No warnings for this one.

Ethan lay in bed, feeling warm and content as the love of his life lay tucked into his side, head laid on his chest. He idly traced shapes into her back as her deep breathing began to lull him to sleep.

"We should get married."

Ethan had thought about how he would respond to a statement or question of this nature a few times during the course of their seven-year relationship. He didn't think that he would respond by choking on his own spit and having a coughing fit.

He also wasn't expecting either of them to mention it in bed post-sex, or that it wouldn't come from him.

Lyra to her credit, sat up to allow him to do so himself, and then rubbed his back until the coughing calmed down.

"Sorry," he choked out, "It was just a bit sudden."

"I know," Lyra said, she was wearing his shirt and she fiddled with the hem between her fingers, "But we've been together for so long, I thought it made sense. I've spent the past few weeks thinking about it because you've been away at the League Conference and I've missed you so much. You still haven't said anything yet, have I asked too-"

"Lyra," Ethan cut off her nervous rambling, slightly alarmed at how quickly her nerves overtook her, having never seen her like this, "My answer is always going to be yes for you."

Lyra stopped talking, looking at him with brown eyes.

"If this is you proposing to me," Ethan said, keenly feeling his thumping heart, "My answer was always going to be yes. I only haven't asked you yet because I thought you wanted to focus on your career with the lab."

"I did," Lyra said, talking one of his hands in her own and kissing his knuckles, "But this year you've spent so much time away, it's been like it was when you were travelling. I've really missed you. All the time apart has made me realise something."

Ethan looked at her and noticed her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Ethan, I just really want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Ethan suddenly became aware of his own eyes filling with tears, he looked at her with a smile, "If you're going to propose to me, are you going to do it properly?"

Lyra blinked at him before realising what he meant, she smiled and she climbed over him to get out of bed and got down on one knee. She used one of her hands to take his own whilst using her other to wipe her eyes.

"Ethan Aubrey Gold, will you marry me?"

Ethan swallowed, trying very hard not to allow his attention to stray to the area next to her inner thigh, where his shirt had been pulled up.

"Yes."

Lyra shot to her feet, she climbed onto the bed to straddle him and pull him into a searing kiss, only breaking apart to wrench his shirt over her head.

"Don't worry," Ethan whispered as he wiped away more tears, "You don't need to buy me a ring."

Lyra couldn't stop the shaky laugh that escaped her as she threw the shirt to parts unknown, she brought her hands to his face and kissed him again.

"I love you," she said when they broke apart, "So, so much."

"I love you too," he replied, his own hands settling on her hips, "More than anything."

It was hard to believe that it had been over a year since that night.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair as he tried to tie his bowtie again, he and Silver had given it a few efforts, but they had yet to figure it out, despite the internet tutorial.

"You two are useless."

Kris shoved into the room, immediately moving to Ethan's throat and beginning to tie his bowtie.

"You look nice," Ethan said with a smirk, although he meant it, his old friend's maid of honour dress suited her.

"You will when I've finally tied this," she replied.

"How is she?"

"Nervous," Kris admitted as she smoothed Ethan's lapel, "Excited and happy, but nervous."

"I feel that. I'm shaking like a crack addict," Ethan held up his hand to demonstrate.

Kris sighed, then regarded him with a smile, "I can't believe you're getting married. Pushing me even further into third-wheel status."

"I've told you before Kris," Ethan smiled back, "You're the entire car."

Kris shook her head and wiped the beginnings of tears away before they could ruin her makeup, "I'm not crying anymore. Lyra and I have spent enough time this morning clinging to each other."

She moved over to Silver and started to tie his bowtie as well, when she finished, she turned back to Ethan.

"Honestly though Ethan," she said, not fighting the tears anymore as she gave him a smile, "I'm so proud of you both. You truly complete each other, I'm so happy for you."

Ethan swallowed thickly, "Thanks Kris."

Kris left to go and help Lyra with her final preparations.

"You good?" Silver asked, his general air of calmness doing wonders in helping Ethan keep calm himself.

"Better than good," Ethan replied, looking up to see Silver giving him a rare, warm smile.

"I'm proud of you too."

Ethan nodded in thanks, "Now, let's do this."

Time seemed to slow as he stood by the altar, which had been set up outside in the grounds of Professor Elm's Lab. The Professor had suggested having the wedding there himself, unable to resist the idea of two of his favourite protégés tying the knot in a place where they had spent a significant portion of their youth and where one was going to spend a significant portion of their future.

He looked up as the back doors of the lab opened, and he saw her.

He saw the one who always stole the covers at night. He saw the one who constantly stole his shirts and hoodies, often leaving him without any when he got up in the morning. He saw the one who made a mean donburi and had taught him how to make a mean ramen. He saw the one who kept him grounded. He saw the one who picked him up when he was down. He saw the one who had been by his side since before he could walk.

He saw his light in the dark.

He knew, in that moment, when he laid his eyes on her. He knew as his nerves suddenly calmed, that this was right.