The little things: Shames

[Evangeline]

Starting out life
Mine - Taylor Swift

She hadn't stopped smiling since the moment he asked her to move in. Since that day, she'd been walking around on cloud nine, oblivious to everything, but him. And Lyra too of course. She wasn't quite sure where she stood with the girl, but she hoped by them spending time together, they'd grow close.

Shames was everything to her now. He came first through everything with her. She loved him openly without any hesitation each and every day, and couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him. She walked out of the front door, holding a trunk in her hands. Walking down the pathway, she found herself smiling once again.

The truck was already packed, and she found herself smiling up at Ainslie from the balcony, waving her goodbye. "See you tomorrow!" She yelled up at her. Laughing softly, she turned, jogging down the driveway towards the truck. Shames' car was parked right behind it. She stopped as she got to the passenger door, looking back at the mansion with a smile.

This was her haven, for a long time now. But now, she was moving on. Bigger and better things, and Shames. Grinning from ear to ear she looked down.

Heaving a happy sigh, she pulled the door open and climbed inside. Leaning across the middle section of the car, she kissed his cheek. "Did I tell you how much I love you today?" She asked with a wide smile. "Because I do." The u-haul began to pull off before them. "You sure you're ready for this?" She asked once again.

[Shames]

Quid Pro Quo

Losing a house to himself wasn't really anything he was fretting over. In his eyes, he wasn't really losing anything so much as he was gaining something even better. He was finally going to say he was sharing a life with her, and while they weren't making any diehard committments yet, this was the next big step toward him popping the question. Although he walked on eggshells around that subject--since he'd married Corona, that topic had always been kind of sensitive--he knew eventually he would settle back down with Evangeline and once again find everything he'd been looking for. He knew he was finding it, in her.

Shames was putting the last of her boxes into the trunk of his car, waiting for her to emerge from the school after saying her last goodbyes. Except...she'd be back tomorrow. Scoffing to himself as he watched her scurry from the door, he slipped into the driver's seat. She promptly joined him by his side.

With his hands on the wheel, he received a kiss on the cheek, tic'ing once before laughing, nodding. "Only once," he answered, leaning to plant a gentle kiss on her mouth. "I love you, too."

"You sure you're ready for this?"

"Wouldn't have asked if I wasn't," he replied confidently, starting the car and pulling out.

[Evangeline]

"Only once,"

She smirked as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Well, I love you. That's now a third time." She grinned up at him. He leaned in and kissed her lightly on her lips before she moved back to her side and buckled in.

"I love you, too."

"Good to know." She teased lightly as the car was started up. "Wouldn't have asked if I wasn't," She nodded. "True enough." She smiled over at him. "Promise me that, if by some chance," She paused, making her eyes big a moment with a smile on her face. "I get on your nerves." She chuckled. "You'll tell me."

She was ready for this, she was. She knew without a doubt that she loved this man deep down in her being. She knew she wanted a life with him, marriage, and a family. Whether that be a kid with him, or just Lyra. She was in this for the long haul.

[Shames]

He sent her a glance of skepticism. "When have you ever gotten on my nerves," he asked rhetorically, deadpan. A sneer slicked across his face afterward, and he gave her head a little gentle knock with his shoulder. He knew he'd have to keep talking to a minimum in the car, hoping she would understand--one wrong tic and they were in a head-on car crash. He'd gotten better recently, but he couldn't be entirely certain of his body functions, especially in high pressure situations like driving.

At last they made it home in one piece. "I think I'm getting to be a pretty damn excellent driver," he gloated with a chuckle, pulling himself from the car and shutting the door with a distinct yeah!, "for someone who has a disability." His little friend wasn't something he was really ashamed of anymore. In fact, he kind of liked telling them about it. Without much surprise, it was Evangeline who had gotten him to that point. That level of confidence and self-acceptance. Jesus, she was perfect.

"Let's start lugging your shit upstairs, hmm?" he suggested, opening up the trunk.

[Evangeline]

"When have you ever gotten on my nerves,"

She perked a brow at him, a smirk on her face and laughed softly. There was only a few more comments she made before going quiet and letting him drive. Her head was cocked, starring out the window with a smile on her face. She was ready, she was... so ready. Game on. She told herself as they pulled in.

"I think I'm getting to be a pretty damn excellent driver,"

She giggled softly, opening her door and climbing out. "I think you are too." she grinned as she walked around the car and looked up at her new--no, they're new home. "for someone who has a disability." She smiled, walking over to him and leaning into his side, and arm wrapped around his back. "You're perfect."

"Let's start lugging your shit upstairs, hmm?"

She laughed before faking a shocked expression. "Hey, no calling my shit, shit." She commented back as she walked around watching as he popped the trunk open. Grabbing a bag she smiled up at him. "Let's start this story."

[Shames]

It was a hell of a confidence booster to be able to say he was a disabled driver. He'd never been able to have this kind of...smile on his face. He couldn't imagine how he'd be living this life without Evangeline. He couldn't see his life without her at all. It wasn't like he was worried, but he knew he had to make sure he didn't step on any toes. He couldn't lose her. Not to anything.

Licking his lips, he grinned sheepishly as she called him perfect. "Far from it, darling," he declined softly, lifting a box in his arms and leaning down to peck her lips. "I've got it right in front of me."

"Hey, no calling my shit, shit."

Shames laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Let's start this story." Thoughtfully, he said with a smile, "All right. Once upon a time, there were two people. One of them was named Princess Evangeline." He began to ascend the stairs. "The other was Sir Shames, Knight of the Iron Jungle. They were destined to love each other, and wanted to see each other every minute of every day. So they decided to move into Sir Shames' castle, where he could share all his treasures of the world with his lovely bride."

[Evangeline]

"Far from it, darling," he declined softly, lifting a box in his arms and leaning down to peck her lips. "I've got it right in front of me."

She smiled brightly, tilting her head a little as she started moving. "You charmer." She laughed softly, turning around she began walking backwards. "I'm not perfect." She tacked on. "Let's just... agree to disagree." She grinned.

"All right. Once upon a time, there were two people. One of them was named Princess Evangeline."

She laughed, liking the story already. She turned back then, smile wide on her lips as she began up the stairs. "The other was Sir Shames, Knight of the Iron Jungle." She grinned, looking back at him. "Love the title."

"They were destined to love each other, and wanted to see each other every minute of every day. So they decided to move into Sir Shames' castle, where he could share all his treasures of the world with his lovely bride."

She was at the door now, holding the box in her hands. She started laughing until the word 'bride' fell from his lips. Everything stopped, and her mouth dropped open a moment. Then, slowly, a smile came over her. "Your bride." She repeated softly. She tilted her head then and smiled softly. "What are you saying, Reynolds?" She asked, in a playful tone.

[Shames]

"Love the title."

"Hell yes you do," he chuckled, breaking character of narrator for only a moment, because damn--he liked the sound of that title, too.

By this time, Shames had begun the act of genuine storytelling as he laid the box down on the ground in their room. It'd originally been his room, but he wasn't going to make up a new room for her to stay in--not when he wanted to be with her so badly. They'd already agreed they were far enough along to share.

"Your bride. What are you saying, Reynolds?"

Picking up his head, bringing his bottom lip in, he continued in a much more serious tone, "I'm saying that...every knight in shining armor needs his true love, doesn't he? That's how the story goes. The dame meets her prince, they rescue each other from their lifelong loneliness..."

His heart thrummed in beats irregular, and he jerked his head involuntarily to the side as he fronted her, pulling a box from his pocket.

Shames whispered, "Just wanted to know if you'd be my happily ever after."

[Evangeline]

♥

"Hell yes you do,"

She laughed, shaking her head and setting the box aside. Shaking her hair out of her face, she turned to him with a smile. The look he made made her smile grow, he looked so damn cute, and she loved him so much.

"I'm saying that...every knight in shining armor needs his true love, doesn't he? That's how the story goes. The dame meets her prince, they rescue each other from their lifelong loneliness..."

"Yes." She smiled, nodding lightly. She wondered just what he was getting at, he didn't want to interrupt him. Her eyes watched as he pulled a small box from his pocket. Instantly, her eyes began to tear up.

"Just wanted to know if you'd be my happily ever after."

She smiled, and quickly filled the space between then, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him softly as tears flowed. She was so emotional, and so surprised, she forgot to say anything at all...

[Shames]

By her reaction, he was praying that meant 'yes.' Although he wasn't entirely sure, he returned the affection with a magnitude he'd never felt toward anyone in his life. He wanted to share not only his home, but his life, his soul with her. When she cried, he cried, when she laughed, he laughed. If she said "jump," he would say "how high?" Because he'd circle the world and run all the way back for her.

Shames wrapped his arms around her frame, rocking her some. "I love you," he murmured into her ear. "I love you so much." It wasn't hard to admit. Sometimes he felt some kind of emotional barrier--he had to protect her and such, couldn't really show how he felt for her sake--but right now he didn't give a fuck how soft he sounded. She needed and deserved to know how he felt about her. She was his completion.

He blurted a short laugh. "Is that a 'yes,' I'm hoping?" he asked.

[Evangeline]

She loved this man, deep down through her heart, her soul, and her being. Every ounce of her loved him, and at this moment... she was filled with so much love, tears were spilling out in pure happiness.

"I love you," he murmured into her ear. "I love you so much."

Her embrace around him tightened, kissing his neck softly. "I love you, so much." She whispered back. Now she knew, she didn't have to guess, or ask herself how he felt, because he was showing her, telling her, and she could feel it deep within her soul.

"Is that a 'yes,' I'm hoping?"

A short laugh, as she puled back some and kissed his lips in a soft romantic way. "Yes." She whispered. "Yes, yes, and yes a thousand times over." She said, shaking her head as she held his. "I love you, and I want to share my life with you, Shames."

[Shames]

Phew. If that hadn't been the damn hardest thing to spit out of his mouth. Not because he was uncertain of his own feelings, but he didn't want to know if she would react negatively. His efforts were rewarded, and he took her up in his arms again, the happiest man in the world. Nothing could compete with the elation pulsing off of him right now.

"Thank you," was all he could manage out of his throat. "Thank you, thank you, I love you." He was getting married! Again! Who would have thought that he could have been so lucky? He didn't mind that he had a tic just after that, laughing through it all.

Clearing his throat, he added, "Well, future Mrs. Reynolds, shall we get the rest of your non-shit in our new room?" He could just see it now: the room they'd share for the rest of their lives. Spending time in there, making memories, having a family. It wasn't going to just be a room for sleeping anymore. It was going to be a sentimental area, a sacred ground.

[Evangeline]

"Thank you," was all he could manage out of his throat. "Thank you, thank you, I love you."

She smiled widely, wrapping her arms around his neck and playing with the hair on his neck. "Why are you thanking me?" She asked with a smirk. "I... I love you." Her brows furrowed slightly. "I should be thanking you." She smiled, leaning in and planting a soft short kiss to his lips.

"Well, future Mrs. Reynolds, shall we get the rest of your non-shit in our new room?"

She laughed then, shaking her just slightly before laying another short kiss to his lips. "Yes, then later I'll make us a nice romantic dinner, how's that sound?" She asked, starting to head back out the door for the rest of her stuff.

She stopped then, looking back at him with a somewhat serious look. "D-does Lyra know? Y'know, that I'll be living here now, with you." They just started to get along, she'd hate to ruin it.

[Shames]

The dinner was the first thing that caught his ears--maybe because a man's heart was found in his stomach, or maybe because her cooking was irresistable, or maybe because he couldn't say no to the idea of a romantic dinner. He knew he might be made fun of by the other guys, but romance was...kind of nice. Being intimate with the woman he loved? Nothing better. 'Cause finall, someone accepted him despite his limitations with his mental friend.

"That sounds fantastic," he replied, swinging an arm around his fiancee's shoulders, pulling her in close and giving a swift kiss to the space right on the hinge of her jaw. "Love you."

"D-does Lyra know? Y'know, that I'll be living here now, with you."

He nodded. "Oh, yeah. Don't worry about that. I've taken care of it. I made sure the water was settled before I asked you. She's gonna be your little girl soon, too, after all." Everything seemed to slip into place now. With his wife-to-be against his side, with his family fitting together at last, everything just... He was damn happy.