@StickyCarpet (love the username btw) requested this one. I hope you enjoy! I actually really like this one. As always, feel free to comment or PM me requests!

Fitz led Sophie away from the group's conversation. "Um, Sophie. There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"What?" He looked so nervous; Sophie's mind immediately ran through all the worst possibilities. They had been dating for three years, plus they were Cognates. If he was keeping something from her, it couldn't be good.

"Hey, Foster! What's wrong?" Keefe called from across the room. Fitz deflated, shoulders sagging as he sighed, rolling his eyes.

Keefe sauntered over, resting his hand on Fitz's shoulder. "C'mon, Fitzter. What's the big secret?"

Fitz must've transmitted something to Keefe, because his eyes widened with understanding. "Okay then. I'll see myself out."

Fitz led Sophie by the hand outside into Everglen's yard. He took a deep breath. "Sophie."

"Yes?" she said, a little unsteady.

"Before you worry too much, it's not bad. I promise."

She smiled, relieved.

"Well, it depends how you react, I guess. But probably not bad."

She paled.

He took another deep breath. "Sophie. I love you. I– You know that I love you. And I... I want to be more than..." He paused. "Sophie. I know we've only been together for three years, and most of that has been when we were fighting the Neverseen, so really it's like we've been together a few months but... I want to marry you."

He must've mistaken her silence for uncertainty, because he quickly continued. "And I know you never registered, so we'd be a Bad Match, but I don't care. And I know it's a lot of pressure to be a Vacker, but I just want to be with you–"

"Fitz," she cut him off. "I don't care either. I love you."

"So... yes?"

"Yes." She couldn't keep herself from grinning.