A/N:

Hello my lovelies!

I'm so sorry that I've been neglecting everyone who reviewed!

Thank you thank you thank you!

Happy hanukah!

Kooki

6 months later

Dimitri was nervously scrubbing the bathroom tiles in his apartment in the heart of Pennsylvania, located a forty minute drive from court. Everything had to be perfect for when Rose arrived.

Dinner was on the table. Dimitri had polished the apartment. Everything was immaculate. Not that Rose paid any mind to those things. Dimitri's apartment was always neat and clean, but tonight he needed it to be perfect. He showered, shaved and was cleaning up the nonexistent mess he made in the bathroom.

"Comrade?" Rose called out as she let herself into the apartment with the key Dimitri had given her a mere month after he moved into the place (when he finished renovating). She inhaled deeply. "The food smells great!"

Dimitri emerged from the bedroom in trousers and a button up, sleeves rolled past the elbows.

"Why so fancy?" Rose smiled at her beautiful boyfriend. He looked even more delicious than the food. She thanked the stars she actually swung by her apartment in guardian housing to shower and change out of her uniform, despite knowing Dimitri loved the way her ass looked in her uniform. "My birthday isn't until next week", Rose smiled widely.

Dimitri eyes lit up when he saw Rose. He pulled her to him by the hips and place a long chaste kiss on her lips, that left Rose breathless as always.

The past six months had been blissful. Dimitri got a night job as a security guard at the local bank. That meant he could maintain the same sleep-wake schedule as Rose. Rose was assigned to guard Lissa. And since the queen had marked Lissa as her favorite for the next in line, Lissa spent much time at court, postponing her enrollment to university for the time being. Which was perfect for Rose and Dimitri. Lissa staying at court meant Rose was pretty liberal with her hours.

Rose frequently visited Dimitri, often spending the day in bed together. On her rare days off, she and Dimitri tried to spend as much time together in the sun as they could.

Not surprisingly, Dimitri never visited court. He bought a Harley Davidson. Everyone needs a mode of transportation. It was particularly useful on the occasions when he'd pick Rose up at Court's main entrance, his identity well hidden behind a helmet.

The ting of the oven burst Rose and Dimitri little bubble. "Right on time", Dimitri said. "The roast is ready".

"You spoil me so", Rose bit her lip as she watched her man set the last dish on the table.

Dimitri's apartment wasn't big, but Rose loved it.

The two sat down to a lovely meal. For desert Dimitri made a scrumptious lava cake.

"Thank you for dinner, Dimitri. It was amazing", Rose sat in Dimitri's lap and kissed his cheek. Dimitri held Rose tight, enjoying her warmth. "Do you want to tell me what the occasion is now?" Rose smirked.

Dimitri blushed just the slightest, embarrassed that he remembered when Rose didn't.

"Rose, one year ago today, I told you 'I love you' for the first time".

Rose's breath hitched. Exchanging words of love wasn't the only thing special about that night. It was now Rose appreciated the importance of this day. "The first time we made love", Rose added, just above a whisper.

Dimitri nodded. "Ever since we met, you've alway brought light to my otherwise dark life. When I was turned back to dhampir, my life was like an endless night, always in darkness. Rose, you were my guiding light. My dawn from night." Dimitri took a deep breath, "I love you, Roza".

A single tear escaped down Rose's cheek. It was the first time Dimitri had uttered the words in a year.

In the six months they'd spent together since their shared week in New York, Dimitri hadn't declared his love. He needed to know he was okay, that he was whole and complete and well, that Rose wasn't his crutch anymore, before he told Rose what was in his heart. He needed to make sure there would never be a relapse, that he would never drag Rose down again.

Rose knew the truth, she knew Dimitri loved her with all his being, yet she understood the difficulty of admitting that fact. She herself didn't mention the L word again, not wanting to put any pressure on Dimitri. She figured when he was ready, he'd tell her.

Rose had been quiet for a long while. Too long. It worried Dimitri. "Roza?"

Rose blinked the tears in her eyes and nodded. She let out a shaky breath. "I love you too, Dimitri".

They kissed long and lingering. They pulled back for air, Dimitri's hand still entwined in Rose's hair. Rose licked her lips.

"Move in with me", Dimitri blurted out as though he hadn't been planning on asking her for weeks.

"What?"

"Let's move in together", he said. When Rose didn't answer, he continued. "Think about it. You're here all the time anyway. It's only a short drive to and from court. Lissa will be stuck at court for at least the next 2 years while the queen is grooming her. What do you say?" Dimitri stared at Rose with big pleading eyes.

"Yes!" Rose yelled. Even though she was apprehensive about their living arrangement, she was sure they could make it work. "Yes, Dimitri, let's move in together!"

They celebrated all (moroi) night long.

The odds were always against them, yet they always made it work. Over the last year and a half, Rose and Dimitri saved each other in every way a person can be saved. Their love, trust and loyalty to each other would last a lifetime.

And they lived happily ever after.

Hi!

This was the last chapter.

I hope you liked my story! And that you'll join me again next time!

Thanks again to everyone who stuck by this story and gave me so much love and support! (Hearty eyes emoji!)

Cheers!

k