Popping the Question

Posted on Wed Mar 4th, 2020 @ 9:32am by Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Return Of A Bad Penny
Location: Various
Timeline: After True Love Ways (evening before current events)
1630 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Fernando was anxious, no he was nervous. No he was both anxious and nervous. Tonight was the night
he was going to pop the question to Heather. He loved her completely and she him but still he was nervous. Was he rushing things? What if she said no? He sighed worrying wasn't going to help matters so he headed for the quarters Heather shared with Talia.

Arriving he pressed the chime and waited as he did he paced and worried.

Heather had enjoyed a wonderful time in the holodeck with Fernando, she found his company made her happier than anyone or anything ever had and she was looking forward to seeing him again. Her longing soon changed to excitement as the door chime rang, she met him at the door with a big smile on her face. "Hey handsome, come on in!"

Fernando's hand tightened over the small velvet box in his pant pocket, "Um, hi Heather." He mumbled a nervous smile on his face as he came into her quarters. "Talia isn't here is she?" He asked glancing around before his eyes settled back on Heather's smiling face.

“No, why?” Heather stepped back motioning Fernando inside. “You’re feeling very nervous, is there something wrong?” She was starting to think that maybe he had bad news for her, like he’d they’d have to break up or something equally as upsetting.

"What? Oh no, nothing is wrong. Nothing at all." Fernando answered quickly as he stepped inside. "Um would you mind if we went to the arboretum?"

Heather looked at Fernando curiously before nodding. “Sure, I’ve got nothing planned so let’s go.” She took his hand, pausing long enough to give him a romantic kiss before heading out of the door.

Fernando returned the kiss and held her hand as they headed for the arboretum.

~ Arboretum ~

Arriving at the arboretum Heather walked over to her favourite spot by the stream. It was nice and secluded and surprisingly quiet considering the popularity of the arboretum.

Fernando breathed a silent sigh of relief as they entered the arboretum. It was surprisingly empty. He followed Heather over to her favorite spot where a bench overlooked a small stream. His heart felt like it was going to pop out of his chest he was so nervous and his hands were wet with perspiration.

“Okay ... will you please tell me what’s going on?!” Heather looked at Fernando concerned tapping the bench for him to sit down. “I can feel your emotions and you’re so nervous you’re making me nervous too!”

Fernando sat but was hardly sitting still. He was bouncing on the bench a bundle of nerves. "Look!" He shouted raising his arm and pointing off into the distance. As Heather turned her head he was down on one knee the box in his hand.

Heather turned around to see the bench empty before her eyes fell on Fernando. She stood for a moment with her mouth open, her eyes wide before she finally spoke. “Are you ... proposing to me?!!”

Fernando didn't answer he just started talking. "Our lives together is a beautiful story in progress; there are many chapters yet unwritten and I want you by my side as we write these chapters together. I'm incomplete without you Heather. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I want the rest of my life to begin as soon as possible." He opened the box so she could see the diamond solitaire in an oval cut. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Heather wiped away a few tears of sheer joy that rolled down her cheeks. “Fernando I ... YES!!!” She held out her hand so he could put the solitaire on for her.

Fernando's face broke into a smile more brilliant than a thousand suns in its radiance. He took the ring out of the box and slipped onto Heather's finger. Than he rose and kissed her as a man kisses the love of his life. "The ring pales in beauty to you Heather."

Heather embraced her fiancé and returned his kiss with passion. “No other man could ever compare to you Imzadi.” She smiled the biggest smile yet, it practically beamed. “I can’t wait to be your wife.”

Fernando kissed her again and again. He was excited and relieved Heather had consented to becoming his wife. "Imzadi. I like the sound of that. I like that very much. I'll never give you reason to regret your decision Heather."

“It means beloved in Betazoid. It’s a term used for the love of your life and you are certainly the love of mine!” She took his hand. “How’s about you take your fiancée back to your Quarters?”

Fernando nodded happily, "I would very much like to take my fiancée back to my quarters soon to be her quarters as well."

“I’m looking forward to that” She smiled happily as she gazed at the ring as they exited the arboretum. “Are you sure I’m not dreaming this?” She grinned as she looked at Fernando. “It’s all so much like a fairytale!”

"I am quite sure you aren't dreaming this Heather. If it feels like a fairytale it is because you are it's princess." Fernando smiled back at her. "And the fairytale will never end."

As they arrived at Fernando’s Quarters Heather waited for him to let them in. “Do you think, once we’re married that we should ask the Captain about moving into family quarters?” She looked at Fernando curiously.

Fernando opened the door to his quarters and let Heather enter first. He followed behind her. "We can cross that bridge when we get to it Heather. I just want to bask in the reality of you being my wife."

She smiled as she walked inside before turning to look at Fernando. "Then bask all you want Imzadi, I'm yours and I'll always be yours!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

His arms wrapped around hers as he returned the kiss with equal passion. "Those words make me very, very, happy Heather! I'll never get tired of hearing them."

“Then I will never stop saying them!!” She took his hand. “Want to show your fiancée what is soon to be our bedroom?”

“What an excellent idea!" Fernando gushed as he led Heather to his correction their bedroom.

Heather smiled as she hung onto his hand, she giggled as they practically fell onto the bed together kissing him before lying looking up into his eyes. “I never thought I’d ever be this happy again Imzadi. I want to marry you sooner rather than later, once this mission is over and the Captain has the time.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “I want to be Mrs De La Rosa.”

Fernando looked into her dark eyes, "I love you Heather, today and for all the tomorrows to come. I think that is a wonderful idea and yes I can't wait for you to become Mrs. De La Rosa. Mama will be so happy. She'll cry for a week."

“I’ll look forward to meeting her!” Heather smiled before she gave him a more serious look. “Fernando there’s something you don’t know about me ... I’m not just a nurse, I’m a marine medic. I’m not sure how you feel about that.”

"I know Heather. I am not happy about it but I know you love it and are good at it. I would never try and stop you from doing what you love. I will only say be careful."

Heather smiled and nodded. "I'll be careful, that I promise! Besides I have you to come back to and I don't plan on missing a moment of that!"

Fernando nodded, "That is all I can ask for Heather that you be careful for we have the rest of our lives ahead of us."

She nodded in agreement. “A life I plan to live happily beside you.” She slipped her arms around his neck as she gently pulled him down for another kiss. “All I want right now, is to spend my first night making love to you as your fiancée.”

"Ah, that is a request I am only too happy to compile with and fulfill." Fernando quipped as he wrapped his arms around Heather and kissed her deeply.

Heather responded wrapping her arms around Fernando as she enjoyed the passion that Fernando brought out in her. Her fingers moved to his clothing helping him remove what she could as they kissed.

Fernando's hands weren't idle. They were likewise busy He kissed her again and again undoing Heather's clothes as they mutually undressed each other. As they lay there he thanked whoever it was who had brought Heather into his life.

Heather hadn’t held back on Fernando before when they’d made love, but she was going to make sure this would be a night he wouldn’t forget as she encouraged him with passionate kisses and her let her hands explore his body. Encouraging their lovemaking in every way she knew how. Whatever she had done to find and earn Fernando’s love, she was glad she’d done it.

Fernando was lost in the moment. Nothing else existed but Heather, her kisses peppered his body and her hands explored and encouraged him. All he could see was Heather. Her face smiling back at him. He felt his passion, his love for her rising. He was going to do his dead level best to make this a night she would never forget or his name wasn't Fernando De La Rosa.

{OFF}