When Gabe Nuñez finished his shift as Captain of the Royal Guard he headed straight to the chambers of Queen Elena of Avalor, just as he always did. It was getting late, almost 10, but he knew she'd still be up.

"Well THAT was a long day!" Elena exclaimed from her spot on her couch. She had been curled up with a book, waiting for Gabe to finish up work so he could come and say good night to her. It was what they did nearly every night for the past two years. It was a known part of their nightly routine but it hadn't always been that way. After their first (and long awaited) kiss, they had decided to take things slow and keep their relationship quiet. Gabe would sneak into Elena's room once the rest of the palace was asleep and they would stay up talking for hours about nothing and everything, they would cuddle each other close and further explore their relationship. The sneaking around had been fun and exciting but it was also a special time for them to truly get to know each other away from public eyes. It wasn't too long though before their closest friends and family became suspicious and were let in on the secret. Eventually, after Elena had been crowned Queen, they slowly made the fact that they were a couple public. They still liked their privacy though so there was no big announcement, no chance for objections, no questions asked. It just was. Most could see how happy that they were together just by the way they looked at one another and interacted with ease. They had never let their relationship interfere with their daily duties and other than a quick peck on the cheek now and then, they rarely showed much public affection. Life just simply carried on as it always had. Of course they made time to spend together doing the things that they loved to do and one of those things was spending time with their friends. Naomi and Mateo never thought them becoming a couple was a big deal. Naomi had actually made some sort of witty remark about it not making much of a difference in their group dynamic as Gabe and Elena had been making lovey eyes at one another for years. A few small kisses and maybe some hand holding didn't phase her or Mateo in the least. They were still Elena and Gabe and they were still, and always would be, all best friends.

"UGH! I know!" Gabe exhaled as he plopped himself down on the couch next to Elena. She put down her book and moved herself closer to her love, curling up next to him and then resting her head upon a pillow on his lap. Gabe leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I was actually finished about an hour ago but all the other guards are in some sort of frenzy about who is going to get my job when Iget promoted to General"

Elena shot up and turned to face Gabe "And whoooo says you are getting that promotion?" Elena asked playfully, raising her eyebrows at Gabe's assumption.

"Well... umm... I mean... " Gabe stuttered.

"You just assumed because I'm the one making the decision that you would get it?" Elena interrupted, amused by his confidence.

Gabe shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. "Well.. it's not like I don't deserve it right?"

Elena laughed at how cute he looked in that moment but then she turned serious. She swung her legs off of the couch so that she was sitting right next to Gabe. She placed a hand on his leg and let out a regretful sigh. "I actually think that we should talk" Gabe was concerned about what she was about to say but he didn't interrupt. He let Elena continue. "So... I talked things over with Naomi and as you know, as my advisor, she's never steered me wrong... and well... just so you're not surprised at the promotion ceremony tomorrow... I want you to know... that you're not getting promoted to General"

"What?!... but ... why!?" Gabe asked, confused and frankly a bit hurt by the decision that Elena and Naomi had made.

"Whoa! Don't get upset... please! It's not that you don't deserve the promotion.. you do ! You deserve it more than anyone else!"

"Well then what? Because of us? Cause I know the guys... they don't think that you'd show any favoritism. Is that what you're worried about?" Gabe asked, desperate for Elena to change her mind.

"Not at all! I just have a different offer for you!" Elena told him, wanting him to calm down a bit. She then took his hand and squeezed it tight. She suddenly wore an animated grin that Gabe couldn't help but react to with a chuckle and smirk of his own as he wondered what exactly was going on in her beautiful mind in that moment. "I was hoping that you would accept the position... to run the Guard not as General... but... as King?" She asked, sweetly smiling, flirtatiously raising her shoulders and pleading with Gabe through her eyes.

Gabe's smirk grew into a full grin as he caught her meaning but needed her to further explain. "So what are you saying Elena?"

"I'm saying I would like to marry you" Elena said simply. "You're so courageous, selfless, caring, strong, in every sense of the word. Nobody is more deserving than the title of King of Avalor than you are. Nobody will better command the guard and defend this kingdom better than you will. But none of that even matters. What matters is that I love you and what matters is that I can't imagine anyone else standing by my side for the rest of my life."

Elena gazed into Gabe's eyes, dazzling him with the sparkle in her own. He wanted to say something in return but he was so caught off guard in the best way and a bit choked up. Elena turned herself towards her intended, and kneeling beside him, placed her arms around his neck. Gabe wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in even closer.

"I love you Gabriel Nunez" She whispered as she locked eyes with him and rested her forehead against his own. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course I will!" Gabe replied, letting out a short laugh with pure happiness. He brushed her hair away from her face, setting it behind her ears and then traced the outline of her face, letting a single finger linger under her chin as he guided her to meet his lips for a short but sweet touch. "I love you so much Elena"