love happy • chris evans (bwwm)

• twenty one •

"That didn't hurt too bad now, did it?" Chris asked as Phoenix examined her new tattoo. It didn't even take a full 60 seconds for the tattoo artist to finish the 1 inch tattoo on the knuckle of her pinky finger; and she opted to get a crescent moon to oppose her boyfriend's sun tattoo, that was also in the same spot on his finger.

They decided to get matching tattoos on their pinky fingers rather than the ring finger because they weren't planning on getting married, but more importantly the pinky symbolized promises they had made to one another already and the ones they'd make in the future; nothing beats a good pinky promise.

Phoenix placed her left hand on top of Chris's so she could compare their tattoos. "Our first tattooed pinky promise. Do you wanna do the honors or shall I?"

"I'll start." He offered before wrapping his pinky around Phoenix's and placing a kiss on the top of her hand. "I pinky promise to spend my entire life loving you, unconditionally. For as long as my name is Christopher Robert Evans, you will own my heart."

"I pinky promise to love you fiercely and wholeheartedly forever and beyond. For as long as my name is Genevieve Phoenix Benali, you will always have me as a friend first, partner, lover, and shoulder to cry on." She promised without letting go of his pinky. "I love you."

"I love you more honeybee." Chris replied before passionately kissing his girlfriend. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his hands on her hips. "Do you wanna dance?"

"Dance with no music?" She asked.

"I'll sing."

"Sure, Chris." Phoenix smiled while resting her hands on his upper back.

As they began to swag back and forth, Chris started to sing Diamonds and Pearls by Prince in a playful tone.

Phoenix rested her head onto Chris's chest as she watched his tattoo guy pack up all his equipment. She kept her focus on the man who had just tattooed her before she noticed Chris looking down at her while still singing.

"D to the I to the A to the M, O to the N to the D to the pearls of loveeeee." He sang after she looked up at him.

"You are such a dork."

"And you're stuck with me forever." Chris added in the rhythm of the song.

"I hope so." Phoenix mumbled into his chest. "You know, I was thinking that maybe we should like I dunno... go to couples counseling or something. Just to make sure forever MEANS forever."

The truth of the matter was that Phoenix had been thinking about counseling for a little while now. She would rather endure 3 months worth of sessions that she didn't want to attend than lose Chris.

Every issue they had as a couple had the same underlying issue that had never really been solved. Marriage and kids was the root of almost every argument they'd ever had within a two year timeframe. And Phoenix was convinced that if she was as into the idea of marriage as Chris was from the beginning, they would've had a virtually perfect relationship with barely any serious arguments. However, that wasn't the hand she'd been dealt. There were temporary compromises and solutions but at the end of the day, it never ceased to come up again which is what made Phoenix realize the only way she and Chris could truly get past it was to seek outside help, together.

"You know what, I think that's a fantastic idea." Chris spoke while gently running his fingers up and down her lower back.

"Great. I'll set something up when I come back from London."

"London? When are you going to London?" He asked curiously. "And why?"

"Next week to follow Tom around." She answered.