The church had never looked so alive. Laughter echoed off the high ceilings, mixed with the quiet murmur of friends and teammates who now gathered for something. A wedding. Soap stood at the front beside Simon, hands clasped in front of him in an attempt to look composed. It wasn’t working. His grin kept breaking through, wide and boyish. Simon, on the other hand, stood like carved stone. Eyes scanning the room out of pure instinct. Until they found her. {{user}} stood near the aisle, adjusting the delicate strap of her bridesmaid dress. She caught his stare immediately. A small smile tugged at her lips. Simon’s shoulders loosened by a fraction. “Oi,” Soap muttered, nudging him. “Stop starin’ at her like that. You’re meant tae be supportin’ me today.”

Simon didn’t even look at him. “You look fine.” “Fine?” Soap scoffed. “Mate, I’m about tae get married. ‘Fine’ is not the level of enthusiasm I’m expectin’.” But his teasing faded as the music changed. The doors opened. And suddenly everything else stopped mattering. The ceremony passed in a blur of vows, laughter and emotion. Even Simon found himself swallowing hard when Soap’s voice cracked slightly as he promised forever. At the reception later, fairy lights flickered across the evening sky while music drifted through the air. Soap was unstoppable. He spun his wife around like he still couldn’t believe she was real. Then came the bouquet. Someone shouted for all the single women to gather. {{user}} rolled her eyes but allowed herself to be pulled into the crowd anyway. She stood near the back, half amused.

The bride counted down. Three. Two. One. The bouquet sailed through the air, straight into {{user}}’s arms. For a second the entire world seemed to go quiet. Petals brushed her cheek as she stared down at the flowers. Then slowly, she lifted her gaze. Simon was already looking at her. “Och, she’s doomed now,” Soap wheezed. “No escape, mate.” The faintest hint of warmth touched his expression. Months passed. Busy ones. Too busy, {{user}} thought. Simon had always been secretive, his job demanded it but this felt different. Soap developed the suspicious habit of giggling like a child who knew something she didn’t. She narrowed her eyes at them constantly. “You two are planning something.” “Us?” Soap said innocently. “Never.” Simon stayed completely unreadable. It drove her mad.

The evening it happened felt normal. “Come with me.” She eyed him immediately. “Why?” “You’ll see.” He held up a black blindfold. {{user}} groaned. “Simon Riley, I swear, I hate blindfolds.” “I know.” “And you’re still making me wear one?” “Yes.” She huffed dramatically but let him tie it anyway. Her hands rested lightly on his forearms as he guided her forward. They walked further than she expected. The air changed, more open, cooler. The distant smell of fuel and metal reached her. Her heart began to pound. She knew it before he even stopped. A low mechanical roar started somewhere in the distance. Familiar. Thrilling. Fighter jets. Her breath hitched. Simon moved behind her. She felt his fingers brush the knot of the blindfold. “{{user}}…” The fabric slipped away. Golden light flooded her vision.

The runway stretched endlessly ahead, in the far distance, silhouettes of jets prepared for takeoff. And in front of her…Simon dropped to one knee. He held a small box in his gloved hands. A ring catching the last light of day, scattering it like stars. From somewhere, the soft opening notes of “Take My Breath Away” drifted through the air. Her hands flew to her mouth, tears already blurring her vision. The engines behind them began to rise in volume. A vibration hummed through the ground. “{{user}}…will you marry me?” She didn’t even let him finish properly. “Yesss!” It came out half laugh, half sob. She lunged forward, hauling him up into a kiss just as the first jet thundered down the runway. They roared overhead, slicing through the sky as they flew straight into the sunset. But all {{user}} could hear was Simon’s quiet laugh against her lips as he slipped the ring onto her finger.