you've gotten into my bloodstream

“Don’t encourage her, or you will have to handle her when she becomes an angsty teen.” Lindsay beamed at her godson, tickling his small tummy and reveling in his laughter. “Alice is pretty much immune to jetlag too. Must be an adult thing,” she said with a chuckle. “Do you want an ice cream? We’re just killing time here.”

“Alex told me to stop being lazy and get out of bed, can you believe this kid?” An overly-mocked expression of disbelief is shot towards her son, resulting in the curly haired boy to giggle in return — black ringlets dangling before his eye’s. “We were pretty doing the same thing. Sure.”

“I feel insulted I didn’t receive a signed copy,” Matthew said with a smirk, pulling his old friend into a one-armed hug. “What name did you choose for me? Adonis?”

“Oh, Beca, don’t call me out like that in front of my child,” Lindsay chuckled, but Alice’s face simply lit up at the sight of her aunt, forgetting the discussion with her mother and standing up so that she could wrap her arms around Beca’s leg. “Auntie!” Lindsay beamed, standing up and offering her hands to Alex. “Come here you big boy.” 

“I’m gullible but not that gullible,” Lindsay told Alice who pouted in return. The mother chuckled lightly and leaned back on her chair, watching her daughter grumble as she ate her ice cream. The two were sitting in an outdoor table at the ice cream parlor, their huge dog sleeping calmly at Lindsay’s feet. 

Eric watches in a tranquil silence as his son scours about the central playground. He looks no different than he did six months ago: the same thick hair falls across his forehead, boyish and only adding to the charm of his azure gaze. His clothes, dark and simple, are the exact same he boarded the place with. And, in-between his teeth, just as there had been since Alex came along, sat a mangled toothpick, the half-hearted solution to a troublesome vice. Eric returned, by almost every means, the exact same as he had been. And yet he didn’t. For all the stagnancy he portrayed, Eric seemed to return to Helios in a much more settled state—a happier one. And one could tell simply tell this truth, by watching the way he dips his head back in laughter as Alexander calls from the slide asking for his father’s attention. 

A lot can change within a short period of time. Beckett was hardly the woman whom first set foot upon the island, livid in betrayal and determined to shut the world out for all the pain it had caused her. Years later, she leaves the island in a state of happiness far beyond her wildest dreams. Yet a part of her seemed to have been left behind on the island, a missing chunk within her she seemed unable to refill once abandoning the pristine beaches and returning to city life. Helios was a memory of love, pain, uncertainty, and an opened future. On a sprawled picnic mat, she lies beside her fiancé, staring up into the blue abyss scattered with white wisps of clouds as their child explored without inhibitions upon the playground. Such a natural state. Hoisting onto her elbows, Beckett’s attention is turned at the joyful calls of a young boy who’s voice dances with the afternoon breeze. She smiles. “Avez-vous faim Alex? Come have some food.”

Linds: Hey! It's been forever since we last talked!

Linds: How are you?

“I’m not sure. I sure as hell missed the part in which you tell me everything about your engagement, though.”

“I’m getting married, and this time I’m actually going to make it down the aisle.” A subtle chuckle escaped her lips, Beca never thought she’d find herself in this position again — let alone want to. 

Linds: What?!

Linds: Beca, that's amazing! I am so happy for you, Congratulations!! I am so sorry I didn't call you back sooner, tell me everything! Coffee?

Linds: First of all I want to apologize about this... I only got back to the island and I didn't really use my phone at... well anyway. What's up?

His heart slams against his chest and he looks out to Alexander only to calm his nerves. Eric had no ring on him, no idea what his next words might be, but regardless, the thought had been with him, gentle, unobtrusive, and wanted for months now—so he sat by her side and gave, with the slightest nervous smirk, not a proposal, but a question:

                                    “Would you marry me?”

Beca had planned the very first day she left France to never walk down the isle again. The whole idea of marriage only brought back bitter memories and a sense of regret that lingered daily. But somewhere along the line, her perception of matrimony slowly swayed to it’s favour —Ever since Beca realised there was no one else in this world she so rather want to be tethered to. The man sitting before her, Eric Joseph Davies. Marriage never had to be necessary, but it sure felt damn good knowing when someone solidifies the offer of fidelity, everlasting commitment and love. If Eric wanted marriage, not for a moment did Beca consider any answer other than YES. This time, Beca was going to make it down the isle, and was going to spend her life with someone she trusted, and loved, entirely.                                               ❛   Yes, yes of course I will marry you.