This idea came to me late last night while driving home from NYC, and even though I'm sure C.O.W's next challenge will be Christmas, I couldn't wait to write this down. Modern AU.
Heyward wasn't really sure how he'd ended up at the Joveson's Christmas party. Iantha had invited him, of course. He hadn't been nervous around Iantha's big, loud, crazy, accepting family in years. The reason his palms were slick with sweat was because this year was different. This year his gift to Iantha wasn't just a sweater or a new book.
This year his gift was an engagement ring.
Funny that you could date someone for four years and still become the world's most nervous human the minute you decide to ask the question. He had almost chickened out of doing it tonight, but one Jupiter Goodson had convinced him not to. He could do this, right? Iantha herself had opened the door, wearing dangely Christmas tree ornament earrings, an ugly christmas sweater with Pikachu plastered across the front, and a smile that reached her eyes, making them sparkle with a brilliant light of their own. He managed to act normal through dinner, bets on the next football game, and even the secret santas name swap, where he gave Smalls a pair of sunglasses with night vision. But when it came time to open presents, he started to feel nervous. Across the room from Jovesons, Goodsons and Longtreaders exclaiming over their gifts, he saw Iantha pick up a small, gift wrapped box. His box. Where had he gotten the idiotic idea of leaving it under the tree? And as she unwrapped the box, and lifted the cover off, Heyward made a decision.
"IANTHA," he bellowed over the noisy room. "WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER MARRYING ME?" The chatter of the room died away immediately, and Iantha's surprised, emotion filled voice floated across the room.
"What if I just say yes now?"
"That would be even better," Heyward admitted, grinning sheepishly. Someone whistled, and then all at once the room was filled with cheers, and people were hugging and shaking hands and Iantha was sitting next to him and holding his hand and suddenly, Heyward wondered why he had ever been nervous in the first place.
Short and sweet. I still like it!