Alright first thing's first. I've never written anything like this story before in my 8 years of writing fanfiction, and I can't imaging writing anything like it ever again, really.

Also, this takes place beginning in 2030, and will jump around a bit between the next few years, but please bear with me, as it is very important. And most of the story is somewhat flashbacks until certain points.

Unfortunately, I must put a SPOILER alert on this. You really need to have read all the novels (at least the end of 9) in order to fully enjoy this story, as it takes place years after volume 10. Being familiar with Kawahara's other work, Accel World, may also help, but that isn't really as necessary as reading SAO.

This story can be read as a continuation to my other fanfic Moments. I designed it so these two stories fit together, although it's not mandatory to have read Moments first. If you're coming from reading that story, I hope you enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online.

The Miracle Of Loving You

Chapter 1. Planning

Kazuto Kirigaya was a young man, 22 years old, with a fairly easygoing life.

Several months ago, he had returned to Japan from America, accompanied by the woman whom he had been madly in love with for the past 8 years.

After he had asked her to join him in his trip to America, various events had taken place and problems arouse before they actually managed to get their plane tickets. They had gone during the American summertime and aside from the heavy duties of studying, the couple had also enjoyed many relaxing days out, be it at the beach, amusement parks, or local markets, before returning to their hotel room each night.

Those days were full of stress for work, but also of love, considering it had been their first time truly alone together excluding the times they spent together in the virtual worlds. But America had been an entirely different world in different ways; there were problems equivalent to boss-level monsters or as petty as a basic NPC quest, but the best part had undoubtedly been the lack of restrictions. They spent every night together, side by side, watching TV, reading books, and anything else they needed or wanted to do.

It was during each of those nights, with Asuna cuddled up asleep beside him, when Kazuto seriously began to think about when he should propose to her. He had saved enough money for various things, and knew that he had already made her wait too long already. Although those nights spent alone together made it feel like they were already married, there was still something lacking in the atmosphere; he wanted to find them a house back in Japan and be sure it was secure before deciding to alter her life forever.

He knew she probably waited every day for him to pull out that small box and get down on one knee, but she never seemed disappointed when he did not, either.

But surely, after almost 10 years of being together, she was growing as anxious as he was?

It was on one of their last nights together in American when Kazuto had decided what to do once they returned home; he would return to his work with testing online game modules for a while and search for the perfect ring, and he vowed to officially make her his wife within the upcoming year.

It was a lot to ponder and it all weighed significantly on him, but Kazuto had been planning this for the last portion of his life, and he was sure he was more than ready for it.

It was now one month before New Year's, and Kazuto was just about to leave work when he received a phone call on his cell phone.

When he recognized the nostalgic number, he half smiled and half grimaced as he answered. "Hello?"

"Oy, Kirito! Long time, no talk!" The hearty, deep voice was obviously Klein's; the man was in his 30s now, but still talked like a teenager. "You free this weekend? I gotta ask you about something."

"It's only been 3 days since we last talked." Kazuto sighed. "But yes, I'm free around noon." He informed his old friend.

"Great! We'll go to Agil's!" Klein decided rudely before hanging up.

"Wha-!" Kazuto called into the speaker but heard only the generic beeping sound of a person who was hung up on. "Idiot. At least tell me what this is about..." Although he mumbled that, Kazuto had a fairly good idea of what Klein was going to address.

Kazuto had recently started to consult his good friend for advice about Asuna. Although Klein was still what they liked to call a 'solo player in the game of love', he did somehow seem to know a thing or two about women. Naturally, he did not know Asuna personally as well as Kazuto did, however, he had put in some good advice for Kazuto regarding her in the past.

Kazuto wanted to make absolutely sure everything from here on out would go smoothly, therefore asking both Klein and Agil - a successfully and happily married man - their opinions on some things, Kazuto knew he could pull it off.

Although Kazuto attended University along with Asuna some days, they both still lived at their respective homes. Asuna had also successfully managed to maintain her job at a daycare school that paid well, which was run by her good friend Rika's mother. Luckily, Kazuto's and Asuna's work and school schedules coincided. Therefore, before Kazuto returned home every night, he would drive over in his, of course, black car to take her home.

As he did so today, he immediately spotted Asuna leaving the school, three of the children she had been babysitting waving happily as she left them to their parents.

"Ah, Kirito-kun! Just in time!" She waved at him as he pulled up. Unlike his more formal work attire, her clothes were more casual: a long skirt, a blouse, and an apron tied around her waist. A stunning beauty of 23 years, she was definitely the perfect picture of a housewife.

As Kazuto caught himself thinking such thoughts, he quickly shook them off; he knew no matter how much he wanted to work and allow her to relax and stay home, she would definitely punch him if he ever said it out loud.

Just like always, there was no way Asuna would let him do everything by himself as she stayed someplace safe and quiet.

As she got into the car, Asuna quickly leaned over to kiss his cheek.

"It's getting cold out. You should start wearing warmer clothes." He noted.

"Geez, Kirito-kun..." she muttered. "I haven't seen you all day and that's the first thing I hear from you?" She puffed out one cheek in a pout, still the exact same expression she had always shown him when she was vexed with him.

"Sorry." He chuckled as he began to drive. "How was it today?"

"Fun! I played a lot of games with them, and we went for a class walk around the neighborhood with Shinozaki-san. Maki-chan just wanted me to do her hair and Satoshi-kun always asked me for help with his homework." As she continued to list the things she did, with that beaming smile on her face, Kazuto once more could not help but notice the gleam in her eyes.

He had seen that gleam before, several years ago in SAO as well as in ALO whenever she spoke to or played with Yui. He smiled as he listened, but deep inside, Kazuto could not suppress a feeling of something close to grief.

However, he forced the feeling away, replacing it with his vow: It won't be much longer before we have a child of our own. I'm sorry, Asuna. Just wait a little longer...

When they arrived at her house, she leaned down to kiss him, and he caught sight of a golden shimmer. It was the heart-shaped necklace he had made for her years and years ago, the one that projected a message from him to her. He smiled every day when he noticed she had still never removed it, just as she had said she never would.

He kissed her goodnight in return before she left him.

He always hated that scene, watching her walk away from him, her long, chestnut hair swaying slightly from side to side.

Not much longer. He repeated in his mind. It won't be much longer before I'll never have to see this scene again.

It was exactly noon as Kazuto opened the door to Agil's cafe.

"Yo! Welcome, Kirito!" The shopkeeper, although obviously older than he used to be, was still as huge as ever, and the cheerful greeting did not match his appearance at all.

"Yo. How's it been going, Agil?" Kazuto wondered politely.

"It's been great. With winter coming around the corner, everyone in town's been stopping in for a hot chocolate or two." He finished with a loud laugh.

Kazuto glanced around the cafe but there was no sign of his red-headed companion. "Maybe the reason you're still a solo player is because you never show up on time?" Kazuto mumbled as he took a seat near a window. He ordered black coffee, and a few moments after it arrived, Klein strode into the cafe as if he had zero obligations to be there at noon today. As he exchanged greetings with Kazuto, the small talk gradually died away into the matter at hand.

"So," Kazuto stated in his business tone. "Why did you drag me out here today?"

"Ah, I see how it is." The redhead replied jeeringly. "I'm taking away from your precious alone time with Asuna-san, eh?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact you are." Kazuto shot back, a little bitter as he remembered the disappointment on Asuna's face when he turned her down for her lunch offer today. Normally, he would cancel his plans with Klein in .5 seconds flat to go out with Asuna, but this time he knew he would use his time wisely and make it up to her later at dinner. "Let's get on with this." Kazuto sighed, trying to keep the reluctance from trickling into his tone.

"Well, then let's get right to the point." Klein agreed, before leaning over the table a bit; Kazuto leaned back. "I've got a proposal for you."

"Not that kind, I hope." Kazuto muttered.

"Of course not, you big moron!" Klein grumbled. "It's a proposal regarding your proposal."

"Stop playing word games and spit it out, man."

"I'm trying to!" After mumbling something like "impatient kid" under his breath, Klein sat back again and spoke in a more normal tone. "You've gotta do it on New Years."

"HAH?!" Kazuto could not control his voice as he shouted across the table. "That soon? Why the hell should it be that soon?" He asked, obviously flustered.

"Because, think about it!" The older man went on casually as if he himself would be the one proposing. "It's a new start! A brand new beginning!"

Although Kazuto saw the meaning behind his words, he was not sure he wanted a new start with Asuna. He was frankly quite happy with the way their relationship was right now; all he really wanted was a new house and a ring on his finger. Now that he was thinking more about it, Kazuto was beginning to have various doubts.

"I'm not even sure if she'll say yes..." he mumbled. Instantly, pain shot up his shin where Klein had kicked him. "Ow! You-!"

"Stop acting like a moron!" Klein growled. "You've been in love with her for nearly 10 years and she's crazy about you too, and you know it." His trademark grin then returned to his face. "You know she'll say yes, Kirito."

"But... But what if there are issues with her family or something?" Kazuto felt exasperated and hopeless as he imagined Asuna's parents demanding she stay away from him.

"Stop making crap up." Klein reasoned. "Didn't she tell you, years ago that her parents were fine with you? Haven't you met them yourself and gotten to know them pretty well? You've got this in the bag." He nodded. "And even if her parents didn't approve of you, which they won't, do you really think Asuna-san wouldn't say yes anyway? Do you think she'd say no to the only question she's ever wanted to hear and has been planning to say yes to for her entire life? Even if her family disapproved, she'd elope with you back to America. Even if the world disapproved, she'd build a space ship and go off with you to another planet." Klein crossed his arms and stared directly at Kazuto. "You're being really unfair right now, Kirito. You're doubting Asuna-san's heart. You're doubting her undying loyalty and love for you, and you'd best stop it right now if you know what's good for you."

He sounded like he was about to punch Kazuto in the face, but Klein's tone and his words were precisely what brought Kazuto back into reality. What the hell am I doing? He sighed inwardly.

"Sorry. You're absolutely right. I don't know what I was thinking." He apologized.

"Don't sweat it." Klein grinned and uncrossed his arms, reaching across the table to pat Kazuto's shoulder. "It's just the pre-proposal jitters."

They continued to talk for about an hour on exactly how Kazuto should go about the process. When the shop had emptied out a bit, Agil came over to join the conversation.

"If you're going to do it at the shrine, make sure you're alone together." Klein reminded Kazuto. "But it's okay if there are some people a little far away watching. You kinda want to make a big deal out of it when she says yes, but you don't want people close enough to be ruining it by shouting about some loser proposing to some beauty over here."

Kazuto opened his mouth to refute the comment, but before he could manage, Agil cut in.

"The trickiest part will be the timing." The shopkeeper said. "You'll want to ask her right around midnight so that when the New Year rolls around, you'll have your fiancee standing before you instead of your girlfriend. But you've also gotta consider her reaction." He went on. "It could take her a minute to get herself in order, or she could reply immediately. That's kind of a risky spot."

"And you've gotta be sure not to do it while the bell is ringing when everybody's cheering." Klein added. "You've gotta make sure she actually hears you."

"I know that." Kazuto defended. "I'm not that stupid... But isn't it impossible to propose when it's quiet if I do it as the new year is happening? Surely everyone's going to be loud all around that time."

"That's the challenge!" Klein declared.

Kazuto returned the kick to the shin from earlier.

"This isn't a joke." He scoffed. "This is my entire life. In one minute!" Kazuto exclaimed.

"Don't worry about it too much." Agil said reassuringly. "It'll definitely work out."

"As long as you're man enough to get the words out." Klein agreed. "So, did you buy the ring?"

"...Yeah. A few weeks ago."

"Well let's see it!" Klein demanded excitedly.

Kazuto reached into his pocket and slowly withdrew a tiny velvet-blue box. There was a slight blush on his cheeks as he opened the lid to reveal the ring. It was a very simple ring; the band was sparkling silver and resembled the engagement ring from SAO. He had put a lot of thought into it and decided it would be best to purchase a ring like that rather than some flashy trinket. He had had his eye on this particular ring for quite some time, and he had been saving up money for years as the shopkeeper politely abided by his request to keep it on hold. There was a single shimmering diamond piece at the center, and though it was very small, it was quite beautiful.

Agil nodded approvingly as Klein whistled.

"You're going to be fine with this, Kirito." Agil grinned.

"I can't wait for my wedding invitation!" Klein announced.

"Idiot! If you keep that up, you're not getting one at all!" Kazuto hissed as he closed the box and carefully slipped it back into his pocket.

"Good luck, Kirito." Klein punched his old friend on the shoulder. "I know you've got it in you."

That evening, when Kazuto was sitting across the table from Asuna on their dinner date, he felt the weight in his pocket as if it were a boulder.

"Kirito-kun? Are you sulking?" She wondered.

"Just a bit." He admitted. "Asuna's cooking is so much better than any restaurant..."

"Oh, you..." she giggled.

As he chatted with Asuna, asking her about her day and offering commentary periodically, he decided he liked the idea of counting down the remaining days until he would no longer refer to her as his girlfriend, but his fiancee.

A/N: This chapter was more of a prologue for the rest of the story. The next chapter is twice as long and full of fluff! Please continue reading! If you're coming from reading Moments, I should warn you again, this will not be as light as that story.

Please review!