Author's Note: This fic is going to include significant amounts of angst, but its primary theme is going to be the fluffy fact that loving, committed couples can face even the most difficult problems and resolve them by working together in a supportive, compassionate way. It's going to take a while, though, and will sometimes get rocky along the way. I've been posting it on AO3 and Tumblr (where I am "adorkablephil" in both places), but hadn't gotten around to posting it here yet, so I'm posting 3 chapters at once. I hope to be a bit more prompt about posting the rest of the chapters here. :)
Chapter 1: Prologue
Dan opened the black velvet box and looked at the two slim platinum bands nestled inside. In one, a small embedded circle of onyx glittered—in the other, a complementary circle of aquamarine. He knew it was more traditional to offer a single engagement ring when proposing, but it seemed to him more appropriate that he wear a ring as well. He and Phil were equals in this relationship, and both of them would be engaged to be married, so both of them should wear rings as a sign of that commitment.
Another black velvet box in the bedside drawer they never used, since they always slept in Phil's room, held the two simple platinum bands that they would exchange when they spoke their actual vows.
He didn't know why he was so nervous! After all, he had little doubt that Phil would say yes. They'd been happily committed to each other for several years and had endured many ups and downs, but had always faced all life's challenges together and overcome them. In the past couple years, they had spoken often of the future and made many bright plans. They were de facto members of each other's families already. It was just … time to make it official.
Excited butterflies stirred in Dan's stomach.
He pictured Phil's face when he pulled out the rings and said the heartfelt words he had practiced so many times in the mirror when Phil wasn't home. He pictured Phil's tremulous smile. He wondered if Phil might tear up. He thought he'd come up with a pretty romantic proposal, if he did say so himself. Yes, they'd already talked many times about future plans together, but there would only be one moment when one of them actually proposed, and the other actually said yes, and they actually agreed that they were going to get married and spend the rest of their lives together. Dan wanted to make that moment as special as possible, so he'd tried to put all his feelings into words and couldn't wait to look into Phil's eyes when he spoke them.
He couldn't decide where to put the precious box. It didn't feel right to just put it in his suitcase, but it would also feel a little weird to carry it in his pocket during their entire trip to the Isle of Man. In the end, he decided that his coat pocket was really the only safe place.
"Hey, you ready to go? The taxi should be here any minute." Phil poked his head into the room. Dan smiled fondly at him and nodded, then zipped up his suitcase and put on his coat before they headed together toward the front door, pulling their luggage behind them.
When they boarded the plane, Dan declined to put his coat in the overhead bin and instead just took his seat wearing it, even though it really was too warm. He put his hand in his pocket many times during the flight, each time cradling that small velvet box in his hand and imagining the moment when he would get Phil alone at the edge of the crashing ocean waves and finally give the little speech that would start the rest of their lives together.
He glanced at Phil whenever he imagined that moment, and he admired the paleness of his lover's skin and how his dark hair fell across his forehead and how his soft lips pursed slightly with concentration on whatever he was reading on his laptop. Occasionally Phil would glance up and catch his eye and smile.
This stunningly beautiful, wonderful man is going to be my husband, Dan thought, holding the secret close and cherishing it. Our happily ever after starts on this very trip, and he doesn't even know it yet.