Semper Fi

By Ann3

Writer's Note: I must admit that I wasn't too sure about this chapter. After all, the big secret is already out, and Laura finally has her ring ! But watching Poisoning The Well earlier, when Carson first meets Perna, I remembered what a sweet, shy, old fashioned charmer he is !!

With something as important as getting married, I'm sure the wee lad would want to do things properly. So with that in mind, and since I'm a real slushbucket myself, for all those, like me, who wanted a good old fashioned marriage proposal... read on... :o)

Chapter Fourteen

Rules Of Engagement

"I jus' cannae believe I messed it up for ye, lass... all the plannin' I put into this for ye, an'... mmmf...!"

Okay, so pinning him against a doorway and kissing him senseless maybe wasn't the subtlest approach. There were, no doubt, much gentler, more genteel ways to silence a gibbering wreck of a doctor, but – oh yes, Laura happily noted, pushing the kiss just a bit deeper, just to make sure, she knew this one worked...! And that made for very useful intel for the next time she needed to win an especially crucial argument.

At that moment, of course, she was so ecstatically happy that Carson could have told her the sky was pink, and she'd have believed him

If he could tell her. Or breathe. Which, as saucering eyes, a glorious wriggle against her, an adorably muffled squeak, now reminded her, he still couldn't do.

"Mmmmf...!!"

Finally allowing him up for air, Laura then grinned, savouring the familiar effect which near death by mouth suffocation had on him.

Beet red face, stunned expression, complete speechlessness, and two glassy blue eyeballs spinning round on separate circuits.

Perfect.

On the more serious side, though, Carson was still convinced that he'd let her down, disappointed her. All she had to do now was convince him otherwise, and... well, wouldn't that be an awful hardship...? If not for a crowded Princes Street, there'd have been some highly entertaining 'persuasion' going on.

"Carson, you haven't messed anything up..." she said at last, fondly straightening his shirt – a precious glint on her finger that had not been there that morning causing her smile to widen, inspiring her, as she savoured its beauty.

"It's just beautiful, baby... it's – it's perfect, I just can't believe all the thought you put into this..."

That wasn't strictly true, of course. The ring alone, so proud on her finger, would have been enough. But trust her one-of-a-kind Carson to think up such a suitable engraving, such a uniquely special touch. And who else could take an already perfect moment, and still fret about making it better for her...?

It wasn't until they'd stopped crying and kissing and hugging each other that he'd groaned in dismay. In all the excitement, he'd forgotten to get down on those dimpled little knees, and ask her for her hand

Despite Laura's assurances that she didn't mind, that it really didn't matter, it had mattered to him. Even as he shyly agreed with her, the frown on Carson's face suggested it was still bugging him now.

"I – I know, lass, an' I knew you'd like it... as soon as I saw it, I knew it was right for ye, but... well..."

Still frowning, as if trying to reach a crucial decision, Carson then sighed, fretfully shaking his head. To Laura's surprise, he then caught her hand and tugged her, with little resistance, through the crowds.

She could try and stop him, of course, but... well, that would be like asking the tide to turn around. Besides, she knew him so well now. She'd already guessed what that sweetly cunning mind was up to.

Carson Beckett was a perfectionist. He wanted this most precious of moments to be perfect for her. Come hell, high water, and a street heaving with tourists, he was going to make it happen...!

Those tourists were trying even the most patient of natures – hence a typically ingenious, timely detour. An escape route of steps into Princes Gardens, Laura noted dryly, hadn't come a moment too soon.

Once safe in their relative quiet, calming beauty, the near fierce grip on her hand relaxed a little. Surrounded by fragrant roses, heathers and plant-beds that his mother would swoon at, Carson relaxed even more, the infectious smile making a welcome re-appearance.

A bright spring day, warm sunshine, pure beauty, and a truly idyllic setting. Aye, this was more like it.

That grin was, as always, maddeningly contagious as Carson turned Laura gently around to face him. And yes, it was a wrench for her to see him ease that precious ring, so tenderly, away from her finger. But the excitement of why he'd done so, as he now coaxed her to sit on a nearby bench, was even greater.

A final kiss on her hand, the sweetest, most tender smile she'd ever seen from him, and he was finally ready.

At the rate his knees were shaking, dropping down onto one of them wasn't much of a problem. Finding the right things to say, though...? Okay, Carson dryly chided himself, that was a problem.

"I – I dinnae know if I'm doin' this right for ye, love... I've – I've never done this before..." he said at last – Laura's politely raised eyebrow, the realization of what he'd said, just the release his nerves needed.

Gratefully sharing a tension-breaking fit of laughter, Carson took a deep breath and softly tried again.

"I know it's late, love, an'... well, I'm sorry for that, but... Laura... lass... will – will ye marry me...?"

Only now, as she saw the pure love in his eyes, could Laura appreciate how much this meant to him – her whispered acceptance barely making it past the mountain in her throat as she nodded and held out her hand.

The world came to a standstill as that most beautiful of rings slid, so very gently, back onto her finger. Yet as Laura and Carson fell back into each other's arms, trying to laugh, cry, kiss and hug at the same time, the whole universe seemed to cheer them on.