Work Text:
Danny paced, thumbing at the diamond ring sheathed within the velvet box. It was large and glamorous and everything she deserved. He could already imagine it settled on Tully’s finger, hell, he could even imagine the white dress she’d wear as she walked down the aisle. There wasn’t anything in the world that he wanted more than to marry her.
They’d been together for years now. Tully and him had withstood the test of time. And he was ready. He would always have been ready for her if it came down to it.
He sometimes wished he’d proposed way back when, before he took his job in New York and moved away. But he knew Tully would never have said yes then. They were kids practically, playacting at adulthood and Danny hadn’t known how to seize the really important things.
Tullu hadn’t been the most important thing in his life back then — which just goes to show how stupid his judgment used to be. And he hadn’t been hers either. But now he felt reasonably sure she would happily agree to marry him (the engagement ring brochures didn’t end up on their dining table by accident, and Danny knew he wasn’t the one to place them there). Danny had noticed how Tully would slip up and talk about spending the rest of their lives together, how she’d make plans for something ten years down the road without ever thinking he wouldn’t be there. Danny and Tully had never been on the same page before, but now, he figured she was a sure thing.
Still, he needed to do this right. Perfectly.
Just because he figured she’d acquiesce to marry him, didn’t mean Tully deserved anything less than a spectacle.
So here he was, pacing back and forth on the grassy lawn, making sure everything was set up perfectly.
“Tallulah Rose Hart,” Danny said, testing how the words felt as they rolled off his tongue, “Will you marry me?”
He sighed.
That didn’t feel right.
“Tully, will you marry me? How about we get married? Tully, how do you feel about us getting married?”
He heard a cough at the back door, and startled. She wasn’t supposed to be here yet! Danny turned around quickly and sighed in relief when he saw who it was.
It was only Johnny.
“I can keep walking,” Johnny said, pausing at the entrance, his brows furrowed in question.
“Fuck, I thought you were Tully.”
“Is there a reason you’re proposing in front of my house?” Johnny asked, “Or practicing? I don’t know what exactly you’re doing.”
Danny had thought deeply about where to propose. He’d considered proposing in the fancy restaurant that he’d taken Tully out for many dates or even flying her out to Paris and proposing there. But he knew none of that would ring true for Tully. There was nowhere on earth that held more meaning for Tully than Kate’s house. Even if Kate wasn’t around anymore, her memory would still be there.
It was one of Danny’s biggest regrets that he and Tully hadn’t gotten to this point before Kate passed away — Tully was always going to regret not having Kate at her wedding.
So proposing here was the next best thing. This house was drenched in Kate’s memory; you couldn’t help but feel she was looking on when you were here.
He had arranged for an extravagant arch of flowers to be set up by the dock, and fireworks to go off when Tully (hopefully) said yes. Yes, it was totally over the top, but Danny knew she’d love it.
However, Danny did forget to account for the fact that people still lived here.
“Tully likes your house,” Danny said.
“I’m well aware,” Johnny said, crossing his arms, “When did you set all this up?”
“The florist came this morning.”
“Right,” Johnny said, “And you didn’t think to ask me.”
“What? For your permission to marry Tully? You’re not her dad. And even if you were, that would be so antiquated, Tully would hate it.”
“No,” Johnny said, rolling his eyes viciously, “For my permission to do this at my house.”
“Oh,” Danny said, “No, I didn’t think to ask you.”
Johnny sighed. “Well, good luck, man. She'll say yes. Probably."
“Thanks,” Danny said, though the probably wasn't all that reassuring.
“And, uh, for what it’s worth, I think you’re really good for Tully. I’m happy for you both.”
Danny smiled. He didn’t need Johnny’s approval but he knew it did mean something to Tully. He was practically family to Tully.
“Thanks,” Danny repeated.
They stood in easy silence for a couple of second before Danny remembered the plan. He checked his watch — it read 9:05 which meant she was bound to be here soon since he asked her to come to Kate’s house by 9:00. Tully wasn’t punctual for anything but her show, but it never annoyed Danny. It was crazy how much he loved Tully, how much he loved not despite her flaws, but even more because of them. He had never felt like this before, not in any relationship he had. Before Tully, he didn’t even know he could love like this.
Danny eyed the entrance to the walkway eagerly. “Do you mind? She’ll come out any moment.”
“It’s literally my house,” Johnny muttered, but moved aside where he wouldn’t be seen.
Danny exhaled, trying to get rid of the nerves. He could do this. He could totally do this. It was just one simple question, that he practically knew what the answer would be. He just had to not freeze up. Danny was more nervous for this than he had been for his very first live broadcast.
“She’s coming,” Johnny whispered.
Danny looked up, catching her walking towards him.
His breath caught. Fuck, she was beautiful. She was always beautiful.
She was radiant in a short red dress, her black hair reflecting off the moonlight, her beautiful big eyes peering towards him.
“Danny?” Tully called out, “Where are you?”
“Down here!” Danny said. She followed his voice, and Danny could tell when she finally spotted him by the way her lips quirked up.
Was this totally crazy?
He remembered what Tully had said to him years ago. How life was short and you should just go for it. Granted, she’d been encouraging him to propose to Celeste back then, but the advice was apt for now too.
He knelt down, feeling his knees ache, and smoothly opened the ring box before he could psych himself out.
“Tallulah Rose,” Danny started, “Will —”
“Yes!” Tully exclaimed, running to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. He brought her in close, and lightly spun her around, laughing. He felt light with giddiness.
“You didn’t let me finish.”
“I know what you were going to say,” Tully said, “Oh, this is a nice ring. Exactly the type I always wanted.”
“Yeah?” Danny said, “Actually, Kate had helped me pick it out.”
Her eyes lit up, just as he knew they would. Fuck, he loved seeing her happy. He’d do anything to keep that look on her face.
Thank god Kate had come with him to pick out the ring. It had been stupidly early in his relationship with Tully — they’d only gone on one date at that point, but he already knew that this would happen. It had been one of the better days for Kate, the pain from the chemo had been bearable enough for her to endure 6 hours of ring shopping, before they found one that Tully would love.
“Wait, how long have you wanted to propose?”
“From the very first day I saw you.”
“Shut up. Be real.”
“I am being real,” Danny said, “But no, ever since our first bad idea. I knew I’d never ever be able to forget you. There was never going to be anyone else for me, no matter how casual you told me it was.”
“That’s almost sweet.”
Tully slid the ring onto her finger, holding it up for him to see. It looked good on her.
“Wait, ask me again,” Tully said, “I won’t cut you off this time.”
Danny laughed into her hair. “Tallulah Rose, will you marry me? Letting you go the first time was the biggest mistake I’ve made. And bumping into you again was the best thing that ever happened to me. There’s no one I’d rather spend my life with than you. Tully, I love you. So, will you?”
Tully teared up. “Yes! I’ll marry you.”
Tully grabbed at Danny’s lapels and pulled him into a kiss. He pressed back, sliding his hands up his fiancée’s hair. Wow, Tully was his fiancée. He wasn’t going to get tired of calling her that anytime soon.
Her lips parted, allowing his tongue to slide against hers. Danny felt fireworks burst behind his eyes from how perfect the kiss was.
Oh wait, those were the actual fireworks.
Johnny coughed from the side, where he’d been hiding behind some bushes. “Congrats.”
Tully squealed. “Johnny, I’m getting married!”
Johnny smiled. “I’m happy for you Tully. Kate would’ve been ecstatic.”
Tully smiled softly at the reminder of her best friend. “Yeah, she would have been.”
Danny slid his hand in Tully’s, and she squeezed back gently. Danny felt unbelievably happy. There was nothing else he could ask for.