“Oui, you’re right. I’ve known that, but I let myself get in my own head. I’m still there. I don’t think I’ll be coming out anytime soon. But you helped me realize I can’t control everything, especially the weather.” He forces himself to take a deep breath, feeling his worries trying to bubble to the surface again. He tells himself not to focus on what could go wrong beyond his control. He wants to focus on what could go right, but instead his mind decides to track to what could go wrong because of him. He could drive off the road. He could take them to the wrong spot. They could run out of gas. They could trip on roots he didn’t notice and fall off the side of the mountain. He’s brought back to reality when Vash places a hand on his knee.

    “Jou are still vorrying. Stop it.” Francis shakes his head ever so slightly.

    “That’s not fair. You know I love it when you let your German accent slip out.” He places one of his hands over the hand on his knee, linking their fingers together lovingly. “I know you’re not comfortable with it, so merci for calming me with it.” His words echo in his own head. Hearing himself say them made him realize it was true. He no longer feels like his stomach is on fire, and he’s almost certain whatever is meant to happen tonight will. “Je t'aime, Vash.”

    “Ich liebe dich auch.” He flips his hand so their fingers interlock. “Do jou feel any better now?”

    “Oui! I do. Merci beaucoup.” He turns his head to give him a quick peck on the cheek, then places his undivided attention on the road once again.

    “Francis! Nein! You could have run off the road!”

    “Relax. I made sure we were on a straight part. And I didn’t fully take my eyes off it. I was watching out of the corners of them.” He grips his hand tighter, smiling brightly. “We’re almost there.” He glances up at the night sky. His heart drops to his feet. It’s dark. Too dark. The moon is covered, as are the many, many stars. Everything is ruined! But they’re so close to the location. Maybe the clouds will move away? He hopes they will! Everything has to be perfect. He’s confident their night will be.

    He stops the vehicle when they’re at the spot he previously chose. He hurries to get out, so he can open Vash’s door for him. When he’s out, he closes it behind him and opens the trunk to get the small cooler he packed. He sets out a blanket on a nice flat spot on the hill, and places a lantern in the middle of it. “What are you doing?” The Swiss asks curiously.

    “Come, sit! We have special occasion drinks to attend to.” He kneels on the blanket, and tugs two wine glasses out of the cooler. He pours wine into both glasses, slipping a ring into Vash’s. He excitedly watches his soon-to-be-fiancé sit across from him. He hands him the glass and gives him a bright, genuine smile. “A toast to us!”

    “To us,” he muses quietly, clinking their glasses together. Francis knows that tone. He’s curious as to what he’s doing. Once he’s taken a long sip, he looks at the Frenchman. “What are we doing here? You’ve planned without telling for so long.”

    “Finish your drink, and I think things will become more clear. We can’t waste my best wine, after all.” He chuckled softly, trying his hardest not to let on how anxious he is. If his proposal doesn’t go right, the entire night will be ruined! He lifts his glass to his lips, and practically chugs the wine because of his jittery nerves. He watches Vash drink most of what’s left of his. When he sees curiosity spike in his eyes, he clears his throat. “I have loved you for such a long time. Us being together had always felt like a dream. A dream come true, might I add. And you’ve shown me so much of yourself that no one else knows. I am so very thankful for that. And I can’t live as just your boyfriend any longer. So I was wondering… Will you marry me?”

    “J-ja! Oh Francis!” He falls upon him, kissing him hard on the lips. He pulls away laughing. “Though you didn’t have to put the drink in the wine. But it’s so perfectly you, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He fishes it out carefully, dries it off, and slips it onto his finger. “You kept to Swiss tradition.”

    “Of course I did. It’s important to both of us.” He brushes their noses together. He feels something land in his hair, and squeaks. “Get it off! Whatever it is, get it off!” He lifts his hand to swipe it away, but Vash grabs his wrist gently to stop him.

    “Nein, look.” He motions around them. Francis’ breath catches in the back of his throat. The sky is alive with blinking lights, flitting about carelessly. It’s as if the stars came to Earth to dance for them. “Fireflies. Aren’t they beautiful?” That’s why he didn’t recognize the lights.

    “They’re not very common in France. They are very beautiful.” He holds out his hand, and one lands on him. He giggles, watching the insect light up, then go out. The light isn’t sudden; it fades in and fades out. But far away they seem to just appear and disappear.

    “The stars aren’t out, but these are more entertaining. Will you do me the honour of firefly watching with me, my stunning fiancé?” He nods, happy tears springing to his eyes. Tonight is better than perfect.