Special thanks to chobobo for talking some sense into me here. I mean, Suits and Skins (my other fic if you haven't checked it out) is like 40 something chapters and it just ended, so I can do the same to NBD. Look forward to a few more chapters after this, since I think I have some things in mind. And I know this is very short, just to tempt you, but I wanted this to stand alone.

Soul waited for once. Maka's admission had melted something away in him, a fear about time and that incessant need tempering down to just a dull throb. He waited for her mother to leave. He waited for the normal hum of their lives to continue. He waited for her first full shift back at the museum before he made the trek there after his last class of the day. He hung in the coffee shop until the second before closing, fiddling with the box in his pocket.

Maka had done a double-take when she saw him, ready to give the pleasant but internally screamed line of 'I'm sorry, sir, we're closing' until her brain caught up with the entirety of him. "Did I forget something?"

"Nah," he smirked. "Take a walk with me." Soul eased his hand to the small of her back, getting her one foot back into the museum.

"Sorry, sir, we're closed," she teased.

"Not just yet." He nodded at Hiro behind her who opened the door the rest of the way, leaving a bewildered Maka to step back through. "Thanks, Hiro."

Hiro beamed, "No problem, Soul."

Soul raised his eyebrows with a whistle.

"I've been working on him," Maka chirped. "Consider it an early Christmas gift."

"Exactly what I wanted." He planted a kiss on her cheek before continuing to lead her, a slow preamble through the low light.

"So, why am I taking a walk at work?" Maka leaned into the pleasant pressure at her back, feeling his fingers play against the fabric of her shirt.

"Because I missed you. Wanted some time that wasn't half-asleep in bed." Even though it was making his fingers twitch he let her set the pace, footsteps completely leisurely.

"We just got done with break," she chided but in the next breath was sighing sweetly, "but thank you. I kind of wasn't looking forward to going home and finding you sleeping."

"Just kind of?" He smirked as she threw a useless glare his way. "Also wanted to keep you from arguing with me too much."

Maka laughed, "What are we arguing about?"

"That we're going away after New Year's," Soul offered as casually as he could since excitement had been bursting at the seams from the moment they walked through that door together.

"Soul…" Maka pressed her lips in a thin line, slowly the tempo of their steps much to Soul's agony. "Maybe, but then it's not about spoiling me, it's about us having a good time, OK?"

"Both," he leaned closer, "because spoiling you is me having a good time."

She huffed, "France?"

"Wherever you want," Soul shot back instantly, pleased that she barely spent time berating him for the first point.

Maka's hands came to her cheeks. "It's just so expensive, and I know you're going to tell me it's no big deal but shouldn't we be saving? Pinching pennies?"

"Sure," Soul nodded. "And we will, but remember, this one is paid for. Done deal. So you can argue money next time I try to float the idea of a trip."

She rolled her eyes, starting purposeful steps forward again. "Making the argument a problem for future Soul."

Soul chuckled before changing her trajectory, once again moving her to the right of the main hall.

"It's not there," Maka teased. "I thought I told you they rotated it."

"Did they?" Soul tried to sound as innocent as possible as he continued to bring her forward.

Maka narrowed her eyes at him before scanning the walls. "You didn't."

"I don't know what you're accusing me of," he teased as he took the last breathless step in front of the painting that would forever be burned into his mind.

"What are you up to?" Maka's eyes darted between the painting and him.

"Again, accusations," Soul tried to feign innocence but it was a happy failure as his smirk stole across his face. "It should be here as long as you're here."

Maka's attention settled back at the painting, her arms crossing her chest. "What else should I be accusing you of? It seems like you've been awful busy."

"A lot of things," Soul had to take a deep breath as the words threatened to warble from his mouth while his heart squeezed into his throat. "I've done a lot of things because of you. I've been trying to get rid of that bad habit of feeling lonely. I've fought for you in more ways than one. Definitely passed Bio," he managed a short laugh as she turned her eyes to blink at him. "You've kept me busy, and I honestly don't want to have it any other way, Maka."

"Me, too," Maka murmured as she relaxed one of her arms to reach out and touch his cheek. Her fingertips caressed his jawline just as his face slipped out of her grasp because Soul had dropped on one of his knees, his face staring up at her. "Oh," the air warbled from her throat as his hand slid down her arm, taking her hand in his.

"So I'm asking you, will you stay with me? Will you keep teaching me what it's like to be a good partner? Will you let me make sure you're never alone, ever again?"

"Those are a lot of questions," Maka murmured as her free hand drifted to her cheek.

"Guess I'll ask the big one, then." Soul reached into his pocket, flipping open the top of the velvet box with his thumb. He turned the box to her to display the delicate golden band with an emerald just perfectly styled to match her earrings. Technically, Tsubaki and Lizzie had been useless at this, Soul instantly pulled in as soon as he saw it, taking his gut's instant advice. "Will you marry me?"

"Oh," another shaky breath left her lips. He tried to let her take another minute, his fingers flexing against hers as he watched the tears come to her eyes. "Yes."

"Yes?" There was no floor beneath him anymore and he was sure his knee was about to crumble. "You mean yes, you'll marry me?"

Maka shook her hand in his, wiggling her finger as a few tears dribbled down her cheeks. "Yes to all of it, especially the last one."

It was Soul's turn to need a minute to breathe, his fingers shaking as he let go of her hand to fiddle with the ring. Easing it on her finger was a battle with his trembling hands but as soon as it hit its home he was on his feet, throwing his arms around her waist to lift her off the floor. "Thank you. Oh, fucking thank you, Maka."

"You were still worried?" Maka whispered against his cheek before she kissed it.

"Fuck yes," Soul urged.

Maka leaned her head back, letting him get the full effect of her smile. "Don't. It was an easy yes."

He laughed softly, "No big deal?"

"No big deal."