Chapter Text
After a few months of living and working on Theo’s farm, Hannah and Wheatley wanted to live on their own for a change, as a couple. They of course still visited and helped if needed, but they also got jobs to support themselves in their new apartment. He worked in a bookstore, and she sold her works of art while also working part time at a bakery that Caroline had recently opened up.
After a while of living together, they grew quite comfortable with one another. They learned a lot about themselves and each other. Likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Despite some gaps in their memory, it didn’t matter all that much anymore, because now they were making plenty more memories together.
They were ready to take another step, especially Wheatley. A few problems with that, though. While they made money to get by, he didn’t know how to go about buying something as expensive as an engagement ring. Plus, isn’t an engaged couple also supposed to buy an entirely new set once married? It would be so much easier to just pick one pair out together, and wear those. It was like another activity to do as a couple. He wondered if she would like doing that as well.
But that was another problem. He was so, so nervous even just asking hypotheticals about marriage. Neither one of them were the type to go on about it, at most they agreed it was something “nice” in a lot of TV shows and movies, a satisfying bookend to a story. But this was their real lives, and things would continue past a happily ever after. Did she truly want that with him? What did she expect of him?
As they sat together and watched TV late one evening, of course a commercial for a ring jeweler came on, and it made Wheatley sigh.
Hannah turned to him. “What’s up?”
He stiffened a bit in nervousness. “Oh, nothin’, just… Y’know, why the hell are diamond rings so bloody expensive?? It’s a shiny rock! Why give it so much arbitrary value, and why do you ‘have’ to propose with one of those? You get a new pair when you’re married! I mean, what does the price of one piece of jewelry have to do with how much I love you and wanna be with you…!” He stopped himself, breath hitching in his throat as he realized he unintentionally directed that sentence towards her.
She listened, sort of agreeing with his sentiment. It was kind of ridiculous how expensive rings could get. Hell, even her college class ring had cost a pretty penny, wherever it was now. However, when he started to proclaim his love, he had her full attention as she looked at him in stunned silence.
Crap, he really just said that, didn’t he. And now she was looking at him. Crap crap crap. “Uh, y-y'know, I-I mean, money’s no object! Totally fine if you’d want a nice--” Before he could try and backpedal further, she interrupted him.
“Wheatley, you don’t have to propose to me with a ring…” she stated with a smile.
His eyes lit up. “Wait… you would really want to…?”
She nodded. “I would.”
He grinned widely, eagerly moving off of the couch. “Alright, hang on, don’t move! I at least wanna have a proper speech for this…!” He got down on one knee in front of the couch and took her hand.
Seeing how badly he’d been wanting to do this almost made her cry there and then already, but she sat up and eagerly listened.
With a deep breath, Wheatley began. “Hannah… I do really, really want to be with you. Luck brought me to you, and I cherish every single minute of every day I spend with you. Ever since I met you, you’ve made me the happiest man on earth, in the galaxy, even. And because of that… I wanna be your lifelong partner. So… will you marry me? Ring or no ring?”
Hannah’s tears finally spilled over, and she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes…”
He sighed with relief, getting up to kiss her. “I love you so much… Thank you, luv…” he muttered between kisses, his thumbs wiping away the tears on her cheeks. After a few moments, they pulled apart a bit. “So, I had been thinkin’, instead of the flashy surprise engagement ring, we both go pick out some rings together , so we know we like ‘em, and then wear those for the engagement and the wedding. How’s that sound?”
“That sounds perfect.”