Genderswitch AU

[ay_my_lord]

*by this point, Horatio, Reina, and Anticleia have a house--a nice, one-and-a-half-story place with a bit of a yard and a trellis with roses just beginning to climb it. things have begun to settle; there are still awkward moments at times, still little jealousies and conflicts over space, but even those are only small and quickly resolved.

it's nearly evening. Horatio is sitting on the couch in their front room, fingering the hem of his sweater, waiting for Reina to come home*

Comments

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

It is -- it's very nice. I was wondering if we were celebrating something, and I'd forgotten it.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

You haven't forgotten anything important. Promise. *the waitress comes, and he orders a glass of wine--he likes the occasional opportunity for wine, since he doesn't have much at home*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*smiles, then -- she can relax, and it's good to relax with him; after she's ordered the same* I'm happy you brought me here.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*he fiddles with his silverware, smiling down at his plate because he can't quite relax when he's got an important question stirring in him. he takes her hands, more to still his own than anything else*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*raises his hands to her lips to kiss -- just sweetly, discreetly, not wanting to embarrass him* Is everything all right, love?

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*quiet, heart pounding at that soft kiss, the only words that he can bring to mind the ones he'd asked her here so that he could say* Reina ... would you marry me?

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

Oh -- *her eyes go wide, her own heart skipping --* Truly?

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*littlesmile* If you want ...

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

I do -- I do.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*squeezes her hands, and beams, and can't find any words at all except* Oh, good--

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*a little, breathless laugh* I'm either going to cry or kiss you --

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*silly* Don't cry?

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*smiling* Then I'll have to kiss you. Lean forward.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*he does, then, beaming still--closing his eyes to be kissed*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*kisses his lips, gentle and loving and soverygrateful*

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

Oh-- *when they break* I almost forgot. *slight pocket-shufflage* I'd gotten this, in case you said yes ... *and he hands her a little black velvet box, so very traditional*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*wordless as she opens it, as though there were something sacred in it, in the accepting*

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*perhaps there is--but honestly, it's only a plain little ring, so unassuming that it's practically ashamed to be so reverenced*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*but it's beautiful, beautiful -- and Reina's laughing so softly it's almost crying, trying to blink back the tears in her eyes* -- Oh --

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*and at this point, the waitress will come over and pour them some wine*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*smiles and thanks her, but can't take her eyes off the ring* Should I ... should I put it on, or ...

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

If you want. *scoots his chair around the table a little, so that he can take her hand* If you think it would be nice ...

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

I think I'd like it if you ... *hesitates, blushing*

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*he hopes that he interprets her correctly--he takes the ring from its box and gently, gently slides it onto her finger*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*exactly right -- she can feel her breath catch, at how right it is, at how well it fits her (at how much she loves him)* It's perfect.