Falling For Freddie (Freddie Mercury or Queen Fanfic)

f o u r t y - f i v e

"Mrs. Bulsara! I can smell your cooking from upstairs!" Alice announced as she entered the dining room, her mouth glistening with drool from wetting her lips. Loud footsteps followed behind her, running down the stairs and through the hallway, stopping directly behind Alice.

"Mmmm, mama's cooking is the best!" Freddie wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled his nose to the side of her neck. Agitated by his sudden PDA in front of his parents, Alice loosen his grip on her.

"Come seat here Alice," Jer insisted pointing to the empty chair. Freddie was quick to pull the chair back, being the gentleman that he is, grinning from ear to ear. Alice squinted her eyes at him wary of his sudden act of chivalry after their argument upstairs. For dinner, Jer had cooked a variety of Indian dishes to see if Alice could handle the spices and Alice took it like a champion. She had always been fond of spicy food, especially foods originating from South-East Asia.

Halfway through dinner, Alice paused mid-chew, "This Dhal Curry is so good, I love that the gravy is thick!" Freddie looked to his beau grinning, he noticed she was eating with her hands, tearing the naan bread awkwardly embracing his family's Indian culture.

"What?" Alice asked with her mouth full, peeved at Freddie's dubious smirk towards her.

"Nothing. I just like to watch you eat," Freddie answered grinning. Alice squinted her eyes to him, she knew he was amusing to her but she was unsure what it was. He continued, "And I have never seen you eat like this."

Alice glanced to Jer and Bomi flashing her smile and then looked back to Freddie. "It's because your mom's cooking is great! And I'm eating for two," she rubbed her tummy with her eyes closed projecting her your-mom-will-love-me-more smirk to Freddie. He let out a snort, Alice was acting adorable. Bomi and Jer merely glanced at each other amused of the couple's antics.

"So Freddie, you and Alice have been together for some time now I believe." Bomi changed the topic.

"Yes Baba, next month is our anniversary," Freddie answered, glancing quickly to Alice. She looked down with pursed lips, as if she missed what Freddie had said and tried her best to look as if she was more focused on tearing the naan bread on her plate, but her blushing cheeks said the opposite.

"You seem very affectionate towards each other," Jer added. "So first comes the baby; but where is the ring son?" That question caught Freddie off-guard, marriage. He gazed back to Alice, impassive, his eyes wide and all his playfulness stripped away.

"Well, since you brought it up mama---" Freddie proclaimed standing up, one hand reaching the insides of his pocket. Alice's mouth hung open, what is he doing? He dragged his chair nearer to Alice and placed a Cartier box next to her plate, Bomi and Jer had their eyes wide open, excited at the ongoing commotion.

"Oh my God. Please don't do whatever you plan to do HERE," Alice smacked her lips nervously. "Not here with your parents, its embarrassing love." She pleaded again reaching for his hand.

"Yeah, I am. What's wrong with that?" Freddie claimed confidently seating back on his seat, cupping both her hands into his. 

"No, nothing wrong with it. I guess it shows confidence," Alice replied awkwardly. She tucked her hair away, unsure how she should react.

"Alice. Love---" Freddie started, pausing though he practiced his speech a million times in the shower.

"Wait! You're going to get down on your knees, right?" she purposely glanced to the floor then back to his eyes.

"No. I'm not getting down on my knee," Freddie shook his head. 

"Why not?" Alice pouted her lips.

"I'm not getting down on my knee Alice," Freddie insisted again, his nose flared. The proposal was supposed to be romantic, but Alice had to switch up the drama.

"Such a mistake," Alice shook her head disappointed.

"Okay. Alice," Freddie lovingly called out her name, trying to start over. Bomi and Jer glanced at each other, amused at their son and Alice. 

"Yes," Alice answered to him with a playful tone.

"Don't make me laugh. Alice," Freddie smacked his lips, fighting a smile. "Will you, um, marry me?" Alice's smile quickly turned into a stone-cold look, expressionless, and the silence was killing him.

Alice took a deep breath before blurting out calmly, "No."

"Great," Freddie instantly released her hands, brushing his hair back with a sigh. He was not shocked with her answer because it would not be Alice to simply say YES.

"Well, what do you mean, 'Will you, UM, marry me?'" Alice folded her hands. Freddie sighed, preparing his ear for what's to come. "We met each other less than a year ago Freddie, I would at least want you to look happy or excited about the prospect of our relationship. You're asking me to give up my 20s," she paused trying to find the right words. "My joie de vivre for an establishment that flops as often as it prospers?"

Freddie cleared his throat ready to speak but Alice held up her index finger asking for another minute. She muttered, "And why should I marry you anyway? I mean, why do you want to marry me?"

"Oh!" Freddie groaned rolling his eyes, that last sentence had him reeling.

"You should've got on your knee," Alice insisted again, sipping her warm masala tea.

"Give me a minute darling," Freddie stood back on his feet again. Bomi and Jer looked to each other, dipping their naans into the dhal, the drama capturing their full attention. Freddie walked back and forth next to Alice, preparing his counter argument. Their relationship was never normal, they were two passionate lovers who somehow indulged in pushing each other's button.

"Here," he sat back to his seat. Cupping her hands into his, "I want to make you my wife because you're the first person that I want to look at when I wake up in the morning and the only one I want to kiss goodnight. Because the first time that I held you in my hands, I could not imagine not being able to hold them."

He paused kissing Alice's hand onto his and then dropping to one knee, pushing the chair behind. With a deep breath he continued, "But mainly because when you love someone as much as I love you Ms. Alice Ainsworth, making you mine is the only thing left to do." 

Alice felt a hiccup coming, she bit her lower lip, overwhelmed of what he had said. 

"So will you, Alice Ainsworth, marry me?" Freddie repeated, murmuring the words in between her knuckles, her hands he held. The silence in the room was obvious, Bomi and Jer stopped chewing waiting for her answer.

"I---," she said taking her hand away from his grip. "I have to think about it."