Dimitri's Point of View
My palms were sweating as I stood in the lobby waiting for Rose. I knew I shouldn't be nervous, I had never been more sure about anything in my entire life. But as the minutes ticked by, I found my finger instinctively tracing patterns over the small velvet box in my pocket.
*Flashback*
"You think I'm crazy don't you?" I asked Ivan as we wandered aimlessly around the jewelry shop.
After my conversation with Sophia, I knew I needed to do something drastic. I loved Rose more than anything in this world, and I wanted to make certain that she knew that. Tasha could make passes at me until she was blue in the face but my heart would never stray away from Rose.
"Nah man, I get it. Carpe Scrotum dude; you're seizing life by the nad's." Ivan told me as he further inspected the ring he was looking at.
I chuckled lightly in response before returning my attention back to the search.
We'd been looking for what felt like hours for the perfect ring, and according to Ivan I was being entirely too picky. I know to some people a ring is just a ring, but this was the ring the woman I loved would wear for the rest of our lives, and I wanted it to be worthy of the woman wearing it. I was nearly ready to give up when I spotted it.
It was sitting there in the glass display case, and it was like nothing I had ever seen.
The band itself was made entirely of diamonds that delicately criss crossed around the base and in the center was an intricately placed lotus flower also made completely out of diamonds. It was exotic and unique, and exactly like Rose.
"This is it." I murmured and Ivan came over to investigate.
"Not bad my friend, not bad." Ivan agreed, motioning the jeweler over to the counter.
The ring itself cost more than I made in a year, but the longer I stared at it, the more certain I became that ring was made for Roza's finger. Of course I knew I'd never be able to afford it and It was times like this I really hated how little I could give her.
"Will you just take the money already?" Ivan insisted for the 50th time, still trying to convince me to take the loan he was offering.
"Ivan, I already told you, that's very generous offer but I can't accept."
"Come on D, you're my best friend, and that's the ring dude. That ring was made for Rose."
He had no idea how right he was. Unfortunately for me, that did little to change my mind. Ivan already paid me a generous salary, much more than most guardians received and I wasn't willing to accept anyone's charity. I had my pride to maintain.
After a bit more sulking on his part, Ivan finally accepted and even attempted to seem happy about the more reasonable ring I purchased. It was still a beautiful ring, but it just didn't scream Rose like the other one. I made arrangements to pick up the ring later that afternoon once it had been sized. And thanks to Lissa, we didn't need Rose to know what size to get.
"Why don't you let me pick it up for you?" Ivan asked as we were walking back to guest housing. "You've got a lot of stuff to set up for tonight, and this will give you one less thing to worry about."
I didn't see the harm in that and gladly accepted, and a few frantic hours later, everything was set.
*End Flashback*
When Rose appeared at the top of the steps, my nearly stopped beating in my chest.
She looked magnificent, breathtaking, and every bit the goddess that she truly was. All my previous fears and concerns melted away the moment I saw her.
She was gliding gracefully down the slender staircase wearing a beautiful satin red gown that brought out the best in her olive colored complexion. Her dark brown curls were flowing loose and free around her face and when her eyes met mine, her smile lit up the room.
God she was beautiful.
The moment she was close enough to do so, I had her in my arms.
"Nice suit Comrade." She murmured softly against my lips.
I blushed slightly at her comment, feeling completely out of place in such an expensive outfit.
"You look beautiful Milaya." I told her, trying to take the attention off of myself. She laughed in response and I knew she knew what I was doing. I'd never been comfortable having the attention on me.
She seemed to sense that and instead pulled me closer for another passionate kiss; one that was probably a little too provocative for such a public setting.
"Shall we?" she asked after we finally pulled apart for air.
I looked tenderly down into her beautiful brown eyes and I knew I had never been more ready for anything in my life.
Rose's Point of View
From the moment I stepped off the staircase and into Dimitri's arm this night had been perfect.
We strolled casually around court hand in hand, completely oblivious to all the stares and whispers surrounding us. It was the first time since Christmas dinner that we'd made such a public spectacle of ourselves but what did I care. I was simply enjoying a romantic evening with the wonderful man I loved.
Dimitri had been very secretive about this whole evening; from the mysterious flowers in my room, to where he was taking me for dinner. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but the greenhouse at court certainly wasn't it.
*Flashback*
As a child, the greenhouse at court had always been one of my favorite places.
After my mother had "died" I had been nearly inconsolable. It wasn't so much that I missed her, because in truth, I hardly knew her at all. My parents had never really been very hands on, not the way Lissa's parents were. But once she was gone, I started to realize that nothing in life was permanent. Up until then, I had always believed that like the flowers that came every spring and left every fall, people would always return to us the same way.
Loosing my mother had changed all that.
It was just around February when I was 8 years old and Rhea woke me early one morning.
"Where are we going?" I asked, as she bundled me up in the usual winter wear.
"It's a surprise." She winked, tucking my hair tightly under my hat.
We didn't wake anyone before we left and I was happy to have the alone time with Rhea. Ever since my mother's death, she'd taken on the maternal role in my life and it was hard not to enjoy all the new love and attention.
When we arrived at the greenhouse, she led me quietly inside. All around me there were flowers in bloom; every size, shape and color, from the generic to the exotic and everything in-between. It was breathtaking and wondrous, and I'd never seen anything like it.
"What are all these flowers doing here?" I asked confused. "It's winter. Flowers go away in the winter."
My eight year old mine couldn't understand the possibility, but Rhea just smiled at me fondly.
"Come here Rose." She told me, taking a seat on a set of benches in the middle. The greenhouse itself was enormous and there were several areas placed about for sitting and relaxing, so one could enjoy the view.
I climbed onto the bench beside her and she pulled me gently onto her lap.
"This" she said, gesturing around the structure "Is a very special place. It's a magical place where beautiful things go to live." My little eyes widened at the possibility and I waited for her to go on.
"Rose, I know how confused you must be. A lot has happened lately, and I know that it seems like everything in your life is changing. Your mommy went away and now your daddy has too. But I want you to know something; even if it feels like they are far away, they are never farther than your heart. You see much like this place, your heart is a magical place too. You can put all the things you love in there, and when you do they will live forever, all you have to do is believe."
After that day, the greenhouse sort of became my sanctuary. Every time I started to miss my parents, or when things felt like they were changing to quickly, I would come to the greenhouse and feel like all was right in the world.
*End Flashback*
Being back here now I got that same feeling.
"I remember you telling me once how much this place means to you." Dimitri whispered from beside me. His large hand was clasped tightly around mine, and I could feel the tears stinging behind my eyes.
"You remembered that?" I asked, turning to gaze at the wonderfully sentimental man next to me.
"I remember everything about you Milaya." His smile was so full and genuine that I thought my heart might burst with love. With the way he was looking at me now, I couldn't believe I had ever been so foolish as to believe he would ever let someone like Tasha come between us.
Without any more thinking, I quickly closed the distance between us. My arms would tightly around his neck, as he own arms went to wind around my waist. He pulled my body closer to his, pressing gently against the small of my back. When his tongue traced my lower lip I gladly granted him entrance and reveled in the feeling of his mouth moving with mine.
God I love this man!
The kissing was just getting good when my stomach had to go and ruin everything. With a deep and embarrassing grumble, it loudly made its needs known.
Dimitri just chuckled softly at the sound.
"Perhaps would should pick this up again later." He murmured since I was unwilling to relinquish my hold on his lips. In this moment all I wanted was to feel him, but as usual my stomach wouldn't be ignored.
"Fine." I grumbled, reluctantly letting go of my death hold.
Dimitri laughed again at my antics before leading me over to an elaborately decorated table. The furniture in the greenhouse had been rearranged and in its place was a small romantic setting.
"What's all this?" I asked, eyeing the candles and silver platters that covered our food.
"Just part of your surprise." He smirked confidently.
Damn that man was sexy.
"Part of my surprise?" I asked curiously, not missing what he'd implied. "As in there will be more surprises?"
I tried and failed to raise one eyebrow and as usual Dimitri just laughed.
"Roza Milaya, tonight will be full of surprises."