Chapter Text
9 months later
Belle smiled as she began packing away the last of her things for the day. The company Christmas party had just finished and she was more than ready to call it a night.
A quick glance when she had first returned to her office had shown her that Rum was still at work. She didn’t see him, but as his light was still on she knew he was there somewhere.
She hadn’t heard from him much that day, which was strange. But perhaps he was busy arranging things for the Christmas Day dinner he would be holding at his house in a few days time, she decided. What with it being his baby granddaughter’s first Christmas, he seemed bound and determined to make everything – from the tackily enormous tree to the obscene amount of presents underneath it – absolutely perfect.
Her cell phone vibrated. Belle glanced at it and smiled when she saw that the text was from Rum.
Happy Anniversary
She looked at the message in confusion, typing out a quick reply.
I think you’re a few months early ;)
His reply came almost immediately.
It’s one year from the day we met.
Belle felt her eyes well up with tears at his thoughtfulness.
Well aren’t you full of surprises?
She was about to ask whether or not he wanted to grab some late dinner together when she saw that he was typing a reply.
As it happens, I have another surprise for you. Look up.
Belle, somewhat mystified by his message, looked across the courtyard to his office, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes landed on him.
He stood facing the window, a small black box sitting in his upheld palm. Even from across the courtyard, Belle could see the light from his office catch on the ring inside, causing the diamond to sparkle brilliantly in the night.
Before Belle could react, his other hand pressed a piece of paper against the glass. In large, bold words it read, “Wave for Yes.”
A bubble of laughter burst forth and Belle waved both hands at him wildly.
“Yes,” she shouted, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. “Of course, yes!”
His answering smile was the brightest thing she’d ever seen.
With a quick gesture that she would be coming over, she practically flew out of the room towards his office.
Belle had a fiancé to meet.