Plagiarize or sue me, and something really bad will happen to you. How bad? You don't wanna know! *waves fist in the air* MIB The Animated Series owns some characters while Chanda and Delia own others, I own the rest.

Written in the Stars: A Destined Romance

Part 32: The Moment Has Arrived!

"Little Ears…." X said threateningly as another paper ball hit him in the back of the head.

"I'm bored!" Elle complained, "And your head makes a pretty tempting target."

She began laughing to herself as she wadded up another piece of printing paper and tossed it at him.

The paper ball soared between his ears and landed on the desk in front of him. "And it's good!"

"Very funny," X scoffed, turning around to face the little mischief maker. "Has Zeeltor got you on some kind of experimental drugs?"

Elle stuck her tongue out at him, he could never take a joke. He was just too dang sensitive. Elle laughed at that thought.

"Who's place are we eating dinner at tonight?" X asked as he finished the last of the paperwork and shoved it into his folder.

She leaned over the back of her chair and rested her chin on her arms, "Why don't you cook something tonight Cowboy? I don't mind a microwave meal for once."

"You're just full of smart cracks today aren't you?" he asked her sarcastically. Truthfully, X wasn't that bad of a cook, at least, he could cook the few JeeDangian dishes he knew how to make pretty well.

Elle lifted her eyebrows in anticipation of his response. "Alright, dinner at my place it is."

"Good," Elle got up and kissed him, just a quick peck on the lips, before heading off to her quarters.

Once her footsteps died off down the hall X pulled the small black velvet box out of his jacket. He opened it slowly and noted the sparkling diamond inside mounted atop the golden ring. 'Odd Earth custom, giving the female you want as your mate a ring.' he was in deep thought about this, but he had no doubt, Elle was the one. He just hoped she said yes.

******

"Hey Cowboy," Elle greeted X as he answered his door, "wow, smells good. I'm guessing it's not from the microwave?"

"Nope," X turned, hoping she didn't catch him gawking at her beautiful pale blue gown, she usually didn't wear anything so light in color. "Um, nice dress."

"You always say that." Elle laughed, "Hmm…" she eyed what he had on, "gray slacks and white shirt, not too shabby."

He led her to his kitchen table, she already knew the way, she knew where everything was in his quarters. She'd been there so many times before, since they'd started dating.

X could boast the same about her quarters, but for the most part, he didn't pry around in there. Elle seemed fascinated by all of his possessions though. He had even taken the liberty of showing off his crystals to her. She had found them to be quite pretty and could see why he wouldn't want 'grubby little opposable thumbprints' all over them. To her surprise, he had given her one!

"I can't take this X," she'd exclaimed when he pressed one into her hand, "these are your crystals, you treasure these!"

"I treasure you too." he'd said shyly, it had been nearly a week since they'd been dating.

Elle had looked at the precious gift a moment before kissing X softly on the cheek, "Thank you."

Tonight Elle was gazing around his rooms as if she'd been in them for the first time as X poured her some JeeDangian tropical drink. She had acquired a taste for JeeDangian food, even with X as the cook. "Your species sure does know how to decorate," Elle commented staring at the unique sculptures and various other forms of artwork along his walls.

"My mother sent most of this to me," X explained, handing her the drink, "this one used to hang in my old room."

The piece he was referring to was a yellow shell, quite larger than most common ones on Earth, it had a spiral in the center and thin tan marks wrapping around it. Something was written in JeeDangian on the inside of the opening of the shell, Elle tried to make it out. "To my little 'tericch'…?"

"It means beloved nephew." X explained, Elle had been trying to learn to read and speak JeeDangian since they'd started dating and was doing surprisingly well, she still had trouble with the more complex words and phrases though.

Elle nodded and continued reading aloud, "…have a nice summer at Pamaruil Inlet, your loving aunt, Xeniba."

She smiled when she read it, JeeDangians were so sweet. She remembered the presents her own aunt would send her from her trips and for when she went on vacation. She'd been very young then but those gifts still lined her walls back at her aunt's mansion and then she remembered the shell collection she had received from her aunt when she cruised the Caribbean Islands!

"Oh X! Hold on a minute okay?" She handed him the drink and raced off to her quarters.

In her bedroom she dug beneath her bed in search of the small wooden case with the glass lid. She found it at last near the headboard. "Ah-ha!" she pulled it out carefully and admired the perfectly preserved exotic shells that her aunt had purchased and sent to her nearly two decades ago. She studied the shells for a moment before picking out the most unique and intricately decorated one. It was a long light brown shell with dark brown swerving markings and a speckled tip. It was the size of a pencil and the rarest type found along the coast of North and South America. That would look nice in X's rooms.

She hurried back to his rooms and hid the shell behind her back.

X gave her a quizzical look, "Where have you been?"

"I thought of something that I wanted to give you." Elle replied, blushing as she presented the shell to X. "It's something I've had for a while. I know it's no crystal but I thought maybe you might like it anyway. Seeing as how you've got so many shells lining your walls and stuff."

X stared at the gift momentarily and smiled, taking the shell from Elle he kissed her softly and placed it on top of his shelf, next to what Elle thought of as the most exquisite shells of his collection. "I love it Elle, thank you."

Elle blushed some more, taking back her drink and following X to the table. Dinner was finally ready and she was relieved that he'd actually liked the gift. Now at least, they had something to talk about.

"What is it Cowboy?" Elle looked up midway through the meal and saw that X had barely touched his food, 'Uh-oh,' she flinched inwardly, 'he hates the gift.'

X looked up and smiled a little, "I just have something to ask you after dinner, I guess I'm a little preoccupied about it."

"Oh," What could he have to ask her about?.

Dinner ended just as quickly as it had begun, X had eaten maybe a fourth of what was on his plate, Elle worried that he might be getting sick. When she felt his forehead he laughed and assured her that he'd be fine. He just needed to get something off his chest first.

Elle was lead to his couch and took a seat, they usually watched some T.V. or a movie after eating so this really didn't strike her as strange.

It was when he bent down on his knee in front of her that Elle knew something was off. "Uh, X?"

"Elle, I love you, and you've got to be the sweetest, prettiest, and even the funniest creature that I've ever met in my entire life." Elle blushed, she didn't expect this.

"You think I'm funny?" she smiled, allowing him to take her hand.

'I hope this is the right hand?' X thought as he pulled out the velvet box, "Elle, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He was sending chills up Elle's spine, it felt like butterflies were beating their little wings out in her stomach, 'please don't let me faint!' she prayed. X took a deep breath and opened the box, revealing the engagement ring, "Elle, will you marry me?"

The room started tilting this way and that. Elle felt herself grow weak and the warm touch of X's hand on hers was the only thing holding her to reality and consciousness. She wasn't going to pass out, not now! Not until she had a chance to answer him. "Yes. I will marry you X, nothing would make me happier!"

X was relieved and overjoyed to hear her response, she had grown a bit pale and had made him worry but now things were going to be okay. He was so happy, his mother was going to be thrilled about all this! She'd always wanted a daughter-in-law, and now she might even get those grandchildren she longed for, that is, if humans and JeeDangians could have children? 'Whoa X,' he cautioned himself, 'one step at a time.'

Elle was breathing deeply, a little shaken up but just as happy. X slipped the ring onto her finger and she kissed him firmly on his lips. After pulling away a second later she whispered, "X…"

"Yes?" he said softly back.

"…catch me."

"Huh?" Elle fell forward onto him and X couldn't hold back a laugh. How typical of Little Ears, she fainted.

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