**Instagram post**

PghShann: Just grab your passport and my hand.... @Bastian17 #leavingonajetplane #offtopartsunknown #theSmythes💍#preweddingtrip #engagementmoon #seeyouinthenewyear #lovelovelove #my💙belongstoawarbler

BlaineWarbler: Have fun you two!!
Bastian17:  😘💋💍👰🏻🛫
BroadwayBerry:  OMG?!  Are they eloping??
hjclarington:  😒
BlueJay87: ^^^ 👀👀
CarterWalsh: @PghShann remember @dancerboiGabe still wants to meet @Bastian17

**end Instagram post**

I'm speechless when I look up from the box in my hands to Sebastian's face with wide eyes.  I should have expected this but I didn't, not really. At least not tonight.

He looks nervous.  "Pretty Girl?  Do you like it??  I tried to find the perfect one.  And I know, it is so terribly cliche to give an engagement ring as a Christmas gift but I couldn't help myself...."  His voice trails off as he reaches out to take the box from my hands, placing it on the floor in between us.  My eyes silently following his actions, breathing shallow and heart racing.  He takes my hands in his, removing the birthstone ring from my left hand and transferring it to my right.  Reaching down with nimble fingers he picks up the diamond ring, so delicate and simple.  Holding my left hand in one of his and the ring in the other he raises an eyebrow at me, smirk on his face as he waits for my response.  I nod mutely as he slips the ring onto my finger.

I can't help myself.

I lunge at him, pushing him onto his back as I cover his face in kisses. He giggles as his arms wind themselves around my waist pulling me tight to him as I continue to assault him with my lips. His hands leave my waist as he reaches up to cup my face, capturing my lips with his own. My kisses become less feverish as he eases me back to a sitting position. Sooner than I would like I have to stop to breathe and he rests his forehead against mine.

He whispers softly to me, "So I take it I did a good job?"  I can't help the smile on my face as I respond, "Sebastian, I don't know how you did it but it is honestly everything I ever imagined in my mind.  Simple, sweet and beautiful.  So ME...."  He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it, intertwining our fingers and turning my hand so the ring can catch the light from the tree.  "It reminded me so much of you, Shann.  Elegant, refined, demure, feminine and beautifully simplistic.  Understated.  Well as understated as it can be at 3 carats."

Holy shit?! 3 carats?!

"Sebastian?! That's too much.... This is going to make everything I got you seem small in comparison. Insignificant." He shakes his head and releases my hand, reaching for the two packages I passed him earlier again. "Nonsense Love. You're worth every penny. And being with you means more to me than anything else. So you were saying before that these two kind of go together?" I nod as he goes to unwrap the one from me first.

He looks up at me curiously as he holds the book in his hands.  "A London guidebook??"  I nod and point to the small gift from my parents, "Seb, just open it and you'll understand."  He nods and carefully sets about separating the wrapping paper from the envelope. He pulls out a letter and begins to read it aloud, my parents summarized it for me earlier but this is the first time I'm hearing specifics.

Dear Princess and Sebastian,
We're sorry we couldn't be there to spend your first engaged Christmas with you.  But we do so wish to see you both soon, to officially meet the man who stole our daughter's heart.  Enclosed is your Christmas and engagement gifts from the both of us.  Two round trip tickets to visit us in London, as well as prepaid Oyster cards to use for the Tube and buses as soon as you get here.  We are also going to set you up with your own little flat to use for the week or so while you are here so that you can have your privacy.  Once again congratulations and Merry Christmas to you both.
Love,
Mom & Dad
(Brenda & Steve)

His eyes grow wide as he looks at the plane tickets they tucked behind the letter.  "Princess, they bought us first class tickets!!  How??  Wouldn't they have needed like, my passport information or something??"   I shrug, still not quite sure how to explain everything.  "I'm guessing your parents must have talked to my parents at some point.  Or at least your mother because my mom commented about liking her accent." He pulls me close, hugging me and kissing my cheek. "Love, we're going to England..."

Yea.... We're going to England.

We spend the next hour or so exchanging the rest of our gifts to each other. I got Sebastian a lovely new leather wallet with his initials stitched into it, a posh scarf that will go great with his uniform and a personalized picture frame with our names on it and a picture of us inside. And of course, gift cards for the Lima Bean.  He smirks at me as he opens that one because I'm totally feeding into his caffeine addiction.  He got me some really sweet things as well.  An impossibly soft, baby pink cashmere sweater.  A small basket full of coconut scented body products.  Some how he was even able to procure the newest 'Clarks' cd that I wasn't even sure they were releasing outside of Pittsburgh yet.

All the presents now opened we sit together underneath a blanket in front of the fire with mugs of hot chocolate.  I'm nibbling on one of the sugar cookies as Sebastian extends my hand so that he can inspect the ring now sitting on my finger.  "I'm even impressed by my instincts on this one.  I did a fairly decent job without anyone's help..." My eyes flicker from the ring to his face, "You didn't ask for anyone's advice? Not your mom? Not Blaine or Rachel?" He shakes his head and gives me a smile that would make my knees weak if I weren't already sitting down. "And have them see it before you? NEVER!! I'm pretty proud of the fact that I know you well enough to find exactly the right one on my own."

I set down my cookie and go to kiss him on the cheek but he turns quickly so that he can capture my lips with his.  He keeps kissing me as he pushes me gently to lay down on the carpet in front of the fireplace.  His lips leave mine as he hovers over me with a sexy glint in his eyes.  My voice comes out as breathy when I speak to him, because of the intensity of his kisses and the way he is looking at me.  "Sebastian.... I thought you were extolling the benefits of your bed this morning.  And now you have me on the floor again?" He seems to contemplate my words for a moment before placing a small kiss to my forehead and sitting back up. I'm pouting as he offers me his hand so that I can sit and then pulls us both to his feet. "Good point Pretty Girl."

He speeds our cups and my cookie back into the kitchen and then pulls me towards the stairs. I'm laughing as he leads me up to his room......

Waking up on Christmas morning everything from last night feels surreal, like a beautiful dream. Sebastian's fingers are trailing up and down my spine causing me to shiver underneath his touch. He presses a soft kiss to my hair as I open my eyes. I can hear him whispering, "I'm sorry Princess. I didn't mean to wake you."  I extend my hand to run my fingers across his chest when I catch sight of the brilliant, shining diamond ring sitting prominently on my finger.   I lift my head to look into his eyes, knowing mine must be bright.  Sebastian....   He smiles and gives me a small nod.  "I know Princess.  I know."

I drop my head back down onto his chest and wrap both of my arms around his torso, hugging him tightly.  "Merry Christmas Sebby..."

"Merry Christmas Love."  He squeezes his arms tighter around my waist and buries his face in my hair.  It's faint but I know I can make out him mumbling.

Best Christmas ever...