"Dinner was amazing, thank-you." Lauren says as she tangles their fingers across the console of her car. She glances over at Bo, whom has a look of concentration on her face as she continues to stare out at the road ahead of them. Lauren smiles at the brunette as she glances out the window, her brow furrowing as she realizes that they're not heading in the direction of their shared apartment. "Bo?"
"Hmmm?" Her girlfriend hums as she spares her a brief glance with her with deep brown eyes, cast in light only briefly by the street lights rushing past them. "What?"
"Where we going?" She asks, her mind trying to calculate their most likely destination.
Bo smiles at her, squeezing their joined hand briefly before untangling their fingers as she grips the steering wheel a little harder. "It's a surprise."
Lauren sighs before she shrugs, if there was one thing she'd learned in two years with Bo it was then when she got like this, suddenly becoming rather romantic it was better that she just go with it. And to be honest it was nice when she got like this because it was rare that Bo initiated the romance, so instead of fighting it she put aside her curiosity for once and allowed herself to stare out of the car window.
Although there was a small voice at the back of her mind that couldn't help but wonder if this was yet another one of Bo's apology dates.
She could see dark buildings rushing past them, slowly becoming larger and from the little glimpses she could catch it seemed like they were growing more and more dilapidated, and slowly she began to realize that the scenery was familiar. It quickly clicked where they were heading.
"Are we going to the Crackshack?" Lauren asks, slowly turning her head back towards Bo.
"Maybe…" She replies slowly drawing out her words, a smile in her voice even though Lauren couldn't see her face.
"Bo I recognize the road."
"Should I have blindfolded you?" Bo asks her voice heavy and low enough to send a shiver down Lauren's spine.
"Maybe." Lauren responds coyly, a smirk on her lips as the rhythmic clicking of the car's turn signal is activated and she feels the shift in the car's centre of gravity as they turn onto a familiar dark driveway. They sit in silence for a moment as Bo turns of the car's engine, the slight jingle of the keys breaking the otherwise comfortable silence.
Lauren glances around at the sight in front of her, it was a familiar one, perhaps not the turning up at night part, but nonetheless it was an almost nostalgic one. She's about to reach over the grab the door handle when it's pulled open with a rush of cold air, sending a shiver down her spin and causing her, not for the first time, to curse herself for forgetting a jacket.
"Shall we head in m'lady?" Bo asks, her tone flirtatious as she feels the heat of a hand come to rest near her own. She looks up at Bo, her heart beginning to hammer in her chest as her gaze drifts back down to look at the proffered hand.
"What's gotten into you?" Lauren asks as she looks down at the hand that Bo is offering to her. She'd been like this all evening, from picking her up at their, really her, apartment, after heading to god knows where to get changed. She'd brought flowers, she'd pulled out her chair at the restaurant, opened the door for her both to get in and out of the car and to enter the expensive dining establishment that Bo had taken them too for dinner.
The last time Bo had treated her like this she'd blown up her lab and had set her back nearly a month in important research.
"Bo did you do something that I should know about?" Lauren finally asks a sigh in her voice as she looks up at Bo's shadow darkened face.
Bo's eyes close, a fond smile appearing on her lips as she shakes her head. "Can't a girl treat her girlfriend to dinner once in a while without the third degree?"
"If we were a normal couple I would say yes, but we've never been a normal couple Bo, and the only time you do something like this is if you've done something you shouldn't' have or its one of our anniversaries." Lauren sighs. "And you bringing me her…"
"I promise it's not what it seems like. I haven't blown up your lab again, or touched your viruses, or petri dishes. One time and she thinks you can't take her out…" Bo mutters as Lauren shakes her head, a small, fond smile, tugging at her lips as she glances down at the warm, familiar hand in front of hers.
"Oh alright." She fake grumbles, the smile never leaving her lips. "But can I ask what exactly we're doing here? Did you finally remember where you put your daggers?"
"No, although I think I might know where those are… never mind, I'll tell you later." Bo replies as she pulls Lauren to her feet, squeezing her hand for a moment before letting go as she reaches over to push the car door shut.
"Do you trust me?"
"You're asking that after all this time? Bo you know I trust you with my life, you know…" A finger coming to rest under her chin cuts her off as she is guided to look up as Bo presses a warm kiss to her lips. Rolling her eyes and smiling to herself she leans in to return the kiss, bringing one hand up to cup Bo's cheek as she wraps the other around her waist.
"It would seem that still works." Bo laughs breathily as she presses her forehead against Lauren's briefly before pulling away completely.
"Could you close you're eyes for me?" Bo asks gently, her voice barely above a whisper as she reaches down and intertwines her fingers with Lauren's once again. Complying Lauren allows her eyelids to slide shut as her mind begins to whirl, trying to figure out what is going on with Bo, and what they were doing here.
But she quickly becomes distracted by the familiar feeling of Bo's warm hands in her own, of the crunch of the gravel and loose dirt under her shoes. She can also feel another cold breeze hit them, quickly passing through the thin material of her dress and sending an unwelcome shiver down her spin.
She feels Bo's hand tighten in hers for a moment as they come to a halt.
She hears the familiar sound of Bo retrieving the key and trying to jiggle the piece of metal into the uncooperative lock on the door to the place she had once called home. A soft curse escapes from Bo's lips before a triumphant aha escapes from her mouth and the hinges creek out their familiar music as they swing inside, although lacking in the characteristic bang as they hit the makeshift wall.
She feels Bo tugging on her hand gently as they enter into the old structure, the one she could probably find her way around even now, with her eyes closed for all the time she spent here. Bo doesn't give the okay to open her eyes however, instead she feels herself being led into what was likely the living room based upon the number of steps they have taken between here and the door.
"It's okay, you can open your eyes now." Bo whispers as Lauren feels her warm hand let go of her own.
Slowly she blinks open her eyes, a gasp escaping from her lips as she closes her eyes before opening them again, only to be met with the same sight.
"Oh Bo… it's…" She was speechless as her eyes swept over the room in front of her. The furniture that had once been scattered throughout the room was gone, instead leaving the centre of the room bare.
But it was the candles off to the side that truly provided the atmosphere. The only source of light in the room, their soft glow shone in wide semi-circle on the ground around the centre, and candles of all sizes and heights adding their light from further off to the side.
"It's beautiful." Lauren finally manages to breathe out as she turns towards Bo, whom has moved to the centre of the room, the candles only serving to highlight the black of her fitted suite against the soft glow of the room.
"You did all of this?" She asks, it must have taken hours…
"With a little bit of help." Bo replies, a smile on her lips, a twinkle of laughter in her eyes.
"Why?" Lauren asks, her voice quite with disbelief at the sight that surrounds her. It was like something out of a dream.
"Because I can, and because you deserve to have a romantic night once in a while. Now can I have this dance?" Bo asks as, a small hesitant smile tugging at her lips as she offers her hand to Lauren.
"Of course." Lauren laughs, a bemused smile on her face as she rests her palm against Bo's, reaching out with her other hand to rest it gently against her hip underneath the jacket of her suite, the cotton of her blouse soft against her palm. But before it can find a comfortable grip she feels Bo's hand come to rest against hers, catching it with her fingers before bringing it to her lips and pressing a kiss to the skin there.
She tilts her head looking up at Bo, but the question on her lips dies when she sees the soft glow of the candles reflecting in the eyes staring down at her, there is something of awe in her eyes, like she can't believe that this is happening.
It sends a chill down Lauren's spin as Bo's gaze darkens; her eyes become wider as her brow furrows. She leans forward slowly pressing her forehead against Bo's as she bringing the hand still pressed against her girlfriend's lips up the cup the back of her neck.
"What's going on in that mind of yours huh?" She probes gently as Bo shakes her head, almost as if she's bringing herself back. She can feel Bo tilt her head upward and press a quick kiss to her forehead before Lauren feels herself being pulled tightly against Bo as warm, familiar arms wrap around her waist.
"I believe you promised me this dance Dr. Lewis?" Bo says as she tilts her head towards Lauren, the brunette's breath warm against the shell of her ear, her voice low and full of promises of what's to come.
She closes her as her breathe gets caught in her throat, and as her heart begins to pound against her ribs. It amazes her, that even after two years together, and the years before that of dancing around their feelings that Bo can still make her feel this way. But it's also one of the things that she loves most about her, and about their relationship, no matter how long they're together it seems like the spark between them has never faded.
"I believe I did Ms. Dennis." She whispers as she tilts her head to the side, letting her lips brush Bo's ear as she continues. "Did I mention how beautiful you look in that suit? How much I can't wait to see you out of it?"
She can feel Bo shudder against her as she catches the meaning of her words.
"Just you wait Lauren." Bo laughs in her ear as she pulls her closer, a tone of amusement evident in her voice, but there's also something else in her voice, in the way that it seems to grow a little higher with each word spoken, in the way that Bo keeps shuffling them around even without music. But Lauren soon forgets about the abnormalities in Bo's body language and voice as her partner presses them chest-to-chest and whispers in her ear. "Just you wait."
She can hear the opening strains of the music as Bo gently begins to sway to the music.
Lay your life on mine and I'll carry you through
Make good use of time and I'll stand with you
Cause I've got all my life to love you and so do you
The tune was slow, gentle as the crooning of the singer began to softly lilt from the speakers.
She can feel Bo's body gradually tense as the volume begins to grow louder, the singer's voice growing stronger.
"You know, its funny. I had an entire speech planned, this entire speech that I practiced in front of the mirror that Kenzi helped me write, but now… I've forgotten it all." She laughs softly. "Having you so close, having you in my arms, it makes me forget everything else…"
"So instead…" She sighs as she before beginning to speak. "I know that this isn't the most romantic place to do this." Lauren feels her shift, one of the arms wrapped around her waist moving away, her hand slowly moving across her stomach, her hand sandwiched between their bodies.
"But this is where it all really began. I know that we met for the first time in your lab. I know that our first date was at the Dahl, the first time we said I love you was at your old place, and your new place is where we finally began to talk again. But this place, this shabby, rundown, drafty, Crackshack…"
"Bo?" Lauren whispers, shivering at the loss of body heat from her girlfriend.
Put your cares on mine and we'll carry them through
Walk the firing lines with the power of two
Cause I've got all my life to save you and so do you
"This Crackshack is where everything began, it's where we had our first kiss where we made love for the first time. This room it was where I really started to fall in love with you, on that awful and wonderful first night. Do you remember?" Bo asks hesitantly, her voice barely an echo of a whisper in Lauren's ear as they continue to, sway gently as the music continues to play on in the background.
"Of course I remember." Lauren replies as she tightens her grip on Bo's waist before she pauses and pulls away from the tight embrace slightly, just enough to let her see her girlfriend's face. "Bo what is this all about huh?"
"There's a reason that I brought us back here, that I wanted us to be here tonight." Bo says with a sad smile.
So there's no home for doubt
If you're scared we'll work it out
And the lives that we share could be anywhere.
"This is where everything started, where our long complicated journey began." She whispers. "And it's where I want the next step to be taken."
"Bo…?" Lauren begins before she trails off, stopping herself as her eyes widening before she pulls away completely, the gears of her mind beginning to turn as she tries to figure out what is going on. She could feel something deep within her well up, her heart beginning to beat faster as she realizes what might be about to happen.
For as long as you're mine we can stand the test of time
For the cost is too high not to love
"I know that these those few years were long, and it's been complicated, and it was hard and heartbreaking for you, but these last few years, they've been some of the most amazing of my life. Waking up with you in the morning, falling asleep with you at night. Watching you work, sharing in the frustrations when you hit a roadblock, and watching you leap jump joy when you finally make that breakthrough." Bo says, her voice rising as as she takes a few more steps back from Lauren.
"All of it makes me love you more, and it makes me so grateful for each and every day that I've had with you, and for each and everyone that you will let me stay by your side."
Put your cares on mine and we'll carry them through
Walk the firing lines with the power of two
Cause I've got all my life to save you and so do you
Lauren gulps, blinking as tears well up in her eyes. Her mind whirling with possibilities as she begins to feel that hope crash against the small recesses of her mind that tell her that this can't be it, that this is happening, that this is happening to her.
"It was in this room that I told you about my dreams for the future, that I wanted a white-picket fence, and the 1.61 children, and the dog." Bo begins as she looks up at Lauren. "But right from the start there was one thing missing from that, and it was someone that has been standing right by my side from the start."
Bo looks Lauren in the eye as she reaches into the pocket of her jacket, smiling as she slowly pulls a small box from the inside pocket of her jacket, popping it open as she begins to kneel down. She takes one last breath before she flicks open the box, showing the ring nestled in the box, the one that she had picked out all those months ago.
Lauren watches as she reaches out to grab her hand, the warm familiarity a welcome contrast to the pounding heart under her ribs, the tightness in her throat and the burning in her eyes full of unshed tears. But most of all it's the look in Bo's eyes that cause her breath to hitch in her throat, the softness of the glow in the room only serving to highlight the look in her eyes.
It was one of absolute awe, it was he one that she saw that day on the couch when she said that she would give their relationship another chance. It was the one she saw in Bo's eyes as she looked at her after making love. It was the one that had been shinning in her eyes the first time she said "I love you". And in comparison to all those moments, this one blew it out of the water.
Bo's breath audibly catches as her voice rises slightly in pitch, their joined hand held in a death grip, as the look in her eyes shifted from one of pure awe to a mixture of nervousness, fear, and love. "You once told me that a relationship took three things, trust, understanding and compromise, but there is one thing that I wanted to add, commitment. Lauren Lewis will you marry me?"
So there's no home for doubt
If you're scared we'll work it out
And the lives that we share could be anywhere
Lauren's eyes well up as she blinks down at Bo, taking in the sight of her, down on one knee, the candle light casting a gentle glow around her adding to the already dreamlike quality of this entire night.
Was this real? She couldn't help but wonder. Was it even possible for this to be real?
If someone had told her two years ago that Bo would be down on one knee, proposing to her in the place that held so many memories for them, both good and bad. Well she would never have believed them. And when she had dreamed it had always been her proposing.
This was absurd, it was an impossible situation, one that she couldn't have conjured up.
Which could only mean one thing.
It was real.
When the words finally leave her lips she can hear the half choked sob in her own voice.
"Yes!" She cries and before she can say anymore, before she can playfully admonish Bo for proposing a week before she could, Bo had stood up, slipped the ring on her finger and pressed their lips together in a soft, happy kiss, little more then a press of one's lips against the other, but it said so much more then they could ever voice aloud.
For as long as you're mine we can stand the test of time
For the cost is too high not to love
The cost is too high not to love
Hello...
Yes I'm alive. Sorry for the incredibly long hiatus, my life kinda went off the rails for a while, but I'm back!
Thank-you to everyone whose left reviews on my works, as well as the favourites and follows. I honestly have no idea where you guys come from sometimes!
Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter.
PS Hopefully this fills that prompt I promised I would do all that time ago for you cheeky!