Hannah Happened
Title: Hannah Happened
Author: Mary (stillxmyxheart)
Beta: Lindsay (rowofstars)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Fluff
Word Count: 3,296
Characters/Pairings: Eli, David, Hannah (Eli/Hannah, David/Juliet)
Eli settles behind the wheel of his car, turning the key so the air conditioning can chase away the heat.
He sits quietly for a couple of minutes, feeling the air gradually shift from warm to cold, and then blows out a slow breath before reaching into the pocket of his trousers.
He holds the small black box in his fingers a moment, and then opens it to stare at the ring nestled inside. He picked it out last week, but had to have it sized, and turned down Chris's offer of lunch with a vague excuse so he could drive to the jeweler's today.
The money to pay for it came out of his trust fund, and he's quite certain Hannah will kill him if she ever finds out how much it cost, but it's worth it.
She's worth it.
His mind drifts to their fight in February, to how stupid it was to think she would ever cheat on him, and how incredibly lucky he is that she forgave him and they were able to move past it.
About a month after they made up, the idea of asking her to marry him began to occur with more and more frequency in his mind, and a few weeks ago he'd finally started looking for rings.
Finding the perfect ring had been difficult at first, because he wanted something that was as unique as Hannah, and his frustration was beginning to mount when he finally saw this one. The thin band is platinum, with two rows of small diamonds that flow up to crisscross and surround the large center diamond; the way the diamonds cross the bands on the sides reminds him vaguely of an infinity symbol, and the moment he saw it, he knew it was perfect for her.
His parents would've helped pay for the ring if he'd asked, or just paid for it completely, waving away the issue of him paying them back. They both adore Hannah, more so than either of his previous girlfriends, and he smiles a little as he imagines how overjoyed they'll be when they find out about the engagement.
If she says yes, he thinks nervously, his mind drifting once again to February.
He pushes away the small flash of doubt, turning the ring a little so it sparkles in the early June sunlight.
He didn't want his parents' help. He told himself when he left home that he would only ask them for money if he were in dire straits; it's only happened twice, and he paid them back in full both times.
He wanted his life to be his own, didn't want to rely on anybody else to be secure, and he got through college on two scholarships and money he made working at a sports shop. He never wanted anybody to think everything was just handed to him on a silver platter, and he earned everything he had through hard work.
He takes a breath and closes the box, slipping it back into his pocket.
A smile crosses his face as he pulls from the parking space and heads towards the street.
He supposes if he's going to rely on anybody for security of any kind, he's happy it's Hannah.
The following Saturday he steps into David's house, calling out to the older man as he pushes the front door shut.
Hannah and Juliet are spending the day together, their monthly girls' day out, and Eli thought this would be the perfect time to come see David about his plans.
David emerges from the first floor hallway, dressed casually in jeans and a faded band t-shirt, one of a seemingly endless supply, and greets Eli with a smile.
Eli asks what David's working on as they sit down, and David waves a hand, telling him it's just case reports.
"Damn things start to pile up after a while," he mutters, and Eli nods in agreement, thinking of nights where he too has a large pile stacked on his desk in his and Hannah's shared office.
"So, what's up?" David asks, turning sideways on the couch to face Eli.
Eli takes a breath, not quite sure how to approach the subject. He went over several things in his mind on the way over, but couldn't seem to settle on anything he really liked.
Finally he just reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ring box, opening it to show David.
David looks at it a moment, and then lifts his gaze to Eli's face, the corner of his mouth rising slightly.
"I'm flattered, Eli, but you're not really my type." His grin widens. "Besides, I'm already married."
Eli laughs and shakes his head, turning the ring back towards him. He looks at it for a couple of seconds before looking back at David.
"I wanted to ask for your permission to marry Hannah."
David considers him a moment, and then smiles a little. "You don't need my permission. It's up to Han, regardless."
Eli nods. "I know, but my dad always told me that was the proper thing to do. As a show of respect."
David's smile widens. "I appreciate it. Out of curiosity, what would you have done if I said no?"
"Asked her anyway, and then put in for a transfer."
David laughs, and Eli grins.
"You think she'll like it?" he asks, gesturing towards the ring.
David nods, taking the box from Eli and peering at the ring inside. His wedding ring, a simple white gold band, flashes in the midday sunlight streaming through the windows as he tilts the box from side to side.
"I'm sure she'd like whatever you gave her. If it helps, I like it. I can tell you put thought into it, and picked something that suited her, rather than going for something flashy." He glances up as he hands the box back to Eli. "Did you have help?"
Eli shrugs a little, snapping the box shut and returning it to his pocket.
"Not really. I just... looked at the rings, and that one jumped out at me. It's like it had a tag attached to the band with Hannah's name on it."
David grins, and then looks at Eli. He still seems a little anxious, and his gaze flits to the pictures of Hannah on the bookshelves.
"She'll say yes," David says softly, drawing Eli's attention again. "I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure she's been in love with you since that night in the basement. You saved her, Eli, and I don't just mean her life." David pauses, his brow creasing slightly as he stares intently at Eli. "I hope you know that."
Eli nods, a small smile flashing over his face. "I know."
David sighs and tilts his head back. "If the past two years have taught me anything, it's that I don't need to say this, but I just can't help myself." He looks at Eli again, and now his expression is stern. "Take care of my baby. I like you a lot, but if you hurt her, you know I will take it out of your ass, and not feel one bit sorry."
Eli nods, ducking his head as he fights the urge to laugh. He knows David means it, and is glad he never found out about their fight.
"I know. I promise."
"Good," David murmurs, and then his smile returns. "So how are you gonna do it?"
Eli smiles back. "I have an idea."
He calls Madison on his way home, tapping his fingers anxiously on the steering wheel.
"Hey," he says when she answers, "you know that photo shoot you and Han are doing next weekend?"
"Yep," she replies. He can hear the sound of running water, and wonders if she's cleaning her brushes.
"I wondered if maybe I could tag along."
A few nights before Hannah and Madison's photo shoot, when Eli intends to propose, he and Hannah are on the couch, watching TV after dinner.
She's stretched out beside him, her head in his lap, and his fingers comb absently through her hair as he stares at the TV, once again going over his proposal speech in his mind.
When a commercial comes on, she sits up abruptly, startling him and making him snatch his hands from her hair.
"Babe?" he says, a little wide-eyed as he looks at her.
She stares back, the look on her face one he knows well; it means she wants to talk to him about something, and more likely than not, it's something important.
She looks at him a moment longer, her mouth twisting as she chews on the inside of her lip, and then she takes a breath.
"Do you want to marry me?"
For a brief moment, panic flashes in his mind, wondering if she somehow came across the ring, but he hid it in the closet in their bedroom, inside one of his boxes of extra ammunition, and doesn't think she'd have any reason to even touch that.
"Right now?" he asks, raising his eyebrows slightly, a teasing grin on his lips. "Hop a plane to Vegas, hit up one of those drive-thru chapels -"
"No!" Hannah says, laughing as she smacks his shoulder. "God, no, I don't want to get married like that."
She hesitates, biting on her lip, and then shakes her head as she shifts to stand. "No, never mind -"
"Han, wait," he says quietly, reaching for her arm and pulling her back down.
She looks at him uncertainly, and he raises his eyebrows again.
"Are you asking? Really asking?"
A beat passes, and then she shrugs and nods, her voice soft as she says, "Yeah," the corner of her mouth curving.
"Wait here," he says, pushing to his feet.
"Eli -"
"No, just wait," he insists, holding up his hand before he hurries up the stairs.
He grabs the box of ammunition from the shelf in the closet, plucks the ring box from inside, and replaces the ammunition before heading back downstairs.
Hannah stares at him, confused, and he grins as he settles next to her once more.
He opens the box, turning it so she can see the ring, and looks up at her, still grinning as he murmurs, "You read my mind."
Her mouth is open, tears shining in her eyes, and she glances at him before looking back at the ring.
"Eli, it's beautiful," she breathes.
A beat later, she looks at him fully, frowning curiously. "You were already going to ask me?"
He nods, a soft laugh slipping from him. "Yeah. I had it all planned out, I was going to go with you to your photo shoot with Maddie on Saturday, and ask you then. I had a speech and everything."
She giggles softly, a tear rolling down her cheek. "You know I still need to hear it."
He laughs again and nods, shifting a little in his seat and then taking a deep breath.
"A little over two years ago, I finally got up the courage to kiss you," he begins softly, returning her grin as the memory of that afternoon floods his mind, cupcakes lined up on the kitchen counter, and her lips soft and warm under his. "Since then, you've let me love, and trust, and take care of you, and best of all, you've loved, and trusted, and taken care of me too. You've put up with my crazy hours and my bad moods, and forgiven me for my moments of stupidity, some of them much worse than others. I can never thank you enough for that, but I'd like to spend the rest of our lives trying."
He slides off the couch, getting down on one knee. She laughs, tears streaming down her face, and he grins up at her as he extends the ring box to her.
"Hannah Elise Cole, will you marry me?"
She laughs again, and nods just once. "Yes, Elias Adam Shaw, I'll marry you."
He laughs too, amused at her teasing reciprocal use of his full name, and stands, bracing his free hand on the couch as he bends to kiss her.
When it breaks, he sits next to her again and pulls the ring from its cushion, setting the box on the table before reaching for her left hand and sliding the ring onto her finger.
She holds up her hand, smiling as the ring sparkles in the lamplight, and then places her hand on the back of his neck as she presses a heated kiss to his lips.
Wordlessly, as if driven by the same thought, they stand and head upstairs, Eli pushing the bedroom door closed behind them and grinning as Hannah grabs him and pulls him to her.
His fingers dive into her hair, and he presses against her as he guides her to the bed, already half hard as his tongue rolls over hers.
Getting her naked is no more effort than pulling off her tank top and shorts, because it's summer and the time of year when she wears the least amount of clothing around the house.
This may also be why summer has slowly become his favorite season.
She drops onto the bed and scoots back until she's against the pillows, gorgeous and waiting for him, her ring glittering as her hands press against the sheets.
He undresses quickly and joins her, moving until he's over her and bending his head to kiss her again.
She sighs when his lips drift to her neck, feeling his breath against her skin as he whispers how beautiful she is and how much he loves her, his hands sliding down her body and tracing the lines and curves he's come to know by heart.
His teeth scrape over her skin, nipping gently, and she gasps, her eyes fluttering closed as she slides her arm around his neck.
When she opens her eyes again, she sees her hand on his shoulder, the ring on her finger, and emotion swells within her as she looks at it. She loves him more than she could ever fully express in words, loves him for loving her, and for everything he's done for her, all of the ways he's helped and supported her.
She's not perfect, and neither is he, but they're perfect for each other, flaws and everything. She knows there will never be anybody else she loves as much as she loves Eli, and now she knows with absolute certainty that it's the same for him.
She feels his hand on her thigh, gently coaxing her legs further apart, and then it slides underneath her as he lifts her hips and finally pushes inside of her.
A sigh escapes her, her eyes drifting closed again, and her head tips back as he begins to move, his breath hot on her chest as he kisses the space between her breasts.
He's so good, feels so perfect, not just now, but always, and in every way possible, and she whispers the only thing she can think of.
"I love you too."
They're lying together after, turned on their sides to face each other, and he smiles as he takes her hand in his, running his thumb over the ring.
"I can't wait to tell everybody," she murmurs.
He lifts his gaze to her face, still smiling. "Your dad sort of already knows, and probably Jules too. Well, that I was going to ask you. I did the whole 'asking for permission' thing. I know it's like, ridiculously old-fashioned -"
"I think it's sweet," she interrupts softly. "I like that you respect him enough to ask, and I know he appreciated the gesture."
Eli nods, and then grins. "I didn't tell Maddie why I wanted to come with you guys, but knowing her, she probably suspects."
Hannah giggles and nods. "But that still leaves plenty of people to tell. Your parents, for one."
"We'll have to tell them in person. Take a weekend soon." He shakes his head slightly. "They're going to be ecstatic. You know Mom will want to throw us some huge party."
Hannah grins. "You have to cut her some slack; you are her only child, after all."
Eli laughs. "Yeah."
They're quiet for a moment, and then Hannah bites down on her lip.
"Hannah Shaw," she says softly, and then grins. "I can't say I haven't already imagined how that would sound."
"Do you like it?" he asks, raising one hand to thread his fingers in her hair.
She nods as she turns her head into his touch, raising her hand to cover his. "Very much."
"Me too."
She leans forward to kiss him, her hand moving to the back of his neck, and it slides to his chest when she pulls back.
Her gaze flicks to the ring again, and a small frown creases her brow.
"How much did this cost, anyway?"
"Babe, I will answer pretty much any question you ask me, but I will not tell you how much your engagement ring cost."
"That means it cost a lot," she murmurs, arching one eyebrow as she meets his gaze.
"And you are worth every penny, so hush," he replies, grinning at the slight curve of her lips as he leans forward to kiss her once more.
As soon as Eli arrives at work the next day, he brings a few reports to David's office for him to sign off on, and David grins as he looks up at Eli.
"So are you still asking Han on Saturday?"
A short laugh escapes Eli, and he raises his eyebrows. "Actually, we got engaged last night."
David's eyes widen a little. "I thought you were going to do it this weekend, what happened?"
"Hannah happened," Eli answers. "She actually asked me. Just out of the blue. And I couldn't lie to her or anything, so I gave her the ring, and - bam."
David laughs and shakes his head as he pushes to stand.
"Somehow I'm not surprised. But congratulations, son," he murmurs, walking around his desk to pull Eli into a hug. "I'm really and truly so happy for you both."
"Thanks, David," Eli says, smiling as they break apart.
"Are you still going to crash Han and Maddie's shoot Saturday?"
Eli laughs and nods. "Yeah. I don't think Maddie will mind, and Han mentioned asking her if we could take engagement pictures then as well."
"I bet she'll love that," David says, grinning as he settles behind his desk again. "How about you guys let Jules and me take you out tomorrow to celebrate?"
"Han and I had actually planned to go to dinner tomorrow, just us, but maybe Saturday, after the shoot? Maybe we'll even have some pictures to show you guys."
"Even better," David replies, grinning again as he scribbles his signature on one last report before handing the small stack back to Eli.
"I'll talk to Han tonight. She'll probably call you guys."
David nods, and then raises his eyebrows. "Are you excited?"
Eli laughs, rubbing the edges of the reports along his palm. "Excited, yeah. Also nervous. A little scared."
"That's normal," David replies, smiling reassuringly. "I mean, I felt the same after I asked Jules to marry me, even though there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted her to be my wife, and to spend the rest of my life with her. It'll pass, and I think being married will come very naturally to you guys."
"That actually makes me feel better," Eli murmurs, smiling when David laughs. "Thanks. I'll see you later."
David nods as he turns towards his computer, and Eli heads back to his desk, the smile on his face lingering the entire day as he thinks of Hannah and the glittering ring on her finger.
Author: Mary (stillxmyxheart)
Beta: Lindsay (rowofstars)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Fluff
Word Count: 3,296
Characters/Pairings: Eli, David, Hannah (Eli/Hannah, David/Juliet)
Eli settles behind the wheel of his car, turning the key so the air conditioning can chase away the heat.
He sits quietly for a couple of minutes, feeling the air gradually shift from warm to cold, and then blows out a slow breath before reaching into the pocket of his trousers.
He holds the small black box in his fingers a moment, and then opens it to stare at the ring nestled inside. He picked it out last week, but had to have it sized, and turned down Chris's offer of lunch with a vague excuse so he could drive to the jeweler's today.
The money to pay for it came out of his trust fund, and he's quite certain Hannah will kill him if she ever finds out how much it cost, but it's worth it.
She's worth it.
His mind drifts to their fight in February, to how stupid it was to think she would ever cheat on him, and how incredibly lucky he is that she forgave him and they were able to move past it.
About a month after they made up, the idea of asking her to marry him began to occur with more and more frequency in his mind, and a few weeks ago he'd finally started looking for rings.
Finding the perfect ring had been difficult at first, because he wanted something that was as unique as Hannah, and his frustration was beginning to mount when he finally saw this one. The thin band is platinum, with two rows of small diamonds that flow up to crisscross and surround the large center diamond; the way the diamonds cross the bands on the sides reminds him vaguely of an infinity symbol, and the moment he saw it, he knew it was perfect for her.
His parents would've helped pay for the ring if he'd asked, or just paid for it completely, waving away the issue of him paying them back. They both adore Hannah, more so than either of his previous girlfriends, and he smiles a little as he imagines how overjoyed they'll be when they find out about the engagement.
If she says yes, he thinks nervously, his mind drifting once again to February.
He pushes away the small flash of doubt, turning the ring a little so it sparkles in the early June sunlight.
He didn't want his parents' help. He told himself when he left home that he would only ask them for money if he were in dire straits; it's only happened twice, and he paid them back in full both times.
He wanted his life to be his own, didn't want to rely on anybody else to be secure, and he got through college on two scholarships and money he made working at a sports shop. He never wanted anybody to think everything was just handed to him on a silver platter, and he earned everything he had through hard work.
He takes a breath and closes the box, slipping it back into his pocket.
A smile crosses his face as he pulls from the parking space and heads towards the street.
He supposes if he's going to rely on anybody for security of any kind, he's happy it's Hannah.
The following Saturday he steps into David's house, calling out to the older man as he pushes the front door shut.
Hannah and Juliet are spending the day together, their monthly girls' day out, and Eli thought this would be the perfect time to come see David about his plans.
David emerges from the first floor hallway, dressed casually in jeans and a faded band t-shirt, one of a seemingly endless supply, and greets Eli with a smile.
Eli asks what David's working on as they sit down, and David waves a hand, telling him it's just case reports.
"Damn things start to pile up after a while," he mutters, and Eli nods in agreement, thinking of nights where he too has a large pile stacked on his desk in his and Hannah's shared office.
"So, what's up?" David asks, turning sideways on the couch to face Eli.
Eli takes a breath, not quite sure how to approach the subject. He went over several things in his mind on the way over, but couldn't seem to settle on anything he really liked.
Finally he just reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ring box, opening it to show David.
David looks at it a moment, and then lifts his gaze to Eli's face, the corner of his mouth rising slightly.
"I'm flattered, Eli, but you're not really my type." His grin widens. "Besides, I'm already married."
Eli laughs and shakes his head, turning the ring back towards him. He looks at it for a couple of seconds before looking back at David.
"I wanted to ask for your permission to marry Hannah."
David considers him a moment, and then smiles a little. "You don't need my permission. It's up to Han, regardless."
Eli nods. "I know, but my dad always told me that was the proper thing to do. As a show of respect."
David's smile widens. "I appreciate it. Out of curiosity, what would you have done if I said no?"
"Asked her anyway, and then put in for a transfer."
David laughs, and Eli grins.
"You think she'll like it?" he asks, gesturing towards the ring.
David nods, taking the box from Eli and peering at the ring inside. His wedding ring, a simple white gold band, flashes in the midday sunlight streaming through the windows as he tilts the box from side to side.
"I'm sure she'd like whatever you gave her. If it helps, I like it. I can tell you put thought into it, and picked something that suited her, rather than going for something flashy." He glances up as he hands the box back to Eli. "Did you have help?"
Eli shrugs a little, snapping the box shut and returning it to his pocket.
"Not really. I just... looked at the rings, and that one jumped out at me. It's like it had a tag attached to the band with Hannah's name on it."
David grins, and then looks at Eli. He still seems a little anxious, and his gaze flits to the pictures of Hannah on the bookshelves.
"She'll say yes," David says softly, drawing Eli's attention again. "I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure she's been in love with you since that night in the basement. You saved her, Eli, and I don't just mean her life." David pauses, his brow creasing slightly as he stares intently at Eli. "I hope you know that."
Eli nods, a small smile flashing over his face. "I know."
David sighs and tilts his head back. "If the past two years have taught me anything, it's that I don't need to say this, but I just can't help myself." He looks at Eli again, and now his expression is stern. "Take care of my baby. I like you a lot, but if you hurt her, you know I will take it out of your ass, and not feel one bit sorry."
Eli nods, ducking his head as he fights the urge to laugh. He knows David means it, and is glad he never found out about their fight.
"I know. I promise."
"Good," David murmurs, and then his smile returns. "So how are you gonna do it?"
Eli smiles back. "I have an idea."
He calls Madison on his way home, tapping his fingers anxiously on the steering wheel.
"Hey," he says when she answers, "you know that photo shoot you and Han are doing next weekend?"
"Yep," she replies. He can hear the sound of running water, and wonders if she's cleaning her brushes.
"I wondered if maybe I could tag along."
A few nights before Hannah and Madison's photo shoot, when Eli intends to propose, he and Hannah are on the couch, watching TV after dinner.
She's stretched out beside him, her head in his lap, and his fingers comb absently through her hair as he stares at the TV, once again going over his proposal speech in his mind.
When a commercial comes on, she sits up abruptly, startling him and making him snatch his hands from her hair.
"Babe?" he says, a little wide-eyed as he looks at her.
She stares back, the look on her face one he knows well; it means she wants to talk to him about something, and more likely than not, it's something important.
She looks at him a moment longer, her mouth twisting as she chews on the inside of her lip, and then she takes a breath.
"Do you want to marry me?"
For a brief moment, panic flashes in his mind, wondering if she somehow came across the ring, but he hid it in the closet in their bedroom, inside one of his boxes of extra ammunition, and doesn't think she'd have any reason to even touch that.
"Right now?" he asks, raising his eyebrows slightly, a teasing grin on his lips. "Hop a plane to Vegas, hit up one of those drive-thru chapels -"
"No!" Hannah says, laughing as she smacks his shoulder. "God, no, I don't want to get married like that."
She hesitates, biting on her lip, and then shakes her head as she shifts to stand. "No, never mind -"
"Han, wait," he says quietly, reaching for her arm and pulling her back down.
She looks at him uncertainly, and he raises his eyebrows again.
"Are you asking? Really asking?"
A beat passes, and then she shrugs and nods, her voice soft as she says, "Yeah," the corner of her mouth curving.
"Wait here," he says, pushing to his feet.
"Eli -"
"No, just wait," he insists, holding up his hand before he hurries up the stairs.
He grabs the box of ammunition from the shelf in the closet, plucks the ring box from inside, and replaces the ammunition before heading back downstairs.
Hannah stares at him, confused, and he grins as he settles next to her once more.
He opens the box, turning it so she can see the ring, and looks up at her, still grinning as he murmurs, "You read my mind."
Her mouth is open, tears shining in her eyes, and she glances at him before looking back at the ring.
"Eli, it's beautiful," she breathes.
A beat later, she looks at him fully, frowning curiously. "You were already going to ask me?"
He nods, a soft laugh slipping from him. "Yeah. I had it all planned out, I was going to go with you to your photo shoot with Maddie on Saturday, and ask you then. I had a speech and everything."
She giggles softly, a tear rolling down her cheek. "You know I still need to hear it."
He laughs again and nods, shifting a little in his seat and then taking a deep breath.
"A little over two years ago, I finally got up the courage to kiss you," he begins softly, returning her grin as the memory of that afternoon floods his mind, cupcakes lined up on the kitchen counter, and her lips soft and warm under his. "Since then, you've let me love, and trust, and take care of you, and best of all, you've loved, and trusted, and taken care of me too. You've put up with my crazy hours and my bad moods, and forgiven me for my moments of stupidity, some of them much worse than others. I can never thank you enough for that, but I'd like to spend the rest of our lives trying."
He slides off the couch, getting down on one knee. She laughs, tears streaming down her face, and he grins up at her as he extends the ring box to her.
"Hannah Elise Cole, will you marry me?"
She laughs again, and nods just once. "Yes, Elias Adam Shaw, I'll marry you."
He laughs too, amused at her teasing reciprocal use of his full name, and stands, bracing his free hand on the couch as he bends to kiss her.
When it breaks, he sits next to her again and pulls the ring from its cushion, setting the box on the table before reaching for her left hand and sliding the ring onto her finger.
She holds up her hand, smiling as the ring sparkles in the lamplight, and then places her hand on the back of his neck as she presses a heated kiss to his lips.
Wordlessly, as if driven by the same thought, they stand and head upstairs, Eli pushing the bedroom door closed behind them and grinning as Hannah grabs him and pulls him to her.
His fingers dive into her hair, and he presses against her as he guides her to the bed, already half hard as his tongue rolls over hers.
Getting her naked is no more effort than pulling off her tank top and shorts, because it's summer and the time of year when she wears the least amount of clothing around the house.
This may also be why summer has slowly become his favorite season.
She drops onto the bed and scoots back until she's against the pillows, gorgeous and waiting for him, her ring glittering as her hands press against the sheets.
He undresses quickly and joins her, moving until he's over her and bending his head to kiss her again.
She sighs when his lips drift to her neck, feeling his breath against her skin as he whispers how beautiful she is and how much he loves her, his hands sliding down her body and tracing the lines and curves he's come to know by heart.
His teeth scrape over her skin, nipping gently, and she gasps, her eyes fluttering closed as she slides her arm around his neck.
When she opens her eyes again, she sees her hand on his shoulder, the ring on her finger, and emotion swells within her as she looks at it. She loves him more than she could ever fully express in words, loves him for loving her, and for everything he's done for her, all of the ways he's helped and supported her.
She's not perfect, and neither is he, but they're perfect for each other, flaws and everything. She knows there will never be anybody else she loves as much as she loves Eli, and now she knows with absolute certainty that it's the same for him.
She feels his hand on her thigh, gently coaxing her legs further apart, and then it slides underneath her as he lifts her hips and finally pushes inside of her.
A sigh escapes her, her eyes drifting closed again, and her head tips back as he begins to move, his breath hot on her chest as he kisses the space between her breasts.
He's so good, feels so perfect, not just now, but always, and in every way possible, and she whispers the only thing she can think of.
"I love you too."
They're lying together after, turned on their sides to face each other, and he smiles as he takes her hand in his, running his thumb over the ring.
"I can't wait to tell everybody," she murmurs.
He lifts his gaze to her face, still smiling. "Your dad sort of already knows, and probably Jules too. Well, that I was going to ask you. I did the whole 'asking for permission' thing. I know it's like, ridiculously old-fashioned -"
"I think it's sweet," she interrupts softly. "I like that you respect him enough to ask, and I know he appreciated the gesture."
Eli nods, and then grins. "I didn't tell Maddie why I wanted to come with you guys, but knowing her, she probably suspects."
Hannah giggles and nods. "But that still leaves plenty of people to tell. Your parents, for one."
"We'll have to tell them in person. Take a weekend soon." He shakes his head slightly. "They're going to be ecstatic. You know Mom will want to throw us some huge party."
Hannah grins. "You have to cut her some slack; you are her only child, after all."
Eli laughs. "Yeah."
They're quiet for a moment, and then Hannah bites down on her lip.
"Hannah Shaw," she says softly, and then grins. "I can't say I haven't already imagined how that would sound."
"Do you like it?" he asks, raising one hand to thread his fingers in her hair.
She nods as she turns her head into his touch, raising her hand to cover his. "Very much."
"Me too."
She leans forward to kiss him, her hand moving to the back of his neck, and it slides to his chest when she pulls back.
Her gaze flicks to the ring again, and a small frown creases her brow.
"How much did this cost, anyway?"
"Babe, I will answer pretty much any question you ask me, but I will not tell you how much your engagement ring cost."
"That means it cost a lot," she murmurs, arching one eyebrow as she meets his gaze.
"And you are worth every penny, so hush," he replies, grinning at the slight curve of her lips as he leans forward to kiss her once more.
As soon as Eli arrives at work the next day, he brings a few reports to David's office for him to sign off on, and David grins as he looks up at Eli.
"So are you still asking Han on Saturday?"
A short laugh escapes Eli, and he raises his eyebrows. "Actually, we got engaged last night."
David's eyes widen a little. "I thought you were going to do it this weekend, what happened?"
"Hannah happened," Eli answers. "She actually asked me. Just out of the blue. And I couldn't lie to her or anything, so I gave her the ring, and - bam."
David laughs and shakes his head as he pushes to stand.
"Somehow I'm not surprised. But congratulations, son," he murmurs, walking around his desk to pull Eli into a hug. "I'm really and truly so happy for you both."
"Thanks, David," Eli says, smiling as they break apart.
"Are you still going to crash Han and Maddie's shoot Saturday?"
Eli laughs and nods. "Yeah. I don't think Maddie will mind, and Han mentioned asking her if we could take engagement pictures then as well."
"I bet she'll love that," David says, grinning as he settles behind his desk again. "How about you guys let Jules and me take you out tomorrow to celebrate?"
"Han and I had actually planned to go to dinner tomorrow, just us, but maybe Saturday, after the shoot? Maybe we'll even have some pictures to show you guys."
"Even better," David replies, grinning again as he scribbles his signature on one last report before handing the small stack back to Eli.
"I'll talk to Han tonight. She'll probably call you guys."
David nods, and then raises his eyebrows. "Are you excited?"
Eli laughs, rubbing the edges of the reports along his palm. "Excited, yeah. Also nervous. A little scared."
"That's normal," David replies, smiling reassuringly. "I mean, I felt the same after I asked Jules to marry me, even though there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted her to be my wife, and to spend the rest of my life with her. It'll pass, and I think being married will come very naturally to you guys."
"That actually makes me feel better," Eli murmurs, smiling when David laughs. "Thanks. I'll see you later."
David nods as he turns towards his computer, and Eli heads back to his desk, the smile on his face lingering the entire day as he thinks of Hannah and the glittering ring on her finger.