#Chapter 256 – The Laser

I frown at Victor as he opens his bedside drawer, half my attention on Alvin reaching out to pull Archie off of Ian and give the dog a snuggle. “Why do you want a mint?” I ask, turning back to my kids. “You just brushed your teeth.”

“Sometimes, you just want a mint,” Victor murmurs, and I turn back to him, confused. And then I see the little smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth. Frowning a little – not upset, just curious – I watch him, giving him my full attention now.

And my mouth falls open when he draws, from the very back of the drawer, a little black velvet box.

I gasp aloud, going very still.

The boys react immediately to my noise and my stillness, the wolves in them instantly alert to the change. Almost at once, my twins turn to me and then to Victor, watching carefully.

“Evelyn,” Victor says, palming the box and coming to sit next to me on the bed. I go a little pale, my hands shooting up to my mouth to cover it. I watch him with wide eyes – completely surprised but also utterly happy. If this is what I think it is…

“Evelyn,” he says again, laughing a little and reaching out to touch my wrists, to pull them away from my face. I can hear his voice waiver slightly, as if he’s anxious. But he can’t possibly be…

“Papa,” Ian whispers, interested and perhaps a little confused.

“Shhh!” Alvin interrupts, reaching over to cover Ian’s mouth with his hand, muffling his interruptions.

“But!” Ian cries, his words garbled behind Alvin’s hand. Victor presses on, ignoring them but unbothered. He doesn’t mind, really, I can tell – we both know it wouldn’t be the same without the boys here, and it wouldn’t be an event with the boys if they didn’t interject. I want them to be part of it.

“I had plans to do this another way,” Victor continues. “Lots of different ways – but I heard you, last time, when you said that you wanted me to ask you this question in a moment that felt…like it was totally ours. And there is no moment that feels more truly ‘us’ than one filled with the sound of your laugher, and the comfort of our home,” he looks at the boys then as well, and I can see tears limning his eyes, “and our boys doing something…completely bizarre.”

who are looking wide-eyed at the two of us. Victor brings me back to him, though,

I’ve finally felt whole. Not whole again, either – I think I’ve never been whole without you. The nearness of you is the completion that I’ve been looking for my entire life. I never want to be

a little at this and he huffs

couple of minutes here and there. But otherwise, all I want for the rest of my life is to be by your

says the words that echo in my heart every day. He is my heart made flesh, and every atom in me hums to be with him. This is a truth that echoes through me, down to my

again. I feel my stomach twist in anticipation and excitement. “Evelyn,

says Alvin, a little

the

who are suddenly tense with worry. Victor opens the box completely, giving me a sweet anxious smile, his eyes fixed on mine, clearly hoping that I’ll

inside the box. “Victor, baby…”

looks down at the vacant box. “Oh my god,” he murmurs, looking all around him, as if the ring might have fallen out or something. “Oh my god,” he

his voice. Alvin sidles closer to his

snap directly to the twins. “What did

Alvin whispers, urgent.

it,” Ian whines, pouting, not wanting to be in trouble but knowing that he’s in for it. I can’t help myself

“Alvin, Ian,” he says, even but firm. “What did you do with the

arms over his chest. “We

a very expensive

putting out his hands in protest. “It’s

heaves a huge sigh of relief, running an anxious palm down over his face. “Would you please,” he requests

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