It was late evening when Steve walked Christian down the boardwalk, the sunset spilling gold across the ocean like liquid fire. Christian's laughter echoed in the breeze—softer now, easier. He had started smiling more often, and sometimes he even forgot to be afraid.
Steve noticed everything.
The way Christian tucked his curls behind his ear. The way he always chose strawberry ice cream but hated the texture. The way he fell asleep pressed against Steve's chest like that was where he belonged.
They walked hand-in-hand in silence now, their feet brushing the edge of the cool sand as the tide crept in.
Steve's heart pounded. His palm was damp in Christian's hand—but not from the sea.
He had waited so long. Wanted to be sure.
But this man—the same man who had chased him through hell, who had cried in his arms and forgiven the monster in him—was worth more than time.
He was worth forever.
Christian slowed near a quiet bend in the shore where lanterns flickered against driftwood. "Did you set this up?" he asked, brow lifted.
Steve didn't answer. Instead, he took Christian's hand, led him closer, and then—he turned to face him.
Christian blinked as Steve slowly knelt to the sand, pulling out a small, velvet box from his jacket.
The wind caught its breath.
"I don't have the right words," Steve began, voice hoarse. "I've hurt you, scared you. I tried to push you away because I thought I wasn't worthy of you. Maybe I'm still not."
He opened the box. A silver band glinted, simple but strong.
"But I love you. More than I've ever loved anything. More than I thought I could. And I don't want to keep surviving anymore. I want to live. With you. If you'll let me."
Christian was frozen. His hand shook over his mouth as his eyes brimmed with tears—overwhelmed, soft, and glowing with joy.
"You're not just worthy," he whispered. "You're everything."
Steve's hand trembled slightly as he slid the ring onto Christian's finger. Christian dropped to his knees a second later, pulling Steve into a breathless, laughing kiss.
There were tears. There were sand-covered shoes and clumsy kisses and promises whispered under the firelit dusk.
And when they returned to the inn later that night, Christian curled up against Steve beneath white sheets, the ring glinting on his finger, their hearts beating in sync.
"You still scared?" Christian whispered.
Steve shook his head, pressing a kiss to Christian's temple.
"Not anymore," he said. "Not with you."