‘Wait!  Are you really proposing to me?’ Alexa asked in shock.

‘Well yes, I’m trying to…’

This whole moment was going wrong for Helena.

 ‘Alexa do you need time or something?  It’s ok if you’re not ready.  The last thing I want is for you to feel pressured,’ said Helena sincerely.  Her words were all true but she knew deep inside that Alexa’s refusal would crush her heart into a thousand pieces.

Alexa hesitated for a second.  She had meant what she said to Alice months before but the images in her mind had been so far in the future and unlikely that now she just felt stunned.  Did that mean she wasn’t ready?  She looked into Helena’s beautiful eyes, tinged with fear, and knew there was only one answer she could give.

‘I love you Helena,’ she said and Helena’s heart sank, fearing a but on the horizon.

‘I know you do,’ said Helena softly looking away from her.

Alexa refused to let her look away, turning Helena’s head back to face her.  ‘No, I mean I really love you.  I remember the first time I told you that and I truly meant it but not in the same way I mean it today, because I know you now Helena, not just your body but your mind and your soul too.  The truth is when I first came back from England, even though everything was great with you here I missed my friends back home but somewhere along the line, somewhere between me making you sit through a box set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you showing me ‘the only way’ to really eat an Oreo I found myself thinking of you not just as my lover but as my best friend and my new family.  So yes Helena, yes I’ll marry you.’

Helena released a breath she didn’t know she been holding and pulled Alexa to her fiercely to kiss her.  When they broke apart she lifted her up and span her around as Alexa squealed.  ‘Oh my god this is so amazing,’ said Helena excitedly and kissed her again.  ‘I want to tell the whole world.  Wait until mummy hears, she’ll be happy with me for once, she loves you.’