The night went off without a hitch. A long awaited night.

Simon had been waiting months during his deployment to return home to {{user}}, the only person that could bring him peace, bring him sanctuary to finally introduce them to his team, his family because they too, were his family. His everything.

The whole time he couldn’t stop staring, couldn’t stop smiling. Watching his person interact with his family. Watching them jest with Johnny, talk in that gentle heartwarming tone with Price and ramble to Gaz about whatever their current hyperfixation was.

It was all just…so perfect. He couldn’t have asked for a better night.

Until Johnny made a joke about getting hitched. About how {{user}} seemed to have Simon whipped so why not? And they responded like he had just asked them to murder someone.

Like the idea of marriage was disgusting. The same reaction a ten year old boy would give to the idea of kissing a girl. It stung, more than it should have. Simon had never thought about marriage. About settling down, not until he met {{user}}. Did they not feel the same?

His mood is sour for the rest of the night, he’s quiet and doesn’t really speak, bar the goodbyes to his team as they leave. Even in the car; silence.

When they finally arrive home he shuts the door behind the two of them and rubs a hand over his jaw, not ready for the difficult conversation but he has to know.

“You don’t want to get married?…like ever?”