the photographer was still setting up for the next round of content, giving everyone a forty-five minute break. most of the squad had scattered, majority were making coffees while others were just chilling in the players' lounge.

you however… you were hunched over a laptop at one of tables, your phone wedged between your shoulder and ear. three colour coded notebooks open around you, tabs multiplying across your screen faster than you could close them.

"...no, i understand that's your policy..." you pinched the bridge of your nose, a huff coming from your lips. "...i'm just asking if moving the seating plan by two tables really requires an entirely new floor plan."

silence followed by another pause. you closed your eyes in frustration, "...right"

click. the call ended.

you let your forehead fall against the laptop with a soft thunk, for exactly three seconds before sitting back up.

- email.

- venue.

- spreadsheet

- guest list

- budget

- accommodation

- transport

you clicked between documents so quickly even you couldn't exactly be sure what you'd been trying to do anymore. "why isn't this saving?" you groaned, hitting the save button repeatedly.

nothing.

"...you've got to be jokin'!" you huffed the screen loading and that annoying little buffer sign spinning annoyingly, taunting you and again nothing.

"oh, come on." you whispered, the laptop had now frozen that stupid little buffer sign now sitting still in the middle of your screen.

you stared blankly at it in disbelief, "no, surely not-"

click. nothing"

"no, no don't you dare."

click. but still nothing.

your jaw clenched, your patience running thinner "you've actually got to kidding me-"

across the room, beth looked up from where she'd been arguing with alessia over a game of monopoly deal. "...is she talking to herself?"

katie glanced over, putting her cup of coffee down on the table nearby, "she's been sat there for half an hour"

leah frowned, looking over with a furrowed brow "i thought she was just editing media stuff"

"no," beth laughed, loudly. "she's deep in the wedding planning."

"still?" leah questioned as beth nodded, it being a common theme for you at the minute.

katie just looked over her shoulder, "didn't she spend four hours doing that yesterday?"

"no, five," alessia corrected absentmindedly before looking back at the card game they were playing. alessia had stopped keeping track as you insisted you were fine and had everything happily under control and that you were really enjoying the planning process

and alessia had believed her, mostly. until now as you let out another frustrated groan from across the room.

"that makes absolutely no sense." you swore, thinking aloud as your head sunk into your hands, your mind spinning in circles.

katie wandered over first, placing a hand on your shoulder as she sat beside you, "you al'right?"

you took your head out your hands quickly but you barely looked up from the screen as you hummed a little in response to katie's question.

"your a terrible liar"

"'m fine."

katie looked at the screen, eyes widening wonder how on earth you were able to make any sense of what was on the screen, it just being filled with words and charts. "...what are you supposed to be lookin' at?"

"it's not matching." you pointed to the screen, katie nodding her head as if she understood but really she was still just as clueless if not even more so.

"what isn't?" she asked as you turned your head to look at her, seeing the confused look on her face.

"the seating software." you said as if it was the most obvious answer katie could able come up with.

katie blinked, "sorry.. the what?"

you sighed, "the seating software." you repeated a little louder this time.

katie looked genuinely horrified but still confused before asking. "there's software for stuff like that?"

"there are seventeen different seating software programmes." you pointed out, only knowing that because you had tried each and every single one out before deciding on the one you were using, deeming it the best on however you were now having doubts.

"...why?"

"i don't know!" your voice cracked with frustration the stupid software starting to buffer again, "i just need it to work!"

katie slowly stood back up, lingering for a minute watching as you stared intently at the screen she was slightly worried your eyes may turn square. "i'll be back in a minute"

within minutes beth, leah and caitlin had all wandered over, crowding around the table alongside katie.

beth pointed at the screen sitting in the seat katie previously had been, "so..." you nodded distractedly, humming to acknowledge their presence. "...what's wrong?"

you gestured helplessly at the screen which hadn't been making sense to you for the last hour, "everything,"

leah leaned in over the top looking at your laptop, "you've got spreadsheets linked to spreadsheets.." you nodded as leah continued to analyse your work, "and colour coding... and formulas?... what do you need them for?"

"and...is that a seating simulation?" leah continued as you dropped your head back into your hands mumbling a 'yes'

there was a brief silence before beth eventually spoke, ".. you are aware people usually use pegs and plates for that type of thing..."

you lifted your head and turned to look at beth like she'd just suggested setting the venue on fire. "it's our wedding."

"yeah?"

"it has to be perfect."

leah softened, a concerned look flashing across her face at your words, "y/n..."

"what if someone can't see because they're behind a flower arrangement?"

"...could always move the flowers?" beth pointed out as you dismissed it straight away.

"and what if cousins who don't like each other get put too close together?"

"...move the cousins?" caitlin suggested but again you dismissed it straight away.

"what if—"

"y/n." leah said sternly over the top of your voice as you stopped talking. leah exchanging a glance with beth who nodded understanding the signal as she quietly slipped away.

"so..." katie whispered, trying to bring the sound back to another conversation that wasn't colour schemes and seating arrangements.

"where are you going?" caitlin asking spinning a little as she watched beth back away a little

"i'm getting her fiancée." beth called out walking straight in the direction of your blonde wife to be.

alessia was halfway through having photos taken when when appeared beside the backdrop.

"less." beth called over a worried look on her face as alessia looked up and around for the sound of the voice before landing on beth sending her a smile.

"i think your future wife might be having a breakdown."

alessia immediately lowered the football she'd been holding, brows furrowing immediately. "what?"

beth nodded towards the lounge, alessia following the movement and seeing you sat once again with that laptop.  "she's been wrestling with seating plans for about forty minutes now." beth said as alessia looked between beth and you.

"and?" alessia waited knowing there was something else as this was the 'norm' for you at the minute.

"and i think she's genuinely considering fighting the laptop." beth continued, as alessia hummed she knew there was going to be something else.

alessia's smiled faintly. "that bad?"

"less..." beth's grin and usual joker expression disappeared, "i don't think she's okay."

the smile slipped from alessia's face as she thanked the photographer before quietly making her way across the room. spotting you immediately still exactly where she'd left you after the first round of media attention.

your shoulders still tense and jaw tight with hair messier than usual from repeatedly running your hands through it. your eyes glued to the screen with an intensity normally reserved for major finals.

you didn't even notice alessia walking up behind you. alessia looked at the screen: seven different tabs, an inbox overflowing with unread replies, a spreadsheet she'd never be able to understand, notes, timelines, colour codes, checklists half written.

you had done all this... for one day. a day just for the two of you. the thought made alessia's chest squeeze.

without saying a word, alessia stepped behind your chair and wrapped both arms gently around your shoulders. you startled slightly at the sudden contact, but you knew exactly who it would be. "..hi"

alessia rested her chin against the top of your head. "hi"

you immediately reached for the keyboard again. "i've nearly fixed it." a sense of achievement in your tone slightly, however it came across more tiredly than you expected.

"you've said that for the last hour babe" alessia said sweetly, knowing you and your stubbornness that you wouldn't leave it be until there was a sense of accomplishment.

"but.. but i actually have this time." you said quietly, tapping away at the keyboard.

"y/n."

"i'm serious." you quipped back, your brow creasing with concentration as you carried on tapping away furiously at the keyboard.

"i know." alessia kissed your hair. "so serious you've forgotten you've not eaten lunch."

you paused. "...have i?" you asked looking around the room for signs of lunch but there wasn't any, everyone else was back to doing their media duties so you had in fact missed lunch,

"you've also ignored three messages from me." alessia listed her arms tightening around you.

"...did i?" you reached for your phone and along with messages to do with the wedding also sat alessia's messages which you hadn't even remember popping up on the screen.

"and you've been frowning so hard i'm worried your face is going to stay like that." alessia pointed out as she poked at your cheek with her nail.

you couldn't help the tiny smile. "it might."

alessia gently slid the laptop a few inches away and immediately you reached for it. "no."

alessia reached first, closing it with a soft click as you gasped dramatically as if she had just personally offended you. "babe-"

"no." alessia deadpanned looking at you dead in the eyes.

"but my work, our wedding"

"it'll still be there tomorrow."

"it won't if i don't—"

"it will, i promise baby" alessia said constantly as she held you hand in hers before kissing the top of your head again.

you sighed, leaning slightly back into her feeling somewhat of comfort for the first time since you arrived at training.

"it has to be perfect" your voice was quieter now, smaller and more vulnerable "its just.." you swallowed, the words on the tip of your tongue, "i only get to marry you once"

alessia felt her heart ache that little bit more cause you weren't stressed because you cared about centrepieces or the seating charts or the colour of the table linen.

you were stressed because every decision carried the same thought. this is the day i marry the love of my life.

alessia loosened one arm before gently taking your hand. "y/n." alessias blue eyes finally meeting yours, "i don't care if someone sits three chairs further away."

you opened your mouth to try and interrupt but alessia shut you down, "i don't care if the flowers aren't exactly the right shade."

"they're not—"

"i don't care if it rains." alessia carried on, before shrugging slightly "it probably will"

that drew a weak laughter from you as you agreed "it probably will."

"and do you know why?" alessia asked as you shook your head, "because i'm marrying you"

alessia brushed a loose strand of hair behind your ear."i could marry you in a registry office with two plastic chairs and a tesco meal deal afterwards."

you just laughed, as alessia continued, “i'm serious!"

"i know."

"the only thing i've ever cared about..." alessia leaned forward until your foreheads rested together. "...is that, at the end of the aisle, it's you waiting for me."

your eyes shimmered as you nodded lightly, alessia carrying on with her loving words, "so stop trying to build the perfect wedding."

a thumb brushed gently across your cheek. "because the moment you asked me to marry you..." alessia smiled, impossibly soft pressing a quick kiss to your lips, "...it was already perfect."

you breath caught. every spreadsheet, sleepless night, colour comparison, frantic email, backup plan, every moment you’d spent worrying...

all because you wanted alessia to have the best day of her life. and alessia... alessia had never needed any of it. she just needed you.

you let out a shaky laugh. "i hate how easily you fix me."

"i don't."

"no?"

"i quite enjoy reminding my future wife she's allowed to breathe." alessia smiled, kissing the side of your head as you finally stood, turning in alessia's arms until you could wrap both of hers tightly around her waist.

you buried her face into alessia's neck. "i love you."

"i love you too." alessia whispered into the side of your ear.

"i just wanted it to be worthy of you." you whispered, while it was quiet alessia still heard and felt every word as she held you a little tighter.

"you are."

you frowned, "the wedding"

"no." alessia shook her head lightly before pulling back just enough to look you in the eyes. "you." your eyes filled despite yourself.

across the room, beth nudged katie. a proud smile spreading across beth's lips. "told you she'd sort it"

katie watched you melt completely against alessia. "its actually disgustingly cute"

leah smiled over the rim of her water bottle, standing like a proud mum, "no." she watched as alessia pressed a gentle kiss against your forehead before leading you away from the abandoned laptop and towards the lunch room.

alessia was sitting beside you on a blanket which was spread across the sand, her legs tucked under neath her as she leans comfortably against your shoulder.

somewhere behind the two of you, a couple of people are laughing. a dog runs across the beach chasing a tennis ball. the scent of salt hangs in the evening air.

it's perfect.

you swallow hard. "you're quiet," alessia says, nudging your shoulder.

you glance down to find her bright blue eyes already looking at you. "i'm always quiet."

"not this quiet." alessia smiles before turning her attention back to the horizon.

the two of you had been together for nearly four years now.

four years of busy schedules. four years of late-night phone calls. four years of celebrating victories and surviving disappointments. four years of finding home in each other.

"i've been thinking lately," alessia says softly, as the a crisp breeze blows across you both as your stomach immediately twists. dangerous words.

"oh yeah?" you hum, your arm which was wrapped around her moving slightly closer to her. your mind going a hundred to one as you were unsure as to what she was going to come out with. 

"yeah." alessia begins to draws patterns into the sand with her fingertip. "about life."

you nearly let a laugh slip. of course. of all days. of all conversations alessia chooses this one.

"what about it?"

alessia just shrugs as the wind catches a few strands of her hair, "do you ever think about where you'll be in ten years time, like where we'll be?"

you feel the question settle in your chest. because you had thought about it. more than you'd ever admitted out loud.

⸻

three months earlier.

you had known before you admitted it to yourself. it wasn't some huge revelation or dramatic moment or lightning bolt. it was just a hundred tiny moments piling up until the answer became obvious.

moments like watching alessia fall asleep on the sofa after a match. like hearing her talk excitedly about absolutely nothing. like listening to her complain about some joke her teammates pulled on her that day whilst deep down secretly loving every second of it or like every single time you caught yourself thinking about the future and realising alessia was in all of it.

every version, plan and dream. alessia was there, at the forefront of it.

the realisation hit you properly at ella's wedding. not during the ceremony or the speeches. it happened later, when most people had moved onto the dance floor.

alessia had kicked off her heels and was laughing so hard she could barely stand upright. the fairy lights hanging above them reflected in her eyes and you had looked at her and thought- ‘there she is, my person.’

the thought had arrived with such certainty that it startled you. no 'i think'. no 'maybe someday'. no 'what if'. just certainty.

you wanted were going to marry her.

but planning a proposal had turned out to be significantly less romantic than you had imagined. mostly because you'd never realised how many decisions actually went into asking someone to marry you.

the ring, location, date, weather, photographer, travel, excuses. backup plans and then backup plans for the backup plans.

every time you thought you'd finally figured everything out, another detail appeared and there was something else to organise and something else which could potentially go wrong.

at one point you'd spent nearly forty-five minutes researching average sunset times before realising you'd completely forgotten to book the restaurant you'd already decided they were going to afterwards.

then the ring alone had nearly driven you insane.

you'd spent weeks researching. looking at hundreds of different styles, saving photos, deleting them again, second-guessing every decision you made.

some were too flashy, other too trendy or too complicated and some just weren't alessia. nothing felt quite right until the moment you seen it. a ring which was simple but so elegant in its own timeless sort of way and exactly like her.

the day you picked it up, you had sat alone in your car for almost twenty minutes with the tiny velvet box resting in her palm.

staring at it and turning it over while trying not to panic. because suddenly it wasn't some distant idea you'd been carrying around since ella's wedding. it wasn't a maybe anymore, it was real.

you were actually going to ask alessia russo to marry you and hopefully, hopefully, alessia russo was going to say yes.

but before you could even think about proposal locations or photographers, though, there was one thing you knew you wanted to do first; ask for her parents' blessing.

it wasn't something you felt obligated to do. alessia wasn't anyone's possession, the decision belonged entirely to her.

but you loved her family almost as much as you loved alessia, and you wanted them to know how serious this was before anyone else did.

the nerves you'd felt that day as you sat in the car rehearsing over and over on the drive over of what to say just to forget it the moment you got to the doorstep.

maybe worse. the house is quieter than you had expected. a kettle clicks somewhere in the kitchen. a tv murmurs low in the background. it's normal. ordinary. safe. which somehow makes you more nervous.

alessia's dad, mario was in the living room. he looks up from his seat, then straightens when he sees you properly.

"you're making me think you've done something you shouldn't have?" mario had laughed when you appeared at their front door looking unusually serious.

"i haven't but i need to ask you both something."

"should we be worried?" carol had asked.

you had swallowed hard, then harder. then somehow managed to force the words out. "no. well. hopefully not."

both of them were looking at you now. waiting, nervous to what you were going to say. you suddenly felt about sixteen years old. you opened your mouth to say the words but then paused.

a very long pause. then finally— "i want to marry your daughter."

the silence that followed lasted approximately three seconds but it felt like three years. then carol hand flew straight to her mouth. mario just blinked, twice before breaking into the biggest smile you had ever seen.

"oh thank god," mario said a big sigh coming from him.

you frowned, unsure if their reaction was good or not, "what?"

"we thought somebody was dying." he joked, carol immediately smacked his arm.

"what he means," carol said, already tearing up slightly, "is yes. of course yes."

you laughed despite yourself. relief flooding through you so quickly you thought your knees might actually give out.

"you make her happy," mario continued, his voice softer now as he moved to take a sip of his tea. "and that's all we've ever wanted for her."

"and you've loved her from day one, it was obvious and alessia, well she's head over heels for you," carol added, as she sent you a loving smile.

"you're already family, y/n."

and that, that line nearly finished you off. by the time you left their house that afternoon, your cheeks hurt from smiling.

the blessing wasn't permission. it wasn't an approval you needed but hearing the people who knew alessia best tell you you belonged in their family made something settle inside you chest. made everything feel even more real.

but once that was over then came keeping secrets. which turned out to be almost impossible especially around alessia russo.

because alessia seemed to noticed everything. everything.

the first near-disaster happened when you accidentally left a jewellery website open on your laptop. you'd practically launched herself across the room to close it.

alessia had looked suspicious for approximately three days afterwards.

the second happened when you received a phone call from the photographer whilst standing right next to alessia. you'd somehow managed to convince her it was a work call.

a terrible lie, if you'd ever heard one and one alessia definitely hadn't believed but somehow she'd let it go.

the third near-disaster involved ella which was honestly inevitable and you were surprised at how far down the line you had planned before ella sussed anything.

"you look stressed." ella looked right through your eyes as you were out for coffee with her and alessia, alessia up at the counter ordering for the three of you.

"maybe because i am stressed." you quipped back fast, not meaning for the tone of your voice to come across the way it did.

"proposal stressed?"

you had nearly choked on your words and ella's grin had been infuriating. "you are terrible at hiding things."

after that the weeks passed painfully slowly.

you checked the ring approximately twelve times a day. changed the proposal locations three times. panicked over the weather forecasts. then panicked because you were panicking.

the closer it got, the more nervous you became. not because you thought alessia would say no. you knew she wouldn't at least you hoped she wouldn't. ninety-nine point nine percent sure.

the nerves came from wanting it to be perfect because alessia deserved perfect. deserved every good thing in the world and you wanted this moment to feel like the two of you.

not grand. not over-the-top.

just real, honestly and just pure love.

⸻

you hum, thinking about alessia's question, "yeah i do think about the future definitely"

alessia nods her head in response, the conversation clearly not going any further as you both look out at the beach in front of you. maybe not talking but enjoying each others company,

the holiday you both were on had been nice, a time to really appreciate one another. alessia enjoying herself after a busy season, fully relaxing and letting her hair down while you knew in the back of your head this would be a holiday alessia wouldn't want to forget any time soon.

the beach however, was quieter than before. the sun beginning to disappear beneath the horizon, reflecting all sorts of orange tones onto the water.

your pulse is so loud your convinced alessia can hear it. as she beside you is resting her head against your shoulder. comfortable and completely unaware.

you take a shaky breath, soon, this is it. no more planning, waiting or rehearsing speeches while looking at the ceiling tiles while trying to fall asleep.

"i don't know," alessia says quietly. "i just think about it sometimes."

you smiles softly, knowing she's going back to what you were just talking about, "yeah?"

"yeah." alessia shrugs. "when we're old."

you lets out a laugh, your fingers playing the the end of her ponytail, "we're only twenty six, less-"

"i know."

"but you're already planning retirement?"

alessia nudges you shoulder, you still laughing. "babe, i'm being serious."

you raise your hands in surrender, "sorry, love" and then for a moment, neither of you speak. the sea fills the silence, the waves crashes against one another.

then alessia smiles. "i think you'll be one of those people who refuses to admit they're old."

you scoff. "excuse me?"

"you will."

"will not."

"you absolutely will."

you rolls her eyes as alessia laughs the vision seemingly playing out in her imagination. "you'll be complaining about your knees."

"i do not complain about my knees." you whine, wondering when this conversation became just taking the mick out of you.

"you literally complained about your knee yesterday." alessia deadpanned, turning slightly to look at you.

"that's because i hit it off the side of the bed." you frowned, a small pout lining your lips.

"oh my poor baby" alessia cooed, her hand reaching out to your cheek as you tried to keep your deep frown however the smile on alessia's face was enough to make you melt and you let out a laugh as did she.

the sound gets carried away by the wind. beside you, alessia smiles. the kind of smile you could spend a lifetime looking at. the kind that still makes you stomach flip, even now.

especially now.

"i think we'll still be like this."

you glance across. "like what?"

alessia looks down at your intertwined hands, shrugging like it was nothing, "us."

the simple answer makes your chest ache, good ache. the kind that only comes from loving someone this much.

"i think we'll still annoy each other."

you snorts, agreeing knowing that sometimes all you both did was wind the other one up, "oh definitely."

"and you'll still steal all the blankets." alessia continued her ramble as your brows furrowed slightly.

"i do not."

"you absolutely do."

you decide not to argue, mostly because alessia is right. she taking your silence as that she won that case, laughing slightly as her expression softens.

"i don't really care where we are." alessia admits, the confession is quiet but honest. your breath catching slightly as alessia squeezes your hand, "i just want you there"

the words hit harder than they should because alessia has no idea. no idea what's about to happen or that you've spend months planning this. no idea that the future she's talking about is sitting in your back pocket.

you stare at her, at the women you've built a life with and the women you want beside you forever.

you stand suddenly, a small gasp coming from alessia at the sudden movement before a frown appears on her life, "what are you doing?"

you hold out a hand, a small smile on your lips "come for a walk with me,"

alessia smiles immediately, smoothing out her skirt as she stands, "okay," as she takes your hand without hesitation, like she always does.

the sand shifts beneath your feet as you both wander slowly along the shoreline. the water occasionally brushes your ankles before retreating again. neither of you lets go.

you both don't need to fill the silence. you never have. eventually you stop and the beach stretches around them.

the sea sparkles beneath the fading sunlight. everything feels still and peaceful.

alessia turns towards you wind catches her blonde hair as her cheeks are pink from the cool evening air and for a moment she looks exactly like every future you have ever imagined.

every birthday. every holiday. every ordinary tuesday. every version. just her.

alessia smiles, looking into your eyes, "what?" you shake your head, you were just admiring her.

it was nothing but everything. how were you supposed to explain that your looking at the love of your life? that your looking at home?

so instead you steps closer, pressing a kiss against alessia's forehead which alessia immediately melts into it. a content sigh escaping her.

when you pulls back, alessia's eyes are shining. "i love you, you know."

you smiles, "i know and i love you,, so much"

alessia rises onto her toes and kisses you. slow, warm and familiar. the kind of kiss that feels like every day you've both already shared and every day still to come. when you finally part, neither moves far away.

forehead touching as your hands are interlinked and the world narrowing until it's just them.

and that's when you suddenly know you can't wait any longer. not when the future you've been dreaming about is standing right in front of you. not when every single thing you want is already here.

you looks at her, really look at her. the women who has become your home, the women you want beside you for every version of the future.

and then you reach into your pocket.

alessia frowns, not unhappy by confused like it’s not. clicked in her head what’s happening yet, "y/n?"

your hands are shaking and the small velvet box feels impossibly heavy.

alessia's eyes drop to it almost immediately, then widen and somehow widen again. "oh my god."

you laugh nervously, all the words you wanted to tell her suddenly disappearing, "yeah" is all you manage to squeak out before your voice cracks. a brilliant start.

alessia's hand flies to her mouth, "no, baby”

you laugh again, "unfortunately, yes."

tears are already gathering in alessia's eyes as you take a shaky breath before slowly lowers yourself onto one knee in the sand and the world seems to stop. alessia stares at you, lovingly but completely frozen in place. "oh my god."

you open the box and the ring catches the last golden light of the sunset and suddenly every speech you'd prepared disappears. every carefully rehearsed sentence, every plan.

gone meaning it only left the truth.

"alessia, my lessi." you start with as your own eyes are burning now. "i could stand here and tell you every reason i love you."

a wet laugh escapes alessia, a cute pout appearing on her lips, "y/n..."

"but we'd be here all night."

alessia laughs through her tears as you smile before continues.

"you make every ordinary day better and you make every difficult day easier." your voice trembles as you spoke with nothing but pure love for her. "and every good day unforgettable."

alessia is crying openly now and so are you, "

"i don't know what the future looks like." you take a breath, wiping your face, "and i don't know where football will take us"

"i don't know where we'll be in ten years." you slip in as alessia's face crumples remember the conversation you both just had. the question, the future.

"but i do know one thing." your grip tightens slightly around the ring box. "i know i want every part of it with you."

a sob escapes alessia, the kind that nearly makes you cry harder as you smile through it. then finally asks the question you'd carried around for months. "so alessia russo will you marry me?"

for a moment alessia just stares, letting the whole moment sink in. she's crying, laughing, in pure disbelief. feeling every emotion as it hits her. thinking for a moment that she can't belief this is happening.

then suddenly she drops to her knees in the sand. "y/n."

you start laughing through her tears, you whisper nervously, "you're taking a really long time to answer."

that earns a watery laugh as alessia grabs your face with both hands. your foreheads touching as your tears mix.

"you idiot."

you grin, "that's not a yes."

alessia laughs again the. whispers the easiest answer she's ever given. "yes."

your breath catches and every nerve you felt disappeared as alessia smiles bright and beautiful and completely overwhelmed, "of course it's a yes"

the relief hit you all at once, powerful enough to steal the air from your lungs. alessia laughs as you pull her into a hug. the two of you nearly topple into the sand but neither of you cares.

"yes?" you asks again, just to make sure.

alessia cups your face. "yes."

a kiss. "yes"

another kiss. "yes, yes yes!"

you laugh helplessly as the ring is still sitting forgotten in the box between the two of you, "should probably put this on you then"

alessia looks down, "oh”

you both laugh as you carefully slide the ring into her finger. perfect as alessia stares at it then back at you and suddenly she's crying again. "oh no"

you kiss her anyway. the moment your lips meet, everything falls away. the sound of a slight cheer in the distance from passer-by's, the wind brushing past, the tears still clinging to her lashes. it all disappears.

alessia kisses you back with the same overwhelming certainty she'd said yes with, one hand sliding up to cradle your jaw while the other curls tightly into the front of your shirt as though she's afraid that, if she lets go, she'll wake up and discover this was all a dream.

the kiss is slow, unhurried, filled with soft smiles that brush against each other's lips every few seconds, both of you unable to stop grinning.

you deepen it only slightly, your thumb stroking gently along her cheek, catching the dampness left behind by happy tears. she melts into you with a quiet, contented sigh, her forehead bumping yours for the briefest moment before she closes the distance again, stealing another kiss, then another.

every touch is tender, every movement full of years of love finally leading to this single moment. when you eventually part, it's only by a fraction, your noses still touching, your breaths mingling, both of you smiling so widely it almost makes kissing impossible.

yet neither of you can stop leaning back in, as if one kiss could never be enough now that you know you'll have forever.

when you both finally pull apart, the sun has almost disappeared completely. alessia rests her head against your shoulder and for a while they simply stand there.

listening to the waves and holding each other. watching as the sky fade from gold to pink. then alessia lifts your joined hands and the ring catches the last of the light. "ten years."

you smile "hm?"

"you never answered me."

"what?"

alessia looks at her, a small smile in between her lips, "where do you think we'll be in ten years?"

you stare at her. at the woman you loves, at your fiancée and then you smile. slow and certain. "i don't know"

alessia laughs. "great answer babe"

you squeeze her hand, "but i do know you'll be there" the smile that spreads across alessia's face could rival the sunset. "yeah?"

"yeah."

alessia steps closer. close enough that there isn't any space left between them. good."

you wrap your arms around her, holding her tightly. holding her like you plan to for the rest of your life and as the final sliver of sunlight disappears beyond the horizon, you both stand together on the beach.

no longer wondering about the future. no longer dreaming about it. instead living it, together.