Fearlessly Yours

Marry Me

After a violent chapter, I wanted us to just focus on the loving part. Now that the unsub is caught, our hero and heroine needs some sweet exchanges to counteract the violence. The next couple of chapters after this one will be focused on unanswered questions. And I'm also saddened to say that this story is winding down, coming to an end. Thank you!

Strong and suggestive language used.

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Nicolas was taken aback by Joan's question. He wasn't sure if he heard it correctly or if he was just hallucinating or if he was projecting to Joan what he wanted to ask himself. He sat back on the floor, his back leaning on the wall behind him, his eyes solely focused on Joan. The other people surrounding them forgotten, the sound of chaos turned low and their surroundings dimmed. He sat there just looking at Joan.

"Nico?" Joan asked hesitantly. Before she asked her question, she was 100% sure that Nicolas would readily say yes. Because wasn't he the one who asked that question first. Yeah granted he asked it when he thought there was a possibility that she could be pregnant but he asked nonetheless. And now, looking at him, sitting there looking confused, she wasn't so sure anymore. "Nicolas?" she asked again.

"Hhhhmmm?"

"Did you hear me?"

"Hhhmmm?"

"Oh for fuck's sake, Nicolas! Just say no if you're answer is no. Don't sit there and pretend that..."

"Ssshhh" Nicolas interrupted Joan by placing his index finger on her lips.

"Don't you ssshhhh me!" Joan replied swatting his hand away and her voice rising an octave or two higher. She attempted to stand up and she would've fallen flat on her face if not for Nicolas's hands supporting her. She swayed a little on her feet so she had no choice but to hold on to Nicolas's shoulder while getting her bearings together. She didn't notice that Nicolas was kneeling on one knee while looking up at her with a stupid smile on his face. By the time Joan noticed their position, the rest of the people surrounding them were already turned in their direction and openly staring.

"Babe" Nicolas began to get Joan's attention back. He waited till she was looking down at him, with a perturbed expression on her face instead of the anger earlier. They must look really stupid, her looking like an assault victim (wait she was) and him looking like the police to the rescue (which he was). Huh! Go figure!

"Nico?" Joan asked again, this time confusion written all over her face.

"I heard what you asked earlier. I'm just a little mad at myself for not asking it first. But here goes" Nicolas stated while he reached inside his shirt and pulled out his necklace with a diamond ring attached to it. "I've been keeping this ring, close to my heart, for the past 3 weeks, finding the right time and right place to ask you. But now is as good as any since you've already asked me first. Which my answer to your question, by the way, is a resounding YES!" Nicolas added. He knew he was having some sort of verbal diarrhea but he can't seem to stop himself. He was so fucking nervous.

"Nico?" Joan asked again, this time to get him to refocus.

"Sorry. Anyway, Joan Margaret Demarco, the love of my life, the future mother of my children, will you do me the honor of agreeing to be my wife. Will you marry me?" On his last sentence, his voice hitched, giving way to his vulnerability. Nicolas, for all of his job and physique, he is still a man with insecurities.

Joan finally gave in to the weakness in her knees and sat down on Nicolas's bent knee. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let the tears come. She felt Nicolas wrapped his arms around her, one around her waist and the other under her knee as he stood up and carried her to the couch, cradling her petite body in his bulky frame, placing her on his lap. At first she cried from the relief, knowing that Sebastian and Cece were both safe. The she cried from the relief once more in knowing that Nicolas did want to marry her. Then she cried from happiness, knowing that Nicolas had been planning to ask her all along. However, in her tears, she forgot to give her answer.

Nicolas, bless his soul, did not rush her. He didn't ask again. He just cradled her in his arms and let Joan cry, wetting his shirt and neck in the process. He kept quiet, only creating soothing circles on her back, letting her cry it out. Until finally, she's all cried out.

"Nicolas Dynn Mendoza. Yes, I will marry you. Now could you please put that ring on my finger before I faint from exhaustion" Joan demanded which earned a heartfelt laughter from Nicolas and the rest of their audience. She watched in awe as Nicolas placed the engagement ring on her finger and just as she was about to kiss him, all went black and she fainted.

It was chaos after that. The paramedics who were just standing by, converged around them. Maine and RJ looked to their direction but cannot do anything because they were still trying to soothe their children who were both restless at this point. Nicolas didn't know what to do. One minute, Joan was demanding to have the ring on her finger and the next, she's unconscious.

Nicolas waited till the paramedics checked Joan's vital signs once more and was only able to breathe a sigh of relief when they declared everything was normal. The next instant, RJ was beside them, doing his own check up on Joan. In the end, RJ agreed with the paramedics that everything was normal but she needed to be taken to the hospital for a more thorough check up. 

"Go. Kuya Nico. Take her. We will follow as soon as we are given the go signal" RJ softly demanded seeing the worry in Nicolas's eyes. Nicolas turned to Maine and saw her give a nod and mouth out the words 'I love You Kuya'.

Nicolas carried Joan outside and secured her on the gurney of the paramedics inside the ambulance, without letting her hand go. Once he was also secured in his seat, the ambulance took off with sirens blaring.