Chapter Text
Max was pacing the backyard nervously, playing with the box he held in his hands. He glanced at his watch as he impatiently waited for Zoey to arrive.
He had been up since dawn, too anxious about his plans to even contemplate sleeping in. Zoey was spending the day with Mo, leaving Max free to make sure everything was set up and ready.
Maggie watched with a smile on her face as Max ran between the backyard and the kitchen, frantically setting up a romantic picnic for two.
He had approached her at Christmas, asking if he could arrange something special as a New Year’s surprise for Zoey. Maggie had a feeling that she knew what he was planning and offered her assistance with whatever he had planned. Max had blushed and said that he appreciated it but that it was something he wanted to do on his own.
They had agreed to move the party to earlier in the evening this year, making it so David, Emily and Peter could still celebrate with the family.
David and Emily arrived with a napping Peter in tow. “What’s going on?” David asked as he saw Max arranging and rearranging a picnic blanket on the grass.
Maggie grinned at him, “Max has a surprise planned for Zoey tonight.”
David raised his eyebrows, “So, it’s finally happening.”
Maggie nodded, “I think so. He’s been so nervous all day, he wouldn’t let me help with anything.”
Emily smiled, “I think it’s sweet that he wants it to be so special.”
“Make what special?” they all turned to see Zoey standing in the doorway.
Maggie, Emily and David looked anxiously at one another.
“Ummm...Here, Peter say hi to your Auntie Zoey!” David said, practically throwing Peter into her arms.
Zoey crinkled her nose, looking at David suspiciously. “Okay…...See Peter, I warned you that your Daddy was the weird one.”
Peter laughed as Zoey tickled his tummy, making silly faces at him.
Maggie used the distraction to tap on the back door, signaling to Max that Zoey had arrived.
Zoey looked around the room and was just about to ask where Max was when he entered from the backyard.
“Hey you,” Zoey said as he walked towards her. “I was just about to ask where you were.”
Max grinned, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “Come with me, I want to show you something.” He took her hand, guiding her to the back door.
Maggie took Peter from Zoey’s arms, patting Max on the shoulder and sending him a reassuring wink as they walked by.
Zoey stepped outside and gasped. The whole backyard was decorated with string lights, creating a soft, and romantic glow against the night sky. And at the center of it all was a small picnic blanket set for two.
She looked at him in awe as they approached the blanket. “You did all of this for me?” she asked.
“I would do anything for you, Zo. I love you,” he said cupping her cheek and kissing her softly.
Zoey could feel the tears forming in her eyes, “I love you, too.”
They sat down together, and Max began to unpack the picnic basket. He pulled out a speaker, champagne flutes, strawberries and a 2 plates of lasagna.
Zoey’s eyes opened wide, “You made lasagna?!” She reached for the plate eagerly.
“Hold on now, Miss grabby hands!” He laughed as she snatched it from his hands, immediately taking a large bite of it and letting out a moan.
“I love your lasagna almost as much as I love you,” she said in between bites.
Max shook his head, grinning. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, “Glad to know that I come out on top against a pasta dish.”
Zoey stuck her tongue out at him and continued eating. Max was too nervous to eat, he turned on the speaker, fiddling with the volume to keep his hands occupied. Zoey eyed his plate suspiciously when he nudged it towards her.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “You look pale...er than usual.”*
“I’m fine,” he said, taking a sip of his champagne to calm his nerves.
Zoey looked at him suspiciously as she ate the rest of his lasagna.
David and Maggie were peering through the curtains while Emily made popcorn.
“So, do you think he’s going to get down on one knee?” David asked.
“Of course he is, he’s such a romantic.” Maggie said.
“What are they doing out there?” Emily asked, handing them bowls of popcorn.
“Looks like they’re just sitting there talking and eating,” David said.
“Wait, look!” Emily eagerly pointed, as she saw Max reach into his pocket.
Max pulled the ring box out of his pocket and took a deep steadying breath. He had never been more nervous about anything in his life, but he had also never been more sure of anything as he was about sharing his future with Zoey.
Zoey moved to refill her champagne glass. “Do you want….” she turned to offer him more champagne. She gasped as she saw Max before her on one knee, holding an open ring box.
“Zoey, you’re my best friend, my other half and the love of my life. I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It was too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.** I love you with every fiber of being and I can’t picture my future without you beside me. Will you marry me?”
Zoey felt tears streaming down her cheeks as she nodded. “Yes, YES!” she grabbed his face and kissed him eagerly.
Max thought he might have heard cheering coming from the house, but he ignored it as he kissed his fiance... his fiance !
They broke apart grinning, as Max slipped the ring onto her finger. He rubbed his thumb along her hand admiring how well his grandmother’s ring suited her.
Zoey interlocked their fingers as she leaned back to rest her head against his shoulder. Max wrapped his arms around her as she sighed in contentment.
“I love you, Max.”
“I love you too, Zoey,” Max said, placing a kiss against her temple.
Music softly drifted over them from the speaker:
This will be our year
Took a long time to come;
The warmth of your smile
Smile for me, little one
And this will be our year
Took a long time to come;
You don't have to worry
All your worried days are gone
This will be our year
Took a long time to come;
And I won't forget
The way you held me up when I was down
And I won't forget the way you said,
"Darling I love you"
You gave me faith to go on;
Now we're there and we've only just begun
And this will be our year
Took a long time to come;
Yeah we only just begun
Yeah this will be our year
Took a long time to come
The End
*Quote from Episode 1X07
** Quote from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice