Authors Notes: First Fan fiction so be kind when reviewing... i don't own anything, just the idea. Otalia story in a couple years.
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Part 1: That Next Step
Today was the day… I was going to do this… no chickening out, no hesitations. This was it. My life has never been more complete. When Natalia entered my life I never thought I would be doing this... proposing. Asking her to commit to me, to spend the rest of her life by my side. I have been anxiously awaiting this and working to gather enough courage to do so.
It really wasn't so long ago that we couldn't stand each other. There was a time I would rather die than spend a minute with Natalia. But over the months and with more patients than I thought I had, we made it through. I love her more than I ever thought possible to love someone. Yes, I thought I was in love to some of the men I have married. Natalia is different. The love I have for her is undeniable the most potent drug I have ever been addicted to. I never thought this type of love would exist for me until Natalia changed that.
I want to do this. I'm ready for it and I'm almost 100% sure she is to. I mean really, come on, she practically picked out the ring that's in my pocket. That evening we just so happened to stop and look at new earrings lead to something I didn't think we were ready for.
"I really like this one, with the round cut and white gold band," Natalia pointed out through the glass. It was a beautiful 2-karate diamond ring. The salesperson retrieved it out of the case and Natalia slipped it on her finger. The look she had almost melted my heart. I never in a million years thought I would see someone so content and happy.
I had to be the spoilsport and make a mental note that all her other jewelry was yellow gold. "Won't it look odd with the white gold, when all your other jewelry is yellow," I asked her.
"I like the white gold though," she said with a little bit of a pout. "Yeah, it may not go with my other jewelry, but it will stand out and people will notice that I'm taken." With that she put on her ear to ear smile causing her dimples to stand out.
But after that hour-long discussion, there in the jewelry store about how if we could design our perfect ring what it would look like, I knew she was ready. The question was, was I?
It wasn't but a few days after that amazing evening with her, that I got the chance to talk with someone close to Natalia and get his perspective on if I should seriously take this next step and propose. Rafe was a big help. After a little difficulty and mixed emotions about me dating his mother, he warmed up to the idea of Natalia and I. I think he finally saw the connection.
"I have never seem mom so happy, in all my life," Rafe said sitting across the table from me. "I just want her to stay that way and never get hurt."
"Rafe, you know I would never…" I started. "I know. I just am protective. Sorry," he apologized.
"How 'bout at the Beacon on like the terrace. Or in the gardens," he suggested with a grin. "And I know mom really likes chocolate."
"You want me to put a little ring in a chocolate only for her to eat and choke on it? I don't think so, but I like the garden idea, maybe take a stroll through it."
"Olivia, their a million different ways to do this, just make it your own, but make it special for mom as well. Think about what the two of you both like," Rafe said, looking at me intensely.
We talked about ideas on how to ask his mother to commit to me. He was extremely supportive and truly believed that Natalia would be happy, even if we continued on the way we were. I appreciated Rafe's thoughts on this and went on to talk with one more person before making my final decision.
Emma was the one I was most worried about this effecting. While, yeah, there were some people that were initially disgusted and appalled to learn of Emma's two mommies, there were others that didn't even seem to care. Emma was excited when I told her what I wanted to do. She, in fact, wanted to help. Her suggestions as to how and when to ask were so cute. For a budding teenager, Emma was very insightful into the ways of proposals.
"What about in the park, under the stars? Or even at Company over a cup of coffee? There are so many options. Mom, what do you think," Emma kept rattling off so many suggestions, my brain was swimming in flowers, stars, and desserts to put the ring in.
"I was hoping to keep this somewhat simple," I explained to my daughter, as she quickly started scribbling down the ideas she had mentioned. "I like the outside under the stars idea."
"Well that's a start," Emma said grinning at me.