And then Peter actually looked in the goddamn glove compartment.
There was something small and grey and square sitting atop the ownership papers. Nik cleared his throat. “I was going to wait until we were done working on the Camaro but...”
Peter’s vision was suddenly underwater, blurring at the edges, but there was no mistaking it. That was a ring box in there.
Nik placed a warm, firm hand on his knee. “When I first met you...” He paused and shook his head, starting again. “We are not the same people we were when we met two years ago, and that is a good thing. I love who I am when I am with you. I love the man you are and the man you are trying so hard to be every day for me and for my daughter.
“I know that this has not always been a smooth ride, and I cannot promise that it will be going forward. But I can promise I will always be there with you on it, if you will have me.” All the earlier nerves were gone, Nik sure and steadfast as he asked, “Peter, will you marry me?”
Peter pressed his face into Nik’s shoulder, too overwhelmed to respond, too full up of their impossible, imperfect love. Driving off into the sunset in search of adventure, that was fine, but that wasn’t who Peter was anymore.
That wasn’t his happy ending.
“Is that a yes?” Nik asked, his breath soft against Peter’s temple.
It was the promise of stability. It was building the home he never had. It was an endless stretch of quiet comfortable days with the man he loved more than anything else in the world.
Peter lifted his chin and kissed him, long and sweet and breathless. “Yes.”
It was Nik.
—-
The End
