Chapter Text
EPILOGUE
Soap closed the trunk door and gathered the food he had brought, some cake, and sides for the barbecue they were having. Just a normal weekend at the family house. Whenever they had the time, all of them would go back to Scotland, to the old house that Jenny still lived in, and throw together something to eat. It had become routine, and even if someone missed because of work, mainly the 141, they would make it all again the other weekend.
It had been two years since the marriage, and John could say life was much better than it was before, he certainly felt like he wasn’t just hurting and hiding all the time.
He threw open the door and was soon jumped by his nephew, as the toddler ran like a cute little penguin yelling for Uncle Soap, John could only smile and pick the child up, bouncing it and kissing his cute little round cheeks.
“Jenny! What are you feeding him with? He’s heavier than the dog!”
“Are you comparing my kid to a dog!?”
“He certainly makes just as much of a mess!”
She hit him under the head but laughed as she grabbed the things from his arms before the child could knock it all over the floor, John wasn’t wrong about that one. Little Jake started to talk like a machine gun and Soap just fueled it, and soon the child was dragging him to show him his new toys.
“I see I’ve been robbed of my best friend, who should I complain to?”
“Si! Look! He’s got a new car!” Soap gushed about the car the child was showing excitedly.
“Try having that thing thrown at you for no reason and it stops being fun.”
“You’re just jealous because I’m the favorite uncle.”
Ghost scowled at him, but he couldn’t disagree, Soap was the favorite. That child listened to him more than all of them put together.
“Come, we’re setting the table, Price and Gaz have just arrived.”
“Are they ok? Jonathan said they just landed back on base a few hours ago.”
“They're fine, just a few bumps here and there.”
“Bumps? Oh for fucks sake!”
John handed Ghost the kid and marched into the living room, and sure enough Price held a big bandage wrapped around his arm and shoulder. He swore the man was gonna give him a heart attack one of these days.
“I leave for one week and you get hurt?”
Price turned and smirked as Gaz hugged him briefly before taking the beer they brought into the backyard.
“How’s the ankle?”
“Fine, thank you! What the hell happened? Shot?”
“No, knifed. Nothing major though, just a superficial cut, the bandage makes it look a lot bigger. I’m fine.”
Soap seemed skeptical but nodded him to follow into the kitchen. The rest of the family was gathered outside, Simon started to get the grill ready by the sound of it, as the man and his wife bickered about how to do it properly. John pulled the older man away from the door and into a more secluded corner, as he swung his hands around the man's shoulders in a careful hug.
It had been a couple of weeks of deployment in which Soap had stayed behind due to fucking his ankle, nothing bad, but Price had made him get some leave for that. They hugged tightly and Soap kissed the man tenderly. They pulled apart and Soap prodded at the bandage.
“Glad you’re home.”
“So am I. How’s the ankle really?”
“It’s truly fine, the Doc released me. Laura had been pestering me about keeping off of it enough for the thing to actually heal. I’m never letting her take care of me ever again, she’s gotten worse now.”
“It’s the hormones.”
“I don’t care what it is, she’s walking around like a fucking penguin but wouldn’t let me get water by myself and would just cry when I tried. I really don’t know how Simon is putting up with her.”
Soap shook his head and they peeked outside when, as if on cue, Laura started bawling her eyes at Simon for actually lighting the fire on the grill. She was a mess these days, her belly round and so big Soap thought she would burst like a bubble. Compared to Jenny, who had a small bump, Laura was so round it seemed impossible. They would have their work cut out for them, especially with twins coming.
Soap smiled at them as Simon just hugged her and whispered to her to try and calm her down. Soon she was giving him some watered laugh and he leaned down to kiss her and the bump. It was so sweet John couldn’t help but smile at the tender display.
Price though, kept his eyes on John, really taking him in.
“You alright?”
“Umm? Oh… yeah, I am. It’s just.. so much has happened since the wedding. Sometimes I feel like it’s been so much more than just a couple of years, sometimes it seems it was just yesterday. So many changes and yet, nothing really did. It feels so good, you know? Being this happy, this peaceful. I don’t think I’ve ever felt just this happy. It’s really good to love someone that actually loves me back.”
And it was. Price made him feel so special. The man was never gonna be the romantic type, or the kind of man to pull big dinners or soft words of love, but there wasn’t a single day that Soap didn’t feel loved. Price was an unwavering force, always standing so strong, making Soap feel safe in ways no weapons ever could.
“It feels like we actually built this together.” Soap kept saying as he watched the others outside, talking and playing with his nephew. “Like it’s not just some love out of nowhere... I'm just talking bullshit now, sorry.”
He turned back to Price just to see the man staring at him so deeply he felt his cheeks getting warm.
“wha..”
“Marry me.”
Soap’s eyes grew in size bit by bit, as the phrase sank in. His mouth opened but he just stared at Jonathan in shock.
“What?”
Price pulled a little box from his pocket and opened it. turning it so Soap could see the matching rings inside, silver thin bands, quite discreet.
“I’ve been carrying this thing for a few months now, never knew the best time to actually ask”
“You’re… just proposed..”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “Hearing you say you love me…”
“Oh, Jonathan… I do love you. So much... I’m sorry if I didn’t make it clear. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. You saved me more times than I can count, in and out of the field. You were always there for me, even when I was so fucking lost and mourning for something impossible.”
Price just smiled and pulled him into a deep kiss. It was true, none of them were very open about feelings, and none of them had the habit of saying love-affirming words, but they loved deeply and cared for each other.
“Yes,” John whispered against Price’s lips, smiling together.
“What the fuck!?”
They pulled apart when Gaz and Laura entered the kitchen, forgetting completely where they were. It took a total of two seconds for his sister’s eyes to zero in on the box containing the ring on Price’s hand.
“Are those engagement bands?”
Soap just cracked the biggest smile and let Price slide in on his finger, just to wave his hand over his sister's face like a maniac.
“YES!”
“What the hell John! I didn’t even know you were dating!”
“Who’s dating?”
“Simon! Did you know about this?!”
Soap just stood grinning and waving his brand new ring at them, as the whole family filled the kitchen.
“Is that..”
“Yeah mate, an engagement band. Fuck I didn’t see that one coming..”
“Engagement?! John!” Jenna yelled.
“Johnny! What the actual fuck! Price? Really?! Of all people?”
“What the fuck is wrong with Jonathan?”
“He’s our Captain!”
“So!? She’s my sister!!”
“I can’t believe you were dating and never told me! I feel cheated on!”
“ I never told anyone!”
“How long, John!? I’m your sister! You have to tell me those things!”
“You’re pregnant, all you do is cry!”
“Johnny! How long?”
“Two years, give or take..”
“Two…”
“Ok, that’s enough. We just wanted to keep it quiet.”
Soap just smiled at Price and waved his ring again, and the ruckus started all over, his sisters gushing over him and the ring, Ghost clapping Price on the back, and Gaz congratulating them.
They pulled Soap outside and sat down at the table to toast with some beer and a good barbecue. Laughs and smiles all over.
Price just sat there beside Soap, leaning into him in a display that they had never actually done before. He placed a little kiss on Soap's head before whispering to him.
“There’s one more thing I want to show you. Get this all over with.”
“What?”
Price slid the phone over and watched as Soap took a look at the images shown there.
“This.. It’s the cottage..”
“Yes, the one you saw when Simon was house hunting.”
“I loved that cottage,” Soap answered with a sad smile, the place had caught his eyes the second he saw it, his heart filling with longing and desire to build a life there. A desire he never actually had before that day. “I was sold not long after..”
“Yes. I bought it.”
Soap nodded absentmindedly until his brain caught up with what he heard, and he turned, wide-eyed to stare at Price.
“What?”
“It’s ours if you so wish.”
And after all that time of crying for feeling hurt, Soap finally shed a tear out of pure happiness.