The Proposal

Every man's dilemma: proposing to a woman

Chapter 2

"What about this?"

A nod.

"This dress is nice, isn't it?"

Another nod.

"What do you think about this blouse?"

Another nod.

"Don't you think that this dress with a hideous design fits me?"

Another nod – wait, what?

Cagalli snapped her head up to face an almost smirking Lacus wearing a nice and simple dress (nice enough for Cagalli's taste, even) she had seen on the racks. Cagalli narrowed her eyes and Lacus giggled.

"Lacus, if you say that that dress is hideous then your sense of fashion is worse than mine," Cagalli pointed out, a bit miffed.

Lacus could only smile, "Well, my friend, if you were paying more attention to our shopping then I didn't have to resort to calling this very elegant dress 'hideous'."

Cagalli sighed. "I'm sorry, Lacus. You know me, shopping is never my favorite pastime."

"Yes, that information, I know very well," Lacus nodded. "But I do thank you for keeping me company."

"It's no trouble," Cagalli said. "Besides, it's your birthday. It's the least I could do."

"Well, I appreciate it," Lacus answered. "You're the best choice for a shopping partner, after all."

Cagalli arched an eyebrow, "Really, Lacus? I beg to disagree. I feel that even Athrun would be better company than me."

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that," Lacus smiled knowingly.

Kira and Athrun strolled through the streets, having parked the car three hours earlier. It's already four in the afternoon and Kira still hadn't found a suitable ring for Lacus.

He gave a sharp sigh. "God, we're never going to find a ring! Ugh!"

"We?" Athrun arched an eyebrow.

"Well, you're helping me, aren't you?" Kira retorted to which Athrun rolled his eyes at.

They passed through some boutiques and Kira cringed in disgust. The line of stores ended and Kira and Athrun found themselves facing a wide, gigantic wall. Athrun faced his friend, a bit indifferent despite the current predicament. "What now?"

"What now? What now?" Kira exploded. "Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"Cursing like someone who just learned his first bad word won't help, Kira," Athrun pointed out.

Kira grumbled and turned to his left, stunned at a shabby hut-like store that had a sign, 'Harrison's Jewelry' put up. He faced his best friend, "Was that there before?"

Athrun shrugged. "Well, I didn't notice it. Do you want to check it out?"

"You're kidding me, right?" Kira asked incredulously.

"What have you got to lose?" Athrun commented. "We'll be picking up the girls in an hour, Kira."

"I guess so."

The two entered the store which was dusty all over and there were cobwebs even.

"Ah, customers," An old man wearing a green apron called. "I'm Harrison. What can I do for you lads?"

"Good day, Mister Harrison," Kira greeted. "We're, um…we're looking for a ring."

"I see," Mister Harrison nodded. "Well boys, you've come to the right place. What do you want? We've got flat rings, solitaires, eternities, clusters, trinities and rubies, sapphires, amethysts, diamonds – the works!"

"Um can you show us what you have?" Kira asked, a bit doubtful.

"Of course! Come on here," Mister Harrison summoned them to an inner room. "Pardon the mess, I haven't cleaned the place up since the war."

"Is that so?" Athrun said.

"Actually, I'll be closing the place down so there's no point in cleaning up."

"Why would close the place down?" Athrun asked.

"Well, the war took a toll on me and it kind of made me feel life's worth, eh?"

The two didn't answer.

"Here it is," Mister Harrison took out a glass case that showcased various rings.

Kira looked at the rings and examined each one when Mister Harrison took the glass cover off. Blue sapphire…red ruby…pink diamond…

No…no…no…

Athrun looked around and something shiny caught his eye. He stepped forward to see the ring more clearly. It was a ruby sitting atop of curved silver bands (A/N: I have no idea how to describe it but it's the ring Athrun gave Cagalli.) Athrun felt his breath hitch and he could feel something inside of him – a kind of excitement and giddiness and some sort of anxiety or something.

Mister Harrison saw Athrun's gaze and smiled, stepping towards the teenager, "Do you want it?"

"Huh? Oh no, no, not really," Athurn shook his head.

"I've seen many men come here – men like your friend over there," he nodded towards Kira. "And men like you."

"Sir?"

"Take it."

"No, I wasn't planning to –"

"I insist," Mister Harrison cut him off. "You're young, it's life after the war…rushing things might not be the best way to go but you know, just in case. Take it."

Athrun looked doubtful but seeing the sense in the man's words, he resigned, "How much is it?"

"No payment."

"What? But – "

"Like I said, I've seen many kinds of men. Don't worry, that pal of yours, the ring he chooses will be free of payment too."

"Thank you…but why?"

"Son, I'm closing the place in a week, might as well get rid of these rings and what better way to do that than give the rings to boys who deserve it?"

"Yes!" Kira suddenly exclaimed.

Kira spotted it at last. It was a solitaire ring with a silver band and atop of it are three diamonds, the center one larger with a few pink stones surrounding it. "That's it," he whispered. "That's the one."

"Kira?"

"Look, Athrun, it's Lacus," Kira said excitedly. "I could see it, I could see her face…this is Lacus' ring. It's her, it's all her."

Athrun could only smile at his friend's giddiness.

"I'll take it, Mister Harrison," Kira said, taking out his wallet when Mister Harrison put a hand on top of it.

"It's free."

"Free? No, that won't do…"

"It's free."

"You sure?"

"Yes, now is it this lovely ring? Ah yes, a nice choice," Mister Harrison approved. "Let me wrap this up. I'm sure your girlfriend will love it."

Kira gave Athrun a funny look when Mister Harrison turned around to wrap the rings. Athrun only shrugged.

"Here," Mister Harrison gave Kira the ring, now in a blue velvet box in a little plastic bag and slipped the other ring into Athrun's hand, now in a blue velvet box too. Athrun looked at him curiously.

Mister Harrison smiled and whispered, "I don't think you'd like your friend to know."

"Thank you."

"Thanks, Mister Harrison," Kira waved goodbye and walked out of the store together with Athrun.

"You know it's weird."

"Weird?" Athrun put the ring in his pocket. "Why are you saying that, Kira?"

"Come on," Kira said. "We were at the end of the road and suddenly saw this old shabby jewelry store that had an old man managing it. It's gonna be closed down in a week. I found the perfect ring for Lacus and got it without having to spend anything. You don't think that's weird?"

"Maybe so," Athrun nodded. "I think it's all just a coincidence though."

"I doubt that," Kira said disbelievingly.

"What are you implying? That the store won't be there anymore when you turn around?"

"Hm. One, two, three."

Kira turned around and saw the shop still there. A bit embarrassed, he turned around again.

Athrun grinned, "Still there?"

"Shut up."

"Happy Birthday!" Milly and Shiho squealed when Lacus took a step into the orphanage.

"Milly! Shiho!" Lacus hugged both friends. "I'm so glad you guys could make it!"

"Of course, Lacus!"

"We wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"Happy Birthday, Lacus," Dearkka winked and gave her a bear hug with Yzak behind him, saying his greetings as well.

Milly moved to Kira's side, "Did you get it?"

"All done," Kira whispered.

"Great!"

Greetings followed and the orphans had a riot concerning the gifts and the birthday cake. Since all the teenagers present were all well aware of what Kira had planned, they made Lacus blow out the birthday cake first.

"Alright, Lacus, make a wish," Milly cooed and everyone laughed at the scene. It was a simple cake, actually with pink icing and some candy flowers scattered around with a 'Happy Birthday Lacus' written in cursive at the center. P. S. The cake was bought. Hey, Milly just got home from a trip and everyone knows Cagalli cannot be near a kitchen lest World War 4 happens (A/N: I think the Bloody Valentine War can be considered as WW3).

Lacus blew her eighteen candles and there was an applause.

"It's time for presents!" the kids chorused and led Lacus to the pile on the living room table. Lacus then sat down on the couch while the others took their places on the surrounding couches and chairs.

"Open ours! Open ours!" the children all shouted gleefully and Lacus willingly complied. There were three gifts of different sizes in all that came from the kids and although poorly wrapped, Lacus was really touched. She opened them one by one gingerly and once she took them out, everyone saw the seashell necklace, seashell bracelet and seashell earrings.

"We worked hard on them!"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"But we had help with the earrings…"

"Do you like 'em? Do you like 'em?"

"Aw, they're beautiful!" Lacus raised the necklace. "I love them, thank you!"

And the kids all huddled around the birthday girl and gave her a group hug.

The others chuckled with only Kira giving out a ridiculously nervous smile.

"Ooh, alright," Milly said. "Ours next!"

"This is from Yzak and me," Dearkka proclaimed, holding out a pink box with a red ribbon atop of it. Lacus took it and opening the lid, her face immediately reddened. Seeing this, Yzak tensed.

"What did you see there?" he demanded but Lacus kept quiet. "Dearkka, what the hell did you put in there?"

"What?" Dearkka asked, shrugging. "The girl's eighteen."

Everyone stared at Dearkka and assuming what was in there, they ended the issue with Shiho stating, "See, this is what you get for not paying attention to your gifts, especially when you pair up with Dearkka."

Milly gave her present – a dress, next, followed by Shiho who gave her a book and then came Athrun and Cagalli's gift which was a personalized heart trinket box.

"Kira, where's your gift?" Milly asked intentionally.

"Oh, uh, I must have left it in my room…" Kira replied. "Um, Lacus? If you don't mind…"

"Hm?" Lacus looked up to see her boyfriend swaying nervously. "Sure, of course."

Once Kira's door was shut, the teens scrambled to get the remote for the television set. A few hours ago, Dearkka and Yzak had set up a video camera so that they'll see how Kira's going to propose. The children, already in the scoop, sat cross legged on the floor as the screen showcased Kira and Lacus.

"Kira?" Lacus turned to face her boyfriend and noticing his anxiety, she frowned. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes!" Kira said. "I'm chipper than ever!"

Lacus raised an eyebrow, "So, um, where's my present?"

"Sit here," Kira patted the mattress of the bed. As she sat down, Kira took the blue velvet box from his pocket and shyly gave it to her. "Here. Happy Birthday, Lacus."

Lacus slowly opened the box and gasped at the sight. It was the most beautiful ring she's ever seen and looking up at Kira's expectant face, she suspected that he was about to do something that might change their lives forever.

And she was right.

Kira knelt down on one knee and held Lacus' hand, "Lacus, I know that it's impulsive on my part and we've only been together for a year but I feel that we've been together far longer than that, especially after what we had been through. You protected me and cared for me. You comforted me and encouraged me. You supported me and had always been there for me and I know that I haven't been the perfect boyfriend the past year. But still, you understood and never left my side. And for that, I'm grateful. I love you Lacus Clyne and you made the past year bearable for me. No, more than bearable, you made me want to live, to love. And there's no other person I'd want to live my life with other than you. You made me happy and I'm sure you'll always will. And it'd be my sole mission to make you feel the same way as I do about you. And so, Lacus, will you marry me?"

Lacus swallowed. Well, she hadn't expected that long a speech from Kira and she was really moved. True, Kira was no romantic but like they always said, it's the thought that counts. And besides, what he said really came from his heart. And that's all that matters to Lacus. She looked at him and squeezed his hand.

"No."

Alright, so this is chapter 2! I'm sorry it took so long! I've been so busy with my studies but anyway, I'm real glad I was able to update this story. For 'The Heroes' Legacy', I've already written half of the next chapter and I really can't be sure as to when I'll be able to update, the same goes for the last chapter of this story.

But anyway...

Thanks for reading, I hoped this lived up to your expectations and please drop a comment if you have time!