Just Remember to Breathe (Thompson Sisters)

decided we want to have kids, I want it to be me and you.”
    I was trembling as I reached in my pocket. This time I didn’t take out a card. I took out a tiny jewelry box. She gasped, and tears began running down her face freely. Her hands flew up to her face, covering her mouth, as I spoke again.
    “Alex… you are what makes my life worth living. Will you… will you consider becoming my wife? Will you let me commit my life to you? Please?”
    She stared at me, eyes wide. I think she was in shock, and I half expected her to run. I was shaking from tension and fear.
    Instead, she took the box from me, and slowly, ever so slowly opened it. Then she looked at me; she looked me in the eyes, and she whispered, “You’re crazy, Dylan. Oh, my God, you proposed marriage with index cards? No one else in the world would do that. Yes. Yes, yes! If you ask me a thousand times, then every single time I’ll say yes.”
    Both of us moved, quickly, and I was holding her in my arms, and looking her in the eyes. I took a deep breath, then slowly, gently leaned forward and kissed her. Her lips tasted like salt, salt from her tears, and then our kiss turned passionate, hungry, and I pulled her to me as her arms went around my neck, and at that moment, I’d have done anything to stay right there, like we were, forever.

    Asking them not to bite (Alex)

    When Dylan’s lips touched mine, it was as if the sun had just risen. My entire body responded to his, melting into him. If we hadn’t been sitting on my parents’s front steps, I might have ripped his shirt off right there. As it was, we kissed for what seemed a thousand years, his lips pressing hard against mine, and my mouth opened, at first just a tiny bit, then I sucked in a breath as his tongue gently, playfully touched mine.
    Then the front door opened.
    Dylan and I broke our lips away from each other, but I wasn’t letting go of him, no matter who it was.
    Jessica had opened the door a crack, and was blushing to the roots of her hair. I looked at her, a huge stupid grin on my face, and she returned it.
    “Um, sorry to interrupt, but mom and dad want to know if you are planning to come back up.”
    “We’ll be right there,” I said. “Give us just a minute.”
    “Okay,” she said. “See you.”
    She shut the door.
    “How much does she know?” Dylan asked.
    “All of it,” she said. “Jessica and Carrie. I’m afraid your timing … well…let’s just say we had a huge blowout at dinner. My parents know about Randy.”
    He nodded. “And… their reaction?”
    “We got it worked out. In fact… my father apologized. Sort of.”
    His mouth jerked up in a half smile. “Hard to imagine. Your dad is … formidable.”
    “Are you ready for this?”
    “Yes,” he said. He took a deep breath, then said, “Alex, with you by my side, I’m ready for anything.”
    “Then… let’s go upstairs.”
    Hand in hand, we entered my parents’ house and went up the stairs.
    My family was still arranged around the dinner table, the food mostly finished, having after-dinner coffee.
    The room went silent when I entered with Dylan.
    I took a deep breath, then said, “Mom, Dad… you remember Dylan Paris.”
    My father did something at that moment that stunned me. Something so out of character that I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it.
    He stood up, and walked around the table, approaching Dylan, and held out his right hand to shake.
    “Dylan… it is good to see you. And… as my daughter put to me in the strongest terms earlier… I owe both of you an apology. Thank you for protecting her.”
    I could see Dylan was just as shocked as I was. He took my father’s hand, and said, “Thank you,” quietly.
    “We’ve got something to tell you,” I said, very quietly. Carrie’s eyes were as round as saucers, and I could see they were focused on my left hand. Where I wore the ring Dylan had just given me.
    “Mr. Thompson… Mrs. Thompson,” Dylan said. “I think you know that Alex and I… we love each other very much. I flew out here today because… well… I’ve asked Alex to marry me. And… she’s said yes. I’d like to ask you for your blessing.”
    Oh. My. God. What was he thinking? Asking my parents for their blessing was insane. It was like jumping into a pit of snakes and asking them not to bite.
    But once again, I was surprised. My father smiled, but it was my mother whose reaction really shocked me. Tears began running down her face, and