Darkness Chapter 37: Surprise Trip

**Vincent**

We embark on a journey in the car, heading towards a surprise I have planned for Nelly. I steal a glance at her as she gazes out the window, her beauty captivating me in every way. I reach out to grasp her hand, feeling her squeeze mine tightly as she flashes me one of her heart-melting smiles. If I had only one...

"Where are we going?" she inquires.

"It's a surprise," I reply.

"Seriously?" she exclaims.

"Yes, so just be patient and enjoy the ride." She rolls her eyes at me and returns her gaze to the passing scenery outside. After a two-hour drive, the sun begins to set, casting a warm glow around us. Nelly looks at me with curiosity as we find ourselves surrounded by trees in a wooded area.

"Come on, my beautiful. Let's take a stroll," I suggest. She nods in agreement, and I gently take her hand as we venture into the woods. It took us another half hour to reach our destination.

As she catches sight of it, she gasps in awe. "Vincent, it's absolutely stunning!" I follow closely behind her as she admires the view, her excitement reminiscent of a child in a candy store. Her face lights up with pure joy, and I can't help but feel content knowing I've brought that smile to her face. I hope to continue doing so for a long time.

"Do you like it?" I inquire.

"Oh, yes! Thank you," she responds gratefully. I wrap my arms around her from behind, holding her close against my chest, and gently kiss the back of her head as she leans into me.

"With everything that's been happening, I thought you could use a distraction," I explain.

"It's perfect," she exclaims happily. We make our way over to some rocks overlooking the lake. "Can we just stay here?"

I chuckle softly. She's been through so much. Most of her life has been a constant battle. It's about time she gets to relax and appreciate the simple joys like this. "I have a meeting scheduled with the new rebel leader. My goal is to put an end to all this senseless fighting. It's my new top priority..."

As I utter those words, I glance at her. She looks down, a blush creeping up her cheeks. The moonlight casts a soft glow on her exquisite features. Her eyes sparkle in the reflection of the lake. In that moment, I realize how incredibly fortunate I am to have her in my life, metaphorically speaking.

"Marry me..." The words slip out unexpectedly.

What the fuck...this is not how I envisioned this moment. When the time came, I wanted to propose in a romantic setting, on bended knee, with a ring in hand. Not blurt it out like fucking fool...I'm such an idiot!

“Yes!”

Wait... what? I glance over at her and she's grinning from ear to ear. Suddenly, she launches herself into my arms, causing me to stumble backward. I hold her close as she gazes down at me.

She must have noticed the confusion on my face. "Are you serious?" she asks.

"Yes," I reply.

Nelly's smile widens. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Nelly." I never thought I would find love again. Don't get me wrong, I loved Bianca, but what Nelly and I share is something special. She is my everything. I would do anything to see her happy. And now, she's offering herself to me in marriage.

I pull her closer as she tries to sit up, gently rolling her onto her back.

“What do you think you're doing?” she asks.

“Oh, I thought maybe I'd make love to my fiancé.” She buries her head into my chest. “Are you embarrassed?”

“No, I...i...just never thought I'd be...ya know...engaged,” she stammered.

“Well, it's not how I planned on doing this. I can…”

Nelly presses her lips to mine. “It was perfect, Vincent.”

“Good, then it went exactly as I planned,” I smirked down at her. “So can I get you naked yet…?”

Nelly smirks, “I've not stopped you yet, have I?”