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He thought he knew how to ask, he was sure of the answer. At least, he hope he did. The plan was easy enough, take her somewhere nice. Make it more romantic than ever before, she would love it.
They worked hard most days, Mara seemed busier than ever, even if she wasn’t the Hero of Halcyon anymore.
“I got us a trip to Eridanos. Figured we could use the relaxation, see if we can finally use the pool like you wanted.”
She smiled from the pile of papers on her desk, “now how did you swing that? Wait, don’t ruin the surprise.”
The moment they arrived on the landing pad, Felix lost his nerve. He pulled plenty of favors, from Sedrick to the bellhops. Everything was going perfectly, yet his legs were jelly.
Felix rarely saw Mara in a dress, and tonight she looked beautiful. He even wore a tie, something he never did. They looked each other up and down, laughing at how different they looked.
”Nice noose around your neck, babe.”
”I think this is the second time I seen you in anything that wasn’t black.”
He held out his arm for her to hold on to, and they descended towards the dining hall.
”When you think any of these people will realize they’re gonna need a job soon now the Board is gone?”
Felix glanced around, “we can give them one now if you want, they know who we are.”
She giggled and toasted to that. The rest of their dinner was chatting about something Welles wanted, and how she ran into Ellie with her new crew.
After they saved the Hope, and began the unfreezing, Felix spent most days hauling boxes once more. It was more fulfilling, he got to fly the unreliable, helping whoever needed helping.
”You think we need a new crew? Or you like hanging out just us?”
“What do you think? You miss bossing people around?”
Talking about the future, their future, gave him courage. After all they been through, he still remained. He probably would even if they didn’t fall in love, she was worth it.
Finishing dinner, he brought up the idea of walking. He planned it in the orchards, on the hill to gaze at the stars.
It was the perfect moment, she pointed towards to the sky, she saw a shooting star. But watching her, and the gravity of what he was about to do, hit him harder than expected.
”Xiomara…”
She smiled nervously, “what’s up?”
They sat in awkward silence for too long, he took off his tie at this point. He wrung the life out of it in his hands.
“Saying my full name, am I in trouble?”
”No, no. It’s not that.” He lost his nerve.
He pressed his lips to hers, “I just love you so much. You look amazing tonight.”
She flashed him the prettiest smile he ever saw, “you sure nothing is wrong?”
His mind was screaming at him to propose, but he just couldn’t get his lips or arms to move.
“No, I just miss you is all.”
”You’re really quiet, am I pregnant?” She tried to ease the tension.
The thought of her pregnant sent him spiraling, he couldn’t stop now.
Instead he kissed her jaw, leading down her neck. Hoping he would either distract her to stop asking questions or gain his courage. They returned to their room, and she didn’t ask anymore questions.
He couldn’t sleep that night, knowing he blew it. They only had their room for a night, back to the grind tomorrow. Mara decided to extended their break, and reached out to the old crew to see who was available.
Max spent his time traveling, he aimed to protect those that needed protecting. He always kept in touch, in case the Unreliable was near by. He was in a small settlement on Terra 2, and had a hot meal waiting for them.
After dinner, Mara offered to stock up on booze for them. As soon as she left, Felix sprung into action.
”Max, I need your help.”
”What did you do now?”
Felix rolled his eyes, “funny. Look, have you ever proposed to anyone before?”
Max leaned back in his chair, “in another life, perhaps. I think she’ll say yes to you, make it special.”
”I tried, I got cold feet.”
Max thought about it, “there’s a field out a few miles next to a river. I read in the shade sometimes, the woman running the general store can fix you up a picnic basket.”
”What if she says no?”
Max laughed, “then she’s as smart as she looks. But, we know she’s smarter than that anyway. Maybe ask her.”
Felix could’ve hugged the man, instead Mara came back. Max gave them both a sly smile, Mara and Felix were like kids to him. He wanted them both happy, and he knew no matter how hard Felix tried he wouldn’t screw it up.
Max let him stay the night, telling them to enjoy the town. Dropping hints about the sunset and how much Mara loved taking her canid out on nature walks so they should check out this and that.
They settled into the guest bedroom for the night, Felix watching her sleep in the moonlight. He thought about how far they’ve come, how being there with Max felt like old times.
Meeting Mara felt like destiny, she saved him from himself. He would’ve been watching and waiting for his ship, hearing all about the adventures of the Unreliable. But she chose him, and he chose to stay. He got to wake up every morning next to her, kiss her every moment he wanted to.
The emotions overcame him, he had to tell her now. Gently, he shook her awake. She mumbled something before turning around.
“Mara, wake up honey,” he whispered.
”What? Something happened?”
She reached around for a light, rubbing her eyes.
He steadied himself, “Mara. I have something I gotta say.”
”Go ahead?”
”I…feel like we were meant to be together. Everything about you, makes me crazy. Makes me feel right.”
She was about to tell him to save it for the morning, but he waved her off.
”We could’ve died on Tartarus. We didn’t. I made a promise to you, do you remember?”
She did.
“I wasted a lot of time, I should’ve kissed you the moment you landed on Groundbreaker. I didn’t know if we would have time left at all. But we do, Mara. We have the rest of our lives to be together, and we can actually grow old.”
He grabbed her hands, she had tears in her eyes.
His heart swelled, he felt like the bed they were in was floating.
“Will you marry me?”
She nodded her head letting the tears fall. He shuffled around his luggage for the ring he bought her.
“Let’s make Max marry us in the morning, an ex vicar can still do that right?”
“You sure you don’t want a ceremony? I hear they can be pretty big deals.”
She laughed, “ugh I guess. Gives me more time to wave this around right?”
It wasn’t the perfect moment, but it was the moment they been waiting for. He found his family, and he had a life worth building for them.