React and Interact

Pair: Edd and Marie (romance)

Requested by HowQuestionable, girl after my own heart, requesting one of my favorite pairings! I hope I can do it justice in just 500 words…

-/-/-

10 years ago, this was not something Edd would have ever, ever considered. Ever. The idea would have been utterly absurd, even to a creative and open-minded boy such as himself. Yet, here he was, at the ripe, old age of 22, a junior in college, perusing engagement rings at a jewelry store. He didn't have much money, but he supposed he had enough to pay for a modest ring. That was really the only kind Marie would wear, anyway.

That was one thing he'd always loved about her- well, once he decided he loved her, it was something he loved about her- she really was rather modest in her style. She may have gotten gussied up now and then, but it was usually just earrings and a splash of makeup at most. And he just loved seeing Marie's natural beauty shine through.

Shaking himself from his distraction, Edd continued looking over the rings beneath the protective glass. It had to be perfect, just as he strived to make everything else in his life. And there. There it was. A thin, silver scrollwork band with an oval-cut sapphire set into it. Simple, but beautiful, just like his (hopefully) soon-to-be fiancé.

Much later- nearly two months later- Edd still hadn't plucked up the courage to present the ring to Marie. He was sure she would like it- she did so love blue, and silver suited her much better than gold- but her possible answer had had Edd hesitating on edge for weeks, constantly fingering the small, silken box that was forever in his pocket. Anytime he managed to convince himself that of course she'd say yes, she threw him for a loop and made him doubt his judgment all over again.

Then came the day when he was contemplating how he might go about asking the question, as he routinely changed the method he wanted to go with, absently grasping the box in the palm of his hand, when he heard Marie sigh and lean on the couch behind him. He jumped and looked around at her, finding an almost bored expression on her face. "So, are you ever going to do it?" She deadpanned.

"D-do what?" Edd stuttered. A rare occurrence these days, actually.

Marie smirked. "Propose to me." She stated, drawing a startled noise out of boyfriend of five years, "Seriously, you bought that thing, like, what? A couple months ago?"

Silence. "How did you know?" He asked incredulously.

"You're not really that subtle." She smirked.

"I…" He fumbled with his words for a moment. "I worry about what you're going to say… What will you say? If… when I ask?"

Marie raised her eyebrows at him. "Well, yer just gonna have to ask me and find out."

Frustrated, Edd drew the box out of his pocket, slid off the couch, and knelt in front of Marie, presenting his gift to her and temporarily forgetting his insane nerves. "Marie… will you marry me?"

-/-/-

Words: 494

Author's Note: And if you have any doubt about what she says, you obviously haven't been reading the extreme fluff that is this entire series. Also, I'm so, so sorry this has been left to gather dust! I'm still working on it, I'm just easily distracted and lazy. Thanks to UnluckyAmulet for kicking my butt about this~

Anywho, hope you all enjoyed it!

As ever, requests, requests… but only one, actually. Thanks for the interest, guys!