***
It was dark when Marron woke from her nap. She didn't know how long she'd been asleep - at least all afternoon by the looks of it - since she could see the night sky out the window wall of the bedroom. She felt infinitely better now that she'd rested, even though as she'd lain there earlier pondering what she should do, she thought she'd never fall asleep. She rolled on her back as she slowly woke up and her eyes adjusted to the dark bedroom. She smelled roses strongly and frowned slightly, wondering vaguely if her bottle of perfume had spilled.
"My Sleeping Beauty is awake."
Marron looked over toward the door and saw Trunks silhouetted there from the light of the hall. She stretched a little and smiled at him.
"Hey... You're home." She said sleepily, as Trunks came over and sat beside her on the bed. She couldn't see his face in the dark, but had a feeling he was smiling at her as he smoothed her hair away from her brow and leaned over to kiss her gently.
"Feeling better?" He murmured. She nodded, still smiling as he stroked her hair.
"Much. I think the nap helped. What time is it?"
"After six." Trunks told her. Marron's eyes opened wide. She'd slept the day away! She started to get up.
"It's late! I have to start your dinner." Marron said. Trunks put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back down gently.
"Nothing doing. I made dinner reservations...if you're feeling up to going out." Trunks told her, turning and lighting several candles on the bedside table. She looked up at him; he was still in his business suit, his glasses reflecting the candlelight as he smiled at her.
"You made reservations? Really?" She asked in surprise. With the schedules they kept and her playing in the band, other than that first night they had gone out when Trunks got drunk, they hadn't been out since. Trunks leaned over her with a crooked grin.
"Don't sound so surprised. I've been meaning to take you out special like I promised for quite a while. And since you have the whole weekend off I thought it would be the perfect way to start off us spending some time together...alone." He murmured, his lips near hers. Marron blushed slightly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Mmmmm...sounds wonderful. Where are we going?" She asked. Trunks kissed her softly before answering.
"Chez Victoria's." Marron's eyes widened. That was the trendiest, most expensive restaurant in the city. It was nearly impossible to get a reservation; they had to be placed weeks in advance.
"You're kidding right? That place is so fancy...I-I don't have anything to wear! The dress you got me for last time isn't back from the cleaners yet Trunks." She told him. Trunks just smiled and got up, pulling Marron up with him. When she stood before him he began to undress her.
"Don't worry about it...its been taken care of." He told her, and taking her hand led her to the bathroom. Candles of all sizes, shapes and colors were scattered around the bathroom and tub, casting a warm golden light. Trunks put his hand in the filled tub and as she watched it began to glow. Moments later steam rose from the heated water.
"Neat trick." Marron said quietly. Trunks looked at her over his shoulder and wiggled his eyebrows at her, and she giggled in response. Straightening he scattered a handful of rose petals into the water and turned to her holding his hand out.
"In you go." Trunks handed her into the tub and she settled into the hot water, after coiling her hair on her head. The temperature was perfect; hot enough to relax her but not too hot. In addition to the rose petals, Marron noticed he'd put some rose oil in the bath by the sheen on the water. Trunks placed a folded towel on the edge of the tub behind her neck, urging her to lie back and relax. She closed her eyes, a trace of a smile on her lips. She didn't know what she'd done to warrant such special treatment, but she wasn't about to complain.
Trunks took off his suit jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves as she sat in the tub, eyes closed. He watched her a moment. She was so beautiful to him she didn't seem real. *I'm going to marry this girl* He thought, and felt the same thrilling rush of emotion as when he'd made his decision earlier. He went over to the tub and knelt beside it, picking up a large sponge. Marron's eyes opened in surprise as Trunks took the sponge and began to gently wash her, still wearing his tie and glasses.
"You're spoiling me again." She purred in delight as he scrubbed her back with the sponge. Trunks chuckled at her, squeezing warm water from the sponge to run down her back before leaning over and kissing her wet shoulder.
"That's still my plan." He joked. She looked at him from the corner of her eye. Wondering just what he was up to. While it was like Trunks to do something romantic like the candles, it wasn't like Trunks to draw a bath for her and not currently be in it *with* her, wanting her to scrub his back. Still, she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth and decided to just go along with whatever he had planned. Maybe if he was in a good enough mood later she could broach the subject of her delicate condition. The thought sobered her and she pushed it away stubbornly - she wasn't going to spoil Trunks' plans by being worried.
When she was clean, Trunks held open a fluffy towel for her as she stepped from the tub, enfolding her in it and his arms. She tipped her face up to his and he gave her a deep lingering kiss.
"So what's the special occasion?" She asked softly. He grinned and rubbed her nose with his.
"Do I need an occasion to take my beautiful girlfriend out? Isn't us finally having a weekend alone together more than reason enough?" He teased. Marron chuckled in agreement.
"Good point." She said, and then looked sly as she wound her arms around his waist loosely. "You know...we don't HAVE to go out if you don't want to..." She suggested with a slow smile.
"Tempting, but I really wanted to take you out - like I promised you I would. Tomorrow on the other hand, I was thinking we could..." And put his lips against her ear to finish the thought in a low whisper. She shivered and her belly flip-flopped wildly. "...All day." He added.
"Sounds good to me." She squeaked, blushing. "Just remember to lock the balcony door." Trunks laughed quietly and pulled her closer for a moment as he dried her tenderly with the towel.
"I'll be right back." He said with a kiss to her nose. Marron raised an eyebrow as he slipped away and wrapped the towel around her. He was back a moment later with a large silver box tied with a blue velvet bow.
"So what's this?" She asked curiously, taking the box and looking at Trunks questioningly.
"You'll see...I'll let you get ready. Our reservations are whenever we get there so take your time. No rush." He told her and left the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Whatever time they got there? At Chez Victoria's? She thought. She must have heard him incorrectly and quickly moved to get herself ready setting the box aside for the moment. She opened the box while she waited for her curlers to set, and caught her breath at what she found inside.
The color struck her first, a deep rich red - her favorite. She lifted the dress out of the box and discovered it came in two parts. The under part was a silk slip dress with thin straps in a deep shimmery gold, the over portion was long sleeved red velvet and almost reminded Marron of a fitted coat with the way it hooked in the front, but was split the entire way down allowing the gold silk to peep through the deep V of the neckline. The bodice, hem and cuffs of the velvet dress were embroidered with gold in a pattern of leaves and dragonflies and beaded with red and black crystal beads that caught the light. She couldn't wait to try it on.
She pulled the curlers from her hair and was satisfied with the way it fell in soft loose waves that tumbled over her shoulders and decided to leave it down. Only pulling the top part back, and catching it in the jeweled dragonfly clip she found in the box as well, leaving a few tendrils to frame her heart shaped face. She perused her reflection momentarily, as she stood clad in the gold silk portion of the dress. The gold was deeper than her hair, but it still made her look like she had been dipped in gold from head to toe. Remembering what Yamucha had taught her, she applied slightly more dramatic makeup, finishing with a deep red smudge-proof lipstick that complimented the velvet dress and gave her some color. She hooked the fitted velvet overdress closed and was pleasantly surprised to find it fit her like it had been made for her. She peeked in the box the dress had come in to see if she had missed anything and found a velvet box among the tissue. Inside she found an antique gold necklace of a dragonfly with ruby eyes and a fat teardrop pearl hanging from its tail. She put it, and the matching ruby stud earrings, on and looked at herself in the mirror again. The necklace was truly the finishing touch - who knew Trunks had such a good eye?
She found the bedroom dark and empty when she left the bathroom, the light from the hallway the only illumination. She'd half expected to find Trunks waiting for her. Her toe brushed something and when she looked down she saw a rose lying on the floor, when she bent and picked it up she saw another near the door. A smile curled her lips as she moved to collect the second. A trail of roses led down the hall to the silent living room and Marron gathered them all, watching the floor and admiring the way the gold silk peeped from the split of the velvet overdress as she walked, until she had half a dozen flowers in her hand. The living room was dark as well, only lit by one thick candle the way Trunks liked the room, letting the lights of the city take the focus.
As she bent to gather the last rose she saw Trunks' feet before her and straightened up slowly, her eyes drinking him in. She could see Trunks in his tuxedo a million times and he would still take her breath away every single one. He was perfect as he stood before her, his arms filled with the other six roses plus a dozen more. His piercing blue eyes held hers and she had to remind herself to breathe as he looked at her intensely. She could feel the flush starting on her neck like it always did when Trunks stared at her like that.
Trunks looked her over slowly, from her bare toes peeping out from the hem of her dress up over her to her face. Her blush colored her cheeks prettily. He had been on his way to the jewelers that afternoon when the dress in a boutique window had caught his eye and made him pause. As he'd looked through the window at the deep red color and the shimmery gold, he'd imagined Marron in it and just knew he had to buy it for her. But his imagination of how she'd look in it couldn't begin to compare to the reality of her.
"I didn't think it was possible." He said, and placed the roses in her arms so he could cradle her face tenderly in his palms. She looked up at him, her eyes like aquamarine crystal framed by smoky eyelashes.
"What?" She murmured.
"That you could get any more beautiful, Marron." He told her. She put one hand on her heart as her eyes slipped shut. She was melting.
"Aa." She sighed smiling. Trunks leaned down and kissed her, his lavender bangs brushing her forehead silkily.
"C'mon...let's put those in some water and go...before I change my mind about going out." He told her with a wicked smile, and a gentle kiss to her forehead.
***
Trunks sat in the back of the darkened limo with one arm around Marron, and the other in his jacket pocket, turning the small velvet box that held her ring over and over in his hand. He hoped she liked his choice. It had been an easy decision for him to make at the jewelers. He'd scanned the selection of rings, his eyes passing over the (to him) many gaudy and ostentatious styles until in the last case he'd seen it. A beautiful princess cut diamond set in a platinum band with smaller trillion cut diamonds flanking it. It was perfect, worthy of the wife of the President of Capsule Corporation. It reminded him of Marron...clean lined and elegant. He just hoped she thought so too, as he reviewed his plans for the evening and their weekend and smiled. He couldn't wait to see her face when he gave it to her.
Curled against his side, Marron was lost in her own thoughts as well. Trunks was being so sweet and romantic, to buy her a beautiful dress, to take her to a fancy restaurant in a limo... And she could spoil the whole thing with her news, how would Trunks react? Should she not tell him? Was that any more fair to take advantage of his generosity and then spring it on him later? 'Oh by the way...I'm pregnant.' She bit her lip uncertain what to do. There was no question that she HAD to tell him. The question was when.
"We're here." Trunks said as they pulled up in front of the restaurant.
Besides being the most popular, and arguably the best restaurant in West Capitol, Chez Victoria's could also boast the best view. The restaurant was situated on the top floor of West Capitol's largest tower dome building. Normally, since it was Friday night the lobby of the building would be filled with people waiting for their tables, or hoping for a cancellation so they could board the glass elevator to the restaurant. But tonight there was no one, the lobby eerily vacant except for the hostess, a pretty brunette, who looked star struck and a little flustered when Trunks favored her with a dazzling smile.
"Briefs, Party of two. I believe we have a reservation." Trunks said, and Marron looked at him curiously, noting the barely repressed laughter in his voice.
"Oh yes Mr. Briefs. We've been expecting you. Please, go right on up." The hostess told him, her cheeks flushing scarlet. Trunks favored her with another smile as he gave her a tip.
"I trust everything is in order?" He asked quietly so Marron wouldn't overhear. The brunette nodded vigorously.
"Yes Sir." She said breathlessly, taking the proffered zenni from him. " We have everything that you asked for."
"Good. And if anyone asks you never saw us." Trunks told her, and with a smile of thanks and a little wink, turned back to Marron and led her to the elevator. The hostess watched them go with a little sigh. How romantic. She wondered if Mr. Briefs' girlfriend knew how lucky she was. She bit her lip in hesitation. She was dying to call her best friend and tell her she just saw Trunks Briefs, she'd be so jealous. She knew Mr. Briefs didn't want anyone to know he was here... and her manager had told her under no uncertain terms was anyone to know what was happening upstairs at Chez Victoria's tonight. She really didn't want to lose her job, but the temptation was just too great. She called her two best friends and after extracting promises from them to not tell a soul - confided in them that Trunks Briefs was going to propose to his girlfriend that night - and wasn't it the most romantic thing ever? Predictably, those two friends kept the secret for less than ten minutes before they told their friends; unfortunately one of those friends was the daughter of a reporter. The one who broke the story of Trunks and Marron's relationship in the first place...he of the dead caterpillar moustache.
Trunks and Marron had probably barely finished the first course of their dinner by the time the reporters were gathering outside the building, trying to bribe their way up to the restaurant.
***
"So what was that all about?" Marron asked, hanging on to Trunks' arm and focusing intently on the top button of his mandarin collared shirt so she wouldn't have to look out the glass elevator as they ascended to the restaurant. She didn't need to get queasy now. Trunks smiled at her and slipped his arm around her waist drawing her closer.
"You'll see."
When they arrived at the restaurant level it looked closed. There was no one there, and all the tables were empty. The dining tables were situated in rows in the round room on different levels so there were no bad tables. Every table had an exquisite view of the cityscape, with the highest level in the restaurant reserved for dancing.
"It looks closed." Marron whispered. Trunks leaned his head toward hers and took her hand.
"It is...to everyone but us." He replied in the same hushed tones. He led her to the far side of the restaurant where one booth that overlooked the room and the city was set and waiting for them. Trunks had specifically requested they set a booth for them, rather than a table. He wanted to sit beside Marron and have her close to him. An opened bottle of wine sat at the ready as well. Trunks handed her into the booth and then slipped in next to her, unable to take his eyes off of her. The candles cast a warm glow that highlighted her face; she had never looked more beautiful to him. She seemed to glow, like she was lit from within.
"How long have you been planning this Trunks?" Marron asked incredulously as waiters appeared, seeming from nowhere in the darkened restaurant bringing them plates of delicate appetizers then withdrawing again. From somewhere in the darkened reaches of the restaurant a violin began playing softly. Trunks poured them glasses of Pinot Noir before answering.
"Just today." He told her, handing her the glass of red wine. Marron smiled at him, turning the glass in her fingers.
"You did all this? Arranged dinner, bought me a dress, Limo, flowers, all in one afternoon?" Trunks gave her a secret little smile.
"Among other things...yes." He said warmly, and touched the rim of his glass to hers in a little toast. "Here's to us finally having some time alone, just the two of us." Marron's smile widened, and she dipped her head in assent.
"I'll drink to that." She agreed, laughter in her voice. She took only the tiniest sip of the wine, no more than a taste before putting her glass down. It was exceptional wine, and normally she would have enjoyed having more, but now that she was pregnant... "You've been a busy fellow Mr. Briefs. Did you get any of your work done today?" She teased him. Trunks looked slightly chagrined.
"Not as much as I should have." He admitted.
"Your mother will be displeased. Sneaking off from work, and these big expenses... How ever are you going to explain it?" She asked him. She had cause for concern. Not much went on at Capsule Corporation that Bulma didn't know about - even though Trunks was president. This dinner, her dress...neither of those items could have been cheap. Especially to rent this entire restaurant on a Friday night, at the last minute, and with the way Trunks ate...it boggled her mind. Not to mention his mother wondering WHY he'd have incurred these expenses, since his family didn't know about them. True, Trunks' family was one of the richest in the world - if not THE richest - but you didn't stay that way by throwing money away frivolously. And in some ways it seemed frivolous to Marron. She certainly appreciated and was deeply touched by the romantic lengths Trunks was going to for her, but she would certainly have been as equally delighted with staying home for pizza, beer and a movie.
"Don't worry about my mother. She won't even notice." Trunks said reassuringly. Finishing the sentence in his mind with: She'll be too ecstatic I'm finally engaged. Marron looked at him dubiously, cocking her head to the side. Bulma not notice something like this? It seemed unlikely. Trunks took her hand and raised it to his lips, brushing them over the back of her fingers lightly as he held her eyes. Again Marron felt the heat rise to her face and wondered if it would always be so. Would being caught in Trunks' intense gaze always make her feel like she was on a roller coaster? Her belly flip flopped, and then lurched slightly. She closed her eyes tightly until the queasiness passed.
"You okay?" Trunks asked her, still holding her hand. She nodded before opening her eyes and looking into Trunks' concerned ones. She gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
"Fine. I'm just a little...hungry." She said. Trunks picked up one of the appetizers, a little puff pastry thing and with a small smile brought it to her lips and fed it to her. She blushed prettily again as she surreptitiously licked a crumb from the corner of her mouth. Trunks leaned toward her and kissed her, sliding his fingers into her hair to rest his hand on the back of her neck.
"You're delicious." Trunks whispered against her lips and smiled. "You make me hungry for more." Embarrassed, Marron looked around to see if any of the restaurant staff was watching or could overhear them. Trunks took her chin in his hand and turned her face back toward his. "No one is watching, no one cares. This is our night Marron...we're the only two people in the world." Trunks said softly, and brought his lips to hers again, savoring her.
"This can't all be just because I got the weekend off Trunks. What gives?" Marron asked. She didn't want to break the spell, but her blood thrummed through her veins in anticipation and anxiety. Her pulse was a voice in her own ear, saying tell him...tell him, over and over. It would only be worse the longer she waited to tell him about the baby. The strains of the violin music jangled her nerves slightly and she bit her lip. How to bring it up? Trunks chuckled throatily.
"That's my ever practical Maro-chan." Trunks said velvetly, sliding his arm around her and drawing her closer to his side. "I wanted to wait until later...at least until dessert but..." Trunks said smiling.
"Wait for what?" Marron asked. Her nervousness making her feel disconnected from herself as she looked at Trunks without really seeing him. He reached out and cupped her face in his hand as he gazed at her tenderly.
"No...I've made you wait too long already." Trunks murmured, lightly stroking her cheekbone with his thumb. Marron frowned at him confused, her mind a whirl.
"For what?" She repeated.
"For something I should have said to you long before now. Something I should have said to you in the park that night, the night you sang that beautiful song for me. I didn't have the words then, and I really don't have them now either, but I'll give it a shot." Trunks blushed slightly as he was caught in Marron's direct gaze. She was watching him sharply, her face puzzled as she tried to follow him. He felt a crooked grin tug the corners of his mouth. Leave it to him to blunder even this - the most important moment of their lives. He took a breath to calm himself. He could handle this; just try not to think of the pressure, that he wanted this moment to be perfect. He pulled her face to his a moment and kissed her hard, for luck, for the courage to get it all out. She waited patiently, her lips parted.
"Marron, since you came into my life again you have made me the happiest man in West Capitol, no...the world. Every day with you is better than the one before it. You make me a better man." He said earnestly, and groaned inwardly. He was dancing around it, and badly - but what if she didn't feel the same? What if he bared his soul to her and she laughed at him? He didn't think she would, Marron wasn't that kind of person - but it was a big risk. He'd never told any woman before that he loved them because he hadn't, but she was different. He forged on ahead. "I've never felt with anyone the way I feel when I'm with you Maro-chan, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me - the most important thing in my life...and...a-and..." He trailed off, his courage evaporating. He was so much more in command of any situation when it didn't involve him talking about his feelings. He put his hand in the pocket of his jacket, curling his fist around the delicate velvet box, as his eyes lowered and he stared at her necklace. Her slender throat working as she swallowed.
"Yes Trunks?" She said, her voice tremulous. He raised his eyes to hers and saw she was trembling, like a high-tension wire, she seemed to vibrate with barely suppressed emotion, and it gave him the courage he needed as he stared into her bright eyes, shining in the candlelight. It was right...he knew it. There was nothing to be afraid of. He pulled his hand out of his pocket bringing her ring with it. He took her hand and pressed the small velvet box into it, holding her hand in both of his.
"I love you Marron, you are the shining light in my life. And nothing would make me happier than if you'll be my wife." He said, breathing a silent sigh of relief that he got it all out in the open, letting go of her hand to let her look in the little box as he opened it. The candlelight caught the facets of the diamonds making them sparkle with a mysterious fire. Marron's mouth dropped open as she looked from the diamond to Trunks' well-loved face.
Her mind reeled. The words she'd dreamed of hearing since she was thirteen years old had finally come out of his mouth. She opened and closed hers several times as she tried to get her brain around it. He loved her - he wanted to marry her...
"Trunks...I-I" She started, and looked at him as he smiled at her. Patiently awaiting her answer. How could she accept his proposal without telling him about the baby first? She felt tears come to her eyes, the happiest moment of her life and she could ruin the whole thing with two words: I'm pregnant. "I-I have some...thing..." She started lamely, but before she could answer a commotion near their table made them snap their heads around.
A million suns went nova in Marron's vision and her eyes, dilated from the darkness of the restaurant, constricted painfully against the blinding glare of several photographer's flashes as their picture was taken: Marron sitting nearly in Trunks' embrace, holding the opened velvet box - the diamond clearly visible within, the photographers were having a field day.
This was front-page news.
It was dark when Marron woke from her nap. She didn't know how long she'd been asleep - at least all afternoon by the looks of it - since she could see the night sky out the window wall of the bedroom. She felt infinitely better now that she'd rested, even though as she'd lain there earlier pondering what she should do, she thought she'd never fall asleep. She rolled on her back as she slowly woke up and her eyes adjusted to the dark bedroom. She smelled roses strongly and frowned slightly, wondering vaguely if her bottle of perfume had spilled.
"My Sleeping Beauty is awake."
Marron looked over toward the door and saw Trunks silhouetted there from the light of the hall. She stretched a little and smiled at him.
"Hey... You're home." She said sleepily, as Trunks came over and sat beside her on the bed. She couldn't see his face in the dark, but had a feeling he was smiling at her as he smoothed her hair away from her brow and leaned over to kiss her gently.
"Feeling better?" He murmured. She nodded, still smiling as he stroked her hair.
"Much. I think the nap helped. What time is it?"
"After six." Trunks told her. Marron's eyes opened wide. She'd slept the day away! She started to get up.
"It's late! I have to start your dinner." Marron said. Trunks put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back down gently.
"Nothing doing. I made dinner reservations...if you're feeling up to going out." Trunks told her, turning and lighting several candles on the bedside table. She looked up at him; he was still in his business suit, his glasses reflecting the candlelight as he smiled at her.
"You made reservations? Really?" She asked in surprise. With the schedules they kept and her playing in the band, other than that first night they had gone out when Trunks got drunk, they hadn't been out since. Trunks leaned over her with a crooked grin.
"Don't sound so surprised. I've been meaning to take you out special like I promised for quite a while. And since you have the whole weekend off I thought it would be the perfect way to start off us spending some time together...alone." He murmured, his lips near hers. Marron blushed slightly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Mmmmm...sounds wonderful. Where are we going?" She asked. Trunks kissed her softly before answering.
"Chez Victoria's." Marron's eyes widened. That was the trendiest, most expensive restaurant in the city. It was nearly impossible to get a reservation; they had to be placed weeks in advance.
"You're kidding right? That place is so fancy...I-I don't have anything to wear! The dress you got me for last time isn't back from the cleaners yet Trunks." She told him. Trunks just smiled and got up, pulling Marron up with him. When she stood before him he began to undress her.
"Don't worry about it...its been taken care of." He told her, and taking her hand led her to the bathroom. Candles of all sizes, shapes and colors were scattered around the bathroom and tub, casting a warm golden light. Trunks put his hand in the filled tub and as she watched it began to glow. Moments later steam rose from the heated water.
"Neat trick." Marron said quietly. Trunks looked at her over his shoulder and wiggled his eyebrows at her, and she giggled in response. Straightening he scattered a handful of rose petals into the water and turned to her holding his hand out.
"In you go." Trunks handed her into the tub and she settled into the hot water, after coiling her hair on her head. The temperature was perfect; hot enough to relax her but not too hot. In addition to the rose petals, Marron noticed he'd put some rose oil in the bath by the sheen on the water. Trunks placed a folded towel on the edge of the tub behind her neck, urging her to lie back and relax. She closed her eyes, a trace of a smile on her lips. She didn't know what she'd done to warrant such special treatment, but she wasn't about to complain.
Trunks took off his suit jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves as she sat in the tub, eyes closed. He watched her a moment. She was so beautiful to him she didn't seem real. *I'm going to marry this girl* He thought, and felt the same thrilling rush of emotion as when he'd made his decision earlier. He went over to the tub and knelt beside it, picking up a large sponge. Marron's eyes opened in surprise as Trunks took the sponge and began to gently wash her, still wearing his tie and glasses.
"You're spoiling me again." She purred in delight as he scrubbed her back with the sponge. Trunks chuckled at her, squeezing warm water from the sponge to run down her back before leaning over and kissing her wet shoulder.
"That's still my plan." He joked. She looked at him from the corner of her eye. Wondering just what he was up to. While it was like Trunks to do something romantic like the candles, it wasn't like Trunks to draw a bath for her and not currently be in it *with* her, wanting her to scrub his back. Still, she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth and decided to just go along with whatever he had planned. Maybe if he was in a good enough mood later she could broach the subject of her delicate condition. The thought sobered her and she pushed it away stubbornly - she wasn't going to spoil Trunks' plans by being worried.
When she was clean, Trunks held open a fluffy towel for her as she stepped from the tub, enfolding her in it and his arms. She tipped her face up to his and he gave her a deep lingering kiss.
"So what's the special occasion?" She asked softly. He grinned and rubbed her nose with his.
"Do I need an occasion to take my beautiful girlfriend out? Isn't us finally having a weekend alone together more than reason enough?" He teased. Marron chuckled in agreement.
"Good point." She said, and then looked sly as she wound her arms around his waist loosely. "You know...we don't HAVE to go out if you don't want to..." She suggested with a slow smile.
"Tempting, but I really wanted to take you out - like I promised you I would. Tomorrow on the other hand, I was thinking we could..." And put his lips against her ear to finish the thought in a low whisper. She shivered and her belly flip-flopped wildly. "...All day." He added.
"Sounds good to me." She squeaked, blushing. "Just remember to lock the balcony door." Trunks laughed quietly and pulled her closer for a moment as he dried her tenderly with the towel.
"I'll be right back." He said with a kiss to her nose. Marron raised an eyebrow as he slipped away and wrapped the towel around her. He was back a moment later with a large silver box tied with a blue velvet bow.
"So what's this?" She asked curiously, taking the box and looking at Trunks questioningly.
"You'll see...I'll let you get ready. Our reservations are whenever we get there so take your time. No rush." He told her and left the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Whatever time they got there? At Chez Victoria's? She thought. She must have heard him incorrectly and quickly moved to get herself ready setting the box aside for the moment. She opened the box while she waited for her curlers to set, and caught her breath at what she found inside.
The color struck her first, a deep rich red - her favorite. She lifted the dress out of the box and discovered it came in two parts. The under part was a silk slip dress with thin straps in a deep shimmery gold, the over portion was long sleeved red velvet and almost reminded Marron of a fitted coat with the way it hooked in the front, but was split the entire way down allowing the gold silk to peep through the deep V of the neckline. The bodice, hem and cuffs of the velvet dress were embroidered with gold in a pattern of leaves and dragonflies and beaded with red and black crystal beads that caught the light. She couldn't wait to try it on.
She pulled the curlers from her hair and was satisfied with the way it fell in soft loose waves that tumbled over her shoulders and decided to leave it down. Only pulling the top part back, and catching it in the jeweled dragonfly clip she found in the box as well, leaving a few tendrils to frame her heart shaped face. She perused her reflection momentarily, as she stood clad in the gold silk portion of the dress. The gold was deeper than her hair, but it still made her look like she had been dipped in gold from head to toe. Remembering what Yamucha had taught her, she applied slightly more dramatic makeup, finishing with a deep red smudge-proof lipstick that complimented the velvet dress and gave her some color. She hooked the fitted velvet overdress closed and was pleasantly surprised to find it fit her like it had been made for her. She peeked in the box the dress had come in to see if she had missed anything and found a velvet box among the tissue. Inside she found an antique gold necklace of a dragonfly with ruby eyes and a fat teardrop pearl hanging from its tail. She put it, and the matching ruby stud earrings, on and looked at herself in the mirror again. The necklace was truly the finishing touch - who knew Trunks had such a good eye?
She found the bedroom dark and empty when she left the bathroom, the light from the hallway the only illumination. She'd half expected to find Trunks waiting for her. Her toe brushed something and when she looked down she saw a rose lying on the floor, when she bent and picked it up she saw another near the door. A smile curled her lips as she moved to collect the second. A trail of roses led down the hall to the silent living room and Marron gathered them all, watching the floor and admiring the way the gold silk peeped from the split of the velvet overdress as she walked, until she had half a dozen flowers in her hand. The living room was dark as well, only lit by one thick candle the way Trunks liked the room, letting the lights of the city take the focus.
As she bent to gather the last rose she saw Trunks' feet before her and straightened up slowly, her eyes drinking him in. She could see Trunks in his tuxedo a million times and he would still take her breath away every single one. He was perfect as he stood before her, his arms filled with the other six roses plus a dozen more. His piercing blue eyes held hers and she had to remind herself to breathe as he looked at her intensely. She could feel the flush starting on her neck like it always did when Trunks stared at her like that.
Trunks looked her over slowly, from her bare toes peeping out from the hem of her dress up over her to her face. Her blush colored her cheeks prettily. He had been on his way to the jewelers that afternoon when the dress in a boutique window had caught his eye and made him pause. As he'd looked through the window at the deep red color and the shimmery gold, he'd imagined Marron in it and just knew he had to buy it for her. But his imagination of how she'd look in it couldn't begin to compare to the reality of her.
"I didn't think it was possible." He said, and placed the roses in her arms so he could cradle her face tenderly in his palms. She looked up at him, her eyes like aquamarine crystal framed by smoky eyelashes.
"What?" She murmured.
"That you could get any more beautiful, Marron." He told her. She put one hand on her heart as her eyes slipped shut. She was melting.
"Aa." She sighed smiling. Trunks leaned down and kissed her, his lavender bangs brushing her forehead silkily.
"C'mon...let's put those in some water and go...before I change my mind about going out." He told her with a wicked smile, and a gentle kiss to her forehead.
***
Trunks sat in the back of the darkened limo with one arm around Marron, and the other in his jacket pocket, turning the small velvet box that held her ring over and over in his hand. He hoped she liked his choice. It had been an easy decision for him to make at the jewelers. He'd scanned the selection of rings, his eyes passing over the (to him) many gaudy and ostentatious styles until in the last case he'd seen it. A beautiful princess cut diamond set in a platinum band with smaller trillion cut diamonds flanking it. It was perfect, worthy of the wife of the President of Capsule Corporation. It reminded him of Marron...clean lined and elegant. He just hoped she thought so too, as he reviewed his plans for the evening and their weekend and smiled. He couldn't wait to see her face when he gave it to her.
Curled against his side, Marron was lost in her own thoughts as well. Trunks was being so sweet and romantic, to buy her a beautiful dress, to take her to a fancy restaurant in a limo... And she could spoil the whole thing with her news, how would Trunks react? Should she not tell him? Was that any more fair to take advantage of his generosity and then spring it on him later? 'Oh by the way...I'm pregnant.' She bit her lip uncertain what to do. There was no question that she HAD to tell him. The question was when.
"We're here." Trunks said as they pulled up in front of the restaurant.
Besides being the most popular, and arguably the best restaurant in West Capitol, Chez Victoria's could also boast the best view. The restaurant was situated on the top floor of West Capitol's largest tower dome building. Normally, since it was Friday night the lobby of the building would be filled with people waiting for their tables, or hoping for a cancellation so they could board the glass elevator to the restaurant. But tonight there was no one, the lobby eerily vacant except for the hostess, a pretty brunette, who looked star struck and a little flustered when Trunks favored her with a dazzling smile.
"Briefs, Party of two. I believe we have a reservation." Trunks said, and Marron looked at him curiously, noting the barely repressed laughter in his voice.
"Oh yes Mr. Briefs. We've been expecting you. Please, go right on up." The hostess told him, her cheeks flushing scarlet. Trunks favored her with another smile as he gave her a tip.
"I trust everything is in order?" He asked quietly so Marron wouldn't overhear. The brunette nodded vigorously.
"Yes Sir." She said breathlessly, taking the proffered zenni from him. " We have everything that you asked for."
"Good. And if anyone asks you never saw us." Trunks told her, and with a smile of thanks and a little wink, turned back to Marron and led her to the elevator. The hostess watched them go with a little sigh. How romantic. She wondered if Mr. Briefs' girlfriend knew how lucky she was. She bit her lip in hesitation. She was dying to call her best friend and tell her she just saw Trunks Briefs, she'd be so jealous. She knew Mr. Briefs didn't want anyone to know he was here... and her manager had told her under no uncertain terms was anyone to know what was happening upstairs at Chez Victoria's tonight. She really didn't want to lose her job, but the temptation was just too great. She called her two best friends and after extracting promises from them to not tell a soul - confided in them that Trunks Briefs was going to propose to his girlfriend that night - and wasn't it the most romantic thing ever? Predictably, those two friends kept the secret for less than ten minutes before they told their friends; unfortunately one of those friends was the daughter of a reporter. The one who broke the story of Trunks and Marron's relationship in the first place...he of the dead caterpillar moustache.
Trunks and Marron had probably barely finished the first course of their dinner by the time the reporters were gathering outside the building, trying to bribe their way up to the restaurant.
***
"So what was that all about?" Marron asked, hanging on to Trunks' arm and focusing intently on the top button of his mandarin collared shirt so she wouldn't have to look out the glass elevator as they ascended to the restaurant. She didn't need to get queasy now. Trunks smiled at her and slipped his arm around her waist drawing her closer.
"You'll see."
When they arrived at the restaurant level it looked closed. There was no one there, and all the tables were empty. The dining tables were situated in rows in the round room on different levels so there were no bad tables. Every table had an exquisite view of the cityscape, with the highest level in the restaurant reserved for dancing.
"It looks closed." Marron whispered. Trunks leaned his head toward hers and took her hand.
"It is...to everyone but us." He replied in the same hushed tones. He led her to the far side of the restaurant where one booth that overlooked the room and the city was set and waiting for them. Trunks had specifically requested they set a booth for them, rather than a table. He wanted to sit beside Marron and have her close to him. An opened bottle of wine sat at the ready as well. Trunks handed her into the booth and then slipped in next to her, unable to take his eyes off of her. The candles cast a warm glow that highlighted her face; she had never looked more beautiful to him. She seemed to glow, like she was lit from within.
"How long have you been planning this Trunks?" Marron asked incredulously as waiters appeared, seeming from nowhere in the darkened restaurant bringing them plates of delicate appetizers then withdrawing again. From somewhere in the darkened reaches of the restaurant a violin began playing softly. Trunks poured them glasses of Pinot Noir before answering.
"Just today." He told her, handing her the glass of red wine. Marron smiled at him, turning the glass in her fingers.
"You did all this? Arranged dinner, bought me a dress, Limo, flowers, all in one afternoon?" Trunks gave her a secret little smile.
"Among other things...yes." He said warmly, and touched the rim of his glass to hers in a little toast. "Here's to us finally having some time alone, just the two of us." Marron's smile widened, and she dipped her head in assent.
"I'll drink to that." She agreed, laughter in her voice. She took only the tiniest sip of the wine, no more than a taste before putting her glass down. It was exceptional wine, and normally she would have enjoyed having more, but now that she was pregnant... "You've been a busy fellow Mr. Briefs. Did you get any of your work done today?" She teased him. Trunks looked slightly chagrined.
"Not as much as I should have." He admitted.
"Your mother will be displeased. Sneaking off from work, and these big expenses... How ever are you going to explain it?" She asked him. She had cause for concern. Not much went on at Capsule Corporation that Bulma didn't know about - even though Trunks was president. This dinner, her dress...neither of those items could have been cheap. Especially to rent this entire restaurant on a Friday night, at the last minute, and with the way Trunks ate...it boggled her mind. Not to mention his mother wondering WHY he'd have incurred these expenses, since his family didn't know about them. True, Trunks' family was one of the richest in the world - if not THE richest - but you didn't stay that way by throwing money away frivolously. And in some ways it seemed frivolous to Marron. She certainly appreciated and was deeply touched by the romantic lengths Trunks was going to for her, but she would certainly have been as equally delighted with staying home for pizza, beer and a movie.
"Don't worry about my mother. She won't even notice." Trunks said reassuringly. Finishing the sentence in his mind with: She'll be too ecstatic I'm finally engaged. Marron looked at him dubiously, cocking her head to the side. Bulma not notice something like this? It seemed unlikely. Trunks took her hand and raised it to his lips, brushing them over the back of her fingers lightly as he held her eyes. Again Marron felt the heat rise to her face and wondered if it would always be so. Would being caught in Trunks' intense gaze always make her feel like she was on a roller coaster? Her belly flip flopped, and then lurched slightly. She closed her eyes tightly until the queasiness passed.
"You okay?" Trunks asked her, still holding her hand. She nodded before opening her eyes and looking into Trunks' concerned ones. She gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
"Fine. I'm just a little...hungry." She said. Trunks picked up one of the appetizers, a little puff pastry thing and with a small smile brought it to her lips and fed it to her. She blushed prettily again as she surreptitiously licked a crumb from the corner of her mouth. Trunks leaned toward her and kissed her, sliding his fingers into her hair to rest his hand on the back of her neck.
"You're delicious." Trunks whispered against her lips and smiled. "You make me hungry for more." Embarrassed, Marron looked around to see if any of the restaurant staff was watching or could overhear them. Trunks took her chin in his hand and turned her face back toward his. "No one is watching, no one cares. This is our night Marron...we're the only two people in the world." Trunks said softly, and brought his lips to hers again, savoring her.
"This can't all be just because I got the weekend off Trunks. What gives?" Marron asked. She didn't want to break the spell, but her blood thrummed through her veins in anticipation and anxiety. Her pulse was a voice in her own ear, saying tell him...tell him, over and over. It would only be worse the longer she waited to tell him about the baby. The strains of the violin music jangled her nerves slightly and she bit her lip. How to bring it up? Trunks chuckled throatily.
"That's my ever practical Maro-chan." Trunks said velvetly, sliding his arm around her and drawing her closer to his side. "I wanted to wait until later...at least until dessert but..." Trunks said smiling.
"Wait for what?" Marron asked. Her nervousness making her feel disconnected from herself as she looked at Trunks without really seeing him. He reached out and cupped her face in his hand as he gazed at her tenderly.
"No...I've made you wait too long already." Trunks murmured, lightly stroking her cheekbone with his thumb. Marron frowned at him confused, her mind a whirl.
"For what?" She repeated.
"For something I should have said to you long before now. Something I should have said to you in the park that night, the night you sang that beautiful song for me. I didn't have the words then, and I really don't have them now either, but I'll give it a shot." Trunks blushed slightly as he was caught in Marron's direct gaze. She was watching him sharply, her face puzzled as she tried to follow him. He felt a crooked grin tug the corners of his mouth. Leave it to him to blunder even this - the most important moment of their lives. He took a breath to calm himself. He could handle this; just try not to think of the pressure, that he wanted this moment to be perfect. He pulled her face to his a moment and kissed her hard, for luck, for the courage to get it all out. She waited patiently, her lips parted.
"Marron, since you came into my life again you have made me the happiest man in West Capitol, no...the world. Every day with you is better than the one before it. You make me a better man." He said earnestly, and groaned inwardly. He was dancing around it, and badly - but what if she didn't feel the same? What if he bared his soul to her and she laughed at him? He didn't think she would, Marron wasn't that kind of person - but it was a big risk. He'd never told any woman before that he loved them because he hadn't, but she was different. He forged on ahead. "I've never felt with anyone the way I feel when I'm with you Maro-chan, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me - the most important thing in my life...and...a-and..." He trailed off, his courage evaporating. He was so much more in command of any situation when it didn't involve him talking about his feelings. He put his hand in the pocket of his jacket, curling his fist around the delicate velvet box, as his eyes lowered and he stared at her necklace. Her slender throat working as she swallowed.
"Yes Trunks?" She said, her voice tremulous. He raised his eyes to hers and saw she was trembling, like a high-tension wire, she seemed to vibrate with barely suppressed emotion, and it gave him the courage he needed as he stared into her bright eyes, shining in the candlelight. It was right...he knew it. There was nothing to be afraid of. He pulled his hand out of his pocket bringing her ring with it. He took her hand and pressed the small velvet box into it, holding her hand in both of his.
"I love you Marron, you are the shining light in my life. And nothing would make me happier than if you'll be my wife." He said, breathing a silent sigh of relief that he got it all out in the open, letting go of her hand to let her look in the little box as he opened it. The candlelight caught the facets of the diamonds making them sparkle with a mysterious fire. Marron's mouth dropped open as she looked from the diamond to Trunks' well-loved face.
Her mind reeled. The words she'd dreamed of hearing since she was thirteen years old had finally come out of his mouth. She opened and closed hers several times as she tried to get her brain around it. He loved her - he wanted to marry her...
"Trunks...I-I" She started, and looked at him as he smiled at her. Patiently awaiting her answer. How could she accept his proposal without telling him about the baby first? She felt tears come to her eyes, the happiest moment of her life and she could ruin the whole thing with two words: I'm pregnant. "I-I have some...thing..." She started lamely, but before she could answer a commotion near their table made them snap their heads around.
A million suns went nova in Marron's vision and her eyes, dilated from the darkness of the restaurant, constricted painfully against the blinding glare of several photographer's flashes as their picture was taken: Marron sitting nearly in Trunks' embrace, holding the opened velvet box - the diamond clearly visible within, the photographers were having a field day.
This was front-page news.