Christmas Day

Lily leaned against the door as James unlocked their apartment.

"Your mother really is very sweet," she said.

James smiled at her. "You only think that because she loves you. Trust me, she's got her fair share of teeth."

"Mmmhhmmm . . ." Lily said, pushing off the wall to walk into their front room. "Should I tell her you said that?" she teased.

"Absolutely not," James returned, shaking his head and backing her toward the Christmas tree. "Not if you want to ever see me again, anyway."

Lily laughed. "Well, at least I know how to get rid of you if the need should ever arise."

"Which it won't," he said, kissing her lightly.

"No?" she asked in her best innocent voice. "You're awfully sure of yourself."

"Very," he admitted with a nod. "See, I figure I have to be pretty fantastic."

"Oh?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "What in the world makes you think that?"

"Well," he whispered. "I don't know if you know, but I have this beautiful girlfriend. I mean stunning. And she's not just looks. She's brilliant, smart, funny, sweet. Really perfect in every way. And I don't figure you get a girl like that if you don't have anything to offer in return."

Lily scrunched up her nose. "Maybe she just feels sorry for you, because you're so obviously delusional."

James laughed. "No, no. Rose isn't like that at all." He caught her hand when she hit him. "Lily. I'm sorry. I meant Lily. Anyone could make that mistake."

"Well anyone who doesn't want to sleep on the sofa tonight had better not," Lily threatened.

"You're right," he said. "I'd better find a way to make it up to you."

"Mmmhhmmm . . ." she shook her head. "And you've already exhausted your store of presents," she said. "You might be out of luck."

James grinned. "Well, as it happens," he said, "I do have one more."

Lily eyed him suspiciously. "Do you?" she asked.

"Yup," he responded cheerfully, pulling a little gift box off their Christmas tree.

"Darling, I don't think ornaments count as presents," Lily said. "Lucky for you I love you anyway," she added, leaning in to kiss him. "And I'm very forgiving."

"Oh, well," he said. "In that case, I'll have to find someone else to give this to," he said. "And it already had your name on the card and everything."

She might have discounted his claims, but she happened to see that her name really was scrawled across a tiny little card. She immediately snatched it from his hands and opened it.

Because I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

She smiled, knowing he would tease her for tearing up over something so small. She leaned her forehead against his and brushed noses with him. "Me too," she said.

"I'm glad," he whispered, and she was surprised to realize his voice sounded hoarse. "But you haven't even opened your present yet," he added quietly.

She glanced down at the box he handed her. "Really?" she asked.

He nodded, but didn't speak. When she took the box, she noticed his hands were sweating. Carefully, she unwrapped the outside to find that it contained a little jewelry box. When she looked up to thank him, her breath caught.

"James," she said, when she saw him on one knee.

Gently, he took the box from her hands and pulled out the ring. "Will you marry me?" he asked, offering it to her.

She tried to speak, but couldn't make her voice work. Nodding, and giving in to tears, she slipped down to her knees and allowed him to slide the ring onto her finger.

I almost never got around to this point, because I couldn't decide how I wanted him to propose. It was a choice between this and one other option, which I may have to someday make use of. At any rate, I hope you enjoyed. I think this is actually the end of the story. I know I've said that before, and it's not out of the question that I will one day have some sort of divine inspiration for a later scene, but I don't have any ideas left in my head on this one and I'm at too good a stopping point to force myself to come up with any.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing. And – as always – I'd love any feedback you might have.