42- Something Round

Ryan was full, and honestly, what he really wanted to do right now was engage in a little one-on-one snuggling with some games. But if Scott wanted to take a walk, he would go along. Spending time together with him was what he really wanted.

Scott's heart tried to break out of his ribcage on the drive to the park, it was beating so heavily. The time for the surprise was creeping closer. He wasn't going to back down. Never had he been so sure of something before. He wondered if Ryan could feel how fast his pulse was, since they were holding hands as usual.

When they were almost there, Ryan asked, "Are you feeling okay?"

"Of course I am!" Scott played it off. "Why do you ask?"

"It's just, your hands are kinda clammy, and you're sweating a little, and you didn't eat as much as you normally do. You don't have to push yourself for my sake."

Those words made Scott's heart melt.

"I'll be fine once I get some fresh air."

"Are you sure? I mean, you're the doctor and I trust your judgement and all, but keep in mind that omegas aren't allowed to drive, and if you collapse, I probably can't carry you."

Scott parked the car and kissed the back of Ryan's hand. "Trust me, I'm not that bad off."

They got out of the car, and Scott pulled the spare jackets from the back seat, using the action to hide his transferring of the surprise from the driver's seat pocket to his own pocket. He kept checking, but Ryan didn't seem to notice. So far so good.

Ryan graciously accepted the offered jacket. The sun was barely starting to set, and the air was turning from cool to almost cold. He wrapped the jacket around himself and inhaled deeply. It smelled just like Scott. That alone was enough to warm him up no matter how cold it was. Scott decided then and there that that jacket was Ryan's now. He looked way to cute in the slightly oversized garment.

They walked hand in hand through the park, taking a different route than last time. Ryan let Scott lead the way and set the pace, since he wasn't entirely convinced Scott wasn't coming down with something, no matter what he'd said. The sunset was turning truly beautiful, painting the sky with oranges and pinks. When Ryan pointed it out, Scott's response was, "It's only half as beautiful as you."

That comment, of course, brought the brightest blush Ryan could muster. I mean seriously, how could a guy be so smooth even when he obviously didn't feel well? It was criminal!

Up ahead on the path was a small bridge that crossed an ornamental stream feeding I'm to a small pond. There were flower beds all around it, making for a rather picturesque scene. It was here that Scott suggested they stop to rest for a bit, arguing that it was the perfect place to watch the sunset. Ryan wondered why, if he needed a rest, they didn't go sit on one of the benches nearby. Scott just leaned against the railing, staring out at the pond and the sunset reflected in it, mustering all his courage.

"Do you ever think life's like a video game sometimes?" Scott asked out of the blue.

"What do you mean?" Ryan leaned on the railing next to him, their shoulders touching. Turns out, this was pretty much the perfect place to watch the sunset after all.

"Like, childhood is the tutorial where you learn all the controls, then all of a sudden adulthood is thrown at you whether you're ready or not, and you're dropped into an online play where everyone's trying to top the leaderboard?"

"Kinda? I guess?" Ryan didn't really get what Scott was trying to say.

"Or, how some people try to rack up achievements to beat the game without ever trying to enjoy the game in the first place?"

Scott was grasping at straws. He'd tried his best to memorize what he was going to say, but now he was drawing blanks.

"Or like sometimes," he continued, "a game in single player mode is fun and all, but once you go into co-op mode there's just so much more STUFF you can do? Or sometimes, a game is meant to be two players, and without that second person you're stuck playing with the computer and that just makes things infinitely more difficult? I'm... probably not making much sense, am I?"

Ryan smiled at him. "Are you trying to tell me you got a new game you want me to play with you?"

Scott was blushing, and rubbed the back of his head. "Maybe, it's just that... well..."

Scott gave himself a vigorous mental shake. It was now, or never. He thrust his hand into his pocket, and gripped the tiny box inside tight. The sunset was perfect. The setting was perfect. Ryan was... well, Ryan was beyond perfect. He took Ryan's hand in his, and got down on one knee.

"What I'm trying to say is, I want to be your player two. Forever. I want to be your mate, and your life partner. Ryan, will you marry me?"

Scott pulled out the box, showing the ring he'd had custom made. Set in white gold were two heart shaped stones, one blue, and one orange, colors from the first video game they played together. Now that he had it on display, Scott was terrified Ryan wouldn't get it, or would say it was too cheesy, or wouldn't even like it.

Ryan's heart stopped when Scott knelt down. Never in a million years would he have imagined this happening to him. Tears welled up in his eyes at Scott's words. When he saw the ring, he made the instant connection. A random passerby whistled loudly. Another shouted, "Say yes!" Try as he might, Ryan couldn't get his voice to come out.

Ryan took a deep shuddering breath, wiped his eyes, and nodded, managing a very small, "Yes."

The few who stopped to watch out of curiosity erupted in cheers and applause as Scott slid the ring on Ryan's finger with shaky hands. It fit. He was so worried it wouldn't fit. He got the sizing by twisting a bread tie around Ryan's finger while he was sleeping. It fit perfectly.

More cheers erupted as Scott picked Ryan up and swung him around out of sheer joy, before dipping him low for a kiss. One of the bystanders yelled out a condescending "gay!" but it fell on deaf ears. They were engaged. Ryan said "Yes." It was the happiest day of his life. In his arms, Ryan practically glowed, blotchy face and all. They were engaged...

The small crowd finally dispersed. Laughing and giggling like children, Ryan and Scott made their way back to the car, sharing a kiss every few steps. For Ryan, having a ring on his finger was certainly a different sensation. There was a little weight to it, but it was a comforting kind of weight. It was the first piece of jewelry he'd ever received, the only jewelry he'd ever had, and it meant the world to him. Even what little his grandma had when she passed was claimed by other family members, but this was his. No one could take it from him.

He spent the ride home admiring how the stones flashed in the light from the streetlamps. It was beautiful, and cheesy, and he loved it, almost as much as he loved the person who gave it to him.

To say they had a hard time keeping their hands off each other once they got back to Scott's place was an understatement. Ryan managed to put on a little "show" for Scott. He'd done some of his own research online, trying to find things Scott might think were sexy.

Apparently standing in the shower and wetting your underwear was considered very high on Scott's list. Ryan didn't particularly care for the sensation of urine trapped against his body, but it didn't last long. The soiled garment was removed very quickly, and after some mutual washing, he finally learned what Scott felt like without a condom.

After the shower fun, and a bit more fun that was had when they were drying off, they settled in on the couch for a few episodes of NCIS and some cuddling. Scott made popcorn, because now that the pressure of proposing was off, his body reminded him that he didn't eat as much for dinner as he usually did. Ryan thought it was funny because really, did he expect him to say "no?"

As Ryan admired his engagement ring, snuggled securely against the chest of his fiance (a word that blew his mind if he thought about it too hard), everything seemed right in the world. He wasn't tired. His belly was full. He was loved. It was paradise. Sure, there'd be work in the morning, but right now was perfect.

"There's an inscription inside your ring, you know." Scott said as he caught Ryan twisting it around to watch the stones flash.

"Really?" Ryan looked up at Scott quizzically, before working the ring off his finger to check.

Sure enough, there was an inscription inside the band. He tilted it to catch the light so he could read it more clearly.

"You're so cheesy." Ryan said wetly as he grabbed for a tissue.

"You don't like it?"

"Are you kidding? I love it. And, I love you."

Ryan slid the ring back on his finger, vowing to never, ever, take it off. The inscription had read:

"Achievement Unlocked."