One Step at a Time... KOTLC One-shots

Eight (Tiana)

This is it! Either she says yes, or not. Tam nervously thought to himself, trudging up the stairs to Everglen. Once at the top, he paced, walking anxiously in tight circles, excitement and nerves tearing at his heart. Will she say yes? Oh, I hope she will. Please, please say yes! 

Tam finally sucked up enough courage to rap on the big wooden door, so timidly he cringed. He tried again, forcing his hand to knock louder. 

    A moment later, Biana's smiling face came into view as she opened the door. She looked as stunning as ever, in her frilly purple dress, and Tam's breath hitched. Her beauty left him speechless, and Tam knew he was just as in love as he had been the first moment he'd met her. All those years ago. 

"Hi, Tam! Come on in!" She grinned, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and gesturing inside. Tam smiled back, shyly stepping into the huge mansion.

"Hey, Biana. Ready to go?" Tam cleared his throat, trying not to sound nervous. It didn't work. 

"Yep! Let me grab my bag real quick." She said, jogging upstairs for a second, while Tam stood awkwardly. Biana came back, just as Tam was wondering if she was okay. She had a cute pink bag swung over her bare shoulder, the scars clearly visible creeping along her neck and arms. And Tam loved that about her. How she wasn't ashamed to show who she was now. 

"Ready?" He asked, holding out his hand, and Biana grasped it.

"Ready." And with that, they were whisked away by a beam of blue light.

              They materialized on a beach, blue waves rolling and crashing against the white, soft sand. The sun was a burning ball of light on the horizon in the pink, purple, and orange of the sky. A cool breeze rustled the palm trees overhead, and the first of the stars were just starting to show themselves, making it the most romantic place Tam had ever seen. Perfect. He thought, just as -'SPLASH!'! 

 Tam looked up, startled to see Biana looking guiltily happy. 

"Oh, I'll get you for that!" Tam exclaimed, running to the water and back with his hands full of water. Biana squealed as he dumped it on her perfect hair. 

"TAM!!! You think it's over?! Nope!" she ran into the waves, blinking in and out of sight. Tam concentrated on his ability as a Shade, using the shadows to see where Biana was hiding. Right! Now left!

"Got you!" He pounced, rolling around in the sand, tickling her. He laughed along with her, both making a complete mess of themselves on the ground. But Tam didn't care, and judging by the way Biana was giggling, she didn't mind the sand flying everywhere, either. 

       The sun had just finished setting, as Tam and Biana tried to wash themselves off in the chilly waves. Tam flicked the water towards Biana, and she shrieked, splashing a huge wave at him. Tam wobbled, tumbling into the tide. Biana clutched her sides as she laughed. Tam scowled playfully, dragging her in with him. She sprawled around, tugging at his leg and making him fall again right next to her. She hopped up, gave him kiss, and hauled him up to his feet. 

"Thanks," he grinned.

"Sure thing, Tammy. Besides, we all know you'll fall for me again!" She teased, and Tam realized that she was right.  

                       Tam and Biana sat together, laughing and flirting, glad to be with each other.  Tam realized that this was his silent que. 

"Biana, I wanted to tell--ask you something I've been wondering for a long time..."

"Yes?" She prompted, and the excitement flashing in her eyes was visible, even in the  dim light.

Tam reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box.

 "Biana, you are the most brilliant, beautiful, smartest person I've ever met. I think about you all the time, and you mean so, so much to me. Would you maybe please be my wife?" He knelt down on one knee.

"YES!!! Oh, Tam, yes!!!" She exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears as he slipped the ring on her finger with slightly shaky hands. The ring was gold, with a sparkling diamond in the center of a circle of pearls. It had a faint, shimmery-pink hue, and Tam knew the moment he saw it in Atlantis that she'd adore it. It was elaborate, yet still simple in a very lovely way.

Biana squealed adorably, jumping up and down before she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in.  It was a happy, sweet kiss, and Tam felt himself feeling such pure joy at truly being with Biana. 

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh, we're ENGAGED!!!" She cried, giving him one last kiss, before going back to jumping around in happy circles. Tam laughed, feeling a flood of relief that she'd accepted his proposal. It felt like a waterfall of happiness in his heart, and Tam surprised himself with the honesty of it. He hadn't experienced this much emotion in a hot minute, but being around his girlfriend was always special. My future wife, he thought giddily, Biana Vacker is soon to be my wife! 

It was a precious, purely joyful moment between them, as they laughed and smiled.  Each was sad when it came to an end, but they clung to the memory, and the place where their next story just began...

                 (I LOVE this scene SO MUCH, and I'm thrilled with how it came out. Thoughts? BTW, are y'all excited for the next Keeper book, "Unraveled"? I am. And from what I've heard, Chapter 42 is the bonus chapter in the paperbacks :))-- TianaSokeefe42