EPILOGUE - 8 Years Later

"Janine's been crying all week you know," Abe grumbled. "Couldn't you find anywhere closer?"

"Not really Abe," Dimitri answered guiltily. "Competition for Internal Med. residencies is fierce. Be grateful it wasn't Alaska," he joked, although he was serious. He and Rose had been freaking out for the last few months wondering where they were going to end up for his residency.

Dimitri had got the marks for medicine, and even a tuition scholarship. For the last four years, he and Rose had lived off campus halfway between the university and hospital where he was studying. They'd shared a dilapidated four bedroom flat with another couple, Amanda, and Jake. Amanda was doing medicine with Dimitri, and Jake was finishing his Ph.D.

After she'd graduated, Rose had done a six-month internship where she'd discovered she had a real flair for automotive product design - specifically interiors. Something about creating the interior fittings for cars appealed to her, and it turns out she was good at it. She'd ended up accepting an entry-level position at an automotive design firm, slowly building up her portfolio and contacts. She'd been biding her time, waiting for Dimitri to graduate and for them to find out where he'd be based for his medical residency. Once they knew he was headed to Dallas, Texas, she'd started applying for anything and everything she could in the area.

"It's a good chance for Roza, too," Dimitri reminded Abe. "The job at General Motors will help establish her name in her field. And it won't be forever. The plan is to settle back here."

"It better be," Abe growled. He and Janine had been lucky. Rose and Dimitri had lived less than an hour and a half away for the last eight years, so they'd seen them regularly. He'd known the time was coming when they would likely move away, but it didn't mean he was happy about it. "So are you all packed?"

Dimitri nodded. "It's all upstairs. I didn't want to risk it in the truck overnight, so I thought we could load up tomorrow morning first thing, have breakfast, and be on our way?"

"Sounds like a plan," Abe agreed. Janine had decided their only child was not going to move so far away without her assistance; hence the plan for the four of them to drive to Dallas was born. Rose and Dimitri had enough they needed to take that Abe's truck would be put into service, and they were going to do the drive over four days so they could incorporate some site-seeing, stopping at hotels along the way.

Once they got there, the four would stay at a serviced apartment for a fortnight. Dimitri would be starting his residency a couple of days after they arrived, but Rose had a few weeks before her new job started, so the plan was Janine and Abe would help her find an apartment and help her set everything up.

"We should probably go and get cleaned up," Abe suggested, looking at the clock. "Your friends and family will be here in an hour or so." The two were in Abe's workshop, mostly to give the ladies space upstairs as they prepared for Rose and Dimitri's farewell party.

"They can spare us for another few minutes," Dimitri said evasively, walking over to Abe's beer fridge, pulling out a couple of bottles and passing one to Abe before opening his own.

"She's twenty-six now you know, Abe," Dimitri said suddenly, giving his girlfriend's father a level look and taking a nervous swig of his beer. "Mia's pregnant with her second, Lissa and Christian were married last year and have bought a house. I'd like to take the next step with Roza. I want to ask her to marry me."

Abe sighed. He'd known it was coming. In fact, he was surprised Dimitri hadn't brought it up before now.

"Do you think she's ready?" he asked.

Dimitri snorted. Rose had become less and less patient. While she'd been over the moon for Lissa when Christian had popped the question a year and a half ago and had been the perfect Maid of Honor at their wedding twelve months later, Dimitri knew Rose had hoped Christian's proposal might have prompted him to do likewise. When it hadn't, the comments had started, getting less and less subtle over time. Christian had taken Dimitri aside after his medicine graduation for a quiet word; he'd been shoed out of the unit he shared with Lissa when a despondent Rose had arrived bemoaning the fact their romantic graduation dinner hadn't included the proposal she'd hoped it might.

"She's ready," Dimitri confirmed. "I've been getting pointed comments, and she's started leaving jewelry catalogs on the coffee table with rings circled," he said with a laugh. "The diamonds get bigger each month - if I don't pop the question soon, I won't be able to afford to!"

Dimitri joked, but affording a ring had been part of the delay. Studying medicine was a full-time job, so hadn't been able to work much at all over the last four years. Any money he'd earned during the holidays had gone towards expenses. It was bad enough Rose had been more or less supporting them since she graduated – he didn't want to add insult to injury by asking her to finance her own ring!

Once he'd graduated, he'd been able to pick up casual shifts at the hospital. It had meant odd hours, and having to rearrange plans at the last minute, but working every shift he was offered over the holidays, he'd finally put aside enough to buy an elegant solitaire diamond ring. Set in rose gold to match her promise ring, the diamond was large enough to impress without being ostentatious. He couldn't wait to see it on her hand! Pulling out the black velvet box from his coat pocket, he gave it to Abe.

Abe opened the box and nodded. It was a beautiful ring, and he knew his daughter would adore it.

"I wasn't sure about you when Rozalia introduced you to us," Abe said nostalgically. "She's our only child, and you and I didn't start out on the best foot. But she loves you, and I know you love her. I speak for Janine as well when I say you have our blessing. When are you thinking of asking her?"

"I thought I might ask her now before the guests arrive? That way we can tell all our friends, and she can show them the ring. It will be the last chance we have to see some of them for a while."

"Why don't you take her for a walk down to the park? It's still light, and you can sit amongst the trees and ask her there?"

Dimitri thought about it. It was a good idea. Better than asking her upstairs in a half-packed bedroom.

"Ok," Dimitri said nervously draining the last of his beer before taking the ring box back from Abe and tucking it back into his pocket. "I'll just go up and suggest a walk now…"

The two trudged up the stairs, finding Rose and her mother in the kitchen.

"Roza? Why don't we go for a walk before everyone arrives?" Dimitri suggested, trying not to sound as nervous as he felt.

"I can't. I need to help Mom with the food," Rose said dismissively.

"Nonsense," Abe said. "You've been stuck in here cooking all afternoon. We're leaving first thing in the morning, and this might be the last you see of your childhood home for a while. Go for a walk, take your time and commit where you grew up to memory."

Rose looked at her father curiously. This was positively florid and poetic, especially for him!

Dimitri shrugged, taking Rose's hand and leading her to the entryway. Switching shoes they walked down the front steps, turning left and heading to the small park at the corner of her street.

"I used to play here as a child," Rose reminisced, strangely touched by her father's words. "He's right, isn't he? I'm actually leaving home, now."

"You left home eight years ago, Roza," Dimitri laughed.

"A dorm with Lissa or a share house doesn't really count, though, does it? This will be our first proper home of our own."

"It will be," Dimitri said with a smile, pushing Rose as she sat on the swing. He stood behind her trying to summon up the courage to ask. It wasn't that he was concerned she'd say no – but he wanted to be at least a little eloquent when he professed his love and asked her to be his for the rest of their lives!

"Come on – let's go sit down," he said, coming around to the front of the swing and taking her by the hand, leading her to the single bench seat in the middle of the empty park. The sun was low in the sky, the golden rays just starting to turn red as the sun prepared to set.

"Mom used to sit here and watch me play," Rose said nostalgically looking around her.

"When the time comes, you can sit and watch our kids play here," Dimitri suggested, shifting slightly to look at her, taking her small hands in his.

Rose sighed. She was sick of wondering when the 'time might come,' but she didn't want to ruin their last night with their family and friends by asking him again when that might be.

"You know, Roza, I think I've loved you since the first time we met. From the first time we kissed, I knew I would love you and only you for the rest of my life. I can still remember like yesterday the weekend I gave you this ring," he said, his fingertips playing with the rose-gold band she never took off. "I was hoping that maybe today before we start our next big adventure, you might accept another ring from me?"

Pulling the little black box out of his pocket and sliding off the seat to kneel before Rose he opened it and continued, "Rozalia Mazur. Will you accept my ring and be my bride?"

Rose was dumbfounded. It hadn't occurred to her that Dimitri might propose before they left for Dallas! She'd honestly thought she'd have to wait until he'd finished his residency in three years time.

"Yes!" she squealed, leaning forward and throwing her arms around Dimitri's neck before pulling back to look at the ring.

"Yes?" he confirmed nervously, taking the ring out of the box with shaking hands.

"Yes yes yes yes!" Rose said laughing joyously as Dimitri slid the golden band carefully onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly, but then she had written her ring size on countless jewelry catalogs over the last few months!

"It's beautiful," she swooned, holding her hand out before her to admire the ring. It was so new and sparkly and just gorgeous. "I love it, Comrade, and I love you!"

"I love you too, milaya," Dimitri said emotionally, scooping Rose up to sit on his lap as they shared a gentle, loving kiss. "I want to be the best husband possible to you."

"You will be," Rose said tearing up. "You've always been wonderful to me."

"You deserve it," he whispered reverently against her lips.

They sat cuddled together for another five minutes before Dimitri started to stir. "We'd better get back before your father comes looking for us…"

"Did he know you were going to ask?" Rose asked, her grin never leaving her face.

"Yes. I told him just before I came upstairs to suggest a walk."

"How was he about it?"

"Fine. He's had a long time to get used to me," Dimitri laughed. "It's been years since he's called me 'The Russian'" he joked.

The two walked together through the setting sun and back to Rose's parent's home. That Abe had told Janine was evident by the way the two were perched expectantly on the sofa in the living room watching the front door and waiting for the young couple's return.

"Mom! Tata! Dimitri asked me to marry him!" Rose squealed excitedly, coming through the doorway, kicking off her street shoes and waving her hand in front of her.

"Oh wee one! It's beautiful!" Janine enthused, looking at the diamond gleaming on her daughter's finger. "I can't believe my little girl is getting married!" she shrieked hugging Rose, Dimitri, Abe and then Rose again.

"Congratulations, son," Abe said manfully, shaking Dimitri's hand and pulling him into a hug before passing him over to an effusive Janine.

"My myszko is going to be a wife," he continued, tenderly taking his little girl into his arms. The day he'd always feared was here, but now he was handing his daughter over to another man to protect, he found the adage held true. He was gaining a son not losing a daughter.

"Are you going to announce it tonight?" Janine asked her mind already in overdrive.

"Roza?" Dimitri queried. He was happy to go with whatever she wanted.

"Absolutely!" she replied. "It's the perfect opportunity! Everyone's going to be here and no one's expecting it. I'm going to take my ring off and then put it on after everyone's arrived and we can announce it then!"

"Abe! Run down to the liquor store and pick up some chilled Champagne and extra glasses. I'll call ahead and get them to have them out waiting!" Janine ordered.

Half an hour later their guests were arriving. Lissa and Christian first with her parents, followed by Mia and Eddie. The two had been the first to marry when they were twenty-one. They had a three-year-old boy, who was being babysat tonight, and Mia was heavily pregnant with their second child. She walked in, hugged Dimitri and Rose, and then sunk onto a sofa refusing to move for the rest of the evening.

Mason turned up solo. He'd dated Angelique for two years after graduation, but it hadn't ended well. Since then, he'd dated a few girls but nothing serious, although he'd recently confessed to Dimitri he was hoping to find someone and settle down soon. Dimitri made a mental note to introduce him to Shelley and Olivia – two single friends of Rose's from university who showed up just after he did. Camille also turned up solo, but only because her boyfriend was away on a work trip. Her boyfriend was always away on a work trip, Camille was confiding to Mia as they sat side by side on the sofa. She was starting to think he must be seeing someone else.

The Belikovs arrived next. Olena, Karolina, Paul, Zoya, Artur, Sonya, Viktoria, and Yeva. Karolina had married Artur a few years back and had a little girl Zoya. Olena, Yeva, Sonya and Viktoria had moved out of the apartment when Mrs. Dodov died last year and were now in a semi-detached house near where Karolina and her husband lived. Yeva hadn't changed at all in the eight years Rose had known her, although her fondness for her grandson's girlfriend had never wavered. She was going to be thrilled when she heard their news!

Jake and Amanda arrived soon after the Belikovs, along with a few of Dimitri's medical classmates. Adrian was the last to arrive with a gorgeous blonde called Sydney on his arm. While they'd never really run in the same circles at school, at college Adrian had become more part of their group. Rose had heard all about this new girl Sydney who had apparently turned the playboy's world upside down. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but she was pleasantly surprised by the demure and introverted young woman Adrian proudly introduced, and she was thrilled to see an adoring Adrian attending to Sydney's every need.

The party was going well. People were chatting and mingling when Abe started making his way through the crowd, handing out glasses and filling them with Champagne. When everyone had a drink, he tapped a knife against the side of his calling everyone to attention. Motioning Rose and Dimitri over to the stairs, Janine joined him standing on the first step as he stopped to make a speech.

"Thank you, everyone for coming tonight to wish our darling daughter Rozalia and Dimitri well as they leave us to move to Dallas. I'd be lying if I said that we're pleased our girl is moving so far away, but Janine and I are comforted that she won't be going alone. Dimitri – you look after our little girl, alright? Everyone - can you please raise your glasses for Dimitri and Rozalia!"

Dimitri smiled, taking Rose's hand in his. He could feel she'd slipped her engagement ring back on, and he couldn't escape the goofy grin that spread across his face when he felt it there. He waited for everyone to take a sip of Champagne before he responded.

"Thank you, Abe, for those lovely words, and to Abe and Janine for hosting this wonderful party this evening. While we're excited to be starting the next stage of our lives, we're sad to be leaving so many family and friends behind. Never fear, we will be back before you know it and in the meantime, we hope to have some of you visit us in the Lone Star State!

"While I have you all here, I thought it was also a good time to share some other news with you. It is with a lot of pride and happiness that I announce that this afternoon I asked Rozalia Mazur if she'd be my wife…" Dimitri said leadingly.

"And I said yes!" Rose grinned, holding up her hand adorned with a brand new engagement ring.

The squeals from the females in the room were immediate and almost deafening. Lissa almost shoved Dimitri out of the way getting to Rose, hugging her and admiring the ring. Everyone was genuinely happy for the couple, coming up one by one to offer their congratulations and best wishes. The hubbub finally dying down, Lissa, Christian, Rose, Dimitri, Abe, and Janine were standing near the kitchen counter talking happily.

Janine, Lissa, and Rose were already discussing potential dates while the men listened on in amused silence.

"I mean it, man. Congrats," Christian said to Dimitri, overjoyed for his best friend. "Being married is wonderful. I thoroughly recommend it!" he said, slipping his arm around Lissa's waist and giving his wife a loving kiss. "Although, for a smart guy you can be pretty stupid sometimes."

"What do you mean?" Dimitri asked in confusion as the conversation stopped and everyone looked at Christian sharply. This was supposed to be a happy time.

"Do you really think it was a good idea to propose the day before a four-day car trip with your girl and her mother? I hope you and Abe enjoy wedding planning!" Christian grinned.

The whole group exploded in laughter as they took in Dimitri and Abe's horrified glances at one another. It was going to be a long drive to Texas!