Romitri Forever Chapter 6: The Wedding Part IV, a vampire academy fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own VA/Bloodlines and thank Richelle Mead for writing such awesome series.
Nor do I own the songs by John Legend or Celine Dion.

Note: So this is the last part of the Wedding piece – hope you like it.
You might not agree with some of my choices, but meh my story, my imagination

Have posted links on my profile for the resort, cake and dresses – sorry about the weird formatting, had to do it so it would come up.

And sorry I couldn't update earlier – back at work this week

Special shout out to:

BookWretched – for being my awesome Beta (check out her stories – they are awesome!)
Truly appreciate your patience and unwavering support
And Belated Happy Birthday!

Will Rose's memory return? Will Dimitri and Rose finally get married?

*Note: There are spoilers to The Ruby Circle*

THE WEDDING PART IV

DPOV

Post-traumatic amnesia.

That's what Rose is experiencing.

I sit here quietly, tuning in and out of the speech the doctor is giving, as he explains how the amnesia could have occurred and the ways we can help Rose regain her memory. My entire focus is on her, my Roza. If Janine hadn't already staked Randall I would be out there right now, hunting him down and making him pay for everything he has put Rose through.

I can't help feeling useless, as I watch her bring her knees close to her chest and hug them. She looks around scared and confused. I want to reach out and take her into my arms, but I know she won't find it comforting – considering only a few minutes ago she had pulled her hand away from me. I try not to focus on the pain that simple action had caused me – it isn't her fault she doesn't recognise me – but it still hurts like hell.

I am so lost in my own thoughts and despair I didn't realise the doctor had left the room. A gentle tap on my shoulder brings me back. I turn to see Lissa hovering near me. I think she saw I hadn't been paying much attention to what the doctor was saying, so she gives me the condensed version of his talk.

"The doctor said we should take turns to show her things from her past, talk to her and help her remember. But we mustn't overwhelm her. Why don't you go home, take a shower, maybe even get some sleep and then come back. One of us will always be here with her. Maybe you can bring something that will help her remember".

I didn't want to leave her side, but what else can I do? She doesn't want to talk to me, let alone acknowledge my presence, so I decide to listen to Lissa and head on home.

The apartment feels empty and depressing. It's too quiet. No laughter, squeals, moans or any kind of emotion. It doesn't feel like a home, just a place with four walls and a roof. The longer I stay the more I feel suffocated. So I rush into the bathroom for a quick shower, change my clothes and return to the hospital – even if she doesn't know who I am, it's still better to be by her side than being in this lifeless apartment.

I decide to let the others engage with Rose, sitting back in the chair next to her bed and listening as they share various memories from her life. Photos and trinkets are handed to her as I learn more about my Roza – some stories I have heard or have been a part of, others are new to me, especially those from before my time at the academy. Most are happy memories, but some are sad too – the first time she broke her leg, the car accident that killed the Dragomirs, running away from the academy, Lissa's kidnapping, Mason's death, Strigoi attacking the academy, me turning Strigoi and so on. It still amazes me to this day that for someone so young she has experienced so much in her life and yet, even after all that hardship, she is so alive, so passionate and so loving. I pray that her memory returns soon so she can go back to being that vibrant, carefree Rose Hathaway I fell in love with and not this scared, vulnerable girl lying in her hospital room dazed and frightened – this was not my Roza and it killed me that I couldn't do anything to bring her back.

Rose is kept in the hospital for another few days, as the doctors want to keep an eye on her recovery. Once she's discharged we take her back to our apartment. There is a lot of back and forth discussion on this matter – some weren't sure if this was a good idea (mainly Janine) because they were concerned it would be too much for her to suddenly be with a complete stranger in an apartment by herself, while others (myself and Lissa) argued that she needed normalcy and the best way to do that was for her to go back to her old life, starting with returning to her home.

Abe, Janine, Lissa, Christian and Eddie accompany us back to the apartment. Rose is no longer fearful around us, but her memory loss keeps her hesitant and distant. She knows who we all are and what parts we play in her life, but she's still struggling to grasp it all, especially the fact that she has a fiancé who's seven years older than her and used to be her mentor. It isn't long before everyone has left and I suggest it would be best if she goes to sleep. She eyes me nervously when she sees the king sized bed – the only bed in the apartment. I can tell she won't be comfortable sleeping next to me, no matter what my relationship is to her, so I offer to sleep on the couch, fibbing that I have some work to catch up on and wouldn't want to keep her awake. Relief shines in her dark, brown eyes as she gives me a small timid kiss on the cheek before closing the bedroom door. I return to the couch, pulling my shirt, shoes and socks off. As I lie down, I hope I can get some form of sleep.

I wake up to eerie silence and endless darkness. The last threads of my nightmare slipping through my conscious mind, I try not to recall the red eyes, Roza's lifeless face and the soul-crushing emptiness I had just experienced. It's still the middle of the Moroi night, so I get up to get a glass of water. While I'm up, I decide to check on Rose and so I slowly creep towards our bedroom door. I'm shocked to hear muffled crying and briefly wonder if she has had a nightmare too. Carefully I open the door, hoping to not wake her up (incase I'm wrong).

My jaw drops open at the sight before me.

The room is a complete mess, clothes scattered everywhere as if she has been searching for something. I find her sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed. Her eyes are closed and she's clutching an object tightly in her hands with tears running down her face, in full sobbing mode. An open box lies next to her – I've never seen it before. I want to take those few steps and pull her into my arms, but I worry about how she will react. Nonetheless I can't just stand here, gaping at her while she cries her eyes out. Apparently my silent step isn't so silent and her eyes fly open. What I see next though her watery eyes makes my soul sing and my heart skip a beat.

Recognition.

I rush to her at the same time that she jumps up and runs to me. We fall into each other's arms and drop to the floor, neither one letting go of the other.

I am finally where I should be.

RPOV

It's scary not knowing who you are.

Even more so when you can't recognise the people around you.

I guess I should be happy with the knowledge that I am at least someone who is loved by so many – that I have parents, a best friend, some namesake brothers and a fiancé. How can someone so young have a fiancé? But I guess we love each other a lot for us to be committing to one another so young. I just wish I remembered – it's very frustrating hearing all the stories about my life but not recalling a single one.

I am now home, or so they say. This is the apartment I share with my fiancé, Dimitri Belikov. Of all the people around me, he is the most distant. Guess this is hard for him too, me not recognising him and keeping my own distance. I wish I remembered him – there is something about him that calls me to him. I want to take him into my arms and hold him, even though he is no better than any other stranger I would meet on the street. There is something about him though that is different to the others in my life, I can feel it deep within me.

There is an awkward moment when we realise there is only one bedroom and bed in the apartment. I can tell he doesn't want to cause me discomfort by sleeping next to me, though a part of me wants him to. I can see through his lie, as he excuses himself to the couch for the night.

Why can't I remember my life?

I shower and change for bed, grabbing a random t-shirt that is lying on the bed. It's too big for me, it must have been Dimitri's. I should change, but I can't bring myself to. It smells of him and it feels like he is holding me. Guess this is the best I will get tonight and with that thought I climb into bed, wondering if I will fall asleep.

Images flash before my eyes – I can't differentiate between my memories and dreams. It's all too much and suddenly I bolt upright in bed, drenched in sweat. I need to find something, something I feel is key to getting my memory back. I rush out of bed and start tearing the room apart looking for it – still now knowing what it is I am looking for. I let my thoughts and senses guide me, I don't even realise I have made a complete mess of the room. Something pulls me towards the top high-shelf in the walk in wardrobe. A small wooden box is hidden behind another box. I pull it down and head back towards the bed, sliding down to the floor.

With slight apprehension I open the box and it feels like I have opened some hidden lid in my own mind, as I am bombarded by all the moments I have experienced in my life. From my earliest memory (meeting Lissa for the first time in kindergarten and getting in trouble with the teacher) to my most recent one (seeing Randall as Strigoi and being tortured by him). I don't even realise I am crying, not just crying but full on sobbing. I try to clear my eyes so I can look at the items in the box better and one item catches my attention, something telling me it meant the most to me – it's Victor's lust charm.

Dimitri had found the necklace underneath his room window a few days later and had kept it. He gave it to me when we returned to the academy after the Spokane incident, telling me he saved it as a memento of that night. It was a special night for both of us, not because of what we had almost done physically but because we finally realised how connected we were to each other emotionally and spiritually. Holding the necklace in my hands, I close my eyes and allow myself to be bombarded by every single memory I had of Dimitri – our training sessions, our stolen kisses and cuddles, the cabin, Russia, our escape, the proposal. It all comes rushing back and the deluge of emotions makes me feel like my heart is going to burst. My eyes snap open when I hear someone enter the room.

It's him – my soulmate, my heart, my Dimitri. How is it even possible that I had forgotten him?

We run to each other and hold on tight, never wanting to ever let go.

I'm finally home.

Three months later

RPOV

We are supposed to be on our honeymoon right now – if things had gone to plan.

But they rarely ever do for us.

So here we are in Russia, the first leg of what would have been our honeymoon, but instead we are taking it as a much needed vacation. The tickets to Russia had been paid in advance and were non-refundable. Everyone at Court suggested we not waste the opportunity to have some much time to ourselves.

Little did I know there was another reason for us being here.

We reached Baia a couple of days before Valentine's day and were staying with Dimitri's family. I couldn't help but feel something was up. Yeva kept giving my sly looks and whenever I entered a room, whatever hushed conversation was happening would suddenly stop and I would be engaged in some random topic. Even Dimitri was acting strange, disappearing for a few hours here and there, under the pretext of running errands for Olena.

Today, on 13th February, a surprise visitor turned up at our door – my dad.

"What are you doing here old man?"

I'm surprised to see him – I knew he had relocated to the Court on a more permeant basis because that's where I'm now. I was even more surprised to find out that my mum had been re-assigned to become his guardian – something I am sure he pulled off with his connections. I think after all the close calls I had with my life, they both had decided they wanted to stay near me, fearful of losing me and wanting to play a larger part in my life after having been absent for almost 18 years.

"A Kiz, can't your father just come visit without any reason? Even if you are supposed to be on your vacation".

A sly smile is on his face and I know in my gut he is up to something. I give him my best Rose Hathaway glare.

"What are you up to Baba? I can tell you are in the middle of something, something that clearly involves me".

He tries to change his expression into a more innocent one, though the grin remains.

"Well I was wondering if you would like to spend some time with me Kiz. In fact I was hoping to take you to my home here in Baia. Last time you were here, well I never got the chance to show you my place".

He actually has the audacity to give me puppy-dog eyes to emphasise how much he wants this.

I give him a small chuckle. It's hard to say no to him – guess I can understand why other people get frustrated with me when I give them the same look.

"Sure Baba, let me just text Dimitri so he knows where I am. He has been out since early morning - God only knows where!"

I can't hide my frustration at the thought. I decide I'm going to corner him later today and ask him why he's been acting so strange.

Hey Comrade, going to spend the day with Abe. Let me know when you are back at home and I will return.

His reply comes back straight away, almost like he's expecting my text.

Hi Roza. Maybe you should spend the night there. Something has come up and I will be staying overnight in Omsk. It's up to you in the end, but I am sure Abe would like to spend as much time as he can with you.

I stare at my phone – what the hell!? I try to call him, but it goes straight to voicemail. What on earth is going on?

Dimitri Belikov, what is going on? You have been acting strange since we have arrived in Baia and now you are suddenly staying overnight somewhere – something you failed to mention in your plans for today. And now you are not picking up your phone! You better have a good reason for your behaviour mister, otherwise you are in big trouble!

Thankfully he at least replies back to my message within a few minutes.

Roza please be calm and patient. All will be revealed soon. I promise. Please trust me and know it's nothing bad.

I look at Abe and see him staring at me intently, making me wonder if he knows what is going on. Guess I'm going to have to play along, till I can get to the bottom of things.

"Looks like I am all yours for the day old man. And if you're up for it, we can have a sleepover tonight. You know junk food, movies and lots of gossip".

Abe actually looks excited at the prospect and takes my arm into his.

"Why Kiz, I thought you would never ask", he chuckles as he leads me towards his car.

Abe's house looks more like a lodge and is on the outskirts of town near the mountains. It has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains (it's high enough in the mountains that you can see the whole town in the distance) and is heavily gated – not surprising considering the kind of life he leads.

It's two storey and is probably the most expensive home in Baia. But I'm surprised to see how understated it is. For someone who dresses so ostentatiously, Abe's home is actually very subdued. The majority of the furniture is pine with a few pieces of leather chairs and lounges. He doesn't give me a proper tour, instead leads me straight towards the backyard, almost bubbling with excitement.

"SURPRISE!"

My mouth drops open – how do these people keep surprising me?

Everyone is here – Sonya and Mikhail standing near the gardens, holding hands and smiling widely. In the veranda, scattered around on the various chairs and lounges are Eddie, Jill, Mia, Ryan, Sydney (holding Declan) and Adrian. Christian, Lissa and my mum are standing right in front of me, clearly the 'surprise' welcoming committee.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask dumbfounded.

Lissa giggles at my expression.

"We are here for your wedding silly and this time we are going to do it properly – a traditional Russian wedding".

My mouth falls open again.

I was devastated that we had to cancel our wedding and I was not sure when we would be able to re-schedule it. Every time I brought up the subject, Dimitri would push it aside, telling me not to worry and that I should focus on getting better. He assured me that when the time was right we would have our wedding and that was all he ever said on the matter. Now I understood why. He, my family and friends had been secretly planning this wedding, one that I can't help but feel is going to be more special and perfect than the first one we had planned.

I let out an excited girly squeal (something I rarely do) and run towards Lissa, while my other bridesmaids crowd around me to turn our little hug into a big group hug. We all squeal and scream in excitement. Naturally, Christian tries to ruin the moment.

"Ok, ok Rosie. Calm down! Any more high pitched and the dogs in the neighbourhood are going to start howling".

I stick my tongue out at him – not even he can ruin the happiness I'm feeling in this moment.

Day of the Wedding

It hadn't snowed much since we had arrived in Baia (though it has been cold) but today it looks like we are going to have a white wedding. It had snowed during the night and the whole town looks magical.

Abe had explained to me last night what were the usual wedding rituals for a traditional Russian wedding and what I should expect to happen. The biggest challenge we were going to face was trying to condense two days' worth of activities into one day, so that Lissa and the others could head back to Court as soon as possible (don't know how they pulled that off, but Lissa was able to leave Court with a bare minimum number of royal guards and very little fuss).

It's going to be a very early start – we were going to do something called 'paying the ransom' followed by the traditional ceremony in the town's chapel which has two parts – betrothal and crowning. The whole town (more or less) is expected to attend this. I actually prefer this to having the Moroi Council in attendance considering a lot of the town's people had been at Dimitri's memorial (the last time I was in Russia) and it would be lovely to have them see us have our 'happily ever after' moment.

After the traditional ceremony we'd have the civil ceremony (attended only by immediate family and bridal party) and this was taking place in Omsk (as it's the next largest town near Baia and we didn't want to do it in Novosibirsk due to the bad memories we had of the place). After this the whole lot of us were going to tour the city and take wedding photos. Reception was to be held at Abe's property, where the whole town was going to turn up again for a night of singing, dancing and endless supply of food and drink. This time the wedding was being paid by Abe and he wouldn't take no for an answer.

The first thing I did when I wake up (on the day of my wedding!) is look for Abe – not difficult even in the big house – as he spends most of his time in his office.

"Thank you Baba, for everything".

I lean in to kiss him on the cheek, wrapping my arms around his neck and give him a deep hug.

"Kiz, you are my world. I would do anything for you and Janine. You are my family and my family means everything to me".

I try to hold back the tears and crack a joke instead, to lessen the emotions swirling around us.

"Don't forget about Dimitri Baba, he is family too".

He lets out an exaggerated sigh.

"I guess he is now, isn't he? You sure you don't want me to rough him up a little bit? To make sure he knows I am serious when I say I will skin him alive if he ever hurts you".

"Baba…"

"Ok, ok Kiz. I was just kidding. Yes, Dimitri is family too".

The whole house is buzzing with activity as people run around getting ready and taking care of things. My bridesmaids, along with Olena and mum, find me and practically lock me in my room so we can get ready. It's all a blur as someone does my hair and another does my make-up. And then the moment to put on my dress arrives. I can't help but feel nervous, worrying if it still fits me. I wanted a dress that was unique and showcased me, so I kind of went against tradition and was wearing a black wedding dress (hey black is my colour after all!).

It's an Alencon lace over black Charmeuse modified A-line bridal gown, strapless sweetheart neckline, with a satin ribbon that had floral detail at waist and a sweep train. I'm not wearing a veil, instead my hair is swept into a left-sided loose ponytail with a diamante clip (this is my something new – a gift from Lissa).

My something borrowed are my diamond drop earrings from Sonya. She'd worn them at her own wedding to Mikhail and we were using these as a way to fulfil another Russian wedding custom where a friend of the bride, who is already married, places the first earring on the bride-to-be. We both try to control the tears that are daring to fall from our eyes.

"I wish you all the happiness in the world, Rose. You and Dimitri have been through so much. You deserve your happily ever after".

She leans in, giving me a small kiss on both cheeks and pulling me into a hug.

I fall back on humour once again to try to keep my emotions in check.

"Hey, we have to be careful otherwise I am going to ruin your dress!"

My bridesmaids were wearing platinum silver dresses, floor length with a flower detail on the belt. They were simple and elegant (and hopefully something they could re-use).

My something blue is my garter and my something old is my nazar and chokti, the only other pieces of jewellery I am wearing apart from my engagement ring and earrings. It's not long before I'm ready but I can't look in the mirror. I worry my nerves will get the best of me, no matter how much everyone around me insists I take a peek.

We are ready for the first ritual – the paying of the ransom. I'm hidden from the main entrance, but I can see everything unfold. Adrian had gallantly volunteered to play the 'fake bride' – wearing a simple white dress and hiding his face behind a veil. I'm trying so hard to not laugh. I have to say he did make a very pretty bride. I catch a glimpse of Dimitri here and there while he negotiates with Abe for his bride. When they come to an agreement Abe leads Adrian over to Dimitri, and carefully hands him over with great affection. It only makes the whole experience even more hilarious as Dimitri reveals it to be Adrian behind the veil, who is eagerly reaching forward to kiss Dimitri. Everyone laughs, with squeals and shouts gaining momentum as the negotiations for the 'real bride' commence. I think in the end I'm handed over on the promise of 15 goats, 5 cows and 3 pigs along with 1001 roubles. It's all for fun (I doubt Abe wants the farm animals and he definitely doesn't need the money). The suspense of finally seeing each other is torturous for both of us.

Vika takes it one step further and insists Dimitri be blindfolded and not see me till we reach the chapel – after all I'm not wearing a veil and they want to prolong the mystery about my dress. I roll my eyes at their antics, but allow them their little fun. Dimitri's not too happy, but after seeing the scowl on his grandmother's face he concedes to the blindfold.

At least he is allowed to hold my hand and can ride to the chapel in the same car as me. We are under strict instructions to not say a word to one another – again Vika's idea (the girl really wants to torture us today for some strange reason!) and she rides along with us (along with a few of the other members of our bridal party) so she can keep an eye on us. I take the opportunity to take in Dimitri's appearance. Gorgeous, handsome, sexy – these words can't do him justice. He is magnificent in his black suit with a silver tie – it fit him perfectly, tailored to his exact specifications. He has left his hair out – just the way I like it.

How did I get so lucky? How could this angel be mine?

The chapel is beautiful covered in the fallen snow. People from the town are slowly arriving and make their way into the chapel – the plan is for us to make our entrance once everyone is seated. While we wait for the priest in front of the chapel, Dimitri's blindfold is finally removed. I feel myself blush, nervous and worried what he will think but his expression says it all. He is gobsmacked and in complete awe. His mouth is hanging open as his eyes sweep over me from head to toe. I can't help the small giggle that escapes from my lips.

"See something you like, Comrade?"

I can't help but say it – our own little inside joke.

A big grin lights up his face, making the sunshine pale in comparison.

"You have no idea Roza…"

He whispers my name huskily and I shiver with anticipation for our wedding night. But for now we have to focus on the ceremony.

Even though neither one of us were super religious, having a traditional Russian church wedding felt right. Our bridal party have already entered before us, taking their place at the altar. We stand just inside the entrance of the church while the priest blesses us and gives us lighted candles that we will hold throughout the ceremony. Special petitions occur for us, followed by two brief prayers and the rings were blessed and placed on our right hands. Turns out the rings belonged to Yeva and her Moroi husband (Dimitri's grandfather). My ring read 'forever and always' and Dimitri's read 'my heart and soul'. We were touched that she allowed us the great honour to have her rings and hoped our love would be just as eternal and long lasting as hers.

The priest says a prayer, blessing our betrothal and leads us into the center of the church where we stand on a piece of new, rose coloured fabric, symbolizing our entry into a new life. We then publicly profess that we are marrying of our own free will and that we have not promised ourselves to another.

Several longer prayers follow before the priest places crowns on our heads. Lissa, who is now my maid of honour, holds my crown while Eddie holds Dimitri's. More readings follow from the Epistle and Gospel, ektenias, brief prayers and then the sharing of a "common cup" of wine.

The priest wraps his stole around our joined hands and leads us three times around an analogion on which the Gospel Book had been placed. The priest says the benedictions to us and then the dismissal takes place.

After leaving the chapel we make our way into the mini-vans (well Dimitri and I have our limo, though Vika still insists on keeping us company) and head towards Omsk for the civil ceremony. We are greeted by our family members (who have arrived before us) with bread and salt. This ceremony is a bit more of what I was used to back home, with our rings exchanged and firmly in our left hands, along with our vows and declaration of becoming husband and wife. Before the 'You may kiss the bride' my parents offer us two crystal glasses, which we are asked to break. Apparently the more shards of glass we create, the greater the number of years of happiness we'd spend together. Suffice to say I stomp on the damn things with all my might, causing everyone to burst out laughing.

Finally we have our kiss – as husband and wife – and the joy and happiness I feel is indescribable. I have the biggest smile on my face, and all I can do is gaze at my husband adoringly. Once we are outside the offices, we release balloons into the air to symbolize our love and partnership for all to see. I also release another balloon with my maiden name written on it, and see my mum sniffling hard into Abe's shoulder at the gesture as I embark on my new life.

DPOV

Roza looked beautiful, like a goddess shimmering in black.

It was an unconventional wedding dress, but it was perfect on her. It epitomised everything that was Rose – delicate and fragile, yet sexy and dark. I couldn't look at anything else, my eyes would not dare look away. I was worried she was a figment of my deepest fantasies and dreams, and that if I even glance away for a second she would disappear.

With the ceremonies all done we tour Omsk and take loads of wedding photos. It's not long before we head back to Abe's for the wedding reception. I so desperately want a few moments alone with her, so I can kiss her and tell her how much I love her. The best I can do is convey my emotions through my eyes and squeeze her hand, and brush kisses on her knuckles discreetly – our families and bridal party refuse to give us a moment of peace or solitude.

Sydney can be very perceptive sometimes, and once we reach Abe's house she finds a way to get us away from everyone, pushing us into a small room which looks like the laundry room. Giving us a wink she whispers "I will keep a watch outside, give you two a few moments to yourselves before the next bout of chaos breaks loose".

We couldn't have been more grateful to her. I let my emotions consume me and grab Rose by her waist, pushing her hard against the closed door.

"Do you have any idea how much I want to rip that dress off you and ravish you right here, right now?"

I kiss her deeply, biting her lower lip gently, eliciting a small moan. I try not to mess up her hair too much, but I allow my fingers to run deep into hair, massaging the top of her neck. Her own hands are already in my hair, pulling me hard and close to her. We try to remove any space between us, causing our hips to rub against each other. I can't help but growl, as I feel myself grow hard in anticipation. A part of me knows we can't do much beyond kissing even though every single fibre in me wants to take her and make her scream my name. We didn't realise our moans and groans had gotten louder, until Sydney gives a quick knock from the other side.

"You guys might want to cool-off now. You are getting quite loud and well, everyone is ready for us to enter the reception area".

Whatever ounce of self-control we have left we muster to pull away from one another, grinning like guilty teenagers. We help each other smooth out our clothes and appearance and with a final quick peck head back outside.

The bridal party are already lined up in front of us, waiting by the big double doors that lead out to Abe's veranda. The song we had originally chosen for Rose and the bridesmaids to walk down the aisle to would now be played to introduce the bridal party and the married couple. It's 'All of me' by John Legend (something that I wouldn't have selected, but when I had listened to the lyrics, I was proud of Rose for choosing it as one of our special songs).

The kids walk through first – Zoya and Katya scattering flowers as they make their way forward, leaving a trail of petals that end at the main table where we and the bridal party are to sit.

What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

Mia and Ryan (who I made as an honorary groomsmen for his help during Rose's rescue) walk through the doors first.

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

Vika and Neil follow next.

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh oh

Sonya and Mikhail take their cue to walk at the end of the chorus.

How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you

Jill and Christian follow them.

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

Sydney and Adrian give each other a quick kiss before heading out.

Lissa and Eddie turn to look at us with big grins on their faces, before they too make their way out.

Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard

"Are you ready to face the world as Mrs. Belikova?" I whisper in Rose's ear, causing a shiver to run down her body.

She gives me a sly grin.

"It's Guardian Belikova, and as long as you are by my side Guardian Belikov, I can face anything".

With a quick kiss we make our out to a round of applause and cheering.

I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh oh

Instead of joining the others at the table, we head towards the dance floor to have our first dance. Even though traditionally there are supposed to be two big toasts before the first dance, I want us to have our magical moment earlier in the night.

Pulling my wife (I will never get tired of saying that!) into my arms, I wait for our song to start. This was a song that I had been tasked to select (considering we didn't really have a song of our own). After endless brainstorming sessions with Christian and Eddie I felt we had picked the perfect song – even if some people might think it was cheesy – it's 'Because you loved me' by Celine Dion.

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through, through it all

The world slowly fades away – all that exists is just me and my Roza.

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

Her eyes gaze into my own, overflowing with endless emotion – happiness, lust, love. Each one seem to mirror my own and are magnified so that the whole world can see just how we feel about each other.

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

Her lips are next to take my attention. I watch her following the words along – slightly surprised she even knew the song. I can almost imagine it's her singing to me and not Celine Dion.

I tighten my grip on her waist, pulling her closer. I want to be surrounded by her beauty, her fragrance, her essence. She reciprocates by pulling me closer, her arms tighten around my neck.

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

Our foreheads touch together and for that brief moment we close our eyes, letting the tears finally break through and allow ourselves to savour each other by our other senses – listening to our ragged breathing, feeling each other's warm bodies, taking in the other's scent and finally tasting the sweetness that we experienced every time we kissed, as our lips find each other.

The song is about to finish, and I take the opportunity to pull Rose even closer and deepen the kiss we are already sharing – this kiss is definitely not for public viewing, and it leaves us breathless. But then again we had forgotten about the world around us and at the moment the world consisted of just me and my Roza.

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

The spell is broken when the song ends and we finally register the thunderous applause, wolf-whistles and shouts, reminding us that we are in fact at our reception, standing before a large number of people (and children). Blushing in slight embarrassment we both take a quick bow and make our way to the head table to sit down for the speeches and meal.

The first toasts are done – by Lissa and Eddie – along with the first round of shots. Everyone chants Gorko, Gorko, Gorko (AN: Russian for 'bitter') until I grab Rose and take her in for another deep kiss, causing another round of applause and wolf-whistles. Next it's our parents turn to speak – Abe, in his usual mix of charisma and danger delivers a speech that seems heartfelt but has secretly veiled death threats if I'm to ever step out of line. Mama speaks for our family and she tries so hard to do it without crying too much (which is very difficult for her), but in the end there isn't a single dry eye in the room, even Abe is discreetly wiping away a few tears.

Thankfully we have another round of shots, which I really need because I'm not much of a public speaker and need that extra liquid courage to boost my confidence.

"Rose and I would like to thank all of you for coming to our wedding – you can only imagine just how happy we are that we finally got married!"

Small chuckles and giggles erupt amongst the crowd at my lame attempt at a joke.

"But in all seriousness we really do want to thank each and every one of you for being here today and sharing with us this special day. We want to thank our parents, who have been our pillars of support, not only to help us reach this amazing day but for being there always – whether it was an active involvement or more behind the scenes, we want to let you know that you mean the world to us and we are proud to be called your son and daughter".

I watch Janine and Mama wipe tears from their eyes, as Abe gives me a toothy grin, with no hint of underlying hostility (finally!).

"We would like to thank our amazing bridal party – our nieces and nephews – Declan, Paul, Zoya and Katya. Our bridesmaids and groomsmen – Mia, Ryan, Vika, Neil, Sonya, Mikhail, Jill, Christian, Sydney and Adrian. You are our closest friends and have shared so many moments with us – the good and the bad. We see you more like extended family than friends and love you with all our hearts. And no, I haven't forgotten about our maid of honour and best man. Lissa you are Rose's best friend, but I know you see each other more like sisters. I am honoured to be part of your family and look at you as my fourth sister. Eddie, you are the younger brother I never had. Believe me, growing up in a household filled with women, I craved another male. I will be honest with you – the first person to take the role of my brother was my best friend, my charge Ivan Zeklos. To this day I miss him terribly but I know he is up there in heaven watching this wedding, no doubt with lots of witty remarks. But even though we haven't known each other as long as I had known Ivan, we have shared so much in the short time-frame that it feels like we have known each other a lifetime. Which is why I see you as a brother, just like Rose does. I know Rose too has lost a brother of hers like me. Here's hoping that Mason and Ivan aren't getting into any mischief while they lounge around in heaven".

I feel Rose's hand grabbing mine and give it a quick squeeze. It's perfect timing, because the next part of my speech is about her. Wiping away the lone tear that's trailing down her right cheek, I take a deep breath to continue. But this time, I don't look at the people around me. This time my eyes lock onto Rose – the next words are for her.

"And finally what can I say about my lovely, beautiful, ethereal wife. No words can describe the emotions I am currently feeling. I feel like the luckiest man in the world and so blessed that I have you in my life. You have no idea how much you mean to me, how much you have changed my life for the better. You may be younger than me, but sometimes your wisdom and uncanny way of understanding the world and people around you make me feel like I am the student and you are the mentor. You are my soulmate, my better half, my love, my heart, my everything. Life so far, with you in it, has been anything but boring and I can only imagine the adventures that are in store for us, as we now embark on our lives as husband and wife. I love you, my dearest Roza".

And with that I pull her up from her chair and give her another knee trembling kiss, holding her tightly so neither one of us can collapse. Everyone cheers and claps, signalling the end of speeches and the continuation of eating and drinking.

The cake cutting is a messy affair, with Rose grabbing a handful of the simple two tiered chocolate frosted chocolate cake (with white and milk chocolate rose centre pieces) and smashing it across my mouth. I figure it's only right I copy her and did the same, smearing the frosting and cake across her face and neck, before kissing and licking it off, causing people like Adrian and Christian (who are very drunk by now) to howl and make rude noises (much to the embarrassment of their partners).

It's time for the bouquet and garter throw. Rose goes first, pretending to do stretches and trying to loosen her muscles. You'd think she's getting ready to spar and not through a bouquet.

"1, 2, 3!" she screams, caught up in the excitement. Its hilarious watching Mia, Vika, Lissa and Jill run forward and fight for it. What is surprising is seeing Jill walk away with it, a smug look on her angelic face as she straightens her dress and gives Eddie a little wink, causing him to gulp. Everyone laughs at their antics.

I pull a chair up for Rose to sit on so I can take her garter off. Pulling her dress up slightly over her knees, she gives me a sly smile, as I lean in to grab the garter with my teeth and pull it off her (it helps that I had 5 shots already). I let my fingers trail down her legs before my lips follow them and I savour the sensation of her trembling against my touch. Finally freeing the garter, I stand up and get ready to do my own throw.

I didn't realise I had been overzealous with my throw, because I missed the group of men completely and the garter lands on Abe's head, who is turned away from us, busy talking to Janine. Our mouths fall open and everyone falls silent, waiting for Abe to realise what has happened. It's actually Janine, giggling lightly, who reaches up and pulls the garter off Abe's unsuspecting head. I watch in horror as Abe's eyes widen at the realisation of what has happened. I thought he would rush across and kill me. Instead he blushes furiously and looks away, while Janine leans in and whispers something to him, causing him to blush even more, before she looks at us and winks in our direction. That breaks the tension and everyone cheers and stomp their feet.

Rose is still frozen in horror at the exchange, until I pull her closer to me.

"You should close your mouth Roza, otherwise flies will get in".

That breaks her trance and she sticks her tongue out at me.

"Watch it Comarde, or you will regret it! Bad enough you had to tease me so mercilessly with your fingers and lips, I don't need you making fun of what is clearly a serious situation. Do you think Abe and Janine will hook up? Do you think my parents will finally… get married?"

I kiss her lightly on her temple, laughing at her horrified expression.

"Isn't it a good thing if they do? Don't you want them to be together?"

A small huff leaves her lips – she isn't convinced.

"Let them be, Roza. The deserve happiness too. You should only be concerning yourself on how you will be pleasing your husband tonight".

That definitely distracts her and a secret smile appears across her beautiful face. She leans in slowly, watching my expression as she got closer, until her lips are brushing against my ear.

"You know Comrade, I am currently going commando under this dress".

I look at her confused. Sometimes certain English phrases go over my head.

With an impatient roll of her eyes, she whispers, "I am not wearing any underwear".

My mouth falls open and whatever self-control I have escapes me. With a small growl I pick her up and throw her over my shoulders, completely forgetting we are still in the middle of our wedding reception. With a renewed purpose, I make my way into the house.

My goal to find a room.

My mission to ravage my sexy, gorgeous wife until she screams my name.

Yeah! Dimitri and Rose are finally married – longest chapter of the four part piece. Hope you liked it.

Still have a few more one-shot chapters to add to this series before I am done.

I am also working on another piece that is AU but with my favourite characters. So I might not be updating as regularly as I would like. Also back at work this week, so that will definitely affect amount of time I will have to write.

Please be patient with me