"Well, you can't keep living in that tiny cottage," Daisy said reasonably. "Not with all Raven's guitars. And you'll need space for…"
"For staying put," Arty finished, appearing with drinks for everyone. "About time you both settled down properly."
Annabelle's head was spinning. Raven was staying. Raven was retiring. Raven wanted to be with her.
Raven was looking at her now with an expression that was almost… nervous.
"So," Raven said quietly, just to Annabelle now despite their very public audience. "You haven't said anything. Don't you want me anymore?"
"Want you?" Annabelle's voice came out as a squeak. "You want to be together all the time?"
"Yes." Raven took a step closer. "I suppose so. I want to be with you." She paused, looking suddenly thoughtful. Then, in typical grumpy-Raven fashion, with absolutely no preamble or romance: "You wouldn't want to get married, would you?"
Annabelle shrieked.
The pub erupted.
Gloria burst into tears. Arty started pouring champagne. Daisy was bouncing up and down. Blossom actually put down her book. Even Mrs. Albright's cat, who'd somehow gotten into the pub again, seemed to meow approvingly.
Raven looked simultaneously mortified and pleased.
"I didn't plan that," she muttered to Annabelle as the pub continued to celebrate around them. "I was going to do something more… I don't know. Romantic. Less public."
"It was perfect," Annabelle said, and she meant it.
"You're just saying that because you like fixing my disasters."
"Maybe." Annabelle grinned. "Are we really doing this?"
"Apparently." Raven pulled her close, right there in front of everyone. "Unless you've changed your mind in the last thirty seconds."
"Never."
They kissed, and the pub cheered louder, and everything was chaotic and perfect and exactly right.
MUCH LATER, AFTER they'd escaped the celebration and were walking home through the quiet village streets, Raven said, "You were really going to take a sabbatical?"
"Of course I was." Annabelle was holding Raven's hand, swinging their arms gently. "I thought you were leaving."
"I was never leaving."
"You said things couldn't stay like this forever."
"I meant the cottage is too small and my guitars deserve better storage." Raven shot her a sideways look. "You were trying to fix things again."
"I was not."
"You absolutely were. Trying to make everything perfect." But there was no accusation in Raven's voice. Just affection.
Annabelle considered denying it. Then decided honesty was probably better. "Maybe a little bit."
Raven laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet street. "After that impromptu proposal I just made in a pub, probably I could use someone to help make me a little more perfect."
"You're already perfect."
"Liar." Raven stopped walking and pulled Annabelle close. "But maybe… maybe it's nice to have someone who wants to fix things for you sometimes. Even when you don't ask them to."
"Even when it's annoying?"
