Erin

Time passes sometimes without us noticing. Life is boring and it's not a bad thing to those who have ever experienced true hardships or heartaches. I watched the months pass with a sort of tired contentment. I lived each day nearly the same as the next and the last. I celebrated the lack of excitement because it gave me steady happiness that I didn't know I was wishing for. People loved me, hated me or didn't know I existed... and I was okay with that.

Maybe it was because I finally felt like I was where I belonged. I had a job I liked, a man I love and the support of some amazing people. There was Max, my grandfather, and now a whole bunch of Damien's family who all called, texted and generally made sure that we were alive and well. It was both irritating and endearing in turns, depending on what I was trying to do at the time.

That's why when it finally happened, I wasn't expecting it. I was just cruising through the time and enjoying the peace. The day started off the same as any other day. I woke up, brushed my teeth, went to the bathroom and got ready for work. Breakfast was delivered by an extremely handsome man (wink, wink) and my chauffer was the same wonderful boyfriend who made me feel like a princess.

Never minding that it was my turn to get lunch, he hopped out to the café when he saw the fresh pile of papers that George delivered just before he got there. I smiled sickly at the kindness and dug into the stack of documents to be signed with reluctant diligence. I almost didn't notice when he walked into my office again and set my lunch down on the side of my desk. It was as he leaned in for his kiss that I sighed and leaned back to receive it with relief.

"Hey sweetness, you should stop and eat. You want some company?" He asked after a nice little peck on the lips. I nodded and rolled over to the side to grab my container. It was lighter than I thought it should be and looked at him curiously. He just smiled innocently and pulled up a chair with the rest of the food in a bag near his feet. I pouted at him as I opened the container and saw a salad instead of the pasta I really wanted. I know I told him I was having the pesto bowties today.

"What's going on? I thought I told you what I wanted earlier." I sighed as he grinned at me. He grabbed another container from the pile and slid it over to me.

"Sorry, I must've gotten that one confused. Try this one." It was light as well, but I opened it to see what was inside. There wasn't any food. In the middle of the container was a small blue felt box. Oh my God. My hand started to shake as I reached inside and pulled it off the bottom. The tape stayed stuck to the box as it dropped from my hand.

"What... ?" I couldn't even finish my sentence.

"Open it." He raised his eyebrow at me. I tried to, but my hands were shaking really badly. So he grabbed it and opened it for me. At which point I let out a strange sort of keening sound and slammed it on his finger. He suddenly looked worried. "Don't you like it? I... I can get a different one..."

"NO!" I shrieked, grabbing onto his neck in a death grip and sobbing loudly onto his shoulder, "Don't, I'm not, it's perfect." I managed to get out into his neck. I sniffed loudly and popped the box back open to look at the shiny new ring laying inside on a black pillow. I snapped it shut again and squeezed onto the man who was now laughing at my reaction.

"You know you should probably let go a little so you don't suffocate me before I even get a chance to ask you." He murmured into my ear, making me shiver a little and loosen my hold. I wiped my nose and leaned back to see his beautiful worried face.

"Sorry." I grabbed the tissue he held out and grinned as he pulled me onto his lap. He opened the box once more, took the ring out, and turned his face up to mine.

"Erin, sweetheart, love of my life... will you marry me?" His hesitant bite of his lip as he waited for my answer, as if he didn't know whether or not I'd say yes, held me captivated for a second longer than I normally would've taken to respond.

"Yes, I would love to Damien." I replied and his sigh of relief had me giggling. He put the ring on my left hand and kissed me fiercely.

"Do you know, that was the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done in my life." He whispered in my ear as we hugged.

"Really? Even though you knew I would say yes?" I responded breathily. He huffed a laugh.

"Hoped, love, I hoped you would say yes. Nothing is ever certain until it happens you know." I nodded and strangled him a bit with my tight hug before kissing him far more passionately than I normally would in the office.

"Why here?" I finally asked laughingly as I was finally given my pasta. He smiled sheepishly.

"Because it's where I first met you, and probably where I fell in love with you. I know it might not seem very romantic, but I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to do it more." His answer was perfect. I couldn't take my eyes of him. It was not only official- it was certifiable how I felt about him. My pasta tasted better, my day was brighter, and I couldn't wait to show off my bling to Max. They were going to flip!

Damien

Grams was right. Life was short and if you were going to flaunt new-fandangle values to everyone then you might as well be happy doing it. That old woman was the one to help me pick out the beautiful ring I just presented my new fiancée and I was planning on saying that word to everyone in sight for the foreseeable future. My fiancée. My future wife. The one everyone said would never find someone and settle down. Mr. Picky himself had found a match made in heaven.

I was like a five-year-old boy with candy in his pocket and a new toy. Beyond excited and happy. I nearly dragged Erin over to Peggy to show off her ring. They both giggled like little girls while I looked on in pride. Pretty much everyone in the building probably knew by the end of the day. As if I would hide it, and as if she could with the diamonds gleaming on her finger. I chuckled as I caught her staring at it a few times as we drove home, as we ate dinner, and as we lay in bed ready to sleep.

"Are you sure you like it?" I whispered. She glanced over at me and blushed.

"Yes. I do, in fact I love it." She shifted closer to cuddle.

*

"Do you have your coat? It looks pretty chilly out there." I was dragging on my own and contemplating the umbrella in the corner of the closet just in case.

"Yes dear." She replied as I heard her jangle the keys as she tossed them into her purse.

"Should I bring an umbrella? I was thinking that the weather man might be wrong and that rain will hit us this afternoon." I pointed to the umbrella and Erin laughed as she bent over to pick up the shopping bags with stuff for Pete and Max.

"Yes dear." She said teasingly. I grabbed the black umbrella and rolled my eyes as I pushed her out first and locked the door behind us.

"Do you have everything?" I asked again, as we got in the car. I heard her snicker and I pointed a finger at her over the car, "And don't say 'yes dear'."

"Of course... dear." She laughed out as we both got in and I smacked her arm once we were seated and ready to go.

"Too close. Bad Erin." She giggled at my mock glare. I turned to my phone and texted Pete that we were on our way. Erin pulled out of the drive and made her way to their apartment.

"Did you hear Greg finally asked Liz out?" She mused as I reached over to turn on some tunes. I put Octane on for my sweetheart and left it low enough that we could talk over it.

"No. Good for him. I think he's been crushing on her for months. Last time we had dinner at Liz's place he was following her around like a lost puppy." I smirked and it was echoed on Erin's face.

"Yeah, I think he was just being shy. Liz is over the fence about it." Erin replied. I tried not to laugh at her mix up, since it made her frustrated.

"I thought she might just give up waiting and ask him." I mused

"No, she is a real traditionalist about that for herself. Something about 'no time for wishy washy men who can't ask a damn question' if I remember her rant correctly." Her scrunch face as she copied her friend was so cute, I had to shake my head to keep from leaning over and kissing her while she was driving.

"Well I am glad he did then." I lapsed into silence as we pulled into the underground parking lot. It was a nice building, well secured at the entrance with passcodes and clean considering the fact that it was a parking garage. We pulled into a spot and I locked the doors after Erin grabbed the bag.

"Do you remember what floor they are on?" Erin asked as we stepped into the lift. I pushed the number 3 and she smiled at me. Yep, I'm a good boy. I laughed internally at the thought. I let her leave the elevator first and we walked down the hall to 308, on the right. I knocked.

"Max! Hold him! I can't open the door until you close that one!" We heard the shouts from the other side before a door slammed and a very frazzled looking Pete answered the door.

"Hey bro, trouble in paradise." I grinned and pulled him in for a hug. He shook his head and squeezed before taking the bag from Erin and giving her a squeeze too. We were ushered inside and the door closed before a tumbled Max came down the hall. Their hair was stuck up everywhere and had slobber in it, their clothes were all in disarray and I thought I caught the sight of chew marks on the pant legs.

"Oh thank god you're here." They embraced Erin like a dying person and Erin giggled madly, petting their head to calm them. Then we heard a pitiful howl from the bedroom. We looked at each other and laughed. I rushed a hug to Max and we were taken down the hall to the room with the demon.

"Damien, Erin, we would like you to meet Chief." Pete said as he flung open the door. The cutest Dalmatian sat on the floor with a sad expression that morphed into instant energized, tail-wagging happiness. He moved forward to jump and try to lick Max, butted Erin nearly to toppling over and licked at her knees as she pet him, then moved to me with a leap and an excited yip. Pete grabbed his collar and tried to calm him down, or at least keep him from knocking us over.

"Why don't you take out the toy we brought him so he can have a distraction and the adults can talk." I suggested as we tried to move down the hall to the living room area. Max ran to the front hall and grabbed said toy. In seconds, Chief was happily chewing on said toy as he rolled on the floor. The puppy was absolutely adorable, mostly white still with a few spots coming in.

"I'm surprised you went with a bigger dog." Erin mused. Pete shrugged and Max looked sheepish.

"It's my fault. We went to the breeder to look at terriers, but when I saw him I just fell in love at first sight." Max confessed.

"I already walked him this morning, Max is going to walk him at night. They supposedly calm down a bit as they age." Pete smiled at Max and they smiled back ruefully. We grinned at the clasped hands and lack of space between them. I know Erin was hoping that she would get to be Max's sister. Time would tell with that one, but I had hopes too.

"He is beautiful and adorable. I am so happy for you both." Erin exclaimed. She was cooing at the dog and petting him as he pawed at her ankles. He was loving the attention and I may have been a bit jealous. Just a bit mind you.

"So, why the name Chief? Did he come with it?" I asked.

"No, his name was Chevy but he wouldn't answer to it. I named him after Great Uncle Marcus, the Fire Chief? Because he is a Dalmatian I thought it looked good on him. His full name is Chief Marcus, but we shorten it to Chief. Each time time we said it he looked at us, so we figured it was a good fit." Max said, and then we laughed because Chief heard his name so many times that he came over to give Max another lick.

"You need a bath." Pete grimaced. Max shook their head.

"Ew. No. I need a shower. Otherwise I will marinate in the slobber." They retorted. That just made Erin giggle and lean over into me. I was not complaining. I smiled and enjoyed the moments together.

So were you as excited as I was when you saw the picture at the top??