Chapter Thirty Seven.
Guest #1: There are several reasons why I used Belikov-Lazar instead of Lazar-Belikov. Firstly, just by including the Belikov name Dimitri is honouring his mother's side. Secondly, Dimitri caused enough uproar just hyphenating his name, can you imagine how much worse things would have been if he'd dropped Lazar completely? Thirdly, when I wrote this I did my research. There's no hard and fast rule when it comes to hyphenating names, though different cultures have their own traditions. In most cases however, we see that the mother's name comes first when they hyphenate. Fifth, If Dimitri used Lazar-Belikov last, most people would 'conveniently' leave off the 'Belikov' when using his whole name. And finally, Belikov-Lazar flows and sounds better to me, so it's been written that way and it's staying that way.
Guest #2 and #3: Thanks for letting me know that it's still messing up. It seems like just makes all links take you back to the profile. The pictures have already been added to the album on my facebook, so you can see them there if you want to. :)
Guest #4: I haven't written another M scene and I don't think another one will fit. I'll see if I get the inspiration and time, if I do, then I will put one in if it fits with what's already written, but I can't make any promises.
At this point there is one more chapter and an epilogue. But I might break the next chapter into two as it's quite long.
The big day had finally arrived, and my palms were starting to sweat as I waited for Rose to arrive. The small church was perfect, cozy and intimate with beautiful stained glass windows that reflected colorful patterns onto the floor as the sunset lit them up from outside. My mother and grandmother were there, along with most members of the Quorum and a few select members from the other Royal lines, as well as those who it was impossible to not invite without causing mass offense. Rose's side was filled with several of her friends and fellow Guardians, as well as several of her students who had gotten involved in the protests oh so long ago.
"Sure you don't want to call it quits and make your escape while you still can? I've got a car, we can drive to Mexico." I laughed, and bumped Ivan's shoulder with my own as he tried to lift my spirits while we waited. Rose had found her 'perfect dress' three days before the wedding, and had locked me out of my own wardrobe so that I wouldn't see it. When I'd questioned why she hadn't put it in hers, I'd gotten an eye roll and the explanation that her wardrobe was full. Now, all I wanted was to see her. I'd been crazily busy over the past week, spending almost twenty hours a day in my office doing paperwork or overseeing meetings and debates and Council sessions, making sure that everything was in order so we could go on our honeymoon with no worries, and hopefully no interruptions. Yesterday, I had finished early so that I could get a good day's sleep, but, choosing to follow tradition, had stayed at Ivan's to avoid seeing Rose before the wedding. She wasn't superstitious, but I wanted us to be surrounded by as much good luck as possible.
A whistle blew outside, and both of our eyes shot to the doors at the back of the church. Ivan clapped me on the shoulder. "That's my cue. I'm proud of you, brother." We hugged each other tightly, and then he headed down the aisle and out the door, ready to escort Lissa up the aisle.
The doors opened a few minutes later, and I couldn't see Rose when I turned, the nerves in my stomach making a sudden re-appearance as Ivan and Lissa headed up the aisle towards me followed by Christian and Mia, and then Adrian and Jill. They took their places, and then the bridal march began, with the rest of the guests turning in sync towards the double doors.
And then Rose appeared.
She looked like a Queen. She had said before that her parents weren't really in her life, and so she had chosen to walk alone, politely turning down Ivan's offer to escort her. She looked strong, fierce, beautiful and so much more. My eyes raked over her form again and again, taking in every detail from the top of her head down to her toes repeatedly. The dress I hadn't been allowed to see was well worth the wait. She'd taken my advice and found one that was red with a white embellishment, and it looked perfect. It was cut in a mermaid style with a sweetheart neckline, with diamante beading to draw attention to her tiny waist. It tapered in again at her knees with a floral applique, and the bodice was ruched, a gentle contrast to the full skirt that split into two and flowed down from her knees, revealing a white lace underlay and train. A simple silver cruficix dangled around her neck, a pair of diamond drop earrings hung from her ears, showcased by the elegant updo she'd pinned her dark hair into, and with simple makeup, her engagement ring and a large white lily pinned to the side of her hair, she was the picture of perfection. Her bouquet made up of white lillies and red roses complimented her dress and matched the smaller bouquets the bridesmaids carried and the boutonnieres that we men wore.
She was breathtaking and all I could do was stare open mouthed as she walked down the aisle, at a slow, sedate pace, her eyes locked on mine and her smile like the sun as I stepped forwards to meet her when she approached the altar.
"Hi," my voice was a whisper, afraid that this was all a dream and speaking too loudly would break it apart.
"Hi," she whispered back, and we both grinned at each other; caught up in the happiness of the moment at making it this far.
"You look wonderful."
She laughed softly. "Your mama was appalled. It cost me less than two hundred dollars. I think she's trying to get me to be a more fitting wife for someone of your station. She had her heart set on some designer crap that cost five grand."
I glanced over my shoulder and shook my head. "She's staring at you and crying, and I can tell that they're happy tears. She likes you, she just always wanted a daughter to do girly things with. So she had to try."
"I can't believe we're having this conversation now instead of getting married. And why are we whispering?"
"Because it's an inappropriate conversation to be having. And we're not traditional, remember?"
Rose snickered, and then squeezed my hand. "Well, I would like to get some wedding photos before the sun's completely set. So, Your Highness, let's get married."
oOo
"Roza. Before I met you, I'd been burned by love and I was afraid to make myself vulnerable again. But you shocked and surprised me and got past my defenses, and I couldn't be more thankful for that. You are my soulmate, my other half; and I vow to stand by your side no matter what trials we face. I promise to always treat you with respect and love, to honor and protect you with my life from this moment on until the day I die. I love you."
"Dimitri, Comrade, you are the other half of my heart and without you I don't feel complete. You complete me, smooth over my rough edges and together we create the perfect balance. Sometimes we drive each other crazy, but underneath it all is an unending feeling of love and mutual trust, and I think that that's what's the most important. I vow to stand by your side like you stand by mine, to give my life if it's needed to protect yours and to love you with every beat of my heart. I love you."
I didn't remember much of the ceremony after that, it all passed in a blur, just snapshots of moments here and there.
Saying our wedding vows.
Kissing Rose for the first time after we said, "I do."
Walking out of the church to find that word had gotten around and being met with thunderous applause from hundreds of excited onlookers.
The speeches at the dinner, Ivan's in particular.
"Dimitri and I have known each other for practically our entire lives, and let me tell you, he's always been a grumpy little sod. I mean, even as a five year old, he was serious and scowling. But he was also dedicated, and loyal and a damn good friend with an incredibly giving heart, and I know that those are some of the virtues that made Rose fall in love with him. When Dimitri decides that you're an important person in his life, he'll move Heaven and Earth to make you happy. And it's something he's already proved to Rose countless times. Likewise, Rose is fiery, strong and independent. She gives as good as she gets, and her dedication and support of Dimitri is plain to see. Her love and understanding has helped him to deal with his past, to finally close the door on some darker days, and together they're looking towards the future ready to take on anything that will try to take them down. Their love is inspiring and true, something that most of us spend our whole lives looking for and I know that they know they're incredibly lucky to have found each other. So, please raise your glasses and join me in this toast. To the Bride and Groom. May your lives together be blessed and fruitful."
Cutting the cake.
Our first dance.
Just feeling so happy at being able to call Rose my wife, to hold her hand and kiss her and bask in the love that we shared.
But for now, it was the bouquet toss and time to help Ivan out. He'd done so much for me, for both of us really, and it was time to repay him for some of that.
"Are you ready?" I echoed his words back to him as I handed him a napkin to wipe his forehead. "Stop looking like you're going to throw up. It's going to work out, Ivan."
He gave me a weak smile, all of his bravado and ego gone as he got ready to make the biggest commitment of his life.
"You can do it." I patted his back gently, offering him moral support as the DJ made the announcement and all of the ladies began to squeal and move excitedly to the middle of the dance floor. Rose was grinning as she watched, keeping a close eye on Mia. Ivan had come to us both a few days before, and outlined his plan. I was happy with any plan that would make my best friend happy, and his idea satisfied the diehard romantic deep in Rose's soul.
"Okay, ladies. Are you ready for the bouquet toss?" The DJ was psyching them all up; getting them ready for what they thought would be a fight for the bouquet. "The bride is ready so take off your shoes, hitch up your dresses, and get those hands ready to catch that bouquet! In three!"
Rose winked at me and Ivan, then turned so her back was to the women in the expected pose.
"Two!"
"Good luck, brother." I patted Ivan on the back, and then firmly pushed him towards Mia, who was stood near the front right side.
"One!"
Rose threw her arms back, and several women screamed and rushed forwards, expecting to see the bouquet fly through the air. Instead, Rose kept a hold of it and turned, walking towards Mia who accepted the bouquet with a stunned smile.
"Congratulations," I couldn't hear her, but I could see Rose say the words and at Mia's puzzled look she motioned behind her. "Turn around."
She did so, and her jaw dropped when she found Ivan on bended knee.
The inspiration for Ivan's proposal: alivelez/this-bride-helped-pull-off-a-proposal-at-her-own-reception-w#.hy5BxGlAo