* Lora Croffard's POV *

~ three years later ~

"Congratulations, sweetheart."

"Thank you, Mary."

Yes, today is the day of my graduation.  Can you believe it?! I can't.

"Lula!" a little girl called and I turned around.

"Hello, Summy." Can you believe it. Meet Summer. She's Mark and Amber's little girl. I picked her up. "Hey, Amber. Mark."

"Congrats, Lor. We knew you would make it. Journalist slash nanny, how much better can it get?"

After a while the rest of the people came to congratulate me with lots of kisses and hugs. But I couldn't help but to search  for one particular face.

"Sorry I'm late. I had to go pick this flower for some crazy girl who graduated today." I spun around to see him standing there with a rose in this hand.

"Liam," I said, relieved. "I almost thought you've forgotten about me."

"I would never." He walked closer, pulling me closer to his body. "Look at you. In a black gown and with a funny looking squared hat with a white tassel." He kissed me and handed the flower to me.

"Why thank you, sir."

Ever since Liam and I came back from the farmhouse that day, things had only gone from better to  best.

Liam finished his course and graduated two years ago and started to work at a very successful company, being the best businessman he can be.

The rest of the family was great and still going strong. Paps Freddy is now part of the picture again. Amber and Mark are great parents to little Summer who's two and a half already.

Believe it or not. Nash and River are dating and still on their little cloud of love. River moved here a few months back and got a job, so that's a good thing. Our Grams is also moving back here in a couple of months, which is a plus.

And me? Well, I obviously just finished my course. I've already gotten a job and starts in a few weeks. I was very excited and terrified at the same time. Don't worry, I'm still on nanny duty once in a while. I still stay with the Evens, but I have another nanny who takes over when I can't. She's not that bad actually, but I  don't think that she'll ever be able take my place. Wink, wink. My life is  right on track, going pretty smooth. I've never been better.

"Lora, darling. We better get a move on if we want to get all sparkled up before tonight." Oh yes, Mary thought it would be a great idea if she held me a graduation ball. No, not a party, a ball. It's very formal and it made me think of the prom I never had.

"Sure, let's go."

**********

A hour or two later Mary's hairdresser was busy doing magic with my hair. She curled the tips of my hair slightly and braided a loose band over my head, letting a few strings fall loose and curly  over my face.

Then she  did my makeup, very light and elegant. I couldn't help feeling like a princess. I also couldn't wait to see my dress. Mary ordered it to be made for me. But she didn't want me to see or try it on before the ball. I had no choice but to  wait for the time to put it on and to hope it actually fits.

There's a knock at the door and a few seconds later Daniel's head popped into the room. "Hi, Daniel."

"Wow, Lora. You look smashing so far." Daniel said. Let me just remind you that he's full on teenager now, his hormones are all over the place.

"Thanks, Danny. Do you want something?"

"No, darling. There's something for you downstairs."

"Thank you, I'll be downstairs in a minute."

"You're excused. I'm done anyways. Of you have come back when it's time to get into your dress. Now, don't be to long. You're ride will be here in a no time."

"Thank you, Clare." I stood up and tighten my gown around my waist. I jogged down the staircase, only touching every second step with my bare feet. I freezed when I spotted the bouquet of very  red roses stading in a big vase tied with a red ribbon.

I slowly walked closer and saw  a letter balanced on the ground leaning against the vase. I opened it and read the contents:

Dear Cinderella

143 roses for you
1  for I
4  for love
And 3  for you
Which mean that the 143 roses is just to say that I love you.

If you'll count them now, you'll see that there's only 140 roses. You'll just have to wait to find the missing three. And don't worry I'll make sure you find them soon enough.

See you in a bit, My Princess.

xoxo 
Liam

I smiled. Trying so hard not to ruin my makeup with tears. I walked back upstairs to my room.

"Good, you're back. It's time for the best part," Clare said excitedly.

*********

I took a deep breath and  walked down the stairs. I have to tell you that if I said before that I felt like a princess, I lied. But now, now I do. I felt like a princess and nothing less.

At the end of the stairs my eyes found him. He stood there staring at me with disbelief.

I had to focus so hard not to stare right back, otherwise I would land on my nose right at his feet.

He's well cleaned up. His hair was perfectly styled like always but only better. He wore a black tuxedo with a white shirt and a long black tie. Even his shoes were polished to the point if shining. In his hands he held another rose.

"Wow," was all he could get out as I reached the end of the staircase. I took the edge of my dress and  curtsied, still smiling at him.

He took a step closer to me and I did the same. He  took my hand in his, planting a kiss on it.

"Y-you look b-beautiful," he stuttered under his breath, handing me the rose.

"Thank you. You don't look bad yourself."

"Shall we?" He took my hand and lead me to his car.

* Liam Lockwood's POV *

I was blown away. I  always knew how beautiful she was, but tonight was different.  I've never seen her this way and everyday I see her she becomes even more beautiful than the time before.

After so many years my heart still beat faster everytime I saw, touched or even smelled her. Yet my feelings towards her only grew stronger everyday I'm with her and also the days I'm not.

"May I have this dance?" I asked her after a while. The ball was fun so far. Mary and everyone else overdid themselves. They did all this for Lora, because I told them that I wanted to to make this day special beacuse it was special. A day like none  other.

"Of course you may." I lead her to the dancefloor. My hand landed on her hip and her arm swang around my neck. Our free hands found  eachother.

"I did a song request." I said when the current song stopped.

"Oh really?  Which song did you pick?"

"It's our song."

"We have a song?"

"Of course we do."

"Which song?"

* Lora Croffard's POV *

"Which song?" I asked him.

"You'll have to wait and listen." Then the   song started to play. I recognized it as Better Place by Rachel Platten.

"Wait! Isn't this the song we had our first dance with? The one where you took me to your collage dance?"

"Good girl! I always knew I have a smart  girlfriend. Yeah, that's OUR song."

"Our song. I'll remember that for the future." He pecked my lips.

"I still wanted to thank you for my roses. Well, the ones I've already received."

"It's my pleasure."

"Who knew you were such a romantic guy?"

"Oh baby, you knew it all along.  Plus you're the only one who brings out he romantic side of me."

"I sure would hope so."

After the song ended, Liam lead me out of the hall where the rest of the people stood. They all had a glass of champaign and lanterns in their hands.

"I would like to make a toast." Liam's father started. "To our dear and loving daughter." Ah, that's so sweet of him making a toast to Amber. "Lora," he continues and it caught me off guard. "After all these years you've become part of this family. Ever since the beginning. You've been through so much in you past  and somehow you've worked it through. You've manage to keep your head held high and always saw the positive out of a situation. You were and still are a inspiration for each one of us and we will always admire you for it." I looked at Liam and he looked a bit nervous. I couldn't blame him, I am to. Not that I knew why. "Let us toast to the very loving and caring Lora, who we congratulate with her degree in journalism." Liam grabbed my hand and pulled me  to the table in the front and he helped me on top of the table. He also climbed up next to me and gave me one of the two champaign glasses in his hand.

"To Lora," they all toasted and then let go of the lanterns in their hands. I turned around to watch the lights float up into the sky. It was the most beautiful view I've ever seen. Liam's arm went around my waist.

After most of the laterns were out of sight Liam took my champaign glass out of my hand and gave it to his father who still stood on the same spot at the foot of the table we stood on.

Then Liam turned me so that I was  facing him. I looked to the crowd, who's eyes were on us, since we stood out in front of everyone. When I looked back at Liam he had another rose in his hands- rose number 142 which mean there's still another one somewhere.

"Here's your rose, Lora. But it has to wait for a sec." Then he gave the rose back to his dad, before turning back towards me. He took both my hands in his, kissing both. I could feel his hands shaking in mine. What's he so nervous about?

Then it happened.

He got down onto one knee. My hands rised to my mouth as soon as I realized what was about to happen.

"Lora, since the day that you stood in front of our table with your cute navy waitress dress, I knew. I knew that I won't ever get you out of my mind. I was right. I've searched everywhere for you and  when I  found out you were fired and no one knew where you lived or where I could find you, I was about to give up. Not for my jacket though, but not finding you ever again.

"Then when you've opened the door of my aunt's house, I almost kissed you right there. But for some reason I just had this disbelief in myself that I actually found you, without even searching. I wished I  realized that day that it was actually fate in a way.

"But despite of everything, we had our little adventure and ups and downs. You practically knew exactly how I felt already. So, Lora Croffard. Today I want us take our past and put it into  this box," He pulled  a small box out of his blazer's pocker. "To take this ring as a token of my love, other than the roses of course, and to give me the opportunity to ask you the question I've wanted to ask you for so long now. My dear, Cinderella. Will you marry me and give me the honour  to be your loving husband."

All the tears I've held back from earlier when I saw the roses, came out now. Screw my lovely makeup. I cried. Not because I was sad, but because I had waited so long for this moment, and it actually came.

"Yes. Yes. Yes. I will." He smiled with a relief in his eyes. The he put the ring onto my finger. He stood up and I kissed him before he even fully got his balance back, but he didn't hesitate to kiss me back. He picked me up and we twirled while the crowd clapped their hands and cheered.

Not that I payed any attention to them.

I was going to get married.

Married to the only person I'll ever love this much, Liam.

My Liam Lockwood.

"Here," Liam said  when we pulled away. In his hands were two roses. That's it. 143 roses.

**********

After a long and exciting day, not to mention the best day of my life, I fell onto my bed. After a while of just smiling like a idiot I grabbed my cellphone on my nightstand to text Liam.

Dear fiance

Thank you for tonight. I know now that it wasn't a graduation ball, but our engagement ball. Not that I'm complaining, it was much better.

Anyways, I just wanted to thank you and tell you that I love you like 143 roses. 143 is my favourite number now by the way.

I love you to every bits of pieces, Liam. See you later.

xoxo
Cinderella

A/N

That's it guys I hope you'd like going on a journey with me, Lora and Liam.

The epiloge will be next to finish of the story of xoxo Cinderella.

Thanks for the support

Love you guys.

Loviez 
Maruné