Ruby Redfort: try not to scream

Chapter 46- Stronger Together

Ruby kept her word. She did visit Victor Von Leyden in prison and never forgot about him. As the years went by, Ruby, Clancy and Hitch became the golden trio. They worked together on everything and anything. On Valentine's day, when Clancy had just turned twenty two and Ruby was still twenty one, Clancy had a question to ask Ruby.
He picked Ruby up from her house on Cedarwood Drive. Hitch let him in and left him in the kitchen to wait for Ruby. Soon after, she descended the stairs in a short black dress, beaming at him. Even after all that time, Clancy Crew still got nervous when he saw Ruby. He smiled up at her and kissed her softly.
"Hi Rube. Are you ready to go?" he asked, eyes still closed and his forehead touching hers.
"Uh-huh," she sighed, leaning back in and kissing him again. He held her tightly so that there was no space between their bodies. Ruby leaned back, out of breath. She smiled, lovingly at him and let go. Clancy pressed his lips into her cheek one last time before taking her hand.
"Come on, let's go," he grinned. Clancy was more nervous than he had ever been. Tonight was the night that he was going to ask Ruby to marry him. Although they were young and still naive and scared, he knew she was the one for him.
He led her to the car. His driver, Bill, opened the door for them and began to drive them to the restaurant.
"You still haven't told me where we're going," said Ruby as Clancy's finger ran up her thigh.
"It's a surprise, Rube," he said. He smiled sweetly at her, leaned over and kissed her gently. She sighed, happily as he stroked her arm and deepened the kiss.
"I love you," she breathed as she pulled away.
"And I'm crazy about you," he whispered.
When they arrived at the restaurant, the waiter directed Clancy and Ruby up the stairs onto a private balcony where their table was surrounded by candles.
"Oh my gosh," said Ruby smiling at Clancy. "This is so romantic, thank you,"
He grinned over and pulled out her chair for her. She sat down and looked at her surroundings. Her eyes were glinting in the candlelight and as Clancy looked at her, he realised how lucky he was.
Once they had finished their meal, Clancy walked with Ruby through the streets of Twinford until they reached the ice rink. They went inside and entered Spectrum. Clancy was now a fully fledged agent and worked alongside his girlfriend.
"What are we doing?" asked Ruby, following him through the orange corridor. He said nothing but pulled her through the rainbow halls until they reached the Red Room. When they entered Ruby's office, it was decorated with roses. Ruby gasped in delight as Clancy pulled her inside. She smiled up at him.
"You did all of this for me?" she asked, placing her hand on his cheek.
"You're worth it," he whispered, touching her hand. Ruby giggled slightly as he hugged her.
"There's actually something I wanted to ask you," he smiled. Ruby nodded. Clancy sighed and began the speech he had been preparing for days.
"Ruby Elizabeth Redfort, I have loved you since I was seven and from the moment I first saw you I knew that you were the girl for me. The past five years have been the best years of my life and I've never felt so happy in all my days. You are the most beautiful person I've ever met, inside and out. Now, I know we're still young but I know that I'm not too young to know when something is gonna last forever. So, I was wondering..." Clancy bent down on one knee and pulled the ring from his jacket pocket. Ruby's hand clasped to her mouth, covering the huge smile across her lips. Tears of joy streamed from her eyes as he uttered the gorgeous words...
"Will you marry me?"
Ruby knelt down beside him and crashed her lips onto his. As she pulled away she smiled.
"Clancy Harrison Crew, I thought you'd never ask,"
He sighed with relief and kissed her. He slipped the ring onto her finger and beamed.
Love. Great Love.
As they left the room, they found Hitch, Blacker, Froghorn and LB waiting outside.
"So?" asked Hitch eagerly. Ruby held up her left hand and smiled. A huge sigh of relief came from the other agents. LB gave them a look that implied it's about time.
Clancy walked Ruby home that night, full of excitement. It was now just Mrs Digby, Hitch, Bug and Ruby living in Greenwood house as her parents had moved to Everly after retiring. Once they reached the front step, Clancy reached for her hand and smiled.
"Just promise me one thing," she whispered.
"Anything," he grinned.
"If I'm flying my helicopter, please don't blow it up," she smiled.
He laughed slightly and leaned closer to her.
"I don't think I'd be able to live without you,"
Just as he was about to kiss her Mrs Digby flung the door open.
"What in heaven's name are you doing out here on a winter's night child?" she asked.
Ruby held up her hand again so Mrs Digby could see the ring. The housekeeper's expression suddenly shifted into one of pure delight. She held onto Ruby's hand and looked at the ring. She smiled widely and looked at Clancy.
"If you hurt my Ruby..." she said grimly. Ruby rolled her eyes.
"No chance of that Mrs Digby," smiled Clancy.
Ruby took Clancy up to her room and sat down with him on the bed. She couldn't stop smiling. After she had called her parents she finally had some time to talk to Clancy.
The two of them simply stayed up all night talking and laughing. As Ruby began to doze off next to him, she thought back to her first kiss with Clancy. How he had been laid on the playground floor of Twinford Primary School after being hit in the face with a swing. How everyone was trying to wake him up until Ruby knelt down and kissed him. How two seconds later his eyes had blinked open. Ruby smiled at the memory and her mind turned to where it had all started. In the tree on Amster Green on May 13th when, in a frozen moment, her lips had met his. Ever since they had been stronger together. Ideal for each other. Meant to be. It was written in the stars. Clancy Crew and Ruby Redfort were perfect together.