Rex once again, shook in his sleep.

Though his nightmares weren't as frequent, they still happened often.

It was always the same. Him being alone in Undar, recently, the dreams based on memory stopped.

His mind created new ones, as if he was there again, as Rex.

In his dreams he lost everything. Marie, his friends, his new future.

Rex losing his future was his worst nightmare. He already lost years of his life in Undar...he didn't want to lose any more.

Rex woke up, not able to take his nightmares anymore. Fortunately, it wasn't enough to wake Marie.

Rex looked the the time, then remembered the day.

It was his and Marie's anniversary. Together for a couple years now.

He wanted to propose to her...today.

He had planned this for a while, each day that passed by, her realized more and more that he couldn't live without her.

The only thing that marrying her would change is that he would be royalty from then on, a mandatory occurrence in marrying a princess.

Regardless of the fact, Rex knew he was ready.

An early start would be good in this case, despite his nightmares waking him up.

Rex stood up, stretching out his body.

He smiled though, knowing today would end perfect.

He leaned over Marie, kissing her forehead.

She snuggled a bit into her pillow.

Rex's smile widened, "...Happy Anniversary, Baby."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was around ten in the morning, Marie began waking up at her own pace.

She sat up rubbing her eyes, she looked beside her. Yep, Rex awake, as expected.

He usually wakes up three hours prior to her, five if you count nightmare nights, so he was surely up and around doing his own things.

Marie smiled, jumping out of bed.

She opened the bedroom door, peeking out.

"Rex! ~" She called, a loving tone in her voice.

"Morning, Love." Rex approached her.

"Waiting for me, like usual." Marie kissed his cheek.

"Oh, I have something for you." Rex smiled.

He held Marie's hand, pulling her along with him.

The two entered the kitchen, a bouquet of roses on the table.

"I'd never forget our anniversary."

Marie smiled, "Aww, Rex."

She lightly touched the roses with her fingertips, "They're so pretty, but...I didn't get you anything."

"You're the only anniversary gift I need, Marie."

Marie blushed, "Rex…don't be so charming."

"It's my job, Baby." Rex chuckled, "Oh, I also made waffles, for...the occasion."

"If anything you made the waffles for you." Marie laughed.

"...no." Rex denied, "For...us."

Marie smiled, "But they're your favorite." She kissed his cheek.

She then sat down at the table, letting out a sigh.

"It feels like I just met you yesterday...but here we are...years later, and still very much in love. I know this sounds kind of dumb but...I had a feeling you were the one when I first saw you." Marie's cheeks tinted a pink blush.

"Oh, really?" Rex smirked, "I have that effect on everyone. You know how many women have told me that they'd be my future wife?"

"A lot." Marie chuckled, "Before you had me, everyone probably chased after you, Rex. You're so...attractive, and cool, and just...amazing. I couldn't even hope to have you."

"But you do." Rex sat in front of her, "And I'm glad it's you. You're the amazing one. A princess, beautiful, kind and gentle. Perfect."

"I'm not perfect, Rex. But...I'm glad you see me that way."

"Well I'm perfect, obviously. So, that means you're perfect too."

"Not how it works, Rex." Marie chuckled, "But I get your point."

"Look, I'll admit...my past has its flaws, and some things I definitely wish I could forget. The thing is...if those things never happened, I wouldn't be Rex. I'd be Emmet...with my Lucy, and...my daughter. The truth is...that's no longer a dream, it's a nightmare. I want you, I want nothing but you...a life with you. Years ago...I would have never even imagined getting here, but am I sure glad I screwed up to get here."

Marie smiled lightly, reaching across the table to hold his hand.

"Me too…if I never had you, who knows where I'd be? Still cooped up in my palace? Alone? My entire life I've only liked Emmet, as a crush at most...but now I like someone better."

Rex smiled back, "...I love you."

"Love you more."

"Love you past infinity!"

"Love you over past infinity!"

The two were quiet, a while, then laughed.

"Maybe...we love each other the same." Rex stated.

"Maybe so."

Rex thought a moment, "Since it's our anniversary, how about a date night?"

Marie nodded, "That sounds pretty nice actually. I'd love that."

"Consider it done, Babe." Rex winked, "I'm on it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't got it." Rex sighed, "Emmet, you had like this rad idea, and I have nothing to work with. As for dates, I don't know, is dinner too simple? Is the theaters to simple?"

"Rex you'll be fine." Emmet reassured.

"Marie thinks I'm out planning all this, but I'm not, I have no idea what to do."

"Geez, you're like me in a disorganized panic."

Rex narrowed his eyes, "I think you're forgetting something, Emmet."

Emmet thought a moment, "Okay so. I used the idea of how I met Lucy...how about you do the same with Marie?"

Rex turned his gaze, "We met at Unikitty's place."

"Unikitty's place…" Emmet thought more on the subject, "Remember what Lucy and I liked to do back then?"

Rex looked to Emmet, "Stargazing?"

Emmet nodded, "Unikitty has a really nice spot near her palace. Romantic, ain't it? Seems simple, yet perfect for the two of you."

"I mean, that could work…"

"Then...you can take her to that room where you met, ask her if she remembers. She'll look out the window...and then when she turns around, bam! Proposal."

"That's not a bad idea." Rex replied.

"See! You got your plan, all you have to do, is follow along with it."

"Right...okay. I just...follow along."

"You're just nervous, Rex. It's a big moment. You'll do fine. If I did fine, then you'll do better. In the moment, just follow your heart."

"My heart hasn't fully healed...I'm just scared I'll mess up, I'm just now remembering what love feels like."

Emmet frowned, "You won't mess up...you'll be fine."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Would your Vest Friend ever lie to you?"

Rex looked down. He did trust Emmet, though he wasn't sure he was believing in himself.

'Believe' sounds like a cliche line from a cat poster, but there was so much meaning to it.

Rex wasn't confident because he was doubting himself.

He's changed, no longer the bad guy that wanted revenge. No longer the villain in the story, but a beloved main character.

His heart had healed. He was ready to do this.

"Okay." Rex sighed, "Then...wish me luck for tonight."

Emmet smiled, "Will do!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rex looked at himself in the mirror, he thought a moment.

"So...uh, Marie, you've changed my life. You're the most rad woman I've ever met."

Rex practiced to himself for about twenty minutes now, but somehow every time he spoke it just wasn't enough for him.

"...I just might make a fool of myself." He sighed, "Like Emmet said...it's an in the moment thing. In the moment though...I won't get a second chance."

Rex stared at himself in silence for a moment.

"...Alright, Handsome. Listen up, you need to stay focused, be romantic, be ready to pour out sappy stuff to your future wife. As sappy as it is, you can say it. Got it, cowboy?"

Rex nodded to himself.

"Good. You got this."

Rex turned, picking out an outfit for the occasion.

A slight change from his usual vest.

Rex was indeed nervous, much like he wouldn't been back then, but for some reason Emmet handled his proposal really well.

He just had to be set, positive, and ready.

That's all it takes.

"...What if she says no? What if she's not ready?"

Now being negative was something Rex was used to.

"Maybe I shouldn't do this, maybe I should wait or...ugh, I don't know." He sighed, "I still have some Emmet in there, just...think positive. You can do it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was finally time for the date.

Marie put her long hair into a braided bun, she smiled at herself in the mirror, putting her tiara on.

"There. Pretty."

She looked down at her outfit, one of her many pink dresses. Diamond studded high heels to match.

She walked out of the bathroom, Rex waiting for her.

She eyed him happily, blushing.

"You look nice."

Rex smiled, "And you're gorgeous."

Marie walked up to him, "Just wanted to make myself pretty for you. I'm...ready when you are."

Rex held her hand, "I have something sweet planned for tonight. Don't worry, it'll be great."

"Okay...let's go then." She hugged his arm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The two walked through town for a while, Rex even stopping by Marie's favorite cookie stand for her.

Ah, sweet sugar cookie goodness~

The two then stopped at the place near Unikitty's castle.

Fortunately for Rex, the sky was crystal clear and filled with stars.

Marie looked up, smiling.

"Wow, it's so pretty here!"

"Well, this is a good place. It's higher up too."

Marie sat down on the soft grass, the skirt of her dress proofing outwards.

Rex sat next to her, holding her hand.

"...I used to do this a lot with Lucy." Rex spoke, "Seems like a distant memory...almost like a dream. I just thought...I'd never get to do this again. I wanted to live alone."

Marie frowned, "Alone is a terrible thing to be, Rex. You don't have to worry about it though, because now you have me. I know I'm happy I have you."

Rex looked at her, "I just...can't believe I'm here. I should be...well...nonexistent. I just kinda expected it all to end there."

"But it didn't, and for a reason. You got your second chance. I don't really know what you were like before...but I know you've changed."

"Yeah...I guess you can say that."

Marie smiled, turning Rex to face her.

"Despite everything, I still love you."

The two connected lips for a sweet kiss.

Marie then moved closer, putting her head on his arm as she looked at the stars again.

A quiet, peaceful sight.

Rex felt his pocket, taking a deep breath.

"Hey uh...Marie, you wanna revisit some old memories?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marie stepped into the storage room, smiling.

"Wow, it actually looks clean in here."

She turned, her skirt flowing with her.

"Unikitty okay with us being in here?"

"Yeah, I checked with her ahead of time." Rex closed the door behind them.

Marie looked to the shelves, standing behind one of them. Rex stood one the other end, he smiled.

"Like when I first laid eyes on you."

Marie blushed, giggling.

"I used to hide away here, just thinking to myself. Unikitty was a good friend to let me just...think."

Marie felt along the shelves, before going to the window of the room.

She looked out of it, the stars still shining brightly.

"...Sometimes looking back is well deserved."

Rex stepped behind her, he again, took a deep breath.

"Marie...you now I'll always love you, right?"

"Of course."

"Well uh...Because I love you so much, I have something I need to ask you."

"Hmm?"

Marie turned, her eyes widened.

Rex was bent down on one knee before her.

"I'm uh...not the best at this sappy romance stuff but...Marie, you've changed my life. I thought my hardened heart would never heal, and well...even though I'm still somewhat of a jerk...I think it did. Marie, I just...want to thank you for making me feel alive again, like I matter, even though I'm not supposed to be here. I guess I just want to know...will you marry me?"

Rex presented the ring to her.

It was pretty, and exactly what Marie pictured it would be.

"Rex…" Marie teared up, "Yes. Yes of course!"

She hugged Rex tightly, almost pushing him back from the force of it.

Rex smiled, hugging her back.

The two looked at each other a moment, before kissing sweetly.

Rex wanted this, to feel loved again.

He finally had it, maybe not the way he imagined, but it was even better than what he pictured.

Rex got teary eyed as well.

"I love you."

"Love you more!"

Rex straightened up, placing the ring on Marie's finger.

"Now...we plan the wedding. The sooner the better."

Marie nodded, "I can't wait!"

Rex chuckled, "Me neither."

The two kissed again, enjoying their step forward in their relationship, and thinking about the future.