Deeks. I couldn't stand you, but suddenly I could trust you. You were my best friend, but you weren't. It was a gun story, a box story, a raccoon story, a cactus story, a love story. You weren't my best friend because you were more. And I don't know who I would be without you. I know that you're not going anywhere. I want to give you that same promise because I love you more than I've loved anything else in my entire life.
She traced over the words written on the tissue paper. Her vows. She remembers them word for word, even though it was an entire year ago that she said them. They were so important, held so much weight and meaning.
She took her gift and rolled it up in her personalized tissue paper. Her heart buzzed as she tried to think it through. What was he going to say? What was he going to think? Would he be as thrilled as she is? It made her bubble with excitement.
Married for a year, and she's just as in love with him now as he's always been. That, or she's more in love. She'd almost venture to say its more. In fact, it is.
He comes home from walking Monty, and her wrapped gift sits on the table. He embraces her with a strong kiss. She can feel his smile on the top of her lips. He's so happy, and she loves that.
"Anniversary number one," he says. "What are you wearing?"
"What are you gonna do, wear a matching tie?"
"No!" he calls out defensively.
"You totally will. Lavender. I'm wearing lavender."
"You think I have a lavender tie?"
"Exactly," she smiled. He began to pad off toward their bedroom when she stopped him.
"Come here. I have something for you."
"I thought we were going to do that AFTER dinner?" he said, bouncing another hungry and passionate kiss off of her lips. "Neither of us will be able to move much after…"
"No! Deeks! No. That. After dinner. This, right now."
"Present?" he asked, picking up the little tissue paper bundle and shaking it around. "But I didn't, my present is in the…"
"It can wait."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. Now."
He begins to peel tape off of the thin paper, trying not to rip it. Suddenly, he begins to realize the paper has words on it.
More than I've loved anything else in my entire life.
Those words were ones he'll remember every day for the rest of his life.
"Your vows," he whispered, smiling. He lays the paper out flat, surveying the rip damage. He's so far out there in his thoughts that he doesn't realize what he's holding in his hand. She's watching him and laughing, as he reads her vows again and again.
"I can say those words again anytime. Look at your hand."
He's holding a pregnancy test.
"Kens, why am I staring at a pregnancy test with a pink plus sign drawn on with a Sharpie?"
"Because I assumed you didn't want to touch the one I peed on."
"This is for real?"
She nodded, "Mhhm."
"No way."
"Way."
He presses the test onto the table and opens up his arms. She meets him there, and holds onto her with a crazy strong grip. But it all changes. His forehead is meets her chest and their breathing is in sync. She feels him shudder.
"Oh my, Deeks, are you crying? What's wrong."
"I'm. So. Happy." he says, never moving his forehead off of her. He lets out a breath and an indescribable sound, and kisses up to her jaw and cheek, before pulling her in and cradling her head.
Her head is stuck between his body and his hands, and though its a lovely place to be stuck, she's not done yet. "Don't you wanna hear the story?"
"Story?"
"Yeah. For our anniversary, I was going to give you a pregnancy test. I wasn't going to take one. I was trying to tell you that I was ready to have a baby with you. But I bought a three pack of tests. So I went to wrap the first one and thought, eh, why not? I took one, and well. Positive. I panicked, took the second, still positive. Wrapped the third, and well. Here we are."
"You panicked?"
"I really wasn't expecting it. But like I said, Deeks, I'm ready."
"You're ready." he smiled, pushing a tear away.
"Oh yeah. We're ready," she said, tracing the length of his arm.
"Best anniversary ever," he said.
"To many more," she smiled.