The entire room fell pin-drop silent in order to hear Rose's answer. Lissa, Rose's mom, and Mia sat anxiously but also patiently awaiting her answer. Christian was the one who couldn't wait. Snapping Rose from her coma state, "Well are you going to answer him?"
Rose looked at Christian, then everyone else before her eyes fell back on Adrian. "Can you ask me again?" she whispered
Whispering back, "Will you marry me?"
With the biggest smile she ever had Rose replied, "Yes Adrian I will marry you.
As everyone clapped and cheered Adrian grabbed Rose in the biggest embrace he could ever imagine. He kissed her till his mom eventually came up to give her congratulatory hug. That is when Lissa, Christian, Mia, and her parents gave her hugs as well. In that moment Rose couldn't have been happier.
Once everyone got in their hugs and congratulations the party ended. The only ones left were Rose, Adrian, Lissa, Christian, Mia and Jill. Jill came in a bit late to the party but she had a prior engagement with her mother. She became a member of the group when she let Rose know how much of an admirer she was of hers and Christians for when they fought in the attack at St. Vladimir's. That's when she started training with Christian to use her magic. They had shared a special bond over the fact that they each specialize in fire.
"I can't believe you two are getting married. I'm so happy." Jill expressed through tears
"Aww thank you Jill. That means a lot." Rose replied
"No thank you Rose. I never would have met any of you if I didn't have the guts to come talk to you that day. And if you would have just ignored me like any senior would have I wouldn't be sitting here with any of you guys and for that I am really grateful." Jill cried harder
Rose had no words, along with everyone else, so she just walked to Jill and gave her a hug.
"Well we already knew." Lissa confessed
"Are you serious?" Rose curiously asked
"Uh yea. Adrian came to us months ago when we all first thought you were getting out and asked if we thought it was a good idea. I of course thought it was a great idea, but I let him know about your mom. No necessarily to ask for her permission but to just make sure she be here on the day of the proposal." Lissa informed
"Good thinking. She would have flipped out if she wasn't here for this. I know she and I haven't always been on the best of terms but to miss out on her only daughter's engagement…yea she totally would have been angry. So what did she say when you told her?"
"I did better than just tell her, I asked her for your permission. And I swear I think she may have cried a little. But I also went even further and asked Abe for his blessing."
"Wow! You have major guts." Christian complemented
"No he would have had a death wish if he wouldn't have asked Abe." Rose corrected
"Exactly, and that's also the main reason why he showed up today. He apparently already was informed of your release but once he knew that I was going to ask you at this party he hopped on a flight and got here immediately. He wasn't about to miss his only daughter's engagement, same as your mom." Adrian confessed
"That's the reason he came here!" Rose exclaimed
"One of the reasons Rose. The most important reason. He loves you. He knew the whole time that you were being set up by someone and he wasn't about to turn his back on his investigating when he knew you were getting out. He is trying to track down the real person who killed Aunt Tatiana. So don't be angry with him." Adrian calmed Rose down an enormous amount
"I'm not mad. It just hurts a little to know that he wouldn't have been here if you hadn't proposed." Adrian hugged Rose tightly that told her it was all OK and that no matter what he would be there for the rest of their lives.
"Alright I really hate to be the party pooper but I need to get some rest. I have a busy day tomorrow." Lissa announced
"I hadn't realized how late its gotten." Standing to give Lissa a hug, "I'll be by later today. Love you girly."
"Love you to soon to be Mrs. Ivashkov." Lissa smiled and then she and Christian left
Adrian and Rose went back to his room where they thought they would have more privacy. Unfortunately they were wrong. Finally being able to enjoy each other alone and celebrate in their own way there was a knock at the door.
"Just ignore it." Rose gasped between kisses, but the longer he ignored it the more knocks came
Breaking away from her lips, Adrian said, "I've got to answer."
Rose only frowned at his response.
"Who is it?" Adrian requested
Rose frowned even more with the response from the voice outside the door. "Rose I know you're in there. It's Dimitri, I need to talk to you."
Flipping the covers off herself, she angrily went to the door. Swinging it open she exclaimed, "What do you want this time?"
"I'm sorry to upset you." Dimitri said calmly
"Really? Because this is the second time you've interrupted…no disturbed us today! Now I can semi tolerate you coming to my room but when you come HERE….that is unacceptable. You have no reason to come here. Now before I lose my temper even more I am asking you to leave and talk to me at a more appropriate time and place. Goodnight." Rose gently closed the door in his face for the second time that day. "Now hopefully he won't disturb us again."
"It's fine if you wanted to talk to him." Adrian informed
"He can talk to me tomorrow. I mean I just got engaged to the man I love tonight. In case you didn't know." Rose smiled
Wrapping her in his arms, "I nearly forgot that. He is only lucky guy."
"Tell me about it." Rose leaned in to kiss him. They then continued on with their evening. Piece by piece their clothing came off. Before they knew it both were naked. They started out rubbing each others naked bodies until Rose climbed on top of Adrian. She took control of the night but since it had been a while it lasted only about fifteen minutes, which was way shorter than normal for them. But no matter how long it lasted they always enjoyed the pleasure each gave.
Rolling off of him in exhale, "Wow! That was amazing."
"Definitely amazing!" Adrian agreed as he and Rose laid there enjoying each others company. Laying there for a few minutes before Adrian asked, "So do you have any idea as to when you'd want to get married?"
"As soon as we can put together a wedding." she replied
"Really? Let me make a phone call." Adrian grinned as he reached for his phone
"Hold on." Rose said touching his arm, "I want to be part of it. I want Lissa, Mia, and Jill to be the bridesmaids. I want yellow and blue to be the theme colors. And I want to be married outside with trees all around. And I would like white tulips and yellow roses for the bouquets." Rose said expressing her deepest thoughts
"You've really thought a lot about this."
Coming out of her daze, "I'm sorry."
"I didn't say that for you to apologize. I'm just astonished that you even gave it a thought about marrying me. And just so you know there's the perfect place, like you want, right here at court."
"That would be perfect. Do you think we could get married there?" Rose wondered excitingly
"Of course we can. I will make a call…tomorrow. I'm sure I can have everything you want done within the next few days."
"That would be great but I still have to find and buy a wedding gown along with bridesmaids dresses. Plus you still need to choose your groomsmen and also get tuxes, with yellow vests." Rose smiled to the last part
"I can work with that. The jet will be fueled and ready for us all to go tomorrow."
"Us all?" Rose questioned
"Yea. Me, you, Lissa…"
"Lissa can't leave. She has things to do. Plus being the new queen the strigoi are really going to try and attack. And I'm not really in the mood to be protecting Lissa while shopping for my gown. Not that I wouldn't protect her. So instead of leaving why don't we bring the gowns, dresses, and tuxes to us."
"That I can make happen. I would do anything for you." Adrian agreed to anything to make Rose happy. They kissed each other then fell right asleep in each others arms.
By the time Rose awoke Adrian was already gone. Knowing what he was up to she got dressed then headed to Lissa. Rose waited patiently for Lissa to return from her meeting. But when she arrived Adrian, Jill and Mia were with her.
"What's going on?" Rose wondered
"Adrian and I are bringing you the most fabulous wedding gowns in the country." Lissa answered as they entered the room with hundreds of gowns from Vera Wang to Oscar De La Renta. Then came in bridesmaids dresses, shoes, and jewelry.
"Well I am going to leave you ladies to it. I, myself, have to go gather my groomsmen so we can get tuxes."
"Who did you pick?" Rose asked
"Christian, Hans and Jill's boyfriend Joey."
"You have a boyfriend?" Rose turned to Jill and before she answered Adrian kissed her goodbye.
As the girls tried on dresses Rose questioned Jill about Joey and why she's never mentioned him or brought him around.
"For starters he is a normal person. Joey has no special ability or any dhampire skills. I met him back home and I have brought him here, you were just away. Sorry. But Joey really wants to meet you, so I know he is psyched about being in your wedding." Jill informed
"Jill I am happy for you. No matter who he is. As long as you're happy and he treats you good and accepts you for you nothing else matters."
"Thank you Rose. I really appreciate that."
"Oh my gosh! Guys…I mean girls I think I found it. The dress!" All three came out to see the Vera Wang Cinderella silk gown Rose had on. Their mouths nearly hit the floor.
"Rose…this is the dress for you." Lissa gasped
"It's gorgeous and fits you perfect." Mia agreed
"Adrian is going to faint when he sees you in this. What are those shoes?" Jill wondered
"These are Louie Vuitton diamond laced, one inch heels." Rose wiggled her foot
Lissa only had one word to describe Rose, "Perfect!"
"Thank you. Not let me just say that you girls look great. And amazingly you all have on the same design. And its perfect the Jill and Mia have on yellow and you, Lissa, have on blue since you're the maid of honor. Do you know who you're wearing?" Rose added
"Uh…not sure." They all admitted
Rose informed them, "You are all wearing Dolce and Gabanna sun dress. Lissa, you have Gucci flats, Jill, you have Prada wedges, and Mia, you have Jimmy Choo two inch heels. And if you girls are satisfied, so am I."
"You don't want us all to wear the same shoes?" Mia questioned
"I'm leaving that up to you three." Rose admitted
"OK. Now you go see what Adrian is doing and let him know that we're done here." Lissa demanded
"Aye-Aye captain. I'd salute you but I don't know how." Rose smiled
Rose spoke to Adrian and checked out the place where the ceremony would take place. It was all perfect and they planned to marry the next day.