Reuben had been planning this moment for literal years at this point.
He and Jia had been together since they were seventeen, making it through the last days of high school, all of college and the Naval Academy, and they were still going strong.
And it's not like nobody wasn't expecting this to happen eventually. Hell, he was pretty sure there were betting pools around the milestone events in their relationship.
But getting Jia to actually comply without asking questions was next to impossible. She was a curious person by nature, so just taking a drive led to a million and one questions, none of which Reuben could answer without giving too much away.
He's not quite sure how he did it, but somehow, he had managed to get Jia to a local park, one with a playground and swingset, just like they used to play on as kids.
"Reuben, what are we doing here?" Jia asked him, needing to know, even if he hadn't given her any answers that night.
But he was finally able to answer this one. "What, I can't take my beautiful girlfriend out on a date when we finally have time to actually have one?"
He even had a picnic basket full of food for the two of them.
Jia raised an eyebrow. "Of course you are. But why here? Why a park? We could have done dinner, I wouldn't have minded."
Reuben shrugged, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. "I saw this on a run the other day, and it just reminded me of how far we've come, that's all. Thought it could be a fun trip down memory lane."
That much was true. He had stumbled upon the park on a run, and he did think it would be a fun trip. But it also became the perfect place for that all-important question.
The two adults raced around the equipment like they were kids all over again. Laughter spilled into the evening air, echoing off the trees.
Finally coming to a stop by the swings, Reuben bowed to Jia, holding his arm out to the swing. "Would you like a push, my lady?" He asked in a posh accent.
Jia smiled, curtseying as she replied "why of course, my good sir."
They laughed as she sat down, Reuben going behind to push her lightly. Both enjoyed the peace the area gave them. No one else came to this park at night, so they had it all to themselves.
It was a few minutes later when Jia was no longer feeling Reuben's hands pushing her. She slowed herself down, getting off before turning to him and stopping in shock.
Reuben had knelt down on one knee, a box in his hand.
"Jia, from the day you landed on top of me jumping from a swingset not too different from this one, I knew I was a goner. You had no fear going through life, while I was afraid of everything. You broke me out of my shell and showed me a world I didn't even know existed. What I did know was that I wanted to protect you from any and all harm I could. And while you haven't made it easy, I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Jia's hands were over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.
"So," Reuben continued. "Jia Mancini, will you continue to show me a world without fear and marry me?"
She nodded her head rapidly, words failing her for the moment out of pure shock. Quickly regaining her composure, she whispered, "Yes."
And then louder, as she walked towards the man she loved, she repeated the word. "Yes. I will!"
He jumped up from his knee, Jia bringing him in for a passionate kiss. They separated just enough for Reuben to slide the ring onto Jia's finger.
Another kiss was pulled in, both parties smiling and crying tears of utter happiness and joy.
It was the perfect ending to a storybook romance and the perfect beginning to the rest of their lives.
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Word count: 678
I just loved the idea of them getting engaged in a place where they first met. It's too cute for the Childhood friends to Lovers trope so it fit perfectly!
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