maddiehans said:
Chim gets hurt at work and Maddie proposes to him without realizing that he can hear her
Of course it wasn't supposed to happen like this. Maddie stood by Chimney's bed, her heart thudding dully against her ribs.
He was lying still, and she hadn't seen him like this since everything had happened with Doug. She couldn't believe she was here again, she couldn't believe she was at his side.
She hated hospitals.
Buck was taking care of Mango; Maddie refused to bring her daughter to see her dad looking like this. She wouldn't put Mango through that, wouldn't put that picture in her mind.
This moment...she realized as she watched him how fragile everything was. They'd been putting off bringing any permanence to this relationship for the past three years, and everything was fine. Everything was good. They didn't need to take another step, they were good as they were.
She reached for his hand, her throat welling up. "I want to marry you," she whispered, and cleared her throat, trying to find the words. "I know we don't talk about that. I know we've decided to wait. But oh my god. I can't look at you like this."
She leaned to press a kiss to his hand, her tears wetting it. "Let's get married," she whispered, feeling her heart shatter. She wondered when he would wake up. The nurses had said it could be today or tomorrow or even longer. Comas were tricky things.
"I'm in."
She jerked her head up, and saw Chimney's eyes open. He gazed up at her, a smile spreading over his face. "Let's get married," he said, voice low and slow, and she could tell words were hard to get out.
"Chim," she said, words half a sob, and she leaned forward to press a careful kiss to his lips. "I love you."
"I love you too," he whispered, his arms coming up to hold her there so he could kiss her again.