Charles was always full of surprises, always doing little romantic gestures or even big ones (which you always gave a little speech about). Something as getting your favorite ice cream while he's on a grocery run because he noticed you're almost out, made you fall in love with him a little more. He spoiled you rotten and you don't know what you'd done to deserve him, but you were happy to have him.
There were days where it was hard, being so far away from him for long periods of time, and no one hated that more than Charles. If you'd had a bad day or one of your regular fights with your mom over the phone, he couldn't do anything to help you and it killed him no matter how many times you'd assured him it was fine. It was his job, and it's what you both signed up for. But that didn't make him feel any less guilty. So when he was back, he made up for it tenfold by way of clingy to you every second of the day until he'd have to leave again. You'd make fun of him being so cuddly but Cuddly Charles was your favorite Charles.
The first two nights of him home usually consisted of him sprawled out on top of you on the couch, burying his face in your chest while you ran your fingers through his hair. There was always a Harry Potter film on, but within the first fifteen minutes of the movie you'd hear his soft snores, and when you'd tried to get him to get up and go to bed he'd draw himself closer mumbling a 'No! I'm watching this.' into your chest. It was a tradition of sorts, and one you always looked forward too, so when he stepped into the apartment fresh off the plane and ordered you into the bedroom after your 'welcome home' kiss and hug you were more than confused. 'I'll come to get you in five minutes' he said.
Well, five minutes had come and gone and you were still pacing your room picking at what was left of your manicure. You could hear furniture moving, and a few swears which made you giggle, knowing it was him tripping over the new rug you got. It'd had been a hot topic from the day it was delivered, he hated the thing.
It was when you heard what sounded like pots and pans from the kitchen that you drew the line.
You threw the door open to your room and made your way around the corner. You loved him,
"Charles! What are you -"
"Honey no! Give me two more minutes." He meets you halfway, turning you around and marching you back to your room. You turned the corner, folding your arms across your chest trying not to laugh at his antics.
"Okay, you can come out."
You walk around the corner and it's the sweetest thing you've ever seen. Charles had made a makeshift restaurant out of your dining table, pulling out an old tablecloth you used when your parents were over and candles you didn't know you had. In the kitchen, there's a little assembly line of sorts laid out. A few pieces from the fridge. Some pots and pans, a cutting board and some bowls, it looks like he cleared out the cabinets really. And Charles stood in the middle of it all, hands tucked into his pocket and the most adorable nervous smile on his lips.
"Charles, what is this?" You giggle, walking into the kitchen, looking at the hodgepodge of things laid out.
"I thought we could make dinner together like we use too?"
You don't think you've seen him this nervous since you first started dating, and it was so endearing your heart could burst.
"You mean I cook and you distract me?"
"Yeah," he chuckles, following you into the kitchen, pulling you into a sweet peck.
He cradles you face in your hands, rubbing little circles on your cheeks, and you can see the little bit of sadness behind his eyes.
"I know things have been kinda nuts lately, and I just wanted to show you that I'm still here. And that I love you."
"I know. I love you too, but you don't have to do things like this everytime. I understand - "
"I want to. You deserve it." He whispers, leaning into a kiss that goes a little deeper. He pulls away and looks down at you with that stare that, as cliche as it may seem, makes your knees weak every time. The one that says 'I love you more than anything, and I want to give you the world.'
"Well," you chirp, placing one more quick peck to his lips before pulling away from his embrace, "what are we making? I haven't done the shopping for the week, I was going to wait till you got back."
"I found a few things. Figured you could work your magic?" He smirks down at you batting his eyelashes and you just roll your eyes.
You really did have a knack for cooking, anything that was in the fridge or the cabinet you could somehow turn into a meal for the two of you. A pretty decent one too. Before you moved in, he literally had no food. He traveled a ton, sure but you wondered how he ever ate. If it wasn't for you, you sure he wouldn't.
"I'll see what I can do." You smirked, playfully cracking your knuckles.
You quickly went to work, deciding on making an easy pasta with a butter lemon garlic sauce and added some chicken you'd made for yourself the night before.
As you were cutting up the chicken into strips to add in, Charles hopped off the counter next to you coming up behind you, stealing a piece of chicken before wrapping his arms around your waist.
"I missed you so much." He mumbles into your hair, as he placed kisses to your temple and cheek. "Can't think of anything better to come home to than this."
"What, me being your personal Chef?" You smile, nudging him with your elbow.
"No, just you. If I could have this for the rest of my life I'd be the happiest guy in the world."
It's not the first time he's eluded to marriage or an engagement. In the two years you'd been together it's come up quite a bit actually, but it's the first time he's said it like this. There was something in his voice, you couldn't quite put your finger on it, but your stomach started doing somersaults.
You pushed the cutting board away turning around in his arms to look up at him, and he's smiling down at you with that look in his eyes.
"Yeah?" You ask, voice a little shaky.
"Yeah. I mean now's not the best time, obviously. And I'm not saying we should elope tomorrow. But eventually...yeah. I want this, always. I want to have a life with you."
There's so much love in his voice, you nearly want to cry. You could see it perfectly. The two of you, happy in a nice house (his condo is fantastic, but it's no place to raise a family), with weekly dinner dates. It was perfect.
You reach up, wrapping your arms around his neck, pulling him in to kiss.
"I love you so much."
"Love you more."
