My Sweet Valentine

"Yes Yes Yes!"

That day has arrived. Now it's official: Iceman and his RIO Slider have won the title of Top Gun's best pilots and made history. They wore formal white Navy suits with a high collar. Everyone congratulated them and hugged each other.

"Hey." said a familiar voice behind me. I turned and saw Maverick. Smiling with happy blue eyes. He was calm and composed.

"Hey. Maverick, listen, I really didn't want to that day..."

"No. It's okay. I overdid it because I lost my only friend and family member. Carole told me that you devote yourself to them in your spare time." he said after cutting me off. I didn't know what to answer him, so I hugged him.

"Welcome back, Maverick." I said in his ear while hugging him. He let me go and turned to Ron and Tom. He congratulated both of them. I stood in the corner with the other guests watching them open the envelopes. Their faces were serious. Viper said a few words to Maverick and the fun began. Ron came up to me and hugged me. He was so charming in this suit.

"Cinderella. You're beautiful." he said and kissed me gently. I wore a dress with thick straps and a bell-shaped skirt in a soft blue color.

"Pilot, you look dashing too. Just like Cinderella's prince."

"Wow. I'm your prince?" he said with an irresistibly sweet smile

"You, Ron Kerner, are my king." I told him and kissed him gently. Next to us, we heard the whistle of the boys who were making fun of us. I smiled as Ron looked like he wanted to wipe the floor with them. We chatted until the band started playing dance ballads. Viper took his wife Linda to the dance floor. I imagined myself looking at them. I imagined what it would be like if Ron and I were in their place. Already in our older years, while our eyes still show us infatuation and love. I was jolted out of my reverie by Ron's gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Can I ask for a dance?" he asked me and bowed in a gentlemanly way, offering me his palm.

"Of course." I answered and followed him.

His palm was on my hip while the other held my palm over his heart. I couldn't help feeling nervous. I started breathing fast. I had a panic attack. Ron pulled me onto his shoulder and comforted me as we still danced. It took me ten minutes to come to my senses.

"Valentine, what is this for? Did I say something?" he asked me nervously.

"You didn't, dear. I don't know what came over me. I remembered that envelope you got and the expressions on your faces."

"I know, honey. We got a mission call." he said and was taken aback by his words. As if he didn't want to tell me. I turned and headed for the exit with my palm over my lips, trying not to cry. Ron was a few steps behind me. He grabbed my hips just outside the bar while it was pitch black outside. I didn't even notice how long the party lasted.

"Cinderella, wait. I should have told you we were going on a mission. That was the purpose of this training. It kills me to make you sad. Please." he spoke consoling me and caressing my cheeks.

"I don't want...for God's sake I don't want to lose you. I love you. And now you're leaving..." I tried to say what I wanted to the end, but the sobs caught up with the words. I fought not to break like glass. He hugged me tighter than ever before.

"Let's go back inside. Come on. They're watching where we are." he said and I nodded. Sarah was also inside, so I had someone to talk to. We went inside and I chatted with Sarah and Linda Metcalf as I passed by. Sarah was looking straight ahead at Tom and Ron. Ron seemed quite nervous, and Tom, also known as Iceman, cheered him on. The way Ron wiped his calloused palms on his suit and rubbed his palms made me laugh. Suddenly he headed towards me and asked me to dance. The band again played ballads for easy dancing. Ron looked into my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Valentine, I know that we haven't known each other for a long time and that we haven't been together for a long time. We've been through everything together and the last two months since I've been with you...my life is better and more bearable." he spoke in my ear.

"You are my love and I have loved you since the first moment I saw you in that classroom. I am blessed with your love." he continued.

"Pilot, why this?" I asked him and looked into his eyes. He pulled something out of his jacket pocket and knelt down in front of me. I was petrified of shock. I covered my lips with my palms and looked at the box he was holding.

"Valentine Blackwood. My Cinderella, will you marry me?" were Ron's words. He waited impatiently for my answer.

"Yes Yes Yes!" I shouted and leaned down to kiss him. The whole bar clapped and chanted for us. He put a beautiful ring on my hand. It was a simple gold ring with one embedded diamond.

It was simply perfect. Everyone came to congratulate us. We separated from everyone to enjoy this moment alone.

"Love, that ring belonged to my grandmother. If you don't like it, we'll choose another one. I don't have a lot of money right now." he was justifying himself.

"No. It's a beautiful ring. Don't worry."

He hugged me and kissed me on the forehead. Holding hands, we walked down the street. The fact that he proposed to me slowly fell into place. I smiled to myself the whole way.

"It seemed right. I knew you'd be waiting for me." he spoke suddenly.
I just looked at him confused. It was as if he knew what I was thinking. I leaned on his shoulder before we got to his car. We got into the car and Ron started for the beach. Now I was even sorry that I reacted that way. I don't know what I actually expected. Going on missions is his calling and job. He was a professional pilot in the US Navy. He stopped on the sidewalk that led to the beach. He got out of the car first and went around the front of the car to open the door for me.

"Why are we here?" I asked, confused and curious.

"Because my fiancée is too beautiful to get dirty with dirty sand."

I smiled and let him lead me where he imagined. He hugged me around the shoulders and kissed me on the forehead.

"You know, I wanted this to be perfect. So the owners came out and put this together." he said and pointed with his hand to a small restaurant right on the beach. I loved it because of the terrace with a beautiful view of the ocean. A table for two was solemnly set on the terrace, surrounded by many large candles. There were also fairy lights above the table. I was surprised. Ron cavalierly helped me to the table. My eyes watered.

"You like it?"

"Ron, it's wonderful. I've never experienced anything like this."

"I promise you that I will always try to make you happy. And I promise you that I will do everything in my power to show you my gratitude for your affection every day. And believe me, this is how our days will be." he said holding my palm. The owner of the restaurant brought the appetizers and the main course right after. We talked about various things because Ron was interested in my view on marriage.

"I didn't ask you…do you want kids?" he asked me a little nervously.

"I want. 5 boys and 6 girls." I said watching Ron's face change color like a traffic light.

"Pilot, breathe. I'm kidding you. I'd like a girl and a boy." I told him.

"Ok. I was already scared." he said and visibly breathed a sigh of relief. We laughed and were served chocolate cake.

"The cake is from that pastry shop of ours. I remember you liked it." he added and bit into a piece of cake. Suddenly, Tommy, the drummer of the band I was singing as a replacement for, appeared, carrying a guitar. He played the bars of 'Heaven' by Bryan Adams. His gentle voice added another romantic touch to this evening.

"Shall we?" Ron asked me holding out his hand begging for a dance. We danced gently while I hugged him. I was mesmerized. So sweet, so gentle, so brave, and yet so rough. And above all, romantic. This is my future husband. That's my Ron Kerner callsign Slider.