Story: Call Me Vi

Prompt: Rigged/booby trapped and russian doll with presents

Couple: Reagan x Violetta

***

The Christmas season was my favorite time of year for a number of reasons. Here in the mountains of North Carolina, we were more likely to see snow, which would coat the trees and the roads and the roofs in a blanket of pure white. But then more than that, it meant I got to spend time with Violetta in the place we now called home together.

The place we were going to build a life together.

Violetta sat on the window seat in our house, her nose pressed against the glass. "It's really coming down out there, Rea. I guess we won't be able to go to your parents' after all."

"Oh hush." I pointed a spatula at her from the kitchen where I was putting the finishing touches on a new set of cookies we were meant to deliver to my family gathering later today. "If you don't behave then you won't get any of these cookies. And I'm making your favorite."

Vi turned around in her seat, her hazel eyes wide. "You're going to deny me my favorite cookies?"

I shrugged, tossing my hair over my shoulder as a tease. "If you don't behave."

Within seconds, I felt her presence behind me. Her hands circled my waist. "Behave, you say?" Her hands slipped higher, wrapping around my middle. "What happens if I misbehave, hmm?"

Warmth flooded my body and I turned around in her arms as she pinned me to the counter. "It might mean we have to miss going to my parents' until tomorrow."

"I wouldn't be opposed to that." She nuzzled into my neck until I bopped her with the spatula.

"We still have to wait for the cookies to finish baking," I said. "So, what do you say we open one present—"

"YES!"

"—each," I finished, laughing. "But now I don't think that's such a good idea."

Violetta swatted at me. "Don't tease me like that, Rea! Okay, yes, let's open presents." She clapped her hands then grabbed my arm and brought me over to the tree where we'd stashed our gifts to each other. She found a huge box and handed it to me. "Open mine first."

I stared at the package, raising an eyebrow and stifling a laugh. "Vi, what—this is huge!"

"Open! It!" Violetta bounced on her knees like a child on Christmas, which if I didn't know she was twenty-seven years old, I would've thought she was a child.

"Okay, okay, I'm doing it!" I laughed. I ripped off the paper to the largest box I'd ever seen. I threw the lid to the side and pulled out...a wrapped box. "Vi?"

Violetta grinned. "Just trust me on this."

I opened the next box to reveal...another.

...then another...and another...

Until I reached a small black velvet box. By this time, my heart was beating fast and I almost couldn't breathe.

"V-vi, is this...." I gulped. "Is this what I think it is?" I asked.

Violetta giggled, tears glimmering in her eyes. "Open it and find out."

My fingers fumbled with the clasp—barely getting it open but I did—and opened the box to reveal the most beautiful aquamarine ring I'd ever seen in my life. "Oh, Violetta. It's beautiful."

Vi crawled in front of me on her knees and presented the ring to me, with tears splashing her mascara down her cheeks. "I love you so much, my Rea. My best friend, my rockstar. Will you marry—"

"YES!"

"—me?" Violetta finished, laughing as I tackled her to the ground, unable to help myself as I smiled and kissed her over and over again.

"Yes, of course I'll marry you," I said when I was able to catch my breath again. I cleared my throat. "Now I want you to open yours." I handed her a wrapped box, this one much smaller than the one she'd initially handed me but I hoped all the same that she would enjoy it.

Violetta clapped her hands together then swiped at her eyes before unwrapping my gift to her. I watched as her hazel eyes widened in awe as she pulled out a sleek box. "Oh, Rea," she whispered.

The box had taken me weeks to get right, nights spent out away from my now-fiance, slaving over a slab of clay to get the dimensions just right.

Not to mention, I had to procure the item inside the box which was the actual present.

"Open it, Vi," I urged her, biting my lip. My craftsmanship may not have been A+ worthy but I knew how much pottery meant to her.

She undid the golden clasp on the box and popped it open. Written on the inside at the top were the words 'will you marry me' and below on the plush velvet pillow was a ring.

"Oh, Rea," she said, louder this time as she threw her arms around me.

I pulled her closer so our foreheads were touching. "So? Will you?"

"I guess so." Vi giggled and nuzzled into my neck. "Yes, of course. I'll marry you a thousand times over."

I slipped the ring onto her finger and we both stared in awe at our left hands.

"You know if there was ever a better excuse to skip going to your parents..." Violetta trailed off, twirling her hair around a finger. "I think we deserve a celebration in private."

I grinned and scrambled to my feet. "I'll get the leftover cookie dough."