is popped open, candles are blown out and a messy symphony of Happy Birthday is sung to Abuela. She awkwardly stands in the middle, behind the marble counter and grins. Toasts are raised, jokes are made and we're all drunk in two glasses of champagne. I swap out the alcohol for soda and chat along to Quinn and Aisha. They're grinning at me, eyes twinkling and smiles mischievous. I roll my eyes at them, telling them off slightly for the inappropriate joke they've made. A body slams into my shoulder, a hand reaches for my soda can.

"Soda? Why are you drinking this cheap shit, Bells?" Dimitri asks, tilting the remains of his champagne in one go.

I smile up at him and shrug my shoulders. "I wasn't feeling the alcohol. I'm trying to stay sober tonight, I don't want any nasty headaches." Dimitri's eyebrow raises slightly in confusion. He wants to call me out for my lie. When have you ever refused alcohol? is what he silently says with one dark look. He doesn't need any words. I know him well enough to interpret him.

"Besides, I don't want any nasty hangovers. We've got a full house tonight. No silly incidents." I clink my soda cans to his empty flute.

"Hm. You're right. I should loosen up on the alcohol too. I need to stay sober to remember tonight."

"Remember tonight? Abuela's birthday?" I take a quick inspection of Abuela over Quinn's shoulder. She's busy twirling with Theodore to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Both of them together makes my heart warm and Theodore's acting like the true gentleman he is.

"Yep, remember tonight." Dimitri supplies but doesn't expand on anything more. Hm. From my peripheral vision, Dimitri's mother signals him and he excuses himself. I watch their interaction closely. She starts to clean him up, smoothes out the creases in his shirt. Runs a hand through his hair and whispers something incoherent under her breath.

Dimitri rolls his eyes, nods and holds onto her wrists gently. "I've got it, Mummy. Don't worry. I'll be fine." Simultaneously, they both turn to look at me.

My cheeks flame pink and I pop my head down, beginning to inspect the point of my heels. I've just been caught red handed gawking at both of them.

Anwar swaggers his way up to Aisha and plops his arm around her neck. He gives me a wide grinning, a little playful laugh escaping his lips. "Lovely evening, isn't it, Bella?" He asks. Aisha jabs her arm into his rib cage and his winces.

My eyebrows dent in the middle, confusion blasting across my face. Abuela's laughs in the distance and slowly thanks Theodore for his lovely dance and walks over to our tiny group. My heart swells and I agree with Anwar.

"Ay Bella. I like the young Asterio. He knows how to dance." Abuela praises. I hug her waist and plot my head on her shoulder, engulfing her in an awkward side hug. She smells like lemon and powder. God, I'm so lucky to have her with me.

"Anything for you, Abuela. Feliz cumpleaños."

She places a gentle kiss on my temple and smiles. "You're the sweetest, mi flor."

Dimitri's presence rejoins our little group. "Perdón, Abuela. Can I steal Bella away for a few moments?" He holds his hand.

Abuela passes him a knowing smile and hands me over to him. I slightly protest but the warmth of his hand and large legs are pulling me across the living room. "Dimitri? Can't this wait? It's Abuela's birthday and it's rude to leave our guest behind." I complain as he leads me down the hall and stops in front of the giant balcony doors.

He flips around, his eyelids heavy, a smug smile plastered across his lips. "No, this can't wait. It'll be a few moments and we can go back."

I frown at him and inspect the heavy curtains. I can't see the balcony view. The skyline is blocked by the curtains and Dimitri's large frame. He swallows hard for a second and scans the empty room behind me. It's just him and I.

"Close your eyes." I frown at him and shake my head.

"Why? Are you planning on murdering me outside on the balcony." He rolls his eyes and tuts at me.

"If I wanted to murder you, that night I crashed into your car was enough." He grins at me.

"Wow, so romantic you are." Reluctantly, I snap my eyes shut. His hands slide up my waist and I don't know when or how he got behind me but he begins to guide me.

One hand wrapped tightly around my waist while the other jiggles with the balcony lock.

He directs me where to walk, where to turn. "Three steps forward, too steps to the right. Yes, now turn to the right." The cold air sweeps across my shoulders and I shiver slightly. The wind blows my hair and I stand a little numbly in the icy November night.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now." I slowly peek at the sight in front of me. Everything is a blurry haze at first but when the focus becomes clear. All the air in my lungs knocks out and I stumble back startled.

In front of me sits a large arch filled with white roses and pink peonies. Every inch of the arch is covered and the flowers descend down the balcony stopping just before my feet. There are candles lit around me, they brightly illuminate the balcony in the dark. In the middle of the arch, there's a bright neon sign in bold letters that states:

My heart flutters vacantly against my chest and my throat closes up. I'm speechless, floored, spellbounded. I slowly turn around to find Dimitri on one knee in front of me.

In his hands, he holds a black velvet box. He slowly opens it to reveal a fine emerald wrapped in tiny diamonds around it. "What are you doing?" I manage to squeeze out. My chest is tight and I can barely breathe.

He swallows a hard lump. "Marry me." He states. Confidently. Assuringly. Seriously.

My eyebrows dent in the middle and I gape at him confused. "I already am married to you, silly." A laugh escapes my mouth and even to me, it sounds foreign.

"I know. I wanted to give you a real proposal because when we started out. All of this... our relationship was a façade. A ruse. A sham. I owe you this. I was selfish before and I used you for my benefit. I randomly stopped by and selfishly demanded you marry me then dropped a giant ring in your hand without any care." I blink back a tear. It doesn't work, it falls down my face.

"So, Bella, I really owe you this. A real proposal. This time, it's just you and I. No more pretenses, no more lies and no more fabrication. I love you and I have loved you for a very long time. I was reluctant to give you my mothers engagement ring because back then this was something special and I didn't know what you meant to me. But now, you mean so much to me and I have no doubt about that." In surprise, I stare down at the ring in the box. It's gorgeous. The band is laced with gold and it's utterly delicate, compared to the first ring that Dimitri put on my finger.

My heart seizes up. That's his mother's engagement ring.

With a shaky breath, Dimitri asks. "So Isabella Rosaline Romero, will you marry me again?" He gulps. "Renew your vows with me?"

Tears are falling down my cheeks and I don't know what to say. He's taken all my breath and all of my coherent thoughts. I stare at him – an utter mess.

"Bells," Dimitri raises his eyebrow. For the first time in a very long time, I drink him in. His hair slightly russles in the wind, his jaw is clenched in anticipation and his blue eyes are filled with so much hope.

"My knee is getting tired and my poor Fergammo's are denting, Bells. Just answer my question." He sighs a heavy irritated breath at my silence.

"Yes," I breathe.

He grins brightly, removes the ring from the box and threads it on my finger with a shaky hand. The second he stands, I crush my lips against his. His hands twine around my waist and my arms lock around his neck. His lips are soft against mine and he kissed me with so much passion that he might just tip me backwards onto the floor. It escalates quickly until we're both out of breath and grinning stupidly at one another.

My forehead touches his and I don't have any words. But that's okay, I'm going to remember this moment for a lifetime. Behind us, a loud cheer and whistles go off. I crane my neck sideways and I'm slightly horrified to find all of our family and friends shamelessly watching the proposal from the other side of the glass.

Then a firework goes off in the distance. I untangle myself from Dimitri and creep closer to the balcony ledge. Another shell goes off, then another. Until the whole sky is lit with fireworks with London Eye decorating the background.

I turn to Dimitri and he looks smug. "You set this up?!" I half yell into his ear, against the eruption. The sight is beautiful.

He shrugs his shoulders, modestly. "Maybe."

I try to enjoy the fireworks, I really do but a secret has been killing me for a few weeks now. I can't keep hiding this any longer. I need to tell him. A little hesitantly I moved towards him. "I need to tell you something." My heart beats at a hundred miles per hour. I bite my lip nervously.

He brushes a hand over my cheek, "What is it, baby?"

I hesitate slightly, play with my diamond bracelet then blurt it out before any rational part of me can stop it. "I'm pregnant."

Dimitri goes rigid, stares at me in horror. His mouth hangs open and he resembles a baroque sculpture. "You're what?" His eyebrows furrow in the middle, his voice a tiny shriek.

Oh no, oh shit. I should've have chosen a better time. "I'm pregnant, Dimitri." I stumble out again, my voice hoarse in my throat.

Even before I can say my next sentence, Dimitri launches for me. Almost tumbling me over. "Bella." He breathes. "Bella! Bella! My dearest Bella." His hands twine around my waist and he twirls me around in a faux drunk euphoria. My feet aren't on the ground and my weight rests on his shoulders with my arms twined around my neck. His laughter is filled with exhilaration and my one matches it too.

He grins proudly up at me. "I love you so much. You've made me the happiest man alive."

"I love you too." I state and this time, I really mean it. I really do love this man.

His lips crash against mine and he kisses me in front of everyone. The fireworks continue to go off behind us but Dimitri and I are completely wrapped in each other. This was absolutely perfect.

Hi, hello, bonjour!!

Thank you so much for reading Fine Form and loving it as much as I did. This story started on a whim and as a passion project. I never knew it would garner this many reads or people would actually love it. It was all a blind shot of luck. So a massive thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope I have done Dimitri & Bella's conclusion justice.

To every reader – even the silent ones. I see you and thank you for supporting the story. To everyone who hyped up the story, sent wonderful comments and made me crack up laughing. I adore you.

you are one of the people and I adore you. Your comments have kept me entertained throughout the entire story!! Your support has been immeasurable. I always look forward to reading your comments and they are truly the best. 🤎

you're my biggest supporter and without you, I wouldn't be here today. So from the bottom of my heart, I adore you and thank you very much. You're the sweetest and I can always come to with with ideas and thoughts and you encourage all of them 🥺

@tiltedwine thank you for your comments, reading and love. Without you, this wouldn't be happening. You're a person who's kept me going and for that, I'm grateful. I hope this story means something to you and I'm eternally grateful for your support. 💗

@L2iceyyy you're another person who's comment I look forward too! Thank you for reading Fine Form and enjoying it as much I enjoyed writing it. I hope Dimitri & Bella mean something to you as they did to me. Your support has been incredible ❤️

@teebagzz thank you for reading! Your comments, love and support has been a real motivation in getting to the end. You're a sweetheart and your comments have made my heart swoon 💕

@NKJxoxo thank you for reading Fine Form and I wanted to personally thank you for all your comments. Your support has been crazy and you're another person who's kept me going in the writing process. 💖

your comments, support and love for Fine Form has been crazy. Thank you for reading it! I adore you and I eagerly look forward to your comments. I've cried and laughed and enjoyed every single second of it. 💕

@lozer123456 you're support has been crazy and your comments have kept me up, laughing and simultaneously crying. Thank you a ton for reading Fine Form and staying right until the very end. I seriously adore you and I cannot thank you enough. 🥺

I see you and I look forward to reading your comments. Your support has been crazy and I truly adore you for it. So thank you. 💜

To anyone else who I may have missed, thank you for reading. I hope you've enjoyed this story.