"hell yeah i'd love to meet 'em."[break][break]

what could go wrong? oh, actually.[break][break]

"but i'll only meet your cop brother here. in verdanturf. don't trust 'em."[break][break]

all it takes is one slip up and he can end up behind bars for the rest of his life. at least here in verdanturf, he has contingencies in place.

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"Hmm... maybe we'll figure something out, then. Maybe they can take a trip out here. That way you don't have to worry about leaving the gang or traveling with a baby."

Or... they could always just wait a while until meeting her cop brother and councilman father.

"Do you have anyone here, Niko? Besides the gang?"

She was sure they'd touched on it, but she couldn't remember if he ever told her if he had family or not.

NIKO MANNER

☉

oh, right. the baby. how can he even travel? he has to take baby niko with him? the mere thought of it sounds horrible because he figures the trip will be full of crying and changing diapers.[break][break]

"nope."[break][break]

he answers truthfully.[break][break]

"never needed anyone else."[break][break]

never had anyone else.

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

The thought was sort of sad. Having no family... even though her father was a menace, Jessie still appreciated her siblings and being around them.

She wondered how long Niko had been lonely.

"I see."

Pushing him back against the couch gently, she straddled him once more, leaning over him and pressing kisses against his neck, up his jaw, to his lips.

"Let me be your family. Let me help take care of you and the baby. If you so desire."

NIKO MANNER

☉

pushed back and straddled, niko returns her kisses, trailing his own against her skin.[break][break]

her question, though somewhat expected, causes him to pause for a moment. he pulls back enough to look up at her.[break][break]

his lips snake into a grin.[break][break]

"are you asking me to marry you, jessica black?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Jessie was caught in their moment of bliss, as Niko pressed kisses against her as well in return. Her hands wandered, explored him as if she didn’t know his body already, so engulfed in pleasing them both that she barely caught what he said.

”What-“

Then it really clicked. Her already flushed skin burned brighter pink with embarrassment. Did she propose? She didn’t know if she had proposed. She blinked quickly, her heart beating quickly as she tried to think.

”Well… would you? At some point?”

Turned out her curiosity got the best of her.

”Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me? That’s… quite a jump for you,” she spoke honestly.

NIKO MANNER

☉

in her absence, niko has had plenty of time to think about it. he's paced back and forth, restless, considering the many possibilities and outcomes of each one. naturally, the topic of marriage came up eventually.[break][break]

would he?[break][break]

"i'm never one scared to jump."[break][break]

into danger. into the unknown.[break][break]

still grinning, he presses a kiss against her cheek.[break][break]

"i guess you'll have to ask me for real to find out."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

There he went again, saying things that made her question everything in her life. Taking things slow, taking everything a step at a time.

What if she did just pop the question and change their lives forever? It'd change so much in their relationship. And what if he didn't want to after all?

Even after he pressed a kiss to her cheek, she sighed, shrugging.

"Maybe I'll have to ask you when I find a ring. I don't know if I could ask you to marry me and hear you say no to me..."

It was the honest truth that she was dancing around, her self-confidence falling around her.

NIKO MANNER

☉

understanding jessie well enough, he looks to reassure her with another kiss. his voice lowers, shifting into a gentle whisper as he looks at her.[break][break]

"i would."[break][break]

and that's the honest truth.[break][break]

"so don't be afraid to ask. when you're ready, of course."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

As he did in his usual Niko-fashion, he managed to soothe her with a kiss and a calm voice. Her building anxiety seemed to flutter away as he spoke, giving an answer and giving her time.

Giving them time.

"Guess I should start looking for a ring, then," she teased before kissing him gently.

"Thank you. I love you so much."

For everything he's done to help her, and everything he will do.

NIKO MANNER

☉

"guess you should."[break][break]

he should as well. just in case the right moment ever comes up it's always good to be prepared.[break][break]

"i love you too."[break][break]

he kisses her back, whispering:[break][break]

"i'll always be here, jessie."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]