Sunset Proposal

"Elice," he whispered again, slowly leaning back to look into her eyes.

Carefully, he slid his hands from her face, and fell to one knee.

Heart racing, he took her hand in his and lingered there before her, dazed by the silent tenderness of the moment.

She stared down at him, her eyes wide in wordless shock.

His hand trembled as he reached into his pocket, fumbling for a moment before he finally found what he was looking for.

A quiet breeze grazed the rooftop, setting a chill against his warm skin. It danced in her hair, and made the hem of her skirt ripple, like the robes of an angel.

Beneath the gentle glow of twilight, she had never looked more stunning, more precious, more perfect than she did now.

"Elice." His voice caught as he played nervously with the tiny, silver ring in his fingers. "Maybe this is a stupid time to ask, but I'm sure you're used to that from me by now. All I know is that I've been waiting to ask you this for months and now that I finally have the chance… I don't want to lose it."

He swallowed, trying to loosen his voice from his dry throat.

"I also know I'm never going to be more ready to ask this than I am right now. I'm never going to know any more than I know right now… something that I should have known all along."

His throat bobbed, and a tiny squeeze from her fingers sent a shiver of lightning through his entire body.

"I have known all along," he rasped, fighting to hold back tears. "Since the moment I met you… since the moment you gave me that silly little button that made me believe that life could be okay again." He broke with a laugh that turned into a quiet sob. "You healed me that day… and you've never stopped healing me. No matter how hopeless it looked… no matter how stupid and thick-headed I've been, you've never given up on me. Even when you should have…."

"Roy…." Her eyes crinkled with tears and she stifled a trembling cry.

"I've made a lot of mistakes," he admitted with a pained shake of his head. "But I made the smartest decision in my life when I was nine years old, and I'm not about to give up on it now."

He smiled, though his lip quivered, and the tears began to flow. "You know what I decided that day?"

Her lips moved, but nothing came out. Finally, she simply shook her head, watching him so intently she barely blinked.

"I decided that, even though I was scared, and lost, and felt all alone in the world… that if I stayed by you… somehow, everything would be okay." He stroked his thumb along the side of her hand. "I've already lost you once… and I can tell you, Elice, I was lost without you. Completely and helplessly lost. But I'm never going to lose you again. For as long as you want me… I'm yours. If you'll have me."

"Roy." She managed his name, but nothing more as he lifted the ring between his shaking fingers, and extended it to her.

"Elice." He steadied his voice, as much as he could. "Will you marry me?"

She sobbed weakly, though a smile showed through her tears.

"Yes," she whispered, reaching down to him as he slipped the ring over her finger.

A smile broke over his tear-streaked face, and he let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Yes?"

"Yes." She nodded, reaching down to him. "Yes, yes!"



-Among the Ashes chapter 88


Teeehee! Ever since I first read this, I knew I wanted to draw it.....originally it was going to be a birthday present for but that was in October and now it's December So......Merry Birthday Chrissy!


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Elroy