- 9 3 -

"Hello?" I finally called Roman when found out he was free with everything.

Apparently Lily had kept him quite busy today and so did Enzo. Or at least that's what I heard.

We were going all out tonight, because the last time Roman celebrated his birthday was with his mother when she was rumoured to be dead.

"Angel, what are you up to?" He asked.

"Nothing much, just looking for a dress for tonight." I told him and he hummed.

"Find anything yet?" He asked when I clicked my tongue.

"Not yet." I answered.

"Are you excited for tonight?" I asked him and waited for an answer.

"Are you?" He asked instead when I smiled.

"Of course, its your birthday. Aren't you?" I asked with a frown.

"I am because you'll be there." He answered and I giggled, a blush making me look down at my feet.

"Smooth." I said and he chuckled.

"I got you something." I whispered after a few moments, looking at my freshly painted nails.

"You didn't have to." He said after a deep breath when I smiled.

"I wanted to." I answered.

"You're enough for me. I don't want anything else." He replied, making me bite my lip when Zarina raised a curious brow at me but I shook my head as she and Ana waggled their eyebrows suggestively at me.

"Well, I wanted to get you something, so I got it. Deal with it." I said with sass and heard his chuckle before I heard some singing and he replied harshly in Italian.

"Is everything alright back there?" I asked when he sighed and I could imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance and frustration.

"Yes, angel. Just Enzo being a pain in the ass. He keeps singing the happy birthday song to annoy me. I'll shoot him any moment now." He said and laughed.

"You love him too much to do that." I said and heard him grumble something under his breath.

"I love you, and that's enough. I can't deal with another baby." He said, making me gasp.

"You didn't just say that! Take it back!" I exclaimed with a dramatic gasp and heard his small laugh.

"I just did, baby. What're you going to do about it?" He mused when I pretended to think.

"I don't know... Maybe I'll look for someone else since you think I'm such a baby." I joked and was met with deafening silence.

"Hello? Roman? Are you still there?" I questioned in confusion.

"You let a man even look at you, angel, let alone touch you, I'll make sure to turn him inside out." He threatened and my eyes widened.

"Jeez, chill out my jelly man. I'm not looking for anyone else, don't worry." I said and heard his soft sigh.

"Good. I was keeping you anyway." He said in a confident tone, making me smile softly before he spoke to someone in Italian again and grunted in annoyance.

"I have to go, but call me again, hm?" He asked and I pouted.

"Okay, talk to you later then, bye."

"Ciao, angel." He said before I hung up the phone and sighed heavily, turning to the two women looking at me curiously, obviously waiting for the juicy details.

"Don't give me that look!" I said and they both grinned before shaking their heads and looking through my closet full of dresses.

"I can't find anything in here." Zarina said just when Zephyr walked in, whistling.

"This came for you." He put a beautiful black box on the table in front of me when I frowned.

"For me? By whom?" I asked when he smirked.

"Check the card that came with. And before I forget—" He took my hand and pulled me towards my room, making me gasp when I looked at the sight in front of me.

"What's all this?" Ana ran her hands over the nearly hundred roses all over my room and I picked up one, putting it to my nose and taking a deep breath.

"It was Roman, wasn't it?" I asked Zephyr who nodded slowly with a smile as tears sprung to my eyes at the thought, my heart melting.

"I love this." I touched the delicate petals as Zephyr left the room and Zarina wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"You're so lucky." She said and leaned her head on my shoulder when I sighed in content.

"I really am." I whispered before walking over to my closet with her to check the box.

Opening it, we all gasped at the beautiful emerald green dress inside with diamond earrings and heels that had diamonds encrusted in the straps.

Holy shit.

"This is so pretty." Zarina gushed as she handed me the card as she looked at the dress while I turned the card over and traced my fingers over the neat handwriting, a wide smile pulling on my lips.

'For my beautiful angel, and the queen of my heart.' - Your Roman.

My Roman.

"What does it say?" Ana leaned over when I showed her the card and she grinned, winking at me.

"That bastard is gonna get some tonight." She laughed when I slapped her arm playfully before we both decided to get ready since there wasn't much time left.

I took a bath with a rosy scent, sighing in satisfaction as I laid in the bathtub and pampered myself.

Getting out, I dried myself up and let the two help me make my hair, styling it so it fell down my back in beautiful curls.

I helped them both as well and we played Lana Del Ray played in the background while we did our makeup.

I opted for a nude smokey eye and winged eyeliner, putting on blush, highlighter and mascara as and lipstick to go with it before going to put on my dress.

The dress fit me like glove, accentuating my curves and making me look absolutely amazing.

I gazed at myself in the mirror with a stupid grin on my face I couldn't erase as I walked out of the closet and grinned at Ana and Zarina.

"You both look so amazing!" I gushed when they turned to look at me, their mouths falling open as they checked me out shamelessly.

"And you look absolutely beautiful." Ana made me twirl for them and all of us showered each other with compliments as we wore our shoes and then the jewellery.

I wore the diamond earrings Roman had sent for me before grabbing my clutch and phone and some other essentials.

"Are you all ready?" Kimberly came into my room, holding onto Anya's hand who squealed when she saw us and hugged me tightly.

"You all look beautiful." She complimented with a warm smile as Anya held tightly onto me.

"Are we leaving yet?" I asked her when she nodded and we all followed her out and downstairs.

Once we were downstairs, my dad hugged me and told me I looked beautiful, followed by my brothers and then Ivan who told me I looked like shit.

"I'd say the same but even shit looks better than you." I told Ivan who rolled his eyes but I didn't miss the grin on his face as I took Alex's outstretched hand and let him lead me to his car.

"Are you feeling alright? Excited?" Alex asked me as we were on the way there when I sighed and nodded slowly with a small smile.

"I'm okay. How are you holding up?" I asked when he shrugged.

"I'm alright, considering everything." He said in a low tone when I squeezed his hand and leaned my head on his shoulder.

"We'll be okay." I stated in a gentle tone when he hummed, kissing the top of my head.

"We will." He whispered into the silence.

"Where's Roman?" I asked Lilac who looked around for her son.

"He was rght here a few moments ago, let me ask Lily." She said and looked around for her daughter who was also nowhere to be found.

"Strange, they were both talking about something just a few minutes ago." She said as Alvaro walked up to us.

"Heather, you look lovely. But none can compare to my beautiful wife." He smirked, kissing the top of Lilac's head, making her and me both smile when Lily came over.

"Enough with the open display of affection, papa, we know we're single." Lily said dryly.

I laughed, only to stop short when an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into a heard chest, a slight gasp escaping my lips.

"Speak for yourself, I'm happy taken by my girl." I heard his deep voice from behind me, making me smile shyly as he kissed the back of my head while Lilac awed at us.

"Such a beautful couple." She gushed before she and Alvaro had to go and meet the rest of my family, dragging a groaning Lily with them while I stood with Roman.

"Hi." I spoke in a quiet voice as I turned around in his arms, making the ghost of a smile appear on his face.

"Angel." His gaze slid down appreciatively, raking over my body and lighting a fire in its path as it lingered.

"You look—" He paused, his wide eyes giving him away as he licked his lips, "Breath taking. Absolutely ethereal, baby." He took my hand and twirled me around, smiling as I showed him my dress.

"Thanks Rome, you look really handsome too." I said, patting his chest in appreciation when he smirked, leaning down for a kiss but I turned my face away at the last moment so he kissed my cheek instead.

"Let me fucking kiss you." He grunted with an angry frown but I shook my head.

"You'll ruin my lipstick". I pouted and his eyes strayed to my lips before he groaned, leaning his head on my shoulder.

"You lipstick is for me to ruin." He mumbled and I giggled, framing his face in my hands as I placed a small peck on his lips.

"That should do for now." I said when he frowned deeper, an annoyed expression on his face.

"But it's my birthday." He said in a slightly sad voice, making me laugh.

"I know, Romy, patience." I said and heard his sigh as I remembered something and quickly grabbed the bag from the table beside us.

"And before I forget." I pushed the bag in his hands when he frowned and looked at the bag, then at me, then the bag again.

"Happy birthday, Roman." I said with a grin when he shook his head, wrapping his free arm around my waist as he pulled me closer to him.

"You were enough for me, but thank you, angel. It means a lot to me, coming from you." He whispered, placing a few kisses on my neck before pecking my forehead.

"Now, what's in this?" He asked when Zephyr popped out from behind me, nearly giving me a heart attack.

"Condoms. She asked me to get some for you guys. You're getting lucky tonight, Angelo." He grinned and I gasped in horror, slapping his arm while Roman glared at him, and he backed away with his hands raised in mock surrender.

"Joking, I was joking." He said sheepishly before running off and disappearing into the crowd.

"It's not like we use them anyway. Besides, I know I'm getting lucky tonight." Roman muttered and rolled his eyes when my own widened in alarm as I looked around before slapping my arm over his mouth.

"Do you want a mic or something?" I asked, mortified, when he chuckled, shaking his head and removed my hand from his lips.

He gingerly took out the small black box from the bag and shook it slightly as he put it to his ear while I waited with bated breath.

"What's this?" He asked and I shrugged, watching him narrow his eyes at me as I bit my lip to stop the grin from spreading on my face as he opened the box and his eyes scanned the item before he took it out.

"A ring?" He asked, surprise visible in his eyes when I nodded, holding up my right hand and showing him my fourth finger which had the same silver ring.

"For both of us. It also has something written inside." I pointed out and he read the engraving inside when he smiled beautifully, effectively taking my breath away.

'With my life and everything in me' was engraved on the inside of both our rings.

"I love it, baby. I fucking adore you." He said and pressed a kiss to my mouth, surprising me when he pulled back and slid the ring on his finger, admiring it before pulling out the album from the bag as well, he flipped through it and frowned.

"Is this...?" He trailed off, looking at me with a confused yet adoring expression when I nodded.

"Thought I'd bring together some of our best memories together." I sad as he flipped through pictures of us, laughing, smiling and enjoying together, looking at each other with all the love in our eyes and in the world.

"And what are these for?" He flipped through the rest of the empty pages of the album when I smiled.

"To make more memories." I said, watching his face brighten as he kissed my temple.

"And one more thing." I said and he frowned.

"This is too much, baby." He said and I grinned.

"It's never going to be enough, Roman." I told him, "You deserve the absolute best."

He simply shook his head and waited as I got ready to show him my final gift.

"You're not going to drop your dress here, are you?" He asked sceptically after a few seconds when I huffed out an amused laugh and shook my head.

"Not here, no. But maybe later tonight." I winked at him and he growled lowly, pulling me into his chest.

"That would be the best fucking present ever." He nipped at my earlobe and I had to push him away with a giggle to actually get moving on.

"Here." I showed him my left hand and he frowned, his eyes moving between me and my hand before his brows pinched together and he grabbed my hand.

"Wait, is that...?" He squinted his eyes at my fingers, disbelief masking his face as his wide eyes met mine.

"Heather..." He breathed out my name as his finger gently stroked the slightly red skin of my wedding ring finger and I smile as I glance at the name written in Italic in place of the ring.

Roman Angelo.

"You better like it because I owe Ivan a favour for taking me to get it gone, and it's kind of permanent so..." I trailed off when he shook his head and laughed.

I had his name tattooed where I was supposed to wear a wedding ring, his eyes shining with happiness as he gently kissed my fingers one by one before placing multiple kisses on my forehead.

"What did I do to deserve you?" He murmured, holding me close and embracing me tightly before a throat was cleared behind us.

"Roman?" Gabriel walked up to us and Roman looked at him intently.

"Whenever you're ready." He said and Roman tensed beside me but cleared his throat nonetheless and smiled down at me.

"Let's go." He grabbed my hand gently, making me frown.

"Where to?" I asked as he led me down an empty hallway and out into the open.

"You're not the only one with a surprise, angel." He winked at me and I cocked my head to a side in question as he pulled me into the darkness.

He led me towards a secluded part of his garden where fairy lights decorated the place along with beautiful flowers.

"Wow. Lily wasn't joking when she said you guys were going all out, was she?" I asked as I looked around and Roman squeezed my hand, leading me where the bench was and picking up a bag from on top of it.

He took out a rectangular box from it and held it out to me that had a note attached to it. I read the note, my heart melting as the words left my lips.

"I was yours the moment we found each other."

"What's this?" I shook the box gently when he nudged me to open it and I did as asked, gasping when I opened the lid.

"This is—" I stared up at him and beamed, hooking my arms around his neck, "It's beautiful."

He pulled away to pull out the beautiful diamond necklace from the box that matched my earrings and turned me around.

Pushing my hair back from my neck, he carefully put it on me, the cool piece of jewellery touching my warmer skin as my fingers reached up to touch it while he left a trail of kisses down my neck before I turned around.

"How does it look?" I asked when he smiled faintly.

"This—" He touched the necklace gently, " Is worth nothing. You are what makes it look beautiful and actually worth something." He said in a low ton that had my heart skipping a beat as I leaned my head on his chest.

"You're perfect." I whispered when he chuckled.

"Come along now, the night's still young." He said and chuckled at my confused expression before tugging me along with him, further into the garden which seemed more like a maze at this point.

We stopped at another place and Roman pulled out another bag from behind the bushes, handing it to me.

"Roman." I whined as I took out another velvet box with yet another note when he smirked and gestured for me to open it.

I did as asked and shook my head when a matching diamond bracelet came into view.

"You didn't have to do this." I whispered as he clasped the bracelet around my wrist and saw him smile as he admired me then handed me the note.

"I did." He spoke calmly as I read the note.

"No words can describe what you truly mean to me, my life, my queen, the keeper of my heart."

Tears nearly sprung to my eyes as I put a hand on my chest.

"This is—... I —... Roman, you—" Words failed to come out of my mouth and he understood what I truly wanted to say but couldn't as he smiled and kissed my cheek.

He took my hand gently and led me further away from the house and towards another clearing, pulling out another bag while I sighed and shook my head.

"Roman—"

"Just go along with it, baby, please." He walked over to me and handed me the bag. I eyed it warily before sighing in defeat and pulling out yet another box and opened it.

I smiled faintly at the glimmering hair pin which had little emeralds studded into it, matching the colour of my dress before handing me the note with it.

"Forever isn't enough. It never will be."

I clutched the note to my chest and smiled softly at Roman.

"It never will be." I whispered to him as he held me close, our breaths mingling together but he didn't kiss me and instead, blew out a shaky breath before pulling away.

I put it on my hair with Roman's help and he led me further ahead, this time covering my eyes with his hands.

"You don't trust me, Angelo?" I mused and heard his light chuckle from behind me.

"With everything in me, baby." He replied and I smiled briefly but it was wiped off when we stopped and he took his hands away from my eyes, my hands flying to my mouth as I gasped in absolute awe.

In front of me were what seemed like a million tiny lights, or that's what they seemed like from the distance since I found myself standing on elevated ground, like a cliff.

But it wasn't just the lights, its what was spelled that had my heart thundering in my ears.

Marry me?

I turned around to look for Roman and a tear flowed down my eye when I saw him down on one knee, a velvet box in his hand glimmering with the most beautiful ring.

"Heather." He breathed out as a shaky breath escaped my lips.

"Roman." I whispered.