Proposal

Emma~

We spent the morning in the bunker so as to get everyone used to it and make notes for its improvement. We can never know if it will be needed again and there’s no reason why we can’t make it more comfortable.

There’s electricity already down here from all of the lighting, and if there was more soundproofing, we could even squeeze in a TV for the kids. I’m not sure how much this will put us out but since arriving no one has bothered to give me a budget. It makes me nervous when considering Orion’s new security system but I can ask him about it over dinner.

This also gives me the opportunity to speak of some of the women I wasn’t familiar with the other day and as Orion’s partner isn’t it my job to know everyone?

Delilah is a dream in the fact that she knows everyone and everyone knows her. For a shy woman, she’s quite popular and it makes doing the rounds far easier than I expected. Most of them are nicer than what I initially thought and even the women who seemed mad at me for being with Orion are okay.

Did they change their minds after what happened here the other night? No, not the other night, last month.

Either way, I’m feeling a lot more confident in myself already and there’s a plan forming in the summer for us to host a ladies’ day in the main house. Again hopefully, Orion doesn’t mind but it doesn’t have to cost the world, it’ll just be nice to get everyone together without the risk of an attack looming overhead.

The whole thing keeps me busy up until Orion joins us around dinner time. I’ve batch cooked some lasagna with the girls and if we really had an army, I’d still have enough to feed the lot of them. It’s not exactly a favorite of mine but it’s mindless work and easy for me to delegate.

The kids seem happier after today as well, less worried, and every time I have a little 1-2-1 with them, I look up to find Orion’s eyes already glued to mine. He keeps giving me flashbacks of earlier this morning and now is certainly not the place to get all hot and heavy.

***

We leave through the front door and as I take my first step towards the path, Orion holds out his hand as if to give me something. My heart flutters for a second, as for some foolish reason I half expect to see a ring, but it’s not.

Instead, an extremely polished penny lands on my palm and I laugh at the reference to his earlier remake.

“Out with it,” he demands lightly while wrapping his fingers around mine.

We start walking and I bite my lip when contemplating the best way to go about it. The conversation has to happen, doesn’t it? It’s just embarrassing to know that it’s coming from me.

“I’ve been thinking...” I start to buy myself more time.

“Yes, I noticed that, hence my blood pressure is sky high already.” He jokes and I prod him in the ribs playfully for the comment.

“I just— you know... this morning.” I stutter and he turns us mid-step.

“Want to try that one again?” He offers and strokes his thumb gently across my cheek.

I don’t understand how he thinks I can say anything after that, and I can feel the redness of my face increase already. Just his touch can now cause a flock of butterflies to take flight in my stomach, something I’d never have expected back when we first met.

“I was wondering, you know, when we’ll actually be getting married... Like you said we would.” I get out through various pauses and substantial mortification.

Orion looks at me quizzically while tilting his head. Neither of us says anything for a second, and then he just outright laughs. Is that supposed to make me feel better, or is this where the catch finally happens?

“I’ll never understand you, Princess. Every time I take it slow for your sake, I seem to be reading it wrong.” He kisses my forehead when done speaking, though his answer doesn’t give me half of what I need.

“So is the engagement still on or not?” I finally question it in simple black-and-white wording.

“If you had waited half an hour, you’d have gotten your answer.” He looks to the sky as if asking fate to give him strength.

“Quit avoiding the question, this is serious… after what we did, there could be… consequences, and I’d like to know where we stand.” My voice trails off, hating how I’m making this sound, and he sighs.

I expect more riddles, or at least something from him, but instead he stops in his tracks and turns to me. Blue eyes lock with mine, and my heart nearly stops as he gets down on one knee.