Chapter 37: A Proposal

Rose's POV

Dimitri stayed with me all night and we talked about my experience. I felt dirty, used, and uncomfortable, but we needed to talk. I felt a lot better and safer afterwards. We also talked about our relationship, promising to never leave each other again. But the next morning, I found the bed empty, and I could tell he wasn't in the bathroom—no sounds of defecating or water were heard. I sobbed, thinking Dimitri had left me again.

Christian stirred in the bed next to mine—he'd stayed with Lissa last night—and got up to sit next to me. "What's wrong?"

"Where's Dimitri?" I asked.

Christian looked around, saw that Lissa was gone, and suddenly noticed something on his bed. It was a piece of paper and he picked it up to read it.

"What does it say?" I asked.

Christian smiled. "He's with Lissa."

"Why?" I asked.

"It's a surprise. But if you need someone, I'll stay with you." Christian sat next to me again.

I hugged him. "Thanks, Sparky."

Christian laid with me—in the friendly way. "I like that you trust me, and I want to keep it that way."

A sudden thought came to me. "That's ironic."

"What's ironic?" Christian asked.

I wasn't sure whether or not this would cause him pain. I decided to take the risk. "The guy... he said he'd turn Strigoi, wait until my baby was born before he turned me Strigoi, and then wait until it had grown up before he turned it. That's a lot like what your parents were going to do with you."

Christian frowned in thought. "That's creepy. And scary. I feel really bad for you, because that's my worst nightmare, and you almost lived it."

I felt safer when Christian tightened his hold on me. He was a good friend.

Lissa's POV

I looked at yet another ring I wasn't sure Rose would like. "I don't know."

"Aren't you her best friend?" Dimitri questioned.

"The only time she's ever worn jewelry was when Victor gave her the lust charm. I don't really know what kind of jewelry Rose likes!" I scoffed.

Dimitri sighed. "I just want her to like it."

"Dimitri, she'll probably like whatever you pick. Rose loves you, not the things you buy her." I said.

"But the rings are supposed to be a symbol of our love." Dimitri pointed out.

"Yes, they are. And to most women, it's the thought that counts. As long as you get her a ring, even if it's cheap, she'll love it." I assured him.

"You could just give her mine." A familiar voice said.

Dimitri and I turned to see Olena Belikova.

"Mother? What are you doing here?" Dimitri asked.

"I heard I was becoming a grandmother. Again." Olena looked over at me with a smirk.

Dimitri turned to me. "You called my mother?"

"Technically, I had Sydney call your grandmother." I said.

"On your behalf." Olena smirked. "And we live in the same house, so news spreads quickly."

"And you don't find the circumstances odd?" Dimitri turned his gaze back to his mother.

"You mean the fact that two Dhampirs are having a baby? Of course the circumstances are odd, but that doesn't mean I'm not happy for you, Dimka." Olena smiled. "And just use my ring."

"What ring? You've never been married." Dimitri questioned.

"No, but I almost was. Before Randall. It didn't work out." Olena said.

"What happened?" Dimitri asked.

"He died fighting a Strigoi. He unfortunately couldn't be with me, but that doesn't mean his rings should go to waste. Use the one he gave me for Rose and the one he wore for you." Olena instructed.

"Mother... thank you." Dimitri gave her a hug.

"Of course. I love you, Dimka. Besides, I finally get to be a mother-in-law, and we get to add another woman to our family." Olena said.

"As if we don't already have enough women. Poor Paul is the only man in the house when I'm gone." Dimitri snorted.

"Then move back home." Olena teased.

"If I'm staying with Roza, that guarantees me staying in the United States. I would never be able to get her to leave for more than a vacation." Dimitri said.

"Then tell her it's a permanent vacation." I teased.

"I could never ask Roza to leave you." Dimitri said.

It actually made me sad to think that Rose was limited because of me. I remembered how much Rose had said she'd liked Russia, but she'd never leave for more than a vacation unless I went with her, but I was needed here. Rose had always put her needs aside for mine. The one recurring thought I'd heard in her mind since we'd become double bonded was they come first. It was the saddest thing I'd ever heard. I'd considered in the past that the way Moroi treated Dhampirs was a lot like the way most people treated black people. With racism. But unlike the Moroi, the human world had started accepting their fellow races as equals. Why couldn't we treat the Dhampirs as equals?

"Princess?" Dimitri tried to get my attention.

"Sorry, I was just thinking." I said. "Let's see these rings Olena keeps talking about."

Olena brought out a set of matching gold bands. The primary difference between the two was that one of them had a diamond setting, while the other was plain. The had the kind of understated beauty Rose could appreciate.

"She'll love it." I said.

Dimitri grinned and Olena smiled at his happiness.

"Keep the rings and use them for yourselves. And tell me when Rose picks a date." Olena said.

"What if I want to pick the date?" Dimitri teased.

"The woman always picks the date." Olena smirked.

After Olena left, Dimitri turned to me. "Thank you for coming with me today. I know you're Roza's best friend, so I knew you'd be able to help me best pick."

"Of course I'll help. I love Rose, and I like you Dimitri. You're a part of our lives now, and I want you and Rose to be happy. Besides, I've always wanted to do something like this for Rose." I said.

"Thank you, Lissa." Dimitri hugged me.

I could understand why Rose felt safe and happy with him. He really was as kind and badass as she thought he was. "You're welcome, Dimitri."

When we got back to Rose's room, Christian was lying next to her and they were sleeping. Rose had her head on his chest and they looked adorable. I knew they'd never admit to this when they were awake, so I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Rose's POV

I woke up to the flash of a camera. Christian and I had fallen asleep lying next to each other, but now I was awakened and looking at a giggling Lissa and a chuckling Dimitri.

"What's going on?" I groaned.

"I took a picture of you with your head on Christian's chest." Lissa giggled.

"You know, most girlfriends get jealous and angry when their boyfriends are in bed with another woman." I said. "You just giggle."

"I know that you guys were sleeping in the literal sense. Besides, your clothes are still on." Lissa said.

"You'd be surprised what people can do with their clothes still on." I teased.

Lissa turned red. "Yeah, but I know that's not what you were doing."

"The banter between them." Dimitri shook his head with a chuckle.

"Believe me, I know." Christian nodded.

"So, where did you two go?" I asked.

Dimitri got on his knees in front of me and grabbed my hands, making me sit up and look down at him. He stroked his thumbs over my hands and looked into my eyes with love. "Roza, I have to ask you the most important question I've ever asked in my life."

"Ask away." I said nervously.

"Will you marry me? Even though there's not a two in front of your age yet? I can't wait until you're twenty before I ask." Dimitri's voice was soft.

I was utterly speechless. I knew that one thing Dimitri had always wanted was to get married, but I didn't think he'd ask me yet. Not here and now. For once I didn't even feel Lissa's emotions running through me, just my own scattered and shocked thoughts. But something held me back. I wanted to say yes, but something didn't feel right. Before I even processed what I was doing, I'd run into the hallway and continued running all the way through it. Then I ran straight into someone. Mom.

"Oof." I fell over after running into Mom.

Mom wobbled, but she didn't fall over. "Rose, what are you doing?"

"I'm... um..." I was at a loss for words and completely disheveled.

Mom helped me up and guided me back to a room. Hers. "Rose, why were you running?"

"I don't know..." I muttered.

"What do you mean you don't know? There has to be a reason why you were running." Mom arched an eyebrow.

"I meant that I don't understand why. I don't know why I ran after Dimitri proposed." I said.

"Proposed? Did he ask you to marry him?" Mom's eyebrows were raised.

"Yeah. And I wanted to say yes, but... I ran for some reason. I don't know why." I said.

"You'd be stupid not to marry him." Mom said.

"How do you know? You didn't get married, and you're just fine." I pointed out.

"Rose, you're different than me. You got my sense of duty, but everything else is from Abe. Besides, do I really seem happy to you? And either way, I'm technically with Abe now. We may not be married, but you might as well consider us dating, and who knows where that will lead?" Mom scoffed.

"How does that apply to my situation?" I rolled my eyes.

"Rose, marry Belikov. You've done too much for him and given him too much to just give up on him. Besides, I can tell he loves you and wants to keep you safe, and that's the most a parent can hope for." Mom said.

"Giving up on him was never an option. I just don't know about marrying him." I said.

"Rose, there's no one else for either of you, you're having a baby, and he asked you to marry him. Go find him and say yes." Mom advised.

I got up and hugged her. "Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, Rose." Mom said. "Now go."

I left Mom's room and ran back to mine. Dimitri was still there, Lissa putting an arm around him as they sat on my bed.

"Why did she run?" Dimitri asked.

"She's just afraid. Wait for her to come back. If you let something go and it comes back, it's yours." Lissa said.

"Not to objectify women, but I'm yours." I said.

Dimitri turned around and moved to hold me close. I let him and breathed in his scent. Mom was right, there was no one else.

"You don't ever have to be afraid with me." Dimitri said.

"The only thing I'm afraid of is how helpless and vulnerable you make me feel. But that's the feeling I should be embracing. You should make me feel that way." I said.

"What made you realize that?" Dimitri asked.

"My mother. Consider it her blessing." I said.

Dimitri grinned and I knew when I looked into his eyes that I should marry him.