Permission
Sydney stopped the music. "What's up with you? You've never been this off before."
"I'm not off. What are you talking about?" Skyler reached to turn the music back on.
Sydney stopped him. "You're fouette turns are sloppy and you can't even do a double today. Any other day I could ask you to do ten in a row and you'd be fine. Rehearsals for Chicago start next week and you know we're going to have to teach the choreography on day one."
Skyler ran his hand through his hair. "Nothing's wrong with me. Let's just keep going."
Sydney shook her head. "I know you better than that, Sky. What's up?"
"I said I'm fine. Come on, let's continue. Or are you just stopping because you know I'm doing better than you?"
Sydney crossed her arms. "You're cockiness is at like a ten, and I need it at like a two."
"Your sass is at a ten today too."
Sydney glared at him. "What is with you?"
Skyler bit his lip and walked over to his bag. He reached and held something behind his back. "I need your help."
"With the attitude you're having right now? I don't think so."
Skyler sighed. "Please, Syd. I can't do this without you."
Sydney rolled her eyes and dropped her arms. "What is it?"
"I'm going to ask Anna to marry me." He held out a small black box.
Sydney smiled. "Oh. That explains it. Well, that's great and all Sky, but why do you need my help? I really doubt Anna will say no to you."
"I'm not worried about her saying no."
"Then what-" Realization spread across Sydney's face. "You want to ask Joe for permission first, don't you?"
"Kind of."
Sydney burst out laughing. "Good luck with that."
"That's why I need your help. I need you to talk to him for me and see if you can soften him up a little bit."
Sydney continued to laugh. "What makes you think I can convince Joe to let you marry his baby sister? You know how he is. Frankly, I'm worried for Jade when she grows up and starts dating."
"Please, Syd! I need this. I love Anna and I want to be with her and marry her more than anything. I see how happy you are with Joe and Jade, and I want that too. I just feel like I need Joe's approval first though."
"Don't you think you're a little young?"
"We're older than you and Joe when you two got married."
"You know our situation was different."
"Not really. I mean, it would have been if Joe knew the truth. Yet you've still kept it a secret from him for all this time."
"I can't tell him at this point."
"You keep telling yourself that."
Sydney sighed. "You're marrying her out of love, right? She's not pregnant or anything is she?"
"No, of course not! Some of us have self-restraint," Skyler teased her.
Sydney tapped her chin. "I don't know. It's an awfully big request and I'm not so sure I like your tone."
Skyler frowned. "Please, Syd? I really, really want this."
Sydney smiled. "I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you."
As if on cue, Jade came skipping into their studio with Joe trying to catch up with her.
"Mommy!" Jade latched onto Sydney's legs. "Daddy took me to the zoo and we saw animals and there were these pengy-, um, peng-, these birds and they went like this!" Jade held her arms out to the side and waddled around the floor like a penguin.
Sydney laughed and scooped Jade up into her arms. "Did they now?"
Jade giggled. "Uh huh. I wanna go again! More animals!" Jade clapped her hands joyously. Jade paused and sniffed the air. "Ew. Mommy stinky." She tried to push herself away from Sydney.
Sydney frowned. "Got to love the honesty of four-year-olds." She set Jade back on the floor. Jade proceeded to run around the dance floor with her penguin impersonation.
"Well, maybe if you weren't so stinky it wouldn't be a problem." Skyler crossed his arms.
"Like you smell like a bed of roses right now." Sydney reached for a small towel to wipe off her sweaty forehead.
"I think you smell wonderful." Joe kissed Sydney and slipped his arm around her waist.
Sydney rolled her eyes. "Compared to animals you've been around all day, I'm sure I do."
"Mommy, I'm hungry." Jade pouted her lip and rubbed her belly. "I want ice cream!"
"You know the rules. You get ice cream after dinner. How about a make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for now?"
Jade gave Sydney her best puppy dog eyes. "Please?"
Sydney put her hands on her hips. "No, Jade."
Jade crossed her arms and pouted. "Fine."
"How about I go make her some lunch and you stay here and talk to Joe?" Skyler's eye pleaded with Sydney.
"Okay, but make sure she doesn't trick you into giving her ice cream or something."
Skyler led Jade down stairs to the kitchen. Sydney walked over to the wall and slid down to the floor.
"Man, my feet are killing me today." She began to rub her foot.
"Talk to me about what?" Joe followed her over to the wall.
"Well, I'd love to tell you, but my feet here are really sore and could use some attention. I don't know if I could go on like this." She feigned slumping over and pretended to be dying.
Joe rolled his eyes. He sat down in front of Sydney and grab one of her feet. He gently began to massage it. "So what is it you need to talk to me about?"
"I want you to think before you say anything."
"Okay?"
"Skyler wants to ask Anna to marry him."
"No."
"Joe, I said to think before you answered me."
"I don't need to. They're too young and Anna doesn't even need to be thinking about getting married."
"They're older than we were."
"That doesn't count."
Sydney sighed. "Joe, I know you love Anna and you want what's best for her, but Sky is just that. You see how happy they are together. They love each other just as much as you and I do. Think about how happy they would be if they got married."
"I can't let my little sister get married. If they get married they'll go on a honeymoon and I definitely don't want that."
"Joe, Skyler is going to ask Anna to marry him no matter what. You know Anna will say yes. He just wants your permission before he does it."
Joe dropped Sydney's foot. "Why do they even want to get married? Is Anna pregnant?" Joe looked like he was ready to beat Skyler.
"No, no. Calm down. They want to get married because they love each other and marriage is the next step in their relationship."
Joe ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know."
"Skyler has never done anything to hurt Anna. Have you ever seen Anna happier than when she is with Skyler?" Sydney placed her hands on Joe's face to draw his attention to her.
Joe thought about it for second. "I guess not."
"All I'm asking is that you be fair and when Skyler comes back to ask you for permission to marry Anna, you say yes. There is nothing wrong with them getting married."
"Fine. But I will be giving him a little talk along with it."
"I never said you couldn't." Sydney smiled and kissed Joe on the cheek. "Thank you. Now, I believe you forgot about my other foot?" She held up her foot in Joe's face. He rolled his eyes again and began to massage her other foot.
Jade and Skyler soon came back upstairs. Each happily munching on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"I wanna foot rub too, daddy!" Jade ran over to Sydney and Joe. She plopped down next to Sydney and raised her feet in the air. She wiggled her toes and giggled.
"Are you sure about that?" Joe grabbed her feet and began tickling her.
Jade squealed and tried to get away, but she was giggling too hard.
Sydney grinned and laughed at the two of them. She noticed Skyler awkwardly rocking back and forth behind them. "Hey, Jade, how about you and I go downstairs? I could read you some of your favourite book."
Jade looked up from her fit of giggles. "Okay." She bounced up and ran into Sydney's arms.
Sydney gave Joe one final look before leaving. "Be nice."
"So, um," Skyler did his best to be his confident self, but he was failing. "I'm sure Syd already told you."
"Yes." Joe stood up and crossed his arms. He puffed out his chest trying to be as intimidating as possible.
Skyler squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. "I want to marry Anna. I love her more than anything in this world. I know you love her too, and I think it's great that you're such a good big brother to her. I understand I'm not your favourite person and that my relationship with Anna makes you uncomfortable, but we've been together for years now and I've never done anything to hurt her or put her danger, and I never will. I am going to ask Anna to marry me no matter what you say, but I think it will be a lot better for everyone if you're okay with it. So Joe, can I have permission to marry your sister?"
Joe remained silent while staring down Skyler, silently judging him.
"Yes."
Skyler perked up. "Really? That means so much, you have no idea."
"But," Joe stepped forward into Skyler's face, who shrunk away, "if you do anything to harm Anna or so much as draw a single tear from her eye, I will step in and you do not want that. You are to give Anna the upmost respect and treat her like a lady. If I hear one complaint from her, you're gone."
"Of course!" Skyler shook off the feeling of fear that came over him. "Thank you so much. I promise you won't regret this." He held his hand out for Joe to shake. When Joe didn't take it, he awkwardly dropped it by his side. "I'll just be going then."
He and Joe silently went downstairs to the living room. Sydney was sitting on the sofa with Jade curled up in her lap. Sydney held a purple book in her hands with pictures of animals sprawled out on the cover.
"How'd it go?" Sydney paused from reading to Jade to look up at Skyler.
"Great. I got to go." Skyler walked to the door.
"But we still have to choreo-" Sydney sighed as Skyler left the house without looking back. She turned to Joe. "I take that to mean you said yes?"
"I think I made a mistake." Joe leaned forward as if he was going to follow Skyler out to tell him that he changed his mind.
"Joe, don't. It'll be okay."
"Mommy, book." Jade whined and tugged on Sydney's arm.
"I know, sweetie. One second."
Joe walked over and sat down next to them. "I hope you're right."
"Boo." Skyler popped his head down in front of Anna.
She feigned being scared. "Oh no! What ever will I do? Where's my knight in shining armor when I need him?
"I locked him up. He's currently being tortured by an endless loop of 'Wheels on the Bus'."
"Oh well. It was only a matter of time." She looked Skyler up and down. "I guess you'll just have to be my new boyfriend."
"I'd be honored." He leaned in to give her a deep kiss.
Anna laughed as they broke apart. "I thought you and Sydney were working all day today. Don't you have to teach choreography next week?"
"I needed to leave early. After all, I have a date tonight."
"You do?" Anna raised an eyebrow at him.
"Mhm, but don't tell my girlfriend. It's a surprise." Skyler winked at her.
Anna grinned. "You're secret's safe with me."
"I knew I could trust you."
"So when is this date?"
"Now actually."
"Now?" Anna got up from the chair she was sitting in. "A little extra warning wouldn't have hurt, you know."
"It's part of the fun."
"Where are we even going? I'm going to have to get ready." Anna quickly adjusted her hair as she headed towards the bathroom.
"No need. It's a private date."
"Private?"
Skyler nodded. "I have something extra special planned for us tonight."
"Oh?"
"Why don't I just show you?"
"Holy…" Anna was at a loss for words.
"The perks of living in a penthouse, exclusive rooftop access. Syd and I used to rehearse up here. I always thought that with a little decorating, it could look magical."
Magical didn't even begin to describe it. Anna felt like see had just stepped into a mystical forest. She definitely didn't feel like they were standing on top of a building in the middle of Manhattan. Trees lined the edge of the roof. Lights were strung tree to tree and emitted a soft golden glow. Stars weren't something you saw a lot of in New York with all the bright city lights, but all the string lights created the effect of staring up into a starry night sky.
In the middle of the roof a sheer canopy was set up surrounded by white candles. Pillows were placed inside the canopy and despite the fact that the roof's floor was made of hard wood, it looked like the coziest place in the world.
"Skyler, this is astounding. How did you do all this?" Anna stared up at him with wonder in her eyes.
He shrugged. "I want tonight to be special. I'm glad you like it." He loved seeing her this elated.
"I love it. It's so different from anything else we've ever done. But what's so special about tonight?" She stared at him with a perplexed look on her face.
"You'll see." He led her over to the pillows. They sat down and snuggled up to each other.
"It's so beautiful." The surrounding canopy put them in their own private world, complete with their own stars and night sky to gaze into.
"Just like you."
Anna blushed. "So why all this? I have to know." She turned to sit on her knees and stare into Skyler's eyes.
"Well," he paused to reach for something in his pocket, "I love you, Anna. I love you more than anything else in this entire universe." He grabbed her hand. "I want the world to know it. I want to wake up next to you every day and fall asleep next to you every night." He pulled out a small black box and opened it to reveal a dazzling diamond ring. He heard Anna gasp. "Anna Arthur, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" She wrapped Skyler up in a tight hug and showered him with kisses.
He laughed as he slipped the ring on her finger. "I'm so thrilled that you said yes."
"Why wouldn't I? I love you." She pulled him to give him a lingering kiss.
"I know, but I had a crazy day. I wanted to get Joe's permission before I married you."
"You asked my brother for permission to marry me?" Anna stopped in thought. "And he said yes?"
Skyler nodded. "I'm still surprised too. Syd kind of helped me out a little though."
"Tell her I said thank you." Anna looked down at the ring on her finger. She shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe that just happened."
"The night's not over yet. I'd hate to have this whole set up go to waste."
Anna giggled. "It's beautiful, really. I don't think I could ever forget this night. I love you so much."
"I love you too."
A/N - I really like their silly/goofy relationship. It was fun to write. :) One more chapter in here left before I start posting Sour Revenge! If you liked, a review and a favorite would be very much loved! Thanks for reading!