Drabble:46
POV:Third Person

"Roza, can I ask you a question?", Paul asked, settling beside Rose on the couch.

"Shoot!", she replied, continuing to flip through TV channels.

"Do you love uncle Dimka?"

"Yeah", she said, eyes still on the screen.

"Oh.", he replied, looking down to his shoes.

"Why the sudden interest in my love life, kiddo?", Rose asked, sparing him a sidelong glance.

"Mama was talking to uncle Dimka last night, and I heard him say that you don't want to marry him.", Paul explained with a little shrug. "So I was wondering that if you love him."

"I do, Paul. I really do.", Rose affirmed, with a soft smile. "But we can't get married now, you know?"

"But dhampirs can get married.", Paul insisted cutely.

"They can. It's just that….", Rose trailed off, trying to find a suitable way to explain the very, many complicated reasons as to why Dimitri and she weren't tying the knot….now.

"Is it us? Don't you like us?", Paul asked in a small voice, hurt coloring his tone.

"Of course I like you!", Rose exclaimed, indignant. "You guys are like my own family!"

"But-"

"Wait a minute", Rose interjected, paying full attention to her almost-nephew now. "Did Dimitri put you up to this?", she asked him with narrowed eyes.

"Silly Roza! Of course not!", Paul shook his head disapprovingly, as if he found her utterly absurd, and looking like the splitting image of his uncle. "When I asked him about it, he just stared at me for some time before walking away."
Rose chuckled, visualizing the scene. Well, that explained why Dimitri had distractedly walked out to the backyard a few minutes before, an incredulous expression on his face.

"So, Paul", Rose said, when she'd had her laugh. "Why are you suddenly so invested in my marriage plans or their absence?"

"No reason", he shrugged, studiously avoiding her eyes.

"Come on, Paul! Tell me. Promise I won't be mad or anything.", Rose pleaded, trying to make him talk.

"Its just that…..I like you, Roza.", Paul said shyly. "You're funny."

"I like you too, Paul.", Rose replied, leaning over to ruffle his hair. Paul looked irritated at being taken so lightly. Clearing his throat, he began a little importantly. "So, you like uncle Dimka, yet you don't want to marry him, but you like being in our family. Correct?"
Rose smiled again at how much Paul resembled his uncle, who also fidgeted uncomfortably when he felt coddled.

"What are you getting at, Paul?", she asked him, still smiling affectionately.

"If you won't marry him,", Paul paused, sitting up straighter. After brushing his hand through his hair (again like Dimitri, Rose noted) and taking a deep breath, he revealed the entire purpose of this conversation. "Will you marry me?"

Looks like D has some serious competition :p

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