Twelve months have now come and gone, and since then you and Ivan have been together for eleven. The two of you are deeply in love, despite Al's protective objections, teasing, and complaints. All of your friends visit often, though not all at once. They have once or twice, but that's a story for another time.

For his birthday, you surprised him with tickets to Russia to visit with his family. He was right, his sisters are very weird. Still, the trip was not only a success, but by pure luck, his sisters had scraped together just enough money for them to take the trip back with you to live in Ivan's giant, but empty house. You were glad to have a few more girls to talk with.

Nothing could ever separate you and Ivan. Through thick and thin, figurative and literal stormy weather, family or friendship crises, the two of you have stuck together like glue.

And if there was one thing the two of you have learned, it was a simple lesson: neither of you would ever be lonely again. Learning about each other and connecting friends and family on either side, bonds have been made that can never be severed. Ties that had already been made are now stronger as well.

All of this could only be, was only because one dark and storming evening, a fairy tale came true:

On one winters' night, you were saved by your Winter's Knight.