Life Will Out

Chapter 33: A Proper Proposal

Friday, February 14

It was Valentine's Day, Link had the whole day planned and he had one more surprise that was a last minute decision before they left Seattle the day before. He was going to ask Amelia Shepherd to marry him. He had asked Addison, Derek, Charlotte and Liz for approval. They all agreed he should do it. Screw going slow. This was his forever and he wasn't going to waste a second of it.

The night began with dinner. At La Grenoullie, Amelia was dressed in a black spaghetti strap dress with a high slit up the leg. Link had on a nice suit with a red bow tie. Fitting for the holiday and occasion. They ordered food and made small talk. Link didn't drink in solidarity for Amelia. He was so nervous he was going to screw this up.

He had rehearsed on the phone with Kate almost 14 times and it always came out right. Kate eventually hung up on him tired of hearing the same speech 13 times in a row. The dinner finished up and they were on to their next location: a horse drawn carriage ride through the streets.

They got in and were riding around. Amelia smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and couldn't wait to make her his wife. He just hoped she would say yes. They arrived at St. Luke's garden directly behind St. Luke's. Neither of them were religious but the location was too beautiful to pass up. The lights delicately lit the flowers all around and it was a warm and inviting atmosphere.

"Woah look at the sky." Link said to get Amelia to turn around. She smiled and looked at the stars in the sky. She turned back around and gasped to find Link down on one knee holding out a ring box.

"Amelia Shepherd, from the moment I met you I knew you weren't like every other girl I've dated. You are kind and you are brave, you are loving and compassionate. You taught me how to love another person unconditionally. You taught me the joy in life and that I can have real happiness away from material things. You smile at me and the world stops spinning, you laugh and my heart flutters, you look me in the eyes and I get lost in your beauty. You make me feel safe, it's like I was drowning and you saved me. You are my forever Amelia, I've finally found forever and it's you. I've searched the world to find the home for my heart, I had just been looking in the wrong places. You are the woman of my life and of my dreams. Proof that life gets better, and my past doesn't define who I have to be today. I love every inch of you, your perfect imperfections and if the world were to end tomorrow I would be content knowing I got to love you and that I got to be loved by you. Your love makes me feel things I didn't know I could feel. So will you make me the happiest and most grateful man in the world and marry me?" Link said with tears pooling in his eyes. Amelia let the tears roll and nodded smiling.

"Yes, yes, yes Link I will marry you." Amelia exclaimed. He put the ring on her finger and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. She pulled away and looked at the rock on her finger. She kissed him again and smiled.

"I'm gonna be Atticus Lincoln's wife." She beamed. All her childhood dreams had finally come full circle. She had all the love she needed.

-

They were back at the penthouse, outside in the hot tub with the snow falling onto them. A weird combination but Amelia suggested it. Amelia sat in between Link's legs with her head on his chest. Her hand was on top of his on her thighs and she was admiring her ring. Forever.

Link looked at the sky, the stars that were shining and  the snow that was falling. He drifted back to his childhood, how he prayed to whoever was up there that he would make it out the El Royale alive, he would become something noteworthy. He looked down at Amelia who was admiring the city view. He had the missing piece of his life puzzle.

She was his dream, the dream he feared he'd wake up and it would all go away. Amelia worried she would sabotage this relationship like she had her others. Link gave her hope, he gave her love and comfort. She had never been more content in her life.

Amelia thought about how proud her dad would be of her. She had come so far after Christopher, Ryan, her addiction, after Owen. Derek and Meredith had called her that night dying to know if she said yes, Kate called Link yelling to know the answer and even Liz called congratulating them. They were going to get married.