.+*This is it! The last chapter! Enjoy!*+.

Chapter 19: Yes? No? Maybe so?

Prt. 2

Alfred sat in a lawn chair on the patio thinking of absolutely nothing, which had been his goal. He let the cool heat of October sooth his body as he watched the trees around the backyard lose their leaves. It was calming, relaxing… Alfred sighed as he looked away from the trees and down to his hand. The gold band that still resided on it glimmered in the sunlight and he twirled it around his finger. He did it enough to where it twirled down his finger and off, which quickly caught his attention. He scrambled to get a hold on it again then had a frown tug on his lips as he held it securely.

"—are you saying marriage for us would be okay?"

Alfred felt his stomach knot at the memory of his and Ivan's conversation. He hated how he felt so off about it. He had tried to talk himself through it, around it, and just flat out avoid it, but nothing put him at ease. For the past few months all he felt was anxiety settling in his stomach. He felt like he could enjoy being married to Ivan, could put aside his ring for another… Another part of him felt like it was physically impossible for him to. Another part of him felt bad, just plain bad. He didn't understand it but whenever he looked at Ivan he felt like he had lied to him. It was just a hypothetical conversation but he felt like he had lied. And what made it worse was the seemingly hopeful look Ivan had when they talked about marriage.

"What's wrong with me?" Alfred asked himself as he slipped his ring back on.

Alfred looked to the table beside his chair and picked up his phone. He looked at the time, noting that Ivan would be home any minute with Marla from school, then pulled up his contacts. He scrolled through to find his brother then dialed.

"What's up?" Matthew asked upon answering.

"Nothin' just… can I come over real quick?" Alfred asked, attempting to keep his voice calm.

"Sure… Is something wrong?" Matthew asked.

Alfred let out a sigh then got up from his chair.

"I'll tell ya later, okay?"

"Alright, I'll hold you to that," Matthew said, a serious tone lacing his words.

"Psh, okay. See ya later."

Matthew gave a short goodbye as well before Alfred hung up and went back into the house. He quickly grabbed his wallet and keys before getting into his car and driving to his brother's apartment. When he arrived Gilbert was just leaving, which put a suspicious look on Alfred's face while Matthew blushed. Once Alfred was inside he went right for the kill.

"So, what did Gil do to make you blush so hard Mattie?" Alfred questioned in a gushy voice that had Matthew's blush grow darker.

"You know he's just a clown," Matthew started. "He takes jokes too far," he continued as he rubbed a spot on his neck.

"Well, true, he is the clown of the group, but I think there's—"

"There's isn't anything, Al. He's still a friend, besides—aren't you here to talk about your problem?" Matthew cut in, his face as bright as a cherry.

"Fine, fine," Alfred said with a smile, though it faded a bit as he figured out what to say. "I've been… Well, Ivan…" Alfred cleared his throat and chanced a glance up at his twin. Matthew sat patiently beside him on the couch. "Ivan wants to get married."

"What?" Matthew asked, his voice getting high like a teenager.

"Y-Yeah… Well, I mean… We had a hypothetical conversation about it a while back and I just can't stop thinking about it."

"What?" Matthew asked again his surprise a little more reined in than before. Alfred rubbed the back of his neck then stared down at his feet.

"I just... I feel bad about this. Even if it was a "What if" kinda thing I'm still… worried. I don't know if I could say yes to him or no. And right now I know I can't look Ivan in the face much because I feel like I lied to him."

"But you didn't lie, it was just a "What if"," Matthew said as he stared at his brother.

"I know, but he looks so… hopeful… And a part of me wants to marry him, but…" Alfred trailed off unsure of how to put his conflicting feelings into words.

Matthew eyed his brother then moved a hand to touch Alfred's, rubbing a finger over the gold band still on his brother's hand.

"Al, I can't really help you with this, but just think about this… If you love Ivan enough to date him for four years then I think you can marry him. I know you're afraid because of how you feel for Monika." Matthew pressed his finger down on the ring and Alfred stared at it. "You've moved on though, I know you have, and marrying Ivan won't make you lose what's left of her."

"But... I can't even process what marrying Ivan would be like. With Monika, I could see our future. I felt comfortable. I wanted it. With Ivan… I just feel so confused. I want to be with him, but I just feel so terrified of making that leap..." Alfred said slowly.

Matthew moved his hand up to Alfred's face and pulled it up to look him in the eyes.

"You won't lose Ivan by marrying him. You won't lose Monika's memory by marrying him. Ivan's in good health and happy to be with you. Plus you are the man he's been in love with for years. He wouldn't leave you and I know you wouldn't leave him. And I'm sure Marla will be happy to have you both as parents."

Alfred felt tears sting his eyes as he looked at his brother then leaned forward to hug Matthew tightly.

"I love him Mattie, but I don't want this to end badly."

"It's just paranoia. And about not seeing a future with him…" Matthew pulled Alfred back to see his face. "Have another "What if" conversation. See what he thinks a future with you would be like."

Alfred nodded his head meekly as he thought it through.

"Okay."

:/:/:/:/:/:

When Alfred got back home Marla was in the middle of a nap and Ivan was drawing beside her.

"Welcome back," Ivan said without turning around as he designed a roof for a new home.

Alfred didn't say anything in response, which got Ivan's attention and the man turned around. Ivan's violet eyes quickly widened to a worried gaze as he saw how red Alfred's eyes where.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he got up from the floor and walked around the couch.

"Yeah, I'm fine now," Alfred said as he smiled softly at Ivan.

Ivan gave a skeptical look and Alfred swallowed thickly and averted his eyes.

"Alfred, you can talk to me."

Alfred bit his bottom lip as he tried to think of what to say. He had been rehearsing his lines in the car, but now it seemed like his practice was for nothing. Alfred lifted his eyes to look at Ivan, then dart over to Marla, who still slept. Ivan caught onto this.

"Let's talk somewhere else."

Alfred didn't fight him and followed Ivan upstairs and to their bedroom.

"Okay, now can you tell me what's going on?" Ivan asked once he closed the door.

"Just… you know how we were talkin' about marriage?" Alfred started and Ivan nodded his head. "Well… what do you think about it? Hypothetically?"

Ivan blinked slowly at the question as he processed Alfred's words.

"I think it would be nice. Waking up every day knowing that we're together almost permanently. Looking at your hand and my own to find matching rings. Raising Marla together and caring for Sputnik," Ivan said as he looked at Alfred critically.

Alfred sighed at hearing that then scratched his hand.

"So, hypothetically, if we got married…. You can see us being happy together? Being Mr. and Mr. Braginsky or Jones or whatever?"

Ivan nodded slowly. "Yes… Do you?"

Alfred bit his lip as he thought about it. He tried to see it like Ivan did, to see himself happy with a husband and Marla. Having Ivan at his side for the rest of his life, knowing he was his. Kissing, hugging, going on family trips, date nights, just doing what they've always done, but perhaps… later on… adopting a kid or any other pet… Alfred felt his stomach knot, but not in the anxious way as before.

"I—I do…" Alfred said realizing for the first time that he actually could see them together.

"So, hypothetically, would you marry me?" Ivan said, trying to ease an answer out of him without pushing too hard.

"I… I don't know… maybe…" he said slowly and moved to sit down on the bed. "I realize now that I can be happy with you. I mean, in a hypothetical marriage, but… I'm still afraid of moving on from this," he admitted, his voice dropping to a whisper as he toyed with the ring on his finger.

"Fredya… Monika will always be with you no matter the changes that happen," Ivan said reassuringly as he sat down beside him.

"But I don't want to forget her…" Alfred's soft voice trailing off as he stared at the ring.

"I don't think it's possible to," Ivan said as he moved closer to Alfred.

"How?" Alfred asked looking up, a desperate look gracing his features.

"You have Marla," he answered with a smile. "After all, she is her mother's daughter. Plus, Monika was the one that got us back together."

Alfred smiled at hearing that and nodded his head as he agreed with Ivan. He then let out sigh and laid back on the bed with a soft thump. Ivan followed his lead and laid down beside him, then turned on his side to look at Alfred's contemplative face.

"Do you feel any better?" he asked hopeful.

"Yeah, I guess," Alfred replied, "but there's just one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"Do you like me? Like, really like me?"

Ivan had a grin crack his face as he tried to suppress a laugh. Alfred just pouted at him, but Ivan kept it together and nodded his head.

"Yeah, I like-like you."

Alfred smiled back and rolled onto his side then onto Ivan, pushing the man onto his back fully. He laid on top of him and placed a kiss on his lips. The two shared loving kisses that steadily grew needier as Alfred relaxed into the embrace. He never thought he'd feel certain about what he wanted to do and how he felt about marriage, but he did. He could only hope that someday he would have the courage to propose—or say yes—when the time came. Ivan felt the same on that matter, but he had an inkling that he would propose very soon.

He didn't realize how soon until he took notice of something different about Alfred a few weeks later. All day he felt like something had changed and it wasn't until nightfall that he realized what it was. Alfred's old wedding ring was gone, and the first thing Ivan could think was 'This is my chance.'

Although Ivan felt the urge to dig out the ring and propose right then and there, he waited. He wanted to see if the ring would appear, if Alfred had just lost it for the day and then found it. However, after three days had passed and Alfred seemed to be content without the ring Ivan knew that it was finally time. This fact made his stomach knot and his heart flutter. He was finally going to propose, Alfred would finally be his completely, but how to go about it… He wasn't sure.

Going on a date night seemed too cheesy, plus he didn't want Alfred to feel pressured by having an audience. Proposing at the park would also be cheesy. Doing it at home could work, but the timing would have to be right and Marla would have to be elsewhere so not to ruin the moment. Ivan needed a way to prose that wouldn't freak Alfred out, and be subtle but not half assed.

"What's got you thinking so hard?" a sudden voice asked. "New blueprints?"

Ivan looked up from his laptop to see Alfred coming into their bedroom. The blonde started to strip off his clothing as Ivan gave his answer.

"Something like that. Is Marla already asleep?"

Alfred nodded his head as he stepped out of his pants.

"Yup, went out like a light before I even finished the story," he said with a yawn. Ivan gave a hum to this, and gave no further comment.

Alfred flopped down on their bed, turned on his side to face Ivan, and patted the pillow as he said, "Stop working and sleep with me."

"Oh, it has been awhile since we did that," Ivan said with a grin and Alfred rolled his eyes.

"You know what I meant," Alfred said with an exaggerated eye roll. "Besides I'm not even in the mood."

Ivan chuckled at hearing this and closed his laptop after saving his work. He turned off his bedside lamp, leaving Alfred's to be the other source of light. He then got under the sheets and wrapped his arms around Alfred.

"So, if I got you into the mood you'd want it?" Ivan asked as he started to kiss Alfred's neck.

"Sure big guy," Alfred said with a yawn. "Though I think Imma fall asleep before we get too far."

"I take it that work was exhausting."

Alfred gave snort to that and nodded his head. Ivan smiled and kissed Alfred's tired face, though it was cut short as Alfred groped Ivan's crotch. Alfred had a mischievous grin come to his face and Ivan furrowed his brow then gasped softly as Alfred squeezed him.

"I thought you were too tired," Ivan said through a growl as Alfred teased him.

"I am, but I still wanna mess with ya," Alfred defended, however his touch was short lived and he curled up against Ivan. The blonde was soon passed out in a matter of seconds and Ivan just sighed and shook his head. He ran a hand over Alfred's cheek, feeling its softness, then trailed it down further. He found himself going for Alfred's hand and lifted it up to his face to see the missing ring. He rubbed his thumb over it, but the moment he did so he had an idea, an idea to propose. A wide smile came to Ivan's face as he thought of his plan and had half a mind to go ahead with it at that very moment, but decided against it. Instead he calmed himself down, turned off Alfred's light, and tried to fall asleep to keep himself distracted.

He barely slept that night, and by 6:45am Ivan was up and ready to go. The man wiggled free of Alfred's grasp and eagerly got to the ring box stashed in his dresser. He took the ring out as he got to Alfred's side of the bed and gently took his hand. He slipped the ring into place then laid back down on the bed. At 7:15am Alfred's alarm went off and Ivan feigned sleep as Alfred started to wake.

Alfred yawned loudly as he reached out to turn off his alarm, then settled back down. He rubbed at his eyes with the intention of getting up, but froze when he felt something cool and metallic rub against his eyelid. He slowly opened his eyes to see what it was. He held his hand close to his face to see the object and stared owlishly at what he saw. A gold ring with blue and white gems embedded into it was on his once bare finger and he half wondered if he robbed a jewelry store in his sleep. Alfred inspected the ring then looked over to his side as he felt Ivan shift beside him. Alfred watched Ivan reach over him then presented the glasses that he had grabbed. Alfred slowly took them and put them on and felt his face start to heat up as he looked at Ivan. The man looked at him like he was the most important thing in the world, and the bashful smile plastered onto his face didn't make things any better.

"I-Ivan…?"

Ivan licked his lips after hearing his name and moved his hand to hold Alfred's. Ivan admired the way his ring looked on Alfred's hand then up to the wide-eyed, bed-headed mess that was Alfred.

"I know that things have been rough for you, and I hope this isn't too badly timed, but I love you so much that I can't wait any longer to ask," Ivan said with a pink flush staining his face. "Alfred Francine Kirkland-Bonnefoy-Jones," Alfred felt his face catch fire at hearing his full name, but Ivan just smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "Will you marry me?"

Alfred stared at Ivan blankly, his mind going blank at the question he knew was coming. He knew what he wanted to say, he honestly did, but for some reason he couldn't put the words together. He just stared at Ivan, watching the man stare back looking anxious and then worried as he reached to touch his face. Ivan rubbed his thumb under his eyes and that's when Alfred realized he had started crying.

"Alfred…. You don't have to saying anything," Ivan said solemnly, a weak smile on his face. "I'm sorry, I—"

"No," Alfred finally said, finding his voice again and sat up. "Don't you apologize for this," he said sternly and Ivan looked at him surprised. "I just woke up and then you blindside me with, with—this!" Alfred shook the hand that held the ring for emphasis. "Of course I wouldn't be able to say anything right away you idiot!"

"S-So…. Will you marry me?" Ivan asked cautiously as he slowly sat up in bed.

Alfred swallowed a lump in throat as he heard the question again. He took a shaky breath then placed both his hands in Ivan's and had a goofy smile come to his face as more tears seemed to spill down his cheeks.

"Yes."

The instant the word left his mouth Ivan lunged for Alfred, knocking him back onto the bed in a tight hug. Alfred struggled to move or breath, but it didn't much matter as Ivan stole his breath by kissing him any and everywhere he could. Alfred giggled from the kisses and attempted to kiss Ivan back as eagerly as Ivan kissed him.

"I love you so much, Fredya," Ivan said fondly as he buried his face in the crook of Alfred's neck.

"I love you too, Vanya," Alfred replied feeling confident in his words and overwhelming content knowing it was true.

Alfred raised his hand from where it lay on Ivan's back to admire the ring. He twirled the ring around his finger, but it was cut short as another hand took hold of it. Alfred watched Ivan's hand bring his hand down to his chest and then slip off the ring.

"There's something else that I want to show you," Ivan said fondly as he held up the ring to Alfred's face.

Alfred looked at the inside of the ring confused, then gasped as he noticed what was inside. In smooth calligraphy was a phrase that he had gotten used to being called.

"Moye solnyshko…" Alfred said in a soft voice.

"Yes, 'my sunshine'," Ivan translated, then slipped the ring back on.

Alfred cracked a smile as he felt his heart ready to burst in his chest.

"You're such a sap," he said.

"Says the one that asked if I 'like-liked' you," Ivan replied, grinning ear to ear.

Alfred couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of him then. He didn't feel anything other than happiness; there was no room for worry or fear, not even a little hesitation. He was no longer even afraid of the possibility of losing Monika. He was just happy—happy that he had Ivan, happy that he had someone to love again. And this time, he knew that it would last.

****Well I'd like to say thank you all for putting up with the irreglaur updates and my bad spelling (which i'm going back and fixing as we speak as well as changing a few minor things with in the story)! Thank You all for the reviews and now I shall get back to Strength! I feel better about my writing and ready to tackle that mess xp

ALSO With You and Strength will reaming as the only two fics on this site. For any new shit from me you gotta go to AO3 u.u