I WOULDN'T MIND

twenty-one. paris

▬▬ "WOW." Cori moved her sunglasses into her hair, squinting her eyes as Emmett wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back into his chest.

"Is it everything you wanted it to be?" He hummed, leaning down to rest his chin on her shoulder.

"And more." She nodded, her eyes taking in the view from the very top of Mount Everest. The sky was the purest shade of blue, the snow glittering in the sun - only outshone by the two vampires that sparkled like disco balls in the unrelenting sunlight. And the wisps of clouds that hung around the peaks of nearby mountains. She was glad they had taken pictures before they broke through the cloud bank, because she wanted to send them to Charlie. "Thank you." She turned in his arms, stretching up onto her toes as she locked her hands behind his neck. "It's perfect."

"And it's only the beginning." He smirked, leaning down to press his lips to hers, tugging her body closer to his before lifting her off her feet. Then in a quick move, he had pinned to the snow covered mountain, her hands locked under his above her head as he peppered her cheeks and down her neck with kisses.

>>>>> • <<<<<

▬▬ EMMETT COULDN'T STOP his smile from as Cori drug him through the streets of Paris, a burgundy beret sitting perfectly on her head and her dark curls swaying down her back, the ends just barely reaching the small of her back. She looked absolutely adorable in her pleated skirt and sweater, her Doc Martens still on her feet and that near permanent smile that had been on her lips for nearly a year as they traveled around the world, seeing everything from the seven wonders to Dinosaur world in Kentucky.

The streets were busy and only got more crowded with couples and other people taking pictures, eating food, talking, and laughing as they neared the Eiffel Tower. A guy played the most beautiful song on the violin, smiling wide as passersby dropped change into the opened case at his feet.

"Woah." Cori breathed out, her head tipped back to take in the sheer beauty that was the Eiffel Tower. She had seen it from the window of their hotel, which Emmett made sure of when he booked it, but seeing it up close was different. It was breathtaking and, just as she had been with nearly every other place they had seen, she was in awe.

Emmett wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back into his chest as he kissed her temple. "Dance with me?"

"What?" She turned in his arms, her eyebrows slightly pinched.

He chuckled, tugging her closer to him. "We're in Paris, under the Eiffel Tower, that dude is playing what sounds like the most romantic song on earth and you look so fucking adorable... and I want to dance with you."

"Okay." She hummed, reaching up to press a kiss to his lips as they swayed a little with the violin. "But I didn't need convincing, I was just distracted and wasn't sure I heard you right."

He laughed, dropping his hands to her waist as her hands locked behind his neck, moving in time with the music as they leaned against each other with their eyes closed. Neither cared that the people who passed by watched them, most gushing about how cute they were, though there did seem to be a few people who just thought they were weird.

"Cori," He whispered and she hummed, not pulling away from him as his hand trailed up her spine, stopping at the base of her neck as he toyed lightly with her hair. "I have another question, and I need your full attention."

"Okay." She pulled back, looking up at him with a soft smile on her lips and her eyes bright. He smiled, leaning down to capture her lips in a soft kiss, she giggled as she pushed him back a little. "That's not a question."

"Couldn't help myself." He shrugged as he stood up straighter, a smile tugging at his lips as he sank to knee, his hand buried in his pocket.

"Emmett-"

"Words aren't enough. Nothing I could ever say would truly encompass how I feel about you or what you mean to me. No string of words that I could put together seems strong enough. Besides, I've always been better with actions." He pulled a small, blue velvet box from his pocket, but her eyes stayed glued to his as she covered her mouth to keep in the elated cry that wanted to leave her lips. "So, Shortcake..." He flicked the box open.

"Yes." She breathed out, wrapping her arms around him as she pressed her lips to his. "A million yeses. An eternity of yeses." He grinned against her lips, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into him, still on his knee as the people around them clapped, a few letting out whistles. He pushed himself up, keeping her with him and she wrapped her legs around his waist, keeping her arms tight around him.

"I haven't even asked yet." He mumbled as he lightly nudged her nose with his, holding the box in his hand behind her back. "And you haven't even looked at the ring."

"You got down on one knee, in Paris, with a tiny little ring box. If that's not a proposal, as cliche as it may be, I don't know what is."

"Cliche?" His brows creased, his nose scrunched just a little.

"Oh, absolutely, but it's perfect. So perfect."

"Still haven't looked at the ring."

"I don't care about the ring, I just want you."

He smiled, pressing his lips against hers. "I wish I knew that $35,000 ago."

"Emmett!" Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head and he laughed, neither caring that people were still watching them. "That's too much! Especially for a ring!"

"Oh, baby, you're worth every penny." He mumbled, kissing her nose. "Can I show you now?" He raised an eyebrow at her and she nodded, though she thought that was too much for a ring, she was excited to see it. He shifted his arms a little, unwilling to put her back on her feet, as he moved his hand with the opened ring box between them. "So, I lied, it didn't actually cost me anything. It was my mom's engagement ring."

It was a small silver band with a small oval shaped sapphire in the middle and two thin pieces of silver that twined over it delicately, holding it to the band. It was simple, dainty, and unbelievably beautiful... just like Cori.

"Emmett."

He smirked a little, eyes moving from the blue stone and meeting Cori's eyes. "She gave it to me when I turned twenty, said I should start getting serious and think about settling down. I thought she was crazy." Cori chuckled, the sound thick with unshed tears. "And it only took about 70 years, but she would've liked you. So much."

"Really?" She mumbled, her voice quiet. "Are you sure?"

"So sure," He nodded and she connected their lips again. "Can I put it on you?" He merely whispered against her mouth and she quickly nodded as she dropped to her feet, holding her left hand out for him and he easily slipped it around her ring finger before bringing her hand up and kissing her knuckles. "Do you like it?"

"I love it." She nodded, admiring the way it twinkled in the street lights. "It's perfect."

"Yeah, that's what Lola said when I showed it to her." He hummed, his large hands on her waist as he tugged her closer to him. "And Charlie."

"You showed my dad?" She chuckled lightly, a soft happy sob behind her words as she met his gaze once again.

"Had to get his blessing." He shrugged, pulling her closer to him.

She playfully rolled her eyes. "Old people."

"Shut up and kiss me." He chuckled and she giggled as she pushed up onto her toes, pressing her lips against his again just as the Eiffel Tower lit up, shining brightly against the midnight blue sky but the couple didn't care. They were lost in their own little world.