"Ow!" Juniper hissed, pulling her hand back from the candle she just lit, "I need to get a candle lighter..." she whispered, putting out her match.

Juniper adjusted the two plates on the table, moving each set of silverware so that it looked perfect. She took a deep breath.

"Okay..." she said to herself, "Don't panic! She loves you...she's bound to say yes!"

Juniper saw the front door open and gasped.

Keep it together! Juniper thought.

Juniper nervously smoothed out her thigh length green dress. She grabbed her long brown hair and pulled it over her right shoulder.

Since the front door lead right into the dining room and kitchen area, Juniper's girlfriend saw her immediately.

"Oh well look at you!" The blonde chirped, "Got a hot date?"

Juniper chuckled and leaned over the back of her chair, "Oh yeah. He's actually in the bathroom right now." She joked.

The blonde's smile wavered, "Okay, now I'm scared."

Juniper gasped and rushed to her girlfriend, "Oh Ellie! It was just a joke!"

Ellie winked as Juniper put her hands on her waist, "I know! Silly!"

Juniper blushed, "I-I knew that!"

Ellie wrapped her arms around Juniper's neck and kissed her. When she pulled away, she grinned, "So...What kind of food did you prepare for this adorable little set up?"

Juniper smirked and walked over to the kitchen counter. She grabbed two brown bags that were sitting on the floor, hiding. She held them up, "Olive Garden."

Ellie put her hands over her mouth, holding back a laugh.

Juniper strolled back over to the table and began emptying the bags, "What? Are you too good for premade pasta? Because I'm not!"

Ellie took off her winter jacket, "No...I just think you're adorable."

"Well you would be right to think that!"

Ellie giggled and took her boots off, "You look so fancy!"

Juniper smirked and spun around, making her dress furl around her, "Thank you! I know." She said, flipping her hair.

Ellie rolled her eyes. She suddenly rushed into their bedroom.

Juniper frowned, "What are you doing?"

"Getting changed! Why would I let you out-fancy me?"

Juniper giggled and continued unpacking the bags. She attempted to make the food as okay-looking as possible, but there was only so much she could could do. Her heart was pounding. She was so so nervous.

A few minutes later, Juniper's girlfriend came out of their bedroom, and the brunette held her breath. Ellie came out in a dark purple velvet dress that went down to her knees. It had a v-neck neckline and sleeves that went from her shoulders to her wrists. She must've put contacts in, because she was missing her glasses. Her usual messy bun was missing, and her long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders. Her hair was a bit bumpy and wavy from being in a bun all day, and for that same reason it was a bit messy.

"I stuck my fingers in my eyeballs for you," Ellie said, shuddering a bit, "You'd better be grateful!"

Ellie frowned when Juniper didn't respond, "Juni?"

Ellie noticed Juniper was turning a purple color, "Breathe!"

Juniper took in a deep breath. As she exhaled, she said, "Oops!"

Ellie giggled and took a seat across from her girlfriend, "You're adorable!"

"Thank you..."

The couple finally began to eat. They talked about their days- Juniper complaining about how crazy her mother was, and Ellie going on and on about her own job. The blonde was an archeologist, and her favorite thing to study was the legend of the hero of truth and the hero of ideals. While it wasn't necessarily her department, she could get around it through loopholes.

"I pitched an expedition to Lenora today!" Ellie chirped, "I'm hoping it gets approved! If I'm right, it'll help me prove that they're real!"

Juniper smiled, "Well I hope it gets approved!"

Ellie copied Juniper's smile. She suddenly smirked and leaned forward, "So..." she scanned Juniper up and down, "What did you have planned for dessert?"

Juniper's face lit up, "Oh! Get this! Today, I was making a white cake, and I thought, 'Well why not dye it a fun color?' so I did! Then, my mom yelled at me for it! She was all, 'We don't use food coloring in the cakes!' so I was like, 'Then why do we have it, then?' and then she yelled at me for being disrespectful, and I finished frosting the cake and took it home because we 'couldn't serve it'!"

Ellie blinked, "I was actually thinking we have sex, but I love how passionate you are."

Juniper blushed, "O-Oh."

Ellie smiled and bit her lips, "So...you wanna?"

Juniper reached across the table and took Ellie's hand, "A-Actually...I wanted to talk to you first."

Ellie cocked her head like a Growlithe, "Hm? What's wrong?"

Juniper could feel herself sweating. She felt her palms getting damp.

"So...Ellie," Juniper said, becoming increasingly more nervous, "I-I-"

Ellie's phone began ringing. Ellie rolled her eyes and quickly checked it, but her face grew surprised. She gave Juniper an apologetic face.

"It's Lenora! It might be about my expedition!"

Juniper sighed in relief, "N-No go ahead!"

Ellie grinned and answered the phone. She rushed into the bedroom, leaving Juniper alone.

Juniper slammed her forehead on the table.

How is this so hard? She thought, I rehearsed, like, a dozen times!

A couple of minutes later, Juniper heard a frustrated, "UGH!"

Juniper cautiously stood up and walked into the bedroom.

"Everything okay, Ellie?"

Ellie was scowling, "No! Lenora rejected my expedition!"

Juniper felt hurt, "Oh no...honey I'm sorry..."

"Oh but get this!" Ellie exclaimed, "When I asked why, she said, 'Some things are better left as they are.'. What the fuck?! That's so shady!"

Juniper raised an eyebrow, "That is shady..."

"It's not even like we don't have money in the budget! She just won't let me do it!"

"I'm sorry, sweetie."

Ellie stomped her foot in frustration, "Ugh! This sucks!"

Juniper bit her lip, "Do you need a hug?"

Ellie shook her head and pushed past Juniper, "No...I just need to do...something. I'll go clean up dinner."

As Ellie left the room, Juniper sighed. The brunette pulled out the tiny velvet box from her dress's pocket (it had pockets!) and hid it in her sock drawer. Juniper changed out of her dress and into her pajamas. She climbed into bed and screamed into her pillow.

After about fifteen minutes, Juniper heard Ellie enter the room. She heard her clothes shuffle and felt her climb into bed next to her. Juniper turned on her side to look at her girlfriend.

"How you feeling?" Juniper asked.

Ellie sighed and stared up at the ceiling, "Sad...angry...stupid..."

Juniper became defensive, "You're not stupid!"

Ellie sighed and put her hands on her face, "I know...but...ugh..."

Juniper wrapped her arms around Ellie's waist, "I know..."

The couple laid in silence for awhile. After a bit, the blonde turned to the brunette, "So...what was it you wanted to talk about?"

Juniper blushed, "U-Um...nothing. Forget it."

Ellie searched Juniper's eyes. She seemed to sense that Juniper wasn't going to tell her, and sighed.

"Okay...I gotta go take these contacts out," Ellie said, squirming our from her girlfriend's embrace and getting up, "When I get back, you'd better be naked."

As the bathroom door slammed, Juniper tried to process her girlfriend's demands. Whatever makes her feel better, right?