his_sarah_jane | [Milliways] OOM: James' Flat, London, 2006

Every day it felt as if that flat they shared in London was becoming less and less James' flat and more and more their's. It was mostly the little things: the invasion of her clothing, new books added to the shelves, more colours added to the decorum, and photographs she had decided were much more fitting than the sparse decorations previously up. It was beginning to feel like a home to Sarah Jane, much like their flat in Milliways.

But maybe more than anything that made her feel as if she actually lived there was the arrival of a letter with her name on it in the post that day. She had stopped to check on her way back from the gym, and absolutely beamed when she opened up the letter - from an up and coming women's magazine - and read the words that told her that she was now a published writer in James' world as well as her own.

It was a small piece she had written, based on something she had once done for the Metropolitan, on the ever changing societal role of women in London -- now updated for the 21st century. And inside was a check for the rights of the piece, and an offer to continue writing on a more permanent basis.

Smiling to herself, Sarah head upstairs. It wasn't the London Times, but it was a start. A start that, in her opinion, deserved a relaxing bubble bath until James came home.

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The circles help to soothe her nerves somewhat and she closes her eyes for a moment, taking a breath.

This'll work out. Everything will be wonderful. It won't be like it was with Andrew, and the only real difference in everything is making it official. And life can continue as it is until ...well, until the day the Doctor no longer wants her travelling with him and she moves in with James for good. She can do that, right? Say goodbye to her whole world?

Once again, she forces those thoughts out of her head, trying to do what she does best and remain steady with the here and now. Her eyes watch James intently as he fills out the paper, occassionally flickering to the back room door or the couple of other shoppers left in the botique.

This is what she wants. There is, at least, no doubt left on that.

Finally, after what seems like forever, the sales lady returns carrying a small black box and wearing an overly cheerful grin on her face.

Bond grins right back at the woman, his expression as overly cheerful as hers. Bond can fake it a lot better than she can, so maybe she can't pick up the hint of mockery in his expression. "Thank you," he says kindly, taking the black box from the saleswoman.

She needs serious lessons on how to be less fake.

Sarah watches him suspiciously, stiffling any laughter at his smile. She does, however, jab him lightly in the ribs as the sales lady takes his credit card and information and heads over to the machine to charge the ring.

"Arse," Sarah Jane whispers, finally allowing a giggle. "Oh, you're absolutely horrible."

James looks innocently towards the ceiling. He's not capable of being horrible! Really!

Sarah laughs lightly again, sobering up when the woman returns.

"Everything seems to be in order," the woman explains, handing James back his credit card and a copy of some of the forms. She smiles happily again. "You two looks like such a cute couple. The best of luck, really."

It's the last straw, really, and Sarah has to hide her head in his sleave to keep from truely embaressing herself. It's absolutely absurd. Cute couple? Them?

It's quite possibly absolutely true.

Thank you, ma'am. I'm sure you say that to all the couples who shop here.

Bond grins at her, folding the forms and placing them in a pocket inside his blazer. "Thank you," he says. "You've been a great help." He nods slightly towards her. "Good evening."

An amused smirk still on her face, Sarah nods and tugs on his sleeve. It's only moments later that they're standing outside the door and she laughs loudly, reaching out to grab one of his hands.

"Oh, people like that." She giggles again. "Well, at least our mission was successful, eh?"

"Very." He shakes his head, in his own way shaking off the annoying fake lady. "Now, dinner: my choice or yours?"

"I wouldn't mind Italian, but you can pick tonight," she decides, squeezing his hand as they walk back to the car.

This is more like it. No apprehensions and no fears, at least not right now. This is, after all, very much what she wants: him.

"And that ring?"

"Oh, right." He stops them both on the sidewalk in front of the car, facing her with one of those rare smiles. Digging into his pocket, he extracts the ring and bends down on one knee, pulling out her left hand.

"I already asked, but it doesn't hurt asking again. Sarah Jane Smith, will you marry me?"

She starts nodding even before he finishes asking the question, smiling just as much. Tears threaten her eyes and she laughs, nodding some more. It's just as good as hearing him ask the first time. But this time, with a ring and no preamble, it's different.

It's almost better.

"Yes, James Bond. Yes, I'll marry you."

Like the inevitable wedding, this gesture only makes physical what's already existed--in this case, their engagement. He didn't have to ask. He knew the answer. He wanted to, anyway. He wanted to be silly and romantic and swept up in one of the many great moments of their relationship. As for the wedding, as for the marriage, why think about that just yet? They'd plan when the time was right or they'd just elope. He was fine with either, as long as she was there.

That smile is still there as he slides the ring on her ring finger and as he stands, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to pull her in to a deep, loving kiss.

He didn't really care about tomorrow, or what had to be done next, or that they were acting so silly and romantic in such a public place. He only cared that he had Sarah Jane, and that Sarah Jane was the only thing that mattered right now.

If she didn't think this felt right in her heart already, the ring just confirms all of that, already a comfortable weight on her hand. It's wonderful, absolutely and totally wonderful and she kisses him back with happy and love-filled enthusiasm.

Whatever people had been watching the exchange clap for the couple. It's enough to put a rosey blush on her cheeks and when they finally break for air, Sarah Jane rests her forehead against his and smiles, almost embaressed by the attention.

Now, all those fears are far from her thoughts and all she can think is just how much she loves him. Loves every single part of James, every single centimetre of the person he is.

This, she decides, probably is the happiest moment of her life. She can't think of any other.

"When the time is right for this marriage, James, Daleks won't be able to keep me away from you. I love you and I'll give you forever as long as forever lasts."

James feels like he's in one of those great romantic scenes of films, the ones that can only exist on a giant screen, not on a street in London. But it's fitting, isn't it? He's under scrutiny of a camera in another world, a mythic figure who has no business existing on a mundane, three-dimensional street. Perhaps it wasn't a stretch for him to be here, romancing the woman he loves before an avid audience.

Ha! He did have an avid audience, didn't he? Figures. They don't matter, now. She matters. He stares down at her, smoothing her hair beneath his hand. As long as forever lasts. The last forever he thought he had lasted only a few weeks. How long would this forever last? Staring into her eyes, he wishes forever would be just that: forever. But he never had a say in these things, did he? Still, looking at her he's confident that, for however long forever lasts for them, forever would be wonderful.

He kisses her again, soft and sweet and not too short, not too long. The audience is starting to get to James and his stomach is rumbling for attention.

Sarah Jane probably would never have an ordinary life. Not with travelling with the Doctor, not with marrying a spy and always thinking in the back of her mind that perhaps the life she's living right now is a part of some other world's Bond films.

But she doesn't care because it's better than a normal life. So much better.

She savours the last bit of the kiss before finally pulling away and nodding to the car. They could quite possibly be forever content with just kissing and touching each other. But now it was time to celebrate the rest of the day with other necessities, like food.

[Milliways] OOM: James' Flat, London, 2006

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