Happy Ever After

Having lunch all together at the mall had seemed a good idea. After all the bouncing and drama of latest weeks, and considering what Shawn was planning to do soon, it could ease the stress a bit. Gus had actually thought he could enjoy his tacos in peace. Of course, he was wrong. He and his lovely wife stopped calmly in front of the lamp shop to look for his Granma's present, half-listening to the two idiots arguing near.

-Lassie, really, I'm sorry for the ice cream. I couldn't know there was mint.-

Carlton wasn't really angry. He was just stressed, and annoyed, and last days Spencer had been even more unintelligible than usual, so he barked. And he nearly got poisoned with ice cream, dammit.

-It was green with green crystals, it was not so subtle, Spencer.-

-It was you trying to sneak a bite.-

-Hardly pertinent. You should anyway check better before stuffing yourself like a turkey. And don't slump around while eating, for Sweet Justice.-

-Okay Granma.-

-Don't use that tone with me.- Carlton replied. –It's a serious matter. Mother has already complained about your lack of table manners, and more than once.-

-My table manners? That could be the greatest problem only in your family, Lass.-

-You're inconceivable. And there's no need to offend my kin.-

-I was kidding.-

-Well it was not the moment for your kidding crap.-

-Oh damn.- Shawn halted abruptly. There was something strange in his voice. -Okay. Okay, I'm done. Let's do this thing and forget about it.-

Carlton's heart stopped. He stopped anything. He knew what was coming. Oh, so this is, this is. It's over. You did it, Lassiter.

Oh no, please please no.

He took a breath, waiting for the blow. But then he saw that Shawn was kneeling in the middle of the floor, rummaging in his jacket.

Carlton's heart gave a beat.

-What are you doing, Spencer?-

He finally found something in the pocket, and was offering him it. The something was an orange plastic ring, the kind you finds in vending machines outside fun fairs or in cereal boxes. Carlton stared at it and for a moment it held in the whole world.

Shawn smiled.

- Lassie-face, I'm no good with these things and you're no better, so I'll be blunt. I want to stay here with you. I want to find half-eaten lasagna in the tapper ware and make coffee in the morning and trip in your goddamn family scimitar for my whole life. I want to argue with you. I argue with very few people, because it's annoying and frankly complicated but with you, oh, I have to do it. It's too important. What we have, it's too important. And we can argue, but no matter what I'll keep coming to talk with you, because talking about them with you is the only true way things feel real. You, you've become my home, Lassie. Now let me try to become yours.

Carlton Jebediah Lassiter, would you marry me?-

Carlton gulped. Blinked hard. Talked in a shaky voice.

-Is that a cereal glowing ring?-

-Just put the damn thing on, Lassie.-

They looked at each other. Carlton snatched the ring out of Shawn's hand and put the ugly thing on his finger. They were shaking.

-You're such an idiot.-

-I'll take it as a yes.-

He got up and kissed him, fast and sweet, because they needn't to impress anyone, and in the momentum they crashed noses but it still was a great kiss. The mall cheered. The grumpy lady from the newsstand too.

Gus had totally forgotten the lamps. He swallowed years of anguish.

-We settled them down. We settled them down, Jules. It's every coupled best friends' dream.-

Jules gave him a peck on the temple. -Yes. Yes we made it.-

They hugged tight, smiling at the idiots clasped in the middle of the floor, sobbing aloud.

The one sobbing was not Jules.

Thanks so much for your support, guys. I love giving our heroes a happy end; and I hope you've liked it too. And to leave you with at least a tiny sappy grin.