A/N: this is two days late but oh well 🤷♀️ please enjoy. Also this is my first attempt at RPF. Might write more in the future.
Tagging the besties for the resties: @mrsjaderogers @gracespicybradshaw @dragon-kazansky @askmarinaandothers @callmemana @starlit-epiphany @callsignscupcake @breadsquash @kloofspeaks @ladylanera @roosterscockpit
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"Sorry I'm not there, I'm so proud of you babe. I'll see you soon."
Baylie smiled at her boyfriends text, yeah it sucked that their careers were both demanding. She could have quit nursing once they had gotten more serious, but her mother had taught her to never rely on a man. Even if that man was very sexy, talented, and perfect. Plus nursing had been her calling since she was a little girl. She wasn't giving that dream up easily. So she'd take the time apart, the FaceTime dates, and the random flights to Atlanta when she had the weekend off to see him for not long enough.
It was Florence Nightingale's birthday, aka Nurse's Day. May 12th, the day people celebrated those who followed in Florence's footsteps and became nurses in their own right.
Her phone buzzed again,
"Have a good shift today babe, go save lives Nightingale."
It made her laugh, when they had first started dated a little over three years ago, he had called her Nightingale in case anyone hacked his phone they wouldn't know who he was texting such flirty texts to. Since they'd gone public a year ago during the Top Gun Maverick premieres, he didn't have to worry about that anymore. The world knew Danny Ramirez was a taken man, and his Nightingale was the one.
The shift started smoothly, the hand off from morning shift was as perfect as it could have been.
An hour into the shift her phone buzzes in her back pocket and when she gets a chance she checks it. It's a video from Danny. One of the first times they'd gone on a date and he'd taken her ice skating. They'd fallen more than they skated so the video was alot of fails and laughing. It brought a smile to her face but the caption was the best part
"I fall for you a little more everyday."
She just shakes her head and goes back to work leaving her phone at the desk this time. When she finally has time to sit back down and chart she sees two new messages.
The first was a collage of pictures from their very first offical date. He'd taken plenty of pictures of her sitting across the table from him.
"From the first date, I knew we had something special."
The second was another video, this time one she'd taken during the filming of Top Gun, he was working out and well she couldn't resist him.
"I work out everyday so I can hold your hand like a man."
She snorts at that one which causes her coworkers to throw glances her way.
The whole shift she gets text like that from him. Photos, videos, and even a link to "Stay Stay Stay" on Spotify. Baylie loved to say that was their song, that they were in it for the long haul. At the end of her shift her feet hurt, her bladder was full, and she was tired. Her phone buzzed with one last text.
"Meet me where it all began..."
Her mind reeled, he was in town? Had he been in town the whole day? Why hadn't he told her that?
She makes her way to the Pier, where the coffee shop they'd first met was situated. It was late at night and eerily quiet but she noticed lights on in the little cafe. She walks up and on the door is a sign
"Come on in Nightingale."
She opens the door and notices that the normal table centerpieces have been replaced with vases of yellow roses, her favorite. Nobody seems to be there but there's a note on the counter.
"I love you. -Danny."
"How'd I do?"
Baylie jumps as Danny appears from behind the counter.
"Jesus fucking Christ Danny." She says with a hand over her heart. "I just about had a heart attack."
He laughs and steps around the counter to kiss her.
"When did you get here?" She asks.
"Flew in this morning."
"Why? Is everything okay?"
He tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear, "Everything is more than fine, I'm with my girl now." He leans in for another soft kiss.
"So you spent all day planning this?"
"I did, all for you Bay, I even have presents."
Her eyes light up, usually in relationships she hated when men spoiled her, but with Danny it was different. He wasn't buying her love, he was buying her things because he simply loved her.
He pulls out a tiny box with a bow on it, "Happy Birthday Nightingale."
She laughs but opens the box anyways, inside is a pin in the shape of an apple. She looks up at him with confusion in her eyes.
"I figured that might keep the doctors away." He jokes and she punches his arm for it.
"But while that might just keep the doctors away, I have something that will keep all the men away." He gets down on one knee and pulls out a velvet box.
"Danny..."
"Shhh let me do this, Baylie Steele, when we met in this very coffee shop over three years ago I had no idea that the pretty girl who sat at my table would mean so much to me. You have changed my whole view on life and the world. You are a constant light, and I can't imagine my life without you by my side. So please." His voice cracks a little. "Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will!"
"Wait did you say yes?"
"Yes you idiot." She teases, and he puts the ring on her finger.
"Guys she said yes!" He yells out to seemingly nobody, until the door to the kitchen opens at in walks out Miles, Grace, Alana, and Glen. Plus her own mother pops up from behind the counter having recorded the whole thing for Danny.
"You all are here?"
"Duh! I wasn't missing this for the world babe!" Alana says coming over with Grace to hug their best friend.
"Me either, I had to witness all this cuteness." Grace adds.
Baylie hugs everyone, squeezing her mom extra tight.
"Now let's go celebrate the future Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez!" Glen exclaims.
The group heads out locking up the cafe for the owners. Danny and Baylie hang back a little holding hands and smiling.
"This was perfect Danny. I love you."
"I love you too Nightingale."
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