Memories

XCIII

STARGAZING

'Pull it out of park, put it in drive
I can feel your heart beating with mine
Underneath the stars, looking for a sign
Glowing in the dark till the sun shines'

⥎
⥐

Thalia woke up in a familiar bed - the one Kevin used at Abby and Wymack's house when he visited. She rolled over and looked up into Kevin's face. His eyes were closed, but his expression was more relaxed than Thalia had seen it in a while. She could get used to a view like that. Again.

'Morning,' Kevin whispered in a hoarse voice without opening his eyes. Thalia smiled and leaned up to kiss his nose. He hummed in response and gave Thalia the ghost of a smile. Kevin turned over and picked something up from his bedside table before rolling back to Thalia and holding it between them. His eyes were open now and looking at her expectantly. Thalia gasped and put a hand over her mouth at the ring - a silver band with an emerald stone set into it. It was beautiful.

'Lia,' Kevin said. 'Will you marry me?' he asked. Thalia looked into Kevin's eyes and nodded. He smiled, and Thalia kissed him on the mouth this time. Kevin slid his free hand around her waist and pulled her in closer. Thalia put a hand on Kevin's cheek.

He slipped the ring onto Thalia's finger and she stared at it up close. It was beautiful, and Thalia couldn't stop admiring it. She'd seen Katelyn do the same when Aaron had proposed. And Allison when Renee had. And Dan when Matt had. She understood why her friends had been so captivated now. She didn't want to look away.

The two headed downstairs eventually after many shared kisses and hours laying together, their first few as an engaged couple. It was almost noon by the time Thalia headed downstairs - Kevin was in the shower - and saw the note on the fridge from Wymack and Abby. They'd gone out and said Thalia and Kevin could use whatever food from the fridge and pantry they wanted.

Thalia got out some eggs and mushrooms, beginning to cook them in a pan on the stovetop, when Kevin's footsteps came from behind her. He wrapped his arms around Thalia's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Thalia smiled at the gesture and Kevin hummed. 

'What are you making?' he asked, though it was clear what was in the pan.

'Eggs and mushrooms on toast,' Thalia responded. Kevin hummed again. 'Your favourite, if I recall.' Kevin grumbled and went to get the bread out of the pantry.

'Not my favourite, I just think it's rather healthy,' Kevin retorted, defending himself. Thalia laughed.

'Alright,' she said, putting the cooked food on pieces of toast Kevin had made. They worked well together in the kitchen - Thalia was a good cook, and Kevin, surprisingly, loved to bake. 

'I know it's almost lunchtime, but I thought it would be nice.' Thalia said as they sat down next to each other at the breakfast bar. 

'It's perfect, thank you my love.' Kevin said and kissed the top of Thalia's head. She smiled and the two began eating their meal.

⥎
⥐

When Wymack and Abby got back at around three thirty, Andrew and Neil weren't far behind them. Everyone was having dinner at the house. Thalia thought it would be funny to hide her new engagement ring, so she hid her left hand behind her back or held onto Kevin's hand for most of the afternoon.

'You know you're not smooth, right?' Andrew said when the six of them were sitting in the living room and chatting. Thalia had her hand under her thigh and in the other was a glass of coke. She frowned. 'We can all see the ring.' Abby gasped and turned to Thalia with wide eyes.

'Clearly not everyone could,' Thalia spat in German. Andrew didn't retort, and Neil only smiled slightly, showing Thalia he already knew about it, too. Had Kevin told him he was planning on proposing? She seemed it would only be right, since Neil was her only living family member. The only one who would have mattered, anyway.

'Kevin proposed?" Abby asked. Thalia sighed but nodded and reluctantly gave her hand to Abby when she held hers out to see the ring. "Oh, darling it's beautiful." Thalia blushed a little at that. It was beautiful. Kevin had made an excellent choice.

"Nice one, kid," was as much of a compliment as Wymack gave the two. Thalia rolled her eyes but smiled. She already considered Wymack a father figure, now he'd officially be her father-in-law.

"Are you going to tell the others?" Neil asked. Thalia looked at Kevin. They hadn't really discussed that, despite having most of the day to decide things like that.

"Eventually, yes," Kevin said, making Thalia nod in agreement. "But not all at once. We'll probably start with Dan first, and, I suppose, Matt by extension," Kevin had really grown to think of Dan as a sister over the past few years, even with her being away for a lot of the time. They'd grown closer than they were when Thalia had joined the team, and even more so than when Dan had found out about Wymack being Kevin's father. "Then I suppose we'll see where it goes from there." 

"That seems fair," Abby said, beaming. She finally let go of Thalia's hand and Thalia rested it on her lap, finally feeling comfortable showing off the stone.

Dinner was a mix of emotions and conversations - ranging from what pro teams Neil and Thalia were looking at joining, to anymore information Abby and Wymack had on the newest addition to their family - and Thalia felt right at home. There was a silent and begrudging agreement that they'd join together for this at least once every two months - sometimes more - and Thalia went to sleep that night feeling ecstatic. It was almost hard for her to fall asleep because of how much adrenaline she had running through her system. Because of how exciting her day had been. But she managed, sleeping by the love of her life. Her fiancée.