#jegulus proposal

@into-the-jeggyverse

prompt: sand

It had been the perfect day. James had taken Regulus to the restaurant they had had their first date at, and they were now walking along the sandy beach, hand in hand, watching the sun set.

Regulus never thought that he’d ever be allowed this type of happiness, especially with someone like James, yet here he was.

He was so lost in this thought that he didn’t even notice James leading them to a collection of candles and roses set out in the shape of a heart in the sand. By the time he realised, they were already in the middle of it.

“What is this?” Regulus said as he looked around.

When he turned his vision back to his boyfriend, James was on one knee, with a ring.

“James,” Regulus gasped.

“Regulus Arcturus Black,” James said, taking hold of his hand, “I fell in love with you the first time I laid eyes on you. You’re like no one that I’ve ever met; you protect those you love no matter the cost, and you understand me more than anyone ever could. You’re my star, and I’m your sun, and I’d like that to be for the rest of our lives as husbands. So, will you marry me?”

With tears streaming down his face, Regulus gave the only answer he possibly could: “Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, James, I’ll marry you,” Regulus sobbed.

James broke out into the biggest grin Regulus had ever seen and stood to spin him around in circles until they were both dizzy, falling onto the sand.

Regulus was so engrossed in the entire day that he didn’t even see this coming, but upon reflection, it was beyond obvious.

“I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming,” Regulus voiced, still sniffling.

James slid the ring onto Regulus’ finger and gave him a good look at it. It was silver with sun snd star patterns engraved all around.

“Do you like it?” James asked nervously.

“It’s perfect.”

James: *down on one knee, ring box in hand*

Regulus:

James: well?

Regulus: are you going to ask me something?

James: Oh! yes! Will you marry me?

Regulus: of course, silly

James: *smiles but desist move*

Regulus: well are you going to put the ring on or do I have to do it myself?

06.04.24, @jegulus-microfic

517 Words

That's Part 3 (last part)

(can be read as standalone)

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Part 1

Part 2

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It took 3 days of a continuous unusual and silent James.

26 times asking what was wrong.

12 self-esteem dramas.

At least 4 secret phone calls from James.

And 1 morning of waking up alone.

James came back into the room half an hour after regulus woke up.

At home this wouldn't be a rarity because James always goes running in the morning. But on holiday he goes swimming. And at the moment he is absolutely dry.

The day passes, Regulus tries to suppress his worst fears.

And after dinner, the two of them walk along the beach.

Hand in hand, they walk side by side until James suddenly stops.

"Regulus?"

"Potter?"

"Sooo..."

James turns to his boyfriend and takes hold of his other hand.

He starts talking, his voice trembling, and Regulus knows the time has come.

This is going to change everything.

Only he doesn't know yet that it will be for the better.

"So... I've had a little... dilemma in the last few days."

"Oh, and now you suddenly think it's the right time to talk about it?"

James looks puzzled for a moment, but then he has his typical cheeky grin on his face

"Now is the perfect time, love."

Regulus rolls his eyes but looks at James.

"So..."

"James I swear to bloody God, stop saying 'so' and get to the point!"

"Yeah, right, the point. Ehm... I...we've been together for a while now, and... I thought it was time we maybe..." James clears his throat and collects himself for a second. He closes his eyes for a moment and then looks deeply at Regulus. "I love you. I really do. I'm so deeply in love with you. I want to be with you forever and..." He lets go of regulus' hand, reaches into his trouser pocket and kneels down on one knee, "I want more than anything to finally have you as my husband." He shows regulus a ring. Not spectacular, on the contrary, it's a £10 ring from the hotel souvenir shop. But Regulus couldn't care less at the moment. He thought James was breaking up with him.

And ... and now this?

"You stupid arse! I was so scared! I thought that was it! You make such a fuss and and....and then this?"

But then Regulus starts to laugh, realises what situation he's in. His boyfriend of 5 years proposes to him, and he yells at him in response. So he logically starts laughing. "I hate you so much. But I love you even more!" He holds out his hand to James, it shakes. "Go on, get on with your schmaltzy stuff!"

James' panicked expression disappears and he smiles.

"Do you want to m-"

"Yes yes yes yes yes, go on!"

So James puts the ring on him and they both sit on the beach and talk for a long time.

CW - crying (it’s happy crying)

Words - 197

Regulus was suspicious. James had been jittery all day and when he asked him to get dressed for a date, well… let's just say he had some idea where things were going. Still when James got down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and looked up at Regulus with a look of pure devotion, well, Regulus would be lying if he said he didn't cry.

“Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?” James asked, as if there was any doubt what Regulus would say.

Regulus collapsed to his knees, wrapping his arms around James' neck and pulling him into a kiss.

“Yes, yes, yes,” he responded as soon as he pulled away, tears now streaming down both of their faces.

“Of course I'll marry you,” Regulus said, letting James take the ring from the box and place it on his finger. It was a Potter heirloom and it was the most beautiful thing regulus had ever seen. The red and gold wrapping his fingers claiming regulus as James'. The two sat there crying for a little while before making their way back home, hand in hand. James and Regulus Potter.

“Your best friend just tried to propose to me,” Regulus smirked.

“James!” He turned to his friend for confirmation.

“What?” James asked with his shoulders shrugged, voice high. “I don’t understand what’s so wrong with that.”

“First of all, do you even know my brother? In public is the last place he’d want to be proposed to: way too much attention. Second of all, even if this wasn’t the wedding of your ex-wife, proposing at a wedding is tacky.”

Regulus nodded. “Thank you, Sirius.”

“You’re welcome, Regulus.”

James drank the rest of his wine and stood, “You know, I liked it better when you two hated each other.”

james stood in front of the mirror, pulling at the dark tufts of hair anxiously. he decided to abandon the uncontrollable mess that was his hair and return to his room. he changed out of his joggers into a white cotton shirt and blue jeans before pulling his worn-out converse out from under his bed.

the doorbell rang as he entered the kitchen. turning on his heel, he opened the door to see regulus on his front step, holding a bottle of wine.

regulus smiled up at him, clearly aware of the effect the black skinny jeans and dark green silk shirt were having on james.

“it’s your favourite” regulus said, holding out the bottle. “are we going to go out then?”

“i- yeah. mhmm yeah.”

“okay” regulus said, extending his hand, “the taxi’s waiting.”

“you look so good” james said in the lift down to the carpark.

“yeah and you wore converse.”

“shut up” james said with a shake of his head.

“and your hair’s still a mess.”

“i tried, okay? it doesn’t behave.”

regulus watched amusedly as james turned to see his reflection in the mirror in the lift. his heavily ringed fingers slid across james’ chest as he rested his forehead against james’ muscular back.

“just leave it” regulus said eventually, after james failed to make his hair stay still.

james turned in regulus’ arms, resting his chin on his boyfriend’s head. regulus looked up at his boyfriend, his hands travelling freely up and down james’ back.

“you do look good.”

“only good?” james asked in a voice of false hurt. “is that all?”

regulus rolled his eyes but stood up on his tiptoes to reach james’ lips. he smiled against james’ them, his hand wrapped possessively around his boyfriend’s neck. they only pulled apart as the lift doors opened, exposing them to the waiting taxi driver.

a slight blush appeared on regulus’ pale cheeks, as he led the way confidently to the car. they pulled up twenty minutes later outside their favourite italian.

the waitress showed them to a small, enclosed booth. it was dimly lit, and james squinted at the menu. their ankles brushed softly against each other, disguised by the darkness and long tablecloth.

“can you order for me? i want to use the bathroom.”

“yeah, sure - but you gotta tell me what you want first.”

“a glass of red, and pepperoni pizza please.”

“you got it” james said, leaning around the corner of the bench to try and get the waitress’ attention.

“would you like me to come back when your-”

“no, that’s okay; he told me what he’d like. so can i get a glass of the house red, a pepperoni pizza, a spaghetti carbonara and a gin and tonic please.”

“okay. food should be ready in about half an hour.”

james nodded as he handed the menus back. regulus slid onto the bench opposite almost immediately after she left.

“you okay?” james asked as regulus fiddled with the numerous silver rings spread across his fingers.

“hmm? oh, yeah. i’m okay.”

“hey.” james reached across the table, gently enveloping regulus’ hands in his own warm ones. “we can go if you want.”

“i don’t want to do that. seriously, i’m fine.”

james shook his head disbelievingly but retracted his hands as the plates arrived.

“ugh yours looks so good” regulus complained as james picked at the small pieces of bacon. “can i-?” he asked, leaning over the table towards james’ pasta.

“help yourself” james said, nudging the plate closer.

regulus let a small smile play at his lips as he wrapped the pasta around his fork, the utensil hitting the silver rings softly between each twirl.

james watched the quick movements as he attempted to pick up his own mouthful of pasta. he watched regulus’ slender fingers move effortlessly, before regulus dropped the fork, staring back at james.

“what?” he asked defiantly.

“nothing. can i have some of the pizza?”

“mhmm. this pasta is literally so good.”

“i know; that’s why i ordered it” james teased.

“okay okay i’ll stop.”

“you know i don’t mind really” james said, opening his mouth for regulus to give him a perfectly sized mouthful of pasta. “especially when you do that.”

taking back his plate, regulus picked up a slice of pizza, balancing it delicately on his pale fingertips. james watched a trickle of orange oil dribble down the length of one regulus’ fingers, coming to a sudden halt as it hit the snake-shaped band of silver on his thumb.

wiping his mouth quickly, james reached into his pocket for his wallet. he looked down at the small silver band he’d been carrying around for the last month or so. he gently removed it from the wallet, repeatedly turning it over in his fingers under the table.

“hey, err reg?” james’ voice cracked slightly as regulus looked up at him, the poor lighting combined with his long curls covering half of his face.

“c-can i add to your collection?” he asked, finally bringing his hands above the table, the small ring between his thumb and forefinger.

“james.”

regulus’ voice was hushed; barely audible. his eyes were floating between james’ and the ring. he exhaled shakily, reaching out across the table.

regulus seemed to take forever to answer, and james dipped his head as tears began to pool in his eyes.

“i-i’m sorry. it was probably terrible timi-”

“james.” the seriousness of regulus’ tone forced james to look up. “yes. baby, i’m saying yes.”

“really? a-are you sure?”

regulus rolled his eyes slightly, before moving onto the bench next to james. he extended his hand to allow james to slide the ring onto his fourth finger. he looked down at it before leaning forward to plant a firm kiss on james’ lips.

“yes” he breathed, his lips still against james’. “yes, yes, yes.”

james’ grin returned as regulus ran his thumb along his jawline.

“i love you.”

“i love you too” regulus assured him. “don’t you dare forget it.”

“do you want to come back to mine? there’s wine there” james added.

“how could i say no.”

james’ smile widened as they left the restaurant, apparating directly to his block of flats.

“couldn’t you have got us a bit higher? so we don’t have to climb all the stairs?”

without warning, regulus’ feet left the ground as james scooped him up, carrying him to his door on the fifth floor.

“i didn’t mean . . put me down.”

“or what?” james asked, his eyebrow raised. “what are you going to do from there?”

regulus buried his head in james’ chest, unable to hide his smile. he tightened his grip around james’ neck as they sat down on the sofa, breathing in the well-known and comforting smell of his aftershave.

sat across james’ lap, regulus looked down at his boyfriend before leaving a trail of kisses along james neck. regulus paused to undo the buttons of james’ shirt before continuing to his collarbone.

james’ hands found themselves around regulus’ waist, his fingers ghosting over the pale skin.

james opened his eyes as regulus’ lips abandoned his skin for the second time.

“you okay?”

regulus sat quietly for a moment before answering the question carefully.

“i have never been better - and it’s all because of you, so thank you.”

“eugh you softie” james said, pretending to gag. “i- ohhhmph”

james quickly shut up as regulus tugged at a gathering of hair, determined to disprove the nickname ‘softie’.

“i take it back” james amended, gasping as his boyfriend bit his lower lip.

“not a softie” regulus told him between kisses. “that’s what the rings are for.”

“apart from that one” james noted, pointing to the newest in the collection. “that one means that you agreed to spend your life with one person because you adore them, and you’re willing to put up with their flaws - although you don’t have to worry about that part because i don’t have any flaws.”

“is that so?” regulus asked, questioning james’ logic. “well that’s okay with me - i like that one the best.”

james picked up regulus’ left hand, raising it to his lips, which gently brushed over the ring.

“i love you so much.”

“i love you too baby, and d-”

“don’t ever forget it?” james suggested.

“i’m going to make sure you don’t” regulus informed him.

“do you promise?”

“i do.”

“you’re not supposed to say that yet” james told him. “but i appreciate the sentiment.”

regulus leant across the sofa to pick up a pillow, before bringing it hard into james’ face.

“would you just let me tell you i love you?”

“sorry. yes, i’m listening.”

“i love you, james potter, and i am honoured that you chose me to spend your life with, because god knows i don’t deserve someone as generous and kind-hearted as you. and i love you because you loved me when i didn’t even love myself, and because you refused to let me go even when i told you to and because you’re the clumsiest hopeless romantic ever whose warmth knows no bounds. i love you so much, and i’m still working on being good enough for you, but one day maybe i’ll get there, so thank you for staying in the meantime.”

james sat in silence, taking in every word. his hands had moved subconsciously to encompass regulus’ entire body.

“you are good enough for me. you’re so much more than just good. you’re the bravest person i know, and don’t lie to yourself, you’re a hopeless romantic too.”

“am not.”

>>><<<

From the upcoming chapter - The Proposal in The War Years.