Dimitri pulled Lissa aside when we got to the shopping mall. I didn't pay close attention – I trusted Dimitri; she was safe with him. I took the opportunity to badger Christian a bit. Soon enough, Lissa bounced back over to rescue Christian, and we all headed inside. We decided to split up – girls to go shopping for dresses for the concert, guys to the arcade.

"But, Liss," I grumbled, as she dragged me away from Dimitri, "I don't need a dress – what I'm wearing is fine."

She smacked my arm.

"Ow! Liss! What was that for?"

"Rose. You mean to tell me that you don't want a new dress to meet the Slayerz in? Don't you want to make a good impression? They're friends of Dimitri's."

"Oh. When you put it that way…"

She grinned. "Exactly. Now, come on."

And she dragged me off, Alberta and Celeste following, matching amused smiles on their faces.

"Liss." I groaned. "This is, like, the five-thousandth dress you've had me try on."

"And none of them were right," she said implacably. "Here's a few more – I have a good feeling about that red one."

I sighed, but obediently put it on. It slithered over my skin like water, and it felt like it hugged in all the right places. I craned my neck to see over my shoulder, but I couldn't get a good look at myself.

"Rose! Have you got it on yet?"

"Yeah, yeah. Here – what do you think?" I stepped out of the tiny dressing room, and the three of them turned to look at me. Their jaws dropped – literally dropped. Lissa recovered first.

"Wow!" she breathed. "Rose, forget those other dresses. This is it."

I turned, a bit self-conscious, what with all the staring, to look in the mirror. My jaw didn't drop, but only because I clenched my teeth. It was the most gorgeous dress I had ever seen. As I thought, it hugged all the right places. The slightly scooped neck, dropped off-the-shoulder straps, and flared skirt were perfection. The red silk set off my skin and hair, and I looked sultry even without any makeup.

"Wow." I echoed. I reached for the price tag, but Lissa grabbed my hand.

"Rose, I don't care how much this dress costs. I am buying it for you."

"But, Liss – "

"I insist. If it makes you feel better, I won't buy you anything else for the rest of the year. You won't need any other dresses anyway – you could wear this same dress to every party for the next five years and outshine everyone else in the room."

"But – " I grabbed for the price tag again, but she was too quick for me.

"Rose. I. Am. Buying. You. This. Dress. Now, go take it off and help me find mine."

I grinned. "Yes, Miss Bossypants."

She rolled her eyes and shoved me into the stall. "Go! Unless you don't want to have time for dinner before the concert…"

I went.

We took my dress to the counter, and then went searching for one for Lissa. It didn't take quite as long to find hers – I spied it; a flash of color from the corner of my eye that just screamed Lissa. Sure enough, the moment I pulled it from the rack, we both knew it was hers. She tried it on, just to be sure. And, yes, it suited her as well as mine suited me. They were as different as night and day – hers was a deep blue velvet, floor length, with a gathered train in back, and speckled with rhinestones. She looked like she'd gathered the night sky around her; pale hair and skin glowing with a fire that rivaled the light reflected in the rhinestones.

We badgered Celeste and Alberta into buying new outfits, too – practical, Guardian-approved outfits, of course. Even they were reluctant to appear at a Slayerz concert (and private after-party!) in formal Guardian uniform. When I got over the mind-boggling sight of Alberta in a sequined top, I had to admit that it was perfect for her. The satisfied smile she wore as they rang it up told me that she'd been dying for an occasion to wear sequins forever. Which was a strange thought. I shook my head, feeling a bit disoriented.

We bought shoes to match the dresses then, and headed off to meet the boys at the arcade.

Dimitri pulled me into a kiss as soon as we walked in, and then led me away from the others. "Uh, Dimitri? Where are we going? I thought we were going to dinner now?"

"We are." He grinned at me.

"Aaand… so why are we going the opposite direction?"

"Because, Roza, I have a surprise for you. But first…" he looked up and nodded to Lissa, who had apparently followed us out.

"Rose!" she squealed, "Come on. Let's go get you ready!"

"Uh, Liss? Ready for what?"

She rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand, tugging me into the bathroom. Then she handed me my new dress and shoes.

"Go put these on."

"But – "

"I'll explain in a minute. Now go on!"

I rolled my eyes, but did as she said. She stowed the clothes I'd been wearing away in her bag, and then pulled out her makeup kit and brush.

"What - "

"Hush." She brushed out my hair and pinned it up on my head with glittering rhinestone pins, letting a few strands fall to loosely frame my face. Then she did my makeup. I didn't seem to have much choice, so I shrugged and let her work. Finally she stepped back and nodded. "Look in the mirror."

I turned, and gasped. "Oh, Liss! You're amazing!"

She grinned. "I know. Now lets get you back to Dimitri. He has plans." She winked at me, and tugged me out of the bathroom.

Dimitri's jaw dropped gratifyingly when he saw us, and I instantly forgave Lissa for talking me into buying the dress. He pressed a kiss to my hand and swept me into his arms for a kiss. I looked anxiously for Lissa – I didn't want to leave her unprotected – but Alberta had come to collect her, and they waved and winked at me as they headed back to the others. I relaxed into Dimitri's embrace, and just enjoyed the kiss.

"Mmm." He whispered, when he finally let me go, "you look stunning, my Roza."

I grinned. "Thank you. Now, didn't you say something about food?"

He swatted at me playfully, then offered his arm. I took it, and he led me up to the top floor of the shopping mall, to a section I'd never been to. I frowned at the unfamiliar stores around us, and then stopped so abruptly that I dragged Dimitri to a halt too.

"We're going here? But, you have to get reservations ages in advance!"

He smiled, a sly, secret smile. "Ah, Roza. You should know by now that I have connections." He winked at me.

The restaurant was everything I'd heard – gorgeous, glittering perfection. The food was absolutely to die for. It was perfect. And then Dimitri knelt before me, and pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.

I gulped. "Dimitri – "

"Shh." He put a finger to my lips. "My Roza, I can't live without you. You make my life complete, and I can't bear the thought of being parted from you. I know that, as Guardians, our lives won't always be easy, nor will they be perfect. But I promise you that I will spend my life protecting you – above any Moroi – "

I gasped, and he silenced me once again.

" – and striving to give you everything you desire. I love you, Rosemarie Hathaway. Will you consent to be my wife?"

I felt tears spill from the corners of my eyes, and he wiped them away with gentle fingers.

"I – yes! Oh, Dimitri! Yes!" I was laughing and crying, and then he silenced me with a kiss. And everyone around us clapped, which made Dimitri's face flush bright red. And that calmed me more than anything.

He slipped the ring onto my finger, and then wrapped me in his arms. When we finally separated, we realized that we would have to hurry if we wanted to meet the others in time to get to the Concert. Sergei had arranged for us to show up early and meet the band, and I knew Lissa would probably kill me if I caused her to miss it.

Dimitri paid our bill, and then swept me into his arms and carried me, laughing, out of the restaurant and back to the others.

Lissa squealed, of course, when she saw the ring. Alberta smiled indulgently, and I realized that she knew – and approved. I felt much of my anxiety melt away. Everyone admired the ring, and congratulated us heartily – and then we realized what time it was and piled quickly back into the vans. It was a short drive to the concert venue, luckily, so we would make it on time if we hurried. Dimitri – not one to drive slowly at any time – pushed the speed limit even more than usual.

We piled out of the vans, Guardians scanning the area first as always. Then Sergei saw us, and jumped up from where he'd been lounging against the wall. He ran toward us, shouting "Dimitri!" and then barreled into him, wrapping him in an enthusiastic bear hug, complete with much back-pounding. We all laughed, and then Sergei caught sight of his friends and fellow band-mates, and waved them over.

Then we all had to have hugs, and Christian almost fainted, which was, after the proposal of course, the highlight of my week.