Prompt: Surprise proposal as the clock strikes 12


Today was the day, Francis Jean Bonnefoy thought as he nervously paced the floor of his Paris apartment. He was going to propose to his boyfriend of two years, Arthur James Kirkland. He was definitely terrified, but he was feeling a strange sense of... was it adrenaline? He couldn't be sure, but whatever it was, it was the only thing that was motivating him to go through with this proposal.

He glanced at the clock. Five minutes. It would be five minutes until he arrived. And it was exactly two hours, five minutes, and thirty six seconds until he would force himself to propose. He had prepared a late dinner for them, although he did not prepare too much wine. He wanted Arthur's mind to be completely clear when he made the decision to either accept his proposal or say no. And that last part was what worried him. If he said no, would he break up with him?

Francis tried to calm himself down by looking in the mirror and making sure that he was properly groomed. He had his blond hair tied back with into a neat ponytail with a red bow. He was wearing a blue sweater and jeans. Although it wasn't the most fancy he had ever been for a date, he would've said that he looked rather nice.

Then, there it was. The knock that would set it all off. That would begin the events that could change his life for the better or worse. Francis somehow managed to gather the courage to open the door, where there was a shivering Arthur. The other man was covered in snow, and at least four layers of clothing.

"It's about time," Arthur grumbled, walking into the house and hanging up the two coats he was wearing. Under his coats, Arthur was wearing a green sweater with ripped jeans. Francis would've laughed if he hadn't been more nervous. Even though he looked nice, he would still find a way to look punk.

Francis laughed nervously when he heard Arthur's words. Was Arthur mad at him? "Je suis désolé. I have a fire going, if you want to sit by that."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't be sorry, Frog. It's not like you can control the weather." He pecked his lips. "I've missed you, you know."

The Frenchman embraced Arthur. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "Work has been taking up all of my free time."

The other man nodded, leaning his head onto Francis' chest. "I know, I know..." Although Arthur wouldn't admit it in front of anyone else, he always felt safe whenever he was in Francis' arms. "You know, I don't need that fire if you're here. How do you always manage to be so warm?" he mumbled that last question in annoyance.

"Well, I've been in this house for the past six hours, making sure everything was perfect."

Arthur's face flushed. Francis had spent that much time on him? "You didn't have to do that, Frog. I'm not worth that."

Francis gasped. "How could you say something like that, mon cher? You're worth it! You're worth a million nights like this."

Arthur hid his face so Francis couldn't see his blushing. "Stop it!" he whined. "You're making me look like an idiot..."

Francis shook his head. "You could never look like an idiot, lapin." He kissed his forehead and cupped his cheeks. "Now, do you want the dinner to get cold?" he asked, pretending to be calm.

Arthur's eyes widened. "You actually made dinner for me? You didn't have to do that!"

Francis put his finger onto Arthur's lips. "I know I didn't have to. I wanted to, lapin."

He huffed. "Why are you so nice all the time? It's not fair to bitter people like me who want to be like you."

"Hush, Arthur. You're not bitter. You're too kind to be bitter."

Arthur blushed. "Just get me the dinner, frog," he ordered, trying to change the subject.

Francis took his hand and nodded. "If you insist, mon petit lapin." He began to bring him to the kitchen, where a steak dinner was waiting for them. There were candles and small glasses of wine. "Bon appétit!" He blew a kiss.

Arthur sighed and began to pick at the food. Francis frowned. He thought that steak was Arthur's favorite food... Could he have been wrong?

"Arthur, mon cher? Do you not like the food?"

He shook his head. "No, it's nothing. I'm just tired, that's all."

Francis sighed. "Okay, just tell me if you don't like something. I want tonight to be perfect for you!"

Arthur smiled. "Don't tell anyone I said this, but as long as I'm with you, it will be perfect. Don't worry about me."

Francis smiled and pecked his lips before sitting down. "I won't. Now, we don't want this delicious dinner getting cold, now do we?"


After dinner, the two were sitting down on the couch. Arthur was leaning his head on Francis' shoulder, with Francis' arm wrapped around his. It was 11:55. Francis was getting more and more anxious as each moment went by. He had the ring hidden securely in his pocket, prepared to propose to his wonderful, perfect boyfriend. Then, the thought hit him again. He was going to propose... he was actually going to do this. He had to prevent himself from shaking whenever the thought crept into his mind.

"Arthur, do you want to put on the American New Years program? We're getting close to midnight." Francis suggested, reaching for the remote.

Arthur nodded. "But make sure it isn't too loud. I don't want it to distract me from the moment."

Francis raised an eyebrow, turning on the television.. "The moment? What is that supposed to mean?"

The Englishman groaned. "Don't make me be all sappy and say it, Frog!"

Francis gasped. "You don't want it to distract from time with me?" He squealed and hugged him. "Oh, Arthur, you're so sweet!"

Arthur grumbled. "This is what I was hoping to prevent!" he whined, although he was secretly enjoying it.

"It's not my fault you're adorable, mon petit lapin." He kissed his head.

Arthur leaned into his chest. "What does that phrase even mean?"

He giggled. "It means 'my little rabbit.' Although it sounds strange in English, it's an adorable pet name."

He scowled. "I swear to God if you call me that because of that one time one of my spells went wrong and gave me rabbit ears..." he mumbled, scrunching his eyebrows.

"Trust me, that has nothing to do with it. It's simply a cute pet name. Although, I do have others. Would you rather I call you sourcils?" he asked, smirking.

Arthur glared. "No! I know what that means! It means eyebrows, right?!"

He nodded, pecking his nose. "Oui, it does. I won't call you that, do not worry. Besides, I don't see why you hate those eyebrows in the first place. I think they're rather cute, along with that scruffy hair of yours," he teased.

At the comment, Arthur immediately attempted to flatten his hair. "You're just joking, right?"

Francis shook his head. "Non. I would never joke about something as important as your beauty."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Frog."

Francis glanced at the clock. 11:59. "Arthur..." He took the ring out from his pocket, holding it behind his back. "Can I ask you something?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

12:00. The moment was here.

He went down on one knee and took his boyfriend's hand. "Arthur James Kirkland, the love of my life, will you..." He opened the box the ring was in. "Marry me?" he asked hopefully.

For a few seconds, it was completely silent. Francis tried not to show how terrified he was. Was Arthur so disgusted that he wasn't able to properly express how disgusted he was?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Francis, Arthur finally spoke, and his eyes looked like they were beginning to be filled with tears. "Yes, Francis!" He hugged his boyfriend tightly. "I was worried that you'd never ask!"

Francis gasped, his face as red as a rose. "Really?"

"Of course, Francis! How can you expect me to say no?" He took the ring and put it on his ring finger, his grin not faltering.

"Je t'aime, Arthur!" Francis exclaimed before pecking Arthur's lips.

Arthur took Francis' hand. "I love you too, Frog. Now, come back up here. I'm beginning to get tired and if I'm falling asleep I want it to be on your shoulder."

Francis giggled and got back onto the couch. "That was sappy, Arthur." He wrapped his arm around him. "You're cute when you're sappy."

He pouted. "Don't ruin the moment, Frog."


After about a half hour of cuddling, the two both fell asleep. Arthur fell asleep first, then Francis after. The next morning, Arthur found himself fiancé-less when he saw that he was alone on the couch. However, he figured out where his missing fiancé was when he smelled something cooking. Of course Francis would want to make him breakfast, since Arthur himself wasn't even allowed to go into the kitchen. He sniffed the air, trying to identify what Francis was cooking. Was it... crêpes? He sniffed again. Yes, it definitely was crêpes.

Arthur stood up and walked to the dining room, which had a door way to the kitchen so he could see Francis. "Smells delicious, Frog."

Francis snickered. "Only you would compliment and insult your new fiancé at the same time."

Arthur's face flushed. "Only me?! What is that supposed to mean?!"

He laughed again. "Nothing, mon amour. You know, for a special treat I'm going to allow you to enter the kitchen."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Thank you, poppet," he said the pet name dryly, but he walked into the kitchen anyway. He walked behind Francis and wrapped his arms around him. "I'm tired," he mumbled, resting his head on Francis' back.

Francis blushed, but he managed to keep himself calm. "You could go back to sleep, lapin. The only reason you got up was because you chose to get up," he countered.

"I woke up because you weren't there, and I didn't have any pillow besides you." He squeezed him for a quick second. "You're really soft. Better than any pillow I've used."

Francis smirked. "Is that your attempt at a compliment?" he teased.

"Yes it is," he mumbled tiredly. "And you better accept it because they won't be getting any better."

"Do not worry, I accept any compliment from you, even if it's a backhanded one," Francis admitted. Once he was done making the crêpes, the Frenchman backed up, accidentally shoving Arthur with him. "Breakfast is ready, Arthur. Why don't you sit at the table? I'll set everything out, and after breakfast we can cuddle some more, and you can get that sleep you desire."

Arthur groaned but let go. "You better keep your word on that. Or else."

"Or else what, darling?"

He thought for a moment. "I'll unleash the powerful forces of evil on you," he claimed, but meant no malice in his words.

Francis giggled and turned around, pecking his lips. "I'm so scared. You would definitely attempt to hurt your new fiancé, after all."

Arthur scowled. "I will! Just because I love you doesn't mean I'll go easy on you."

"Whatever you say, amour." He smiled. "Je t'aime."

"I love you too, Frog."