones from our car. My tiredness made me fell quickly into a half-asleep state. I was bought back to find Dimitri's hand on my thigh, gently caressing it with his thumb. I looked at him with a drowsy smile, realising I had completely fell asleep as soon as I had entered the car. Realising I was awake he deviated his stare from the road to look at me.
"Good morning …" which his words I noticed the sun had already risen "We are almost there" he said. I moved my hands to cover his.
"Did you like it? Was it alright?" I asked, very sure my remaining sleepiness meant I was probably not making any sense. His confused look confirmed this "The wedding ceremony, the reception…" I clarified, with a yawn in between. He stared at the road ahead with very seriously and then at me with a disbelieving look.
"Seriously? You have doubts about that? Oh Roza…it was the best day in my life so far…" he said, I could feel the car slowing down as he leaned into me for a kiss. I grinned like a fool at his words, I absolutely revelled in seeing him happy. Suddenly a though occurred that made me wake up from my somnolent state. He leaned back into his seat.
"So…does that mean you're gonna tell me where we're going?" I asked sneakily.
"No" he asked breaking his very serious face into a hidden smile at my insistence on the matter "You'll find out soon enough" he continued looking ahead purposely avoiding my burning stare – probably because he would just burst out laughing if he saw the hateful look I was sending him.
I groaned and sat back on my seat, looking to the road ahead "You suck…" my voice sounding like a grumpy 12 year old "You know what I'm gonna do?" he looked at me from the corner of his eye with curiosity "For every minute you spend not telling me where we are going is a night you spend sleeping on the couch" I looked at him with a very decisive and determined stare.
"If that was ever possible" he turned to me with the mischievous smirk I loved so much.
"Ooohh you think I can't resist you Comrade?" I chuckled in provocation. He stayed silent for a couple of seconds. Looking ahead with his cool and relaxed stare, I had the feeling he knew exactly what he was going to answer but he was teasing me in the process. He finally turned his head very slowly, his eyes looking right into my soul, the corner of his mouth twitched up in a contained and playful smirk.
"I think you don't want to resist me…"
The much awaited wedding! I hope I did it justice…Tell me did you like it? Do you have a favourite part?
Chapter 11 is called: The Honeymoon (and it's the last one *drumroll*)
I hope you went all giddy with fluff. Please review, you know I love hearing from all of you, so make my day so much better :) ly