[ closed ]

[bookkeeper]

WHO: Nathan Drake & Elena Fisher
WHERE: Heropa #018
WHEN: Christmas morning!
WHAT: Gifts and things. Big gifts.
WARNINGS:

Was it too early for the smell of bacon to drift upstairs? The scrambled eggs were already lightly salted and peppered and on a plate, hot and fresh. The toast was buttered and diagonally cut. The bed tray was set, a pair of peonies in a vase. Once the bacon was set with the rest, everything was fiddled with for another moment to perfection, and then there was one more small distraction to tend to.

Nathan looked down at the fluffy little white puppy trying to hop up at his calve. "Alright then, c'mere." He bent down to scoop her up, laughing as she excitedly wriggled and kept knocking his jaw with eager licks. "Easy easy. You gotta hold still for one last thing."

Reaching for the red ribbon and the ring box, the box was clipped onto the thick strip and tied at her neck, positioned so the small box sat on her back. She was tiny, the runt of the litter, and she'd been excited to see him when he'd gone in to the shelter. Biggest reason for why Nate had chosen her. "There, all set. You ready? I'm not." He booped her on her small snout. This moment was such a big deal for him, he'd already gone over every single possible scenario where it could go wrong, the rejections, the hesitations. The disappointment that what was in the box wouldn't be good enough. "Let's stick to the schedule. You remember the steps?" She had better, he was already setting her down and getting the breakfast tray.

Taking the lead, each step upstairs was taken one at a time. Nate made sure her tiny legs could keep up, helping her whenever she fell behind, but as soon as they reached the top, the puppy bound off to the open door of the bedroom he and Elena shared and began whimpering as she was trying to unsuccessfully get up onto the bed. Well, that was one way to wake anyone up.

Nate wouldn't know until he stepped inside to set the tray down on the long, low bookshelf placed under the window, glancing at the bed.

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[storyseeker]

Elena hadn't meant to sleep in so late; even on a holiday, she was a morning person if work schedule and lack of jet lag allowed it, and that kind of routine had a way of asserting itself whether or not the alarm was actually set. And it had to be late, right? Nate's tendency to jaunt around the world at a moment's notice had smashed his internal clock into assorted pieces of metal and broken gears, as far as she could tell, but she still tended to wake up before he did, and the cold spot where she normally jammed her toes against him told her he wasn't there.

But speak of the devil, or at least think of him. She was already drifting toward wakefulness, and the soft sound of Nate entering their room and doing...something or other pushed her the rest of the way. She shifted over, propping herself up on an elbow and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Morning. Merry Christmas." She yawned, opened her eyes and blinked. Then leaned over the side of the bed. "Nate, is...is that a puppy?" And wow, she definitely needed her morning coffee; what a silly question. She reached over the edge to pick up the little animal as a grin spread across her face.

[bookkeeper]

“Merry Christmas.” He smiled as she yawned. It left an oddly warm feeling in his chest that he had someone to spend Christmas with, someone who wasn’t an old man and smelling of expensive cigars barking laughter into his coffee. This was the real deal. It was still scary even after all these years, and now knowing that things with her would stick?

Nate moved away from the breakfast tray and stepped a little closer to the bed, smiling wider at how the puppy was excited to wriggle then in Elena’s hold and trying to flail short front legs at her. “I already have a name in mind, but you can have lady’s first choice.” There was no name tag. And Nate would wait to see how long it would take for her to notice that and what was on the puppy’s back.

He went to sit on the edge then.

[storyseeker]

Elena scooted around in place so she could sit up all the way with her legs hanging off the side of the bed. The dog yelped a little at suddenly not having ground underneath its paws, but quickly began wiggling in her arms and licking her face. She could blame the tickles for her delighted laughter, but it probably would have happened anyway.

"I can't believe you got a dog and kept it a secret. Is this my Christmas present, or yours?" She leaned over to plant a kiss on him, the edges of her mouth still curling up. "Wait, where was it last night? Did you keep it in a closet or something?"

[bookkeeper]

"Did I ever tell you about my magic phase?" he spoke against her lips, smirking. That was about all she would find out about that. "Magicians aren't allowed to reveal their secrets."

Nate had to break away then as the puppy tried to twist in Elena's hold to paw at him, laughing.

"No, I didn't keep her in a closet. No one puts Baby in the corner, remember? And she's yours. Ours. I was going to wait till you got her to name her." He tucked some blonde strands behind her ear, letting his thumb brush the apple of her cheek, and moved to stand. "You hungry?"

[storyseeker]

He absolutely did not. Elena raised her eyebrow, curiosity evident on her face even if she wasn't going to give into it at the moment. She'd remember. And then, he would definitely have to tell her the story. Oh yes.

"You know a surprise pet is a big risk, right? She's a big responsibility." She leaned forward to smooch him again, and then the dog. "I love her. And you. And I'm starving."

[bookkeeper]

"Well I mean, she's one of the surprises. And I love you, too." He took that extra smooch before he'd gone to where the breakfast tray was placed earlier. "So!" His hands clapped. "We might have to swap out, I'll take the furball and you can take the tray, sound good?"

His back was kept to her as he was sneaking a sip of the orange juice.

[storyseeker]

"I dunno. Sounds like you're getting the better end of the deal."

Then again, she was hungry, and the food did smell delicious. She shifted in place, ready to hand the dog over when he turned back, only to blink at the sight of something else attached to the dog. A box. A very little box.

"Nate...?"

[bookkeeper]

He snorted. "What? No, hardly. You're getting a belly full of food— homemade, by the way."

Taking another sip of her orange juice, he shifted to look back over his shoulder at the questioning tone. The way she said his name, his chest went tight and his stomach twisted. Had she finally noticed? He let out a slow breath, tried to play it cool.

"...yeah?"

Okay, okay so his voice wasn't the smoothest there, hesitant, unsure, afraid. Crap, maybe now wasn't the best time. Too late now.

[storyseeker]

[Her gaze is practically magnetized and stuck to the box like it's pure iron. It takes a few seconds to look away from the box and back to the box.

The box is small. It looks nice. There's only one or two things she can think of that would fit in it.]

So... [She takes a breath.] You got me something besides the puppy?

[Wow, she sounds like an idiot.]

[bookkeeper]

Did I..?

[ He raises a brow. His question was airily asked, casual. ]

Why would you say that?

[ Turning fully to face her, Nate is leaning back against the bookshelf, orange juice set aside. His heart is beating so hard in his throat. It's a wonder he's as outwardly calm as he is. ]

[storyseeker]

[Wordlessly, she points to the box, then moves to undo it from the puppy—which thinks she's going in for more scritches, so it takes a couple of seconds.

When that's done, after a moment, she hands it to Nate.

If this is what she thinks it is...she'd like to be asked, not assume.]

[bookkeeper]

[ Oh, he knows what she’s pointing at, he doesn’t need to look at it. The fact that it’s there and she knows it is what’s giving him massive anxiety and it’s taking everything in him to not run for the door out of ridiculous fear that she’s going to reject him, laugh at him. That pause where she holds it right before holding it out to him, the orange juice from moments ago nearly burns at the back of his throat. Nate has to swallow, hard, twice.

Now would be the best time for him to crack a joke about how she’s the one proposing to him. The words are stuck in his throat and after a long minute of staring at the small dark blue velvet box, wordlessly he pushes away from the bookshelf. His legs don’t buckle, that’s a plus, but they feel unsteady.

This would’ve gone a lot smoother if she’d just opened it up herself; he would’ve enjoyed it more, watching her expression.

His fingers are noticeably shaking as they wrap around hers and the box. He pulls it out of her hold and drops himself down slowly to both knees right in front of her, a passively submissive gesture, giving himself all to her, baring a degree of vulnerability that she’s practically been the only one to ever see. She knew his darkest secret, not including his crippling fear of clowns, one he would’ve been more than happy to keep buried until the day he died. She knew about Sam.

The lid of the box creaks quietly, the sound loud in the stilled silence of the room, and Nate doesn’t take his eyes off of her. It’s not a question, even if his voice wavers, his throat tight: ]

Marry me.

[storyseeker]

[There's no reason she should be on tenterhooks like this. They've talked about this, the news that they're apparently happily married in the future, and come to the tacit understanding that it's something the two of them living in the here and now might want, too. It's not a surprise.

But it is; she didn't see it coming, and she can scarcely catch her breath now that it has. And it is, isn't it? Nate's going down on his knees and there's no mistaking what that means.

Elena barely sees the ring. She can't take her eyes off his face. He's as nervous as she is, vulnerable and sincere, and it all shows. She never would have expected this from the charming con-man treasure hunter who made connections while revealing so little of himself. But she knows him, she knows who he is; all the good parts and the bad. This is the man she loves.

This is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with.]

Okay.

[She lets out a breathy laugh at that. Okay? Really, Fisher? But then she's reaching out to touch his face and leaning in and this moment is perfect.]

[bookkeeper]

[ 'Okay'. That's as good as a yes as any, and Nate will take it.

The relief he feels when she says that one word is crushing, very much so that his shoulders drop and he feels lightheaded. He had expected to be rejected, had feared it. He should've known she would say yes. He should've trusted her, been confident in the fact that she was ready for this jump with him. His laugh joins hers, trembling, and he feels the tightness squeezing his chest gradually release, his heart still thumping wildly. He loves her, he loves her so much. So much.

Just as he feels her fingers against his cheek he's about to reach up and cup her hand, about to turn his face in against her palm. It's such a weird rush of emotions, a wild rush, that he's caught up in it and his eyes begin to sting.

Right. Right. She's leaning in. He should slide the ring on, make it legit, and he's about to when suddenly there's the puppy who's trying to climb into Elena's lap to get in between them, misstepping. Nate snaps the ring box shut and hastily reaches to grab the furball before she can land on her back on the hard ground. ]

Jesus— Easy.

[storyseeker]

[Elena bursts into laughter—joyous, surprised laughter that bubbles up in her, stronger than is warranted for a puppy mishap. Of which they will probably see plenty. Jesus, that might not have been the best idea, but she wouldn't change any of this for the world.

Elena lets him put the puppy down before she grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him in for a long kiss. Their first engaged kiss. When it ends, her eyes are sparkling with more than just happiness.]

I love you.

[bookkeeper]

[ He manages to brace a hand against the edge of the mattress as she drags him up for the kiss, his free hand sliding into sleep tangled hair and cupping the side of her head. Their first kiss engaged and boy does it feel different. Nate would climb onto the bed with her and turn that kiss into something more but, unfortunately, with such a small addition to their little home, especially one who hasn't quite mastered the stairs yet, it's best to wait. ]

I know.

[ Words murmured low between them, he leans back enough to brush her nose with his. ]

But hey, it's not official yet. The ring is still in the box. You still have time to change your mind.

[storyseeker]

[It's like training for someday when they might have a family of three humans, instead of two humans and a canine--not tha she's in any hurry to make that change. But absolutely this is going to result in them getting interrupted by the needs (or just whims) of a loud, young creature. It's worth it, she thinks.]

Mmhm, I could...but I think I'll stick with my first impulse.

[She snacks in another quick smooch before giving him an impish grin.]

You could still change your mind, too. I mean, you even got the dog, so you wouldn't be leaving me without a Christmas present.

[bookkeeper]

[ Of course she would snack in that extra smooch, look at him, Nathan Drake is quite the snack. What a feast. ]

I could. [ Okay so he'll agree with her. ] But only because I'm not wearing a ring. Yet.

Sooooo... [ Nate looks into her eyes for a moment longer and then drops them down to the box. ] Am I putting this on your finger? Or will I have to take it back to the jeweller with the sob story that I was flat out rejected and you stomped on my feelings?

[storyseeker]

[Yet.

And here she is, already thinking of an altar and a handsome man in a tuxedo, holding one of her hands as she slides a ring onto the other. The venue, guests and other assorted wedding accoutrements are inconsequential.]

Yes. Right now.

[No more waiting, not another minute. She's his, and he's hers, and the life they'll build is theirs.]

[bookkeeper]

Yes I'm putting this ring on your finger? Or yes I'm being rejected and taking the ring back?

[ Not that it matters what she says (he already knows what she'd meant) because he's already opening the box and getting the ring out. His hands aren't as shaky this time as he reaches for her left hand, thumb brushing the naked skin of her ring finger that won't be so naked but decked out in diamonds and white gold. ]

[storyseeker]

[She doesn't have to do anything more than grin and give him a playful nudge as he's opening the box and putting the ring on her hand, a place she doesn't expect to move it from anytime soon.

(Okay, maybe to shower. Just to be safe. Or they can get a drain trap.)

Once it's on, she rests that hand on his cheek before leaning forward to kiss him again.]