Romitri One-Shots

The wedding

Rose's POV

There weren't many times in my life I've been nervous. Don't get me wrong, being nervous isn't the same thing as being stressed. Was I stressed on graduation day? Yes. Was I stressed when I passed my finals? Of course. Was I stressed the first time my parents organized a dinner to meet my boyfriend? Obviously. Is it normal to be nervous on your wedding day? Yes, according to Lissa. Me? I'm not so sure.

Again, don't get me wrong. I love Dimitri and I do want to spend the rest of my life with him. Hell, I even was the one who proposed! Am I scared to take his name? I don't even have to. I can hyphonate or keep my name. No, that's not what's making me nervous. Am I scared to mess up my vows? They're so anchored in my mind, I'm sure I'll still know them by heart when I'll be 80. No, that's not it. What is it, then?

"Everyone is nervous on their wedding day," assures Lissa for the umpteenth time. "I was too, it's not a big deal. Don't worry."

I scoff. "Getting married isn't a big deal?" I say ironically. "Well, that's news."

Lissa rolls her eyes but smiles anyways. "You're impossible."

"I mean, you're the queen of the Moroi, it's like expected of you to marry," I smile. "I'm a dhampir and a guardian nonetheless. It's like weird that I'm getting married. With another guardian."

"It's not weird," she says, taking me by the shoulders and sitting me down on a chair, "it's just not usual. And it's true that people aren't used to two guardians getting married but no one's gonna wifeshame you or anything."

I laugh. "Wifeshame?"

"Yeah," she says with a smile. "It's like slutshaming for married women. Besides, Tatiana never got married."

I frown. "Okay, but what does it have to do with me?"

She sighs. "Forget it." We stay silent for a few minutes before she adds, "And by the way, Rose Belikov is a pretty badass name."

I burst out of laughter.

+++

When I told Lissa Dimitri and I are getting married, she promised that she would organize everything. And boy, she did. She found the venue, decorated the place, hired the best cook and baker, picked the flowers and all. Of course, Dimitri and I had the final say in everything but there was nothing we didn't love. If she wasn't queen, Lissa would be a great wedding planner. Last night, during the rehearsal dinner, Lissa gave an emotional speech in which she expressed how lucky she felt to be surrounded by so many people who loved her and that she felt honored to be my best friend.

When the make up artist came to do my makeup, an hour ago, I took a moment to tell her how much I appreciate everything she's doing and how much I love her. We hugged each other and almost cried. It's those moments that make life so beautiful.

+++

The door slightly opens and Lissa slides her head in. "Rose, everyone's ready. We're all waiting for you," she says quietly. I don't say anything. I'm too nervous to speak. "You coming?"

I wanna tell her that I'm not ready, that I can't do this. I want to tell her that I don't want to marry Dimitri anymore. I could tell her all those things, but none of them are true. I'm sure that I can do this, and I feel ready and I really really really want to marry Dimitri. But then, why can't I move? Why am not able to make a sound? Why do I feel like my lungs don't know how to breathe? Why do I feel so paralyzed? As always, Lissa reads me and enters the room.

She sits down in front of me. "Tell me. We can escape by the back door and I can get you a fake ID. You don't have to see him ever again. We can get in the car and drive straight ahead until the only thing there is anymore is the ocean."