Sterling POV

   "Mom,Dad.We need to talk." I signalled them over to the living room and Mom followed behind.

"What's going on,honey? Oh and can I just say that graduation pictures arrived and it looks amazing." She settles down and crossed her legs.

"We're so proud of you,Sterling." Dad comes up with a cup of tea,and sat across me.

"Now that I've graduated and I will be continuing the family business,I have some big news to share." I took a deep breath and look them in the eyes.Their eyes are so comforting and might would even say full of wisdom.

I think it's just Mom.Dad seems a little wonky.

"I'm going to propose to April and ask her to marry me."

I was expecting like 'Oh my God,this is amazing news' or 'You are?' but their response was 'We know'.

"You think April didn't come over and ask for our blessings,even made a binder of why you two should
get married."

"She did...didn't she? God,I should be asking for her mom's blessing.I didn't even think about it."

"I thought by now she'd already proposed,we were just waiting for it."

"There was just a slight miscommunication,that's all.Nothing serious."

"Anyways,we do approve of April and we just want you to be happy,sweetie."

"What are we all talking about? You're not including me,your other daughter,remember?"

"Just how Sterling wants to propose to April.
Nothing that you'll feel left out since you're marrying
Eric too.My two daughters,getting married,how you girls grow up so fast."

"Thank you guys.Now,I'm gonna snatch Blair and brainstorm some proposals."

"I thought I was officially off being the captain of your relationship."

"Never.So how should I propose to April?"

"Have she ever hinted an idea or maybe slipped in a suggestion before?"

"Actually,maybe it'll come to me but I gotta go ask for April's mom blessing." I gathered my things and went out.

"Good luck." Yeah, I need all the luck I can get.

I drove as fast as I could after getting cheesecake because this has been on my mind and I should've done this before even wanting to propose.I knocked on the door,trying to figure out how to tell Jean.Plus the cheesecake could help smooth things.

"Right with you in a sec." Jean called out and I waited patiently by the door.The sound of light rushed footsteps coming over as Jean opens the door.

"Sterling,it's so nice to see you." She smiled but it was hesitant.I came bearing with cheesecake and brings up to her attention.

"Right,come in.Come in." She invited me in as I walked to the kitchen to set it down.

"So is April around?" I asked in a hushed tone and she nodded.

"From a scale from 1-10,how much can she hear our conversation in the living room?" I whispered and Jean chuckled.

"She's taking a nap,Sterling.Why don't you take a seat and I'll cut you a slice of this cheesecake."
Jean prompted and I did as told.

I mean she's going to be my mother in law,
she's going to be my mother in law.

It just dawned on me and I'm panicking.Sweaty palms and toes.This is bad.

"So why don't you tell me you're here and speaking in whispers only a dog can listen to."

"Well,uhhh I'm - I- I've come to ask for your blessing.As you know,I love your daughter very much." I went for the classic get-go but Jean stopped me.

"Well,to be honest with you,April was a lot faster but hey I'm not one to judge."

"And you certainly know how to ruin a proposal with your other identity.Bounty hunting."

I don't know if this will ruin my chances but I mean,we don't marry this year maybe another 4-5 years later.I hope.

"Well,yes,I am a bounty hunter.Of course,
I do not condone violence as much as any other people in this room but I stand by what we do.Putting bad guys away."

"You're as much close to being a police but we wouldn't want you to be corrupted so tell me why you should marry my daughter."

"Jean,I care for her.I would do anything to be with her and honestly I didn't expect to fall in love with her considering our history."

"Plus in the financial side,I'm going to be running the family's business and support her as much as any cis gender male out there.And of course the baby."

"What baby?" She leans in,getting more invested in my reasons.

"We were talking about it and we're gonna have a baby.Not now but a year after the wedding.
We wanted to be prepared and I really really think this is all going to work out."

"I'm going to be a grandma.I'm going to be a grandma!"

"Sorry,right.You have my blessing,Sterling." We both hugged it out and after awhile,I went back home to prepare.

I called April after I was done with the preparations and I really pulled my strings on this one.After all, it had to be perfect.

"Sterling,what's going on sweetie?" She sounded like she just woke up.

"Are you up for a late night adventure? Wear
something nice,we're going to a fancy restaurant."

           "Would a dress suffice?"

           "It'll be perfect.Though it make take half an hour or hour to get there."

            "Sounds great.Pick me up in 30.See you baby."

    "You look stunning in that red dress.Come here." I took her hand and pulled her closer to me.She greeted me with a kiss,and I smiled.

    "You look even dashing yourself,handsome." April
winks,fixing my tie.The limo pulls up just in time and the driver opens the door for us.

   "Shall we?" I gestured my arm and she interlocks them with hers,stepping into the limo.

   "Feels like prom but we never actually had prom.
Unless you count our graduation.How can you afford this?"

   "Well,I'm taking over the family business,no biggie.I just wanted everything to be perfect for you,
as always."

"Thank you.So where is this fancy restaurant of ours?"

—

"You got us a helicopter too?" April stood there,
staring blankly at the helicopter.

Of course in courtesy of Sean.He owns a bunch of these,he doesn't even use them because he has his own private plane.

         Plus,I heard April mentioned once back in high school about taking a helicopter to somewhere.This
may remind her how nice it was.

         "Haven't you taken this before? You look shocked,lover." I teased and April rolled her eyes.

          "The limo,the helicopter.Where are we even going? And are you sure it's safe,we're going to be flying at night."

           "Somewhere,sweetheart.Don't you worry,I've got it under control."

           We hopped in the helicopter,double checked on everything.I made sure April wore a jacket so she wouldn't shiver to our journeys there.

            April and I talked for what it feels like an hour but it was only 20 minutes.

             "So how much longer till we reach this mystery destination?" April asks and the pilot eyes me before replying.

             "20 more minutes,ma'am.Won't take long."

            "See,at ease soldier." I joked and April managed a small smile.

             A loud clank interrupted us and both of us looked at each other.

              "What was that?" April looks out in concern.

              "Probably nothing." I reassured but it wasn't nothing because our helicopter starts to sway around,out of the pilot's control.

             "We have to make an emergency landing.There's an island right at the corner,there's no pads there but it'll be the only way.Going further on will only be too dangerous.Your call,ma'am."

         "The island then." I instructed and April held on tight to me as we landed on a deserted island.

          And the landing was rough but we're on land in one piece.This is going to shit.No service,no signal.

         Not even a cry of help would help us get out of here,and we're doomed.Totally screwed over.

         It's dark and I don't know how we're going to make it.

          "I'll try to see what's the problem here." He pulled out a huge toolbox with a flashlight.

         "Do you have another flashlight in there by any chance?" I asked and the pilot threw a spare one right at me.

       "Come on,let's try to find some wood."

April's POV

    We're in the middle of nowhere,stranded in a desert island.I'm wearing a dark red dress with a cute handbag hoping that my girlfriend surprises me
to a trip to Bali or Maldives.

   But no,we had to make an emergency landing.This
is ridiculous,it's pitch black and there are trees
everywhere.

    And the sand...This is horrible.Luckily,I had a jacket on so I wouldn't be too cold.

      "Come on,let's try to find some wood." Sterling suggested,and I held her hand as we walked through the wilderness.

       There's no one here and that's what makes it even scarier.

       "Look,there's a trail up ahead." Sterling pointed with her flashlight and we decide to follow it.It's not like the worse hasn't already happened.

       Seems like a way to somewhere but I'm not even sure where to.

       Then lights shone.Everywhere.Bright lights.

       My eyes had to readjust to them that took me a moment before I could understand what's even going on.

       Sterling was in front with me,with a bouquet of roses.Am I dreaming?

        "How did-what's going on?" I looked around and there were pebbles,stones all lining up as a lane towards Sterling.Rose petals scattered around and everything was just decorated.

      The lights around the tree,and there was a huge white tent as well.Probably with food inside.I would hope.

    "Are you actually proposing to me?" I walked up to Sterling and she nodded.

"April..." She gets down on one knee and I gasped,
because this is really happening.I'm going to -

"I have never been so lucky to be able to date my former enemy.We've had it out for each other since fifth grade.Though in some ways,we found ourselves tangled in each other's life and to me that's destiny."

    "You wanted to surprise me by proposing but I ruined it in the worst way possible.Now I'm kneeling in front of you,knowing I've already surprised you enough."

"April,you ignited everything in me that I never want to shut down.I fall in love with you every single day and I intend on making it forever."

       "Any more freaking sweet words,I'm going to be doing a water show here."I joked,already all teared up.She breaks into a laugh,wiping the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

She took the ring out from her pocket and popped the question.

    "So April freaking Stevens, will you do me the greatest honour of being my wife for life?"

This was it.This is the moment I've been waiting for.The question I've always wanted to hear ever since I was a little girl.

        Now,it's coming true with the love of my life.

      I took a pause which is probably giving Sterling anxiety right now and I scoffed.

      "Yes,of course I will! I do!" Sterling's face lit up,and she went over to hug me.Bawling our eyes off,I didn't know it was going to be this emotional.

Months later,

"I know the wedding is all I can think or talk about and I was thinking maybe you could let your Mom know."

"April, as much as I want to-"

"Look, my father beats up women and pulled a gun to your head, just to talk to you.Your mother just didn't know how to raise a child and I know inside she must have regrets for ever abandoning you."

"It's better to reconcile than push her out of your life completely.She's your family too."

"You're right but do I? Do I really need to talk my mother who's been a total absence in my life and never showed herself to me till she decides to kidnapped me?"

"I'll go there, with you.In every step."

In prison,

"Hey Mom."

"Sterling, it's been years since your last visit."

"I know and I'm sorry."

"After what I did to you? That's the least horrible thing you've ever did.Most children would've just let their mother rot in prison and never come visit at all.But you, you send me letters every now and then."

"I hope they give you comfort in here and I know it's not much."

"So what brings you here after all this time? What's my little Sterl been up to these days?"

"I'm getting married."

"Married? To who? He? She?"

"She.Her name's April and she's out there in the waiting room, she'd like to meet you."

"Of course, let her in.Let her join us."

"Mrs.."

"Dana." We both said in sync and April immediately catches on. "Dana, it is so nice to meet you."

"Likewise,April.I heard that you found my daughter to your likings.So who proposed to who?"

"Sterling did even though I had it all planned out.Eventually I found it fit that she get a proposal too."

"I mean, what you guys are doing.I couldn't have done in my days.We weren't even allowed to speak of it in church services.I had a girlfriend once, we wanted to ditch all of this and run away."

"You were a bisexual as well? That's so cool."

"You think I like men only? Have you seen women? Anyways, I lost her cause she fell in love with little thin white lines.If you know what I mean."

"That must've been hard but I'm glad you're doing all good."

"Have you been to prison,Sterling? It's no rainbow and unicorns,just a f-" She reconsidered her words and softened her tone.

"I mean,I'm happy for you two and thank you for coming down here to tell me the news.Got a place in mind already?"

"We're having it in a church.Got it booked out."

"And you're telling me you're Christians, some would say that would piss off God but who are they to say about the marriage of two people in love?"

We talked and laughed and somehow it felt right.
Painful to look at my Mom but better with April.

Maybe on some days the right people help you find a way to heal from the past.Even if it's hard.