(Takes place after "Evermore")

Steve

I asked Mom for a Thursday and Friday off work for Lee and I, I then talked to Queen Verena and she gave us permission to stay in the Alfheim palace for the long weekend. I told Lee we were taking a spur of the moment vacation, then we went on our way to our destination. Once we arrived, it only took about a half an hour to settle into our grand suite, which goes beyond the imagination of what 'grand' means. The walls, the furniture, the decor...it's all gold. Actually gold. Queen Verena said that the suite was built for honored guests who visit Alfheim, and despite her differing opinion on the matter, I think we don't qualify to stay in this room. It's far too beautiful and luxurious, I already know I'm going to break something. But that's the least of my worries right now.

Once we both finish gawking at our room, I convince Lee to take a walk with me in the palace gardens, where my plan will be set in motion. I picked the exact spot in the gardens where I will pop the question, I rehearsed what I will say over a dozen times...but I can't shake the feeling that this whole plan is going to unfurl and go to complete shit.

I have never been more nervous in my entire life.

I know Lee can tell, he's not stupid. I can only hope he hasn't caught onto what the purpose of this impromptu vacation is. Though knowing him, he probably does.

That only makes me more nervous.

"This place is really beautiful." I remark for about the third time.

It's true, the gardens are absolutely breathtaking. Stone pathways wind and twist around bushes of flowers, trees that are probably as ancient as the queen stand tall and strong, a little pond lies in the center where gold and silver fishes swim around. And hanging in the trees and on lampposts are lanterns filled with balls of light.

It's the perfect place to propose.

Lee nods, trying to hide his smile. "Yes it is."

"I hope you don't feel like I kidnapped you here or anything. I know you were working on a case with Dad, but...I didn't just bring you here—to Alfheim I mean—for no reason. I mean not for anything serious—well, actually yes, serious, but not like I'm dying of cancer and I wanted to tell you somewhere pretty 'serious'."

What the hell was that? I internally groan and wish that one of the trees would fall and put me out of my misery. I sneak a glance at Lee and find him still fighting off a smile. He says nothing though, he just waits for me to continue.

Great. If he didn't know why I brought him here before he certainly does now.

I decide to press on, gulping audibly, fighting the urge to wipe my forehead of sweat. "We've been dating for seven years—I mean of course you knew that...ever since I met you, I knew that—God, do I suck at this."

"No! No, you're doing great! Keep going." Lee urges me, excitement and hope filling his gaze. It gives me the push I need to continue.

I turn fully towards him, and with an uneven sigh, get down onto one knee. Lee's smile grows as he watches me do this, and I feel a smile of my own grow in answer. I fish a vibranium ring out of my pocket, gripping it between my forefinger and thumb, and hold it up to him.

"You're the love of my life, Lee. I want to spend every single second of the rest of my life with you. So, Liam Haaris Knight, will you marry me?"

Lee nods proficiently, his voice strained as he says: "Of course I will."

I practically jump to my feet, slipping the ring onto his finger. I don't know who kisses who first, but now my hands are fisted in his shirt, his hands are digging into my hair, and we're kissing like we're two people dying of thirst who have just found water. When we finally pull away from each other, we're both out of breath, and I notice both of our cheeks are wet with tears.

"Sorry for such a crummy proposal." I murmur, kissing his lips briefly again.

He shakes his head, his smile bright and unwavering. "It was perfect. And the ring is beautiful."

"You can't give me credit for that one. Mom helped me pick it out."

"She was in on this?"

"Pretty much everyone but you was, yeah. I told them I was going to bring you here and propose two weeks ago and they've all been chomping at the bit to say something. Dad was the worst. There were several times I had to yell at him for almost spoiling the surprise."

Lee lets out a laugh, his hands sliding down to the nape of my neck. "I noticed him and the others acting odd, and you have been more awkward and dorky than usual. I admit I suspected you were bringing me here to propose...but I didn't want to get my hopes too high in case I was wrong."

I kiss his mouth, then his chin, then his nose. "Well you were right."

"Thank Shiva I was. Do my parents know?"

"Yes, they do. I got their blessing to propose a few days ago. I honestly didn't think they'd be all that thrilled, but they were pretty enthusiastic."

"Why didn't you think they'd be thrilled?" He inquires.

I shrug. "I don't know, I just never got the impression they liked me all that much."

"They love you, Stevie. It's just the situation around me choosing to live with your family over them that makes them a little...distant around you and the others. It's not personal."

"I know," I sigh, resting my hands comfortably on my fiancé's hips. I let out a giggle at the thought. Lee is my fiancé. He's going to marry me. I'm so giddy I voice this aloud: "You're going to be my husband."

Lee shares in my giddiness and pulls me closer to him, still cupping my nape. "And you're going to be mine."

"What do you think we should do about last names?" I inquire, thinking about what different members of my family have done in answer to this question. "We could always just keep our names, or we could hyphenate...though 'Knight-Barnes' doesn't roll off the tongue. How about 'Barnes-Knight'? Nope. That's worse. We could—"

"Could I take Barnes as my last name?" Lee asks quietly, stopping me in my rambling. He looks nervous, likes he's worried by how I'll react.

"Of course you can!" I assure him, thankful when he begins to relax, that beautiful smile of his returning to his lips. "Why would you think I'd say no?"

Lee shrugs, letting out a sigh. "I don't know."

"You've been apart of the Barnes family for years now, I think it's only right that you take the last name. 'Liam Barnes' has a nice ring to it. Actually, it sounds super hot.

He smiles at that, letting out a chuckle. "You say that a lot." He observes.

"What? That you're hot? You are. And on top of that you have an awesome personality and you put up with my shit. I don't know how I got so lucky."

Lee kisses me softly, his hands now resting on my shoulders. "I ask myself the same question all the time."

I try to sound as dramatic as possible as I say: "This is the part where you compliment me and tell me how smokin' hot I am too."

Lee kisses me again, chuckling against my lips. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? You're smokin' hot, and you have a killer personality to go along with your killer good looks."

I hum to myself, satisfied now. "Thank you."

Lee rolls his eyes. "You're such a dork."

"As you tell me often." I grin unabashedly, and it makes him chuckle again.

The humor suddenly leaves Lee's expression, and replacing it is warm tenderness. It simultaneously makes my heart ache and a shiver race down my spine. "I can't wait to marry you," His voice is just a whisper, like the words are only for my ears to hear. "You're everything I have ever wanted, Stevie. You're my whole world."

"Wow." Is all I manage to say, and it sounds more like a sigh.

Lee laughs gently and uses my shoulders to haul me closer to him, so now there's no space between our bodies. Only our faces are apart, but only by an inch. I can feel his breath mingling with mine, feel his eyes latched onto mine as if holding me in a trance.

"I love you, Lee," I blurt out, like I can't help but say it. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too." He tells me gently, then he kisses me again and it's anything but gentle.

Not that I'm complaining.