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It's still relatively dark out when she awakens. Nothing but the light of the moon reflecting off the snow blanketed outside filters in. Claire looks down at the man resting against her chest. Half his body is practically glued to her. His hair is mussed, his brows are furrowed, and soft breathes escape his parted lips.
She smiles, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Leon grumbles quietly, burying his head in the crook of her neck, nosing her neck. "Five more minutes," his voice is muffled against her skin.
A small chuckle escapes her. "I'm in no rush. Is it a crime to want to show affection to you?"
He's silent for a moment. "…no. Jus' wanna sleep some more."
"Well, how about you sleep some more, and I go make some breakfast, hm?"
He mumbles something incoherently.
"What?" She huffs softly in amusement.
He picks his head up. She can finally see his face. His eyes are almost all the way shut, there's the faintest hint of a pout on his face—a bit like a kid woken up from a nap. "…said you're warm. It's our day off, baby, rest for a little bit with me."
Her heart melts at his sleepy plea. She can't help but lean towards him, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Breakfast first. Then we can sleep some more if you want to. I'll make you your favorite."
She extricates herself from him, standing, and pulling the covers back over him. "Get some more rest, sweetheart. Don't force yourself to stay up," she instructs. She watches him cozy up in bed once more, before turning to go start getting breakfast ready.
She turns the coffee machine on, and then goes to grab the other necessary materials to prepare the meal. While she's mixing up some pancake batter, the coffee starts to drip. Once she's done mixing the pancakes, she heats the pan needed for the pancakes, as well as for the bacon. Starting a few slices of bacon before pouring out a few pancakes.
The smell of cooking bacon, pancakes, and the faint scent of coffee fill the room. She hums softly to herself, flipping the bacon and pancakes when they're ready to be flipped. It's not even five minutes before she feels a pair of arms slip around her waist. A gentle kiss pressed to the slope of her neck.
"Morning…" he rasps, resting his chin against her shoulder. "Anything I can do to help?"
She reaches a hand up, and touches his cheek for a moment, before nodding. "I've got a few more slices of bacon, and a few more pancakes to cook, but you can cut some fruit for me."
"'Course," he pulls away, going to grab the cutting board, a knife, and the strawberries from the fridge.
He washes the fruit, then gets to chopping while the bacon and pancakes continues to cook. When he's done chopping the fruit, he puts them in a bowl, and puts the cutting board and knife into the sink. Taking the moment to just watch her. A small smile pulls at his lips. She looks perfect underneath the warm kitchen lighting. Her hair down and messy, a pair of shorts, and one of his shirts on, and the occasional hickey dappling her skin. He feels an overwhelming sense of affection filling him.
He takes the moment to wash the dishes, and then grab a few plates from the cabinet. She finishes just shortly after he grabs the plates from the cabinet. She turns the stove off, and plates their pancakes and bacon. They join each other at the table, sitting across from each other. Their meal is eaten in comfortable silence, except for Leon offering his appreciation for making the meal. when they're done, he takes both their plates, and starts on washing the dishes for them.
"Look at you being all domestic and washing dishes," she teases, leaning on the counter next to him.
His flushes, huffing at her remark. "You cooked the food, the least I could do is wash the dishes. Besides, don't like seeing you do all the work."
"I'm just teasing you sweetheart. Y'look good doing the dishes," she says, smiling warmly at him. "Makes me wanna scoop you up, and put a ring on your finger."
He finishes washing the dishes relatively quickly, and then starts on drying them. "Put a ring on my finger, huh?"
"Mhm," she hums. "Screw gender norms. There's nothing to say that I can't put a ring on your finger before you put one on mine."
"And who's to say I don't already have a ring?" He counters, raising a brow.
"My point still stands," she grins, reaching out to squeeze his arm playfully. "Nothing wrong with me proposing first, and you never know when it'll happen."
"Hmm, and is that your not-so-subtle way of telling me that it'll happen soon?" He turns towards her, setting the towel aside. Stepping forward to take her in his arms.
She drapes her arms over his shoulders, hooking behind his neck. "And if it was?"
"Well, then I'd say…it's about damn time," he tips his head down, catching her lips with his. She lets out a faint noise of surprise, before melting against him. Her lips move against his languidly, slowly—drinking each other in.
His nose nudges against hers, as they part for a moment. "So, what do you think? Wanna watch some movies together, and relax for the day?" She murmurs, toying with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Sounds perfect," he whispers, smiling softly. "Go put the movie on, and I'll join you in a second. Just need to put a shirt on."
She nods, going towards the living room, and grabbing a few DVDs from the TV stand. She loads them into the DVD player, and takes a seat on the couch—grabbing the remote and a blanket. When she's draped the blanket over her, she turns the TV on, and switches over to the DVD player. She starts up the first movie, pausing it so she can wait for him.
When he starts to take a little bit longer, she calls out for him. "Leon? Come on, sweetheart. Doesn't take that long to put on a shirt."
She hears a thump and then a grumble, before the door opens. "Sorry baby, dropped something, wanted to pick it up." She nods in acknowledgement, watching him approach the couch.
He hesitates for a brief moment, before kneeling in front of her. Pulling a velvet box from his pocket. She immediately sits up straighter, her eyes widening.
"Baby, I know…you said you wanted to be the first to propose. And, I'm sorry for taking that away from you. But the moments we have in our life—the peace—is fleeing. If I don't take the opportunity to do it now, we may get swept up in missions upon missions, and I just can't…wait anymore," he pauses, swallowing, and flipping the box open. "I want to spend the rest of my life bickering about stupid things. Waking up next to you, and making breakfast with you. Spending the snowy days in, and watching movies with you. I want to be with you. Because, despite every reason not to, you support me, and love me. I want to grow old with you, to leave the DSO, and live in some cozy little two story house. I want a life with you, and I hope you want the same. Will you please marry me? Do me the honor of letting me be your husband?"
She's speechless for a beat, tears beading in her eyes and seeping down her cheeks. "Of course, you asshole," she croaks out, nodding vehemently. "Damn you for springing it on me first."
He laughs, pulling the ring from the box, and slipping it on her ring finger. She looks down at it, and lets out a choked sob. It's the exact ring she described being her dream ring once. 14k white gold, a beautiful garnet as the center stone, and diamonds surrounding it. "It's beautiful," she whispers. "Can't believe you remembered what I wanted."
"Wrote it down when you told me…however long ago that was," his lips pull into a thin line as he tries to control his own emotions. Just the sight of seeing her with the ring on his finger is enough to make the reality of their decision set in. "It looks perfect on you."
She sniffles, reaching in her pocket, and fishing out the velvet box. She doesn't make a show of it like he did. Inside sits a simple black titanium band, with a small row of black diamonds inlaid in the center. "It's not much I know, and I'm sure you could care less about it. But, it was within my price range, and I wish I could have done better. I just wanted something I thought you would want."
His lips quivers, and he gives a teary smile as he slides the band onto his finger. "It's perfect," he leans forward, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "You're perfect."
She wraps her arms around him, and buries her face into his neck. "I love you. You're the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with. But, uh, just do me a favor, yeah?"
"Hm?" He mumbles, rubbing small circles on her back.
"Don't tell Chris just yet. I want both of us to be there, so he doesn't murder you," she asks, letting out a shaky sigh.
He chuckles. "Yes ma'am. I'd rather make it to our wedding, thanks."
When they pull back, he joins her on the couch—pulling her against him, and draping them both under the covers. They dry their tears, and start the movie.
Under the warm blanket, and with the background noise, it doesn't take either of them long to drift back off to sleep. Content with the peace they bring each other, and the knowledge that they'll spend many more days in the future falling asleep side-by-side.
The snow continues to drift outside the window, the house quiet besides the sound of the movie playing. Bringing a very peaceful start to their new years, and the start of their new lives together.