right where i belong

Rockford Slumber Party

Roxanne: Don't worry I'll get that typed up and sent to you for you to go over. I'm pretty sure that I would just be having one panic attack after another. There is nothing that sounds less appealing to me than having no privacy.

Roxanne: If by influence you mean like a list of everything that I do not want to do and will not. Then sure they will influence me. Oh my gosh can you even imagine? Having all those cameras and eyes on me sounds terrible. That is a mutual feeling, love.

Roxanne: Oh do I have some entertainment for you tonight if you don't already know this. There are some WILD ones that I will be showing you. You are very sweet but you are not exactly hard to look at.

Roxanne: Mmm yes. Horror engagement photos very us. No we didn't. But I was also much younger and didn't really know much about all of that. You will be fine and with the right photographer directing us you'll probably look like a model.

Roxanne: Yes with the flowers and everything being green again it could be perfect. That was what I was thinking. There will be more scenic options. And yes of course he needs to be in some!!

Roxanne: Okay good because I am very excited. I'm not sure yet. I'll have to scout out some locations.

Roxanne: Is it too soon to look for a photographer for engagement photos?

“I never could let go of it because I didn’t want to ever fully let go of you,” she admitted. It was never about the ring and the diamond and so much just physical evidence of the love that they had shared. Now she didn’t have to ever have them as a memory. He was her constant. That never even stopped. Not when the love she had for him ever stopped. Not for a moment. “I promise too. I could never stop. Meeting you when I was 19 was like I was finding my heart. It has always been yours and it always will be.” Roxanne wasn’t naive to think that life held nothing but a fairytale moving forward. They weren’t just going to be happy because they were together, but she knew in Declan that she had a true partner. Someone that when the hard times came what they had was steady and true. Someone to fight with her not against. She had grown up in a home that did the opposite and in him she had everything she had needed growing up. “I don’t want you to let go.” Her heart was so full and she couldn’t stop smiling. “I can’t believe you pulled all this off without me knowing,” she laughed.

“Letting go of me isn’t even on the cards. You’re stuck with me. Forever this time.” Declan stated and as much as he knew that proposing wasn’t necessarily an answer in lasting forever, it felt different this time. She had walked away last time, after they had got engaged but it felt completely different this time. Stronger. The foundation that they had laid was so much more solid this time and Declan was sure they were both on the same page for exactly what it was they wanted with their future this time. The previous worries weren’t even a drop in his mind with how confident he felt about their future now. “Who would’ve thought, huh? I’ve never really been a believer in love at first sight but I’m glad your heart eventually found a home with mine.” He laced his fingers within hers, leading her back to the picnic mat so they they could sit down among the breakfast array and all the other Easter eggs that he had originally used as a decoy to distract her. “I’m telling you, I’m never letting go. Now when I know I’ve found my person. And I don’t know how I pulled this off either -- especially when you’re an early riser. That was almost my downfall but you picked the perfect day to sleep in just a little longer.” He teased her blissfully.

“I’m glad you didn’t get another ring,” she confessed. “I always held onto it and I used to think it was to remind myself of what we had. A reminder of the first time I felt loved in my life. I thought it was going to be a memory. But  you came back into my life and we are here and now I know that it wasn’t about the past but the future. I was meant to have it. It’s a part of our story.” The story that was filled with a beautiful love but it had its messes. It had its mistakes but Roxanne learned it wasn’t about love being perfect. It was about choosing to love someone past all of that and coming out of it stronger. That was what happened with them. And while she regretted things in her past, it led her to here and that was where God intended her to be. With this incredible man. “It is the best moment,” she agreed with a laugh and a few more tears. “Hey,” she playfully scoffed. “If anything now it was good practice since that is what I will be.” Her arms wrapped around his neck as he lifted her up, a squeal of joy escaping. It didn’t seem possible to be this happy. “I love you so much,” she couldn’t help but say again, kissing him as he put her back down. “I can’t wait to make you feel as happy as I do today for the rest of our lives.”

“I’m glad you kept it instead of throwing it away. And I promise, there won’t be another day in your life where you’ll have to wonder what it’s like to be loved. I love you and I promise to keep on loving you forever.” Declan couldn’t help herself but eat up her words but with everything she said, it was so easy for her to just be genuine and speak from the heart with him. He had never expected to meet such an incredible woman who would be able to pull out all of these emotions and good qualities in him but yet, here she was standing right in front of him. Their rough patches and messy past was only a chapter in their journey towards finding forever. For him, she was the one and only true love in his life and honestly - while he had believed in love, Declan had never thought he would be blessed enough to find that ever lasting love himself that everyone always talked so highly about. “You know, you better get used to this because I am never letting go of you ever again.” His own laughter emerged in between those kisses. “And you already make me happy. So incredibly happy, my love.”

She could feel her tears wetting their lips as they kissed but she didn’t care. There was no detail that could take away from the love she felt radiating off this moment. While what he had planned was thoughtful and catered so perfectly to her, he could have asked randomly in their home and it would all just be perfect. She had waited for this day for so long and now that it was here it was what she knew was the right time. Roxanne had almost forgotten that they hadn’t put the ring on yet she was so caught in her emotions as they kissed, smiling at him as he wiped the tears. Her heart was swelling in her chest as she looked at him with such adoration. The love they shared was so pure. He taught her how it was supposed to be. Her eyes fell down to the ring as he slid it on her finger. While she had held onto it all this time, seeing it on her hand again took her breath away, “Forever,” she repeated back to him, looking between Declan and the ring. “It feels right again. Like it was always supposed to be here. I always meant to be with you. I knew it when you first smiled at me that you were going to be something special to me. My first love and now my husband. Oh my gosh my husband,” she repeated with the biggest smile.

“You know, I considered purchasing another ring but the truth is this one felt more symbolic. It’s the ring I used to propose to you originally, the ring I always dreamed of giving you. Buying another one just felt inferior when this one symbolizes all the love I originally had for you, past and present, and all the love I want to continue to give to you forever.” He didn’t mean to ramble but seeing the ring sitting there on it’s rightful place again again, Declan couldn’t help himself but all the more emotional. Seeing the smile written on her face was utterly infectious and that entirely translated into how big the grin was on his. It felt like the two of them were floating on a cloud, happily sealed inside a bubble of happiness that they had created together for themselves. “Hands down, this will already go down as one of the best moments in my life. The best moment to date so far.” He didn’t mean to get cheesy but there was something about Roxanne that always brought the romantic side out within him. “I can’t believe it. You’re finally going to become my wife. All those times you’ve scribbled Roxanne Everett in little hearts is finally going to become a reality.” Declan teased. He was so happy that when he reached over to hug her, her ended up lifting her off the ground.

Her heart was racing once she saw he was down on one knee. She felt like she was holding her breath. Waiting to wake up from this dream. While they spoke of their future together with ease countless amount of times there was still a part in her that always felt like it was too good to be true. That she had been lucky enough to have him ask the first time that she would never deserve this second chance to this dream life she wanted so badly. She had thought that she lost it. Knew that she had risked it a second time with what it took before they got back together. Declan was her dream and it was right in front of her asking for a forever. Her eyes filled with tears. Tears that came from the overwhelming love that she had for him. For the joy in this moment. For the relief of knowing that she was now and forever going to be his. All Roxanne had ever wanted in this life was to feel loved and Declan gave her that in abundance. Those six years apart only further proving that he wasn’t only her home but her heart. She knew that the first time she saw him and she’d know it every day for the rest of her life. All she needed was him. “Yes,” she let out immediately after his question, ready to say it the moment she saw the ring. Tears fell from her eyes, streaming down her face. “Yes,” she repeated the word again with a frantic nod. “It’s all I have ever wanted. I love you so much,” she didn’t even wait for him to put the ring on for her to lean down to kiss him.

Relief washed over his entire body the moment she said yes. While he was confident in the idea of proposing given all the right signals from her, there had always still been that lingering nagging thought stored away in the back of Declan’s mind that she could’ve said no. Second chances were not something that came around often but if life had taught him anything, Declan was a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. After all, it was the only plausible way he could justify Roxanne walking back into his life again. “I -- I love you so much too.” As much as he tried to hold it together, it was difficult not to feel his own eyes well up. He wasn’t usually a crier but the emotion overwhelmed him and they were tears of happiness as he kissed her, pouring all of the love that Declan had into that kiss before he pulled away to wipe some of the tears away from her cheeks. “And now -- I can finally do this.” He got up, taking her left hand in his as he slid the ring onto her finger. “After all this time, it’s finally back where it belongs. Back in it’s rightful place. Forever this time.” He mentioned as he looked down at the ring he had originally used to propose to her all those years ago then raised her hand up to his lips so that he could kiss the back of her hand.

She hadn’t noticed Declan being off only because she was preoccupied at the task at hand. She was determined enough that the signs that would had made her question some things she didn’t see. Finding what he claimed was the last egg, she bent over and picked it up. “Got it,” she called out, not realizing he had moved next to her. Giving the egg a little shake it didn’t sound like the other little treats he had stuffed the eggs with. Her curiosity got the best of her, and she went to open it. “Oh,” she said quietly as it dropped out and she caught it in her hand, her eyes focusing in on the item. Roxanne stood there frozen, eyes stuck on the ring as she processed what it was. “Declan?” She turned in his direction, needing an answer like she fantasizing this and she needed him to tell her she wasn’t.

The moment she had the capsule in her hands, Declan was down on one knee kneeling beside her. His hand brushed over hers to take the egg and ring from her so that he was the one holding it out to her and for a moment, it almost felt like he was in a trance. The sound of his name uttered from her lips was the only thing that freed him from that spell and although he had practiced it and rehearsed it inside of his head hundreds and hundreds of times to get it right, everything that had had planned to say seemed to get washed away so instead, Declan found himself having to make it all up on the spot. “Roxanne Brianna Woodruff,” A shaky hand reached for hers, not realizing how nervous about this whole thing he had actually been. “For years it has been something that we’ve always talked about -- getting married, starting a family, growing old together and spending forever together to the point that we’re old and grey. And when I think about the future, I don’t even have to question it because I already know in my heart that it’s you, I know that my forever is with you and so, if you’d let me I want to be your forever home that you can always run to. I want to be your home and your forever and all of those things but most of all, I also want to be your husband so Roxanne, what do you say? Will you do me the honor of marrying me and be my wife?”

He had been so sweet and thoughtful in doing this for her. Easter being one of her favorite holidays. She never took for granted the man he was, knowing she was lucky to have someone who planned these things. “The last thing we need is him hacking up candy wrappings on the rug,” she agreed with a laugh. “Did you put it somewhere else?” She asked as she continued to look. “Wait, I think I see it.”

“I -- I’m sure I put it--” He didn’t have to finish his sentence before Roxanne had already spotted it. Relief washed over him knowing how terrible of a fail it would’ve been if she had never spotted the egg but the nerves also started to wash over him. He knew that as soon as she had her hands on the egg, she’d question it considering it felt different -- had something rattling inside of the capsule unlike all over the other hollow eggs. Potentially, he followed her to the spot he had pictured doing this in his head as he tried to keep his sweaty palms from shaking.

“Are you sure?” She asked with a laugh looking over in the direction that he was referencing but still wasn’t seeing anything. “Maybe you didn’t count right. I think that we have them all.”

“I’m positive. I swear, I’m sure I counted at least one more when I was hiding them away this morning.” He wasn’t trying to push, careful not to give it away but he was determined for her to find the final egg. “It’s better we get to it now before Pongo finds it later.”

“I’m sure there’s one more egg. Hidden somewhere around this direction.” His emotions were a little all over the place, a mixture of nervousness and excitement fluttering in the pit of his stomach as Declan tried to lead her in the right direction.