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“Wille, if you’re actually proposing on Valentine’s day, we‘re going to have a problem!“
“I’m not proposing, Simon!“ Wille turns around and places a kiss on Simon’s nose. "You always say we have to trust each other, so trust me, baby, I will not propose on Valentine’s day.“ Wilhelm couldn’t hide the smirk that formed on his lips – good thing Simon couldn’t see it as the boy was blindfolded led by Wille’s hand only.
They are in Australia, finally fulfilling their long lived dream. According to Wille it was only a coincidence that they would travel over Valentine’s day - the offer was just too good to not take it. In their relationship of six years it became clear very early on who was the more romantic part of them but Simon didn’t mind. He loved the little surprises Wille left behind him whenever he left for work and Simon had to be up a little later than him. Wille knew what Simon liked and what he didn’t like. Sometimes Simon even felt like his boyfriend knew him better than he did himself. So when Simon came back from a studio session later at night on a random tuesday in December and Wille blurted out „I booked us a flight to Australia in February!“ Simon had no other choice than to capitulate, he knew arguing with his boyfriend about quality time wasn’t worth it – as Wille always won.
“You know I trust you with my life, Wille. I just don’t trust myself walking blindfolded in a country where I have never been, you know how clumsy I can be sometimes.“
“Well good thing that I am holding your hand then, right?“
“Come on just give me one hint, I promise you I will make it up to you tonight and you know I always keep my promises.“
Wille coudn’t deny the offer was tempting, but he knew better than to give in, he wanted, no, he needed this to be perfect.
“I love you, even when you are a tease sometime, you know that? But not a chance, I will keep my lips sealed-“
“this time, you mean.“ Simon ends his sentence in a slightly provocative tone.
Well, Wille was just a man after all and he was hopelessly in love with his boyfriend, so it might have happened in the past that Wille couldn’t resist him and actually gave in one, two or three times when they were in a similar situation like this.
“You are a pain in the ass, you know that?“
“I know, but you love me, you just said so.“
“Yeah lucky you I guess.“ He turns around and brings the hand that he is holding on to so tight, to his mouth and kisses it. He can see the little smile that is forming on Simon’s lips. “Now move it, or we’re going to be late!“
“Late for what?!“ Wille ignored his impatience and just pulled Simon with him with a smirk on his face – they were almost there.
***
“We’re here!“ Wille shouts excited in Simon’s direction.
“Babe, I know that you need glasses whenever you are driving to see which traffic sign comes next but I am actually standing right in front of you. Blindfolded. Literally, if you forgot-“ Simon complained. “So if you could just take them off, pleaseee!“ Simon whines and Wille rolls his eyes at the driving comment.
“Of course.“ Wille replies extra friendly and he just knows his boyfriend is rolling his eyes beneath the blindfold. “Let me just-“ He moves behind Simon because he wants to hold him the moment Simon opened his eyes. He takes the blindfold off extra slowly when Simon can't wait anymore, he removes them completely and then he finally opens his eyes and doesn't say anything.
“Baby, what is it? Are you ok?“
Simon turns around to look at Wille with tears in his eyes.
“Wille, this is…“
“I know it’s beautiful, right?“
“More than beautiful, I can’t believe this is real. You are crazy, you“- but Wille doesn't let him finish his sentence. He crashes their lips together and lets himself feel this moment.
When they were planning the trip to Australia, they both threw in some ideas which places they definitely wanted to visit. Simon put Sydney opera and Milk beach on the list. “I know it’s probably going to be very stressful to get there, as this place is a tourism magnet and I know you like it more quiet with less crowded places, so I’m absolutely fine, if you’d wanted to skip that.“ Wille just nodded as Simon ran off to save their pasta from dissolving itself. He already knew he would propose in Australia but he didn’t know when and where, he just wanted them to be together and everything else would come naturally.
Slightly out of breath Simon suddenly pulls back, leaving Wille a bit confused “Is everything ok, baby?“ He looks at Simon whom was looking around Milk beach with a questionable face.
“Wille, this place especially during Valentine’s day is usually crowded as fuck, where is everyone?!“
Well, Wille knew this question would come up eventually and he knew it wasn’t in Simon’s favour if he used his prince or rather ex-crown prince privileges from time to time but here it goes… “We have this part of the beach for ourselves tonight, but Simon-“
“Please tell me you didn’t ask the court to close off the beach for tourists on Valentine’s day!“
“Technically I didn’t ask the court, I asked my mother and Simon honestly she did own this to us! She put us through hell during our first year and the years after that.“ Wille starts spiralling. “Do you know that she was against us living together? Apparently it was not royal enough to live anywhere else than in the palace as long as we are not married. She said it was safer too as people could be angry with me and you for me leaving the monarchy. But Simon I didn’t want to hear all of that, I just wanted her to be supportive of us, for once.“ Wille didn’t want to cry but he was an emotional wreck when he thinks back how hard they had to fight to get where they finally are. His breathing starts to become faster.
“Mi amor, mírame.“ Simon places a hand on his chest right above where his heart is and Wille puts his own hand on top. “I’m not angry at you, ok?“ He starts stroking his right cheek softly. Simon knew how to handle these kind of situations by now. He knew Wille needed to feel safe, loved and protected in these moments and that was exactly what he was going to give him.
“I ruined it, didn’t I? We’re at one of the most beautiful places in the world and I’m standing here crying because I’m-“
“Stop, Wille. I didn’t want to upset you-“
“I didn’t want to upset you!“ Wille interrupts him.
“You didn’t. I wasn’t upset. I just feel so out of place sometimes when you pull these big surprises and even after six years being with you I will never get used to it, I guess. I know I’m not as romantic as you are and-“
“Simon, you’re perfect. You’re everything I need and more. We have always been different but that’s a good thing too, right? I learned so much from you. I learned how to love properly. You showed me what love is really about.”
“I love you so much.”
“I love you” They hold onto each other so tight that it becomes blurry that it were two persons. Before Wille ends the hug, he places a kiss on Simon’s forehead. “Hey, let’s start to actually enjoy this moment, yeah? You haven’t seen where we’re going to sleep tonight, maybe you will hate me even more after this.”
“You know I could never hate you, did you rent one of these houses?”
“Not as fancy but come on.” They feel the sand on their feet as they walk closer to the tent that is placed right in front of them.
“Wille, it’s beautiful…” Simon couldn’t believe his eyes when he sees the little table in front of him with candles and wine glasses. Wille was on the phone all day with the two women that set everything up. And he was glad it turned out so pretty too.
“We don’t have a three course meal tho…” He starts talking when Simon teases back “What do you mean?! We have to sit here, watch the sun go down over the Sydney harbour bridge and we will not eat at least a three course meal?!”
“Haha, very funny Simon” Simon blows him a kiss, before he starts running towards the table.
Wille opens his backpack and pulls out two sandwiches and one wine bottle. While Simon crawls into the tent, Wille unfolds their sandwiches and puts them on their plates. He gets out a wine opener from his bag and pours the wine into each of their glasses.
“Baby, did you fall asleep already?” He shouts towards the tent when Simon is still inside “You’re missing the magic out here.”
“Coming!” Simon crawls out of their little tent and looks at the table. When he sees the sandwiches he can’t help it but to jump on Wille and kisses him on the mouth, on his cheek and all over his face until there’s no spot he hasn’t kissed.
“What was that for?”
“For you, being the perfect boyfriend I never allowed myself to dream of when I was younger. Thank you.” He kisses him once more and Wille places his feet carefully back to the ground.
“Ok stop being so cute now or I will skip dinner and this beautiful, spectacular sunset and throw you back into this tent and I won’t let you go until morning.”
“Sounds perfectly fine to me!” Simon says while kneeling on the sand taking his place at the table.
“You are a menace.” Wille rolls his eyes and joins him at the table.
“Now let’s eat and enjoy this view, will you?”
“Yes, your highness.” – Simon knew exactly what he was doing and he didn’t mind getting that look from Wille.
Wille raises his glass “To us, Australia and an unforgettable night.”
***
“Do you think we will get to experience something like this with our own family some day?” Simon raises the question while they are lying in their tent facing each other.
“You are my family, Simon.”
“I know and you are mine but I mean if we get to experience this with our children one day.” At that Wille goes silent.
They had discussed the children topic quiet a few times during the past six years. If you’re thinking about spending the rest of your life with the person you love, of course this is one topic that comes up. And if Wille thought about it one year ago he might have still avoided that topic but throughout the last year, with Simon’s dad passing away and him and Sara needing each other more than ever, he started to think about it more seriously. Wille knew what it was like to have a brother and to have that bond with a sibling that others could never understand and he missed Erik every day. He wished he could have introduced him to Simon, to see the two most important people in his life laughing together, making fun of him, like Wille and Sara teased Simon sometimes. Sara had become family to Wille. If Wille got into a fight with his family once again while Simon was on a business trip and he started overthinking all of his life decisions once again, he could talk to Sara and she would hold him, listen and try to understand him. She was the one catsitting Luna, a black cat, with white paws and a white nose, right now as the couple was in Australia. And Luna was sacred to Wille and Simon. They only trusted Sara and Felice with their little baby girl. (Wille might have been a little more obsessed with Luna as he requested daily updated about their furry baby from Sara but he would never say that out loud).
“Simon…” Wille’s breathing becomes faster.
“Wille, hey. It’s ok. I know you said you weren’t sure if you’d want to be a dad some day. I’m sorry to have opened that topic. I am ok with either, I love you and I only need you and our little girl back in Stockholm.”
Wille couldn’t have that topic end right here when he was about to propose to Simon, when he was about to ask him to spend the rest of his life with him.
“No Simon, listen. I know you want kids and it’s not your fault that I was raised by two rather cold hearted parents that didn’t really care how I felt unless it was looking bad to the public image.” Simon strokes his cheek throughout their talk.
“But you, Simon, you have so much love to give, sometimes I feel like you are overflowing with love-”
“Mi amor…” Simon leans forward, shaking his head and places a soft kiss to his lips.
“No Simon, it’s true. And I know a child that would get to experience your joy, your gratitude, your everlasting love, would be the happiest child in this world. And I want that for you. I want to see that little baby in your arms while you are placing soft kisses on its nose, I want to see the shiney eyes you will get everytime that baby smiles at you-” Simon’s starting to tear up. “I want to be by your side when that baby says ‘Papa’ for the very first time, I want to see you with our baby.”
“Our”?
“Yes Simon. Our baby. A baby that will be raised by us. That will be a part of us, that will complete our family, that will make us have restless nights and probably challenge us more than we could possibly think of right now, but I want to do it with you, only you.”
“Wille, you have no idea what this means to me. Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am sure.” He leans forward to kiss his boyfriend.
“But don’t you dare forget about me, when you get lost in those beautiful baby eyes.” Simon teases.
“Never, you were my first baby-” Another kiss. This time their kissing turns more heated and both know if they don’t stop it will end up in more than just making out. Neither of them wants that kind of intimacy on public ground, something they discovered very quick about each other as they were filmed by Wille’s cousin August during their first time at the age of only 16.
“Turn around.” Wille mumbles between kisses.
“Wille… not here-“
“Not like that, Simon. I just want to hold you close." So Simon turns around and Wille spoons him from behind. “We have to get up early tomorrow, to see the sunrise.”
Simon turns his head and Wille knows he’s asking for a good night kiss. “Sleep tight, baby.”
“I love you, best Valentine ever.”
“I love you.” Wille snuggles his head into Simon’s curls and neck – he knows this night he won’t be getting a whole lot of sleep as he is too nervous for the morning to come.
***
“Babe, wake up!” Wille still feels tired as he opens his eyes and Simon is not beside him but shouting from outside the tent. The night was short, a million thoughts ran through his mind as he was trying to finally calm down. Wille’s heart went crazy as it was beating so fast, he was surprised Simon didn’t notice. That must have meant his boyfriend was really exhausted when he fell asleep. Though he doesn’t really know why he is so nervous in the first place. Simon loves him, he loves Simon, it’s easy, right?
“Simon? Are you ok?”
“Yes sleepyhead, you were the one who wanted us to get up early, so that we wouldn’t miss the sunrise or did you forget?”
Wille came slowly back into the real world. “Yeah sure, I need coffee though-“
“No problem, I looked into your bag and I know my boyfriend well, so I knew you had coffee in it, when I found the thermos cup-“
Oh no, no no no. Simon was looking through his bag, what if he found? No please not, this was almost perfect, what if his stupid sleepy self had now ruined the surprise.
“I also found two croissants, mon amour, come outside now, or I have to get you by starting a tickling fight and we both know it won’t end well for you.” That was true Simon always won, as Wille reacted way too sensitive when someone even pretended to start tickling him. But all he could think about was the possibly ruined proposal now.
“Wille, I am counting to three, if you’re still hiding in your blanket by three, it’s game on! One,…”
“Sorry, I’m coming.” He starts to crawl out of the tent and sees the breakfast Simon had prepared on their table.
“Finally! Bonjour mon cherie.” Simon helps Wille to get on his feet and places his arms around his neck while standing on his tippie toes, asking for a kiss to be placed on his lips. Wille could never deny Simon his morning kiss. After he got his wish fulfilled he kneels in front of the table.
“Simon, where did you place my bag? I need to check something real quick on my phone and then I'm all yours.” Simon points to the bag and teases him that all he wanted to do was check if Sara sent them a picture of Luna in the group chat, as the different time zones made it more complicated to communicate with their loved ones in Sweden. At that comment Wille smiled and nodded. So Simon probably didn’t suspect that he was panicking inside.
As he gets to the backpack he checks if that little box is still hidden away where he left it – and to his relief it is. Simon probably didn’t find it as he was hiding it beneath two books. Simon and Wille usually read completely different books therefore he was probably not very interested in looking through the stuff.
“Babe by the way, when I found the croissants in your bag, I also saw you packed two books. If you had all of this planned to spend time with me why did you bring books? The weight would have been much less without them” he said with a chuckle.
“Yeah well you know me, never leaving the house without a book.” Wille hoped it sounded convincing. “Yes, I forgot Wille the bookworm is my actual boyfriend.”
Boyfriend. Wille couldn’t wait for this word to change into fiancé and eventually husband.
They sit at the table, enjoying their cold coffee and not so fresh croissants with the beautiful view when the sun starts to rise over Sydney.
Simon gets up first and runs towards the sea and places himself down in the sand. ‘Now or never’ Wille thought.
“Come sit next to me.”
“Sure thing.” He goes to the backpack pulls out the box, puts it in his back pocket and goes to sit next to Simon. At some point Simon snuggled closer and they change their position that Wille is sitting behind Simon with his boyfriend between his legs, leaning on his chest.
“Beautiful isn’t it?”
“So beautiful. I’m not sure anything could make this moment even more beautiful than it is right now.”
Challenge accepted.
Wille moves behind him to sit on both of his knees, turning Simon with him and looking deep into his beautiful brown eyes. The sun is shining behind Simon, making him look like an angel. The universe telling him that’s it. That’s the moment.
“Simon, listen... The day I met you I was in a really dark place. I had lost myself, got drunk way too often, partying way too hard with only 16 and I disagreed with everything my parents and Erik said. Then Erik and I were led into the Hillerska church and you started singing. At that time I couldn’t really believe what was happening to me. Those feelings I had never felt them before.” He swallows and Simon takes his hands and holds them very tight in his.
“Wille-“
“No, let me finish, please.” He looks at Simon with soft eyes. “When you kissed me for the first time I was so confused and it felt so good, I wanted you to kiss me again. But the moment I fell in love with you happened a little bit later.”
“We never talked about the moment you fell in love with me, did we?”
“No, because it’s not one of my proudest moments to be honest. I was high out of my mind actually, so maybe it was my subconscious telling me I was in love but when I sobered up I remembered that moment and I remember the feelings I felt and when I look back now I know it was that exact moment, where you weren’t just a crush to me anymore.”
“The football field, then?”
“Yes. No one cared about me before. I could get drunk and high, if that fight in the club had never happened, they wouldn’t have cared about my well being. It just became a problem because it was all over the tabloids that the Swedish party prince head butted some stranger in a club.” Wille breathes in and out. “So when I called you to tell you that I like you and you not only picked up but actually came to get me in the middle of the night, although I was so mean to you and I rejected you more than once, I knew I loved you.”
Simon couldn’t resist any longer now and pulls his boyfriend into a warm hug. Wille, really was lucky to have Simon in his life.
“Well this was now almost 7 years ago and I know we both have been put through hell together during those years, we had our ups and downs. We had moments where fighting seemed hopeless. But we pulled through, together. We build a life for ourselves, we build a family with Luna and we grew up and we loved each other each day more and more. I didn’t even think it was possible to love a person so much as I love you, Simon. I know I’m not easy in our relationship, I often doubt myself and the people around me and I’m sometimes over the top but I feel like with you by my side everything is possible, there are no limits. You are my safe place, from the first moment I saw you.” He breathes in and out while Simon strokes his hand.
“Simon, I don’t know where I would be without you and I want to thank you for loving me the way that I am. I have never felt so loved by someone. You tell me you love me, everyday. You get up early on the weekend, although you hate it, to feed Luna, when I had a busy week at work, just so that I can sleep longer. You make me smile, you make me cry sometimes, because I’m so fascinated by your strength, the way you protected your mom and Sara from your father and you still never said anything bad about him until his last days. You care for the people around you, you took in Sara when her girlfriend left her, you took in Felice, when her parents cut her off because she wanted to be a chef, you visit your mom every week to have fika with her at least once, you care about me, when I’m not feeling well. You give me space when everything gets too much and I can’t even have my boyfriend around and need the time for myself. You ask me to tell you stories about Erik even though you didn’t get to meet him and this means the world to me, Simon.” Wille starts to cry and Simon softly wipes away his tears with his thumb. “Thank you for your generosity that I get to experience every day of my life since I have met you. Thank you for believing in me, when I started to study journalism. Thank you for staying by my side, when the world turned on me because I didn’t want to be Sweden’s crown prince any longer. You showed me that there is another life out there. A life of freedom, of passion, of love.”
Wille gets up on one knee and starts to pull out the little ring box from his pocket. Simon watches his every move with teary eyes.
“Simon, I couldn’t imagine my life without you and I don’t want to. I want to become your loving husband, the father to your kids, the man you grow old with.” He struggles to open the little box and lets it drop to the sand. “Fuck, I’m so nervous, sorry sorry.” Simon and Wille both move to pick up the box simultaneously.
“Let me?” Simon asks with his softest voice looking into Wille’s eyes. When he nods, Simon opens the box and places it in Wille’s waiting hand.
“Let me try again.”
“Yes.”
“Simon I didn’t even say the words yet!”
“I don’t mind. Wille, Yes. I will always say yes to you, to us.”
“For my own sake I need to really ask you or I won’t believe it.”
“Ok, sorry go ahead.” Simon says with a smile on his face.
“Will you do the honour of becoming my husband?” Wille opens the box and wants to show the ring when Simon stops him.
“YES”
Wille exhales. He didn’t even realise he was holding his breath in.
“Yes?”
“A thousand times yes. God, Wille I can’t wait to become your husband and to spend the rest of my life with you.” He gets up and jumps into Wille’s arms with too much strength so that they both fall down with Simon on top of Wille.
Simon places kisses all over his fiancé’s face. Fiancé. That’s more like it.
“Wait Simon, let me put the ring on, then we can continue.” Simon gives in eventually and they are both kneeling in front of each other.
The ring is a beautiful silver band, classic, nothing too fancy as that wouldn’t have been Simon’s taste.
“It fits perfectly. It’s so beautiful Wille, thank you.” They kiss each other when Simon suddenly pulls away “Who helped you with it? Was it Sara?”
“No, it was all me actually.” Wille says nervously.
Simon leans forward to kiss him again. “Thank you.” Kiss. “For everything.” Kiss. “Your words leading up to this moment right here, I feel like I am in a movie. How is this real? How are you real?” Another kiss. “Te amo, mi amor so much.”
“I love you too, baby.”
“We need to capture this in a photo and send it to our friends and family I can’t wait for them to know!!!”
Simon runs to the backpack gets out his phone and shoots a selfie of them with the Sydney harbour bridge in the background and their smiling faces in front of it.
He creates a new group chat and puts all their friends and family members in it. He sends the photo and captions it “Soon to be husbands”
***
When their friends and family see the picture later it creates all kind of reactions.
Sara: On Valentine’s day, Wille?!
Simon: It’s not Valentines’s Day anymore.
***