"Hold on a second" I say. "It's missing something. Hand that over for a second while you unwrap the other one."

"What are you up to, weirdo?"

“Maybe I want to blow my nose on this highly sentimental piece of tissue. Just hand it over, Blackbird."

{{user}} laughs and shakes their head with confusion, but they pass the napkin back to me and I take my pen and write out a new line, all the while sneaking glances at them to keep watch on their progress as they unwraps the other gift.

When they’re about to pull the final piece of tape from the wrapping around the gift, I place my hand over theirs, the napkin folded between my fingers.

"I fixed it," I say, my eyes flicking to the napkin. "Read that first."

They hold my gaze for a moment before they take the paper and unfolds it, their movement careful. I watch their eyes shift over the words. They read it out loud, their voice is unsteady.

"Marry {{user}} and love them forever, if they’ll let you,” she whispers.

I take the little napkin back. They pull the last piece of tape from the black cloth and unfolds it to reveal the engagement ring.

I drop down on one knee.

A burst of nerves flood my veins and I'm about to launch into all the things I want to tell them "{{user}}, my beautiful Blackbird. From the first moment I met you, you changed the course of my life. I can't remember anything being fun or exciting or new without you. I can't remember feeling anything but numb until you burst into my world," I say, smiling when their tears break free.

My grip firms around their trembling hand. "I can't envision the future without you in it. And I don't want to, not ever. So marry me, {{user}}, and we'll go on crazy adventures forever, and fuck shit up, and be best friends and do karate in the garage and make love every day and grow old together. Because I can't imagine anyone I'd rather spend all those moments with than you."

I pull the ring from their grasp and hold it at the end of their finger. "What do you say, Blackbird? Will you marry me?"