A/N: Hallo! This first chapter is a bit of a prologue to their wedding plus a snapshot of the proposal. Evie is 24 and Doug is 25 by their wedding day. I like to think they waited until they were financially and emotionally stable enough to be married, given they had a bit of a fall out after college which will be revisited later in the story. Initially, it was set up to jump right into wedding prep, given the fact I wrote an entire engagement fic before I deleted my fanfiction collection earlier this year. But without that, there is no background for you all to this event. Coming back to fanfiction, I feel like I've improved my writing since then, but I'm still a bit insecure about my written works. I would love to hear from you, though! On with the story… (BookSugar)
They had been picking apples together in an apple orchard, something Evie had adored since she found that the locations existed. After graduating from college and a few years later, Doug planned the most important date of their lives. Despite knowing exactly what to do, what to say and bracing for any rejection, he was beyond nervous. Fretting over how to approach her and how to smoothly make that transition, Evie's giggles snapped him out of his trance.
"Doug, you look like you've seen a ghost. I suppose my minimal makeup is a bit frightening" Evie said smiling as he shook his head, his cheeks turning a pinky blush.
"No, never. You're gorgeous. I'm just feeling a bit anxious" he said reciprocating a smile. Evie frowned a bit and gave a little smirk, confused as to his unusual behavior.
"Okay, then…" Evie said as she collected more apples off of lower branches. She gestured for him to join her and of course he did. At a close proximity, Doug continued to steal glances at his girlfriend. A feeling he couldn't quite explain, sent chills of love down his spine. Her rosy cheeks, her chocolate chips of eyes and her long blue waves that complimented her glowing face, oh how he could never have imagined dating a Princess as marvelous as she who stood before him. Doug felt her hand slip into his, as she with exquisite grace, set her basket down. Notably shorter than he, given she wore flat boots compared to her usual heels, she looked up facing him and took hold of his other hand.
"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked softly. "I don't think you're here with me right now, but I want to enjoy this moment with you" she said her eyes suddenly full of concern. Doug cleared his throat, biting his lip.
"I–I want to talk about something," he began as his heartbeat fastened. Evie's eyes widened with confusion. Could he really be breaking up with me? Evie thought.
"I did something wrong, didn't I?" Evie fretted. "I'm sorry if I made a mistake–" she began. Doug let go of her hands, cursing himself for screwing his word choice. He instead gently cupped her face as he caressed her cheek. Doug hushed her with a tender smile.
"Evie, you have been the apple of my eye since I met you" Doug said as they both chuckled at his cheesy statement. "Dating you for the past six years has been the best thing that has happened to me. I think we both know that our two years apart was difficult and something we never wished to happen and I'm sorry. I knew from the beginning that you would change my life forever. I realized that under that pretty face was something I could never stop thinking about. Something that I don't have enough words to describe how beautiful it is. Your grace and poise shows through everything you do. The way you are so keen to learning and how curious you are is what makes you so much more attractive. I adore the way you have a heart for people in need and are always caring for others. We can laugh and talk for hours on end. I don't think I can imagine being with anyone but y–you," He slightly stuttered as as he got down on one knee and Evie covered her mouth with her hand. A few years slipping from her eyes, she smiled and he kissed her hand.
"Genevieve Rose Queen, will let me love you forever and marry me?" He asked, beautifying her name with every word as he opened the small box. Tears were now streaming down Evie's cheeks and she thanked the heavens she didn't wear a thicker coat of mascara.
"Y-yes" Evie stuttered in awe. He stood up and slipped the hand crafted ring on her finger. Tiny diamonds covered silver band. Towards the middle, there were smaller diamonds leading to a princess cut ruby centerstone. She wrapped her arms around him as she couldn't believe the stone that now bedazzled her left hand. "Thank you. I love you so much," Evie whispered her eyes closed, her head resting in his neck as she stood in his embrace.
"It's an honor. My fiancé is no less than the fairest of them all" He said brushing his lips over her ear, generating a small blush in her cheeks and a wider smile drawing over her face. "I love you, too"
Rapt in the moment, Evie's mind had flown away with the light breeze as Autumn leaves routinely blew around. Either of them wanted to let go of the moment and just as soft as the breeze, Evie felt lips to her own as a few sparks of genuinity and love, warmed her the slightest bit.
Opening her eyes with a smile on her face, she awoke from her dream. She put her fingers to her lips, craving the softness of the kiss. Looking down at her bare left hand, she reached into her drawer and pulled the ring from her first piece of jewelry, a necklace, that Doug ever made for her
This time tomorrow, she would be waking up next to her high school sweetheart in Summerland. Just 10 months ago, he had proposed to her and August 3rd had now come so quickly.
She had chosen to sew her dress missing out on the bridal shopping that she had witnessed for her friends, including Mal. Creating her dream dress that she had envisioned since she was a bitty Princess, caused more stress than she anticipated. Despite a few slip ups, everything had been on schedule as of last night and her dusk fairytale, was coming into sight. She knew this would be the biggest day of her life and the most impactful. She got up from her bed and opened the curtains. Sunshine poured through the loft windows. She smiled ever so wide at the cityscape before her.
"Evie?" Maren, daughter of Merida, Evie's college roommate and close friend said coming into the second bedroom. She was unresponsive as she sighed and looked out the window. Maren tapped her shoulder. "Evie!"
She turned around with clear excitement in her eyes. "Sorry, Maren, I just can't believe it!"
"I can't either. My roommate is leaving me now" she playfully pouted referring to Evie's former roommate who moved to Camelot Heights and for the past few years, the two had been roomies. Evie sympathetically hugged the girl who only stood at 5'1" and went into the bathroom, brushing her teeth.
"V, are you nervous at all? I mean you're taking the big leap. By tonight, you'll be Mrs. White" Maren said with concern in her voice. "Maybe I'm just too attached to the thought of us both having boyfriends. I guess the thought of having a married couple as friends is strange"
Evie peeked from the door, toothbrush in her mouth as she inaudibly disagreed and shook her head before she disappeared again. When her mouth was empty, she replied.
"Mar, this is exactly how I felt when I was 18, and Mal was preparing to get married. We were basically still teens and my 19 year old friend was becoming Queen. I got used to it, well until she had Prince Mitchell and I'm pretty sure I cried. It was scary to think my 21 year old friend is married, Queen of Auradon and has a infant son. The same friend who was murdering frogs and putting them in Maddy Mim's cot, drinking dirt coffee, and failing BioChemistry" Evie said holding her friend's hands in sympathy as she let go and went to grab her outfit for the day.
"I don't know. Don't you think it'll be weird?" Maren sighed dramatically as Evie chuckled as she closed her door and came back out in a white T-shirt reading "Bride" and a pair of jean shorts.
"Sometimes it's strange to think about, I mean it's a commitment we're ready to make. But is it a bit troublesome to say I'm nervous to completely transfer from being his girlfriend to being his wife? I think we're both ready after dating for years, but it's a tad overwhelming" Evie admitted.
"True, I mean I only knew you guys for a few years, but you guys definitely have the connection and chemistry. I think you are beyond ready to share a life. I just don't know if you should leave me hanging like this, though" Maren said giggling as Evie playfully rolled her eyes.
"You'll be fine, Maren. We're all still good friends and we'll meet up every now and then until you and Jackson get married. Then we can trash our husbands together!" Evie grinned playfully speaking of her fiancée's college bud who was a lucky victim of Evie's matchmaking.
"What?!" Maren said turning crimson as she looked away and fidgeted with her hands. "I'm not ready!"
"How many times have I heard that?" Evie said chuckling. "I need to go check on the flowers and double check they're going to be ready by three" Evie said smirking as she saved Maren a bout of rosy cheeks by changing the subject. The two soon broke into contagious laughter as Maren threw a pillow at Evie who swiftly turned around, throwing it right back. For a few moments, Evie relived her last bits of her former college kid relationship with immaturity and spontaneity, that would soon disappear for an incredible event of maturity and commitment.