𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

after breakfast?

Right after she finds the ring, same quiet room, sunlight through the windows, two idiots in love.

Bea sat back on her heels, turning the ring in her fingers again. Nico still knelt in front of her, looking like he didn't know whether to laugh, run, or melt into the floor.

"You were really gonna propose?" she asked.

"Eventually," Nico muttered, sheepish. "Wanted to do it right. Big moment. Something with lanterns. Maybe a stupid speech. Maybe get Thomas to cry."

Bea snorted. "That's not hard. Just say you're proud of him."

They laughed together, soft, easy.

Then, still holding the ring, Bea tilted her head at him. A long pause.

Something shifted behind her amber eyes.

"Let's get married," she said. "Tomorrow."

Nico blinked. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Bea said, suddenly grinning like a maniac. "After breakfast. Before anyone can talk us out of it."

Nico stared. "You mean it?"

"You already have the ring, pirate. And unless you've got some secret fiancé hiding on another coast, I think I'm your best shot."

His breath caught in his throat and then he started laughing. Just full, ridiculous laughter that made Bea laugh too, both of them folding over each other like kids.

"After breakfast?" he said again, still laughing.

"We'll eat pancakes and ruin the Right Arm's entire schedule. It'll be perfect."

"What about clothes? What about—?"

"We've survived plague, pirates, war, and Vicky's mood swings. I think we'll manage."

He looked at her, really looked at her. Wind in her hair from the cracked window. Her cheeks flushed. That ring still clutched in her hand like a secret promise. The first home they'd ever built around them.

"Okay," he whispered. "Let's do it."

She slipped the ring onto her finger.

It wasn't a proposal.

It was a declaration.

Tomorrow morning, after pancakes, they were getting married.

And neither of them had ever looked more certain.