CHAP

"Emma, you mean the world to me. Will you marry me?" "No, that sucks! Can't say it like that! Think Dean!" "Emma, lets get married!" "Ugh! Shit, that's worse! Come on, man. Why is this so hard?" Dean knew he wanted to marry Emma for a while. He'd been more focused on it for about the last month or so. It was only a matter of asking her her in the best way. He was pulling his hair out over it.

Proposing to Emma was his first thought when he woke that morning. He wanted to do this now. Well before the baby came. They should still have (hopefully) about three more months. But, he didn't want to wait any longer. Brainstorming had only managed to make him nervous and he couldn't think.

Dean's anxiety and pre-occupation didn't go unnoticed by Emma. In fact, she grabbed her things and emotionally barked, "Since there's clearly something bothering you that you don't want me to know; I'm going to wash up! Don't expect me back right away."

This actually worked to his advantage. Plus, by now, Dean knew that Emma's anger was typically quick to fade.

"Okay. Plan B. Girls love romance, right? I'll make it romantic." First, Dean got the woman's wedding band from the jewelry box and tucked it in his pocket. Then, sitting at their favorite spot on the rocks at the beach - where they often watched the sun set. Dean whittled the words 'will you marry me?' into a piece of driftwood he'd been drying out for a week or so.

He wanted her to have a souvenir - a remembrance of the day. Since there wouldn't be any pictures. And this was the best he could manage. 'This is where we'll have the ceremony.' He proclaimed. 'Just before sunset, if she says yes?'

When he was done with the plaque, he walked to the grass meadow and spent some time picked as many flowers as he could find; arranging them in a large heart with a question mark in the center.

Xxxx

When he returned to the beach, Dean noticed Emma was back and his stomach flipped with nerves. Before walking in on her, he took a moment to simply watch her.

Emma was tying her freshly braided hair with a piece of hat ribbon. The shorter strands of her golden hair framed her temples. She inspected her work in the hand mirror, debating wether or not to wear the hat.

Emma heard Dean approach, but hadn't acknowledge his presence yet. "Definitely, wear the hat." Dean said barely loud enough for her to hear.

Emma gulped, turned and smiled lovingly at him from were she was sitting on the floor. Dean's stomach jumped at the sight of her. She truly took his breath away.

She had gained a little more weight as the pregnancy progressed. But, she was by no means large. She had 'that glow' everyone always talks about. Emma had the two ends of her button up top tied in a small knot between her full breasts. Her ever expanding bump in full view. The cotton shawl was folded in half and double wrapped around her lower half, and still came down below her knees. It was tied in a knot low on her left hip.

"You look stunning." he gushed, helping her to her feet. Emma blushed as she leaned back adjusting her center of gravity and holding her belly. "Phew! No I don't." Embarrassed and not believing him, she continued to fidget. "Yes, YOU DO!" he corrected, taking hold of both of her hands, kissing them.

"Sorry I snapped at you earlier. I just worry you won't tell me when something is bothering you. We are partners here. All each other has." She offered, suddenly noticing his cold hands.

"Your hands are like ice. Dean!" She told him as she rubbed them in hers. "Have you been making snow cones that I'm not aware of?" She joked. "If you've found ice here - you have to share it with me." She said and offered an apologetic grin.

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Lost in his own mind, he just continued to stare at her beauty. Finally, he spun her around, leaning her back against his chest, and she giggled out loud.

"Whoa! Easy, remember... I get dizzy." "Sorry" he murmured in her ear and cupped both sides of her bump in his hands, kissing the side of her face. "Let's go for a walk?" "Okay, that sounds nice."

X

As they strolled hand-in-hand. Dean picked a flower, tucking it behind Emma's left. Emma adapted the pregnant 'waddle walk' from her ever changing center of gravity. When they approached the clearing, Dean watched Emma's face to see if she had figured anything out.

Finally, Emma noticed the flowers arranged on the grass and stopped mid-step. While she stared at the arrangement (at first confused). Dean took the ring out of his pocket and the sign tucked behind his back, holding them up to his chest.

"Emma?" He said. She glanced in his direction - not immediately registering anything he was holding. Then, back to the flower heart. Her head bobbed back and forth a couple of times as she realized what was happening.

She gasped, taking one step backwards and holding her hands over her mouth. Tears started to fall down her rosy cheeks as she nodded, "YES". She immediately threw herself in his arms. "Yes, I will!" She repeated again and again. "I didn't even get to ask the question, Em?!" He smiled, hugging and kissing her hair.

After a moment or two; they parted, and he gave her the ring. With a huge smile, she helped him slip it on her swollen finger. "Some day, I'll get you your own ring. Whatever you want."

"No, this is perfect!" She replied, wiping the tears from her face and laughing before giving him another kiss.

"Can I see that again?" She asked. Dean handed her the plaque. "I'll keep it forever! It's wonderful." She gushed, kissing him again. "It's not that great! I just figured it'd be nice to have something to remember this by. Since we can't take pictures." He took her hand and they walked to the grass. Dean leaned down and plucked one of the flowers off the ground - handing it to her before sitting down.

"Sit for a while?" He asked as he helped her down, sitting between his legs, comfortably reclined in the tall grass with her back to his chest. "I'm so lucky. I love you so much." She told him. That made Dean smile proudly. "I love you too."

Emma nestled her head in the crook of his neck. The pair were silent for a while; when he heard sniffing. "What's the matter, Emma?"

"If we were home right now; I'd be calling everyone I know to tell them." "I'd be fighting with my Dad." He dead panned.

"I miss them so much. Especially right now." Emma sniffles. "I haven't thought about home in so long. Then... Boom! It hits me!"

Dean wrapped his arms around her - as best he could in her condition. "Me too. I'm sorry. Was this a bad idea?" He wondered softly; kissing her hair. "NO, I'm very happy! This is amazing! I just wish my Mom was here. She's missing all this, him, and it makes me sad." She wiped her eyes before resting her hands on her belly.

"I'm having a baby and I can't share it with her. Ask advice, go shopping... Binge on junk food. Everyone probably thinks we're dead; which is so sad. Because we are so lucky. We have a good life here. Don't we?" He nodded. "I mean. It's not home. But, well... I just wish everyone knew we were alright. It is what it is, though. I'm fine. I promise."

Dean said nothing in return because now that she brought it up; he missed his mother (and father) too. Emma craned her neck back and gave him softly on the mouth. Dean returned the kiss, then smiled softly. Before long they decided to return to the beach.

X

"When do you want to have the ceremony?" He asked. "Ceremony? I kinda thought that was it. Back there?" Emma asked, walking beside Dean, rubbing a sore spot on her belly. Her other hand was tightly holding his. Dean held onto the plaque and a bushel of the flowers she'd picked - another memento.

"If that's what you want? But, I was thinking we could have it by the rocks on the beach - at sunset?" "Today?" She stopped and squealed. "Is that too soon?" He asked, worried. "I...It's just... I wish I looked more appropriate for a ceremony." she admitted, glancing down at her appearance.

Other than slightly dirty bare feet, Emma was pristinely beautiful. How she managed to never get dirty wearing only white boggled Dean's mind.

"Emma, I know girls dream about dresses, and cake and flowers and all. I can't give you those things right now. But please know that you are the single most beautiful sight I have the extreme pleasure of looking at every day. There's no doubt that you'd look stunning in a wedding gown. But, I can't picture you looking any more beautiful than you do right this moment." He kissed her knuckles sweetly and touched her belly.

Tears again welled in her eyes. "Even like this?" She asked, thinking he was 'humoring the pregnant girl'. Dean rolled his eyes and smiled while nodding. "Are you kidding. You take my breath away! And I'm not just talking about the way you look. Pregnant or not! Your strength and big heart and your character are also part of what makes you beautiful."

"Thank you." She looked at herself. "You are the most amazing person, Dean. And I don't think you've been told that enough in your life. I'd be honored to marry you tonight or any night." Emma leaned up on her tip toes and gave Dean a long kiss.

"Yes!" He hollered quickly scooping her up in his arms - bridal style - making her giggle as he spun them in circles. "Careful Dean. I'm getting heavy. Don't hurt yourself."

"Nah, light as a feather."

Xxxx

At sunset that evening, Dean and Emma exchanged vows, at the beach. Emma's hair, sprinkled with flowers, blew in the evening breeze as she slipped the men's wedding band on Dean's finger and vowed to 'love him till the end of time.'

Just before going to bed that night; Emma made a special notation in their calendar. "I want to remember this day." She told her husband... 'her husband'.