Not long after they finished the bottle of wine, their Uber ride came to pick them up. The sun was just setting for good as they arrived back at their cabin. They changed back into comfy clothes and departed again as quickly as they had come. Danny took her hand as they headed off in the dusk, the bobbing light of their headlamps and soft twilight illuminating the way. Elise struggled to get her eyes to focus in the odd light. She reminded herself it would be much easier to see on their way back from the falls, the moon being full.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsyHasjD7s
Other than the simple fact it was Danny, Elise was glad to have him with her because she was horrible with directions during the daytime, let alone at night. He had been patient with her so far on teaching her different navigational tricks and she was making improvements, but still. Elise could probably still find a way to get lost by herself, even on the paved roads of the park.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReRJP75Snm
They were both surprised by the number of people that had shown up at the overlook of the falls already when they arrived. A good 15, 20 people were already milling around with several more cars pulling into the parking lot. It would still be at least half an hour before the moonbow was visible.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pCXk9AWTx
"Wow...I didn't expect there to be this many people."276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiNerc37oY
Elise couldn't put her finger on it, but something was off about Danny's body language or tone when he spoke. She decided not to question him on it. Instead, she squeezed his hand.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo6kT1IcDP
"Doesn't mean we can't still enjoy it."276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsQMLDiOo0
"No, no," he added a little too quickly. "I know," he continued looking around at the growing crowd instead of her. Elise fought the urge to raise her eyebrow at him, choosing to enjoy the rest of their night instead of worrying about it. He would tell her if something was really wrong, right?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayWFWz5sNz
A few older couples struck up conversations with them over the next half hour or so while everyone waited for the moonbow to make its appearance. Each one went on about how they were either surprised or elated to see such a young couple enjoying the splendor of nature on a Saturday night instead of staying home or out "partying" at a club. The older couples especially got a kick out of the fact that they had hiked in 10+ miles to see it and that this was their idea of a romantic getaway.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEo8qDl6Gf
Although neither Danny nor Elise usually cared for small talk much, they found themselves enjoying the company of the middle-aged and elderly couples. Elise hoped they would still be down for going to things like this when they were that age. Assuming they lasted, though at the moment she saw no reason they wouldn't. Life was tricky like that, though. She shook herself from her thoughts, not wanting to think about negative "what ifs?"276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS0HMJyqeG
Danny squeezed her hand quickly. She looked to him to see what he wanted and followed his gaze. The sun had finally sunk far enough below the horizon and the moon was already almost halfway through its journey across the sky, creating the perfect conditions for the moonbow to finally appear above the falls.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2x5ufz3fr
"Wow..." Elise's voice trailed off in the dark. "That's really something." Other than "oohs" and "ahhs" around them, it was surprisingly quiet for the number of people that had shown up.
"It's pretty cool, right?" Danny looked to her for affirmation momentarily before turning his eyes back towards the falls.
"Yah, super cool," she paused. "I'm glad I got to see it with you for the first time."
Danny pulled her to him and put an arm around her shoulder. Elise laid her head on his. They stood in silence as the moonbow become more pronounced by the minute. Danny finally cleared his throat. Elise couldn't remember him ever making such a gesture.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjzYpjZv2m
"How about we walk down to that beach you like so much? It's not far...I won't let anything getcha," he winked.
"Ok," Elise let him guide her by the hand through the crowd, wondering for at least the 100th time that day what he was up to. She asked him as much when they reached the flat, gravelly area.
"I just wanted to get away from the crowd for a minute," he looked down as he spoke, absently kicking some loose rocks. Elise started getting the same nervous vibe from him as earlier.
"What's wrong?" she finally asked.
"Well, I wanted to ask you something," Danny replied vaguely.
"Ok," she trailed off. "You can ask me anything," she quickly added, trying to ease his own uneasiness. She was used to him being so confident normally. He wasn't acting himself at all. What was eating him up?
"Well, there are three things I want to ask you, but let's start with the most important one," he shifted nervously. It was such a minor movement that nobody else would have even noticed it or thought anything of it. But Elise had become an expert on reading his body language over the past seven months. She could tell when he was getting flustered, stressed out, nervous. It hadn't happened much, but Danny was most definitely nervous now.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7KlQzpgzI
"Ok," she paused. "You're starting to scare me a little," Elise laughed nervously.
"I'm a little scared myself," he joined her uneasy laughter.
"Danny, what is it?" her voice full of concern. His unusual demeanor was causing her to become uncomfortable.
Danny took a deep breath and took her hands.
"You know how much I love you, right?" he looked deep in her eyes.
"Of course," she replied softly. She wanted to add, "Not that I needed any more convincing, but this entire weekend has proven that," but she didn't want to interrupt.
"And that I would do anything for you?"
She nodded in agreement.
"Elise, I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that I wanted to be with you. I don't know how I knew we would click, but I did. Or maybe I'm just crazy and imagined it all," Danny gave a small chuckle.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa00uaTa65x
"I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anybody else. I know it's kind of soon, so it's ok to say 'no' if you're not ready, but..." he fished something small from his pants pocket and kneeled down on one knee.
"Elise Marie Roberts, will you marry me?" She could barely make out the small ring Danny held up in the dark, the only light currently available coming from the moon overhead.
When had her hands covered her mouth? She always thought it was so cheesy (even though the romantic in her secretly loved the ridiculousness of it) how in every movie you ever saw where a woman got proposed to the first thing that happens is her hands flying up to her mouth, like the character was so surprised. Yet here she was doing it herself, truly surprised. Her mind reeled, trying to make sense of everything.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxagTDN2Yqo
Elise suddenly felt stupid for not recognizing that the whole weekend was a set-up. Not that Danny didn't like planning special dates with her normally, but this one certainly took the cake so far. They had never done anything this extravagant or romantic. Yes, she should have known what was up. How could she have been taken so off-guard by this?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVcNk6JGcS
In her defense, she had never spent much time thinking about "the perfect proposal" like some young women seemed to. Romantic comedies (and the occasional romance novel) quenched her thirst for mushy stuff. Was that weird? Elise had put some thought into her wedding some, daydreaming, mostly, before Danny had even come along, but a place deep within her had started giving up hope on that ever happening as much of a hermit as she had become over the past several years since college. She shook her head lightly, trying to clear her jumble of thoughts. Elise looked down to find Danny staring at her expectantly. Right. An answer would be good, she thought.
"Yes...Yes, of course!" she wanted to throw her arms around his neck, but he was still kneeling on the ground.
"Yes?" he reminded her of a small child the way he looked up at her hopefully, repeating her answer back to her to verify.
"Yes!" excitement filled her voice now. "Do you really think I would have said 'no'?" Elise asked carefully.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7aOq1Chfy
"I was hoping not just because that would have been a really awkward trip home," Danny made a face and they both laughed. She was glad to see him lighten up finally.
"Speaking of home, that brings me to my next question..."
"Danny?" Elise interrupted.
"Mmhmm?" he was still kneeling, looking up to her.
"Are you going to give me my ring?" she smirked, trying hard not to giggle.
"Oh!" he looked down at the ring and back up to her. "Right," he slid it onto her outstretched hand. Once he was finished, Elise grabbed his hand and pulled him up. The rocks littering the beach had to be killing his knees.
"Sorry," Danny kissed her quickly on the lips before trying to continue his thought from before.
"Danny," she said again simply.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo8SGaVQYy
"What?"
"Give me a real kiss. You just asked me to marry you, for God's sake," Elise did throw her arms around his neck now and kissed him deeply.
"That's better," she stated. "Now, what else can you possibly have to ask me?" she teased.
"Well, like I said, speaking of home," Danny paused, still holding her hands. "I was wondering if you would want to move in with me?" his words uptilted at the end into a question. She felt kind of bad for it, but Elise couldn't help thinking how cute his current insecureness was. It was a side of him she had never really seen until tonight. She hoped he didn't notice her lips trembling in the dim light, trying to fight back a smile at his expense.
"I mean, we already spend so much time at each other's places. And we'll be moving in together eventually anyway. I just thought it might make sense. Plus then you wouldn't have to pay rent any more. You could save that money for a really nice wedding dress. Or whatever you want. I don't know..." Danny knew he was rambling and it was getting to him.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ340CsTLQJI
Elise couldn't stop the burst of laughter that escaped from her lips.
"What?" he asked.
"I'm sorry," she tried to stifle her laughter. "Baby, you don't have to make a case. You could have just stopped with, 'Will you move in with me?' and I still would have said 'yes'," she squeezed his hands quickly. "I've never seen you so nervous."
"I don't know if you've ever proposed to anyone, but the possibility of rejection is terrifying," he laughed nervously.
"You have to know I would never reject you," Elise looked at him seriously as she leaned in.
"I do now," Danny leaned in the rest of the way and kissed her. "So that's a 'yes' too?" he confirmed.
"Yes," she held his face between her hands playfully.
"Good. Because I need to learn all of your quirks and gross habits. To know what I'm getting myself into."
"You already know all of my quirks. God knows I have plenty. And I do not have any gross habits," Elise shoved him in the chest.
"I know, I know. I'm just teasing," Danny drew out, grabbing her hands again and kissed them.
"So, you said you had three questions. What's the third one?" Elise asked.
"Oh yah. I know you're not crazy about surprises, but can I ask you not to tell your parents right away about us being engaged? I have an idea..." Danny trailed off, waiting for her reaction.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd248Fmrt2T
"Oh, boy," she said sarcastically. "And what is that?" she did raise an eyebrow at him now.
"Let's plan a dinner for a couple of weekends from now. I have Guard training next weekend, but the one after should be fine. We'll invite both sets of our parents over and spring the news on them then. Kill two birds with one stone. What do you say?" Danny looked at her expectantly. He had clearly been thinking about this a lot. He had a plan in place.
"How long have you been planning this weekend?" she asked without answering his question first.
"Oh, I don't know. A few weeks? A month? Something like that," he let go of her hands and put an arm around her shoulders again, looking up at the sky, not a care in the world now, back to his usual self. "Why?" Danny asked, without looking away from the moon and stars.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XehAARQOf
"Because. You seem to have everything planned out already. It's just dawning on me what a Mr.Sneaky Pants you've been...You don't have our wedding planned out already too, do you?" Elise teased.
"God, no! I didn't want to jinx it by assuming you'd say 'yes'. Besides, I don't want you to go all Bridezilla on me." The moon was high and bright enough now that she could make out the smile even from his profile. Elise elbowed him in the ribs and joined him in looking up at the clear night sky.
"Ow," Danny rubbed the spot where she elbowed him with his free hand, laughing.
"Do you really think I would act like that?"
"No. I wouldn't marry someone like that anyways," he answered honestly, squeezing her shoulder.
"No, you wouldn't," Elise smiled to herself, leaning her head against his shoulder once more. They stood in silence for a long time, looking at the constellations together, the moment already perfect without more words. Elise felt extremely content. Danny broke the silence at last after who knew how long. Time seemed irrelevant at the moment.
"You never answered my last question."
She didn't answer right away, trying to remember what his last request even was to no avail.
"What was your last question?" she said apologetically.
"If you could wait two weeks to tell your parents," Danny laughed.
Elise thought about it. It's not like she saw them all the time in person, so that helped, but she was dying to tell someone.
"Can I at least tell Mary?" she asked inquisitively.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84sIEViJ0w
"Sure," he laughed again, pausing. "You can't stand it, can you?" Danny looked down at her. She simply shook her head in response. He was right. It was going to kill her to keep it a secret for just two short weeks.
"You promise not to tell?" he asked again. "I promise," she stuck her pinky out, which he took in his own, holding her to her word.
"Don't make me check your phone log," he kissed the side of her head.
"I promise!" Elise laughed.
"I'm just kidding anyways. I would never do that. I trust you," Danny took her ringed hand in his, fiddling with the ring lightly between two of his fingers.
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