Archive of Our Own

He'd known pretty soon into their relationship that he wanted to spend forever with her.

Just looking over at her, into those bright brown orbs that some idiots just called 'eyes' (how could they call them that when he'd found his home there?), he knew there was a future there.

It was in the way she'd tease him and then giggle about it, her face all lit up and her cheeks rosy in a way that had him absolutely mesmerised. The way she'd slide her hands around his neck when he kissed her, pulling him closer. The way she knew everything about him and could remember things that even he didn't.

They were twenty one now, a far cry away from the awkward sixteen year olds they'd once been, still trying to establish their relationship. However, Heath didn't regret a single thing from those days of old, and would gladly retrace every step if it meant he'd still end up with her.

They'd left the studio at eighteen, and lived separately for a year whilst still trying to figure things out. Daisy had gone through a really rough patch with her family, opting to see them less and less (except for her younger brother Aaron, of course), a fact they'd rebutted harshly. 

Her mom disliked the way she lived, and always had. She wanted Daisy to continue living at home, which she was never going to do, and get a job which she could commute to. Her daughter choosing not to do this had resulted in some horrible, horrible phone calls. 

Heath had held her through many nights after screaming at her mom on the phone, practically living round her flat. He was pretty sure his heart had broken into a million pieces when she'd stared up at him and asked. "What's so wrong with me that not even my mom can love me?"

He'd shut that down immediately, telling her there was nothing wrong with her, that he loved her more than anything, that it was her mom who had the problem.

"You're my favourite person in this whole world," he'd whispered to her, his lips grazing her hairline. "There's nothing wrong with you, I promise."

It was that night that Daisy had first told him she wanted them to move in together. She knew leases both expired in six months and she'd just told him that she didn't want the next place she lived in to not be his home, as well.

When she'd told him, Heath had felt his whole body go on fire, butterflies all around his stomach and his heartbeat increasing tenfold. He'd whispered back that there was nothing else he'd ever wanted as much as that.

So, by the time their leases both expired they'd bought an apartment together. It was pretty small, with a little kitchen, living room and only one bedroom (there was a couch pull out as well), but neither of them cared at all. It was theirs.

Daisy's mom had had her opinions about them buying their own house, and had made sure to voice them. She made some pretty nasty digs at Heath, as well, insinuating things that weren't true. Daisy had told her to mind her own business and stop interfering in her life. She didn't have a right to it anymore.

They'd had a fun time, making it their own. Heath could recall days spent painting walls, laughing and talking as they did so. She'd complained when he'd tried to put a Legions of Lasers poster up but he'd insisted she just didn't understand the significance. He hadn't complained when she put a Cliffside Sunset poster up.

There were photos everywhere. Photos of them, of the team, of their friends, of their families. Heath's personal favourites were a wall of just them, dancing together, posing together, just being the idiots in love that they were.

Their house wasn't perfect, but it was theirs. Their little corner of the universe.

The first night they slept side by side in their own bed, Heath swore he'd never been more in love with her. She was curled up right into his arms, body full of warmth and hair tickling his face slightly, and she'd never been more perfect.

"I love you, Daisy," he'd whispered into the dark night.

She hadn't replied, but she didn't need to.

Now, here they were. Two years of sharing an apartment. Two years of falling asleep and waking up next to each other each morning. Two years of pure bliss that Heath was never ever taking for granted, ever.

Yes, they'd had arguments. Yes, there had been times they'd struggled. Yes, people had doubted them. But throughout it all they'd remained a constant in each other's lives, and never let outside opinions sway them.

So that brought them to right then, one random Saturday morning, when Heath fully and utterly realised that he wanted to commit to her forever.

He woke up first, that morning. It was always a toss up on whichever of them was going to, and today, it was him.

He turned over in bed, feeling the warm body next to him and needing to be closer to her. He always wanted to be closer to her.

And it was when his eyes hit her face, her beautiful, beautiful face, that everything came crashing down on him.

It wasn't as if Heath hadn't thought about marrying her before. Pete joked about their wedding constantly when they'd been on A-Troupe, and even now, people still floated the jape about.

But right then, he just felt so sure, as he stared at her pale skin, her fluttering eyelids, that jet black hair he loved to run his fingers through, that mouth he'd fallen for as soon as she'd answered "no it's not" to his "nice weather outside". That mouth he'd kiss constantly, because his heart could never seem to get enough of it.

He felt like he knew.

And all he could think was, holy shit, I wanna marry her.

And it wasn't a joke.

It wasn't a jape.

It was a genuine, earth-shattering moment, that made him absolutely 100% sure that she was it for him, and that he wanted to (and was ready to) propose.

And once the thought was in his head he couldn't get it out. He couldn't do anything other than stare at her with wide eyes, body frozen, terrified that she'd somehow snuck into his thoughts and heard it.

He got up without realising it, shivering slightly as her warmth left him and throwing the covers off himself. He made sure to tuck them back in around her, not wanting her to be cold, then basically ran out into the kitchen, his heart pounding and his head spinning.

He fumbled for his phone, which was lying on the kitchen counter. There was only one person he wanted to tell about this, and this person was somebody who happened to have gotten engaged three months ago.

He was clicking on Pete's contact before he even realised it and holding the phone to his ear.

His best friend was picking up before he even realised it, as well.

"Heath?" Pete demanded through the phone, his voice hoarse from sleep. "It's six in the morning, what on earth are y-?"

"I wanna marry Daisy."

He hadn't meant to just blurt it out like that, but he meant every word. He didn't know why the realisation had just dawned on him right then, but now it was in his head it was all he could think about.

And for one second, everything was silent on the other side of the phone.

Then, Pete was screaming.

Heath jumped away from his phone and put his hand over the speaker, not wanting to wake Daisy up. 

"Shut up!" He hissed into the phone.

"Sorry!" Pete sounded animated. The only time Heath had heard him be more excited was three months ago during his phone call to him after successfully proposing to Kenzie. "Just- oh my god! This is amazing!"

Heath's head was spinning, and inside it Daisy, Daisy, Daisy was reverberating around. She was always all he could think about, but right now she was more than that. She was his everything.

"-and she's totally gonna say yes so there's no worries about th- Heath, are you even listening to me?"

Heath had in fact not been listening to Pete's little rant. He jumped out of his trance, running a hand over his face and saying. "Uh- yeah, totally."

A small pause.

Then he said. "Are you alright?"

And truthfully, Heath didn't know the answer to that.

Because as soon as he'd verbalised this huge milestone, as soon as he'd thought about actually taking this step with her, he realised the possibility that she might actually say no

He could scare her, jumping into this too early. Her parents' hadn't given her a good example of love to look at growing up, and he was worried that if he asked her to marry him too soon, he'd drag all of that back up, and lose her.

And he wasn't sure he'd be able to survive losing her.

He knew they'd lived together for two years, but somehow, that was suddenly paling in comparison to how much life they had ahead of them.

Even if she said yes, her mom would be outraged when she found out. She'd tell them it was too soon, and he was worried that hearing that from her would mean Daisy began to have doubts. And Heath would wait for her, if that's what she needed. He would never force her into this.

But at the same time, he really wanted to marry her.

"Uh... sorta," he said into the phone in answer to Pete, who he knew he could be honest with. "I just... I don't know if it's too soon."

"Too soon?" Pete echoed. "Heath, you've been in love with her since you were sixteen."

"Well, yeah," Heath shrugged, barely even feeling the way his cheeks flushed red. "But... I don't know. Her mom won't like it at all and I don't wanna upset Daisy because of it."

"She won't be upset," said Pete firmly. "I know I make jokes about you being whipped all the time, but she's equally as down bad."

Heath rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"My point is, she's not going to say no because her mom doesn't like you," said Pete. 

Heath sighed. "I guess, but... I just feel so scared. Like, this is such a big step, and what if we aren't ready? What if I lose her because I'm rushing things?"

"You won't lose her," said Pete, shaking his head. "I had the exact same doubts with Kenzie, but look how that turned out."

Heath clenched his jaw, and tried to nod. He understood that, and he knew that theoretically, Daisy would definitely say yes. But this was gonna take some time to get right.

"Okay, well, I gotta get some form of permission first," he said.

"From who?" He could hear the confusion in Pete's voice.

But Heath already knew his answer to that one.

"From Aaron."

Aaron, Daisy's now sixteen year old brother, was the only family member she actually cared about the opinion of. He was just like her with his quick comebacks and sassy attitude, and he'd hated Heath more than her at the start of everything.

But now, Heath was one of Aaron's favourite people, and vice versa. Heath knew that his first step in all this was to ask Aaron's permission to marry his sister, because it mattered to him that everyone who mattered was informed.

He could tell Pete was grinning when he said. "See this is how I know she'll say yes, bro. You're not just rushing into this. You're actually taking the time to ask the people who matter."

Heath nodded, taking a deep breath. "Thank you," he told Pete. "Sorry for calling you this early."

"Don't be," he said. "Do you want me to not tell Kenzie?"

"Not at the moment, I'll speak to Aaron first," said Heath. "She can be next."

Kenzie was his sister, despite the fact there was no blood relation between them. He wanted her to know.

"Okay!" Pete said, before letting out. "I'm so happy for you, man!"

"Thanks," for the first time since those doubts came in Heath smiled again, turning his head in the direction of those photos of the two of them.

All he could do was pray that it wasn't too soon, and that she said yes.

Because he was determined to never lose her.

-

He'd texted Aaron that morning, and asked when he was free to meet up. He still obviously lived back in Daisy's family house, and their mom wasn't very lenient about meet ups, so Aaron told him that the earliest he could do was the following week. 

Heath had confirmed this, and they'd agreed to meet just round his and Daisy's apartment. She'd be out and none the wiser that he was coming over, which was good. Heath was nowhere near ready to ask her.

So that day found him and Aaron sat opposite each other on their two couches, both happy. Aaron was older now, his voice way deeper and his raven hair slightly longer than before. He had a girlfriend, as well, something he'd asked Heath for advice on (a fact which Daisy had scoffed at, asking "what does Heathcliff know about girls?").

"So, why'd you need to meet up so urgently?" Aaron frowned. "Are you and Daisy alright?"

Heath's heart was pounding as he answered, telling him. "Yeah. Yeah, we're fine. G-great, actually. I just... I wanted to ask you something."

He couldn't tell whether Aaron knew where this was going or not, but he deliberately made eye contact with the boy as he continued.

"S-so, uh, I've been thinking a lot recently," he said. He wasn't exactly sure how to pose this question. "A-and I-"

"You want to ask Daisy to marry you?"

Turns out, Aaron had known exactly where this was going, sat back on that damn couch with that damn smirk that was exactly like hers on his face. 

Heath couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, still very nervous. He felt his face flush bright red but ploughed on. He had to.

"Uh- uh, yeah," he nodded, heart still pounding. "Yeah, that's, er- that's exactly it. And, um... considering she doesn't exactly speak to your parents anymore, you're the only one I'm coming to for permission."

Now that he'd said it out loud, he felt everything click into place around him. 

Aaron just grinned, shrugging. "Y'know, the first time Daisy came bursting through the door ranting about you I teased her and asked her when the wedding was."

Heath stared back at him, holding his breath. That wasn't a yes.

"And I've always thought of you as an older brother," he added. "Can't wait to be your real one."

A grin broke out onto the boy's face.

"So, that's a yes?" He checked for the last time.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Yes, Heathcliff, it's a yes. You can marry my sister."

Heath was jumping up to hug him before he'd even finished his sentence, blinking away tears from his eyes.

This was it. 

This was real.

He was going to ask Daisy to marry him.

He still had doubts, of course, but they weren't speaking nearly as loud as the happiness building inside him, and the pure joy and love he felt for her and when around her. She was his favourite person in the world.

"I'd tell you not to hurt her, but I think you've got that covered," joked Aaron as he pulled back.

Heath chuckled, biting the inside of his mouth to stop himself from actually bursting into tears. "I hope so, man. I hope so."

"Oh, and thanks by the way," Aaron told him.

Heath frowned. "What for?"

"For coming to me," he shrugged. "Mom and dad, they... I know Daisy wouldn't want you to ask them. It was good of you, to ask me."

Heath nodded, taking this in before asking. "Do you think your mom and dad will be angry?"

The boy shrugged. "Mom'll probably say something about 'rushing into things', but ignore her. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can see how well you two fit together. If she pipes up I'll try to shut it down, and Daisy definitely won't say no because of it."

To hear the boy who had grown up with the love of his life confirm to him that she'd say yes, it was all Heath wanted. Enough to calm the demons inside his head at least.

"Well thank you, future brother-in-law," he said, smirking at the title.

Aaron took it in his stride, shaking his head and saying. "I like the ring that has to it."

-

After Aaron gave his permission, Heath had, naturally, started planning.

And considering there was only one other person he'd told, he went to Pete first.

"Okay, I've got it! You're going to rent out a helicopter, and then it's gonna fly a flag that says 'will you marry m-'"

Except currently, Heath was beginning to wish he'd never opened his mouth.

"Okay A, I'm not renting a helicopter, B, that flag would get blown off it, and C, as I told you, I don't want anything public," he listed off. 

He was sat on the living room floor of Pete and Kenzie's apartment, his best friend sitting on the sofa above him. Kenzie was out, but would be back later. Heath was going to tell her about it then. 

Today had just consisted of Pete saying the most whack ideas for the proposal and Heath shutting them all down.

"Alright alright, I'll get back to the drawing board," sighed the boy as he laid back on the sofa.

"I genuinely do not know how you got Kenzie to agree to marry you," Heath commented, lying back on their cushy carpet rolling his eyes.

"Hey! I just got that charm," Pete smirked back.

"Sure, whatever you say," Heath sighed.

A small moment of silence. Then, Pete gasped.

"I got it!" He said triumphantly. "So, first time she met you she said she'd rather dance with a donkey, right? So, you take her to a farm-"

"Yeah, no," Heath said flatly. "I already hate where this is going."

Pete sighed, grumbling. "Why do you hate all of my ideas?"

"Listen, I told you," Heath sat up, looking at him. "I don't want it being public. I just want it to be the two of us, nobody else. That's the way it was with our first meeting, our first kiss, and our first date. Well, until you showed up to stalk us."

"I still think that was one of my best moments," Pete smirked as he recalled him and his binoculars watching Heath and Daisy on their first date. Their relationship was one of his favourite things, what could he say?

"Anyways, my point is that all I really want is to be alone with her somewhere, and ask her," he continued. "I don't want anything else."

Neither he nor Daisy were into OTT celebrations, or huge grand gestures. It was small moments, like holding hands in dark rooms, stolen kisses in forgotten corridors, and whispering sweet nothings when they thought the other was asleep, that they both treasured most.

"Okay, let's try something else," Pete leaned forwards. "If I told you you had to propose to her tomorrow, how would you do it?"

Heath sighed, thinking for a second before words started spilling out.

"Honestly, I... I'd just do it in our kitchen," he shrugged, looking up at the ceiling. "I'd put one of her favourite songs on and cook us one of her favourite meals and dance with her and then I'd just... ask her."

Pete stared back at him, grin on his face. "In that case, I think you've just found the way you're going to do it."

Heath sat up again, staring at him. "What?"

"That," said Pete. "That that you literally just described seems perfect. It's the most 'Heath and Daisy' proposal I think I've ever heard of and I honestly can't believe I didn't think of it myself.

Heath rolled his eyes, muttering. "That's cause you were coming up with stupid plans involving donkeys and aeroplanes."

The boy shrugged. "Alright then! But seriously, that sounds perfect."

"What sounds perfect?"

The sound of another voice had Heath and Pete spinning round, eyes both wide. They relaxed a little when they saw it was just Kenzie, though, a smile on her face and her eyebrows raised as she took her jacket off.

"Nothing," Heath said instantly.

"Y-yeah!" Pete nodded. "Yeah, totally!"

"Alright, I know this is usual for you two, but you're acting weird," said Kenzie.

Heath and Pete looked at each other as she headed towards them, and then back towards the girl.

"Okay, fine!" Pete burst out, excitement written all over his voice. "We're just trying to work out how Heath's going to propose to D-"

"Pete!" Heath yelled, nudging him.

"Sorry, it's just so exciting!" Pete said back.

Kenzie, meanwhile, was visibly both shocked and happy, staring at Heath with her eyes twinkling. It was a look he could only describe as proud.

"I'm so happy for you!" She told him as she ran over to embrace him, the both of them doing their signature handshake that they'd been doing since Heath's early days on A-Troupe.

"Thanks, Kenzie," Heath grinned. 

"She's totally gonna say yes, you know that right?" Kenzie grinned. 

"That's what I've been saying!" Pete nodded.

"Well, I mean, you said yes to Pete so I guess anything's possible," Heath joked. "You know he told me to go to a farm?"

"I'm not surprised," Kenzie giggled.

"Hey! My ideas are good!" Pete exclaimed.

"You keep telling yourself that," his fiancee told him.

Heath stared between them, seeing the look of absolute and utter love in their eyes and feeling the temptation to mime being sick.

Then, he remembered that that was exactly how people complained about he and Daisy looking at each other. They weren't nearly as PDA as Pete and Kenzie but they never hid anything. And they couldn't hide the way they looked at each other.

So all he could do was sit back on the carpet and think.

Because although Pete's ideas had been terrible, his advice had been correct. 

Heath knew exactly how he was going to propose.

And he knew that if Daisy said yes, Pete would definitely be his best man.

-

funder brosssssss 🤘🤙

Heath took a deep breath as he clicked on the group chat that hadn't been used now for a month. They still talked from time to time, of course, but didn't expect each other to be talking all the time. Just getting in touch sometimes.

It was night, and he was lying on the couch, Daisy already asleep and lying across his body, her head on his chest. He could smell her coconut shampoo as he laid his chin on the top of her head and swore he fell more in love with her in that moment.

It had been a week since he'd figured out how he was going to propose, and now he was just trying to figure out when. Obviously he had to get a ring first. But he also had to tell all the important people.

So that was why he was clicking on the group chat. 

He took a deep breath as he typed out his message. He wasn't sure how everyone would react. They were all at different stages of life, after all. 

Ozzy and Richelle were getting married in a month. Piper and Finn had gotten married last month. Kingston and Lily were still just dating, on and off again like they had been at sixteen. Henry and Amy were tiptoeing around each other, too nervous to admit they were still in love.

Heath sighed, and clicked 'send' on the message.

me: do you guys have a minute to talk about something??

Naturally, about three typing bubbles appeared at once as soon as he sent it.

ozwald🙄: no.

finn 🐟: yes!

finn 🐟: ozzy stop being dramatic

theking🤴: obviously (also ozzy yes you do don't lie)

hennypenny: i'm here guys what up?

Heath smiled down at his phone, their dynamic still very similar to the way it had been in days of old. He pressed his lips onto the top of Daisy's head as he texted again.

me: ok so i'm beginning to think about doing something 

me: and it's kind of a big deal

finn 🐟: ok i'm listening

ozwald🙄: right now you've got my attention heathcliff

theking🤴: oooh, what you got to share heath??

hennypenny: tell us rn

Heath took a deep breath, and then just typed it.

me: i'm going to propose to daisy

When he pressed send, his heart began to beat faster. Realistically, he knew it was pointless being scared. And he also knew that these guys were his friends. They'd be happy for him.

He was right.

ozwald🙄: OH MY GOD

theking🤴: WOAH i'm so happy for you bro!

hennypenny: THIS IS CRAZY BRO! AND AMAZING!

ozwald🙄: this is real right ur phone didn't just glitch?

finn 🐟: wait WHAT?!

theking🤴: heathcliff's all grown up!!

Heath chuckled, shaking his head and shifting slightly, the comfortable weight of his girlfriend allowing him to sink further into the couch.

He knew he'd often been viewed as the 'baby' of the group, especially back in their old A-Troupe days. For one thing, he was a year younger than all of them, and for another, whilst they'd all had a partner on the old A-Troupe, he hadn't.

He'd never really minded.

And besides, he'd found his own person on his new team.

me: alright alright no need to get sentimental

ozwald🙄: stop using big words it doesn't make you impressive

theking🤴: shut up ozzy! heath how are you going to do it??

me: in the kitchen

theking🤴: sorry what?

me: in the kitchen. we're not all you and lily, we don't need a huge public gesture

theking🤴: whoa! stop coming for me!

finn 🐟: he is right tho

theking🤴: says the boy who literally sang for his girlfriend in front of all of us!!

finn 🐟: ...

hennypenny: guys this is unnecessary.

hennypenny: (congratulations heath)

me: i haven't actually asked her yet 

theking🤴: yeah, but you know she'll say yes

me: no i don't

Right after sending that message, Daisy began to stir in his arms. Heath turned his phone off and dropped it onto the couch next to them, placing his arm back around her as she curled her warm body around, her beautiful brown eyes slowly opening and gazing up at him.

"Hey, Heathcliff," she murmured, voice all grainy from sleeping and eyes barely able to stay open.

Heath smiled at her, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Hey, baby," he murmured to her, wrapping his arms fully around her.

She was still half asleep, her eyes fluttering in a space between open and shut.

"I... I wanna go to..." she murmured, unable to get the full sentence out.

"I got you," Heath knew exactly what she was referring to anyway. Slowly, he peeled her body off him and got up off the couch before turning back round and sliding one arm underneath her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her up with strong arms and carrying her towards their bedroom.

She slowly reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck whilst he did this, nuzzling her head into his chest. His stomach did somersaults and his heart beat tenfold. He loved her more than he'd ever loved anything in his life.

And all he could hope for was that she did too, and that she'd say yes, as he pulled back the covers and laid her down on her side of the bed before climbing in next to her, practically melting as she curled herself into him and let out a small sigh of contentment.

"I love you, Daisy," he whispered to her, unable to hold it in.

He didn't hear her reply.

But she did let out a small sigh that he could've translated into 'I love you too'.

-

Ozzy had told everyone.

Within the next two days Heath got texts from Richelle, from Izzy, from Amy, from Piper, from Lily, from Jude, from Cleo, from Jett, from Ariana, from Olive, from Anthony, from Grace, and from more.

And naturally, Ozzy was the one who'd spilled the beans.

Heath had almost thrown his phone across the room when he'd first found out, then he'd called his old rival and spent about twenty minutes yelling. Then, he'd made sure that Daisy didn't know, which she thankfully still didn't. But half of the dancers did.

It was fine, though. Or he was trying to convince himself it was fine.

Anyways, it wouldn't even matter in a few weeks. 

Heath still wasn't sure if he was ready for this, but he also knew that he wanted to marry Daisy more than anything, and that he was ready. They were ready.

Today, he was going ring shopping. And not to be stereotypical, but Heath knew Pete had had to beg his sister to come ring shopping with him because he needed a girl there, so he wasn't choosing him to come with. And given that he couldn't take the most important woman in his life (because she was the one he was giving the ring to) he took one of the other most important ones, who fell just below Daisy in the rankings.

And he found himself relaxing, as he and Kenzie walked through a random mall, smiles on both their faces.

"Okay, so you know what kind of style she wants?" Kenzie raised her eyebrows.

"Uh, yeah," Heath shrugged. "Something that's really beautiful and nice but not too over the top, y'know?"

Just like her, he added on in his head. Just exactly like her, his girl who he'd never love anyone as much as in comparison.

"Okay, I got you," Kenzie grinned. "And may I also add that I admire how you know that because Pete did not have a clue."

Heath scoffed, shaking his head. "Yeah, tell that to our call log. I got too many midnight rants about how on earth he was going to measure the size of your finger."

Kenzie rolled her eyes. "Well, you're one step ahead of my man then, partner in crime. At least you know her ring size and a rough idea of what she wants."

Heath nodded, taking a deep breath as Kenzie dragged him into the first shop.

The first four hours were pretty much pointless. 

Shop after shop and it was just a load of huge diamonds, and everyone showing them off, and huge prices and none of it was like Daisy at all. 

She wouldn't want huge rings or anything flashy. She'd just want something simple and something that reminded her of him and of them. Nothing more.

It wasn't until after their quick stop for lunch that they finally struck gold.

It was in a smaller shop that he'd practically dragged Kenzie into, insisting it sold the kinda stuff he wanted. And not five minutes into that store he found it.

The perfect ring for her.

It was a silver band, and that's what he knew she wanted. And the two gems on it were small but meaningful.

One was pale blue, shining brightly just like she did. The other was a darker green, sort of just along for the ride. 

Their colours. Their exact colours. 

"Kenzie," Heath's eyes went wide at the sight of it, nudging her. "Kenz, look."

As soon as Kenzie's eyes fell upon the ring, her whole face transformed. A grin was suddenly on it and her eyes were suddenly all soft.

"That's it," she said determinedly. "That's the one."

And Heath knew that it was, too. 

He got it immediately and brought it up to the counter. Its box was jett black with a cushion of the same colour inside it. The cashier took the box from him with a smile, and asked. "Would you like to add an engravement, sir? Most couples get their initials and the date of the day they're getting engaged."

Heath hadn't considered this at all, looking to Kenzie and then back at the cashier.

An engravement was perfect. A private message, always touching Daisy's finger, always reminding her just how in love with her he was.

But she wouldn't want initials, or some random date. She'd want something that had meaning to it, but something that only they really understood.

"Yes, please," he told the woman. "But not a date or initials."

He knew exactly what he was getting on that ring.

-

When he got home that night he found the love of his life standing at the stove, cooking pasta. She had her hair down and a look of concentration was on her face. Heath smiled. Out of the two of them, he was definitely the cook, but she had tried her hand at a fair few of dishes recently as well.

He smiled even wider as he felt the newly engraved ring in his pocket, knowing he'd have to effectively hide it somewhere Daisy wouldn't find (which would be difficult, because she knew him inside and out).

"Hey, baby," he said to her, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her, nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck.

Daisy smiled gently, then rolled her eyes. "Hey," she said, leaning into him slightly. "How's your day been? How was Kenzie?"

He'd told her he was going out for lunch with Kenzie to 'catch up' today. It technically wasn't untrue, I mean they had gone out for lunch and caught up. Despite Ozzy telling pretty much everybody else under the sun, he thankfully had not told Daisy, and so the whole thing was still a secret. All Heath could do was pray it stayed that way. 

"She was good," Heath smiled, finally letting go of her (and instantly feeling sad about the loss of contact). 

"Good," Daisy smiled. 

"How was your day?" Heath asked as he rested against the counter, eyes still raking over her, taking her in. When she was stood there with her hair down and her pale blue tank top on (the exact shade of blue that gem was) he couldn't exactly help it.

"Fine, I didn't do much," she shrugged. "Just tried to get some work done."

Heath chuckled, and nodded as a timer went off, watching her begin to drain the pasta. She'd always said she loved watching him cook, and up until now, he didn't understand it. But seeing her walk about the kitchen with so much conviction and concentration made him determined to love her until the end.

"I love you," he didn't know why it just slipped out, but that was how he usually spoke to her anyways. He did love her, and she was the greatest thing to him.

Daisy chuckled, putting the pan down and turning to him. "I love you too, but where is this coming fr-?

Before she could finish her sentence he strode towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him and kissing her. She abandoned all efforts in trying to speak to kiss him back, her hands coming up to loop around the back of his neck. 

Kissing her only made Heath more sure about his decision to marry her. Now he had a ring (and obviously the permission), all he had to do was work out a perfect date to ask her. 

"Okay Heathcliff," she murmured as they parted again. "If you actually want dinner you have to let me do this."

Heath pulled her back in anyways, and she allowed her lips to touch his for a few more seconds before wriggling out of his embrace, giggling loudly.

God, he loved her. He loved the sound of her laugh, and the way she could put a smile on his face instantly, and the way she was his favourite person. He loved every single thing about her, even the things she deemed as 'imperfect' or 'wrong'. To him, there wasn't a single thing wrong with her. She was his everything.

Soon enough, they were sat opposite each other at their dinner table, laughing, talking about everything and nothing, just enjoying each other's company.

"Oh, I got a really weird phone call from Jett today," Daisy said. 

Heath looked up, eyebrows shooting into his hairline. "What? What about?"

Jett was one of the people who'd found out from Ozzy running his mouth. If she'd let slip something to Daisy-

"Nothing, it was just strange," shrugged his girlfriend. "She just seemed weirdly excited for something and I never found out what it was."

Heath chuckled slightly, nodding. "U-uh, yeah. Typical Jett, right?"

"Yeah," Daisy shrugged. "I honestly find it so hard to believe that we've all known each other this long, and we're still all friends. I mean, I joined TNS at the same time as Jett and Anthony. And we all joined A-Troupe at the same time as Pete, Izzy, and Ethan."

"True," Heath nodded. "I was the odd one out, I guess."

"Yeah," she nodded, small grin on her face. "And then Kenzie decided you were my responsibility."

"Well, I'm glad I became that," Heath joked back.

Daisy smiled gently, her cheeks blushing a shade of red he could describe in his sleep. "Yeah."

He was forever glad that it was her who walked through the doors of Middle C that day. He was forever glad that it was her Kenzie had decided to pair with him in a duet. He was forever glad that she was her, the type of person who'd question shady behaviour such as his, because if she hadn't then he wouldn't have found his future wife.

(Well, hopeful future wife).

That night, he insisted he wash the dishes instead of her because she'd put so much work into making the dinner, and she'd rolled her eyes and said she was going to dry them. 

He changed into something comfortable before they lay down on the sofa, some forgotten TV programme on in the background, her legs tuched up and her head on his chest, his arms around her and a blanket wrapped around them.

They didn't talk much. They didn't have to. It was obvious to both of them how much the other was enjoying the moment of peacefulness. 

It wasn't until they were practically falling asleep that Daisy looked up at him, eyes full of something he could only describe as longing.

"I know I don't say it enough, but I'm really glad we got paired up for that duet," she murmured. "I love you, Heathcliff."

An uncontrollable smile broke out onto Heath's face as she said this, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

He could feel the ring in his pocket, and all he could do was be so thankful for her in that moment, the love of his goddamn life.

"I love you more."

-

The 'family dinner' had been announced two days ago, and even though Daisy had desperately not wanted to go it was for Aaron's sake that she was.

Her mom had wanted to meet Aaron's girlfriend, Poppy, and because of that she'd insisted on a family dinner with Daisy (and Heath) there as well. If it had been any other occasion Daisy would have declined, because her mom was awful, but Aaron had texted begging her to come. 

And so, they were going.

Heath wasn't too annoyed about it. Besides, he hadn't seen Aaron since asking for his blessing, and a lot had happened since then. It would be good to see him and fill him in.

So that's why they were currently driving up to Daisy's old family home, the girl breathing deeply. 

"If she says anything, or makes a single comment, I'm going to do something that'll probably get me written out the will," she was saying, shaking her head.

Her mom had never liked Heath. Ever. To her, he'd always been an 'obstacle' keeping her daughter from being the perfect puppet she wanted her to be. It was Heath's fault, in her mind, that Daisy hadn't stayed at home after eighteen, even though they'd lived separately for a year upon moving out.

And Heath knew, as he thought about the ring box stashed inside his pillowcase (it was a risk but it was the only place he thought she wouldn't look because she knew how much he hated having something under his pillow - joked about him being the Princess and the Pea once), that if her mom found out about that now the whole thing would be a disaster.

So all he could do was just pray that neither he nor Aaron let anything slip.

As they walked inside, hands intertwined, he took a deep breath. 

"Daisy!" 

As per usual, her mother practically ignored him and only hugged her daughter. Heath let go of Daisy's hand even though she clearly didn't want him to, sighing slightly as he made eye contact with her dad and gave him a small nod.

"Heath!"

Something he did admire, though, was the way Aaron instantly tried to correct this moment. He was standing on the opposite side of the room, a blonde girl with a smile on her face next to him.

"Hey, Aaron!" Heath grinned. "And you must be Poppy, nice to meet you! We've heard a lot about y-"

"Shut up!" Aaron hissed, nudging him.

Heath just grinned, shaking his head. "Aaron, Daisy's going on a warpath to embarrass you today. I think it's an older sister rite of passage because when we first started dating mine was exactly the same."

Poppy giggled slightly.

Once her mom was finally finished coddling her (something she hated), Daisy headed over to them with a smile.

"Hey, Aaron," she grinned, ruffling his hair. "And are you Poppy?"

"Yeah, nice to meet you," she said. She seemed nervous, but there was really no need to be. If anyone had a reason to be nervous it was Heath.

"You too!" Daisy smiled. "Though I must say I do have to question your choices in dating Aaron. Has he told you about the time when he-?"

"And I'm gonna stop you right there," Aaron said.

"I'm just informing her," said Daisy.

"You should be questioning Heath's choices in m- dating you, instead," Aaron quipped back, but his eyes went wide at his mistake.

And so did Heath's. Thankfully, Daisy hadn't seemed to notice the slip up, but that still didn't mean his heart rate went down to normal.

They headed into the kitchen soon enoigh, Daisy and Poppy before Aaron and Heath.

"Sorry," the boy muttered. 

"It's fine," Heath said. "She didn't notice, anyways."

Aaron looked up at him. "You made any progress?"

Heath chuckled, nodding. "Boy do I have a lot to catch you up on."

Dinner wasn't terrible. It was spaghetti that was undercooked and tomato sauce with no seasoning but it was fine. Heath got through it. He also got through listening to her mom shoot indirect insults his way every five seconds, and watching Daisy get more and more aggravated.

He placed his hand on her thigh in an effort to try and calm her down, rubbing his thumb along it. Daisy seemed to relax a little, but it didn't stop her from basically exploding again when her mom insinuated that Heath was trying to take advantage of her by living in the same house as her.

After dinner was better, though. Heath, Daisy, Aaron and Poppy headed into the living room. Daisy delighted in showing her all the bad photos of him, and Aaron blushed as red as a beetroot as she did.

Heath was mainly just mesmerised by the smile on Daisy's face, in awe of the way she looked when she smiled and how her eyes began to twinkle. It wasn't until Aaron nudged him that he turned.

"You wanna come with me to get something?" He said, wiggling his eyebrows in a way that told Heath they were not just 'getting something' on this trip.

He nodded, and got up off the sofa, leaving Daisy and Poppy to their own devices for a few minutes.

Aaron took him up to his bedroom and shut the door, raising his eyebrows. 

"So you've got a ring, I presume?" He asked with an inquisitive look on his face.

"Yeah," Heath nodded. "I don't have it on me, but it's a silver band and it's got two gems, one blue and one green, and those are our colours and-"

"Alright alright, I don't need to hear more of how down bad you are for my sister," Aaron rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "I just wanna know when you're planning on doing it."

Heath sighed, because he'd only just remembered this face yesterday, and had thought it was perfect. He needed a second opinion, though.

"Uh... two weeks on Friday is the anniversary of the day we, uh, the day we first met," he said. He didn't know how he'd remembered that, but when it came to Daisy, he'd remember anything. "And I was thinking, well- I know the first time we met wasn't exactly a textbook 'romantic' encounter, but it was the day I got to know her and I just figured that-"

"It sounds perfect, man," Aaron was grinning, shaking his head. "Tell me after she says yes, yeah?"

Heath took a deep breath, nodding at him. He was still terrified, and knew that there was still a possibility she said no, but he also knew that he knew her. And that he knew she'd say yes.

So, as they left her house that night, he found himself happier than he was when he came in.

He was going to marry her.

He just knew it.

-

Two weeks flew by.

They absolutely flew, filled with planning and deception and a small amount of suspicion from Daisy, but not a lot.

The plan was set, though.

That day, Kenzie, Richelle, Ariana, Olive, Jett, Izzy, Grace and Daisy were all going out together. This idea had been Kenzie's, to get Daisy out the house whilst Heath mentally prepared himself. 

He didn't have much to prepare. He was sort of just winging the speech he was going to give to her, because he knew she wouldn't want something pre-planned. He had all their favourite songs on a playlist and he was going to make her lasagna, a dish of his that he knew she loved. Everything was planned just fine.

But his family had come over anyways, all just wanting to be there. He'd told them way back, right after Ozzy had told everyone through fear of his family finding out in a way that wasn't from him. 

His sister had screamed, his bother had congratulated him, and his mom and dad had both shed tears.

Today, however, it was just his dad and Olivia who were over, as his brother lived four hours away and his mom had plans that day. Oh, and Pete was planning on coming later as well.

"I can't believe you're gonna get engaged before me," Olivia commented as she and Heath sat opposite each other at the table.

"We don't know she's going to say yes," Heath pointed out, stressing now. The ring box was on the table, and he kept looking at it every two seconds. 

"She is, don't worry," said Olivia, shaking her head. "She didn't just agree to date you, or move in with you, on a whim, Heathcliff. She does actually love you."

Heath sighed and looked down, nodding gently. "I guess."

"Heath, listen to me," said Olivia firmly, forcing him to look at her. "You're ready for this. Both of you. And I promise you, when you take this step you won't regret it."

"Yeah, but... her parents are gonna hate me even more than they already do," sighed Heath. 

"She loves you more than they hate you, though," she pointed out. "That's the only way to look at it."

Heath had never thought about it that way before. 

"I'm terrified," he admitted. "If she says no I'll lose her, and I don't ever want to do that."

"How many times, bro? She isn't saying no!"

Heath and Olivia turned to see Pete in the doorway, eyebrows raised. 

"Thank you," Olivia said, gesturing to him.

"Listen, Heath, that girl loves you more than I think I've seen anyone love anybody on this world, and you're the same with her," said Pete. "If you don't do it tonight I'm going to take that damn ring and propose to her on your behalf."

Heath sighed, managing a small smile at the idea of Pete doing this.

"Fine," he sighed. "Fine, I'll do it."

Pete grinned. "Exactly!"

"That doesn't mean I still don't have doubts, though," he continued. 

"It would be a bad thing if you didn't," said Olivia wisely.

He sighed, eyes back on that ring box. 

All he could do was hope that she'd love it.

And accept.

-

He was quite sure his heart was going to beat out his chest by the time she finally walked in the door, carrying a couple bags and looking more beautiful than he'd ever seen her. She was wearing a blue jumper and baggy jeans, and she just looked so her. He couldn't believe he was this lucky.

"You're making lasagna?!" She exclaimed, dumping the bags down with a look of pure excitement on her face. He was quite sure she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

"Yeah, I know it's your favourite," he told her, hoping she didn't see the way his hands were shaking or the way there was a bump in his left pocket.

"Thank you!" She grinned, rushing over to hug him. He accepted it, praying she wouldn't think anything of her racing heart. 

"Of course," he told her, because he'd do anything for her and he knew it. 

He'd set the table and put a candle in the centre of it with a scent he knew she loved to it. As she stared at it, hearts practically leaving her eyes, she asked. "What's the occasion?"

Heath smiled slightly, then repeated the exact same words she'd told him in the locker room years ago, whilst trying to give him shoelaces. "No occasion."

That was a lie, of course. But he'd got this far, and couldn't give up now.

Daisy smiled gently and kicked her shoes off, shaking her head gently at him and looking down. Heath took a deep breath and turned back to the stove, trying to calm the racing of his heart.

"How was your day today?" He asked.

"It was amazing! It was so good to see everyone and catch up," said Daisy as she sat up on the counter and watched him as he put the lasagna in the oven, putting the timer on and then turning his attention fully to her.

He placed his hands on each of her thighs, staring up at her a smiling openly. She grinned and leaned down to kiss him, his hands slipping round her waist instead as they did.

He never wanted to not have moments like this, Heath realised. If she said no, he was never going to recover. She was the only girl he'd ever loved, and the only one he ever wanted to.

"I love you," she told him as they parted, eyes staring right into his.

"I love you too," he replied, because he really didn't tell her enough (he told her every occasion he possibly could).

He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her off the counter. It was a move they'd done so many times in dance, but it felt so much more intimate here. 

Once she was down, he kissed her again, and again. He'd never get enough of her.

Daisy wouldn't let him get her that easily, though. She ducked out of his embrace after about the third kiss and headed to the fridge to get them something to drink, leaving Heath rolling his eyes as he went to check on the lasagna. It had to be cooked perfectly.

"You never told me your first date was with Richelle," Daisy said off-handedly as she poured them both their drinks. 

Heath almost choked even though nothing was in his mouth, chuckling. "She told you that? Cause A, that was fake, and B, she only asked me to get back at Lily."

"Just saying!" Daisy held her hands up, grinning. 

"Ozzy was outraged after," Heath grinned back. "One of my proudest moments, honestly."

His girlfriend (soon to be fiancee, hopefully) rolled her eyes. "Of course it was, Heathcliff."

As the oven timer went off, Heath went and got the lasagna, silently celebrating when it was the exact amount of 'cooked' that Daisy liked. Normally he'd go in between their levels, but today it was about her, so he was compromising.

He allowed Daisy to walk over to the table with the drinks before pulling his chair out for her, watching her blush yet roll her eyes, a combination he loved more than anything.

"Why are you suddenly being such a gentleman, Heathcliff?" She asked as he portioned out the lasagna and put it onto two plates.

"I've always been a gentleman," Heath replied smugly, smirking at her.

She scoffed and shook her head, but didn't argue the negative.

He walked over to the table with the plates and laid hers down in front of her, putting his own in front of him before sitting down.

"Mmm, you cooked it exactly the way I love it," Daisy commented as she began to eat, staring at him with a smile.

Heath nodded. "Yeah. I thought you'd like it."

He was also just about to ask her to marry him but that was irrelevant.

"Thank you," Daisy giggled, before saying. "You know, I started laughing when some random street vendor tried to sell me shoelaces today and everyone just looked at me like I was mad."

Heath grinned. "Did you explain it?"

"Nah, just said it was an inside joke," she shrugged. "You should be glad. If I'd told them I would've said something about how dramatic you were that day."

"Hey, I wasn't dramatic!" Heath exclaimed. "I just wanted to know what you were buying me a random gift for!"

"Yeah," shrugged Daisy. "That was you being dramatic. And if you dare try to say anything about Henrik Iebsen's A Doll's House right now I swear I'm going to-"

"Okay, okay, I'll stop with that!" Heath held his hands up, shaking his head. "God forbid a man loves a book."

"You've mentioned it to, like, everyone," said Daisy. 

"It's a good book," he shrugged.

They lapsed back into silence, eyes all sparkling and twinkly as they stared at each other. Heath's stomach was doing somersaults and his hands were shaking, but he couldn't do anything just yet.

As they came to the end of their meal, both their plates empty, Heath took a deep breath.

He knew he couldn't just dive into this, but he also couldn't just sit here in silence with her. 

And he'd never ever wanted anything more in that moment than for her to agree to this.

"That was amazing," Daisy leaned over to face him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Heath said back. "Do you, uh... do you wanna dance?"

Daisy stared back at him, raising her eyebrows. Then, she said. "Is that even a question?"

Heath chuckled as he got up, turning the song up slightly and then offering her his hand like he'd done a thousand times, even in their duet that they did for The Brawl years ago.

She accepted his hand instantly and he pulled her body into his, feeling the ring box pressing against his pocket as he did so. Slowly, they danced around the kitchen, smiles lighting up both their faces and arms around each others'.

Heath took a deep breath as they slow danced around, knowing that this was it. 

This was the moment.

Here, as they danced about in their own kitchen with their bodies close, their love a tangible thing that they could almost see, was the perfect time. No flash or publicity. Nobody watching them. Just Heath and Daisy, doing it exactly the way they wanted to.

"You know, uh... do you know what today is?" He asked gently, his whole body full of nervousness and excitement. 

Slowly, Daisy drew back from him, still dancing around, and stared up at him, frowning. "Er- no, I don't. What... what is it?"

Heath chuckled gently, shaking his head. "It's been six years since you marched into Middle C and told me you didn't want to do a duet."

Daisy's eyes widened slightly and she let out a small gasp. "Seriously?"

Heath nodded. "It's okay, I only remembered a few weeks ago."

"Is that why you've done all this?" Daisy raised her eyebrows.

Breathe in, Heathcliff, you've got this.

"Uh, yeah," Heath nodded. "But there's also... another reason."

Do it, just do it-

And before he could back out of it anymore, he was sinking to one knee right before her, his fingers snagging the ring box in his pocket and bringing it out.

Daisy stopped moving, standing completely motionless at the sight of him. Heath's heart thumped in his chest as she watched her, keeping track of her reaction as a lump began to form in his throat, the tears already coming.

"Heathcliff..." she whispered, tears in her own eyes too, hands coming up to cover her mouth.

"Daisy," Heath stared up at her, already knowing tears were going to be streaming by the time he was done. His hands shook but he forced himself to keep his voice steady. "The first time I met you, six years ago, I had no idea that you were going to be as important to me as you are now. I thought you were the prettiest girl I'd ever seen and then as soon as you opened your mouth I'd realised I had blown it."

Daisy giggled, a tear leaking down her face at the same time a tear leaked down his.

"Even then, you were the most brave, outspoken person I'd ever met," he said, shaking his head. "And when we danced together for that first time I just knew that somehow, we were meant to be brought together. Because even when we hated each other our chemistry was still undeniable."

He watched her very closely, seeing how she was crying, how she looked happy. All he could hope for was that she'd say yes. 

"You're my best friend," he whispered, his voice breaking as he cried. "You're the only one I feel that has ever truly understood me, every single part of me, and chosen to love all of them, not just the good ones. You're the most important person in my life and always will be."

He was crying more than her at this point, and didn't care.

"Dancing with you is a feeling I never ever want to give up," he told her simply. "I feel like our life has become a duet we're both part of and I never want to stop dancing. I never want us to stop arguing, and teasing each other, and lifting each other up when we're down. And I never ever want to lose you because you're best person I've ever known."

Daisy was sobbing too, and adrenaline was still coursing through him but he couldn't give up now. 

"I love you so much, baby," he told her, his sentiment raw and true and pute. "So, so much."

He had never said anything truer.

"So," he swallowed, and with shaking hands opened the ring box. "Will you marry me?"

He allowed her a second to look at the ring in all its glory. Those two gems, blue and green. The silver band.

And the engravement. Three small words on the inside of the band. Not initials, or a date, but something much, much better.

A message. 'Your donkey forever'.

Daisy let out a sobbing giggle as she looked at it, nodding and wiping her eyes simultaneously, her heart beating faster than it ever had.

"Yes," she said, her answer firm. "Yes, Heathcliff, I'll marry you."

And right then, for Heath at least, it was as if everything fell into place. He stood up, tears still streaming down his face as he slotted the ring onto her left hand with shaking hands, that message pressing against her skin for the first time.

"I love you," Daisy let out a gasp of absolute and utter joy as she stared at him, his face blurry through her teary eyes. "More than you'll ever know, Heath."

"I love you too," Heath whispered back, shaking his head. "I love you so so much."

He kissed her, the salty taste of both their tears mingling on their lips and neither of them caring. In fact, it only made Daisy pull him in more, kissing him harder and longer.

She was going to marry him. It was real. It was official. She was going to marry the boy she'd met at sixteen and not trusted one bit. The boy who'd kissed her on the empty Brawl stage and sealed their relationship with a kiss. The man she'd lived with for two years and loved more and more each day.

"I can't believe you managed to keep this secret," she whispered, voice too broken with all the tears as she gasped out words. 

"Ozzy told everyone but you," Heath rolled his eyes, chuckling slightly. "Oh! That reminds me, I gotta call Pete and tell him you said yes!"

He did a little victory dance across their living room, Daisy covering her face with her hands and laughing as he did. He was an idiot (a donkey, in other words), but he was hers forever.

They did call Pete, and he picked up just as Daisy showed the ring to the camera. He almost spat out his drink, screaming and crying as well. Kenzie came through to congratulate them too, but she was slightly more refined.

"What can I say? I'm a matchmaker," she shrugged, and Daisy giggled, falling back against her fiance with a grin on her face.

"What?" Pete demanded of his own fiancee. "It was me that got them together!"

"Oh, hell no!" Kenzie yelled back. "Dude, I was literally the reason they met!"

As they began to get into a debate about who was the one to get the couple together, Daisy just shook her head and reached a hand up to play with the ring that now had a permanent place on her left hand was marrying him, it was real.

And she couldn't be more thankful for it.

-

Aaron had the second best reaction the following morning, when he rocked up at Heath and Daisy's apartment demanding to know what had happened and telling Daisy all about Heath asking for permission.

He danced about the house absolutely insanely, and Heath had just laughed the whole time.

"Does mom know?" Daisy raised her eyebrows with a certain sarcasm.

Aaron shook his head. "I made it so you can tell her if you want. But I'm happy to if you need me."

Daisy smiled slightly, shrugging. She knew her mother wouldn't be happy, and that she didn't exactly like Heath at all, but she really didn't care. It was none of her business what she thought.

"Thanks," she told her brother. "But I'm happy to face the music on that one."

But not right then.

Right then, she was going to do what she knew she deserved, and take a step back from her mother. 

What both she and Heath deserved.

-

They had everyone round two weeks later, an 'engagement party' that wasn't really an engagement party. It was just basically all their friends from dance, from both A-Troupes, all squished into their apartment and loving it.

Everyone had said how happy they were, how they knew they were an amazing fit, how they hoped all the best for them.

To be honest, that was all Daisy wanted.

She was currently sitting in between Richelle and Kenzie on the couch, watching Ozzy and Heath argue like the good old days. 

"So they were like this all the time?" Daisy raised her eyebrows at Richelle.

"Yup," she nodded. 

"I mean, you've seen the dance battle video," Kenzie smirked.

Daisy rolled her eyes, recalling that video that she'd been shown a while ago. Her boyfriend (now fiance) with a red shirt on and greasy curtain bangs, arguing with an equally young Ozzy about who was the better dancer. She'd saved it and often played it back just to annoy Heath.

"That video is my favorite thing ever," Richelle chuckled, shaking her head. "They were idiots."

"My favourite part is when Nick comes in shouting with his British accent and pulls them apart," chuckled Henry, inserting himself into the conversation.

"Nick had to do that with us as well," Daisy chuckled. "Back before Nationals."

"Oh yeah! I forget you hated each other at first," shrugged Kenzie.

"And now you're marrying the dude, so good luck," said Henry.

Daisy rolled her eyes, cheeks flushing slightly as she rolled her eyes.

She looked over at Heath, who was now talking with not only Ozzy but Pete and Jett, and just smiled widely.

She wasn't often one to get sentimental outwardly, but right now, sitting in a room surrounded by people she and her future husband loved, she was unable to not. 

She knew she and Heath were getting married young, but she also knew it wasn't 'too soon'. They were ready to take this step together.

Yes, they'd have arguments. Yes, there would be times they'd struggle. But she knew they'd make it through together, unlike what her mom apparently thought.

And as Daisy played with the ring on her finger, slowly spinning it round so she could feel the engravement on the inside, she couldn't help but realise that this was real. They were going to be together forever.

And purely because it was Heath, her duet partner, her best friend, her person, she knew they would be.

Because if anyone could do it, it was Heath and Daisy.