Kira and Tommy slowly sat down on the couch, taking comfort in each other's arms as they awaited the inevitable judgement from their assembled friends. Looking around, the main feeling in the room seemed to be one of amazed disbelief. Kira pulled herself into Tommy more tightly as thoughts raced through her mind what they would say.
"We're really sorry about the trick we played on you." Jason began, pacing the room, continuing to twirl the ring in his fingers. By now the laughter had gone, clearly the group had something they wanted to say. "When Tori and I found the ring, we just couldn't believe you'd keep something like this from us."
"It didn't feel good to find out this way." Conner agreed. "I mean, we're your friends and we care about you. To behave like this, it felt like…like you didn't trust me!"
Kira couldn't help but shed a tear as he said this. It was obvious she had hurt her long time friend.
"I'm sorry." She croaked gently.
"Tommy we've known you for years." Trini reprimanded him. "We know you'd never make a decision like this rashly. We all care about you. What were you thinking?"
"I…We didn't know if you'd understand." Tommy croaked, his own eyes sparkling a little by this point. "We know we haven't been together for very long, but we both know how we feel about each other. How we've always felt about each other. It's the real thing guys, it's for good. We know it is."
"Look. I for one think things may be moving a little fast for MY liking." Ethan admitted, paying absent-mindedly with an empty glass. "But it really doesn't concern me. It's YOUR relationship."
"It's like I said when I found out." Adam interjected. "The only people who can comment on how strong your relationship is, is you."
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you about this from the beginning." Kira sniffed. "We were sure you'd say we were rushing things. But I've always known. From the moment we finally told each other we loved each other, that I'd always love him. I knew from the moment we kissed that we'd always be together."
"I've felt the same way." Tommy added. "I know I've been in relationships before, but Kira gives me something no one else ever has, or ever will again. It's like she really is the other half of my soul. I could never be with anyone else. That's why I asked her to marry me."
The assembled group looked around at each other.
"The only thing that upset us is that you didn't trust us." Rocky finally broke the moment. "Sure things are happening fast, but that doesn't make them wrong. Even if we COULD have tried to break you up, do you really think we WOULD?"
"Of course not, there's no way we'd do anything to try and hurt you." Jason announced, moving to the centre of the room.
"Nor you Kira." Trent interjected.
"Tommy, you've been my best friend for 12 years." Jason reminded him. "We've both been through a whole lot together. I know you probably better than anyone other than Kira." He breathed a heavy sigh. "And I've never known anyone to make you as happy as you are with her. I could see it in you from the moment I saw you together."
"I know things didn't work out between us Tommy." Kat chimed in. "We were the wrong people for each other. I don't regret what happened between us, I'm happy now with Rocky. But like Jason I've never known anyone make you this happy." She shifted a little in her seat to draw closer. "We were together for over a year and the subject of marriage never even came up. The fact you're so sure yourself tells me everything I need to know."
"Thanks guys." Tommy breathed, by now beginning to feel a little silly that he'd ever doubted them. "She's my world."
"Well that's good enough for me." Trini stated with a huge grin. "My opinion on how fast things are moving doesn't count. You love each other, and I couldn't be happier for you!"
"How did you think I'd feel?" Tori asked, hugging Kira excitedly. "I was one of the ones that got you together, remember?"
"Kira, you're the most level-headed person I know." Trent put down flatly. "If you're sure you're doing the right thing, then I'm the last person to say anything about it."
"In the years I've spent in the church, I've seen hundreds, thousands of people walk up that aisle." Zack stated. "I've only seen the two of you together this one night, and I have to say, I have yet to see one couple that looked as confident and ready to take that step as the two of you."
"Thanks guys." Tommy sighed. "It really means a lot to us that you're ok with this. Your opinion means a lot to us. That's why we didn't want to risk you not understanding how we felt."
"Like I said Tommy." Adam giggled. "Give us a little more credit."
"The only thing left then is to give you this back." Jason stated, stretching his hand out to offer them the ring.
"Thank." Kira said weakly, stretching out to accept it, only to have Jason snatch it away again.
"After all that. Don't you think we deserve to see it done properly?" Jason asked, handing the ring to Tommy.
Tommy knew his friends were not to be denied when they were in a mood like this. Plus he had to concede that they had a point. They were kind of cheated out of the moment Tommy and Kira made their announcement. Taking Kira gently by the hand, he lead her into the middle of the room, and slowly got onto one knee.
"Kira Ford." He began. "From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You are by far the most caring, compassionate and wonderful woman I have ever met. Over time the feelings I have for you have only grown." He lifted her hand, and presented the ring to her. "And it is for those reasons, that I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Tommy." Kira began, already beginning to cry a little. "I fell in love with you the moment I met you, and that only got stronger." She opened her fingers to allow him to place the ring on her finger. "No one has been there for me more than you. You're the only one who's ever held my heart in his hands. And I never want you to let go."
As Tommy slid the ring back onto her finger, everyone in the room leapt forward to congratulate them.
"I'm happy for you bro'." Jason stated first, pulling Tommy into a strong hug. "She's great."
"Thanks man." Tommy replied. "You're right, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I don't know what I was thinking."
He turned to Kira. "Sorry I gave you a hard time earlier."
"Thanks." Kira yelled over the commotion, hugging him enthusiastically. "Sorry about the Wasabi."
"Actually that was a pretty good trick." He laughed. "I'm going to have to remember that one."
"I can't believe you're giving my husband bad ideas already." Trini interrupted. "Congratulations. Have you and Tommy talked about a date yet?"
The commotion got a little quieter as she asked this.
"Well, we'd get married tomorrow if we could." Tommy answered her. "I mean, I know there's all those drive-through places in this city, but we wanted to do it right, y'know?"
"Yeah, we wanted to wait until we could invite everyone we care about." Kira agreed. "But we can't get a venue."
"There's no problem booking somewhere for the reception." Tommy commented, pulling Kira to his side once more. "But all the decent churches are booked solid for the next year and a half. We're already on a waiting list."
"I think I can help with that." Zack interrupted from the other side of the room, tapping away on his palm pilot. "How are you guys fixed for May 14th?"
"Are you serious?" Kira screeched, jumping with excitement.
"Had a cancellation recently." He replied. "It's yours if you want it."
"That'd be great! Thanks Zack." Tommy shouted over the renewed commotion.
"Anyway, you guys have a lot of phone calls to make. It's only right the others know too." Trini reminded them.
"We'll leave you guys to it." Rocky said, gathering his coat. "We'll all have to arrange cover for the rest of the week."
"You guys are staying?" Tommy asked.
"Of course." Jason replied. "Now we know what we're REALLY here for, we're going to have to go out again. Celebrate properly. Oh and Kira?"
"Yes Jason?"
"This time, come appropriately attired." He laughed, tapping his own ring finger.
"No worries about that." Kira replied, holding Tommy close. "Now that the word's out, it's never coming off again."
With that, the guys said their goodbyes and left to go their separate ways to their allotted hotels.
"Guess we better get started on those calls." Tommy sighed, pulling out a small, black book. "Your friends or mine?"