Author's note: This update is a bit small, but I wanted this bit to be a stand alone event. I hope you enjoy it despite the brevity of it.
Shoto approached the bench where he had left Melina sitting only moments earlier. He went to buy her a drink and was gone for only a few minutes. All he saw were the loads of stuffed animals his friends had insisted on winning for the baby. How many plush theme park mascots and giant teddy bears as big as a person did a child need?
Melina was exhausted and had requested a moment to rest so surely she would not have gotten up and ran off somewhere. Maybe one of the girls grabbed her and pulled her into the nearby souvenir shop for more browsing. Perhaps one of the guys had come to get her to take her on another ride. Nah, none of them would have done that knowing she needed a break.
"Where did she go?" he asked himself out loud.
"I'm right here!" she called out, her voice sounding muffled and far away.
"Melina? Where - "
He watched in amazement as the paw of the biggest teddy bear, a cream colored one with big brown eyes that looked like chocolate bon bons, waved at him. Lunging forward, he picked up the enormous stuffed animal to see her sitting there with half closed, sleepy eyes. He smiled at her, relieved to see she was all right, albeit a little hot due being under the bear.
"I'm guessing you fell asleep and someone thought it would be funny to put the bear in your lap?" he ventured, handing her the plastic cup full of icy cold soda.
"That's my best guess. I'm sorry I'm wimping out so soon," she apologized.
Shoto placed his hand on her belly, patting it gently.
"It's okay. You are busy making another human. That's enough to tire anyone out," he remarked sweetly. "I'll call Hibiki to come get all of this stuff. But there's one more ride I want to take you on before we leave."
"We haven't gone on the Ferris Wheel yet," she said, recalling he wanted to save that one for last before leaving.
"Saving the best for last. I'll be right back. Rest a little bit more," he told her, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket as he walked away.
Melina had no idea why going on that ride was really important to him so she did not complain. Besides, it was the last one before going home. The sun was setting so it would be a beautiful view from the top. A perfect and romantic way to end their fun the day at the amusement park.
When Shoto returned, she had just finished off the drink and the baby was kicking around. She would swear the child was swimming laps due to the caffeine. Laying her hand on her belly, she could detect a slight quivering movement under her palm.
"Hey, give me your hand," she said to Shoto, reaching for his hand.
"What is it? Is everything okay?" he asked anxiously, squatting down in front of her and placing both of his hands on the small mound of her pregnant belly.
His eyes widened, and he inhaled sharply. She lay her hands over his, grinning broadly at him as he focused all of his attention on detecting the tiniest movement. He smiled, even laughed a little, with each flicker of motion, each barely a flutter, under his palms as the baby moved around inside her tummy.
"I feel them. Oh, my god, Mel, I feel the baby," he gushed in an excited whisper.
Without taking into consideration their surroundings, not caring that they were in public or how it might look in general, Shoto leaned forward to press his lips to hers.
Suddenly wolf whistles, cheers, and clapping erupted around them. Jumping up to a standing position, his entire face as red as his scar making it disappear under his blush, Shoto glanced around at his friends and classmates.
"I knew it! I knew there was something going on between you two!" Kirishima yelled triumphantly. Glancing at Sero and Kaminari, he told them, "You both owe me twenty bucks, losers."
"They were betting on what kind of relationship we have?" Melina pondered aloud, not sure if she should offended or amused.
"Apparently," Shoto muttered, rubbing his neck self-consciously.
"Stop it, you idiots!" Bakugo chastised them.
Melina smiled at him in gratitude, thankful he was coming to rescue them from death by humiliation.
"Besides, if you couldn't see these two had the hots for each other you're a bigger dumbass than I thought," he barked.
"Ugh," she groaned, slapping her palm to her forehead. "Gee thanks, Bakugo."
"Let's go," Shoto said, grasping her hand to pull her up from the bench.
Melina was beginning to wonder if her returning to the school was a bad idea. Not that the kids meant any harm by teasing them like that. Her leaving in the first place had been to avoid such uncomfortable situations, to hide her feelings for Shoto and avoid them as well. But things had changed.
The metaphorical cat was out of the bag; their secret had been set free for all to witness right here in the middle of the theme park. It was bound to happen sooner or later. She would have preferred later, but life had a tendency to work out in way she did not want it to.
"Why do you look so worried all of a sudden? What are you thinking about?" Shoto asked her, his face pinched with concern.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just squinting against the sun," she lied since they were facing the sunset which was still quite bright.
"Uh huh," he returned doubtfully.
They joined the long line at the back to wait their turn. They held hands and talked about her upcoming doctor's appointment, the family dinner on Sunday, and the inevitable return to 'normal' life on Monday - such as 'normal' is for them.
By the time they reached the front of the line, the colorful blinking lights outlining the round three story structure had come on and the sun was all but gone. The small amount of remaining sunlight split into individual rays extending above the softly glowing horizon cutting across the darkening sky in an effort to beat back the darkness. As they stepped into their enclosed compartment that resembled a big silver ball, the sun lost its battle, admitting defeat as night conquered for its temporary reign.
Shoto sat beside Melina, his hip pressed against hers before pulling her into his arms. They were alone. Separated from the world and everyone in it. Soon they would be above everything looking down to observe the twinkling lights in a vast array of colors, to behold the beauty that even the darkness could bring.
Melina giggled, feeling positively giddy when Shoto nuzzled her neck tickling her sensitive skin. Turning her face to his, she closed her eyes in anticipation of his kiss. Not to disappoint her, he pressed his lips to hers, his fingers trailing along her jaw.
"I'm so glad you found me," she whispered to him, her lips brushing across his with each word.
"I did find you, didn't I? I almost didn't speak to you that day. I just felt like I had to...I had to push past my fear, my doubt. You were so beautiful even when you were crying. I felt like I had to help you," he said, smoothing back the stray wisps of her hair that had fallen from her ponytail to frame her face.
"That's what heroes do, right? They help the hurting. They rescue those in need. They save people," she said, laying her head on his shoulder. "Like you saved me."
"You're giving me far too much credit," he murmured, stroking her head. "Besides, I think I could say the same thing about you."
The mechanical whir of the machine as it rotated the wheel, the creaking of the screws as their little cart swung back and forth became the only sounds between them as they held each other.
"Melina, there's something I want to ask you," Shoto announced, sliding from her arms to the floor in front of her.
He was kneeling in front of her on bended knee. One knee like men do to...wait! No. He can't be about to...
Shoto reached into the pocket of his jeans. When he withdrew his hand, there was a red velvet ring box sitting in the middle of his palm. He took an audible gulp, opening the box.
Melina shook from head to toe, tears blurring her vision as she tried to see the ring he revealed, Blinking rapidly, she cleared the tears from her eyes to send them streaking down her cheeks. The ring was small and not too fancy, but unique. Set in a silver metal, sterling silver or possibly platinum, a heart shaped ruby was flanked by two simple round diamonds.
"I know you didn't want to do this right now, but..." He paused to gulp again, the ring box juddering in his hand. "I love you, and I want everyone to know it. I'll buy a different ring later, a better one, but for now - "
"It's beautiful," she gasped, grasping the edge of the seat to keep herself upright.
Dizziness swamped her and the sight of him wavered under the layer of tears in her eyes. Happy tears.
Shoto inhaled a shaky breath. His quivering fingers had a difficult time grasping the ring to pull it out of the velvet in which it nestled. At last he pulled it free, dropping the box at her feet. Leaving it be, he took her hand in his. His fingers were cold but sweaty. The trembling of his hand made her shake even worse than she already was as if his nervousness was catching.
"Two people met unexpectedly. Against all odds, two hearts become one. You were not my other half, but my other whole. You are the person I had been waiting for to complete me, to make me better, to love me. You taught me to love truly, freely, unselfishly...and how to forgive," he said, sliding the ring on her tremulous finger.
Melina thought her pounding heart might burst, spilling out all of the strong feelings swirling around inside. Instead, those feelings pushed through her tear ducts, coursing down her face and dripping off of her chin and sliding down her neck forming cold, wet trails before soaking the front of her t-shirt.
She did not notice the tears or her wet shirt or anything that could be construed as negative. All she could see was Shoto. All she could feel was happy. Insanely happy. Happier than she had ever been.
And for once, she was not afraid or full of misgivings. Chewing her lower lip, trying to slow the tears at least so she could see clearly, her eyes followed the ring as he slid it onto her finger.
"Melina, will you marry me?" he asked with his love for her shining through his dual colored irises.
Melina tried to speak but could not find her voice because of the tears of joy clogging her throat. She nodded enthusiastically, throwing her arms around his neck. A sob escaped her as she held him, her arms tightening around his shoulders.
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll marry you!" she exclaimed, her breath hitching at the end.
Her lips found his - a kiss to seal the deal. She tasted her own tears which for the first time did not taste bitter.