To Remember:
Krystal sat on the couch reading in the townhouse that she shared with Fox. Two years had passed since he had rescued her on Sauria. Since then they had become nearly inseparable, becoming close friends quickly and everyday it seemed their relationship grew. Fox was her best friend, closest confidant, team leader and boyfriend all wrapped into one package. She remembered when he finally worked out the courage to ask her on a date. He was so flustered and cute, she thought his fur would catch fire from blushing so red. Even now they had been dating for over a year, he was still shy and bashful around her. Every kiss was more loving and passionate than the last. She never thought she could be this happy after her homeworld was destroyed. Fox had proved her wrong, he saved her in more ways than one, he was her whole world.

He had only been gone for a few hours but she missed his presence. He had left to go to a party Miyu was hosting for all their friends. She opted to stay home to meditate and read, preferring a more quiet evening. Fox had offered to stay and keep her company, but she insisted he go anyway, not wanting to spoil his fun.
Her phone rang, she marked the page before setting the book down on the coffee table to see who was calling her at such a late hour. The phone identified the caller as "Foxy" the nickname she gave him in her contact list. Smiling, she picked up and answered.

"Hi Krryssstal." His words were slightly slurred.
"Goddesses, Fox. How drunk are you right now?" She replied, her voice filled with both amusement and concern.
"Not as bad as Miyu and Fay." Fox glanced over at the unconscious lynx and spaniel lying top of each other on a couch opposite from him.
"So how was the party?" She asked.
"It's over. Most people left. Peppy and Slippy said hi."
She smiled, recalling fond memories of the of the hare and toad she considered family. "I'll call them tomorrow. Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, wish you ever here though. Everybody's girlfriend was here tonight except mine. Slippy even got Amanda to come. You left me all alone." His tone was laced with drunken mirth.
"I'm sorry." She replied holding back an amused smile. She wondered just how drunk he was, or if he would remember this conversation in the morning.
Fox interrupted her musing. "Actually Falco didn't bring his girlfriend either."
"Oh really, where was Katt?" She raised an eyebrow, it was unlike the pink feline to ever miss a party.
"He brought his fiancée instead."
"What? Really?" Krystal was stunned, Falco and Katt getting married. She never would have imagined those two with their turbulent history to be the first in their band of friends to be married.
"Yup, He proposed two days ago."
"That's great news. I'll have to congratulate the both of them."
"It got me thinking." He paused.
"Yes, Fox?"
"I don't want to bring my girlfriend to parties anymore either."
Krystal raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is that right?"
"I want to bring my fiancée instead."

She was rendered speechless, was he really about to do this? The normally shy and bashful Fox would have been stammering and blushing with the near mention of marriage. He must be really drunk. Eventually she found her voice, but she could find a single word, "Fox..." She had spoken his name in a quiet whisper, filled with all the affection and love she could muster.

"Krystal… Will you marry me?"

Her breath hitched, she wanted to express her love in no certain words, to say that of course she would marry him. She loved him without question and without hesitation she would accept if he ever decided to propose, but he was intoxicated and she was sure he wanted to remember the moment he actually proposed, and to make it more romantic than a drunk phone call. Besides it wasn't right to take advantage of his drunken state.

"No." She did her best to sound serious and not to let her wide smile seep through the phone's receiver.

A brief pause. Krystal became nervous, hopefully he didn't take the rejection that seriously.

"What?" He sounded more confused than dejected, she took that as a good sign.
"You can try again when you're sober." She adopted a playful, teasing tone to let him know she wasn't serious about turning him down.

"You rejected my marriage proposal?" He said with feigned hurt. Thankfully, his voice was still filled with amusement.

"Is anyone else there hearing this?" She stifled a laugh. If anyone else heard their conversation she knew the other girls would start gossiping. Fara and Miyu would definitely tease her about a drunken marriage proposal and Fox would probably die from embarrassment.

Fox glanced around the room, Miyu and Fay were still unconscious on the other couch.

"Nope, just me." He said. "Lucky for you nobody can hear how cold you're being."

Now it was her turn to fake injury. "Me, cold?" She replied with playful indignation. "I'm not the one who keeps lowering the thermostat."
"Hey, that's not fair." He said laughing. "My fur's a lot thicker than yours."

"That's why you make a great pillow." She laughed back.

"No you make a better pillow, in fact I wish you were here now." He yawned.

She loved when he was like this, relaxed, joking around, enjoying himself. She loved it every bit as she loved his shy, bashful side. "Tired?" She asked, checking the time, they had been chatting for a while and it was late. She felt a twinge of guilt about keeping him up since he was likely exhausted from the party.

"Mmhmmm." He replied, the poor vulpine didn't have the energy for words.

She kept thinking back to what transpired moments ago. Her heart rate was still elevated, her paws trembled slightly. Krystal needed to know for sure. She needed to know that he was certain and it wasn't just the alcohol. "Fox… What you said… Are you absolutely sure?"
His reply was filled with the same resolve and strength she had seen the vulpine have in the cockpit of his Arwing. It was a confidence he rarely exuded in their relationship, for a moment she forgot he was intoxicated. "I've never been more sure about anything Krystal. I want you at my side. I want a life with you."

Once again she was rendered speechless. Her heart somersaulted in her chest. Tears of happiness streamed down her face, she wiped them away with a paw. She was convinced she would never be this happy again after everything in her life was torn away. A silent eternity passed for both vulpines.

"Krystal?" He sounded fearful.

"We'll talk more tomorrow, okay Fox?" She whispered.

"Okay." He sounded too tired argue."

"I love you, now get some sleep."

"Love you too, Good night Krys."

The moment Krystal hung up she clutched her paws and brought them to her muzzle letting out a girlish squeal of delight. She loved him and she knew he loved her, while she wasn't opposed to marriage she had only thought about it in passing. Until now she never discussed it with Fox. To know that Fox was willing to go that distance, to marry and eventually start a family. That desire had always been there for both of them, but now it was finally out in the open.

This was going to be a night to remember.