A month had passed, our blissful time at the farmhouse was perfect but happy time was bounded to come to an end. Nick and I had made a decision to move back to London, the city where I truly felt like my home.

Nana Lou had chosen to stay in Cambridge with Rudy and her husband, all too tired to move again. I was a bit sad but promised to visit the farm as much as we could as it was after all a second home for a really long time and it was where Madeline grew up.

Just like old time, the Salvatore's family sat around the huge table of their dining room, however this time there was our newest addition to the family while one was missing from her seat, now living somewhere else thousand miles away.

" I wish Bella was here. " Nick mumbled under his breath, placing a hand on my thigh.

I smiled, putting my hand on his. " Your little sister is not so little anymore, Nick. She's a grown woman pursuing her dream in college. "

He muttered a small I know before sighing and turned back to eat his dinner. Chuckling softly to myself, I looked around the room with a small grin on my face. Alana was shaking her head in disbelief as Nick proceeded to get on his father's nerves, both bickering back and forth.

Elliot, trying to get his niece's attention when the little girl was clearly smitten by her other twin uncle Eden. Madeline had moved from the seat beside me onto her uncle's laps giggling non stop as Eden told her all about the gross vegetables she should avoid at all cost.

Sometimes I wondered if he really was a doctor.

" Eden, stop telling my granddaughter about not eating her vegetables at this instant. She needs her green. " Alana scoffed at her son.

Eden furrowed his eyebrow before defending himself. " But, mother broccoli shouldn't even have existed. It's like we're eating small bumpy tree. "

Dinner ended, the whole family moved to the living room for dessert and tea as always. Mr Salvatore had successfully stolen little mads from his son as she bounced happily on her grandfather laps while he fed her strawberry cheesecake.

I leaned my back into the solid chest and felt myself relaxing in an instant. His arms wrapped around me instinctively as the warmth of his body swallowed me in.

" Let's go to balcony for fresh air. " he whispered into my ear. I grinned before getting up with him and silently went out of the room.

It wasn't like someone in there would miss us, all the attention were on the littlest Salvatore.

———

I never appreciated the garden in our estate enough until right now. I never had the chance to enjoy it but now with her everything seemed so much more magical. Flowers facing up the light of silver moon. Trees wrapped in fairy lights and sparkling stars dancing across the sky. It was perfect.

" Strange isn't it? " I whispered, wrapping my arms around her small waist.

Her body relaxed in my touch melting into mine as she placed her hands on my arms, drawing small circles. I grinned down at her as she titled her head up to nuzzle her nose against mine.

" What is? " she beamed.

" How one human can be desperately in love with someone, no matter how much distance we put between us or how much time has passed, my heart never really did stop beating for you. I had no idea I could love someone this much. "

" I thought it was impossible to be more in love with you then you blessed me with our daughter and I love you even more. "

" You are the best thing that could ever happened to me. So, thank you for everything. Thank you for giving me another chance. "

" Please don't stop making me fall in love with you over and over again. " I said, kissing her tears away as she stared at me with watery eyes and a smile on her face.

" Marry me. " she muttered, cupping my face into her palms.

If mother heard this, I would be six feet under ground in the next ten seconds. I gulped nervously before glancing around, making sure mother wasn't hiding anywhere near us.

" You stole my question. Bloody hell. What's wrong with you, Anastasia Rayne? "

" You don't want to marry me? Who's the side chick? It's the blonde neighbor, isn't it? I fucking knew it. " she scoffed pushing me away.

She stood a few feet away from me with her arms crossed over her chest. Her lips formed into a small pout. I watched the loose strains of her silky hair fell freely down her face as the wind blew across her face. Her hazel eyes shined under the moonlight, even in my t-shirt and sweatpants, she was the most beautiful woman standing on earth.

I knew right then and there she was my forever kind of love with her attitudes and all.

Shoving a hand into the back of my pocket, I pulled out my wallet and then the diamond wrapped in silver band. I went down on one knee for the first time in my life, kneeling before my world.

" Baby. " I whispered, trying to turn her attention toward me.

She tore her eyes away from the sky and toward with a scowl on her face, ready to throw another fit. I grinned in delight watching her hand flew to her mouth, expression changed and tears slipping out of her eyes.

" There's no side chick. I love you so much and you love me too. So, please marry me? "

" Yes. " one simple word came out of her mouth and I was the happiest man alive.

Grinning, I stood up and shoved the ring into her ring finger before pulling her into a kiss. She wrapped her arms around me pulling me closer. I smiled against her lips, a single tear streaming down my face but her hand found my cheek wiping it all away as I was wiping hers.

We pulled away, staring into each other's eyes with a smile on our faces.

" I brought you to your knee. " she chuckled through her teary eyes.

I cocked an eyebrow at her in confusion but she just brushed it off with a beaming smile on her face. She circled her arms lazily around my neck before standing on her the tip of her toe to peck my lips.

" You walk around with a diamond ring in your pocket? " she asked.

" Ever since our first date in Italy. " I answered honestly, shameless to the fact that I picked out an engagement ring after the first date.

" I love you. " she whispered against my lips.

" I love you. " I grinned.

Starry night and teary eyes, we stared at each other with smiles on each face. There was no words needed to be said in this moment as our eyes carried the conversation telling each other that we had made it. This was it, our beginning to forever.

" I want to be this happy forever. "

" We have suffered enough. We deserve a soft epilogue, my forever forbidden flower. " I whispered, kissing her forehead.