Here's chapter 2 of my 5-chapter posting spree! Enjoy!
After rummaging through his suitcase, Ben finally found what he had been looking for. Good thing he hadn't gotten rid of it 2 months ago and kept it with him at all times. Sure, that was a little weird, but he could never bring himself to completely move on from his hopes for the future.
On his way out he noticed that Riley had once again slept through his nighttime activities. Boy would his friend be surprised in the morning…
An hour later they had finally reached the top of Mt. Rushmore. The stars were still out and the sun had not yet begun to rise. The whole way there she had pestered Ben with questions, trying to figure out what he was up to, but he would not answer a single thing. Finally giving up, she slipped her hand into his and they walked up the rest of the trail in comfortable silence.
"The view is amazing up here," Ben said.
"Yeah," she replied, speechless at the sight before her. Everything was so beautiful in the faint moonlight.
Ben left her to her stargazing and her thoughts as he pulled out the 2 blankets from her bag. She watched curiously as he carefully laid one out and kept the other folded.
"Are you ever going to tell me what possessed you to bring me up here?" she asked for the hundredth time.
"Well apparently I don't really need a reason because you came anyway."
She rolled her eyes in frustration and turned back to the night sky and the expansive valley before her.
A few moments later Ben came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He settled his chin on her should and she leaned into his embrace. They stood there for a while enjoying each other and the beauty of nature.
"The sunrise will start soon," she said, yawning. She hadn't realized how tired she was or how long they had been up for. In her tiredness she had almost forgotten about Ben's mystery condition.
Almost.
She looked up at him to find him staring down at her. Her heart immediately started to race at the intensity of his gaze and the closeness of his body.
"You probably want to know why I brought you up here," he said smiling.
"The suspense has been killing me."
"Well," he began, releasing her from his grasp and turning her to him, "I wanted to offer you a proposal."
"You brought me all the way to the top of this mountain to offer me a proposal?"
"Yes," he said, smiling nervously.
"Exactly what kind of proposal?"
"This kind," Ben said shakily, getting down on one knee.
Her heart stopped. She had not seen this coming at all. If this was what she thought it was. Did she want this if it was what she thought it was? She watched anxiously as Ben's hand went to his pocket and he pulled out a worn little black box. She couldn't believe this. She could feel the tears starting to form in her eyes. Her heart was racing wildly in anticipation.
Ben opened the box slowly. She didn't even look in it; her eyes were focused only on his. In this moment she felt like they were the only two people in the world. Ben's eyes bore into hers and for the first time she felt as though they had both opened their souls for the other one to see.
After what felt like an eternity, Ben finally spoke. His voice was shaky and laced with so much emotion that it cracked several times.
"Abigail Marie Chase, you are the most amazing, beautiful, smart, funny, talented, determined, adventurous, stubborn (she smiled at this) woman I have ever met. When we first met, you probably thought I was mental, but I had this instinctive feeling that you were something special. Whenever I'm with you, I feel complete. I feel like nothing could ever happen that would bring me down as long as I have you by my side. I've never felt this way before, which is why I know that you are the one. You're it for me Abi. There is no one else out there in the world that could ever replace you. I'm pretty sure no one else would follow me on two treasure hunts and risk their lives. And, as corny as this sounds, I never need to go on another treasure hunt now that I've found you. You're all I need. You're all I want. I'd give my life for you. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"
The whole time Ben spoke her tears kept coming. She had waited her entire life for a man to tell her all that Ben was saying, and it made her heart swell. She could not picture anyone else but her Ben saying these words to her, and she could not picture herself ever being with anyone but him for the rest of her life.
When he finished, they were both crying. The moment he spoke his last sentence, she flung herself into his waiting arms. She held on to him tightly until he spoke again.
"Is that a yes Abi?"
She lifted her head from his shoulder and took his face in her hands.
"A thousand times yes Benjamin Franklin Gates!" she cried joyfully before planting her lips firmly on his…
Yay!!!! I promise this story has more to it then just BenAbi fluffy goodness (not that you could ever have too much of that). Pretty soon you'll be wishing the plotless fluff would return...
