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Worried was quite a weak word to describe the way Yelena had been feeling about Pieck. The petite woman rarely spent time at home due to her father’s health going worse. Her frequent visits to the hospital were now something Yelena was quite used to, and as much as she missed Pieck, it was understandable. Pieck sometimes spent whole nights there.
Yelena wasn’t mad or anything, she just wished Pieck took care of herself as well as she took care of others. Pieck didn’t know it, but Mr. Finger was quite concerned about her daughter as well.
Unknown to Pieck, Yelena spoke with her dad a lot. They both shared one common thought: Pieck was doing too much. She made taking care of her father her singular priority – which wasn’t bad per se, but it was taking so much of her mental strength to keep herself together when all she did was worrying.
What scared Yelena the most was the possibility of Pieck stopping to take care of herself again. It often happened when her mind was consumed by something which made her feel constantly concern. It was something she was working on, but still, she couldn’t help but retreating to old patterns without even noticing.
It had been several days since Pieck spent a night at their apartment, until that one. The first thing Pieck did when she got home was leaving her things on the living room’s table and sit next to Yelena, her head falling to the blonde’s shoulder as she let an exhausted sigh.
“How’s your dad?” Yelena wondered, her hand sneaking around Pieck’s shoulders.
Pieck’s answer came with a bit of hesitation. “A lot better. He’s home now, so I guess I’m back.” She let with a tired smile.
Yelena seemed visibly relieved after hearing that. “That’s very good. Do you need something?”
“Sleeping.” She responded instantly. “If I don’t take a nap right now I’ll collapse.”
“Perfectly understandable. Can you get to the room or do I have to take you?”
“I’m not a baby.” Pieck laughed quietly. “Though if you don’t mind, I’d rather sleep here.”
“Sure. Let me get you a blanket.” The moment Yelena sat on the couch again, Pieck immediately let her head fall down, using the blonde’s lap as a pillow. The moment Yelena covered her body with a blanket, Pieck already felt the drowsiness.
“If you want to do something else, you can always wake me up and I’ll go to the bedroom.”
Yelena shook her head. “I’m good.”
“Alright then.” Were the last words Pieck articulated before falling asleep.
If Yelena was honest, she would have run to Pieck and hugged her and kissed her and give her all of her attention the moment she stepped inside the house, but her health came first. Also, she wasn’t complaining about having Pieck peacefully dreaming on her lap.
After what it felt like two or three hours, Yelena got tired of the book she was reading, and switched her eyes to the sleeping woman on her lap. Carefully in order not to wake her up, Yelena moved some strands of her hair away from her forehead in order to get a better look of her resting face.
Pieck was truly the most beautiful woman she had seen in her life. Even after several years together, it was still hard to believe Pieck chose her among all people, and she had never found the right words to describe how much Pieck meant for her. Each passing day, she kept confirming the thought that she wanted to have the short woman in her life forever.
What snapped her out of her thoughts was a low whine coming from Pieck, who was languidly opening her eyes. Her bags were a bit smaller, Yelena noticed. “Sorry love, did I wake you up?”
“No, no. Don’t worry.” Pieck said while yawning. “How many hours did I sleep?”
“About three I think.”
“And you didn’t move?”
“Not an inch.”
Shifting her body to sit on the couch, Pieck left a short kiss on her girlfriend’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. Are you feeling better?”
Pieck nodded shortly. “Very. Now I’m properly awake, can we talk?”
Yelena didn’t know why, but those words alone felt kind of terrifying. “About?” She started to panic internally when Pieck’s face dropped slightly, but the words she heard weren’t bad news at all.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone for so many days.”
So it was just that. Phew. “You have nothing to apologize for.” Yelena shook her head frantically.
“Still,” Pieck insisted. “I feel bad. I know you were worried about me and I just– ugh.” She groaned. “I don’t want this to affect our relationship.”
There it was, that one talk Yelena slightly feared to deal with. Trying her best to sound reassuring, she breathed deeply, and then gave a firm answer. “It doesn’t.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. I won’t deny I miss you and I get a bit worried when you’re away, but that’s how things are.” Just a bit? Huh, the lies, she told herself while calmly going on. “I can’t tell you to not look after your father and stay here with me. Isn’t that selfish and inconsiderate?”
“It is.” Pieck affirmed. “But I just wanted you to know I’m aware that I neglected you. Sort of.” She quietly added.
Even if Yelena did feel a bit neglected, the last thing she wanted was Pieck feeling bad about it. It wasn’t like it was a conscious neglect either. Besides, she had already articulated her feelings just a moment ago. “You worry too much.” Yelena tenderly moved a strand of Pieck’s dark her behind her ear, earning a tiny smile from her.
Pieck knew Yelena’s affection wasn’t always verbal. She didn’t want Yelena to reassure her because that was what she wanted to hear, Pieck wanted her to be sincere. Though one of the many aspects she really liked about Yelena’s personality was that she was frank when she had to be. Ironically, she was also good at lying – but even if they were just white lies, Pieck saw through them most times.
Though that once, Yelena didn’t seem to be lying.
“Is that what you wanted to talk about?”
“Yes. I noticed you were a bit awkward around me lately, and just in case it was because of that reason, I wanted to make things clear.”
“Oh.” Was the only word Yelena was able articulate. It was sort of true, but the reasons of her awkwardness were completely different ones. “Don’t spin your head with that, okay? I’m perfectly fine with our relationship.”
Visibly relieved, Pieck slowly leant in, and kissed her girlfriend. “I love you.” She mumbled mid kiss.
Yelena’s mind went numb for a moment after hearing those words, and the moment they pulled away, the words left her mouth on their own. “I want to marry you.”
Pieck’s jaw hung open as her brain registered the words. Once it did, she blinked several times just to make sure she heard it correctly. “Eh?” Was the only sound coming out of her mouth.
Yelena felt shy all of a sudden. “You heard me!”
“I know! I know.” She repeated. “I just – I don’t know, I wasn’t expecting that?” Still stuttering, Pieck went on. “But are you serious? You want to marry me?”
“I wouldn’t joke over something like that.”
You absolutely would, Pieck thought but didn’t say.
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to propose for like. Weeks.” Yelena covered her face with a hand. “But you were never home, and your mood wasn’t the best. I never found the right moment.”
Pieck’s mind instantly understood. And everything clicked. “So that’s why– all your awkwardness these past days was because you were trying to propose?”
“… Yes.” Yelena admitted quietly.
With a smile from ear to ear, Pieck jumped to hug Yelena, her arms wrapped around the blonde’s neck. “Aw, Yelena!” She kissed her covered face. “Come on, let me see you.”
Very slowly, Yelena made her face visible again, and next thing she knew, Pieck’s hands were gently cupping it. Her cheeks were still red and warm. “Of course I’ll marry you.” And she pulled her in a long, loving kiss.
Yelena pulled Pieck closer, her previous nervousness fading as an overwhelming happiness began taking control of her emotions. “Well that didn’t go as I expected. I didn’t even give you the ring.”
“You got me a ring?!”
“How am I supposed to propose without one?”
“Well – I guess you’re right.” Pieck let a short laugh, her body still trembling slightly from the excitement. “I still can’t believe it. I’m going to be your wife.”
“About that.” Yelena blushed heavily again. “I wanted to ask you something.” She made a brief pause. “Can I take your last name?”
Pieck didn’t know how many times she had to ask herself if that was truly happening. Yelena, taking her last name? What a wonderful time to be alive. “If that’s what you truly want, of course you can. It would make me incredibly happy, Yelena Finger.”
“Yelena Finger.” The blonde echoed. “The amount of times I recited that in my mind is concerning.” She admitted, all her embarrassment already gone. Everything had been said anyway. “This feels like a dream.”
“I feel the same.” Pieck giggled cheerfully. “May I kiss my future wife?”
“Love, you know you don’t have to ask.” Yelena responded with infinite tenderness just before joining their lips together.
Who could imagine Pieck’s little talk about her concerns about their relationship would end up with them being betrothed?