For Day 12 of OQ Prompt Party

#71: fireflies & #172: a kiss for luck

Regina's never been one for the outdoors. After nearly a decade without a car and having to walk most places, she loathed how hot and sweaty she got, dying to enter the air-conditioned house she shared with Jefferson. After she finally saved up for one, her time outdoors was saved for the park or jogs around the neighborhood.

Robin had been so excited about a moonlit picnic, however. He had pestered her about it for months and she finally caved. Packing some sandwiches and moon pies, they drove out to the creek. His hand through hers, they walked to the grass and set up a flannel blanket she had in the car from their last road trip. She divvies the food onto plates and settles onto the uncomfortable ground. It's sweltering in the middle of July, but she can't deny the beauty of the scene around them. Fireflies dance around them rather than in the pits of her stomach for once. The lake is completely still on this windless night. The candles they brought provide adequate lighting. Her linen red sundress is practically sticking to her, but she doesn't complain. It's so rare they have a night to just them.

She leans into his arm in spite of the heat, letting out a content sigh. He kisses the top of her head. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"I've always liked fireflies," she mused. "You know, I actually have a pie named after them."

Robin snorts. "Why am I not surprised? I'm assuming there's a story."

"My parents used to take me to the fireworks every 4th of July." She shakes her head. "God, my mother hated it. Complained about the bugs and how long it took for everything to get started. You know how delayed those things get."

"Every year without fail."

She nods. "Exactly. But my father absolutely loved them. He was enamored." A soft smile creeps up on her face. "If ever I'd complain about being bored, he told me that the fireflies were the pre-show, like how it is in football. I never tried to catch them, just watched in awe of how they worked."

Robin's lips graze her temple once more. "That's really sweet love."

"Anyway, eventually my mother refused to go. My father and I did, though. Our last time seeing them, I saw the fireflies and we were eating these incredible mangonadas" Robin tilts his head. "It's mango with chamoy. I used those, lime, chili seasoning and tamarind. The crust has stars in the crust. That's firefly pie."

"I'd love to try it."

"I don't make it often because this town has the tastebuds of a popsicle stick…but I'll definitely have to make it for you and the boys."

"Me and the boys," Robin repeats. "Can you believe we're there? We live together, we've got a home. We've come so far from the couple sneaking around."

Regina hums in agreement. Robin pauses, then gently kisses her lips. She deepens it for a moment, curiosity filling her as he slowly pulls away.

"What was that for?"

"Luck."

"Huh?"

Robin fumbles through his pocket before retrieving the ring. Regina gasps, taking it in. It's dark, only the candles and fireflies giving them light. Yet in the midst of all of that, she sees a gold band with a square topaz stone surrounded by smaller diamonds. It's exactly the one she pointed out in the pawn shop on Main Street. Not as a hint, she just said that was a ring she always wanted. Jefferson had been too broke to get her one, they didn't even have wedding bands until three years in. The one in the pawn shop was glorious and just her taste. She didn't need a huge diamond hanging off a band.

It had taken three years for them to even talk marriage, despite living with each other. It'd be the second for them both and a part of them debated if the piece of paper was worth it. But Robin was a doctor. He was more than aware of what not having that paper meant.

"Robin…"

"I don't know if this is still the ring you wanted," he interrupts. "And maybe this whole thing is so cliché. I didn't even know if you'd like a proposal or what. I just…I know we said it was just paper. Important paper, but still not call for pomp or circumstance. Look at what we've been through, though. We've overcome so much in not very long. I went from thinking I'd never see you again or have a real conversation. Now we live together. Our boys love each other, and us. We're a family."

Tears spark her eyes and all she can do is nod. She keeps looking from the ring to him, trying to remind herself this is real. All he needs to do is ask.

"Regina Marie Mills, will you marry me?"

A single tear escapes as she takes the ring from him and slides it onto her finger. It nearly slides right off and both chuckle as she moves it to her thumb.

"I'll have to get it resized," he says.

Regina nods. "Yeah, that'd help."

She leans into give him another kiss, but he holds up a hand. Regina frowns, her brows furrowing.

"I don't want to be presumptuous. What's your answer?"

Regina rolls her eyes as she laughs. "Of course, you big nerd, I've wanted to marry you since you told me you loved my pie."

"Kinky."

"Oh dear God, I take it back. I'm not marrying you now."

"Too late, you already said yes."

Regina softly smiles, all the giggles slowly fading. "Yeah," she whispers. "I did."

She kisses him. No, fireflies don't fill her stomach this time, only absolute assurance. She's doing it right this time.