It's Just Me

Please, tell me...

Using the back of my hand to wipe the sweat off my forehead, I then straighten up, wincing at the slight pain in my back. I've been trying to fit my things into a room Stevie had given me, moving furniture around, filling up the shelves and drawers with all kinds of notebooks full of lyrics, demo tapes, records, instruments - you name it. 

"I think, I should move that where it was." I say out loud, thinking I was alone, but I jump a little, hearing Stevie's voice from behind. 

"Why don't you take a break, huh? You've been in here for hours." I place my hands over hers, once she wraps her arms around me from behind. "I've fixed us lunch."

"Sure, I can rest for a bit." I nod and turn around in her arms, kissing the tip of her nose, before we go to the kitchen together. "I hope this is not too overwhelming for you."

"What is?" Stevie asks, sitting down beside me. 

"Me moving in. We said, we would take things slow."

"That we did, but... well, we're close to seventy years old, both of us, I don't think we can take things slow." She laughs at her own joke and I smile, just because she looks so damn adorable. "In all seriousness, no, Linds. I want you here. I think we have wasted enough time that we could have spent together instead. It's nice to wake up with you, I love it that yours is the last face I see before going to bed. I was slightly afraid, but I'm not now, when you are here. You have always been my home, Lindsey."

"Steph... My God." I don't know what to say, as I lean in, kissing her lips and then I do that again a few times more. "I think, you know I feel the same about you. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here now, I wouldn't have kept on trying. I would have just given up a very long time ago."

"I'm glad you didn't. I know I'm stubborn, I know I'm difficult, but you still love me and I love you, too."

"Well, it's not the easiest to be with me either."

"No, it's really not." Stevie says and lightens up the mood, as we both laugh lightly. "I've tried to prove otherwise, but... you are my soulmate."

My heart swells and I can't believe how freaking stupid we are to have wasted our lives away, finding something to bicker about, something to say to each other, knowing it would piss the other off, always finding something to irk each other with. We could have avoided it all. If we had only sat down, had a conversation like two grown up people, we could have avoided all of it.

Before I could even think what was coming out of my mouth, it did. 

"Stevie, marry me."

The glass of water she was holding, is now shattered into pieces on the floor, as she stares at me, her mouth agape and eyes wide.

"I'm not joking. Steph, I love you more than any words could ever explain. And like you said, we're both approaching seventy and pretty damn fast, too. You know that my biggest dream has always been to have a family with you. We have Alex and he's the best gift I have ever been given and now I would love if you finally became my wife." I realize I could scare her away and as fast as I've unloaded my things, I might have to pack them up again, but I want this. More than anything. "I'm not asking you to change your name. You can still be a Nicks, but please, wear my ring."

She closes her mouth at last and the corners of her lips curl up, as she then draws them in a thin line, looking at me. "Are you being serious right now?"

"As a heart attack. Yes, I know this isn't the most romantic setup, but I truly didn't plan on proposing to you. I think it only shows how badly I want you to be mine."

"But I am yous, baby." She says, sounding so sincere.

"We don't have to do this tomorrow." I add. "Just please, tell me, yes. Say you will become my wife."

Stevie's facial expression changes into a more serious one, as she takes in a deep breath, looking away, thinking silently for a minute, before facing me again. "Can you wait until my tour is over?" 

I grin like an idiot, asking. "Are you saying..."

"Yes, Lindsey. I want to become your wife." She nods against my chest, since I've pulled her into my arms already. "I certainly wasn't expecting this so suddenly, but I've dreamed about you asking me this question for too long, because I was stupid enough to turn you down before."

"I can't believe this." I shake my head, laughing at the same time as she does, too. "Finally!"

"Well, you've been quite persistent, I'd say." She chuckles, pursing her lips, as I lean down to kiss them. "And I'm glad you have."

I have only felt this happy once before and that is when Alex was born. I have those butterflies in my stomach right now and I know I will be just as over the moon, when Stevie says, I do, at last.