Chapter 53: Proposal

Three months had passed ever since Serena knew that she was pregnant. Adam was shown to be a very caring man. He did almost all of the house chores, including cooking, accompanied her whenever she went out for grocery shopping and did everything he could so that she didn't have to do anything. It was new for Serena to have someone care so extensively for her and she had to smile every time he offered to carry her bag or take over cooking.

A bump was now visible where the babies were and with it came the mood swings, the craving for sweets and anything else that accompanied pregnancy. There were times when Serena started crying for the smallest things, at others, she was so furious that Adam actually feared for his life.

It was exhausting to say the least and the man had no idea how he should deal with this for another six months. But there were also the more intimidate parts.

For example, the Faunus loved to rest his head on his woman's stomach and listen to the kicks that the babies made and the faint heartbeats that could be heard with his fine hearing. He still couldn't believe that he was actually going to be a father soon, the idea still sounding quite surreal to him. But every time he looked at the woman he loved he was reminded that, yes, God had actually granted him to have such a happy life.

He didn't know what he did to deserve it, but he thanked God with his whole heart and wouldn't give it up for anything.

But there were also questions going through his mind at the prospect of having two children. They had to take care, maybe even buy a bigger place to stay (a house, if possible), and he was sure that people would start to talk when they got wind of the young woman being pregnant already. He cared not about himself, for he did not value gossip, but he cared for Serena and with what kind of situations she could be faced. Surely, people would ask if they had already tied the knot and be shocked when told, no, they hadn't.

So the question was: should he ask her to marry him or not?

It may still be too soon, too sudden and the last thing he wanted to do was to scare the woman he loved so much off by forcing her into something she was not yet ready for. So, to answer this question and get a clear mind again, he sought help from the one person he was sure would keep his troubles to herself.

Knocking on Team RWBY's door, he was greeted by the bubbly team leader who invited him in. He had to decline, though, asking fro his former partner. The cat Faunus appeared in the door no later and asked him what was wrong.

"I need some advice," said he, Blake noticing that he needed to talk to her somewhere privately. Excusing herself, she told him that they should walk for a bit and they were soon walking around campus.

"So what is it?" the girl inquired, looking at her former mentor with worried in her eyes. Never before had she seen him so unsettled. Back in the White Fang, he had always known his goal and how to get there. Even when the attack had happened half a year ago, he had known exactly what to do: fight and protect the girl he loved. But now, he seemed lost, not sure on which path to decide.

"You've heard that Serena's pregnant I assume?" he asked, glancing at her golden eyes, receiving a nod in answer. "Yeah, well, I don't know what I should do now."

"What do you mean?" the car Faunus asked, tilting her head in inquiry.

"I was thinking about what would happen when the kids are there. About the future. And I thought that, maybe…" He trailed off, not sure if the question he was going to ask was even an option.

"Adam?"

"I thought, maybe I should ask her…to…marry…me."

The last part came in broken sentences and he heard the girl gasp in surprise. Turning to her, he saw her golden eyes were wide and mouth agape with disbelief.

"Too soon?" he asked unsure.

Blake regained her composure, telling him that, no, it was not too soon, she was just surprised. "And when would you like to ask her?"

"Today preferably. I was thinking about marrying before the babies come."

"I don't know about Serena, but I think you should go ahead," Blake said. "The two of you are so close, I'm sure she would say yes if you asked her."

"You think?"

She replied with a nod and they talked about how he should ask, what he should do in case she declined and other things. When saying goodbye, they hugged, him thanking her for the advice and her wishing him good luck. Needless to say, as soon as Blake returned to her room, her roommates asked her questions and soon people had to wonder what all the cheering was about.

"I'm home," Adam announced. "Serena?" he asked, worried because she did not answer.

"In the kitchen!"

He entered the small room and saw the girl standing at the counter, cutting vegetables for their dinner. He hugged her from behind, kissing her cheek before telling her that he would take over and she could rest.

"I'm fine Adam, really. How about you help me? That way I won't have that much work left," she said and he obliged, cutting the meat and vegetables that were still left, but then finally convincing her to go sit at the table while he took care of the rest. She could be quite stubborn if she wanted to be.

Dinner went in small conversation, her telling him that the babies were coming along well, according to the doctor, and about how much Ruby and the others were fretting over her whenever she taught them. But the young woman noticed that something was not right, that his mind was elsewhere.

"Okay Adam, what's wrong?" she asked finally, putting down her cutlery and looking the male dead in the eye.

"Hmm?" he asked, glancing up and seemingly coming out of his thoughts.

"You've been distracted all this time. Tell me what's on your mind."

"I've been thinking," he started off.

"I can see that," she replied, a little sarcasm interlaced into her response. The male gave her a grin before resuming his serious demeanor and continuing what he had been saying.

"I've been thinking about the babies."

Serena's breath hitched and she feared that, now that knew how things would be, he was no longer willing to become father. Adam soothed her the moment he saw the fear in her eyes.

"I was thinking that, maybe, we should make things a little more official."

"Official?" she asked, cocking her head in question. What does he mean by official? As in, tell the news that I'm pregnant or what?

Her thoughts, however, were interrupted when he suddenly stood up up, walking to until he was standing in front of her, kneeled down on one knee while taking hold of her hand his with his.

Oh my god, he's not going to-

"Serena Caldron. I met you in the most dire and unusual circumstances. I treated you badly and without respect for the first days I was in your company, yet you never gave up on me. You took care of me like no else has, shown me the kindness I thought had become extinct among humans.

"You taught me things that I would never have learned without you, and have made me forget the miserable past that I have. And when I left you, you showed me a love so sincere that it hurt my heart to leave you. Yet, even when you had been captured by the White Fang and forced to attack the people you love, you stood strong and held to your ideals.

"It's your strength, kindness and love that opened my eyes and made me see the path I had been heading. It was you who led me out of the dark of hatred and into the light of love and it is you who now gives me the joy of becoming a father.

"It is out of love for you and the children that you carry with you that I ask you now. Do you, Serena Caldron, woman to whom my heart is and will always belong and whom I will protect wth my life, want to become my wife?"

Serena had tears in her eyes the moment he had begun his speech, but when he protruded the small black velvet box and opened it to show a beautiful silver ring, she could no longer hold them and let them run freely down her face. She put a hand to her lips, trying to stifle the sobs that were working their way out of her and could only nod her head in response to his proposal.

"Yes," she said breathlessly, a smile adorning both their faces and she cried even harder when he slid the simple piece of jewelry onto her finger and kissed her hand once. She leaned froward, arms wringing around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, the hug being returned with just as much love. She breathed him in, rejoicing in the scent of earth and forest that he always seemed to have while he breathed in the soothing aroma of flowers and the wild air.

"I love you," she murmured into his shoulder.

"I love you too," he replied, making her cry anew.

They remained like that for a long time, enjoying the warmth given by the other and, when going to bed, both fell asleep hugging the other, Adam's arm slung protectively over her stomach, holding the woman that was so precious to him as close as possible, intend on never letting her go.

A/N: I do not own RWBY or its characters. I do, however, own my OC Serena and any other OCs that appear in this story.

Such a sweet chapter, I'm over whelmed myself. It would be so nice if all of this were really happening in the RWBY show, or at least something akin to this, but unfortunately, it is not.

Hope the speech wasn't too much or anything, but I gave my best. Anyway, Adam is still my fave male character and nothing has changed that so far. Hope it will remain that way