Checkmate

54. Pirates and Proposals

Slowly, David, Killian, and Mary Margaret made their way to the hospital, the three of them taking Emma's bug thanks to her leaving a spare key set with her dad. When only Felix and I remained on board, the boy came forward to rest his hands on my hips and pull me in closer. "You okay?" He asked, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered the question.

"I would be even better after a shower and a long sleep."

He hummed and nodded in agreement. "We better start on walking back then. I haven't even begun to learn to dr-" His words cut off as he pulled away to see us already in his little ground-floor apartment. He released a single breathy laugh through his smile. "Will never be used to it." He muttered as he moved towards his bedroom.

It took the boy a few steps to realise I wasn't following and as he turned to ask the question, I cut him off with a single raised palm. "I am not his. We are not his soldiers."

"Annie, he will always be a part of you, as he will always be a part of me. You cannot push down your past to pretend it doesn't exist." He extended a hand, silently asking me to join him. "Quite frankly, I don't think I have ever been as attracted to you as I am when you are protecting people. Scary or not, angry or not."

"You thought that me acting like Pan was... attractive?"

The boy paused for a moment, his brows pressed together as he thought. "Now that would be a whole other part of myself that would need to be assessed." We both shared a laugh before the mood turned slightly more serious. "I think you showing your strong, never wavering loyalty, your disdain for bullies, and your willingness to do anything is the most attractive thing about you."

"So you get horny when I beat people up?"

Felix licked and bit his lower lip as his gaze darkened. "Baby girl, I am always horny for you."

"Promise?"

"Join me in the shower and I'll prove it."

*

Later that night, I shot awake from a nightmare, my head whipping sharply from Felix's bare chest. The boy remained in his peaceful slumber as I desperately calmed my rapid breathing with deep breaths. The nightmare of Bellamy still lingered as I made my way to the bathroom, accidentally waking the boy the moment I switched on the light.

I took a moment to pee and to wash my hands and face as I maintained my deep breathing. I didn't move for the door until I was sure the fear of the pirate was completely absolved from my mind. I was powerful, determined, and loved. Bellamy couldn't do anything to hurt me or my family without using a portal, and I was sure the man was nowhere near smart enough to seek a bean.

As I opened the door, Felix stood waiting, his eyes still droopy as his hair stuck out in all directions. "How is the weather up there, tall one?" I asked, bringing to light the memory of our second kiss in the forest. The day he bit my lip in retaliation. The two of us shared a smile before Felix's face became more serious. He looked at me for a full ten seconds before his hands came up on either side to cup my face gently. "You okay?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Marry me?" He breathed, his eyes locked on mine. I took a few staggering breaths as I blinked rapidly. "I know we are young, reckless. Maybe one day we will out-grow one another and never get married at all. But for now, until then, I want you to wear my ring as proudly as you once wore Pan's scar."

"You have a ring?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Felix nodded as he pulled from me to make his way to his bedside table, opening the drawer. "I'm surprised you never found it," he admitted through a smile as he retrieved the little red box.

"I don't make a habit of going through your drawers. As I'm sure you don't go through mine."

Felix released a chuckle. "You and I both know you use magic to change your clothes rather than buy them. If I were to go through your drawers, I would find only candy wrappers and dust."

I attempted to hold back a smirk, but he had me. "You don't have to do the whole on one knee thing."

Felix tilted his head. "But how will I ask you?"

I smiled and reached forward to hold his face in my hands. "You already did."

"But you didn't say yes."

I looked into his eyes and tilted my head. "It has never been something I imagined for myself. Life back with mother... She never spoke of marriage and neither did I. At least, not like the other girls were. I never had a boyfriend, girlfriend, or even friends. I had never even been kissed before you."

Felix only smiled as I continued.

"And then Neverland was... And Pan... And the island kept me close, so I never wanted to leave. So, I thought I would never grow up, get married, have children. I never thought I could. So, now faced with it, the question, I don't know what to say."

"I understand," Felix said calmly as he moved to pull the box away.

I rested a hand on the box and took a breath. "But I want to try, with you. I want you, Felix. I love you, and I want to try."

The boy smiled warmly as he opened the box, revealing a single diamond sat upon a band of gold. "Then it shall be a promise." He placed the ring on the fourth finger of my left hand before pressing his lips to my skin. "Now, bed."

"Bed... or bed?"

Felix winked before scooping me into his arms, causing me to giggle and squeal as my magic switched off the bathroom light behind us.

Trigger warning for the next chapter. There will be a major character death, if you want a happy ending, click out now. I won't judge, in fact I will wave you goodbye.

There will be death, blood, gore, emotion. Apparently it is one of the darkest chapters I have ever written, so please please if you cannot handle that, click out now. End the story on a high.

I will even do this for you: "The End" There, now you can click away.

For all those that are staying, ride this wave with me and send me the therapy bill. We will cry through this together.