just a number || s.s [editing]

[bonus chapter two]

The day was January 9th, 2016.

Sebastian was surprisingly up before Layla, who he had left looking, what he thought, heavenly in bed. Her brown hair was strewn over the pillows as her eyelids fluttered slightly, which always indicated that the girl was having a good dream. Sebastian smiled to himself at the sight, kissing the crown of her head before reluctantly leaving the comfort of their bed.

He walked into their shared bathroom that was connected to the bedroom and opened up one of the drawers on his side of the sink. Sebastian took the small, black velvet box from the drawer and opened it, looking at what was inside with a smile on his face. 'Here we go. Today's the day.' He thought to himself, seeing his girlfriend's sleeping figure through the mirror in the bathroom.

"Sebby?"

Layla had finally awoken, mumbling softly as she noticed the warmth she was used to waking up to was gone. Sebastian was quick to put the ring back in the drawer and returned to the bedroom. "I'm here, doll. I just had to wash my face real quick." She nodded and sat up. The two got dressed for the day. Layla wore a knitted tan sweater with spots of blue, red, and yellow on it in all different shapes and designs as well as a pair of black sports leggings, and black tennis shoes.

Sebastian wore a pair of basketball shorts and a black tank top with blue tennis shoes. He wrapped his arm around the girl who had made them a small breakfast of cereal with fruit. "I love you." He mumbled against her hair, placing a kiss on her head as he took in the smell of her avocado hair products. "And I love you." She turned around in his arms and kissed his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck and he placed his hands on Layla's waist.

"Ready to go?"

Layla nodded after they finished eating breakfast and the two took off to their normal hiking spot. "Thankfully it's nice outside and not too cold or anything." She smiled and took his hand as they began to walk.
"I forgot how pretty this is out here,"

Layla walked hand in hand with Sebastian, swinging their arms and carrying the picnic basket with her other hand. "I've got to say, you're prettier, doll." Sebastian smiled and kissed her temple.

"I packed your favorite, chocolate strawberries. I had your mom make them." Sebastian said making the girl smile wide.

She kissed under his jaw. "You're truly the best, Seb." In which Sebastian responded, "Anything for you, princess." The two had walked the trail for an hour until they came to a spot with a picnic table. "Oh, here!" Layla dragged him over to the table and set the dark basket down on the table. The two got out of all the foods, scattering them neatly across the table.

The two sat together eating their food, laughing together as they talked. Kisses, laughs, and loving looks were shared between Layla and Sebastian, which thankfully for him, settled his nerves. He held the pocket of his basketball shorts on top of where the box sat. Sebastian looked at Layla who was staring out in the distance where the entire city of Los Angeles was on display.

"Doll?"

Layla turned her head to see Sebastian on one knee in front of her and she sprang to her feet, clasping her mouth with her hand as tears sprang to her brown eyes. Sebastian looked up at the girl with a smile on his face, tears also filling his eyes. He began to speak, nerves settling as he looked at the girl he loved so dearly.

"I love you more than words can explain. I've loved you for a few years now but telling you a little more than a year ago meant everything to me, especially knowing you loved me back. I can't imagine myself or my life without you. I want you forever. I want to see you when I wake up and when I go to sleep.

I want to kiss you, hug you, hold your hand, hold your hair and rub your back when you're sick. I'm in this for the long run, angel.

I know I've messed up a lot, but I promise you, I won't ever do it again. Losing you a few months ago was painful. Not seeing you every day was awful. I hated not being able to see you or hold your hand or tell you I love you.

I know I'll spend the rest of my life making up for all of the pain I've caused you. You mean so much to me, Layla. You're there for me, even when I don't deserve it. You're loving, forgiving, thoughtful, kind. I definitely don't deserve you but I'll spend every day proving how truly grateful I am for you and the family we'll have one day.

I've never loved anyone the way I love you, darling. You're the one for me and I'll spend the rest of my life proving to you how thankful I am for you. I want to be able to start a family with you and I hope you feel the same way. Layla Paisley Downey, will you marry me?"

Layla stood there as she sobbed, but was quick to recover, nodding quickly. Sebastian scooped the girl up into his arms and spun her around. The two had smiled wider than they ever had before and Sebastian took her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger. Layla looked at the ring for a moment before cupping his face in her hands and kissing him.

"A thousand times yes, over and over."

Layla Downey and Sebastian Stan were now fiances and they were over the moon.

After finishing their picnic, the newly engaged couple returned to their house, making calls to the small group of family and friends they wanted to tell the exciting news to.
As she expected, Elizabeth and Anthony had both cried.

"I swear, those two are more in love with us than we are."

Layla laughed as she told Sebastian how Liz had cried, and he had told Layla how Anthony did the same. The couple was sat on the couch with Sebastian's arm around her waist and Layla's left hand was laying against Sebastian's chest.

The two had looked at the ring on her ring finger which fit perfectly, almost like it was meant to be there. Made just for her. Which, from what Sebastian had told his fiancee, it was. He had spent weeks with a jeweler perfecting the ring to Layla's taste, size and color preference, including the tiny details that made the girl who she was is exactly what they used to make Layla's ring perfect.

And that's exactly what the ring was.

As the two laid in bed that night after celebrating the engagement with a bottle of champagne, Sebastian chuckled. "What's so funny?" His fiance, as he had liked to repeat the whole day, asked. His thumb traced gently over the light purple and blue marks that were scattered on her neck, collarbone, and chest. "Just think I did a good job, s'all."

Layla blushed lightly and rolled her eyes, doing the same to him. "I think I did better." She smirked. Sebastian laughed, placing a kiss on the girl's lips which she was quick to reciprocate. "This truly is the best day of my life." She spoke softly.

"And, while we're on that, if us getting engaged means I get that, then looks like we should get engaged every day."

Sebastian just chuckled at the girl's comment. "Oh, and I suppose the engagement was nice too." She smirked, wrapping the blanket over her bare skin. "I can't wait to marry you," Sebastian mumbled against her lips like had done multiple times tonight as he littered kisses all over her skin just minutes before.

The couple was in pure euphoria as they were wrapped in each other's arms.

The future Mr. and Mrs. Stan couldn't be more excited for their future which would hopefully include a new addition to their crazy world.