-Cole-

I stared at my computer, completely lost in my thoughts. I was supposed to be planning the shifts for the next three weeks, but the dates in the top bar had pushed me straight into my memories.

How did the time go by so fast? Was it really almost six months since Tony had stepped into my bar for the first time? Six whole months! God! Where did that time go?

I could still remember Randall, the man with fearful eyes and the darkest thoughts, unable to communicate, unable to handle emotions, walking through the doors... He had come so far since then. We still had hiccups, we still went to therapy together, but the man I now had living with me was miles away from the man I first met.

Tony was flirty. He was sassy. He was just as dramatic as I had expected all along. He was kind and generous. He was so lively that sometimes I couldn't tell if he talked more than I did.

His soul was breathtaking, just like I had predicted.

And I had the pleasure of basking in that beauty.

"Inventory is done. How's the schedule coming along?"

And now that he'd quit his job as a mechanic and started as one of my bartenders two months ago, I got to bask in that beauty even at work.

I turned to look at him. My love stood by the doorway with a clipboard in his hands, expecting for my answer. I was at a loss for words because of how breathtakingly beautiful he was in his tight black shirt and blue jeans, his short brown hair in a carefully planned mess. His eyes shining as he watched me...

"That bad, huh?" Tony asked with a chuckle when I didn't reply to him.

"No, sorry, I... uhh... I'm..." I glanced at the monitor again – I wasn't even halfway done. "It's... coming along."

He smirked at me and gave me the list of inventory. "You need help?"

"Nah, I'm just... Taking a trip down memory lane," I told him as I stood up so I could wrap my arms around him. "Did you know we've been together for six months now?"

He pecked my lips shortly. "I did, yes."

"Should we do something special this weekend to celebrate it?" I asked.

He wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Are we thinking of a date by the beach again?"

Our favorite kind of date, in our favorite restaurant – the one I took him to on our very first date months ago.

"Yes, we are," I said, hugging him tighter. "And... maybe I have something special in my mind as well."

"Oh?" he purred, placing his hands on my shoulders. "But in case that special plan involves this... certain... little box, I'd love it if it happened here in our bar."

Goddammit! Of course he'd guessed what I was planning on doing right away. Although this made things easier.

"Do you... want this certain little box to happen?" I asked carefully.

He wiggled his eyebrows again and kissed me. "What box?" he asked in an innocent voice, giving me a flirty smile before he left the office.

That was a yes. It was a yes, and for some reason, it still scared the crap out of me. I mean, that was a yes, right?

Oh my god I was suddenly a nervous wreck.

*****

On Saturday evening, I stood next to my drawers, holding a certain little box in my hands. I was all dressed up in my finest suit, waiting for Tony.

I was still nervous. Tony had not brought up the box even once, but he had become even flirtier. And handsy. Unless I was just imagining it? He knew what I was going to do, right? He had been referring to this little box I was holding, right?

My dear lord, why was this so scary??

"Cole?"

"In here."

I hurried to put the box into my pocket before Tony could see it. He stepped into our bedroom only a few seconds later, looking so goddamn hot my urge to get rid of his black suit and red shirt got nearly too much to handle.

"You look so fine," I murmured at the sight of him.

He smoothly twirled around, keeping his palms up, showing off his new outfit.

"So do you," he said, his gaze slowly making its way up and down my body. "More than fine..."

"Let's not forget we have a reservation," I spoke as he walked closer, looking like he was already undressing me in his mind.

"Let's not," he repeated almost absentmindedly, stopping in front of me. "But you do look good."

"Thanks. I work out," I said and playfully flexed for him.

"Oh? Maybe you'd like to show me your routine one day?" he asked in a flirty manner.

"What are you doing this evening?" I asked. "We could hit the gym together."

He let out a fake sigh. "I kinda have this thing I need to go to. Six-month anniversary and all that."

"And all that?" I repeated and laughed, breaking character. "Is that all I am to you?"

"Yes," he said quietly and pecked my lips. "All that."

I forgot to play around while I was melting into a happy little puddle in front of him. He kissed me again and flashed a smile at me.

"We probably should get going or we'll be late," he said.

"Okay," I breathed out, smiling back at him.

The dinner at the restaurant was amazing, as always. We ate good food, drank expensive champagne neither of us liked but still finished because it was a special occasion, and we talked.

And the entire time, I was a complete mess with the tiny box nearly burning inside my pocket. And Tony noticed this.

"Babe?" he said quietly, placing his hand on mine after I'd started tapping my foot on the floor without even noticing it myself.

"Hmm?"

"It'll be fine," he whispered with a warm smile. "Just relax."

I took in a deep breath and smiled at him. "Is it... too soon?" I asked.

"Is it?" he asked.

I stared at him for a while. "No," I finally said.

"Then you have nothing to worry about," he said.

"That is not helping at all," I said with a nervous chuckle.

"Why? What's the matter? You're acting like you're going to ask me to marry you," he said, turning his attention back to his food.

I forgot how to breathe. I was frozen solid. I was... No. He was... But he...! He had to know...!

He peered at me from the corner of his eye, fighting back a smirk.

"You..." I muttered. "I'm... You're messing with me."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said, hiding his smile from me.

This man... This beautiful, gorgeous man would be the death of me. And I'd die smiling...

Tony acted like he hadn't nearly given me a heart attack for the rest of the night at the restaurant. He had to be messing with me. He knew I was going to propose to him tonight, and he was trying to make it easier for me. In his playful manner. Which was not helping at all. Though it was funny, that I had to admit.

But man... This was the right time. It was the perfect time. That last name of his had to go. Every time he saw it printed on his mail, or when he had to introduce himself with that name always brought his mood down. He hated it. I hated it. I didn't even want to acknowledge a last name like that existed.

He was supposed to be Smith. Tony Smith. I'd already planned to do whatever it took to get his first name erased from the registers for good as well. We'd come up with another middle name for him. I'd do anything to take his pain away, and helping him get his name legally changed was one of the things I could do. It would be one less thing to remind him of his old life.

And then we arrived at the bar. I paid for the taxi and watched it drive away while Tony waited for me on the sidewalk.

I turned around to take a look at him, then at the bar. It was quite crowded. Of course, I was happy to see my little corner bar thriving after such a difficult journey to buy it, then get enough cash flow to declare it a success. Now it was full of life almost every night, but this time I would've preferred a quiet night.

Tony still didn't like being publicly affectionate, but since he wanted me to propose to him here... I'd asked my staff to keep our usual table behind the counter reserved. I'd planned to ask him to marry me quietly, without making a big fuss about it, so we wouldn't draw much attention.

But when I took his hand in mine, and tried to take the first step to the door, he stopped me. He gave me a smile and yanked my hand. He stepped away from the door, towards the corner of the building, and I followed, thinking he had changed his mind and he was leading me home.

But he stopped by the corner and looked up. The rainbow flag was right above us, flowing in the wind with pride.

Then he looked at me.

"I believe you have a question for me," he spoke quietly.

"I... huh?" I glanced around in the busy street, where we had no privacy whatsoever.

"It's all right," he said quietly, smiling at me.

I stared at him, studying his relaxed expression and the happy gleam in his eyes. His breathing was slow and steady, as he held his head high and posture calm. Nothing told me he was feeling bad in any way.

This was it.

I took the box out of my pocket, cleared my throat, and got down on one knee in front of him. I opened the box and let him see the wide, carved silver ring with a big red ruby in the middle of it – his favorite colors. His smile grew wider at the sight of it. A ring fit for a king. My king.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

For a short moment, the world seemed like it had stopped from turning. All I could do was stare up at him. At Tony, my fiancé. My future husband. My love, my everything. I could see tears glistering in his eyes. Happy tears – the same kind I had in mine.

I somehow managed to take my eyes off him so I could take the ring and put it on his finger. It was a perfect fit. Of course it was since he had "accidentally" let me know his ring size a few months ago. Almost like he had planned this whole thing a long time ago...

I stood up slowly, trying not to start crying in the middle of the street.

"I love you," Tony whispered, placing his hands on my chest.

I placed mine over his, the tears finally leaking down on my face. "I love you too."

It already was such a perfect moment, and I was so proud of him. There was no fear in his eyes even though people had to be watching us – I didn't know since I had forgotten all about the rest of the world.

And he showed just how brave he was when he got up on his toes and gently kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him when I kissed him back.

My future husband...

When he pulled away, his eyes never left mine. He had a wide smile on his lips.

"See? That wasn't so scary after all," he told me, and I laughed.

"Next time I'll make you do it so you can see what it's like," I said with a chuckle as I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and started leading him to the bar.

He just laughed at my words.

When we stepped into our bar, I wasn't ready for the storm of applauses we received – I hadn't even realized the whole bar had seen our moment outside. For a second, I worried it was too much for Tony, but he surprised me again by showing his new ring with a big smile on his face. He seemed really happy with the attention he was getting.

And I stared at him. I couldn't stop staring at this wonderful man. He'd come so far. He'd overcome so many obstacles.

He was finally the person he was meant to be.

And he was mine.

"We're getting married," he said when the people came closer to congratulate us.

I took it as a permission to shout my happiness at the top of my lungs.

"We're getting married!"