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“Do you remember the last time we were here?” Charlie asked as they stood looking out at the streets of Paris from the top of the Eiffel tower. His head gently resting on his boyfriend’s shoulder, smiling softly to himself as the other man hummed. “I think it was one of my favourite moments of the whole trip.”
Nick chuckled softly, turning his head to kiss Charlie’s hair, “If I remember correctly, mon amour, your favourite moment of the trip was learning that I speak french.” he teased, “Not that I haven’t taken advantage of what that does to you many times since.”
“Oi.” Charlie laughed and lifted his head, the blush on his cheeks evident, but if Nick asked, he was just cold. It was getting late, the sun was setting over Paris, and it was definitely time for them to be heading back down soon. “Okay, fine.” He gave in, “That was one of my favourite moments too.” Charlie admitted, “I never expected you to almost admit to giving me that hickey. I loved you so much in that moment.”
They’d said I love you a lot since Nick had chased Charlie down the street after telling him how he felt through the bathroom door, something that the taller man had never let him live down, but something about Charlie’s admission made Nick’s breath catch, a soft smile coming to his lips. “I wanted to tell you I loved you on that trip. There just never seemed to be the right moment.” Nick confessed, “And plus,” his hand wrapped around Charlie’s back, resting on his hip, “I didn’t really think it would be fair for me to say that to you while we were still keeping it a secret. I didn’t want there to be a but, like, I love you but please don’t tell anyone.” Nick’s voice was barely audible, and despite being out and being together for over three years something about that time still twinged when he thought about it. “And I thought you thought it would be too quick. Like I’d scare you away or something.”
Charlie picked his head up from where it was resting on Nick’s shoulder, turning to look at him and place a soft kiss to his lips, “Hey,” he whispered, “You know that wouldn’t have mattered to me. I was so proud of you that whole time. I still am. You were so perfect, Nick. You have always been perfect to me, no matter how unsure you were, you always made me feel so loved and wanted. No one had made me feel like that before.”
Nick’s eyes were shining from the tears that were threatening to spill down his cheeks, he knew everything Charlie had been through and the thought that he could be made to feel anything less than perfect hurt. He returned Charlie’s kiss, “I love you so much.” he mumbled against his lips completely lost in his boyfriend’s eyes. “It’s been three years and six months since you first walked into that classroom and headed in my direction to take the seat next to me. Can you believe we’re here now?”
“I’ll be honest Nick, if you told fourteen year old Charlie that at almost eighteen he would be sitting here with you as his boyfriend he would have laughed in your face. Don’t get me wrong, he would have been very hopeful, but he’d think this was a dream.” He huffed out a laugh, almost as though he still couldn’t believe that he and Nick were together, even after all of this time.
“Me neither.” Nick breathed out, barely audible still. It was as though Charlie had taken all of the breath out of him and he could only talk in whispers, “I’m pretty sure it took all of five minutes to fall in love with you. Not that I realised at the time, but looking back, no one had ever had the same impact on me as you on that first day we met. I just wanted to be around you all the time. It was a bit intense actually.” He laughed, only the tiniest sound leaving his lips, as his forehead met Charlie’s, “I’m just glad it took just two kisses to make you realise that I wanted you. I’m sure it would have been one if I hadn’t run off like an absolute idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.” Charlie interrupted, his voice just as breathy as Nick’s now, like they had been told they needed to be quiet when in fact there was barely anyone else around. To them no one else existed when the other was around. “You were scared. Your gay best friend had just kissed you and you had no idea that you were bi. Maybe I was the idiot for even asking.”
Nick shook his head softly, “Not an idiot, Char. If you’d not asked me to kiss you, think of how long we would have been dancing around each other. How much longer it would have taken for me to figure myself out. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Charlie Spring.” He took a small step back from Charlie and slipped his hand into his own pocket, taking a small breath in before, “You’re the best thing that will ever happen to me Charlie.”
The small gasp that left Charlie’s lips echoed loudly in Nick’s ears as he pulled out a small box from his coat pocket and knelt down onto one knee, “You’re it for me, Charlie. You always have been, since the day you walked into my life until we’re grey and old. I love you twenty four seven, three six five. Charlie Francis Spring, will you marry me?”
Charlie was frozen to the spot, his heart felt as though it was about to beat out of his chest. Nick Nelson, his perfect, amazing, wonderful boyfriend, was here with him on the top of the Eiffel tower, in Paris, the most romantic city in the world, asking him to marry him. He knew Nick was a hopeless romantic, but this was beyond anything he could have ever expected. He realised that he had just been staring at Nick and the ring without saying anything for slightly longer than he should have, he finally was able to use his words, “Of course, I will, Nick. Yes, oh my god, yes!”
Nick flew up, his arms around Charlie’s neck, careful not to let go of the ring as they kissed, “You scared me for a second there.” He mumbled before he pulled back to slip the simple silver band onto Charlie’s finger,
“Nick, it’s beautiful. I love you so much.”
“I love you too. Fiance.”