Life is For Us

A Bit of the Past

"Stephanie, I'm fine," argued MatPat, marching into the next room.

"Babe, you're not fine," his wife complained, following him into their bedroom. "You didn't sleep on the plane, you were up all night researching, you were barely functioning at this morning's meeting, I beat you AT A PLATFORMER on the stream, and now you're going in for a recording? Matthew, you're becoming a stranger in your own home."

Matt sighed, standing half-in and half-out of the recording closet. "Stephanie, I'm doing this so we can enjoy our vacation in Alaska next week. It IS our anniversary." He hopped inside and closed the door behind him.

"Which Won't Be Any Fun If I Have A Husband Who Won't Do Something Other Than SLEEP!" Stephanie groaned in exasperation, see there was no getting through to him. She slipped into her pajamas and tucked herself in. Maybe Matthew would join her.... Probably not, but the hope of that thought and her husband's silky voice coming through the closet door helped put her under.

"Hello Internet!" greeted MatPat into the microphone. "Welcome to Game Theory, the show that does THEORIES, no more ill-fated speculations on games that haven't come out yet; where today we're taking another jab at Life is Strange, because its sequel was just announced, and staying relevant on the internet requires you to shamelessly promote every channel you have and ride google search trends."

Matt start off ready. He was ready to speak all four of his scripts in a record time of three hours. A ten minute script usually took an hour to record. Even though he was brimming with energy when he came in, and he sustained it for a while with a Diet Coke, soon the Diet Coke ran dry and the heat of the warm closet caught up with him. 

"We see Max go through the photos lots of times... Why-" a yawn slipped out.  "Why doesn't she..." Matt's body was failing him. He propped himself up with a head with a shirt awhile ago, which turned out to be a dangerous move. His head was slowly falling into the substitute pillow and he was struggling to keep his eyes open. Soon enough, he was fast asleep.

*

Matt slowly opened his eyes. He decided to skip the recording for a bit and gt some food. However, when he left the closet, there was something on his bed. It looked like Stephanie was taking a trip down memory lane. He flipped through the photo album, looking at all of their still memories.

He picked up a bag that was lying on the bed. In it was shards of glass. He smiled. The day he'd wanted to propose to Stephanie she leaned on a mirror and smashed it. She was about to cry, fearing she'd ruined everything, but he pretended to pick up the pieces and proposed to her on the spot. They kept the shards of the mirror as a memento.

He noticed a photo in the memory book. It was of him and Steph. Well, mostly him, some of Steph. It was him, grinning like a fool and Stephy hiding her face in his neck. He remembered that photo. He'd taken it the morning he'd proposed.

God, Stephanie looked gorgeous. Neither of them were wearing anything, but the bed sheets were covering the rest of them. Matt grinned as he re-heard her laughter. Audible. As if she was... Matt looked around, but saw no one.

He turned back to the photo. It had become a bit blurry. Matt frowned and focused on the photo more. The world seemed to blur. His mind filled with all of the pictures they'd taken. Them getting married, moving out of New York, finishing unpacking, the first panel he'd ever visited... Within seconds he was in the past. Holding the camera as he took the picture.

"Stahp...." Stephanie groaned into his shoulder. "It's embarrassing."

Matt couldn't help but smile. Having his wife by his side certainly made the transition through time and space easier. He pulled her close to him. But she wasn't his wife yet. That would all change, today.

The morning began as any would. Stephanie got ready while Matt helped. With a quick peck on the lips, Steph headed out and Matt set to work. He went to work turning the apartment into- He froze. He grabbed his phone and punched a number, speed dial number 7. "Micheal, I need a favor, can you keep Stephanie distracted for the day?"

*

Matthew scanned the room "She'll come through this door,"  he worked through mentally. "I'll direct through Duke University around to New York, and we'll finish in the bedroom with-"

He heard someone coming down the hallway. He zoomed to the doorway. Stephanie was putting in the key... turning the lock... boy this woman was slow... opening the door...

"Bye," Stephanie called to someone down the hall, presumably Micheal. She swung the door completely open and was startled by Matt. "Hey! What's up?"

"Stand there," instructed MatPat, closing the door behind her. He took off her coat and hung it up. "Now," he directed, taking her by the hand, "today is our 1,500 day together. And it's been a journey." He showed her their picture memories of them at Duke University, starting with the shot of her covering her face with him.

Stephanie was surprised that he'd taken the time to do this. She gasped and looked through the pictures of the two of them. There was the picture of them graduating, them trying to keep a long distance romance, and the picture he'd taken of her before sprinting into her arms at the airport when she'd finally arrived at New York.

"Oh my gosh," she sighed, giving him a kiss. "I can't believe you put so much time into this little retrospective."

"Actually," Matt grinned, grabbing her wrist and leading her into the room with the projector set up in it. "We still have one more thing to get through."

Matt took her into the room and started up the film. He with a giggle he offered her some popcorn to watch with. Part of the way in there his past-self began recording Pride and Prejudice. Matt made a quick excuse, something like 'more butter,' and rushed from the room.

He watched through the crack in the door to see her stand up with awe. It was the section of the video where the words on the screen displayed, "at the end of this video, I would propose to you."

Matt watched for the next four minutes as Steph stood and watched the bright blinking lights, showing the best of their relationship. Matt could see the light sparkling by her eyes. She was crying. Stephanie wiped her nose. Yep, definitely crying.

As the last of the song played, Matt stepped in and recited the last lines of the video. "I just wanted it to be perfect. Then I realized it's been perfect all along."

Matt got down on one knee and pulled out the beautiful engagement ring he'd spent so much time saving up for. "Stephanie, my love," he finished. "Will you merry me? Please?"

Stephanie was filled with tears and rushed down to give him a hug. "Oh Matthew," she sobbed with joy. "I will."

Matthew's vision zoomed out of the altered memory. He was re-greeted to the same memories. Them getting married, moving out of New York, finishing unpacking, the first panel he'd ever visited... Strange, he'd changed such a major part of his life, yet nothing big actually changed in the grand scheme of things.

Then again, he wouldn't have it any other way.

*

Matt awoke in the closet. He couldn't tell if what he'd just experienced was reality, a dream, or both. But he loved it just the same.

Matt stood up and climbed out of the closet. He looked over at Stephanie. "Steph," he called softly, "are you awake."

Stephanie shifted in bed. "Yes Matt. Are you coming to bed."

Matt practically flew onto the bed and wrapped her up in his. Stephanie was a bit startled, but was a bit pushed into her as he nuzzled up with her. "I'm glad you came to your senses," she reasoned, running her hands through his hair.

Matt just pushed in closer to her neck. "I'm just so happy that you're with me. Just needed to be reminded."

Stephanie didn't know what he was talking about, but she just snuggled happily anyway. She fell asleep in his arms.