Laf's POV
Ughhh! I threw my phone on my bed and let my head fall back.

Hercules and I had just started wedding planning today. I still cannot believe that in five months, I'm getting married. We knew that the planning would be this stressful.

"Baby don't wear yourself out." Herc rubbed my back and rested his head on my shoulder.

"I'll try not to."

We had already decided on the colors, baby blue and peach. My 'groomsmaids' were going to wear baby blue dresses while the groomsmen wore a grey suit with a peach tie and undershirt.

Currently, Herc and I were picking a venue. I wanted an outdoor wedding while he wanted an indoor one.

"Baby, if it'll make you less stressed, we can have an outdoor wedding." My eyes lit up and I looked at him.

"Really!" He nodded and I lunged at him tackling him with kisses. "I love you so much mon amour."

"I love you too Laffy." He ran his fingers through my curly hair.

"Herc?" He hummed in response.

"Can I wear a dress?" I looked down, nervous as to what his response would be.

"Of course! You're going to be the most beautiful bride ever!"

"Thanks mon cher!"

"Can I be the big spoon today?" I laughed but nodded. He soon spooned me and I smiled feeling the warmth of his body against mine.

John's POV
Shaking, I stepped out of the jewelers holding a small velvet blue box. I looked at the ring once more before closing and pocketing the box. I got in my car and texted Alex to see where he was.

Dearest💚: Where are you?
Lexi❤: Courtyard by our tree.
Dearest💚: Okay, see you soon.

I slipped my phone into the cup holder and began to drive back to the campus.

When I arrived, I parked my car in the Yorktown building lot and walked to the courtyard. The closer I got, the more visible Alex began to appear. He was laying on a blanket, propped up against our tree reading a book and eating an apple. I approached him and sat down beside him.

"Hey."

"Hey." He set his book down and smiled. He gave me a quick peck on the lips before snuggling into my chest.

"I have something for you Lex."

He looked up and smiled. God I love his smile. I pulled out the box and he gasped covering his mouth with his hands.

"John are you proposing!"

"No. Lexi, it's a promise ring. I promise to be there for you through light and dark, health and sickness, and for all things good and bad. I want to one day marry you and have children but for now, I want to secure our future with this ring. So?"

He hugged me only before pulling away and kissing me. When he pulled away, I slipped the ring on his finger and he slipped the other onto mine. I smiled and we both relaxed for the first time in a while.

"Can we go to the dorm?"

I said nothing but picked him up and put him on my back. I heard him laugh but he put his head in my neck. I smiled and carried him up the stairs to our dorm. I set him down gently on the floor so I could unlock the door.

When I got it open, Alex ran towards the bathroom. I shut the front door and then sprinted to the bathroom. Alex was hunched over the toilet, throwing up. I came behind him and rubbed his back. I saw that his hair was still down so I pulled it up into a bun. He quit puking for moment and layed against me. I kissed the top of his head and placed my hand on his forehead.

"Babygirl! You're burning up!"

"John, I need to lay down."

I picked him up and carried him to my bed. When I sat him down, he immediately wrapped himself in a mass of blankets. My poor baby. I ran back into the bathroom to grab the thermometer under the sink. I checked it and it read 101.7°. I knew the hospital couldn't do anything so I put more blankets over him to help break his fever faster.

"John, can you stay with me?"

How could I say no to him? I climbed in bed beside him and pulled him close.

"Ssh. Close your eyes Lex." He sighed but I heard his breathing become easy. I smiled and soon joined him in a deep slumber.

It was about an hour when Alex woke up again. He got up and once again ran to go throw up. I followed him and rubbed his back. Once he finished he started crying.

"I hate being sick." I rubbed his back more and kissed his head.

"I know baby. I know. Are you ready to go lay down?"

He nodded and walked to the bed. I climbed in beside him and stroked his hair.

"You know, Christmas is coming up soon. My dad invited us to stay with him. Of course we'd have to attend another ball. Would you be willing to go?"

"My dearest, I would love to spend Christmas with your father." He quickly kissed my lips before wiping them with his finger. "I don't want you to get sick."

"I'd get sick if it means being with you." He blushed and buried his face into a pillow. I laughed but sat up. "I'm going to get you medicine. I'll be back. Text me if you need anything."

He nodded and wrapped himself tighter in blankets. God he's adorable. I threw on my jacket and grabbed my keys. I drove to the Walgreens that was about five minutes away, cursing New York for being so damn cold.

When I got to pharmacy, I immediately ran towards the cold syrups. I grabbed tissues and then proceed to get some chocolate, saltine crackers, and ginger ale. I took my basket of various items to the check out line. In front of me was a very familiar poofy-haired Virginian.

"Thomas?" He turned around and smiled.

"Hello John." I quickly looked in his basket and raised an eyebrow at him. It was filled with chocolate, Advil, and soda.

He sighed. "Angelica."

Ah, must be that time of month. We talked for a bit before I had checked out and left. I drove back to the campus and walked into my dorm.

"Lex! I'm back!" I earned no response so I walked into the room to find him asleep. I smiled and pulled a blanket over him before leaving, closing the door behind me. I sat down on the couch and thought about how perfect my boyfriend was.
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Yay! Another chapter. I'm trying to move this book along quick because I have plans for a sequel and a third book so expect those in the future. Also, I saw Hamilton in New York on Tuesday and let me tell you, it was amazing. Thayne Jasperson smiled and waved at me. Au revoir for now my beautiful turtles.❤🐢