Ben and Arthur are reunited for good as Arthur graduates from College.
**This is my (highly utopian) vision for what I wish would happen in Ben and Arthur's future. This will now be told in 4 major parts. There may be some One-Shot Spinoffs I could...
We've been home about a week and today, I told Arthur I was working until 7, even though I got off at 5. I hated lying to him, but I need this to be an absolute surprise. I walk into the jewelry store I pass on my way to The Strand every day and wander around until I find the men's rings. There's a line of them on the far side of the case that catches my eye. They all have blue in them, and they perfectly match Arthur's oceanic blue eyes. They're perfect, but I need a second opinion. I pull out my phone and Facetime Jessie.
"Hey Ben! What's going on?" she answers, a little concerned given the last couple of weeks. Arthur's been trying to keep up a brave face in their texts, but I think she's seeing through it. He's had a couple of very low days. Days when he couldn't make himself get out of bed to go to work, so I called in and stayed with him, unable to make myself leave when I knew he wasn't going to take care of himself. My team lead has been completely understanding and gave me digital tasks to do at home so I could keep getting paid, and I was able to make sure Arthur ate and showered and eventually came out into the living room where we cuddled up to watch a movie or show on the couch while I held him. We are both very fortunate to have wildly understanding jobs.
"Hey Jess, everything is fine. I'm not actually with Arthur. I need a second opinion," I tell her.
She takes a deep breath. "Okay, but he's okay right?"
"He's... still really sad. He pretty much cries himself to sleep each night, but I feel like that's pretty appropriate since it's still so soon after the funeral. I've got that situation well in hand, Jess. I promise, I'll let you know if he needs you."
She smiles sadly, "Thanks Ben. So, what's this second opinion you need?"
I heave a big sigh and flip so she's seeing the front facing camera, which is pointed at the line of three rings, each with a blue design around the middle of the band. One is silver, one is black, one is charcoal with blue inside.
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"OH MY GOD. YOU ARE NOT. HOLY SHIT!!!!" she screams. I cover my speaker so the store employees can't hear her and blush a deep shade of crimson.
"Jess, please calm down. I'm in public. Which one? I'm leaning toward the one in the middle, but do you think he'd like the black or silver better?"
Jessie is sniffling now. "Oh Ben, he's going to love whichever one you pick. I like the black with the blue. It's like his hair color and his eyes in one. Also, it's sparkly, and he is decidedly that."
"That's exactly what I thought," I say quietly, turning the camera back around.
"When are you gonna do it?" she asks.
"Soon. We're almost at a year of living together... maybe our anniversary? I know we'll probably wait a while for the wedding, but he needs to know I'm in and I'm never letting go of him ever again," I confess, a ball of emotion lodging around my vocal cords. I blush again and look down.
