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Benedict had it all planned, he knew exactly how he wanted to do it and when he wanted to do it and he had been desperately waiting for the moment.
He knew she’d never agree to marry him whilst she was still studying and despite the fact Kate and Anthony had married the year earlier and were expecting their second child, their first Edmund, coming mere months after they finished their degree.
Benedict was desperate to start his own family with Sophie, he wanted to marry her, he wanted the fairytale, happily ever after. Anthony had that now and he was jealous, he’d been in love with Sophie for longer than Anthony had been with Kate and they’d been close from the day they’d met and he hated that he was having to wait.
But Sophie was finally graduating, she had her work set up, her and Lily were working at the same Veterinary surgery and had talked about opening their own eventually.
Plans were already in place for their future, once they were more settled and built their reputation they would then open their own place but for now, they were moving into the real world more.
Benedict was already settled in his Photography studios, with exhibitions of his art and he had a good client roster for his photographs and they had their own place.
It was just a little flat but it was a place they’d made their own, it was just the two of them and Benedict loved their little life they were building but he was ready for more.
He was ready for that next step and he was pretty sure Sophie was as well.
He just had to ask.
The plan was set, he’d ordered everything he needed to make this special. Sophie had been away for the weekend with Lily at a Spa and he’d gotten everything set up at home to surprise her.
He’d been to collect the main part of his present, the thing Sophie had been desperate for once more but again had wanted to wait until she was done with her studies, he’d been to collect his grandmother’s ring from his mother and been to see Richard to ask for his blessing.
Everything was ready.
He knew there was no need to go over the top for this, simple was the key here, he knew Sophie wouldn’t want anything over the top.
He’d done over the top romantic gestures for valentine’s day and she’d enjoyed them but made him promise not to do anymore because she didn’t want to be the center of attention, like she had been on their first Valentine’s day when they were at University.
It had been after their first big fight and he’d promised to make it up to her and he’d sent flowers to her uni class, along with balloons, cakes and she was serenaded as she walked across the campus and she’d wanted to die of embarrassment. She appreciated the gesture but made him vow never ever to do anything like that in public again.
So his proposal was going to be done in their space, their home, just the two of them.
And their newest addition.
He’d picked him up a few hours earlier and gotten him used to the house, a little bow tie on and he was hoping to get him to hold a rose, at least long enough for Benedict to drop to one knee and ask the most important question he was ever going to ask.
“It’s okay buddy, your mummy is coming” he said to the little bundle on his lap, he was scratching his head and hoping to keep the little ball of terror calm.
Sophie had sent him a text to say she’d dropped Lily off at Roger’s and was on her way back.
He felt the nerves fizzing through his body as waited patiently, the music was ready to start the moment he heard Sophie’s voice. He had his grandmother’s ring in his pocket and Puppy on his lap, the dinner he’d been working on all day was on the hob and in the oven, the wine was open and everything was ready…
All he needed was Sophie.
Less than 5 minutes later, he heard the door and Sophie’s voice coming through the door “Ben… I’m home”
He pressed play on his Ipod, the romantic music floated through their little flat and Benedict took a breath as he heard Sophie making her way down the hallway “something smells good, i’m starving… what… what… oh my god” she squealed as she saw the puppy.
Benedict grinned at her “a little graduation present… and something else” he said as he put the puppy down on the floor, and he gave him the rose and watched as their new puppy carried the rose forward, and as Sophie squealed and dropped to her knees to greet their new little golden retriever puppy with tears in her eyes, Benedict did the same time.
When Sophie glanced up to look at him, she gasped.
Benedict had the box out and was shaking “I’ve been wanting to do this for longer than you have any idea… i’d have asked you years ago when we were 18, if I thought you’d have agreed and weren’t having a meltdown over your studies but Fee, i’ve loved you since I was 15, I am going to love you for the rest of our lives, you are everything i’ve ever wanted, you’ve made my life a better place and you’ve been my favourite person since the day I met you.” he said
“You’ve been there for me through thick and thin, for better and for worse already, you’re everything i’ve ever wanted and you are the other half of my soul. You are my soulmate, my muse, my queen, my entire world… and I can’t live without you so will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?” he asked.
Tears fell down both of their faces, Sophie had her arms around their new puppy, shaking through Benedict’s speech and the moment he finished she squealed “yes! Oh my god… yes!” as she threw herself forward, puppy still in her arms as she kissed him.
Benedict laughed into her lips, the sheer happiness emanating from them both as their puppy barked his approval, trying to join in the kiss, licking their faces before Benedict slid the emerald and diamond ring that had once been his grandmother’s onto Sophie’s finger.
Their happily ever after, was well underway.