Early September
Full Reveal
Yumi just stood there with her hands over her mouth staring at the ring. After several seconds she pulled her hands down enough to speak and took several shaky breaths.
"Yeah... I guess you are crazy..." she whispered. Ulrich just smiled slightly and closed the box.
"It's ok, I underst..."
"But I'm never letting you go again!" Yumi interrupted and before he had the chance to get up she rushed forward, flinging her arms around his neck. Ulrich pulled her even closer and stood up, lifting Yumi off her feet completely causing her to giggle uncharacteristically. A moment later, he put her back down and backed away just a little. Yumi held out her left hand and Ulrich slid the ring on her finger which made her absolutely giddy! There was just enough moonlight for her to get a good look at it, and she thought it was perfect. Ulrich must have put a lot of thought into it to go with the onyx as opposed to a more traditional diamond. She pulled his face to hers and kissed him again in her excitement before they got moving.
"Not that I'm complaining, but you are really crazy you know that!?" Yumi exclaimed when the two of them started walking through the woods.
"Yeah, I think we established that!" Ulrich replied with a laugh.
"No, I mean I can't believe you bought me an engagement ring when we weren't even dating!"
"Umm... actually, we were dating when I bought it." Yumi looked up at her new fiancé in confusion and waited for him to elaborate. "Do you remember last year when I said that I wanted to talk to you about something?"
"I completely forgot about that!" Yumi exclaimed with a gasp, and Ulrich looked over to meet her gaze.
"This was it." Yumi stopped walking as her heart sank all the way to her stomach.
"You were going to propose last year... and instead I broke up with you."
"Yes." They stood in silence for a moment, then Yumi gasped as she came to another realization. "That's why you were working so many hours!" She exclaimed. "You were saving up to buy this ring, weren't you!?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Honestly, when first you broke up with me I was so shocked that I didn't know what to say or do. Then we spent so long without talking that I figured that I'd lost my chance." Yumi looked down and felt herself start to cry again.
"I was an idiot." Ulrich reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"Hey," he said softly, tilting her head up gently by her chin, "you didn't know, and it's not like I went out of my way to tell you."
"Yeah, but..." he put his finger over Yumi's lips.
"No 'buts.' We can talk about it another time if you need to, but not tonight."
"Ok," she replied meekly. Ulrich took her face in his hands.
"And no more tears either. Do you know why?" He grinned at her.
"Why?"
"Because we're getting married, and that makes this the happiest night of my life!" With that reminder, Ulrich kissed her and Yumi felt her heart melt along with her jumbled emotions. When they broke away again, Yumi chuckled.
"I guess we need to tell the others now," she said, causing Ulrich to laugh quietly as well.
"Yeah, aren't they going to be surprised!" His face fell slightly. "I guess we need to tell our families too."
"Hmm," sighed Yumi. "I know my family is going to be very surprised, but I think they'll be fine. They've always liked you. I'm a little worried that you didn't have the 'I want to marry your daughter' conversation with my dad though. I know he would have liked that."
"Yeah thats true, but I'm more worried about mine."
"I know." Yumi smiled at him and stroked his cheek. "But I'll be right there with you." Ulrich wrapped her in another hug.
"Thanks, Yumi."
The sound of twigs snapping made the two of them separate and look around, both on high alert.
"Hey, I thought you said that you were only gonna be a few minutes, not thirty!" Odd's voice called out, right before he stepped into view followed by Sissi, Jeremy, and Aelita.
"How long have you guys been there?" Demanded Yumi.
"Not long at all," replied Aelita.
"Just long enough to see that you two have gotten pretty cozy again," teased Sissi, causing both Yumi and Ulrich to blush.
"Well, I can't believe you told Ulrich about Xavier!" Yumi accused the tall woman. "Especially after I already said I was going to today."
"I didn't volunteer the information! He asked and I wasn't going to lie to him," she rebutted. "Besides, it certainly looks like it worked out so who really cares!" Yumi felt her cheeks flush even further.
"I asked because I got a call from William of all people telling me about the talk you two had," said Ulrich, causing everyone's heads to jerk toward him in surprise... everyone but Aelita anyway.
"So that's why he wanted your contact info. He asked for it a couple weeks ago, but wouldn't say why," she said.
"Yeah, and when I mentioned Xavier he said it sounded like that must have been over because you didn't say anything about him. I kinda got my hopes up, but I wanted to make sure."
"Wait, you guys have been talking to William?" How did that happen?" Asked Odd.
Jeremy, Aelita, Ulrich, And Yumi filled the others in on their respective encounters with William while they finished making their way out of the woods. After all stories were told, they all found themselves with a lot more respect for the last Lyoko Warrior.
"Has he said anything more about Lily?" Yumi asked her pink-haired friend, just as they were entering Sissi's apartment complex. Aelita grinned widely.
"She asked him out last week!"
"That's wonderful!" Exclaimed Yumi. "How much does she know about his past?"
"Just that he has trauma in his past that causes nightmares, and that we've been working through it. She seems very understanding though, and I think she's been good for him." The thought that he might get his own 'happily ever after' made both Yumi and Ulrich smile. Sissi, on the other hand, had just noticed Yumi had playing with her new ring now that she was illuminated by the light in front of her apartment.
"Yumi...?" She started, getting everyone's attention, just before pointing to her friend's hand. "What's that?" She asked flatly with her eyes wide in shock, and Yumi blushed yet again.
"... an engagement ring..." she admitted sheepishly. Sissi turned to Ulrich, the surprise written clearly on her face.
"You never said you were going to ask that!?"
"I didn't exactly have a lot of time to talk to you..."
"Wait, you two are getting married!?" Exclaimed Jeremy.
"Yeah, we are," Ulrich answered as he put his arm around Yumi's waist.
"I was just as surprised as you are," Yumi said as she smiled warmly up at her fiancé. "But I'm glad that he did."
"You know, I don't know how I manage to keep you two straight!" Blurted Odd. "First you go from 'sort of together,' to 'just friends,' to dating, to broke up but still friends, to not speaking at all, back to friends, and then you completely skip dating again and jump straight to engaged! If the next step in your guys' relationship isn't 'married,' at this point I think my head's going to explode!"
"Yeah, like your guys' history is normal!" Ulrich retorted.
"Hey! At least ours was a steady progression: loathing, awkwardly accepting of each other, friends, best friends, dating, then engaged!" Argued Sissi, making small chopping motions with her hand at each point as if on a line for emphasis. "See, normal!"
"I guess," Ulrich replied.
"If you think about it, none of us have had what would be considered a normal courtship." Interrupted Aelita. The rest of the group looked at her, all reminded that her history with Jeremy had the strangest story of all of them! "But none of that matters at all." She walked up to the newly engaged couple and gave them a hug. "Congratulations you two." She pulled away with a gleam in her eyes. "Now let's see the goods!" Yumi held out her hand and the other two girls fawned over her ring for a minute.
"Nice job, Ulrich. It's so... 'Yumi,'" complimented Sissi.
"Yeah, he did good," said Yumi, once again beaming up at Ulrich. "I'd love to stay all night again, but I think we need to go see my family, and I'm sure you'd like some alone time with Odd." Odd and Sissi looked toward each other affectionately.
"Yeah, I would."
"Well, we're very happy for you two," said Jeremy. He put his arm around Aelita's waist. "And good luck with your families!"
"I think my family is going to be fine, it's Ulrich's that we're worried about," replied Yumi and all six of them groaned, knowing how Ulrich's father was.
After that goodbyes were said, hugs were given and the three couples went their separate ways.
"This last year may have been really hard, but I honestly think that we'll be better in the long run for it," said Ulrich when the others were out of earshot.
"Why do you say that?" Asked Yumi.
"Because I've learned a couple of very important lessons." Yumi looked up at him in expectation. "I've learned that it's not good to be a workaholic, no matter how good your reasons are!" Yumi laughed, "and to never take you or our relationship for granted."
"Those are good lessons." Yumi looked forward again and saw her house just up ahead. "I learned just how deep your loyalty goes, and how far you're willing to go to support me. Thanks." The two arrived at Yumi's house, and they stopped at the door to turn toward each other. Yumi took Ulrich's hands in hers and smiled as she looked up at him.
"Whatever happens in there, it doesn't change my answer, ok?" Yumi reassured Ulrich. He nodded and returned her smile. "I love you Ulrich... and saying that again feels really good!"
"I love you too Yumi, and I know what you mean." He kissed her quickly, then they walked into the house and Yumi closed the door behind them. She put her left hand into her pocket for the moment and clasped her right hand tightly to Ulrich's left. She took a couple deep breaths to calm her nerves, then called out.
"Mom, I'm home!"
A/N: Somehow I managed to write this one out in two days! I hope you liked it and you guys know what to do!
