#mcl proposal

Did his twin planned something ? Did he tell him he wasn’t ready for that ? Or maybe he said he didn’t even want to marry her at all ? Could he maybe chea... 

“STOP.” She froze while Alexy sighed with dismay. “Candy, just, stop, please. It is nothing like that. And he doesn’t cheat on you. He never did.” 

He made her wait the time to put her on the couch and serve her a glass of water. His best friend could be a veritable ordeal when she decided it.  

“You can breathe. Girl, of course Armin already thought to you and him as wife and husband. Well, maybe not in the classic way, but wathever, you know in what you are stepped.”  

“He... Seriously ?” She blinked with consternation and relief. Before frowning as she was thinking about the reason he still didn’t propose yet. “But if... Why... It doesn’t make sense...”

“I know, for me neither. He has a particular logic. In fact, I never saw him so serious and concerned by anything else. Like, you are still a student, with your thesis he thinks it’s not the time to bother you” Candy raised an eyebrow at this senseless argument — how could his proposal bother her ? — “you don’t live together yet and he believes it is a strict condition for you, and everything like that.”

She could pratically be hurt. Since when Armin forgot who she was ? Right, she wasn’t so free and glib than him — who could ? — but they already lived so many unbelievable stories together, essentially because they were both adventurers. They were sort of jack-of-all-trades. Compared to those moments, what was an engagement ? 

However, the answer was simple : if for her, it was a logical suite to their couple, for Armin, who traditionally had to propose — since he was the man, and she was the woman — it was so much more. They never spoke about marriage, and he maybe took it as a sign she didn’t want it. Of course, in this condition, he had all the right to felt insecure and anxious. In fact, Armin was maybe purely and simply afraid she could reject him. The same feeling she had because he didn’t propose anything. They had a little bit of a tag team. 

“Well, I’m not agree. Honestly, I’m more than ready, and if he is too, well, we will not wait like that until the end of the world.”

“Do you want me to speak to him, and give him all the signs he needs ?”

“No. If that moron continue to doubt like that, there is only one solution. Come on, take your jacket, we have a shopping to do.”

“What the... Candy !”

“I’m gonna cry. Really.”

“Don’t, or I will begin too.”

“It’s the most beautiful day of my life. My brother will finally have what he wants, and my best friend will also become my sis'. I can die in peace.”

In front of them, the jeweller had all the difficulties to keep his smile for himself. It wasn’t every day he had the occasion to help a woman who needed an engagement ring for her boyfriend — unfortunately, about that subject, traditions were still a little to much anchored in their society. It was quite a hard choice, by the way — and the twin’s lucky guy didn’t really help. 

Once they were out of the shop, Candy took her phone and called her boyfriend to fix a date.  

“Hey princess, what’s up ?”

As soon as she heard his voice, Candy knew she was doing the right thing. More than ever.  

He was late. Of course he was, until evidence to the contrary, he was still Armin. It was too perfect until now. 

She was alone on the bench, and she just started to realize what she was doing. Oh god. How did men manage to do that, honestly ? She was fighting against herself to stay concious. Candy remembered those meditation stuffs her father tried to teach her, and closed her eyes, trying to relieve her anxiety.

“Is it for a yoga class you asked me to come ?” 

She flinched and opened big eyes. Armin was just in front of her, totally amused by the situation.

“Oh god.” 

His smirk grew up. He raised an eyebrow before giving his hand to lead her into a walk.

“No, it’s just me. But thanks for the compliment. I will remind you next time we argue.” 

She was so nervous that she couldn’t even get in his game. He certainly saw it, because he started to caress her wrist — with time, he learned how much that simple gesture had a relaxing power on her. 

“You know, you’re really pretty like that. In which occasion ?” 

No. Could he know ? Did Alexy... ? No, no, no. He wouldn’t.

“Usually, when the boyfriend says something like that, the girlfriend answers by “oh Armin, on you, it would be even much better! You’re so handsome!”. But I understand if you don’t want to admit it.” 

As she was still froze, he straightened her head with a finger and gently smiled at his apparently anxious and distracted girlfriend.

“If you told me what kind of thoughts are inside your pretty head right now, it would be easier, don’t you think ?” 

That was exactly at this moment she remembered why she was just so eager to marry him. A lot of jokes and sometimes sarcasms, but always with respect and kindness. Even his little smirk he practically always had on his lips showed how attentive to her he was.  

Armin was Armin. Maybe not totally perfect, but enough to make her fall in love with him day after day.

“Still nothing ? Well in that case, let me relax you first. Dare or truth ?”

“Wha... Armin, seriously ?”

“Dare or truth ?” He replied, and she couldn’t keep a little laugh he took for a victory. 

“Dare.” 

Just because Candy was absolutely not ready to make her proposal right now, and because of course he would ask her if she choose the other option.

“Mimic me what’s in your head.” ... Oh. OH. 

She was officially trapped right now. This little...

His eyes expressed his pride, and she knew she already loose his game. If she postponed it to tomorrow, she would be exactly in the same condition. She always would, with him around her. That was one of the effects he had on her. 

That’s why she looked at him in the eyes, took his hand, before kneeling in front of him. People all around suddenly stoped, but she was focus on her boyfriend right now. His eyebrows were frowning, and he really looked like he tried to understand why the hell she was almost sitting on the floor. So, she just took the ring in her pocket. 

Candy offered him a shy smile. 

“Normally I am supposed to say something with that, but as I have to mimic it, I can’t do more”.

A weird silence accompanied her speech. He seemed like if he was in another galaxy.

“Wait... What does it mean ? Hum, I have an idea, but are you... You are ? Really ? It’s not... A trick ?” He couldn’t be more lost than that.

“I love our jokes, but it would be a really, really bad one. So... yes, it is really happening. Well, only if you want it, and I could understand if...” Her voice was no more than a whisper. She was tamed by uncertainty. 

However, she didn’t have the time to continue, because the second after, he was with her on the ground, being busy to kiss her like if it was the last time.  

People all around them applauded, but it was like if they were somewhere far away from them. He was the only one who matters, and Candy felt those million butterflies in her stomach relieved her stress, while his delicious laugh came to her. 

“It’s exactly why I love you.”

At his right, Amber clucked at a remark he didn’t hear from his new brother-in-law — no need to tell their parents loved the man so much, of course. But his sister seemed sincerely happy since she was with him, so he tried his best to tolerate him. “So, Nath, Candy’s not here today ?” Nathaniel looked at his brother-in-law — ugh — with dismay. “She’s in Cuba for her job.” “Oh, great. Which hotel ? I was in that beautiful five stars during my third travel there. We all should go back one day. In family.” Nathaniel raised his eyes. What a double-faced man. “She’s hosted in a local school.” “Oh, it looks so… Cosy. So like her, right ?” The irony wasn’t even concealed this time. He decided to ignore him — he didn’t worth it. Criticize Candy just to be in the good favors of his parents, seriously ? Worst of all was that it worked — his father had that smile on his face he couldn’t support. Just at the moment he was thinking to leave the place, Amber posed her hand on his arm. “Did you have news from her ?” She asked her as an aside. “She called me last night. She’s fine.” She nodded.

“And you ?” He gave her a poor smile.

“She misses me… A lot.”

“My, my, look who’s still in love.”

He let escape a laugh while his twin was smirking. As incredible as it could be, Amber was actually the one who accepted Candy the most. They were making efforts to be polite with each other, for his own happiness. School was so far now — eight years. They all grew up, including in maturity. “What about… Your idea ?” “Always in my mind.” More than ever in fact.

“It’s for tomorrow so ?” He nodded. Unless her flight was cancelled, she should be at home the next day. A few hours to wait, to pass with that horrible stress in his stomach. “She will say yes Nath. There is no doubt.” “How can I be sure ? It’s not like if we talked about it before.” “If she says no to you, she would definitely be a lost cause, which also means I was right since high school, but you pasted so many hours to try to prove me I was wrong that it can’t be. And also because you’re my brother. You have my genes. No one can resist us.”

They laughed and exchange a complicit look. Amber was certainly right. It has to be. He would be broken otherwise.

“Nath!” He received her as she threw herself in his arms. At this early hour, the airport’s arrivals hall was practically empty, and it was much better like that. He looked at her tired face but happy smile. She was so beautiful. “I missed you, you know ? It would be so great if you’d come with me…” “If only we didn’t have this contract at the office, I would. And I missed you too. It was empty, too clean and calm without you at home.” She laughed before quickly kisses him. “What did I miss ?” she asked while she was taking his hand and following him until their car, her suitcase in his other hand. “Not so much. My boss is ready to pay a fortune for an author who doesn’t worth it and my brother-in-law is the biggest moron I’ve ever seen, even more than Castiel.” “At least Castiel didn’t marry your sister.” “I will really start to regret it one day…” She looked at him with amusement and start to observe the man she was dating since so many years now. He was handsome, there was no doubt. The way women usually looked at him was an undeniable proof. Charismatic, elegant, smart, mind-open. He was more self-confident than during high school, but as such a man, he has all the right to be. 

Sometimes, when she waked up, she was still surprised to see him by her side. Years had spent, but the sensation she was in a fairy tail wasn’t gone. Of course, it wasn’t always easy between them. They both had strong characters, and didn’t like to lose an argument. They could be particularly childish in those moments. But until now, they’d always overcome it. For a simple reason. “I was thinking about something in the plane.”

“To what ?”

“To the fact that I love you. I know I don’t tell it enough. But I really do. More than what you can think.”

He froze for a couple of seconds, before giving her a shy smile. “Well, about that…” As she frown her eyebrows, certainly asking herself why he would answer something like that to her confession, he lowered softly himself. He had just put his knee down, and Candy already seemed to understand. “Oh my god…” She puts her hands to her face, hiding herself, while he opened the little black box. He noticed her wet eyes. “It’s maybe a little cliché, but I love you too, and I want to past the rest of my life with you. As your husband, if you want it.” “How could I refuse it to you ?” She answered with a laugh, and after she gave him her shaking hand, he delicately stuck his forehead to hers. She softly touched his cheek and he felt her finger dry a tear. A relieved and happy tear.  

But she had conscience she wasn’t in rest too. After all, she was with Kentin since five years now, and she didn’t count the “before couple”. Alexy called them soul mates, and it was quite true, even if it took her time to recognize it. Between them two, it was so insecure and shy at the beginning. Of course, they trusted each other, but not themselves.

Thanks to their studies and his job at the police, both of them grew up in a beautiful way. And here they were now, two wonderful adults with self-confidence and faith in their own capacities. Being together was the cherry on the cake, because they were even stronger. 

After having breakfast with her best friend - well, it was more like Candy forced Rosalya to eat something, who categorically rejecting it - she locked her in the bathroom, and between two panic attacks in front of the mirror, found the time to look at her phone. 

There were a lot of Lysander’s texts and she immediately knew she would have to catch up his mistakes today - he was more stressed than Rosalya and Leigh reunited. It was quite surprising to discover that something could actually really oppress that peaceful man - and none of them would never believe it before. But after a few weeks trying to deal with him, Candy just couldn’t hold it any more. It was why she was so happy to delegate the evening organization and this stressful bomb to Armin and Kentin - without any regret, even when she had surprised her boyfriend at phone with Lysander and faint to not see his killer looks. 

After let him know that, yes, Rosa was still alive, and no, she didn’t want to stop everything, she finally was able to look at the only Kentin’s text. 

“Don’t let her stress you too much, ok ? Everything you planned is perfect.” 

She had a lovable smile on her face. Always the right word. He was at Leigh’s bachelor party, but at this hour, certainly on his way for the police station - his boss gave him a permission for the afternoon only, and she didn’t even know how he would succeed to stay awake until the end of the event. 

But she didn’t have the time to think about him any more. There was a fury in the bathroom to take care off. 

She was so released to see Rosalya’s mother and Alexy arrive - he was the official makeup artist, of course.

When she was finally ready and Candy was sure everything was fine for Leigh too - she carefully avoid all Lysander’s calls, claiming she was too busy for that - she was able to prepare herself. She just closed the bedroom’s door and Alexy was already open it again. 

“You will do nothing without my help. Come on, take off this horefull sweat and go take a shower. We have a lot to do.”

“Well, justly, I didn’t plan to do a lot. No need to take to much time, you’re not here for me in first place.” Her best friend seemed offended. 

“Excuse me, but who is the professionnal here ? I want to make of you the most perfect woman of the evening.”

“Alex, I am the bridesmaid, not the bride, remember ?”

“What’s the difference ?” he told her with an enigmatic smile. “Come on, go into this shower before I push you myself.”

“You’re so calm.” Kentin looked up at his best friend. Guests starting to gather in front of the communal house. 

“I am not the one who’s getting married today. Or who assist to my brother’s wedding” he replied with a suspicious corner look to Lysander, a few meters farther. Alexy rolled his eyes. 

“Well, it’s not like if nothing would happen to you too today. I f I was you, I would be completely nervous.” 

“It’s because you’re already too much strenuous in your normal state. Remind me to avoid you when you will be ready for that.” 

“Blah blah blah. You’ re so funny, how did I miss it before ?” They exchanged a complicit look. “You’re really confident in it, right ?”  

“Is it bad ?” 

“No... Not at all. It’s more than better in fact. It means it’s the good time to tell her.”

The ceremony was so beautiful. She passed it at Lysander’s and Alexy’s sides, and they all cried on each other shoulder. She barely saw Kentin until now, only by far, and she had to admit it, he was more than hansome in his suit, near Armin, Kim and Alexy’s boyfriend.

Judging by his wink, Candy was sure he liked her dress too. He totally loved lace, and that detail she once relate to Rosalya, years ago, didn’t escaped to her when she made her bridesmaid’s outfit.

It had been the point Rosalya and Leigh didn’t wanted to delegate to any of them. They were both mode designers, did open their own mark three years ago, and for god’s sake, why would their friends buy a horrible dress or suit somewhere else ? They had it for free, so no one had complain, and Candy had to admit they had make a beautiful job.

It couldn’t be more romantic than that. After eating and joking with their friends, Kentin invited her to dance. He had this beautiful smile she adored, with fireworks in his eyes. With time, she’d understood it was an expression he had just with her. Candy never stoped to love him since high school. It was even more and more every day, and she couldn’t imagine her life without such a man by her side.

She catched him looking at her up and down, a little smirk on his lips. 

“I was sure you would like Rosa’s work” she noted with a playful smile. 

“Well, honestly, I prefer the woman who is in the dress.” 

“What a seducer... But we always need one at weddings, right ?”

He laughed and suddenly kissed her tenderly. He seemed relax, self-confident and happy. More than ever, even if she didn’t understand why. He was so handsome, and she couldnt resist to tell him. He gave her another kiss on the cheek, before being rudely pushed by the bride of the day.

 “I need to pee, but with that dress, I can’t do it alone”. 

Their romantic moment was officialy over, but Kentin didn’t seem bored, which made her suspicious. She had the time to catch the mysterious look he exchanged with Rosa. Oh god, what did they planned she didn’t know ? It was nothing good. 

After ten minutes at the toilets, she was finally free again. Or not. Alexy’s boyfriend literally jumped on her, before sending her with a big smile to the little living room upstairs for a new Rosa’s emergency. Again. At this moment, Candy chose she officially wanted to die. 

But there was no one there. Only Kentin. Hands in pocket, standing against the desk, legs crossed, a beautiful smile on his lips. 

“I will never organize another marriage in my life. It’s hell.” She withdrew her high heels and placed them on the console, next to him.

“Really ? It’s sad, because I wanted to ask your help.” 

“Why ? Did you plan to ask me to be your bridesmaid too ?” He let escape a low laugh, before straighten and putting a hand on her waist. 

“I have to admit it, you’re pretty good in that role, but I was thinking about something else. The bride, maybe.” 

And before she even realized what was happening, he kneeled and took off a ring from his pocket. 

“Are you tempted ? Because I am since I know you”. 

Now, there was fireworks in her eyes too.