AN: I did it. I finally completed this story. I dashed off the epilogue in the last hour before 2016. I hope you like it.
Some Time Later
The murmuring cacophony of the event reminded Stampy of dozens of other events he had attended in the past, but this one was all the better for the presence of Squid at his side. But to be fair, Squid was almost always at his side and everything in his life was better for it. Now if only Stampy could make that permanent.
"And then," Squid continued talking to an interviewer, "he jumps behind me, shrieking, if you can believe it. I laughed for days."
Stampy rolled his eyes, but his annoyance was tempered by his smile. "Yeah, yeah, enough of all that, Squid. No one needs to know."
"Yeah, they do," Squid informed him frankly. "This is an important story!" Then he laughed, self-aware, and shifted his stance. "I'm going to go get drinks, anyways, to give you a chance to settle the score."
Squid wrapped an arm around Stampy's shoulders and squeezed him before wandering off towards the drink table.
The interviewed waited patiently before asking her next question. "So what are the two of you working on at the moment? You've been together for over a year and your collaborations since then have been extremely popular amongst your fans. Do you intend to continue with this trend?"
Stampy smiled hesitantly, a brief and awkward chuckle to go with it. "Well, uh, we've been working on a few things, as I'm sure you're aware, but I do have an idea for a new project. That is, if Squid will agree to it."
He pulled a silly face in an attempt to hide how flustered he was. "You know what he's like," he said as he snuck a hand into his pocket to wrap around a ring box.
"Oh really?" asked the interviewer. "Any sneak peeks for this new project of yours? It sounds very interesting."
"Uh…" Stampy hedged, scanning the room quickly. He spotted Squid coming back, carrying two drinks, and quickly decided that diverting attention away from himself was his best plan of action.
"Oh look," Stampy said, tilting his head towards Squid. "My fiancé is coming back now. Why don't you talk to him?"
He realized his mistake before he could even register the look of shock on the interviewer's face. Stampy almost wanted to laugh, as that was how he responded to most things, but he quickly pulled himself together.
"Oh, not again," he muttered, pulling out the ring box. "Not this time!"
Squid had gotten close to him now and raised his eyebrows at Stampy as he lifted his drink to his lips.
"Hey, Squid?" Stampy asked helplessly, holding out the ring box. "Will you marry me? Please?"
Squid jerked his drink away and quickly set both cups down on a nearby table.
"What?" he exclaimed, taken aback and sure he was being trolled. "Say that again."
Stampy got down on one knee, still smiling helplessly. "I'm serious. Will you marry me?" When Squid didn't reply right away, he added, "I always said you needed more yes in your life. Now's the time, Squid nugget."
"I mean," Squid blustered, "Yes, sure, Stamps, but what-?"
He didn't get to finish as Stampy jumped to his feet and kissed him quickly. He was too excited to hold back and as soon as he pulled away, he opened the box and asked, "May I do the honors?"
Squid held out his hand dimly and watched Stampy slip the ring on. It was surreal for both of them, Stampy realized as he looked from the ring to Squid's face.
"What made you do that now?" Squid asked, laughing at the end in pleased disbelief.
"I slipped up, you see," Stampy answered, grinning. "But it's all worked out. I certainly think so anyways."
"Oh yeah, it's definitely all worked out okay," said Squid, grabbing Stampy's hand. Stampy's happiness was more than enough to block out the sounds of frantic reporters and he had a feeling Squid was the same way.
