DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters; all rights go to those who do. I am just borrowing them. Lyrics were taken from the Evanescence song, "You." They have been changed to relate a little better to the story.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
The Simple Things
By Dearlylovedaimee
It's funny how it's the simplest of words that often cause you the most headaches in life. You'd think after being on this earth for millions and millions of years, we humans would have come up with some type of effective way to communicate our needs to the ones we love. But then again, what's the fun in that?
Still, you can't help but wonder what makes it so hard to just flat out tell a person you want to be with them. Why can't you just simply express that it's them you want to hold onto the rest of you life? That it's the thought of their face each day that makes your wake up with a smile?
Why can't you just tell them that you can't imagine your life without them in it? That every time you are forced to leave them, that lump in the back of your throat gets stuck at the slightest notion that when you return they may not be there?
Why is it so hard to just simply say I love you Bianca, will you marry me? That's what Maggie had been wondering all night!
She had planned this evening for months; hell, she had planned for this evening her entire life! She had waited what felt like an eternity to find that special someone whom she could give herself to fully with no regrets and no second thoughts. And she had found that person, in the one she had denied herself all this time, Bianca Montgomery.
They had been friends for almost 4 years and now, even after all this time, she still couldn't look into her lover's eyes without feeling that slight skipping of a beat in her chest. It was the feeling of herself getting lost in her embrace that made it seem as if there was no one else in the room. And it was all of the things and more that had told Maggie 2 years ago, that Bianca was the one she was meant to spend her rest of her life with.
Most people can't pinpoint the exact moment in their relationship that they had fallen in love with their partner; but that wasn't the case for Maggie. She remembered every detail of every minute of that very moment.
She and Bianca had been dating for three months. They had decided to take things very slow due to the fact this whole situation was new for Maggie. She had never even looked at another woman until Bianca entered her life. Now with each passing day all she could think about were more ways to touch her, to hold her. Excuses to kiss her, and most of all, ways to express her love for her. But she neither knew how nor if she would be good enough. I mean truly good enough for Bianca.
They did a lot of talking when they first got together and both agreed that they wouldn't push things, but rather let them happened naturally. For two young adults it was practically impossible not to be physical, but they got by with just snuggling in bed together and even the occasional make out session or two. But Maggie was starting to feel like they both had more they needed to express.
Then it set in, you know the overwhelming fear of sheer panic that takes over when you realize that you want to make love to a person but you haven't a clue as to how to go about bringing it up? Good thing for Maggie she wasn't your ordinary girl. She used her head, and managed to come up with the most unique of ways to get the necessary answers for her questions.
Maggie shook her head and chuckled as she remembered all of the idiotic thing she had done. Most people would probably die of embarrassment. Not for them selves but for her if they knew the drastic lengths she went to just to make sure she knew what she was doing. She even turned to the internet in hopes it would give her some clue as to where…ehum…you put your…well anyway that's not the point. Let's just say she did her research!
Now that she really had time to sit and think about it, she may have gone a little over board. But nothing was too good for her Bianca, and she just wanted to make sure that she was everything she had dreamt about for so long.
So she did all of the necessary things one does when they want to ask the other person to make love with them. She asked Myrtle if she could borrow the boarding house for the night. She prepared a lovely dinner, bough a dozen red roses, decorated Bianca's room with candles and flower petals, and even created a mixed CD with the perfect "get in the mood music." She took careful preparation; everything had to be exactly right. And it was!
Just as she had expected, when Bianca returned home from work she was more then pleasantly surprised at all of the effort her girlfriend had put into wooing her. She showed her gratitude with major hugs and kisses and many compliments at how wonderful the dinner was. Then when it came time for their evening to end, Maggie yet again shocked her, by asking if they could go upstairs because she had something to show her.
Bianca wasn't so sure how she felt about that, but she humored Maggie. And when they arrived at the top of the stairs, she caught sight of the rose petals leading to her room, and was speechless.
She looked back and fourth between Maggie and the petals, then back at Maggie again with a raised eyebrow. But just because this was Bianca, and she was extra careful, she had to some how verbalize her inquiry. So when she finally regained her power of vocalization, she turned to Maggie taking her right hand in hers, and proceeded to ask her the question.
"Maggie are you sure you're ready for…" She was all of the sudden cut off in the best way possible, by Maggie's firm but soft lips upon hers.
"Binks, I've never been surer in my entire life." After that, no more words were spoken. Maggie continued to hang onto Bianca's hand, and lead her into the bedroom.
Maggie had started off the night with more confidence then she had ever dreamed; but when it actually came time to do the deed, she froze. Bianca noticed the hesitation in her girlfriend's eyes immediately and she stopped. Maggie of course, feeling like a total fool, began to cry and repeatedly apologized for leading her on. Then Bianca did something that changed Maggie forever.
She raised Maggie's chin so that they were looking into each other's eyes, tilted her head to the left, and smiled at her while wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Maggie please don't apologize, if you're not ready for this, then that's fine. You don't need to have sex with me to prove that you care about me. Truth be told, I don't want you to have sex with me at all, until you are positive that you have fallen in love with me.
If that means I have to wait another two years, then so be it. I have waited a lifetime for someone like you, and I'll gladly wait another, if that means you are happy. Maggie, for two years, I have dreamt about sharing this with you, and I'll be damned if I'll let us ruin it because we haven't thought it out."
That's when it happened. Maggie watched Bianca's eyes sparkle as she smiled at her, and she felt it. Maggie's heart rate began to slow down, the doubt slowly but surely began to wash away, and she knew this was where she was meant to be.
Everyone she'd ever been with before, paled in comparison to this beautiful woman and the way she made her feel. Maggie knew that very second the reason why she had been so nervous before, why she wanted it to be so special. It was because she was truly in love with Bianca Montgomery.
She was in love with the person who had been her friend for two of the best years of her life. She was in love with the one person whom she so quickly dismissed last winter. She was in love with the person who made her stronger. But most of all, she was in love with the one person who made her complete. Never before had she known something was so right, until Maggie looked into Bianca's eyes.
There were no more words after that just love. Maggie raised her hand to caress Bainca's face, pulled it close to her, and they kissed. It was not like any kiss they had ever shared before. It was full of reassurance and promise. And as they two fell back onto the bed, Maggie allowed Bianca to show her all of what she had been missing.
Since then, they had shared many other life altering moments; but Maggie could honestly say, that none until now had ever been as special as that night. She loved that feeling of being so sure. She just wished that she could hurry up and find her inspiration before this night was through.
They had been at the restaurant for almost two hours now, and Maggie still couldn't find her courage. Bianca of course, had noticed how nervous she was, and kept asking her if she was alright. If she only knew what was bothering Maggie, maybe she would take it upon herself to pop the question.
As Maggie broke herself from her thoughts, she looked around the room at all the happy couples sitting at their tables. Just then, their host stood up in the middle of the dance floor. He tapped his water glass with his knife and commanded the attention of everyone in the room. Almost immediately, the room went silent as they waited for his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this time to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Hudson on their 50th wedding anniversary. Mr. Hudson just informed me that it was at that very table 50 years ago, he proposed to his lovely wife. I'm sure you'll join me in wishing them another 50 years of celebrating at their table!"
Everyone in the room raised their glasses and toasted to the happy couple. They exchanged their kisses as everyone got up from their tables and headed towards the dance floor. Maggie looked at the way the couple was kissing and laughing in one another's arms. She smiled slightly, wishing it were her and Bianca.
When everyone had returned to their seat, the waiter brought Maggie her check and they paid. With a heavy heart she and Bianca exited the restaurant to go home. In the car, Bianca gives Maggie one last opportunity to fess up to what's been bothering her tonight. Maggie causally shakes it off as nothing and they both return to their usually conversation.
Maggie finally reached Bianca's apartment, and as they are about to exit the car, Bianca reaches over a tucks a strain of hair behind Maggie's ear.
"You sure your alright love?"
Maggie smiled at Bianca, and then kissed the palm of her hand.
"I'm fine, honestly. It's just late."
Bianca accepted the response, and exited the car. When they reach the doorstep, Bianca asks Maggie if she would like to come in for a while. Maggie wanted desperately to accept her offer, but then she remembers she has an early class tomorrow. Bianca shook her head in understanding and leaned forward to kiss Maggie goodbye.
As Maggie walked back to her car, Bianca turned around and called out to her.
"Hey Maggie!"
Maggie turned around to face her girlfriend and waited for her to continue.
"You know tonight at the restaurant when they announced that that couple was celebrating their anniversary? You want to know what I was thinking the whole time? I was thinking that some day I hope that's Maggie and I! I just thought that maybe you might like to know that."
Bianca smiled at Maggie one last time before turning her back to go inside. Maggie stood there for a moment and silently watched her heart go inside. She sighed heavily, then got inside her car and drove off. But she doesn't get far, because as soon as she turns her radio on her CD picks up right where it left off.
"The words have been drained from this pencil
Sweet words that I want to give you
And I can't sleep, I need to tell you... goodnight
When we're together I fell perfect
When I'm pulled away from you I fall apart
All that you say is sacred to me
Your eyes are so beautiful, I can't look away"
Suddenly, all the memories of tonight's events play out in Maggie's mind. Everything from the minute they arrived to just now on the doorstep triggers something in her heart. Maggie realizes that her life is nothing without Bianca in it and she decides to turn back around.
It takes her only seconds later, to end up right back where she started. Maggie quickly runs up the sidewalk and bangs widely on Bianca's front door.
In a panic, Bianca swings open the door, to reveal an out of breath Maggie.
"Maggie, I…" Maggie brought two fingers to Bianca's lips and cut her off.
"My turn to make the confessions Binks." Bianca looks confused for a minute but allows her to continue.
"As we lay in the stillness
You whisper to me, Lady, marry me, promise you'll stay with me
Oh you don't have to ask me, you know you're all that I live for
You know I'd die just to hold you, stay with you"
"You may have noticed that I haven't exactly been myself tonight, and there's a good reason for it. I have been doing a lot of thinking about us recently,…and I… don't even know how to begin to say this…but I'll give it my best shot. God this is so hard…I mean they make it look so easy in the movies…but what they don't tell you is that this kind of thing doesn't come with a script or a director. I don't even know where to start…"
"M-Maggie, honey, you're babbling. Sweetie, just calm down and take a few deep breaths, and then you can tell me what's going on."
"That's just it; I don't know how to tell you. I've been searching for the right words all night; I have been planning this for two months. I thought I had everything taken care of, and then I realized I don't know how to ask you."
"Ask me what, Maggie what are you talking about?"
"Bianca I love you."
"Maggie, baby, I love you too! Is that what's been distracting you all night, I don't get it?"
"No…that's not quite it…I just don't know how to…oh, hell with it…" Maggie dropped to both knees and reached in her purse pulling out a small heart-shaped box.
"Somehow I'll show you
That you are my night sky
I've always been right behind you
Now I'll always be right beside you"
"Bianca, all my life, I have dreamt about meeting the right person and falling in love. I have wondered what it would be like to know that I love someone and that they love me just as much in return. Then I met you and I stopped wondering. I knew that the minute we met I would never be the same and it's all because of you!
I wake up every day, thinking about you and I go to bed wishing I could just have a few more minutes of my day to continue thinking of you. To picture your beautiful face in my mind, how happy your smile makes me, and how lost I get every time I look into your eyes. I don't want to continue hoping any more that we are together forever; I want to make it reality. I want to know that at the end of the day when I come home, you'll be there to ask me how I am, to share your life with me, to make love to me. I want to be able to show you how happy you make me feel and have a family with you. I want to grow old with you just like that couple at the restaurant tonight. I want to wake up in 50 years next to you and know that we are still as happy as the day we met. I want you, to be my love, my life, my everything! So, I'm asking you now, Bianca Christine Montgomery, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
"So many nights I've cried myself to sleep
Now that you love me I love myself
I never thought I would say that
I never thought there'd be you"
Before Maggie even knew what hit her, Bianca had joined her on the ground. She wrapped her arms around Maggie and cries uncontrollably into her neck, yes, I'll marry you!
Maggie joins her in crying as she pulls herself away from Bianca's embrace only long enough to slip the ring on her finger. Then it was back to holding each other.
They stayed liked this for what seemed like the whole night. Silently in her mind, Maggie was thanking Bianca for once again, giving her the strength to say the simple things.
The End