You're In Awfully Early {Septiplier}

Just Too Happy

Tears still flooding his eyes, Mark slide into his car, so very careful with the small bag in his fist. In his seat, he gently reaches inside the bag, securing the small, black box in his fingers. The touch of the velvet soft box only brings more tears to his eyes as he forces himself not to peak inside. He only wants to see the ring again on Jack's finger.

He's been on the hunt for the perfect ring for months, glancing through countless websites. Even after his extensive search, he had yet to find the perfect one for Jack: the one that would bring tears to the Irishman's eyes every time he looked at it. Only a few hours from picking his boyfriend up from the airport, he finally secured a ring for his love.

He's been the nearly every jewelry store in LA, looked through thousands of rings. He even tried a few on, images them on his lover's slender finger. Nothing hit him until he was glancing through the showcase at this small shop.

His eye caught on the beautiful ring when it sparkled behind the glass. He could only pause, stare at it for what felt like an eternity. He could perfectly picture the band sliding onto Jack's finger, glimmering from their intertwined hands, finding its home there forever.

He cried in the shop, to which the nice lady gave him a tissue. He almost wishes he would have brought another person with him, to channel the explosion of joy onto. Unfortunately, the woman at the counter received their life story, a snapshot of the last four years of their life together.

He slides the box back into the bag, wiping happy tears from his eyes. He hides the bag in the glove compartment, heart already yearning for the day he can put the ring on his lover's finger. Even though he promised himself he would make his proposal a surprise to everyone, he fishes his phone from his pocket. In a few memorized clicks, the phone is ringing.

"Marky?" his mother answers. Her soft, bright, accented voice calms him immediately, brings a warm smile to his face.

"Mom, I'm getting married," Mark nearly whispers, almost unable to believe it himself.

"You better not have proposed without your family there!" She calls, accent heavy in her surprise.

Mark laughs. "I didn't, Mom. I promise I didn't. But I'm going to at the convention. That's why I invited you and Thomas and Dee. And Jack invited his entire family. Everyone's going to be there for it, and I just can't wait, Mom. The ring is perfect. God, I wish you could see it."

"Well, next time you could invite your mother to help you pick it out," she teases.

"There won't be a next time," he smiles, getting teary eyed. "He's the one. God, he's always been the one."

"I know, sweetie," she coos.

Mark can image the smug smirk on her face, chuckling at the thought.

"I've known since you first brought him home to me," she continues, pride radiating from her words. "I knew it, and I told Tommy right then and there that Jack would be my son in law."

"Of course you did, Mom," he smiles, shaking his head lightly.

"A mother knows," she agrees before her voice soften again. "I can't wait for you to propose, Marky. He's going to say yes. And you're going to make your dear mom cry."

"Not a dry eye in the house."

He wipes his watery eyes, realizing how much he misses Jack. It's only been a few days, a short trip for a relative's small wedding, but Mark can still feel the emptiness in his chest. He misses the warmth in his arms, laughter in his ears, joy in his soul. He can't wait to see Jack again.

"Thomas got your plane tickets, right?" Mark asks, focusing on logistics to ease his aching heart.

"He seemed to know what he was doing," she offers, unhelpful but trying. "Baby, I'll be there even if I have to walk, okay? Don't you worry about us."

"Just let me worry a bit, okay?" Mark chuckles. "I booked all your hotel reservations. You're going to be next to Jack's family, so please be nice to them. We really want to invite you all to the wedding, okay?"

"Of course," she chirps. "Tommy and I will be on our best behavior, okay? And, I'm sure Dee will be her usual cheery self. If she couldn't argue with your father, then I'm certain she can't with anyone else."

"Mom!"

"It's true!"

"Okay, okay," he sighs, shaking his head. "I'm going to head to the airport. I'm sure LA traffic will still make me late. I'll see this weekend, okay? I love you."

"Love you too, Marky. Can't wait to see you and my son in law. Maybe the LA sun has finally given him some color. Poor boy looked like a ghost over Christmas."

Mark shakes his head lightly, a small roll of his eyes accompanying the shake. "He's Irish, Mom. That's just his skin tone. Please tell me you have other things to talk to his family about aside from how pale he is."

"No more worrying," she hushes. "Go get your fiancé."

"Boyfriend," Mark corrects. "Soon to be fiancé. But, it's a surprise, okay?"

"Boyfriend," she agrees, the smile clear in her voice. "My lips are sealed, sweetie."