I Love You, I Love You, I Love You

She has no idea that her world is about to change. It's not a normal day because it is the third of July, which means she's going to a cookout with her family. But it's normal in any other sense.

She fed the animals like she does every morning and she gets dressed to leave the house. For a fleeting moment, she thinks that perhaps she should wear a dress. She picks one that is red, seemingly perfect for the patriotic day. But it doesn't fit right. Her gut is telling her to pick something else.

Her fingers land on a t-shirt with Captain America on it. It's her favorite shirt, and it fits even better with the patriotic theme because Captain America is as patriotic as you get. She throws on a pair of shorts that match, and then she turns to her boyfriend.

"I was gonna wear the dress, but it didn't fit right. So I'm wearing this. What do you think?" she asks, flashing the outfit towards him.

He gives her a once over, and he smiles. "It'll fit the theme of the day, for sure," he says.

"Exactly!" she exclaims, brimming ear to ear. "Captain America's birthday is today!"

He turns away from her. His hands are clammy and his heart is beating. Today is the day.

"Exactly," he confirms. And they walk out the door to make the two hour drive to the third of July cookout at his girlfriend's sister's house.

All of this was his idea, but his girlfriend doesn't know that. She thinks that they are just going to a cookout because it's what they always do on the third of July. She doesn't know that he has more planned. That he invited a few extra people and that he's been talking to her family for months.

They get in the car, and his mind is whirring. But he acts casual.

There's no thought in her mind that today will be different from any other third of July party. It's at a different house this year, but it's still in the same town and it's with the same people.

When they enter the house, they say their "hellos" to everyone. They give their hugs and their kisses to family they haven't seen for a while. She goes over to the snack table and begins to make a plate of food. She tries to talk to her sister and show her some of the little toys she bought, but she's busy. So she just eats some snacks and puts down her things.

It was also a pretty long drive, so she really has to pee. But the bathroom has been occupied since she's got to the house. So she does a little dance while she waits and then finally runs to the bathroom when the latest occupant leaves.

His plan is coming to fruition. He tells everyone to gather in the living room. There's his girlfriend's grandparents, his girlfriend's brother and sister and parents, and then cousins of his girlfriend's grandma. Everyone is in on the plan, except her grandpa (because he can't exactly keep a secret) and the cousins.

But they're all exchanging excited glances and whispering anxiously. He's pacing back and forth, his hand touching his pocket where the box is tucked away. The heart beat in his chest is so loud he can't hear a thing but that. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the bathroom door open. His girlfriend emerges, and he sees her head straight for the chips and crackers on the table. He smiles, an involuntary action that always happens when he sees her, and he walks to her. "What're you doing?" he asks.

"Getting snacks! I'm hungry," she says, happily. And they walk to the living room.

Everyone is gathered in the living room. She stares at everyone, a blush on her face, and heads straight for the little toys that she got for her and her sister to keep her mind off of the large amount of people in the room.

And then she hears it.

Their song.

And then the words, "Buddy, do you want me to be your uncle?" She thinks he must be talking to her nephew. But, what's going on?

She turns around, curious, and he's down on one knee, her family behind him. She can feel the excitement around the room, but her eyes have blurred by the tears in her eyes and all she can see through her tunnel vision is him. Her body shakes and her heart beats so fast it feels like it's gonna pop out of her chest. The room is a whir and it doesn't feel real. She puts one hand to her mouth and the other to her necklace, a nervous tick.

He holds out the ring to her.

A beautiful ring in the shape of Captain America's shield. Perhaps the foreshadowing from earlier will make sense to her. He sees her stare at the ring, her eyes sparkling. And then he says, "I know what you're going to say... but, will you marry me?"

She says, "Yes," nodding.

He can see her shaking. He's probably shaking, too, but the only thing he's paying attention to is her. She holds out her left hand, and he slides the ring onto her ring finger. The smile on her face is infectious. They wrap their arms around each other as camera shutters snap and their family cheers.

Her legs are still shaking, but she is the happiest she's ever been. She loves him more than anything in the entire world, and she can't wait for them to be married. She can't believe he's proposed to her... finally!

She shows the ring off to the entire family.

And then she wants a moment of peace, just for her and her fiance. She rushes over to her bag and drags him along with her.

"What are you doing?" he asks, a chuckle coming from his throat. "Are you looking for something?"

"I have a gift for you," she says. "One mo..." She giggles, still giddy.

He sees her pull out a little box. It looks like a... ring box.

Curious, he tilts his head. "What is...?"

"Come, come..." She grabs his hand, and pulls him out of the living room and into the quiet of the dining room where no one can see. And then she pulls out that box again.

"It's a ring," she says, beaming. "I got one for you, too. It's an engagement ring."

He laughs, "How did you...?" She pulls the ring out of the box, and she shows him the inscription on the inside of the ring. He stares it over, admiring the ring and running his fingers over the smooth gold. "Did you know I was going to propose today?"

"No," she says, shrugging, still smiling. "I didn't know... but you kept saying it was going to be soon, so I've just been carrying it with me everywhere."

He puts the ring on, his heart swelling with love for his fiance. She's always a step ahead. He reaches for her hand and her hand is already there, searching for his. Their fingers lock instantly and without hesitation. He loves the way their hands just find each other, the way it's so natural and effortless and it just feels right.

"I love you," he says to her.

"I love you," she says back.

Her heart flutters, and their fingers tighten around each other, and then the hand holding turns into a hug that turns into a kiss. Their hearts now beat as one, humming:

"I love you, I love you, I love you."