Rose nearly dropped her paintbrush when she felt the prickle on her arm, indicating a message from James was coming. They'd been together for six months now, and while most people stopped writing messages to their soulmates once they met, James still preferred to communicate this way.

"I can text anyone," he'd explained to her when she asked. "But this…" He'd taken her arm and ran a light touch over his most recent note. "This is just for you, Rose."

When he put it that way, she couldn't really argue. Honestly, she liked the intimacy of it too, of scribbling a quick picture on her arm to let him know she was thinking about him, of knowing he could sneak an, "I love you," through to her, even if he had classes and meetings all day and couldn't use his phone.

She set her brush down and carefully rolled up her sleeve, curious to know what he was thinking this morning.

It's our six month anniversary, and there's a meteor shower tomorrow night. Come watch the stars with me?

Rose smiled and grabbed a pen. Of course, love.

She waited a moment, then his reply appeared. Brilliant! I'll pick you up at 3:00. Be sure to wear something warm, and pack a bag.

oOoOoOoOo

Six months of dating an astrophysicist had taught Rose a lot about stargazing, so she wasn't surprised when James told her they were going to Exmoor. It was—she knew now—one of the darkest places in Europe, making it an excellent place for watching a meteor shower.

"The Leonids happen every November," James explained as he shook out their blanket. "Earth passes through the stream of particles left behind by the Temple-Tuttle comet, and those particles appear to us as meteors."

He lay down and patted the spot next to him, and Rose stretched out by his side. "Since they typically radiate from vicinity of Leo," he continued, pointing out the constellation, "we call them the Leonids."

Rose nodded. He'd told her all of that three times already, but she wouldn't point that out to him. James was always prone to ramble, but when he started repeating himself, it was a sign that he was nervous about something.

"How many shooting stars will we see?" she asked, staring up at the star-filled sky.

"Roooose, didn't I just explain that they aren't actually stars?"

Rose giggled, then rolled onto her side and kissed him on the cheek. "You did, but I love how upset you get when people call things by the wrong name. It's cute."

James tugged on his ear, and the stars were bright enough for her to see how red it was. "Well… I wasn't… that's… it's cute?" he asked, his voice squeaking.

"Sometimes," Rose qualified. "When you remember not to be rude, and you don't get that, 'dribbled on your shirt,' look on your face." James shifted, and she could tell he was about to burst into a rambling apology, so she pressed her finger to his lips. "It was cute this time."

James took a deep breath, then sighed when Rose settled back against him. He knew he had a tendency to be rude, and he certainly didn't want to upset her tonight, of all nights.

While her gaze was fixed on the sky, he reached into his coat pocket for the small velvet box. He'd bought the ring just a month after meeting Rose, but he hadn't found the right time to give it to her yet. They were soulmates, so there was no doubt in his mind that she would say yes, but what if she wanted to date for a while, before getting engaged and married? He didn't want to pressure her into moving faster than she was comfortable with.

But their six month anniversary seemed like a decent interval. He'd memorised the words he wanted to use, now if he could just find the right moment…

Rose gasped and sat up slightly. "I saw one," she whispered, pointing to the left portion of the sky.

James followed her finger and caught the final trail of the meteor as it burned out. "Lucky you, the first one of the night."

She grinned at him. "Is there a prize for spotting the first one?"

It was the perfect opening. James pulled the box out of his pocket and pushed himself up onto one knee. "You could say that," he said as he flipped open the box.

Rose gasped and pressed a hand to her heart. James took her free hand, and the familiar touch grounded him, easing most of his nerves.

"Rose Tyler, my heart has belonged to you for sixteen years. You're my other half, my soulmate, and I want to spend the rest of my life putting stars in your eyes. Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Rose lunged for him, knocking him back onto the cosy nest of blankets.

James melted under her kiss, feeling like the final piece of his life had finally fallen into place. Rose had said yes—they were getting married!

A detail niggled at him, but he ignored it, much more interested in the way Rose's tongue felt in his mouth. They were engaged, everything else could wait.

Engaged.

James tore his mouth away from Rose's. "Crap. Where'd the ring go?" he muttered, patting around on the blankets.

"James? What are you looking for?" Rose asked.

"Your ring. It fell out of my hand when you tackled me to the ground, and I don't know where it went."

Rose pulled her phone out and turned the light on. Serendipitously, the beam landed directly on the dark blue velvet box.

James swept it up and pulled the ring out. "May I?" he asked, glancing down at her left hand.

"Absolutely," she breathed.

The round diamond was surrounded by seven smaller sapphires. "Because you'll always be the brightest star in my life," James murmured as he slid the ring onto her finger.

When she looked up at him, her eyes glowed with happiness and starlight. "I love you," she whispered as she slid her arms around his neck.

Her upturned face was an invitation James had yet to refuse, and he sighed as he slid his lips against hers. "I love you too," he told her between kisses. "Forever."