AN: Sorry for the wait. Hope you enjoy!


The day was a plainer one, so an ironically rare one, for James and Alastair. It softly rained outside, comforting and calming. Inside, 'Sut had com accustomed to climbing on any high surface that presented itself, even if it meant across some one's lap, stomach, or shoulders. The cat had seemed to become very smitten with Alastair, especially after he had finally petted her which James just wouldn't let him live down.

Now Alastair sat on the couch as James had excused himself for several seconds. 'Sut attempted to crawl into his lap where he promptly picked her up and set her somewhere else even though she came back almost immediately afterwards. Curling up again, this time she dug her claws into his pants, not enough to hurt but enough to make it a pain in the ass to actually move her again.

At that point, James came in and grinned upon seeing the seen in front of him. "Ah, you're like to peas in a pod."

"Yes, that are trying to kill each other for dominance," muttered Alastair. "What's that in your hand?"

"A letter."

Alastair frowned and glanced at the nearest clock. "The post doesn't come at this time…It's Sunday! The post doesn't come at all!"

"Huh, that's funny because it's addressed to you," replied James as he dropped it next to Alastair and begun to whistle.

"Very subtle," muttered Alastair. Moving around Hatshepsut, he picked it up and gave James a suspicious look. "It isn't addressed to anyone. There's no markings on it."

"Well that's kind of odd. Maybe you should open it," James responded as he sat down.

Alastair rolled his eyes and looked back to the letter. The paper was thick and if he'd really wanted to analyze, he could have figured out exactly where it had come from in London. However, even if James hadn't been so not subtle, his nonchalance was enough to tell Alastair that it was James who had given it to him. There was a weight in it, something small, obviously. He could have figured out what without opening the letter easily but decided that James' puppy dog eyes and excited expression were to sweet to actually antagonize.

Deciding against getting an actual letter opener, Alastair ripped up one corner and slid his finger to open it up more. He tipped it over and allowed whatever object to fall out. It happened to be two things, both plain and silver, that clanged against each other and into his palm. The appearance of the two rings weren't that surprising but the unspoken question was another idea all together.

The silence that followed was quickly filled up by James whose nerves had already gotten the better of him.

"I thought up a lot of different ideas and I mean, I didn't really want anything cheesy and I knew you wouldn't want flashy so I just decided to do it here on a spur of the moment. I know I know. I probably should have done something else, putting into a letter was stupid, I know. But uh, I just wasn't really sure and I mean, it's been sized to fit you so I hope that's not to presumptuous or anything but—"

"James?"

"Huh, what? Yes?" asked James as he stopped himself and quickly turned.

Letting out a sigh, Alastair couldn't help the snort and small smile that followed. He leaned in and gave him a kiss before leaning back and replying, "Yes."

"Yes? Oh you mean that yes! Awesome! No wait, that's not something you should say. Uh—"

"James," Alastair said fondly, "shut up."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," responded James as he gave a nervous chuckle. "You mean that though?"

"No, I just felt like saying it to mess you. April Fools."

"Funny," James said with a roll of his eyes. "Don't be an ass."

"I learned from the best."

"Harsh!" laughed James. However, he quickly became serious again, which was certainly unusual. "I just, I know we still can't technically marry but I wanted…this is just important for me and I'd like to take this step with you."

"Hey, of course it's important to me. And we can do whatever you want when we finally can. Just grab a certificate or have an actual ceremony, it doesn't matter to me. Whatever you want," responded Alastair.

"Thanks," James said, visibly easing.

Alastair smiled at that as he finally looked at both of the rings. He rolled them around, and examined them curiously. There were no markings, no engravings or gems placed here and there, just a simple band of…not actual silver he realized but platinum.

"Where'd you get these?" asked Alastair curiously.

"The family estate. They're my parent's actually," James replied to Alastair's surprise. "I was looking through some of the family things, back when my brother left it all to me. I mean, I know I said I didn't want anything but I was still curious, especially since I'd never really looked over my parent's things. I was a bit surprised that they were so plain but I thought that you'd appreciate that fact."

"Beauty in the simplicity."

"Exactly," James smiled. "Here let me."

James took both rings, set one down, and quickly grabbed Alastair's left hand as he slid which ring was his onto his ring finger. He rolled his eyes and took James' left hand as well. "Only fair that I do it to you to," he said as he mimicked James' motion.

Grinning, James quickly kissed Alastair before he could say or do anything else as he moved closer only to have an irritated yowl appear as 'Sut jumped on the back of the couch and glared at the two.

"Ah, I'm sorry baby," James laughed he picked her up. "We didn't mean to ignore you."

Alastair scoffed. "Really? What? You love the cat more than me?"

"Hmm…yes."

"You're horrible," Alastair muttered even though he was smiling.

James just smiled back as asked, "Do you want to start telling others? Like is that alright? Or we can keep it secret for now or—"

"I don't mind James, honestly. Tell anyone you want to. I'm sure Lily will definitely get a kick out of it."

"Oh I bet. Honestly she probably would have strangled me if I had waited any longer."

"I'm not surprised. Kenton will probably be his idiotic self and squeal."

"He'll probably try to crush us both into a gigantic bear hug," James added. "I imagine him and Lily will have a contest for who freaks out the most."

"I imagine so. Harry's going to tease me to no end. I just know it. And he'll just give me those infuriating smiles that say he knows something I don't," Alastair replied, his voice getting lower and more irritated.

"I take it your last mission went well?" laughed James.

Alastair gave him a look that had the other laughing even harder.

"You know, I really wish I could have been on that one mission, with you two and Merlin where you ended up rescuing your brother? I'm sure that would have been fantastic!"

"Well that's one word for it."

"I heard that Merlin had to play referee a lot."

"Basically. He certainly threatened to throw us out of the plane enough times."

"As much as I love you, I probably would have done the same," James replied. He suddenly got excited as an idea came to him. "I know this is kind of random but seeing as you're getting along so well with Hatshepsut—"

Alastair glared at the cat that had wrapped itself around his neck.

"—I figured maybe it would be alright to call Lily….?"

"You don't need my permission," snorted Alastair. "Go, run, squeal about whatever you two squeal about."

"I don't squeal. That's Kenton remember?"

Alastair rolled his eyes as James quickly ran off to find his phone. Alastair turned to the cat whose head was resting on his shoulder. He released a small smile as he started rubbing 'Sut's head. She purred in happiness.

"Yeah, we'll just continue with letting him think we hate each other won't we," Alastair murmured as he got right around her ear. "That way I don't have to live down the 'I told you so' that I know is coming."

'Sut seemed to almost nod in agreement as she rubbed against him and released another steady stream of purrs just as James' head popped in. Almost immediately, 'Sut stopped and swatted at him.

Alastair grumbled at the cat and turned towards James. "Yeah?"

"I just remembered it's dinner time. Do you mind if Lily comes over?"

"Stopping asking me these things. Of course I don't," Alastair said with a roll of his eyes.

"Well what do you want to eat?"

"Doesn't matter to me."

"Indecisive bastard. Have to figure it out for myself then," grumbled James though he immediately smiled afterwards. "If you end up hating it, you can't argue then."

"I'll take that risk."

James rolled his eyes and quickly disappeared behind the corner, going off to the kitchen most likely.

Alastair simply smiled after him before turning back to 'Sut and petting her on the head, erupting another series of purrs. "Good girl."