Rose's Point of View
"Aren't they beautiful?" I asked, leaning my head against Dimitri's strong shoulder.
One of my favorite things about the garden greenhouse was the small pond that was built in the center and the pair of swans who had made it their home. They were such majestic creatures, and I loved to watch the way they glided effortlessly across the water's surface.
"Yes…" Dimitri answered, pressing a gentle kiss against my temple. "But not as beautiful as you."
What a sap…
I smiled, and tried not to roll my eyes at his corny compliment.
Everything about tonight had been amazing. The setting was perfect, the greenhouse was in full bloom, the dinner was exquisite and the company was divine.
Tonight was exactly the kind of night I'd needed with Dimitri and I loved him immensely for knowing that.
"How do you feel about a walk?" He asked, and I noticed a mysterious glint in his eyes.
"Would this walk happen to involve more surprises?"
I was dying to know what else he had in store for me.
"Perhaps…" He mused, moving to stand and extending his hand out to help me. I took it gladly and kissed him chastely before we were on our way.
The quiet winter night was the perfect setting for a romantic stroll.
By now most of the hustle and bustle of court had died down, and it was nearly time for the sun to rise.
Unlike our earlier walk around court, there wasn't anybody around to gawk this time and for that I was grateful. Dimitri was up to something, I could feel it in my bones, and the last thing I wanted was an audience.
When we reached the wishing fountain at the center of court Dimitri slowed down a bit. Much like the greenhouse, the fountain was another one of my favorite places, and I got the feeling Dimitri was working a theme here.
"Are we on the official Rose Mazur tour of special places?" I asked, curious to know what he was up to.
He smiled an angelic smile before leading me over to another bench.
"Are you complaining?" He questioned lightly, taking the seat beside me on the bench.
There was a frigid chill in the February air, but snuggled closely into Dimitri's side, it didn't bother me.
"Nope." I replied, popping the P sound for good measure.
He rolled his eyes, but still smiled.
For a while we sat in companionable silence, just enjoying each other's company before he spoke.
"You know, with everything going on lately, I thought revisiting your favorite places might be a nice reminder."
"A reminder of what?" I asked, turning my head slightly to look at him. Something in the tone of his voice had caught my attention.
"That not everything changes."
His face looked so severe with emotion that for some reason my stomach started knotting in anticipation. He shifted his whole body so he could face me directly and the feeling intensified.
"Roza, from the moment I first met you, I knew you would change my life. I can't tell you the exact moment when I knew I loved you, but I can tell you the exact moment when I knew I couldn't live without you. It was the very first morning I woke up after leaving you at the academy. I looked out the window of my old childhood home, and somehow the world just seemed a bit darker. The sun didn't shine as brightly, the wind didn't feel as cool on my face, and the smell of my mother's cooking didn't smell like home anymore. I had lost my true love and that realization hit me like a sack of bricks. Roza…when I walked away from you the first time, my whole life ceased to exist. It was like I was half a person, walking around in an incomplete state. Being with you again now, I feel whole again, I feel like I'm home, and I know now that I could never bear to be apart from you again."
He looked at me with such intensity that if I wasn't sitting I would have staggered under his heavy gaze.
And then he took my smaller hand in his and got down on one knee.
Oh my God…
"I love you Milaya." He said with absolute clarity. "And fifty years from now I will still be loving you just as fiercely as I do right now. I learned long ago that my world doesn't work without you in it, and I know with the utmost certainty that I never want to face another morning like that without you. Say yes to me Milaya, say you'll marry me and that I'll never have to…"
I tore my eyes away from his milk chocolate pools and down to the small velvet box in his hand. I noticed it was trembling a bit and if I hadn't been so shocked I would have laughed at the thought that he could even remotely believe I might not say yes.
He lifted the small lid on the box to reveal what could only be described as the most magnificent piece of jewelry I had ever seen, and the tears that had been building in my eyes throughout his speech began to run freely down my face.
I looked back up at him to find his handsome face staring back at me with such love and adoration that I was certain my heart would burst. I loved this man like I'd never loved anyone, and I didn't care that I was only 19 and I didn't care that the world would never approve. I looked deeply into Dimitri's eyes, and I knew that I was home.
"Yes." I whispered, laughing at little as the shock flashed across his face.
"Yes?" he repeated as if his mind was somehow playing tricks on him.
Did he seriously think I'd say anything else?
"Yes!" I repeated a little louder now fully smiling. "Yes I will marry you!"
I wiggled my little finger to let him know that it was missing something, and when he reached inside the box for a second I thought I saw a look of surprise. However whatever emotion I saw was gone as quickly as it came and a few seconds later the ring found its place onto my finger, where I fully intended for it to stay for all eternity.
Dimitri's Point of View
She said yes!
I still couldn't believe it.
We were lying in bed, wrapped in each other's arms, and the only thing on Roza's naked body was that ring.
I was going to kill Ivan for that by the way…
I suppose I should have expected as much when he offered to pick up the ring. He wasn't the type to give up so easily. But seeing the way Rose kept marveling at it, I was glad he'd made that decision. This ring, no matter how elaborately priced, was the only ring that was meant to adorn Roza's perfect fingers.
Speaking of the ring, Rose was currently wiggling her finger and admiring it right now.
"Do you like it Milaya?"
It was a silly question; I could tell she was in love.
"It's perfect Comrade….although I could kill you for spending so much money on this!" She chastised slapping my chest playfully.
"You are more than worth it." I told her, bringing her hand to my lips and kissing it.
We hadn't talked much since we'd rushed back to the room in a hurry. We were far too busy "celebrating" to anything else.
A small part of me felt guilty about not having discussed this with her father first. Traditionally it was good form to ask for a daughters hand in marriage. But nothing about Rose's relationship with her father was traditional and I had a sinking suspicion she would have been furious if I had gone to him first about this.
"How does my father feel about all this?" she asked with a hint of bitterness in her tone.
What was she, a mind reader?
"I wouldn't know." I told her honestly, and she stopped tracing patterns on my chest to sit up and look at me.
"You mean you didn't ask his permission first?"
I shook my head no.
For half a heartbeat I thought she was angry about it, but then a full beautiful smile graced her face and suddenly she was laughing.
"Did you want me to?" I asked which caused the laughter to momentarily stop.
"Hell no!" She replied shaking her head strongly. "I'm just surprised is all. You're usually so old fashioned about these sorts of things. Remember how uptight you were about taking my virginity." She chuckled and I tried not to blush at the memory.
I really had been so nervous about that.
"He won't' be happy about this Comrade…"
The reminder only served to point out one other obstacle I'd been trying desperately to ignore.
"Yeah well I suppose he can in line with everyone else."
I wasn't so foolish as to believe anyone outside of our small circle of friends would be happy about this. We were an unconventional pair, something people felt it was important to remind us of every chance they got.
Rose's warm brown eyes softened as she saw the sadness behind mine.
"Hey, love conquers all Comrade. Look at Helen and Paris…did they let anything come between them?"
I wasn't really sure where she was going with the Greek mythology reference…
"Um…didn't they start the Trojan war and get 1000's of people killed?" I asked, and her eyes narrowed slightly at my sarcasm.
"That's not the point Comrade. They followed their hearts and said the hell with everyone else!"
I knew what she was trying to say and I loved her for it.
Pulling her back into my arms I kissed her softly, tucking a loose piece of hair back behind her ear.
Okay Milaya, point taken. I just wish it wasn't so difficult for us to be together. I want to give you things, not take things away. I want to make your life easier not…"
"Hey" she cut me off with a kiss. "This...you…." she said trailing her finger along my bare chest. "You are the only thing I'll ever need. I love you Dimitri and the rest of it will work itself out."
I wasn't quite sure I believed her, but in that moment I didn't really care.
Rose loved me and she was going to be my wife. The rest of the world could wait, because in this one moment, we were happy and I fully intended to enjoy. Pulling her lips fiercely back to mine, we picked up celebrating where we left off and continued to celebrate well into the night.
Hey guys, I hope that lived up to everyone's expectations. I didn't want it to be too sappy, but it was kind of hard not to. As for the ring, I uploaded a picture of it on my profile if you want to check it out. It was kind of hard to explain in writing. Anyway, review and let me know if you liked it. Thanks! : )