AN: As I told y'all on twitter, sorry for the late update. Life is hectic! Also, as I said, have some tissues handy because FEELS will be felt! Thanks to my beta, Romi, for being kickass as always and betaing in under an hour. You're awesome! :D As always thanks for the reviews, favs, and follows! Ok, I'll shut up now!
"Where is she?" Dimitri digs his fingers into the soft flesh of Vasilisa's forearms as he shouts in her face. The vein in Dimitri's neck pulsates angrily and a deep shade of red colors his cheeks. He is feeling afraid, anxious, and frustrated with Lady Dragomir. She knows where Rose is, but she refuses to say more. Lissa's eyes sting with tears of both the physical and emotional pain. Dimitri's hold is too tight, but what hurts Lissa the most is not being able to save Rose. Lissa shouldn't have said anything yet. She made a promise to Rose to make sure her plan followed through with no interruptions. This is what Rose wants and as much as it hurts, she ought to get it.
"Let her go!" Christian roars over and over, his voice bouncing off the walls of the ballroom. He is restrained by Ivan and Abe. If Christian is released, he and Dimitri will end up fighting. There's no time for fighting. They need answers and fast before Rose does something reckless, again, only this time it will be irreversible.
"Where is she?" Dimitri repeats his question, his Russian accent becoming thick with the stress and urgency of the situation. When Lissa shakes her head in response and tears roll down her cheeks, Dimitri growls and shakes her roughly. "Tell me where she is, or I swear…"
"I will kill you!" Christian struggles against Ivan and Abe's hold, but he might as well be struggling against anacondas. "If you lay a finger on her, I will kill you!"
Yeva, who had been watching the scene unfold as soon as Vasilisa delivered Rose's message, rolls her eyes and sighs deeply. She had been patient with these fools even though time is ticking, but now there's no more time to waste. It seems she will have to intervene, again. Her hands and legs shake as she moves forward to lay a wrinkled and weak hand on her grandson's shoulder.
"Release her, Dimka. You are wasting your time. She will not speak. Rose and Vasilisa's bond is too strong. They will die before betraying each other. What you need to do is…" Yeva doesn't finish. The sound of a sword unsheathing cuts her short. Once again, the old witch rolls her eyes as she turns to see Adrian Ivashkov holding a sword and glaring murderously at Dimitri.
"Die." Adrian says through is teeth. He too had been watching the scene develop from a corner. He had taken advantage of the commotion of retrieving the wounded and dead from the battlefield to retrieve to a corner. No one paid attention to him, but Adrian did not mind. He merely watched and waited for… something. He didn't know what he was still doing in Belikov's land. Nothing was holding Adrian back anymore. Now he knows this is why he stayed. Upon hearing the news that Rose is somewhere committing suicide, Adrian could feel a deep despair and guilt claw at his insides. He had predicted in his dreams what Rose would do, but he didn't do anything to change the outcome. Now, it may be too late to save her. And if it is too late for Rose, it is not too late for Adrian to make the culprit of her fate pay. Besides, Dimitri has it coming. Belikov has taken too much from Adrian and the time for revenge has finally come. "You need to die. If Rose is dead, that means the curse is broken. You are human; you can finally die. I will make you pay. Everything is your fault! You and your fucking curse have claimed her life!"
Dimitri slowly lets go of Lissa. He narrows his eyes on Ivashkov as he advances towards the hunter with his sword held tightly in his unbroken hand. For a couple of seconds, Dimitri's muscles feel stiff as he regards Ivashkov with all the hatred in the world because in a way, Dimitri knows Adrian is right. Dimitri feels that he is to blame for Rose's decision to take her own life in order to save him. If he hadn't murdered his father and become cursed due to his atrocious actions, Rose would be alive. She would be happily married to Ivashkov with a dozen of beautiful brown-eyed children with exotic features and brilliant smiles. But all the ifs in the world won't change what has happened. Nothing will change that his beloved is now gone. Life has no meaning without her. In fact, Dimitri wants to follow Rose wherever she has gone.
"Do it." Dimitri drags his feet as he moves closer to an astonished Adrian, who had not expected his revenge to be so easy. Dimitri lowers his head as he kneels at Adrian's feet. Closing his eyes, Dimitri sends a quick prayer to God. He asks for forgiveness for all his sins and begs God to allow him to follow Rose into Heaven because surely a person as selfless as Roza will be heading to God's glory. The tears leak out from his close eyelids, and his shoulders slump because it hurts to breathe knowing Rose is not anymore. It hurts to be alive when she isn't. "Do it!" Dimitri roars unable to hold his pain, unable to stand another second away from his Roza.
As everyone holds their breath and too surprised to function, Adrian hesitates. This is what he wanted. He wants Dimitri's head. He wants Dimitri dead, but it shouldn't be so easy. It shouldn't feel so wrong. The hunter shakes his head as if trying to get rid of the unsettling and foreign thoughts. Since when does Adrian Ivashkov think twice before killing a werewolf? With his resolve intact once more, Adrian raises his sword high in the air, but before he can bring it down on Dimitri's exposed neck, someone takes the sword roughly out off his hands.
"Stop this madness!" Janine snaps. Her nostrils flare, her cheeks are moist with tears and pain in her eyes. "That is enough fighting. Enough talking. We need to find my daughter and now."
"How do you suggest we do so?" Adrian growls through his teeth, angry that his moment for revenge was taken from him.
Janine turns her eyes on Lissa, who holds onto Christian for dear life as she sobs. "Lissa, please. Tell us where Rose is. We need to save her." Lady Mazur's voice breaks at the end. Abe steps towards his wife to envelope her in his arms. His whole world is falling apart. After getting his wife back and finding his daughter, Abe thought everything would be all right. Now, his only and most beloved daughter is somewhere taking her own life but for what reason? No one is explaining, and the zmey can't take it anymore.
"Enough with this shit! Belikov, get up man! Get up and find my daughter. Damn you! You swore nothing would happen to her!" Angered, Abe steps away from Janine and jerks Dimitri up. In any other circumstance, Dimitri wouldn't be so easily manhandled by anyone. But the great Dimitri Belikov doesn't have the strength or motivation to fight. Gripping Dimitri by the collar of his duster, Abe pulls Dimitri up close to growl in his face. "Find my daughter alive, or I will skin you alive with my bare hands."
"Ah, to hell with you all!" Yeva snaps pushing Abe away from Dimitri. "You are all a bunch of imbeciles. Rose is in the maze." She finishes by throwing her hands up in the air in defeat and exasperation.
As soon as the words are out of Yeva's mouth, Dimitri sprints out of the ballroom with Janine, Abe, Adrian, Mason, Eddie, Sydney and others not too far from him. When he steps out into the gardens, Dimitri notices how his muscles and bones don't ache. He tries to convince himself that the adrenaline and fear numb the physical pain. But he can't deny that the curse must be weakening and that can only mean one thing: Rose is closer to Death. With that knowledge, Dimitri pushes his legs to move faster. At the entrance of the maze, he hesitates unsure of where to go until Natara, the Alpha Steppe wolf that helped him during the battle, appears to his right. The wolf stares at him with sad eyes. She whimpers as she turns around, which Dimitri takes as a signal to follow her.
Nothing in the world would ever prepare Dimitri Belikov for the sight in front of him. His mouth hangs open in a silent scream of despair as he falls to his knees, the sobs shaking his body violently. He crawls to Rose's body lying in the center of the maze, sword through her stomach and the blood pooling around her like in his nightmare, except this is a thousand times more painful because it's real. When he is next to her, he pulls the sword out of her stomach, throwing aside the infernal weapon and picks up her body gently cradling her close to his chest. Pushing her wild and bloodied hair away from her face, he gazes down at her and is relieved to see her smiling and her beautiful deep brown eyes regarding him adoringly. She is still alive!
"What have you done, my love?" His voice quivers as his tears fall freely landing on her paling cheeks. "Why, Roza?"
"For you," she whispers back, her eyelids drooping but her smile never wavering.
"Stay with me, Roza!" Dimitri shrieks desperately as he slaps her cheeks gently but with enough force to keep her awake long enough. But long enough for what? The wound is deep. She has lost a lot of blood. There is no way to save her now. Knowing that only makes Dimitri cry harder and hold her tighter still. He doesn't want to ever let her go. Not when everything was slowly working out for them. Not when he finally found his reason to live.
"Do not cry, my love." With the last of her strength, she caresses his cheek with her left hand. Dimitri notices how cold she is, but he still loves her touch. No matter the situation, she always manages to make his heart beat wildly with the burning feeling of her flesh against his. To think this may be the last time he feels this way only rubs salt into the wound. "You are free. You can live. Please be happy." Rose pleads, for she only wants the best for Dimitri.
"How can I be without you? There is no life without you, foolish woman! I would live cursed a thousand years more if I could keep you." He lowers his lips to her forehead and kisses her gently, the tears still flowing upon her. "I love you, Roza."
"I… love you too, Comrade." A faint smile appears on her dry lips. "Never forget me."
"Never." He chuckles humorlessly. Like he could ever forget the only woman he has ever loved; the most wonderful woman who has given her life to set him free. "I can never forget my beauty."
"My beast," Rose chuckles. The movement causes her wound to hurt like a son of a bitch, but she takes the pain like a big girl. She doesn't even grimace. The last thing she wants is to make Dimitri feel guiltier. She knows exactly how he feels like her decision to set him free from the curse is his fault. But Rose is a woman capable of taking her own decisions. If she chose to do this, it is because she loves Dimitri, her family and friends. And he has to know that. Dimitri doesn't need another reason to hate himself. "I want you… to know… I did this. Forgive me… for leaving you… but you deserve to be free. You all do."
Dimitri remains silent for a couple of seconds as he ponders her words. He wants to scream at her that she didn't have to sacrifice herself for him or anyone. But that will be like a giant slap to Rose's face. Her sacrifice cannot go to waste, so he nods slowly the tears still falling hard. "I do not know how to thank you for loving me so. I…"
"Hush, my love. You do not… have to thank me. With you… I lived and loved intensely. It is I who… should thank you. " Even though Rose feels weak, she still fights the urge to cry. Her eyes sting unbearably, but she refuses to let the tears flow because she doesn't want to add to the pain Dimitri and her loved ones are surely feeling. Rose wants them to remember her as the strong, stubborn, and unafraid woman that she is. But she will be lying if she didn't feel afraid and immensely in pain. The physical pain she can withstand, but the emotional pain of leaving her beloved and family behind are killing her faster than the wound in her stomach.
Dimitri, too, wishes he could hide his pain. His breakdown cannot be making things easier for Rose. She should leave this world with a peace of mind that everyone will be all right, but he won't lie. He won't hide how it pains him to let her go. "I will miss you. I will love you until my last breath, Roza."
"Kiss me," she commands with a weaker smile.
Dimitri chuckles humorlessly, recalling the first time she uttered those words what feels like ages ago. As he lowers his mouth to hers, he chokes on a sob. "As you command, milady." He whispers brushing his lips against hers before claiming her lips for the last time. Suddenly, Rose's hand falls limp to her side and her lips feel colder. Dimitri continues to place desperate yet gentle kisses on her lips.
"I am sorry, Dimka." Yeva places her hand on his shoulder. Dimitri straightens up; he had not noticed the presence of the others behind him. He spares a second of his precious and last moments with his beloved to see how everyone else is handling the sight before them.
Janine sobs violently in Abe's arms. She can't even look at Rose anymore. Her heart breaks every time she does, and it hurts to breathe. Abe has tears streaming down his cheeks as well but the murderous glint in his eyes is directed towards Dimitri. The only thing keeping the zmey from killing Belikov is because Janine needs him more than ever. Everyone else is on their knees crying, wondering why Rose would do such a thing. Others, who know the reason behind her sacrifice, thank her over and over silently. Adrian can't believe what Rose has done even though he expected it; he predicted it, and he knows he could have avoided it, too. The voices tell him it's his fault because he has the power to change things, but he doesn't.
"Can you save her?" Dimitri looks back at Rose. He swears he can still hear the beating of her heart: gentler and slower by the second. "Please, Babushka."
"There is something…"
"Tell me what I have to do, Babushka! I will do it!" He doesn't let her finish. The numbness taking over his body disappears, making way for hope that there may be a way to bring Rose. He doesn't even care the price. Dimitri doesn't care if he has to sell his soul to the devil; all he cares is to have Rose back.
A sly and wide grin graces Babushka's thin and dry lips. "Not you, Dimka. Him." Yeva raises her shaking hand and points her finger at Adrian Ivashkov. "Ivashkov is the only one who can help Rose now. The question is, will he? Will you, Ivashkov?"
All eyes turn to Adrian. He stops his pacing and frowns deeply wondering how in the hell is he going to help Rose. She is dead. If he couldn't save her from herself, he can't save her from death.
"But you can save her from the curse," Yeva says as she reads his thoughts and her eyes glow with what can only be hope and faith.
"How?" Adrian asks astonished and with wild eyes. Despite Rose ripping his heart apart with her betrayal, Adrian realizes he doesn't want her dead, and he wishes he can do anything to help her. But how can he? He's only human.
"You are not only human, Adrian." The witch replies fervently and urgently. She steps closer to Adrian and grasps his hands. This time, he doesn't recoil. "Your aunt Tatiana is a descendant of a very powerful witch, Rhonda, my sister. There is power in your blood. All you have to do is feel it. Set the magic free."
Adrian holds his breath as he looks at the palms of his hand. He squints his eyes hoping to see the magic Yeva speaks of flowing through his veins. But there's nothing inside of him. If there was, he would know it, wouldn't he? Closing his eyes, he concentrates and thinks back to all those visions. He thinks back to all the strange things that could be indications of his power. The visions, the voices, and the tingling sensation in his skin whenever he joined Aunt Tatiana for her strange rituals, those are surely signs that Adrian is more than human.
"One day, I will tell you the story of our family. You will learn we are not ordinary, Adrian. We never have been. The power is in our veins, not just our name." Tatiana told him once when he was a child. "Perhaps one day, you will discover your true potential."
While Adrian struggles to wrap his mind around the idea that he's more than a hunter, more than a mortal human, Dimitri loses all his hope again. He stares down at his beloved with her eyes closed, chest rising and falling more slowly each second. Rose's time is up, and there is no way to help her. Slowly, Dimitri begins to rock Rose back and forth like a child being put to sleep. In his native tongue, he proclaims his love for her over and over and promises to love her always. He promises to cherish all the memories they made in their brief days together.
"Rose?" Adrian calls softly kneeling next to Dimitri and her in his arms. Dimitri ignores him as he continues his slow descent into madness and pain. Natara, who had taken her place next to Rose's body, on the other hand, growls quietly but quiets down when she realizes Adrian won't harm either Dimitri or Rose. "Rose." Adrian repeats sharply expecting her to get well with just the sound of his voice. He turns helplessly to Yeva expecting guidance.
"Break the curse," Yeva says placing her hand on his shoulder. "Feel the magic."
"I… I do not know…" Adrian's protest is cut short when a warm and tingling sensation starts from the tips of his fingers then spreads to his palms, wrists, arms, shoulders and travels all the way to his toes. He feels it. The magic is wonderful; it makes him feel happy, like he can soar through the clouds if he wanted. Like he can curse Dimitri again, only this time twice as terrible. Hideous hearts make hideous decisions, the voices tell him. Save her. Instinctively, Adrian places his hands upon the bloodied and gaping wound in Rose's stomach. "Baia is where the lovers swear eternal love. Where murder and hatred no longer taint the soul. Where the Beauty and the Beast live free at last."
Dimitri Belikov drags his bare feet barely able to hold himself up as he climbs the stairs to his chamber. The reason for his exhaustion is not the wounds he received during the battle. In fact, he's not injured anymore, physically at least. Emotionally, he has been stabbed repeatedly in the chest until there is nothing left of his heart. It is not Rose's frail and cold body in his arms that weighs him down. The loss of his beloved is what burdens him. Despite the efforts of Adrian and Yeva's reassurance that the spell had worked, Dimitri knew better. All attempts were futile, and Rose hadn't been saved. Dimitri had failed her, for he couldn't save her. He couldn't keep her safe. Behind him, a procession of sobs follows him. No one can form coherent sentences to express the pain in their hearts. Janine fainted when Dimitri announced Rose had no pulse, and she was sadly finally gone; Abe caught her and screamed bloody murder until his lungs felt like they were going to collapse. Natara and her pack howl outside like they have lost one of their own. Mason can't even walk, so Ivan drags him inside the castle, both of them sobbing loudly and unashamed. Lissa and Christian cling to each other for dear life, both wish the aching in their hearts would go away. Eddie doesn't cry; he doesn't feel. He's numb, unable to process how someone as wild and full of life like Rose would just die. To him and everyone, the death of Rose is a nightmare.
Adrian knows all about nightmares. He has been plagued by them for weeks, so he knows this is real. The pain and failure are so overwhelming that he couldn't possibly be imagining it all. He thought for sure the spell had worked; he felt the magic flowing from his hands into Rose. Still, her heart stopped beating; she stopped breathing. Rose stopped living. Adrian hurries after Dimitri. Even though the Russian is walking slowly, his long legs move faster than Adrian's. For some reason, Adrian feels the urge to apologize. Not to Dimitri because he owes Dimitri nothing. He needs to apologize to Rose. But he doesn't see the point anymore; she is gone. Now it's too late to apologize for all the atrocious things he said and almost did to her. It's too late to apologize for not being able to save her.
"Leave us," Dimitri mumbles when Adrian stands behind him. After a painful and long walk, Dimitri reaches his chambers. "All of you. Leave."
"We are grieving as well," Adrian says through his teeth and stands tall in defiance. "We are her family too. We deserve to say goodbye."
"You are not her family. You never were. In fact, you tried to kill her. Your wish was granted. Now leave my land and do not dare look back or ever set another foot here." Dimitri turns his empty brown eyes on Adrian and the people behind him still sobbing. "Leave."
Before anyone can protest, Dimitri slams the door and locks it. Gently, he places Rose's unmoving body on the bed where he lays next to her resting his head where her heart should be beating. The tears don't come anymore; it's like he has gone dry. Like there's nothing left of him inside because there is not. Not only has he lost his heart, he has lost his soul; his soul mate. Rose is his everything and to have lost her is like an abyss has been punched into his chest and stomach. And the abyss feels like it's getting bigger with each breath he takes, and the hole is going to swallow him until he is lost in darkness and solitude.
"How do I learn to live again without you?" He asks Rose as he caresses her pale and cold arms because he wishes to commit to memory the feel of her skin. "I am lost, my love." He sits up and glances down at what remains of his beloved Roza. Never again will she smile at him. Never again will she scowl, shout, kiss, laugh, or love. As his eyes begin to sting once more, he takes a strand of her silky hair and twists it in his fingers. His eyes roam over her full lips once full of color, now a ghostly white, but he will remember everything. He will remember his Roza alive and burning with light, and this Roza the pale and cold one who gave her life for him.
When the tears come again, he presses his ear to her chest again and hugs her tightly while he begs her to come back. He promises he will marry her at once and soon they will have children as beautiful as her. They will grow old together and watch their grandsons run through the castle, and they will tell them the story of how they met. Dimitri promises her a happy and long life if only she comes back to him.
Lub-dub. Lub-dub. The sound starts so slow and quiet that Dimitri doesn't notice. He is too deep in his own misery to feel the gentle rising and falling of Rose's chest. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. The sound gets louder, finally earning Dimitri's attention. Once again, he sits up and with a frown on his face he glances at Rose, who is slowly gaining her color again. His mouth falls open and his chest fills with hope when he realizes that Rose is coming back to life! Her eyelids flutter and a small low groan rumbles in her throat. The laughter erupts from Dimitri without his consent, but he is bursting with happiness as Rose's right hand flies to her stomach where her wound should be.
Rose had been in a dark place where she could hear the echoes of her loved ones crying. She heard Dimitri's promises, and she could feel his pain as if it was her own. Desperate, she clawed at the darkness and fought to regain the use of her body. A voice louder than all the others told her to be patient. But Rose is not known for her patience. The wait was excruciatingly long, filled with the pain of her loved ones as well as her own since she ached to be with them. In the end, the suffering paid off. She felt her heart beating and light erupted in front of her. Opening her eyes, she is met by the most glorious and painful sight she had ever seen. Her Russian before her with a magnificent smile filled with joy, but his eyes haunted like he has seen all the horrors in the world, which he probably has.
Frowning, her hand flies to her stomach. She feels the dry blood on her dress but doesn't find indication that she thrust a sword through her stomach. Then, it finally hits her. She came back from the dead. She is alive! Without reservations, Rose sits up and wraps her hands around Dimitri's neck pulling him for a fierce kiss full of longing, sorrow, joy, and love; so much love she feels her heart will burst into a million pieces, but she will be ok with that. The kiss is sweet but at the same time salty with the tears of them both. As the kiss intensifies, Dimitri's hands roam her body and moans echo in the room. Soon, clothing begins to fall apart under their hands, tossed aside in every direction and no consideration.
Without warning, Dimitri thrusts into her, causing Rose to cry out not in pain but pleasure and happiness to be back in her Russian's arms. To feel him once again loving her passionately. Their tongues caress each other as Dimitri moves in and out fiercely, hitting all the right spots. Rose arches her back meeting his thrusts, wishing to get as much of him as possible, her nails raking his muscular back while his hands explore every inch of her body.
"I love you, I love you, I love you," Dimitri repeats as he plants open mouthed kisses down her neck to her collarbone and over her breasts. He returns his lips to hers and nibbles gently on her lower lip, eliciting a long and deep moan from Rose. "Ya lyublyu tebya." He says upon her lips as the tears continue to flow, and he thrusts with more desperation.
"I love you as well. Never let me go. Never let me go." She whispers wrapping her legs around his torso as she clenches around him.
"Never!" He shouts reaching his climax followed by Rose. He collapses onto the bed rolling to pull her over his chest. They tangle their limbs to be as close as possible while their lips meet in sweet, slow kisses of happiness at being reunited. "I promise I will never let you go. I refuse to lose you again, Roza." He swallows loudly the lump in his throat and hugs her so tight she cannot breath, but she does not care because she's complete again.
"I am sorry." Rose kisses his broad chest and looks up into his eyes still haunted by what she put him through. "I wanted to set you free. I suppose I failed."
"You did not fail, Roza. You broke the curse with your life. I thank you for that. I do not know how I will ever repay you for such sacrifice. But do not ever scare me this way, Roza. I cannot live without you." He concludes pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"If the curse is broken," she says distracted with trying to figure out how it all worked out. "How am I still alive?"
Dimitri shakes his head and sighs deeply. "You died, but Ivashkov… I suppose it was him… He brought you back."
Rose arches her eyebrows skeptical that Adrian, Adrian Ivashkov, who hates her for loving another man and attempted to choke the life out of her, brought her back. How did he even bring her back? Dimitri explains everything, from Lissa refusing to speak of Rose's location and plan to Yeva revealing that Adrian can do magic. Dimitri follows to explain how Adrian casted some sort of spell that has brought her back. As he retells the story, Rose detects some bitterness in Dimitri's voice.
"Why are you upset?" She asks caressing his cheek with the back of her left hand. "Adrian saved me. Are you not happy?"
"Of course," Dimitri scoffs indignant that Rose would even ask such a question. "Words cannot express how happy I am that you are well, and we are free of that wretched curse." He pauses and looks away in shame to admit why he still cannot stop hating Ivashkov. "I was not able to help you. I have not felt so helpless in my entire life than when I had you in my arms dying because of me."
Rose moves closer seeking his eyes out. "Stop blaming yourself, Comrade. This was not your fault, remember that. There is no point in drowning in guilt, hatred, bitterness and pain. We are free, together and that is all that matters." She makes sure to leave out the part where they should be thankful to Adrian. In the state Dimitri is in, he doesn't need to feel emasculated. Besides, Rose just wants to rejoice in being alive with her loved ones. A mischievous grin makes her way to her lips as she traces patterns upon his chest. "Now we need to focus on making babies." She begins to kiss her way down his chest to his manhood throbbing and ready for her. "I want six." She says placing a kiss to the tip.
Dimitri inhales sharply. "Six. Seven, eight, as many as you wish. I have no problem with..." The rest of his sentence is lost in a groan of pleasure as Rose begins to slowly suck the tip of his cock.
"We should see your family," Dimitri mumbles later as he watches her lying close next to him, her eyes closed, but he knows she's not sleeping. "They are all suffering; we ought to give them the news you are well."
"Hmm," she mumbles back, moving closer to Dimitri. "Five more minutes. I just cannot get enough of you. In fact, I will never have enough of you." Biting her lower lip, Rose moves closer to him and kisses her way up to his lips, grazing her teeth over the exposed flesh of his neck causing Dimitri to groan and pull her over his chest.
Her hand snakes downward as they devour each other's lips. She grasps his cock and guides it into her slowly. Sighing in satisfaction, Rose begins to rock her hips back and forth then up and down pulling in and out slowly. Dimitri closes his eyes briefly but then opens them quickly not wanting to miss the sight before him: Roza biting her lower lip, moans resonating in her throat, eyes filled with lust and love, and sweat between her breasts. How did he ever get so lucky to find a beautiful and confident woman that loves him with every heartbeat?
"Marry me," he says abruptly, causing Rose to stop her movements and to stare down at him with mouth agape. She knew he'd ask her to marry her eventually. She didn't expect he would so soon. He sits up on the bed, his eyes glowing with happiness. "There is no reason to wait. I adore you; I love you with all my heart. Marry me, Roza. Do me the honor of being your husband. I promise I will make you immeasurably happy. We will have a dozen children if you so desire. I will give you the world, Roza."
"Yes." She kisses him hard tangling her hands in his long, soft hair and once again moving up and down to finish what she started, only this time she is bursting not only with pleasure but immense joy consuming them both. "Yes. Yes!" She pants as they move faster together, both of them getting closer to their release. "I will marry you."
Both of them finally reach their climax together, and Rose cannot hold back the tears of bliss his proposal brings to her. Resting her head on his shoulder, she continues to sob happily while he holds her close smiling widely. He never expected Rose would cry during the proposal, but considering everything they have been through, thinking they weren't going to ever reach this point, it is understandable that she would feel overjoyed with the situation. Knowing the engagement is not official until he gives her the ring, Dimitri, still holding her in his arms, rises from the bed and carries her to the desk by the window. From a drawer, he pulls out a small, red velvet box. Gently, he sets a red eyed Rose on her feet. Kneeling, Dimitri opens the box revealing an oval-shaped, opal ring with diamonds surrounding the opal.
"Rosemarie Hathaway Mazur, will you be my Lady Belikova?" He grins up at Rose, whose tears keep falling.
Unable to speak, Rose nods as Dimitri places the ring on her finger where it will stay until the end of time.
AN: Aaaand, do you hate me still? Mwaahaha! I scared y'all didn't I? ;) Well, we have another chapter left then epilogues D: or we'll see how the next chapter goes :D Until next time, don't die when you watch the trailer! Stay strong fandom!
And here goes another rant about things Romi and I can't ignore. I'll address some positiveness: several guests are leaving me the sweetest reviews ever! And I just want to thank y'all for being such lovely creatures! :D And here have a cookie and a hug! Thank you for all the love which makes my heart burst with happiness! Other guests, however, are getting really rude which gives me heartburn and vile rises up my esophagus. If you have nothing nice to say at all, please shove it up any orifice in your body. I don't want to hear bs about "conspiring to kill off characters," "the end of the story not being epic enough," or "the story being overdramatic it hurts." First and foremost, it is my goddamn story, and I am entitled to kill whomever the hell I want. Second, someone thought last chapter was the last one, when did I ever say that? Until I write "The End" at the bottom of the page, the story is not over. Third, if you don't like the story, if you think it's overdramatic, stop reading and go away and don't forget to take your stinky hate with you. Keep in mind I will NOT please everyone, sorry not sorry. Once again, thanks for reading and if you're a hater, step on a lego or choke on it I really don't care. Oh wait, there was also some confusion about the "Abe being Eddie's Alpha" part. Someone said I meant Dimitri. Nope. I meant what I said. Abe was Eddie's Alpha in a way. Eddie doesn't even know Dimitri like that. Anyway, my rant is done. I still love this fuckin' fandom! XD Much love to y'all! And don't forget to follow me on twitter: littlerichellem
Romi: About the Alpha part, I think Monse made it clear already. It was in a figurative way. We were not kidding when we said we check every word to make sure everything makes sense and is according to what we want to say.
To "guest" who accused Monse, aka littlerichellemead, of conspiring with another author to kill their respective characters and see what happens; seriously, what did you drink? And basing your conclusions on the fact she saved the author as a favourite is pitiful or hilarious, I can't decide which one. So, before you leave another nasty review, base your inferences on tangible facts and not your paranoid imagination. And if you have something to say, do not cover under the "guest" name, it's cowardly. And do not think I won't find you because you didn't sign as an user.
Now, to "um" who just left a not very nice review complaining about the end of the story, I advise you to check your reading skills before you come back and keep reading the story. This kind of thing pisses Monse off and it pisses me off, too. She works really hard to write this and it's not appreciated when you leave messages like this one. And you want to know what's not epic? Your punctuation. And Dimitri goes with a capital D, what is it with people and not respecting proper nouns?
(Can we all just give Romi a round of applause for her fierce protectiveness of B&B and me? Just… Badass. We love you, Romi! :D)