So it took me six years and a global pandemic to finish this story.I hope you're all doing okay in these mad times x
The church doors groaned open, and every head turned to watch as I stepped over the threshold. I knew that Lissa had found the attention daunting at her own wedding, but I was more than used to the attention. Besides, I barely spared a glance for the rows of heads turned to face me. My gaze belonged only to the man at the end of the aisle, and as our eyes met, I knew my battle against tears was futile.
Dimitri's eyes went wide, and I saw him murmur something before his face crumpled. His shoulders shook once, twice, three times before he raised a hand to his mouth and looked to the floor. I kept walking ever closer, and when he looked at me again, tears were spilling down his cheeks. My stoic Guardian Belikov was crying in front of a church full of people, but from the smile threatening to split his face in two, he couldn't care less. My own cheeks were hurting from the size of my grin, and I chuckled when I saw Christian hand Dimitri a handkerchief.
Hey, Comrade, I mouthed as he wiped the tears away, making him laugh. Finally, finally, he was close enough to touch.
It hadn't been the plan, but like two magnets we clung together for a moment; the one sure thing in the dizzying storm of emotion.
"You are so beautiful," Dimitri whispered just before he pulled away.
I clutched his hands in mine. "So are you." I stared up at him, awestruck by the way the candles behind him made his hair glow like a halo. The stained-glass icons paled in comparison to the incredible man before me. I was reminded of snow angels on a mountain top, and the life I'd never dared to dream of.
Somebody quietly cleared their throat and I looked up to see the priest staring pointedly at us, but smiling. I nodded for him to continue.
And so the ceremony began. The priest started with the traditional blessings- spoken three times- in Russian, Romanian and English. The whole wedding was a mix of Russian, American and Moroi culture, featuring our favourite parts of each. This part didn't mean a lot to me, but I knew Dimitri's family would appreciate it. So whilst the priest repeated his blessings and spoke the prayer, I passed the time by looking at Dimitri and trying to commit this moment to memory.
Then, it came time for our vows. I had written them down just in case I forgot what I wanted to say, but I knew there was no need to take the paper out of my bra. I knew with crystal clarity what I wanted to say.
"Dimitri, it's no secret that when we met, I wanted nothing more than to get away from you. At one point I considered jumping out of a plane if it meant escaping your constant frown and terrible music choices." There was laughter from our friends and family, and Dimitri rolled his tear-filled eyes. "But then you stuck your neck on the line for me. You took a chance on a wild, disrespectful idiot because you believed I could be more. You made me believe it, too.
Dimitri, I am here today because you never gave up on me, however many times it would have been easier to just let me go. I promise that whatever challenges we face, I will be there to hold you and help you see the beauty in the world until the sun shines on us again. I promise to make you laugh every day, because you have the most beautiful smile. And, I promise I'll stop hiding dirty dishes under the sink when it's my turn to wash up."
As our friends laughed again, with Jill snorting in a most un-princess like way, I squeezed his hands tighter. In between my jokes were allusions to some very personal, very private parts of our history. I hoped he understood that I wouldn't have traded away even one of those terrible moments because it all lead to where we stood today.
"This is where most couples would promise 'til death do us part', but I think we've already proved that death is no match for us. So I swear to fight beside you, and defy the odds with you, and make the world a better place with you. I will love you for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until the end of time."
Dimitri's hands were shaking in mine. Somewhat reluctantly he let go to reach into his pocket for the notebook he'd written his vows in.
"John Wayne said 'tomorrow is the most important thing in life. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday'."
He looked up then, and my heart stalled at the depth of emotion in his gaze.
"Roza, I've made so many mistakes, but somehow it's all right, because I'm here with you. I want to spend all my tomorrows with you.
You're my best friend. Nobody can make me laugh as much as you do, or make me feel so at peace. You make me question everything I ever thought I knew about the world, and you challenge me to be a better man. I swear I will talk to you when I am struggling rather than bottle it up inside. I vow to always listen to what you have to say, to trust your word, and to put my faith in what we can achieve together. I will cherish you, always; when life is easy, but especially when it is hard.
The promises I'm about to make are ones I've already broken, but thanks to your endless capacity for forgiveness, I have the chance to try again. With all our friends and family as witnesses, I vow I will always be here for you. I will never give up on you, and my love for you will never fade."
With that declaration, I forgot how to breathe. Nobody else here could know how much it meant to me. Seeing my reaction, Dimitri forced a watery smile.
"And I promise I won't judge you for putting ketchup on tacos. Much."
I didn't wait for the priest to declare us husband and wife before kissing him. It was a messy meeting of lips as I laughed at his shitty joke and he grinned with pride, but he tasted like tears and sunshine and I never wanted it to end.
It had to, though, as the priest gently reminded us that we hadn't actually said 'I do' yet. Dimitri's ears blushed scarlet but I just gave the old man a look which I hope said, hurry up, then.
"Dimitri Belikov, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
Paul stepped forward with the rings, and with shaking hands I placed it on Dimitri's right fourth finger- another way we were compromising on cultural traditions. "I was meant for you," I whispered, echoing the inscription on the inside of the wedding band.
"Rosemarie Hathaway, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
Now it was Dimitri's turn to place a ring upon my finger- left, this time.
"Forever I want you in my life," he murmured.
I grinned, recognising the inscription instantly. It was lyrics from his favourite song; one he had often played in our training sessions back at the Academy. It had been one way of telling me he loved me even when we had desperately tried to stay apart.
We kissed once, still taking a little more time than was strictly appropriate, before turning to face our cheering friends and family.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say there wasn't a single dry eye in the church. My mother was sobbing into one of Abe's bright yellow pocket squares, and he was wiping his eyes with the corner of his sleeve. Even Christian looked puffy-eyed.
One we'd signed the papers and made it official, Dimitri took my hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. Feeling like the heroine in one of Lissa's beloved regency novels, we walked the length of the aisle as our guests began to shower us with coloured rice.
When the stewards opened the church doors opened, we were greeted by a crowd of people I recognised from the town. Not being invited to the ceremony had clearly not dampened their enthusiasm to wish us well. It seemed they had come to escort us back to the Belikov house in preparation for the reception.
We don't see many weddings in these parts, Olena had told me by way of warning, christenings and funerals are the only things the church is used for.
Dimitri began graciously accepting kisses on cheeks from the old ladies clustering around him, but I was tackled from behind by a pair of long, pale arms. I used the hand that wasn't clutching Dimitri to draw Lissa close to me.
"Congratulations!" she cried, beaming.
The rest of the gang piled in around us, a sea of blue and purple chiffon swirling in the midst of dark suits. In the summer heat it was a little overwhelming, but I didn't care.
When I finally managed to free my face from Adrian's armpit, it was to see my parents and Olena waiting for their turn at hugging the newlyweds. I accepted all their embraces, but didn't let go of Dimitri for a second.
Once everyone had been given a chance to say their congratulations and hug the both of us, we began to walk slowly back through town towards home.
And it was home, just as much as our flat back at Court. These people had been my family for a long time now, in a way that signing a piece of paper alone could never have brought about. We'd mourned together and celebrated together, and this was to be the biggest celebration of them all.
In everyone's haste to get to that party, Dimitri and I found ourselves falling behind. I could have blamed it on the high heels I wasn't used to wearing, but I honestly just wanted a moment to ourselves.
"So, comrade. Any regrets yet?"
"I should think it would take at least an hour before they make themselves known," he teased. "You?"
"I'm going to keep my mouth shut until after the wedding night."
He shot me a look full of heat. "Well, that ruins my plans a bit."
"Guardian Belikov!" I gasped. "How scandalous. Your mother is standing just over there."
"I'm sure she's fully aware of what we'll be getting up to tonight." His hand slipped back to graze my ass. "While you are painfully beautiful in this gown, I can't wait to get it off you."
I remembered when he'd said the same thing about a little black dress, and everything that had followed. The anticipation that had begun to build when I'd stared at his angelic face in the church suddenly rocketed through me, settling between my thighs with a heat to rival that of the midday sun.
It was going to be a long day.
Fortunately, my lust was soon superseded by hunger of a different kind.
The spread Olena had prepared for the wedding breakfast was nothing short of a masterpiece, especially considering how quickly she got it out and ready to be served. I wasn't convinced she didn't have a team of elves helping her to cook.
Sure, there had been an hour or of photography and well wishings between returning to the house and the food being served, but now I stood before the buffet table with eyes as huge as the plate in my hands. It truly was a masterpiece. Traditional Russian dishes sat alongside my American favourites, and in some cases, they had been blended into a delicious fusion. The mini blini burgers in particular had caught my eye, and I was debating how many I could get away with eating when Eddie appeared beside me.
"It's your day," he said, immediately understanding my dilemma. "Treat yourself."
I noticed his plate was already piled high with cabbage rolls and pork hand pies.
"I don't even know where to start."
"Just work your way down the table. That's what I'm doing." He leaned over to grab a mini hot dog. "Can we bring Olena home with us? I don't think I can go back to living on ramen after this."
When my plate resembled a precarious mountain I squeezed back into the garden. It seemed that more people were arriving by the minute. Not having a guest list for this event might have been foolhardy, but Olena seemed to know everyone here, so I wasn't too worried.
Dimitri's height made him easy to find in the crowd, so I didn't have to waste much time searching for my husband.
Husband. That would take some getting used to.
He was standing in the shade, surrounded by a knot of Spirit users; Lissa had introduced Sonya Karp to Oksana, and Adrian was chatting to Mark in an animated way that made me think he'd already found the vodka stash. Dimitri stood beside Mikhail, both of them happy to observe the goings-on without comment.
"I'm glad I can't see auras; this patch must be like the sun with all of you together!"
"It is now you're here. Do you have any idea how much you're glowing right now?" Sonya teased.
I leaned into Dimitri's side. "Like a supernova."
He wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed my forehead. Touching him like this just wasn't enough. True; wishing we were alone and naked happened often enough, but rarely to this degree. I knew that when the dancing began it would be even worse. Feeling his body moving beside mine might actually send me over the edge.
Blaming my sudden thirst on the summer heat, I excused myself from the crowd to get another drink.
Eddie was already standing at the makeshift bar, looking even more dishevelled than I did.
"Everything alright?" I asked, placing a hand on his arm. He jumped at the touch.
"Sorry, yeah. I was just lost in thought."
"Not lost in booze?"
He shook his head. "Not yet, anyway." That was when I saw where his gaze was fixed.
"We know that you'd be here today,
If Heaven wasn't so far away," the chalkboard propped against the fence proclaimed. Beneath this text were photos of Mason and Ivan, both their blue eyes shining as they laughed from behind the glass.
"I miss him so much." Eddie's voice was hardly more than a whisper.
"Me too." We stood together in silence for a moment, paying our respects to our lost friend.
"It's probably for the best that he isn't here," Eddie said, his voice cracking even as he smiled. "He'd never have been okay to see you marry someone else."
"He'd have got drunk and pulled a prank, at least."
We were only joking, really. Mason would have been happy for me, even through his own disappointment, because that was just who he was. The way he'd guided me to Dimitri was proof enough of that.
"Idiot," Eddie said finally, the word filled with affection.
"Idiot," I agreed.
I was about to ask if he had also noticed Meredith and Shane making out behind the shed earlier when he blurted, "I want to marry Mia. Soon."
I blinked hard, twice. Somehow I found my tongue. "I didn't realise you guys had spoken about it."
"We haven't. Not really, anyway- we've spoken about 'someday' and 'if we marry', but… I want that with her, Rose." He turned to face me, eyes shining. "I've been telling myself to slow down, reminding myself that she's barely even graduated, that we've been together less than a year, that she only lost her mom a year ago and she's still coping with that- but I keep coming back to the same thing. That I'm never going to want anyone but her. And after seeing you and Dimitri tying the knot today, it's just made me even more certain."
I took a deep breath before I said, "if that's how you're feeling, you should tell her. Maybe don't ask her right now, but let her know that you're in this for the long haul."
Eddie's eyes lit up. "I could get her a promise ring maybe?"
I'd been thinking more along the lines of a conversation, but Eddie's inner romantic was clearly having none of it. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and bumped his shoulder with mine. "That's a start. Now let's get back to the others before there are rumours that we're running off together."
"It wouldn't be the first time."
"Exactly!" I grabbed his arm and dragged him back to where Dimitri was watching waiting. He was now holding Zoya, running through all the compliments she had received from the rest of us this morning. She positively glowed as he praised her Cinderella slippers. Karolina was going to have her hands full with that one in ten years or so.
Fortunately, she didn't seem to mind that those shoes were now covered in as much dust and grass as they were glitter. We might make a Guardian out of her yet.
The afternoon slipped into evening with the aid of good company and more than a few drinks. Before I knew it, the ringing of metal on glass drew my attention to where Adrian stood on a chair, looking totally in his element.
"Friends!" he shouted. "Please gather around for the speeches!"
Dimitri was immediately behind me once again. "Oh God. Here we go."
"Abe is not going to embarrass us," I promised, wishing I had more confidence in my father's word. "My mom will kill him if he does."
"It's my sisters I'm worried about. Viktoria told me earlier that they've managed to steal a five-minute slot."
"Oh, fuck." I turned to see Vika and Lissa giggling in the corner. "Okay, we're doomed."
We made it through the speeches with a few close shaves, but it could have been far worse. Some of the gathered crowd had shifted uncomfortably when Zmey first took the microphone, only relaxing when it was clear he was here as the father of the bride and not a mobster doing whatever-the-hell he did. Finally Adrian dragged me and Dimitri up to the front of the crowd in preparation for the toast.
Trays of shot glasses were making their way around the guests. I shuddered at the sight of them. I had no doubt that the vodka they contained would be the same rocketfuel we had all drunk at Dimitri's funeral. I could almost taste the hangover already.
I considered tipping some of it away, but Adrian was watching me like a hawk. This was his most important job as the Tamada, the toast-maker, and he wasn't going to let me screw it up. If only I had a drink like Lissa's- it had been watered down to the point that it was about 2% proof rather than the 50+ of the drink straight from the bottle.
Signing in resignation, I linked my arm through Dimitri's so I'd at least have some support through this ordeal, and a greater incentive not to spit it straight out again. It would be a shame to ruin his clothes and hair with a spit-take.
"Bottoms up, comrade!"
It burned just as badly as I remembered, but I gritted my teeth against the urge to cough as everyone else took their shots too. A shout of Gorko went up, as was traditional, covering the sound of Sydney almost choking on her drink. I didn't stop to check if she was alright- -Adrian could handle it- as Dimitri was kissing me again.
If the kiss in the church had been inappropriate for company, this one was downright outrageous. Grabbing a thigh through the thick fabric of my dress, he hiked the my leg around his waist as he dipped me back. Our guests loved it, though. This was apparently a big part of a traditional ceremony, and the steady supply of champagne throughout the day had given Dimitri the confidence to go big.
That, and we'd had a little wager between ourselves. I'd teased him by saying that he'd try and find a way to avoid such a public spectacle tradition or no, and he'd taken it as a personal challenge.
For once, I was very glad to be proved wrong.
When he finally made to pull away, I used my own considerable strength to hold him in place a little longer. The crowd was still chanting for us, after all. Even when we let go, it wasn't for long. As shot glasses were being refilled, Nikolai's friend made a beeline for his speakers and Dimitri lead me to the centre of the dancefloor. I was determined to get this first dance out of the way before that vodka hit.
Lissa and Christian had been giving us lessons in the living room for the past month, but it had been something of a struggle. Natural athleticism did not equate to the lifetime of ballroom dance instruction all Royal Moroi received. My experience with dancing had been limited to drunken grinding in darkened dorm rooms, and Dimitri had avoided it at all costs.
Still, we'd managed to learn a simple routine that we shouldn't fuck up too badly. Good posture and a couple of pretty spins would see us through.
Just as we got into position, Adrian told everyone to prepare for the first dance, and then the string intro to our instrumental song began. I looked up into Dimitri's devastatingly gorgeous face, once again feeling struck by the overwhelming need to remember this moment forever.
And then we were moving. The world fell away like it had a thousand times before- fighting, sex, dancing- they were all the same when it was Dimitri's hands on me.
Though the version we had chosen was instrumental, I could hear the lyrics as clear as day inside my head.
"With you by my side, I will fight and defend," I whispered along to the music, making Dimitri smile in a way that made my heart ache.
Nothing you could say, nothing you could do when it comes to the truth, I added mentally as he spun me around and we crashed together again. Just as the inscription on my wedding band had been his lyrical gift to me, this song was mine to him.
"Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly," Dimitri murmured as he pulled me closer, my head coming to rest against his warm neck. We'd pretty much given up on the dancing now, and were just swaying to the music.
"We'll make it through," I agreed.
And it would; we had. Through everything that had tried to separate us- duty, death, even our own determination, our love had endured. Marriage was the next step in our adventure together, and while I knew it would come with its own trials and tribulations, I couldn't wait for it to begin.
Bonus: A few of the songs from the wedding playlist-
First dance- Instrumental version of Avril Lavigne's Keep Holding On. The album version was released in the same year as VA (I'm ignoring the initial movie release lmao) and it's been my ultimate Romitri song ever since.
Love Goes (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse – Christian added this for a laugh. Rose vows to get revenge.
Forever in My Life by Prince - Dimitri's choice. His favourite song, and the source of the inscription for his ring. My headcanon is that as Dimitri can tend to ramble when expressing his feelings, he relies on books/songs/quotes from other people to sum them up. The most important lines here are "you are my hero, you are my future; When I am with you I have no past"
Perfect by Ed Sheeran. As well as being a perfect wedding song, Zoey Deutch was in the music video so of course it's on the list.
God Only Knows by The Beach Boys - One of the few songs that was on both of their wedding playlists. Dimitri likes it because it's old school. Rose likes it because it was in Love Actually.
I'll Be There For You by The Rembrandts – Can't you just imagine them all having a dance to this? Claps mandatory.
Lover by Taylor Swift. The ultimate wedding song. Fight me on this.
Songs that were vetoed-
Video killed the radio star by the Buggles. Rose was having absolutely none of that at her wedding, thanks very much.
Mama do the hump by Rizzle kicks. Dimitri vetoed this. Rose didn't actually request it, but he was afraid she might. He just does not get this song, however much she enjoys dancing to it.
SO. There you have it.
I've sat on this for a couple of weeks now, reluctant to post, because it feels too much like the end. I do still have more stories to tell in this universe, but I'm reluctant to make any promises. I think a series of connected one-shots might be in order to bridge the gap between this and Next Generation, which was always intended to be a sequel to ALS. Maybe I'll even get round to continuing/completing that series someday.
That said, I do have ideas. I always wanted to give a glimpse of their honeymoon, and to tie in the Ruby Circle baby-bombshell in a way that fits with this universe. I'm also a little tempted to write some wedding-night smut, which is not my forte at all, but what the hell.
If there's anything you have a burning desire to see in this potential one-shot series, drop it in a review. Maybe I'll write it sometime in the next five years.
Thanks for sticking with me for all this time. It means more than you can know. D.S.S xx
(once more for luck- review and Dimitri will marry you)