20 TPN STORIES IN 20 DAYS CHALLENGE

Day 17 - The Big Surprise

[Submitted by @soleelunabacio]

Norman was sure of his move, the surprise he had planned would tip the balance in her favor once and for all. He and Emma had been looking for each other for days, there was love in the air, but it could also be just friendship, Except that Norman has never stopped loving Emma, since they were children he has admired her and loved her... They have been through so much together that the fact that they have managed to survive this hostile world is already an incredible victory. They had found the will to go to the end of things, they had found it in the depths of their hearts thanks to each other and once reunited, they were able to stand together to reach their dream despite many adventures... and today they were there, still for each other, together but not yet a couple. They were the last to take the step because if Don and Gilda were the first, they were the last... even Ray had taken the step by getting together with Anna, he was the third of the four couples of Grace Field Village with Gillian and Nigel and Tom and Nina.

But it was different for them, their relationship had remained at a standstill for a very long time before falling apart when Norman left for Lambda. If the rebirth of their relationship had been tied up in their reunion, their goal was priority so it hadn't evolved either... And it's been a few years since they've been in the human world and while they'd certainly gotten closer, it had only had a slightly serious turn.

But this time Norman had a good plan, he was going to offer Emma the most original date ever.

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Emma was nervous, she had made herself beautiful with the help of Gilda as well as Anna and Alicia, she had no idea of what Norman had in store for her but she was not fooled: in view of his enthusiasm, he was going to ask her out, and that's what she was waiting for. Ray had told her in a complicit exchange to wait until he asked to see how long he could wait, it had taken him a whole month, Anna was convinced that it was time to put everything in place for his surprise, this sentence had made Emma even more nervous ... A month of preparation but what could it be?

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Norman had come to pick up Emma in the car, it was Vincent at the wheel and Emma was blindfolded, during the whole trip she had clung to Norman's arm, resting on his shoulder, Norman had felt her happiness and it was going through his whole body as well, they were already overwhelmed with this happiness and it was only going to rise crescendo!

And so they had arrived at the meeting place, Norman was guiding Emma by holding her hands and walking backwards.

Nor: You can remove the blindfold, Emma.

The girl did so without further ado and saw a hot air balloon ready to take off a few dozen meters away. Emma was stunned, the surprise was clearly worth the wait... She was moved to tears and had not waited for the appointment that she had already grabbed Norman's lips to kiss him, if this was the easiest and quickest way to confess her feelings, Norman was surprisingly not fazed by it, and he took her hand to accompany her to the aircraft. The monitor had left them in love, much to the redhead's surprise.

Emma: Norman? Can you fly a hot air balloon?!

Nor: I anticipated this surprise about a year ago and took lessons in secret hehe.

Emma: Then fly us to the stars.

They had been flying for a good hour now, and after sharing a hot meal prepared by everyone, it was time to talk.

Nor: I think I already know your answer, but I wanted to tell you that for years you have been the rhythm of my life, you are what forces me to get up every morning, and above all the one I love and have always loved, and today I wanted to ask you to be the one who shares my life.

Emma: Of course I do Norman, I've loved you for so long and I feel like this is the moment I've been waiting for all my life, I love you Norman.

Nor: I love you Emma.

They had kissed again as the sun was fading in the distance leaving a reddish tint in the sky, they had stayed in each other's arms for a good minute before a thud from the surface caught their attention, they tilted their heads over the basket and what they saw surprised them to the core.

Nor: Haha, this guy...

Emma: What a sneak...

Noremma: Thank you... Stupid Ray.

*five minutes ago*

Everyone was following the flying machine from a distance, they had perfectly calculated the weather conditions to foresee their plan, it was too simple for such geniuses. They were in a plain with a tree and they had prepared their equipment.

Ray: Dominic, Tommy! Climb the tree. Chris, give them their gear and then come help us with the canvas!

Dom / Tom / Chris: Ahoy!

Gilda: Grace Field, stretch the canvas! Goldy Pond, draw the letters with the product!

Everyone had complied, and in record time, they were all ready, it was now the turn of the genius archer and his brother at heart to decide the outcome of their surprise.

Dominic drew a special arrow from his quiver, wrapped in a cloth, and soaked it in gasoline before bracing his bow and getting into shooting position.

Dom: Tom, go ahead.

Tom: Okay!

The younger man had ignited the arrow, Dominic had cleared his mind and aimed for one... two... three seconds and fired, the arrow had hit the bull's eye and was beginning to ignite the pattern of letters drawn by the Goldy Pond team, their surprise was in place, but now the lovebirds had to be warned. Dominic pulled the final projectile from his quiver, a firework, but not just any firework, it was made by Don, Ray and Oliver. It was designed to fly as high as possible in record time before exploding with a deafening roar.

He repeated the same process as with the other arrow and aimed for the heavens this time, he was going to give the arrow a boost so that the noise would be as little disturbing as possible, as the kids can't let go of the canvas.

Dom: Tom... Twenty seconds...Fifteen... Ten... Five, four, three, two, one... GO NOW!

Tommy had lit the fuse and as soon as it started to fuse, Dominic fired and his movement was perfect, the projectile split the heavens and in an explosion reminiscent of a sound bomb alerted the two lovers, Chris watched them through binoculars and when he saw Norman's head, he gave the signal to the others to shake the canvas to recall like a wave, signifying metaphorically the love that had washed everything else away today.

They had extinguish everything afterwards and returned to the landing site to wait for the new couple. And once the two lovers were finally on the ground, all their family had thrown themselves in their arms to congratulate them by wishing them all the happiness in the world.