I do not own OUAT.
7. Marry Me.
David rose early on Saturday morning. The sun shone brightly through the bedroom window that he and Mary-Margaret had been sharing for the past two months and he felt good. He felt like a run, the fact that Phoebe needed one too? That was the motivator.
"One second Pheebes." He said to the Labrador who was waiting by the door as her master scrawled out a note placed it on his pillow and placed a tender kiss on Mary-Margaret's forehead as she slept.
"Let me just get changed and then we'll go get your lead."
Thirty minutes later David was having a nice jog in his workout gear talking away with the always ready to listen Phoebe being gently guided along.
"I think it's time Phoebe."
'It's been four months... four and I'm crazy about her." Phoebe barks in agreement as they turn a corner along the park pathway.
"She's the one. And your Grandma Ruth will be back tomorrow… I have the ring… tucked away where she won't look… its perfect. She's perfect. She's the one." He says giving her a wink.
"Now, we better be getting back before she gets worried."
…
"Mmm." Mary-Margaret stretched her arms out and naturally felt for David only to be met by a pillow and a note.
Pheebes and I have gone for a run. (I didn't want wake you.)
Back soon.
I love you.
X
"Ha." She said as she sat up propped by her pillow she held the note close before putting it down and stretching her body over to pull out her sweater from their dresser.
"What the…" As she retrieved the sweater she felt something right at the bottom of the drawer. A box.
"Oh…." She wanted to scream. A black box small and heart shaped. It wasn't earrings.
"It's probably earrings… it's probably earrings…" She prized open the box so that she could peek. "Oh it's not earrings!" She squealed as she saw the beautiful emerald green peridot.
"Maybe? I shouldn't." She asked herself but, was already taking the ring carefully out and loops it on her finger. It's a perfect fit he's a perfect fit.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She's screaming like he's given her all the stars in the sky.
"Yes. Yes. Yes." She breathes but, then she hears the key turning in the door. "No! NO! NO!" Mary-Margaret panics and puts the box back in the bottom of the drawer having no time to get the ring off she throws her sweater on and pulls the long turquoise sleeve over her hand covering the sparkling gem. Act normal. Act normal. Breathe!
"We're back." David sings as the dog comes bounding in Mary-Margaret's direction jumping on her lap. "I can see that! Did you have a good walk girl? Chase any squirrels today?" (She had terrorised three on the last one)
"No." David laughed "She was on her best behaviour." He locks the door and turns to her.
"Honey, let me get you some kibble and water." Mary-Margaret says getting bowls and pouring the liquid and then the mixed dry and wet meat into another separate bowl and putting them down.
"Do you want breakfast too?" She asks with a nervous grin but, its wasted as before she can say anything he's come up from behind arms wrapped around her.
"Good morning."
He kisses the exposed part of her neck and moves up to her lips until she responds.
"Mmm. Good morning. I missed you."
"I didn't want to wake you."
"Uhuh. You and Pheebes going off bonding without me I get it."
"Never!"
"Glad to hear it."
"Mary-Margaret?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you wearing a sweater without your pants on?"
"I… was getting dressed." Its half true.
"But, you were in bed when we got back…"
"I was… Oh for the love of GOD! I can't keep this from you." She pulls up her ridiculously long sleeve and shows him her hand. David was absolutely crestfallen.
"That's my ring… I mean the ring my mother gave me to give to you I was going to prepare a speech and tell you how much you mean to me and although, it's only been four months I can't wait to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you marry me?"
"I'm sorry I ruined your proposal but, if it makes you feel any better my answer is and always will be YES." She sobs so very happily and kisses him so many times she loses count.
"We're getting married."
"Uh uh. "You're staying and then we're getting married."
"You've got this all planned haven't you Blanchard?" David holds her close and beams. "You wear the pants in this marriage.."
"Uh that's Blanchard soon to be Nolan and we wear the pants."
….
A day and several ecstatic phone calls around town later the newly engaged couple arrived hand in hand to their "surprise" Engagement Party (Otherwise, known as the mass town gathering at Granny's that Ruth had arranged mid-flight and Ruby had spoiled two hours previously).
"Three." She breathed taking his hand.
"Two."
"One." They said together in a whisper as he opened the door for them both. The room was dark and apparently deserted despite, the red neon sign clearly saying "OPEN."
"Hello?" Mary-Margaret said in her best "unsure and slightly scared" voice while her fiancé was completely enthralled by her ability to play the naive and innocent victim even though, he was sure he could feel the trace of laughter in her voice.
"Is anybody here?" He continued bracing them both and forming his reaction after-all here comes the….
"SURPRISE!" The lights came on instantly having been flicked from behind and everyone from Ruth to Pongo was there to greet them.
"Ahahaha Ruth." Mary-Margaret embraced her in a long hug before breaking and looking at her. "How was New York?"
"Wonderful but, tiring. Oh Mary-Margaret how I missed you!" The woman gave her an even bigger squeeze before pulling away at the sound of her son's "What about me?"
"You. I don't know whether to kiss you or strangle you how could you propose with me being so far away?"
"To be fair Mom she beat me to it."
Ruth looks shocked but, not surprised as Mary-Margaret nods guiltily "I found it at the bottom of our dresser."
"He never was any good at hiding things. Oh come here you." Ruth ruffles David's hair lightly as his fiancé mingles.
"Congratulations!" Ruby exclaims passing her a glass of champagne as her friend gratefully accepts it.
"THANK YOU RUBY! It doesn't seem real..."
"Trust me babe it's real. Or if it's not it's about to be your future hubby's making a speech." She turns her friend and pushes her gently into the circle that her friends have formed. David's standing in the middle of it microphone in hand.
This is for them their friends but, his eyes remain on hers as he takes a breath and speaks
"It's so great to see all of you here I want to thank you all for surprising us tonight. Friends, family you all mean so much to me but, non-more so than this woman right here." He points her out.
"Mary-Margaret, the first time I saw you. Really truly saw you, I had walked in here wanting a drink and ended up seeing the most passionate beautiful woman demand that she pay for her own." That got laughs even a chuckle from the lady herself.
"Yes, you did "look like quite the sight" my darling but, it was that sight that made me stop and think "hey, I want to get to know you" and honestly punches and tears aside I am so glad I did because knowing you allowed me to love you that day and every day since. To Mary-Margaret." He raised his glass.
"MARY-MARGARET" Everyone toasted and cheered as she walked slowly and confidently in her red passion dress wrapped her arms around David and softly kissed him.
"My… T u r n." She sang taking the microphone and pushing him to where she stood a minute previously.
"It's at this point that I usually start running so you might want to block off all the exits." She jokes to warm laughter.
"Seriously though, four months ago I ran out of this very diner convinced that I had made a fool of myself. But, someone found me followed me out into the pouring rain… I was lost and he found me." She turns to him alone.
"You found me."
"I will always find you." He replies effortlessly.
"I will always find you." She says instantly and then she runs not away never away but, into his arms crashing her lips against his. (Maybe it was a little excessive but, they are engaged).
"To David and Mary-Margaret. May you have a long and happy life together." Archie Hopper proclaims.
"DAVID AND MARY-MARGARET."
…
The rest of the night is a celebratory blur at least until they get home… That's not a blur that won't be a blur they decide…
"How tipsy are you?" She murmurs in between kisses and impatient tugging on jeans that refuse to come undone without help.
"I barely touched a drop. It's a lot more fun watching other people have a good time when I know we can have a good time all on our own without the alcohol going to my head."
"Smart man. Very smart."
"There we go." She chuckles as the button comes undone and she is able to glide the zipper down with ease.
"Oh… Not fair." He groans as his shirt appears to have been teased off and his jeans are undone (though, thankfully not off) yet, that dress vibrant red dress has stayed on.
"So… even it up." She challenges a mischievous look never leaving her as laces her arm around him.
"I intend to." He says darkly before she hooks her legs around him as he scoops her up and takes slow and careful steps to the bedroom they share losing that pretty dress and her shoes somewhere along the way.
"When? When do you want to be married?" He asks trailing kisses from toes all the way up to her lips.
"I'd marry you right now if I could."
He sighs at that and continues teasing her underwear down as she unclasps her bra and throws it carelessly on the floor. Funnily enough, that is exactly where her underwear ends up.
"Me too." He returns her gaze and kisses her lips tenderly. They are swollen he knows he should rest them and draw pleasure from other places, if she would only allow him to pull away for just a minute.
"No." She says simply stroking his face. "No." "No" "No." She places feverish kisses on his chin, neck and lips for every objection that are so very heated and filled with longing.
"Stay with me." She whispers against him.
His response comes is slow and languid shapes on her skin.
"Always."
In the end. A year is decided. A year to gather their savings and make the small but, intimate ceremony that they both desire in front of their dearest friends and family. There will be a cake, a dress a minister and all those things in three hundred and sixty five days. But, crucially there will be enough time between now and then for them to figure out what they will say to each other, what they will vow to each other from that day forward.
I hope you enjoyed! I took this title from Train's "Marry Me" hint, hint wedding coming as well as a little something starting with E. Thank you so much for all your reviews. xxxxx