Title: Ultimatum
Author: shiny cate
Rating: K+
Pairings: Rose/Scorpius
Summary: She's madly in love and she knows exactly what she wants. Rose wants to be married.
Notes: Rough. Very rough. I'm actually really sorry about just how rough it is.
Rose wants to be married.
It's embarrassing to hear herself say it. She's always made the point of being an enlightened, modern woman who doesn't need stereotypes to sustain her self-esteem. But when she looks into her heart Rose knows she wants it all; a white picket fence, a little house with an English garden, a gorgeous husband and several chubby children to care for. And it's not even about stereotypes, it's about building something with the love of her life.
But they've been together forever and there's never been the whisper of a proposal. She understands it's hard for him, he's been married before and it stripped open his heart, as subtle as a jackhammer. But her fantasies of sun-soaked, lazy Sunday afternoons and bed-time stories and curling up by the fire together on snowy nights spur her into action.
She plans her ultimatum. It hurts her to so harsh, but she can't imagine a life piled high with regrets. That's unthinkable. He invites her out for dinner and as they're sitting waiting for their meal, Rose feels physically ill. This is it, she tells herself, this is the moment when you break up with the love of your life because of your own selfishness. She's literally sweating, and can feel her pulse around her.
He's telling her a joke his friend has pulled at work and his eyes are dancing as he weaves the story with hands. His voice is deep and melodious, his eyes hypnotising, his blonde hair looks impossibly soft and she can't look away. Taking time to bask in her last moments in his presence. She knows she should be laughing at his story but she can't even pay attention, just stares. He soon realises her distraction, "Rose are you okay?"
She freezes. This is it, tell him now, her heart whispers. The ultimatum forms in her head: Marry me or I can't be with you. Marry me or I can't live the life I need to live. But before she can stop herself two words come stumbling from her lips and it's not what she had planned.
"Marry me."
And he smiles beautifully and laughs gently and leans in to kiss her, simple and chaste but with the sweet promise of more. "Of course, of course I will." And as Rose stares into this beautiful man's eyes she wonders how she could have thought he would ever fail her.