Chapter Text
He often had problems with speeding when it came to Samara. There were way too many instances that he could think of in the last few months alone where he forced himself to take it slow or get a ticket for running a red light.
This time he gave into the urge, passing through more yellow lights than he probably had in his entire time driving in The States. The urge that covered him from head to toe was so strong that he felt if he didn't act on it right now, he would chicken out and fall back to how he had been for the entire relationship with her.
The restaurant seemed too far away from Young Technologies. He grit his teeth at the number of blocks he had left to go. Half a mile. That was it. But it was too much. Anything other than him getting off that elevator to the ground floor wasn't good enough.
The epiphany shouldn't be so amazing. He had been in love with her for months and probably long before she tried to drunkenly crawl into his bed. Long before their first sexual encounter. Probably around the time they had their first date and he was thinking about her way after he left her apartment. She was in his head the first time she showed him the affection and attention he had been craving since his divorce. A few, genuine kind words and smile from her was all it took for the stray dog that he was to follow her back home, wagging his tail the whole way.
He scoffed at how pathetically easy he had been to tame. She wasn't even aware she was doing it in the beginning. That scene in his apartment where he finally accepted her hand was where she knew just what she was saying and how much it effected him. Since then, she had chosen her words and actions with more care, the latest incident in his office with her attack and withdrawal was proof of that.
His irritation at her subdued acceptance of his response was more toward himself than her. She had fought him on his emotional inability before and he unconsciously needed that to get past his own insecurities. He was too hesitant to take the first step, which was why he was practically racing from his car right now.
He skidded to a stop before the closed elevator doors and pressed the button. An idea popped into his head and he realized his bad timing, but knew it wouldn't take long to get them to the business. It would be hard to get reception underground, so he opened the contacts list and left the number he had already utilized before as he thought about just what he wanted.
A dozen roses was boring, but effective. This also needed to be a rush job, so it had to be mildly common and available. 'Hmm...red carnations should work if I explain them. Red chrysanthemum. I wonder if they have columbine in stock? Ferns? That seems odd...but it could be a good side piece if they strip the other leaves... Hydrangeas might be too odd-looking. Definitely ivy...'
The elevator dinged and he got on, head full of mental pictures and trying to look up the rest with little success. He crossed his arms in anticipation, a finger tapping in his impatience.
He barely greeted Lucy, pressing the call button on his phone and rushing into his office. He noticed Samara's door was cracked, probably awaiting his return, but he almost snuck into his room. He knew the second he saw her, the flowers would become useless and he felt he needed props to make his point. Also, aside from hugging and kissing the daylights out of her, he didn't know just what he would say. She had agonized about this for days and thought about what to say; he should take such care as she had.
"Hello. I would like a rush order for a special bouquet. Yes I'll pay the extra fee. Do you have in stock fern, ivy, red carnation, red chrysanthemum, and purple columbine? Yes, the red columbine will work instead of purple. I would like all thorns pulled and please wrap the bouquet so it can be easily taken apart." He dug into his pocket for his wallet. "How long will it take? I am willing to pay for a double rush charge to have it made now and delivered the second it's finished. Please drop it off at the front desk. I have the address ready when you are."
All finished, he hung up the phone and tossed everything on his desk. He gave into the need to pace. Adrenaline, hope, love, uncertainty. They raged in him so high that he felt as he did when he proposed to Gwen as a teenager. But, this time was even more important than that; this was the rest of his life as he believed it. A loyalty as strong as what Samara had would follow him through the decades, through any challenge time would throw their way.
'Believe.' He mentally coached. 'She already asked you once. You just need to have the nerve to reciprocate.'
It wasn't that really. He didn't think he could handle the rejection if she, for whatever reason, decided to change her mind. Why he didn't know when she was the one to ask for his hand in the first place. It didn't make sense, but his paranoia and fear was starting to do its job just like he thought. "Focus!" He harshly mumbled, shaking his head. Hand clenched to fists at his side. "Believe in her! She loves you! How many times have you lost track asking for it? All you need to do it say it! That's where the flowers will help. You can get past the discomfort once you get started!"
A thumb made its way to his teeth in Samara fashion, anxious eyes on the door. How long did it take flowers to get here anyway?! He should've found a closer business, but he had used this company once before for Samara and knew of their services. Their performance was worth the one hundred plus bill he just forked over for this.
"Maybe this was a bad idea." He mumbled, mouth covering his hand. "If I just suck it up, I shouldn't need those flowers. But, they'd be a nice addition to give to her. A paltry return to all she's done first."
There was a knock on his door and he jumped, whirling in its direction. His heart accelerated far beyond climbing around in his ribcage and he mentally panicked. The bouquet wasn't here yet! He wasn't ready!
"Charles?" There was another knock. "I've got a delivery with your name on it."
At the sound of Lucy's muffled voice, there was a huge letdown to the point that his hands were shaking. It took only a few long strides to reach the door, but he yanked it open with the force of everything coursing through him.
The decorative wrapping crinkled in Lucy's hands as she held it out for him to take.
"They've got your name on them. Did Sam buy you flowers? That's so cute! I thought the coffees would've been enough. Although, I could see these being for her more than for you."
Wide blue eyes whipped to said person's door that was across from his. It was still open and they were practically right in front of it as it was. His hand snatched them away, looking to the petals and hoping he hadn't just messed them up.
"Are you okay? You look really stressed out about something." A brow went up. "Was it about breakfast with Sam's mom? I'm sorry I didn't say anything about it when I handed you that paper. I didn't know if you wanted her to know since Sam wasn't included."
His jaw clenched when the door opened, that part probably the last straw. He glared at Lucy a little before looking to Samara and futilely covering the flowers behind his back.
"Charles? Did I hear that you met with my mom this morning?"
Trembling fingers pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Damn it. This is not how I wanted to start this!'
"Thank you for that insight Lucy." He growled, hand moving her out of the way of his beloved. "If you'll excuse me, I've got a sudden, very important meeting with Miss Young and I absolutely don't want either of us disturbed until this door opens back up."
Lucy suddenly smirked, unsuccessfully hiding behind a hand. "Understood. Good luck Charles..."
He put a hand on Samara's shoulder and practically pushed her back into her office, face hot as he nearly slammed the door behind him once he was far enough in. All while trying to hide the flowers he was afraid he was crushing in his strength and nerves.
She stumbled a little, looking at him like he was crazy. "Charles, what's the matter with you?!"
He faced the door and anxiously fluffed the petals a little. The smell wafted to his nose and some of them were calming. He deeply breathed in the scent, clearing his throat. "Samara, please sit down."
She looked to the multitudes of places and back at him. The crinkling noise met her ears and she gave him a confused look, lips tilting. "Did you go out and get me flowers?" Hands extended to take them, but he stood in front of her with no intention of holding them out for her to take. Her brows went up to see them shake in his hold. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
He extended a hand to the couch. "Please Bunty...I need a few moments of your time. This...this is important."
She nodded and promptly took up one side, avid and worried eyes on him.
He wanted to pace all over again. He quickly exhaled a deep breath before joining her. He stared at the colors for a second as he desperately tried to remember just how he was going to do this before undoing the paper.
"I need you to please be silent and let me say what I need to tell you before I lose my nerve."
She leaned forward, concerned, mothering hand out to soothe him. "Charles, you -"
His fingers covered her lips, unable to be still. He took in her shock, at the eyes taking him in again. "Please. I have been silent for far too long, and I must do this." She nodded and he let go. His hand reached down and picked up two red columbines. He held one in each hand, extended for her to take. "A red columbine represents anxiousness and trembling." He exhaled a shaking breath. "Please take these and know that what I have to say is very hard for me to do. I have warred with myself on this meeting for a long time, with more direly necessary things getting stacked on until this second." Her hands came out and gently did as such. She stared at them in confusion for a second before they were carefully draped across her skirt.
He wished his heart would stop bouncing around his ribcage like it was a jungle gym! He went for the small handful of red carnations and held them up. "These carnations depict a poor, aching heart. For months, I've been prisoner to my own head and my heart has suffered because of it. I apologize that you also had to deal with it." He watched her mouth open for words, but quickly clamp shut with tight lips. She merely nodded and added to the now pile cradled in her lap.
He went for the next set. "Fern is symbolic of humility and sincerity." Near scared blue met kind brown. "I was presented with a situation that forced me to come to terms with my emotions. Everything that I am about to say, I mean and am terribly sorry for never having said before." He barely waited for her to take the fronds before holding up the next set. "Chrysanthemum. A flower of...l - love." He watched her eyes fly open and immediately water. He gripped her free hand. "I love you Samara Young. Truly. Madly. Deeply. With a passion that I've hardly been able to contain whenever I'm near you." He rapidly blinked as his eyes teared. Tracks were already on her face, but there were no hands she could wipe them away with. "I...I am so sorry that I was never able to verbalize myself before now. You never deserved my silence. Your kindness and generosity gave me an excuse to never force myself to admit it to you."
"Charles, that's not true!"
His head shook with more venom than he thought, effectively lodging some hair loose. "I was a coward, but you understood that. You forgave me every time. I didn't deserve that. I treated you horribly. I'm so very sorry for that."
He grabbed the ivy and put the now empty paper next to him on the couch. He slid to one knee in front of her, feeling himself sweat more than any bout at fencing class. He held up the ivy, seeing wide, slightly curious eyes on the green leaves. "I was a terrible person to have ever said 'no'. I was insane. I must have been. To you, who always gave so much and never asked for anything in return, save for my love and time. Two very precious things to me. This simple plant, I now ask you to take...as a vow of marriage." Teeth harshly bit his lip. "Please marry me. Please keep making me the happiest I've ever been in my life. Please give me your fidelity in exchange for my undying loyalty to you." Shunted blue looked to the stem, anxiety at his final words crushing him in fear. "However...I...I'll understand if you also choose to say no. I'll do whatever it takes to change your mind and -"
She finally lost the ability to remain still any longer and launched herself at him, knocking him back and almost injuring them both on the nearby table. "You silly man you!" She sobbed, gripping his suit jacket. "How could you ever think I'd say no?! Of course I'll marry you!"
The adrenaline and her words overrode the pain in the back of his head. The second it burrowed deep enough into his ears and lodged into his head, he exhaled a shuddery cry and wrapped his arms tightly around her. He quickly sat them up, pulling her into his lap without a care as to how they looked. He had to touch as much of her as possible. To know that she would be his forever. To cement that in his head and make it real.
She clutched the lapels, wetting the fabric with happy tears that didn't want to stop. That she didn't want to stop.
She didn't know just when they started kissing, but her lips pressed against his in need to replace his mouth. She moved against him as insistently as he did, not knowing whom needed the other more. She touched his face as he did to her, skin needing to have contact.
He finally tore his lips away when he couldn't breathe past the sobs in his throat. He clutched her to him, burying his face in her shoulder as he tried to tell himself to be gentle with her. To take care of the angel that would lift him up as he had done to her. "Thank you..." He rambled. "I'm s - so happy! Thank you for giving me a chance!"
"I should be saying that!" She brokenly retorted. "You always gave me everything for my sake! You always put me ahead of you. I can't even begin to repay you!"
He pulled away and took her hands in his. "Repay me over the next fifty years. You have time. I have time. Let's not rush anything...Mrs. Jones."
Her heart screamed in happiness and jumped up to her throat at that. She nodded, chin trembling and eyes spewing forth fresh tears. "O...okay... Mr. Jones. My husband."
He practically matched her look, leaning his forehead against hers. "Samara Jones...my wife."
Time stopped. The office disappeared for minutes as they wrapped in a bubble so opaque it could only reflect wedding rings and white dresses. Red roses and happy smiles. Champagne glasses clinking together and laughter. Dozens of hugs and excited chattering. Of passion and promise.
Teeth bit her lip as the images of possibility floated through her head. They'd need a song, but there were so many that could be played which represented them. She bet her family and friends could find a playlist days long to give to them on the dance floor. It started a giggle that had her stomach quivering and unable to stop. To feel her joy mingle with his and bring forth his own ecstatic laughter. To feel her arms go back around him as his did her.
The world slowly returned, the bubble thinning out until it eventually popped. She slowly got to her feet, stretching at the awkward position she had been in which was making her back ache. She watched him do the same, but the second he finished, his arms went around her again. She was almost blinded by his smile and the way he looked at her. It made tears come to her eyes.
“I love you Samara Jones.” He breathed, taking in her features. “I am yours and you are mine. I always have been. From the night of our first dinner together when we discussed your game. You were in my head with no way of escaping. You rebuilt a home for my heart with your love and your loyalty. Your unwavering faith that I always questioned from my own past. Please reset my past with your future.”
Tears fell in the crinkles at the corners of her eyes from a smile so large it threatened to split her face in two. She nodded, sniffling. “I p – promise.” She mumbled, lips claiming his. He eagerly met them, arms at her back to keep her against him for as long as possible. When she pulled away only because her smile wouldn't be contained, laughter followed it.
He didn't know what time it was, but he didn't feel like doing a shred of work. Not with as blissful as this moment was. “I can't find it in me to be productive.” He suddenly announced. He kissed her knuckles, giddiness bubbling up in him. “Shall we go out somewhere fancy and celebrate?”
A brow rose. “Does it have to be fancy?” She queried, head tilting.
“Always.” He easily retorted with a grin. “Grab your things. I will get mine and we'll head out.” Parting was easier than it had been since he stepped foot in the office. He swiped his wallet and phone off the desk, finding her ready just as quick, and took her hand in his.
They didn't even get to the end of the hallway before the cheering startled them both.
She shrieked in surprise and halted as if running into a brick wall. He did very much the same at finding what looked like the entire office in front of Lucy's desk clapping with wide smiles on their faces. The two looked at each other with wide eyes, faces heating.
“I guess we shouldn't be shocked...” She mumbled, feeling laughter escape yet again.
He chuckled, head shaking helplessly. “I suppose not. Should we bow? I don't know if they're going to stop.”
“Why not?” She asked, full out giggling. They quickly extended their heads to their co-workers, wondering just how may invites they'd need to print after this afternoon.
Unfortunately, the noise also drew Samuel from his office.
“What's going on here?” He asked, brow up. He looked to everyone and followed their eyes, finding his beloved daughter and Charles too close for his liking. His eye twitched, arms tensing a few times to reach out and pull their hands apart, though he restrained himself.
“Charles just proposed!” Lucy exclaimed, hands covering her cheeks.
“He what?!”
Samara walked forward, putting her hands on his arm when she watched it flex. “I'm so happy, dad!” She gushed, arms going around him. “Now I know why you and mom got married so soon. This is what real love feels like!”
Samuel heaved a sigh, forcing a larger smile than he wanted through the blinding one of his only daughter. “I'm...happy for you pumpkin.” Stern, brown eyes looked over her head, locking with blue...and seeing a level of delight on his employee's face that he didn't think he'd ever seen. A hand begrudgingly stuck out around the one Samara was still clasping. “I guess...this is congratulations Jones.”
Charles smiled and clasped the man's hand, wincing a little when it was squeezed hard on purpose. “Thank you Mr. Jones. I swear to you I won't let your daughter down. She's made me even happier than I've made her. I promise you that.”
Samuel's eye twitched again, those words hitting his father heart hard. “Good, good. That's what I always want to hear.”
“Dad...” Samara warned, taking in how upset he looked.
Samuel snatched his hand back as if getting caught in the cookie jar before dinner. He patted Samara's back with a big smile. “I'll let you get back to it, pumpkin. I...have a sudden urge to call your mother. Right now. Excuse me.”
Samara looked at the door as it slammed shut and heard the muffled, despairing cry. She shook her head with a sigh, turning at Charles's hold around her waist.
“Shall we, Bunty?” He asked with a smile. “Your father will be in safe hands of your mother. Besides, she already knows about all of this.”
A dark brow went up as she looked at the smile on his face. “That's also a conversation for lunch, I imagine. But I'd love to hear it.”
Lucy was suddenly hugging her, lightly crying. “I'm so happy for you Sam!” She gushed. “I wondered just what Charles was doing with a bouquet with flowers, but after getting Samantha's call yesterday afternoon, I just knew that's what it was about!”
Samara smiled and patted the secretary's back. “Thanks Lucy.” She replied, suspicious eyes on Charles.
Everyone took that moment to swarm them. Umed shook Charles's hand as did most of the IT staff that didn't have a problem with crowds. The ones that were a little more socially anxious of the large group hung back and nodded their response whenever either blue or brown eyes would meet theirs. It seemed almost overwhelming; the well wishes, handshakes, and extraneous joy. It piled upon them enough to take out to lunch when they finally broke away as everyone either headed back to their cubicle or out the main door with the pair for their own eating spot.
The sun was shining, the temperature warm, and love was at his side. It was so cheesy, but it was his life from this point on. He mentally picked a place he knew they'd have an easy forty-five minute wait until their food would arrive to allot for discussion on all things wedding-related.
He shut her door and hurried to his. He felt like a child with a best friend for the first time ever. Like he just won the lottery and never needed to work again. Like he had just jumped from a plane with no parachute and discovered he could fly.
Life was puffy clouds and kittens and hearts and warm spring days and fields of fragrant flowers. He envisioned many more giddy instances like this making it highly difficult to get through days at the office all over again when he desperately wanted to be by her side. Meetings out of the building would be torture and he just knew he was going to need to move his desk into her office for a month or two in order to readjust.
Samara stepped from the car, hand eagerly entwining with his as they headed past the main doors. She couldn't get the smile off her face, but saw the equal size on Charles's and knew hers was warranted. “I feel like my chest is going to explode.” She happily reported.
He looked at her, a snort escaping. “I feel the same way, Bunty.” He murmured as they followed the server. He stepped in front of her and pulled her chair out, free hand waving to it. “If you would allow me, my dear wife.”
She broke into giggles, face heating up as she shuffled forward, seeing he was all too pleased with himself. She stuck her face behind a menu when she couldn't stop laughing, but jolted to attention when there was a touch of skin against her fingers. She dropped the plastic below her glasses almost shyly, eyes still incredibly crinkled.
“I prefer to see those beautiful eyes of yours, Bunty.” He murmured, sweet smile on his face.
Her head ducked with a nod as she dropped the menu.
“And hold your hand.” He added.
Lips pressed together as a palm extended for him to take. “Am I going to need to order soup so I can eat? I have a feeling you're not going to let me go.”
“Metaphorically speaking, never. However, I suppose I could acquiesce for twenty minutes.”
Her eyes playfully narrowed when his smirk didn't go down. “I'll remember that Mr. Jones.”
“And I'll remember to counter accordingly, Mrs. Jones.”
She dissolved into a fit again, face exploding like the sun. Hands slapped over her cheeks in attempt to hide it, but she couldn't stop from making an idiot out of herself at the table of a very posh place he decided to take them to.
It took a moment to compose herself and her fingers split from their positions covering her face. “Maybe we should've gone somewhere cheaper...” She mumbled, looking around.
He smiled and used his elbow and palm to prop his head up. “I see no problem. You are a very beautiful woman in love and I am in love with you as well.” His smile widened, eyes bashfully going to the table. “That...feels very good to admit.”
Her fingers instantly squeezed his in reassurance. “And I think you've got some making up for lost time Mr. Jones.”
Soft eyes met hers for a moment before he nodded. “That I do, Mrs. Jones. I'll say it as often as you request, just as I did to you.”
She leaned forward, ignoring the fact that they were supposed to be ordering food. “We should play hookey for the rest of the day! Tomorrow will be here soon enough!”
He gave her a slightly dry look, even though the thought was worming its way in his head. “And pray tell Mrs. Jones, just what would we do for the rest of the afternoon?”
Teeth bit her lip for a second. “Well...we could go look for rings, or look at dresses, or go get ice cream and coffee after this at Dee's. We could sit on the roof with Bowser and talk about honeymoon locations or who is going to sell who's apartment or if you want to buy a house or anything we want!”
He smiled, looking to their hands. “I always did have a hard time saying 'no' to you, Bunty.” He murmured. “You make everything sound so inviting.”
She kept the laughter inside, but it was hard. She leaned forward, making her eyes wider and batted them a few times. “Please Charles? I'm just so happy right now. I don't want to go back to work. I want to continue celebrating this with you.”
An eye twitched as he resisted the urge to pick her up in his arms and kiss the daylights out of her. His eyes narrowed a little. He was silent for a minute as he mentally reviewed his schedule. “I'll need to have Lucy call that meetings I had later in the afternoon, but it's so close to closing that tomorrow morning wouldn't be too horrible I suppose.”
She squealed a little and beamed at him, shoulders at her ears. “Thanks Mr. Jones!”
He brought her knuckles to his lips, head shaking. “Anything for you, Mrs. Jones.”
There was a sudden clearing of someone's throat as they suddenly realized they were in public and looked to the smiling waitress who had been standing there for who knew how long. “Did I hear you two are getting married? Congratulations! Are you...ready to order?”
Samara yanked her hand back to flip through the menu real quick, but Charles just looked at the woman. “We'll need five more minutes, please. Apologies for taking up your time.”
“It's perfectly fine sir. May I just add that you two are utterly adorable. I'll be back in five minutes.”
She pulled the plastic from her face once the silence returned. “Yea...work is going to be a bad idea for productivity I think...” She murmured, face resembling a tomato.
“Something else we'll need to work on later.” He shrugged.
Lunch was fantastic, cloud nine continuing on through dessert and stepping back into the car. She let him shut it again, having lost count long ago. She looked to him when he shut his door and went for his belt. She shuffled in her seat, antsy to go celebrate now that Lucy was aware of their not coming back. “So...where to next?”
“I'll start driving and you point out what sounds good as we go.”
A brow rose. “That sounds very theoretical.”
He snorted and backed from the space. “I suppose it is.”
She looked at the edge of the parking lot they were nearing. She didn't miss the metaphor of them leaving one area for a new road in the same vehicle together, diving it while nicely belted in and ready for traffic as they went forward with hands properly clasped on the wheel.
“Onward!” She blurted out, giggling in happiness.