A bit of nervousness, the wish for this night to be absolutely perfect, had been present. An completely  normal feeling as tonight was a very important evening. Even so, Canada had not been quite ready for the almost overwhelming feeling that closely bordered a panic attack.
This dinner had been planned to the tiniest detail. All of the staff had been informed on how to behave and when to act.
There would be pleasant conversation, they never seemed to run out of things to tell each other, shared over several courses of fine food. Then the desserts would be served and the waiter would bring them the glasses of champagne.
And Laurens would get a glass of champagne that would contain the ring Canada picked out with the greatest care. Only the best would do for him.
If only the Dutchman across the table hadnât been able to see the slight panic attack coming from miles away. The other had always been able to notice these things when most other nations werenât even able to tell Canada was present among them.
Which must have been the reason he ignored all the staff calling after them as he tugged his blonde lover after him out of the restaurant towards what he probably imagined to be a safe zone.
Inside the restaurant, a waiter was holding two glasses of champagne.
One of those contained an engagement ring.
After retrieving the ring from the restaurant, it had taken Canada some time to work up the courage to try again. Then an even better idea than the champagne had occurred.
The Dutchman loved snow, ice and ice skating.
Due to the changes in climate the world was experiencing, the winters didnât get as could as they once used to at his place. The man would always talk about the layers upon layers of snow he once had to deal with too.
He always managed to make it sound like he missed it. This year also marked the longest period of time between two editions of his âElfstedentochtâ, making him clearly  upset for a change.
Which gave Canada the best idea of any for a successful proposal.
They would go for a walk through to great amounts of snow Canada had up in the north.
Where one nation would propose to another.
Canada and Netherlands went on that walk as planned.
Which was not part of the plan was Canada going down on one knee in order to propose and almost disappearing in the snow. Really, that happening in a countryâs own land was nearly unforgivable.
Laurens pulled the other nation out of the snow and into their cabin.
Maybe Canada should have proposed in front of that fireplace.
A missed opportunity that papa might never forgive if he would hear of it.
This time Canada was sure of having thought of the most romantic way to propose. The ring was hidden in a pocket of the blondeâs coat who was holding the hand of the Dutch nation, guiding them towards the hot air balloon that was waiting for the two and into the basket.
Proposal hadnât worked on the ground, which meant it was going to work high up in the air.
Grinning at the European nation as the hot air balloon was slowly starting to leave the ground bellow the behind, the younger country hugged the older man.
Out of sight and hidden behind the otherâs back, Â Canada took out the box containing the ring from the coatâs pocket and stared at the deep red velvet colour of the small box.
In the attempt to break that same hug, which had been returned, in order to kneel down inside the basket they were standing in, the blonde actually managed to drop that little box.
And of course it wouldnât fall on the floor of the hot air balloon basket. No, Canada saw it tumble over the edge and all the way down.
Really, it all happened in slow motion. Everything except the feeling of horror.
They were never, ever getting in a hot air balloon ever again.
The first thing on the to do list after the hot air balloon ride had been getting a new ring. Finding the first one would have been an impossible task. Or at the very least a task that would have taken years.
As nations, they actually did have those years to wait and it wouldnât  even really matter at all. Except that, in this case,  it would. Just because they could wait didnât mean the northern nation had any intentions to wait any longer making the greatest personal connection to the European nation.
Having run out of ideas, Canada had turned to Arthur.
The man had listened patiently and intently to the stories of failed proposals.
Closing his eyes and setting his needle work aside, the old island nation had only smiled and assured his former colony that he would make sure the two of them would be alone on the London Eye.
And they had been on their own in a carriage of the London Eye. It hadnât been that hard to convince the taller nation to go to one of the most touristic attractions of the city, but he became suspicious  of everything that was happening around them as soon as they stepped inside and no one else joined them.
âWhatâs going on?â Laurens had asked his lover directly. Â âIs this some kind of joke Arthur bullied you into?â
âNo, of course not..â the younger had managed to say.
âNo, of course not.â The other had repeated. âItâs your brother and Arthur lets him get away with anything.â
Canada held onto the hidden inside the pocket, but didnât dare to pull it out in fear of the proposal being interpreted  as a practical joke.
It was a cliché. A cliché as badly as they can possible come.
Of course the first thing Canadaâs papa had done when he heard the story of the last attempt at proposal was laughing. Laughing until the Frenchman had nearly choked on his wine.
After that he had complained for a while about the fact that the other blonde had gone to Arthur for help first.
Eventually, Francis had agreed to help the young nation. As soon as it was asked, the older man was on his phone making all the arrangements necessary.
Naturally, as soon as the last call for the special night had ended, the man had called England to tell him how he had failed the former colony and how the French nation would fix any damage that might have been done.
Not that any damage had been done between the two lovers, except some hurt pride on one side.
Which is how the two of them had ended up on the highest level of the Eiffel tower looking out over the city and all its lights. It was a lovely sight and Canada had already been in the process of pulling out the box containing the ring when out of the blue, Laurens pulled the love of his life close for a passionate kiss.
Prompting Canada to drop the box.
The northern nation simply sucked at proposals, especially when done at great heights.
Or maybe they werenât meant to be spouses.
There had been knocking on the front door.
The volume level of the knocking was usually only heard when Alfred decided on an unannounced visit to his siblingâs house, yet the rhythm was telling to be someone else.
Opening the door, Canada was face to face with a huge bouquet of red and white tulips.
âI donât think itâs that time of the year yet.â
âItâs not, but these flowers are a different kind of gift.â And the European nation got down on one knee. âMy sister told me I am the biggest idiot in the world for not noticing a proposal if it hit me in the face. Which you wouldnât do, the hitting I mean, because youâre the kindest person I have ever known.â
Canada took the flowers from him as he took out a box with inside it what just might be the most beautiful ring ever known.
âYou did propose, didnât you, and I was the moron who didnât notice.â
And then the actual question was asked.
