Aiden sat across Aru, holding her fingers and softly toying with them, caressing them, even.

Aru knew this behavior was different; Aiden wasn't usually so openly romantic in public, but who was Aru to complain? She liked it.

At twenty-five, she'd submitted her first audition for this new upcoming superhero movie, and she'd had a steady relationship of six years, and she was proud of herself for achieving things she probably wouldn't have achieved if she hadn't gone out of her comfort zone.

She sipped her coffee, looking at Aiden through the steam rising through the cup. His face looked neutral as he rubbed circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. The only sign that he was doing something different was the glint in his eyes, the same glint that was there when Aru had finally told him that she liked him.

Aiden retrieved his hand from hers, and put it in the pocket of his jacket, returning with a ring.

He slid it on Aru's ring finger, and she started to internally freak out.

"Doesn't this look nice?" He asked her, rubbing circles on her hand again.

"What the fuck?"

Her brain lagged, much like it did whenever Aiden kissed her.

Oh.

"It looks nice, right?" Aiden asked again, openly looking at her with such an intensity that Aru looked back at her finger.

'So this is how he decided to propose.' She thought, and a bright smile took over her face.

"It does..." She said, "but where are you going with this?"

Aiden put his hand back in his pocket, showing a slightly larger ring. He put it in her hands, giving her his left hand.

Aru put the ring on his ring finger, before saying something.

"What does this mean?" She asked, the smile on her face unwavering. "What are we now?"

He rolled his eyes. "Friends, obviously."

She looked at him again, matching his unflinching gaze. "Sir–yeah we're totally friends. Ask the damned question, you dork."

"Are you ready to put up with me for a lifetime, Shah?"

Aru acted as though she was thinking about it. "What are the terms and conditions? And the fine print?"

He shrugged, the glint in his eyes more apparent. "You'll have to deal with me loving you."

Raising her eyebrows, Aru began to speak. "But don't I already? Am I missing something here?"

Aiden exhaled, plastering an artificially annoyed look on his face.

Aru loved that look.

"Are you going to marry me or not, Aru Shah?"

"You know, snob, people usually ask that before they give the ring. Not like I'm saying no, I definitely wouldn't, but if I did–"

Aiden laughed, and leaned forward over the coffee table, kissing her square on the mouth in front of everyone in the cafe.

Aru's brain slowed down, feeling at peace while her heart raced faster than it did every other time.

'Maybe,' she thought. 'Maybe it was because I'm finally building something permanent with Aiden.'

Aiden pulled away. "Am I going to be getting a proper answer now, Shah?"

"When we get married, you won't be able to call me that anymore." Aru mused.

"What makes you think I won't? I'll just take your last name." He winked, knowing he got the most straight-to-the-point answer he would get from Aru.

"Aiden Shah does have a nice ring to it." Aru said, adding in the pun on rings in her sentence.

All Aiden did was laugh.

"Well then, Mr. Acharya. Did you just buy the rings or is there a wedding planned?"

He kissed her again. "We're planning it together, Shah."

Aru rolled her eyes. "Obviously."

~~~

"Wow, Aiden, you look hot." Kara commented. "Don't eye me like that, it's literally your wedding day, I'm not trying to make moves on you."

"I'm just thankful I don't have to wear one of those ugly suits." Aiden rolled his eyes.

"You could've at least gotten married in something semi-formal, you know." Kara noted his appearance. "But you chose to get married in a hoodie and jeans."

"They're comfortable." He protested.

"Oh come on. You wear them all the time." his mom crossed her arms. "Even Aru's wearing something different right now. It's not too late to change."

"No thanks, mom."

"Suit yourself, then." Malini said. And then she joked, "maybe I'll go talk Aru out of the wedding."

"She won't let you." He smiled, knowing she was joking.

"Debatable, I could let her," said someone. He knew who it was, because how could he ever forget that voice?

It still sent shivers down his spine, even after all those years together.

"Wow, you would choose my mom over me?" Aiden clutched his heart and feigned pain, not turning back to see her. "It hurts right here, in my heart. Which I'm still waiting for you to give back, by the way."

"No can do. You gave it to me, I'm not giving it back." Aru ruffled his hair. "Dear friend."

Everyone looked at them in confusion. He sighed. "How long are we going to keep that up, friend?"

"Until I'm legally married to you, which is in an hour, bestie." Aru smiled.

He could hear Camilla whisper to Kara in the most confused tone, "Am I missing something here?"

Kara whispered back, "It's another one of their things, probably."

"Let's leave, everyone." Malini ushered them out. "It's their time now, before the wedding."

As everyone left, Aiden asked, "Can I see you yet?"

"Depends, bestie. Planning to fall for me again?"

"Oooh, a confident queen. I definitely won't. What makes you think that, buddy?" Aiden got up.

"I just know. Turn around."

And Aiden, most definitely, obviously, undoubtedly, fell for her all over again.

It wasn't like she was wearing anything extravagant. In fact, she didn't look much different than before. Sure, her clothes were different: black velvet with balloon sleeves, studded with gold pearls. Her skirt was high-waisted, dark gold and had foil lightning bolts.

"Okay. I lied, I fall in love with you again."

"I know. It's on your face." Aru smiled, but he could see how stressed out she was.

"You're doing it again." He sighed. "The thing where you use pretend confidence as a coping mechanism. What's wrong?"

Aru sighed. "Nothing ever escapes you, does it."

He noted that it wasn't a question, just a statement.

"When it comes to you? Nothing can." Aiden walked to her.

"Funnily, I'm scared about everything I shouldn't." Aru let him walk to her. "I'm scared about looking good in the photos."

"There's no way you can't," he snorted. "I took photos without you knowing for weeks, and you looked good in every one."

"Ohhh, I'm soooo reassured." Aru rolled her eyes. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Aiden hugged her. "But I'm not joking, you are a natural when it comes to photos. It'll be great."

"Okay." She smiled.

The wedding was really casual. Just their closest friends and family, making it around 15 people at the wedding. The Potatoes, including Camilla, the twins, Aru's parents and Aiden's mom, and obviously, Boo.

They didn't have anything too fancy, but it all didn't matter, because they were getting married in the studio. In their studio. Everything happened there after all. They met, Aiden confessed, Aru confessed that she liked him, and then...

It was where they had their very first kiss.

The vows were even more casual, and then after, as everyone left, the real stuff came.

Something that Aiden had been planning, without Aru knowing.

"You can't call me bestie anymore." Aiden told her, setting his speaker on the table. "You promised."

"I suppose I did." Aru smiled. "What are you doing there?"

The warm, orange light emitted from the fairy lights he'd set up in the studio. As waltz music came from the speaker, he saw Aru realize what he was doing.

"I owe you a dance, Aru Shah." Aiden turned to her. He stuck out his hand, "May I have this dance?"

"I don't know how to."

"I'll teach you." He smiled, with a glint in his eyes. Aru put her hand in his and said, "You may."

Aiden smiled as he pulled her in, kissing her again.

"Those snapshots were useful after all."

The snapshots had brought them here today, slow dancing in each other's arms.

And the albums that were their own little secret still overflowed.

so snapshots is over, but I think we forgot the little things, didn't we? hmmm.
stay tuned for all the little things, the 3 bonus chapters, updating at the regular time!

before we forget, thanks archivist, sleep-can-wait , for the idea of making aiden acharya, aiden shah.