At Willowbound, Ariel’s phone continued to light up with congratulations from co-workers and even a few fans who recognized her on Twitter. She took it all in stride, grateful for the warmth but also happy to keep most of the week focused on work. The animal companion system for Wispwood Haven continued to progress well, and the studio buzzed with pre-holiday energy as deadlines were wrapped up.
Wednesday and Thursday passed in a cozy blur. Holly worked early shifts at the café and started plotting her own engagement surprise for Ariel, though she kept her plans secret (only occasionally dropping not-so-subtle hints). Ariel, meanwhile, juggled meetings and QA reports, always cheered by Holly’s texts and the fact that her ring caught the sunlight during video calls.
Friday felt almost magical. It was Holly’s day off, and she surprised Ariel with a gigantic breakfast before Ariel left for HQ. Pancakes, sausage, fruit, and enough coffee to wake the dead. Ariel arrived at the office to find her team in holiday spirits, with virtual backgrounds full of snowmen and elves on the morning stand-up call.
The day moved quickly, most of the heavy lifting done before lunch. Ariel spent the afternoon tying up loose ends, scheduling January’s first few meetings, and sending final notes to her leads. At 4:00 PM, with the office quiet and the city glowing with December’s early dusk, she opened her email and began typing:
Subject: Happy Holidays, Willowbound!
Hi everyone!
As we close out another amazing year together, I just want to say thank you for all of your hard work, creativity, and heart. Whether you’re traveling, relaxing at home, or spending time with loved ones, I hope your holidays are full of warmth and joy. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a bright, happy new year. I can’t wait to see all the magic we’ll make together next year. See you in January!
— Ariel McIntyre
With a smile, she hit send, then powered down her monitors. She slipped on her coat, turned off the office lights, and took one last look at the city before stepping out into the crisp evening air, her first real holiday as someone’s fiancée, with a two-week stretch of cozy, joyful winter days ahead.
When Ariel stepped in from the rain, shaking the cold from her hair, the apartment felt enchanted. Warm fairy lights glowed along the ceiling and windows, the flicker of cinnamon-sugar candles mingling with the faintest notes of lo-fi piano. The living room looked like something out of a cozy dream: a nest of blankets and pillows on the rug, plushies ringed around, and the coffee table cleared except for a stack of board games and a little handwritten menu card in Holly’s big, round handwriting: “Tonight’s Chef’s Special: Pancakes & Shenanigans.”
Ariel blinked, her workday stress dissolving at the sight. She heard Holly’s voice from the kitchen, singing a few lines of “Fly Me to the Moon”: off-key and joyful.
Holly popped out, radiant in pastel pajama pants decorated with cartoon bunnies and a fuzzy, oversized sweater. “Hey, gorgeous!” she called, eyes lighting up as she took in Ariel’s soggy state. “Get those work clothes off and join me in the Land of Ultimate Comfort. Your timing is perfect.”
Ariel grinned, toeing off her boots and moving toward her room. “You planned something, didn’t you?”
“Me?” Holly pressed a hand to her chest, feigning innocence. “I would never.” Then she giggled, unable to hold the act, “Okay, maybe just a little. Go put on your softest sweater. This is a no-hard-pants zone tonight.”
Ariel emerged in her cloud-soft leggings and her favorite sweater, cheeks already rosy. “How’d I get so lucky?”
Holly beamed, holding out a spatula like a magic wand. “It wasn't luck. It was your round features and loveable giggle!”
They moved in a practiced dance around the kitchen, Ariel whisking the pancake batter while Holly chopped fruit, every step filled with small touches: hips bumping, Holly sneaking a kiss to Ariel’s cheek, Ariel swiping a strawberry slice and popping it in Holly’s mouth.
Ariel, tongue between her teeth, tried to flip a pancake. It folded awkwardly and landed half on the edge of the pan. Holly burst out laughing. “Babe, that’s a crime against carbs.”
Ariel flicked flour at her in retaliation, grinning. “Bet you’ll still eat it.”
“Oh, I’ll eat something,” Holly said, waggling her eyebrows. “Wait, that sounded...never mind.”
They both cackled, leaning into each other, the warmth of the oven and their laughter filling the space.
As they finished up, Holly nudged Ariel, her voice suddenly soft. “Thank you for letting me do this. For always letting me love you out loud.”
Ariel, feeling her heart squeeze, squeezed Holly’s hand in response. “I wouldn’t know how to stop you.”
They arranged their feast, pancakes with real maple syrup, strawberries and blueberries, sausage links, mochi, and hot chocolate with whipped cream, on a blanket in the living room. Ariel, in full bliss, collapsed onto her side and patted Holly’s lap.
“C’mon. You know this is the only way I want to eat now.”
Holly giggled, sitting cross-legged and letting Ariel rest her head across her thighs. She gently ran her fingers through Ariel’s hair, then held up a bite of pancake. “Open wide, baby.”
Ariel accepted the bite, humming with contentment. “I love that you love spoling me.”
Holly fed her another, then a strawberry, making little delighted noises as she watched Ariel savor each one. “Of course I do. You’re the best part of my day, every day.”
They chatted about the trailer going viral (“I can’t believe someone caught that on camera. You looked like you’d just seen a unicorn,” Holly teased), about Ariel’s company-wide holiday email (“Abigail replied with a GIF of a penguin in a Santa hat. That’s how I know I made it”), and about how surreal it felt to be in this new chapter together.
Ariel gazed up at Holly, her voice gentle. “How did I get here? With you?”
Holly looked down, her fingers tracing soft circles on Ariel’s shoulder. “I think we both just kept showing up. Day after day, coffee after coffee. One stubborn gremlin at a time.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Ariel laughed, covering Holly’s hand with her own. “I love you, Vi.”
Holly leaned down and kissed her gently. “I love you too, Red. More than anyone’s ever loved a chaos goblin.”
After dinner, when Ariel was almost dozing off in Holly’s lap, Holly tapped her nose. “Stay right here, okay?”
She hurried over to a shelf and returned with a little envelope, decorated with a doodle of a fox and a heart. She was suddenly nervous, twiddling the letter in her hands.
Ariel sat up, curiosity blooming in her eyes. “Is this…?”
Holly nodded, cheeks pink. “I wrote it last night. I just...sometimes I have too many words, and I needed to get them all out.”
Ariel opened the envelope, smoothing the paper in her lap. Holly sat close, knees touching, twisting her hands in her sweater.
Ariel,
I used to think I knew what love was: safe, small, hidden in corners, careful and quiet. Then you came in with your soft laughter, the way you look at me like I’m magic, and your stubborn, brilliant heart. Suddenly, love was loud and gentle and absolutely everywhere.
When you asked me to marry you, I swear I heard the world click into place. Not because I needed a proposal to know I belonged to you, but because it was the simplest “yes” I’ve ever said in my life.
You’ve let me love you in every way I know how: with food, with silly jokes, with endless patience on the hard days. You let me see every piece of you, every scar, every dream, every secret hope. You trust me with your softness and your strength, and I never, ever want to take that for granted.
I want to spend my life making you laugh, no matter how long that is. I want to feed you pancakes and rub your belly and sing you the wrong lyrics to your favorite songs. I want to watch you grow and be with you for every sunrise we get.
Thank you for choosing me, over and over, in little ways and big ones. Thank you for loving me even when I don’t feel lovable. Thank you for being my home.
I love you, Ariel. Now, tomorrow, and for every version of forever I can imagine.
Always yours,
Holly
Ariel didn’t even try to hide her tears. They spilled freely, warm and unstoppable, her whole body trembling with how much she felt it. How much she felt her. Holly pulled her close at once, wrapping her arms tightly around Ariel’s back like she could hold the whole world in place. Ariel buried her face in Holly’s shoulder, breathing in the faint scent of vanilla and cinnamon still clinging to her sweater. They stayed like that for what felt like forever, just holding on, hearts thudding in sync, the room wrapped in the kind of silence that says more than words.
When Ariel finally pulled back enough to look at her, her voice was thick, shaky, but certain. “That’s… the best thing anyone’s ever given me. Ever.”
Holly’s eyes shone, her thumb brushing away one of Ariel’s tears. “You give me that feeling every single day, Red. In a thousand different ways.” She let the words hang there, making sure Ariel saw the truth in them before leaning in to press a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.
A little later, Holly stood up and flicked the playlist to one of Ariel’s favorite lo-fi remixes; the soft melody from a game they played together on quiet weekends. She reached out a hand, eyes sparkling. “Dance with me?”
Ariel nodded, rising and stepping into Holly’s arms. Holly wrapped her arms around Ariel’s waist, holding her close, guiding her in a slow sway across the living room. The fairy lights made halos around their faces. Ariel tucked her head into Holly’s neck, feeling safe and adored.
Holly murmured, “You know, when I imagined forever, I never pictured it could feel this soft.”
Ariel smiled against Holly’s skin. “It’s everything I ever wanted.”
They moved together, slow and gentle, until the song faded into the next, and then the next, not caring if the dance had an ending.
When they finally flopped down onto the couch again, both a little breathless, Holly tugged a blanket over them and curled up so Ariel’s head rested against her chest.
They talked, quietly, about what their wedding might look like: intimate or wild, who they’d want there, what food would be a must. Ariel traced little patterns on Holly’s arm and whispered, “Promise me we’ll always do this. Be silly and honest. Feed each other.”
Holly squeezed her hand. “I promise.”
Their words drifted, growing slower and sleepier, until the conversation was just soft murmurs of “I love you” and “I’m so glad it’s you.”
Ariel, somewhere between sleep and waking, felt Holly’s fingers in her hair, the steady beat of her heart, and the weight of a promise that was big enough to carry them through every tomorrow.
Saturday drifted by quietly, the world outside all chilly clouds and occasional sunbreaks. Holly was at the café for an early-morning open with Jordan and Lila, so Ariel had the apartment to herself. Just her and her PC, bundled up in her softest sweater with a mug of tea steaming beside her keyboard.
She’d meant to be productive, maybe work on some sketches or sort through her emails, but instead she found herself deep in online shopping tabs. One for Amazon, one for her favorite anime store, and another with a list labeled “Holly’s Christmas Surprises.” The feeling was equal parts giddy and determined: she wanted this first Christmas as fiancées to be perfect.
The list grew:
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Cozy Co-op—that indie Switch game Holly had been eyeing for weeks.
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A set of retro anime pins featuring magical girls (Holly would absolutely squeal).
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The giant pastel axolotl plushie Holly always stared at through the shop window downtown.
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A limited-edition coffee sampler with flavors like tiramisu, crème br?lée, and honey vanilla.
But the big gift, the real gift, was still out of reach. Ariel kept circling back to her secret “honeymoon in Japan” folder, comparing flights and hotels, thinking of cherry blossoms, the soft glow of Tokyo, and holding hands in places they’d only ever dreamed of.
But she couldn’t plan that until they picked a date. And with so many possibilities - elopement, big wedding, spring or summer or fall - it felt almost too huge to bring up. Almost.
When Holly came home late in the afternoon, arms full of groceries and cheeks pink from the cold, Ariel helped her unpack. Dinner was pasta tossed with garlic and olive oil, salad, and a loaf of crusty bread. They ate by the window, city lights winking on outside, the mood soft and private.
It was halfway through dinner, over a bite of salad, that Ariel set down her fork and tried to sound casual. “So… before we start picking out wedding colors and arguing over cake flavors, should we figure out when we actually want to get married?”
Holly looked up, fork paused in mid-air, and a grin slowly spread across her face. “Are you saying you want to make it official-official?”
Ariel snorted. “I just want to know when I should start dropping hints to Jordan about a tux.”
They both laughed, and then Holly grew thoughtful, her eyes drifting toward the window. “I always liked the idea of a spring wedding. When everything’s new and blooming. So...what about… late March? Before the rain totally gives up?”
Ariel’s heart fluttered. “Late March sounds perfect. Imagine it. Everything just starting to turn green, maybe even a few cherry blossoms if we get lucky. Outdoors, but not freezing.”
Holly reached for Ariel’s hand across the table, squeezing it. “It’s a date, then. Last weekend of March. We’ll make it ours.”
Ariel squeezed back, the seed of a plan already taking root in her mind. With a date set, she could start looking for venues, planners, and, most importantly, honeymoon tickets.
They finished dinner full of ideas and a gentle certainty. They were really doing this, one decision, one dreamy conversation at a time.
Later that night, after dishes were washed and the apartment tidied, Holly yawned wide and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to Ariel’s cheek. “I’m heading to bed, babe. Try not to stay up too late planning your world domination.”
Ariel laughed, nudging her gently. “No promises. I might just black out, order seventeen new plushies and blame it on wedding stress.”
Holly chuckled, shuffling down the hall. “As long as they’re soft enough to sleep on, I won’t complain.” She disappeared into the bedroom, the door clicking softly shut behind her.
With the apartment quiet, Ariel settled in at her PC, the soft hum of her desktop and the city lights outside her window making everything feel secret and possible. She opened a browser, heart thudding as she typed “Seattle to Tokyo first class roundtrip.” After a few minutes comparing flights, she clicked through to the booking page.
As she filled out the passenger info for two tickets, Ariel paused, glancing down at her own belly, round and heavy in her lap, thighs gently pressing the arms of her chair. She smirked, an amused, private sort of pride blooming in her chest. With a few quick keystrokes, she changed the number of tickets from 2 to 3: one for Holly, and two seats for herself. A bit of extra comfort for the long-haul flight, and, she admitted quietly, a subtle celebration of all the softness she’d come to love about herself.
With flights confirmed for late March, Ariel navigated to The Peninsula Tokyo and reserved a weeklong stay in a Deluxe Suite, her heart fluttering as she typed “Honeymoon” into the special notes section.
She stared at the screen for a long, giddy moment before hitting “Submit.” The confirmation page loaded, full of details and bright with promise. Ariel saved the email attachment to her “Holly Surprises” folder, already planning how she’d surprise Holly with it.
With everything settled, Ariel finally powered down the computer, changed into her own pajamas, and padded quietly into the dark bedroom. She slipped under the covers, feeling the warmth of Holly beside her and the joy of a new secret, and drifted off to sleep with a smile on her lips, already dreaming of cherry blossoms and adventures half a world away.