Stefanie POV

"I can't even tell you how much I love you, Roman! I'm so overwhelmed with love right now," I said as I sat on Roman's lap and kissed him over and over again.

After a few more minutes of enjoying the moment, we then blew out the countless candles. Because it made me a little nervous. Then we opened the curtains and the door to the patio to let the warm rays of sunshine of this very special morning into our house.

Roman then pulled me onto the couch, where we now let this new stage in our lives sink in, tightly embraced. It was the most beautiful surprise that one could imagine.

Repeatedly I looked at the sparkling ring on my finger. The sun reflected lots of little rainbows off the blue diamond in the center.

"I'm glad you like it," Roman said softly as he noticed my gaze wandering to my finger.

"Like? I absolutely love it. I can't believe this is all real, that it's really happening. It feels like the most beautiful dream." I replied as I looked into his warm, deep eyes. The eyes that had become my home.

"Oh it's true, baby girl. I love you and I can't wait to call you my wife." he said to me. His eyes sparkled almost as much as the ring did. It was so damn cute and I wondered what I had done to deserve not only to find this wonderful person, but to be allowed to love him.

"And more importantly... you're finally getting rid of the term boyfriend, fiancé. Not quite the term you have in mind, but close enough." I teased him, because I knew for a long time that he would prefer the term husband.

"For my sake, you can already call me your husband and you are my wife. The marriage certificate does not change the fact that it is already official for me that you are the woman who belongs at my side. I love only you!" he replied and gave me a little kiss on the nose before our lips found each other again.

I gently rested my hand against his cheek. I held my whole world in that one hand. It was the most precious gift.

"I can't wait to tell my mom. She's going to freak out." he said after a while and with a big grin on his face.

When I heard those words and saw the joy on his face, I felt a small, painful sting. Tears came to my eyes, even though I tried with all my might to prevent it. But Roman saw it immediately, of course. Worried, he frowned.

Roman POV

"Baby girl, what's wrong?" I asked immediately as I saw Stefanie's happy expression change.

"It's just... I'm sad that my parents... won't get to see this day. Mom would be so happy and Dad would be so damn proud... to walk me down the aisle. They are missing out on so much. If we do have kids, they will never get to meet them. It's... hard to think about." she replied a little hesitantly.

Gently, I wiped a few tears from my love's with my thumb. Steffi nestled her face in my hand as she sighed deeply with her eyes closed. It hurt me so much to see her so sad in this moment of happiness. I really would have done anything to take this pain away from her. I would cut off one of my hands if it meant she would get her parents back. Unfortunately, that was impossible.

"Steffi, they will be there. They are always with you. At every step in your life. You carry them in your heart, baby girl, and no one can take that away from you. They are proud of you. And I'm sure they wouldn't want you to be sad on this day," I replied as I took my hand from her cheek and gently placed it over her heart instead.

"That's another thing I love about you, babe. You have the ability to take away my pain and make me feel better. My parents would love you for sure. They would be so happy to see how happy you make me and how well you treat me. Mom would absolutely adore you. I'm sure she would," Steffi said softly as her lips formed into a small smile.

"It's my job to always be there for you and cheer you up whenever I can. And just for the record... when we have kids, baby girl." I replied as I looked her firmly in the eye.

"I just want you to remember that it might be difficult. The damage on one ovary might have been too severe and then only the other one will work. If at all." she said.

We had talked about the subject before. I knew that it could be difficult because of the accident and her injuries. But that didn't mean it was impossible.

"I know, baby girl. But we're not going to give up before we even start the race. And if we can't have a baby, there are other ways to become parents. Don't drive yourself crazy. We have plenty of time. We'll try without any pressure. And I'm sure God has big plans for us," I told her and then gave her a kiss on the forehead.

I immediately felt her relax. A relieved, but still slightly sad sigh escaped her. Unlike Stefanie, I had no doubt that we would get our own miracle. But that, as I said, still had time. Now I wanted to give the love of my life the wedding of her dreams.