For My_hockey_life101, hope you'll like it. Next will be another Jake Virtanen imagine:)

FLASHBACK: Proposal

~Derek's POV~

My palms are sweating like crazy, but not because of tonight's game, but because of what I am planning to do after, no matter if we win or not. Tonight it's actually Stephanie and mine's anniversary and I am planning to propose her.

Before the puck drops, I look up the stands and see her, smiling down at me. When she catches me look at her, she waves her hand and sends me kisses. Smiling, I wave back at her and take a deep breath. Let's hope she will accept my proposal...

Even though my mind is occupied with the upcoming proposal, my game is on. Not only we win, even more, I score a hat trick, get into one pretty brawl and record two assists. Pretty productive evening.

After saluting the fans, I avoid the reporters and quickly slip into our locker room, where I dig through my hockey bag to get the velvety ring box out. For the last time before I slide it up her finger, I look at it and smile: "Hope she'll like you, little buddy. And you better bring me luck!"

~Your POV~

It surprised you when Der raced off the ice after saluting to fans and handshakes. He was usually the last off the ice, not the first one. And you have a feeling he will be named the first star of the game, so seeing him disappear is even odder.

"Is miss Stephanie Kent here?"

"Steph, the security is looking for you," Emily Glass, Tanner Glass' wife, calls you and you turn around: "Yeah, right here. What is wrong?"
"Can you please follow me?"

"Is everything okay with Derek? Is he hurt?"
"Mister Stepan is fine, just follow me, please."

You hear the announcer name three stars of the game and as expected, Derek is tonight's first star. When he sees you, his face lights up, but everything is soon replaced with a shadow of nervousness, covering his face. He skates off the ice and comes closer to you: "Did you enjoy the game?"
"Of course I did! Congratulations on a hat trick."

"It was for you," he smiles and starts nervously fiddling his fingers.

"Der, what's wrong?"

"Uh...come on the ice with me, please."

Well, the rest is a history. He gets down on one knee on the center ice and asks you whether you want to marry him.

Of course you say yes.

PRESENT DAY

~Your POV~

You spin in front of a huge mirror in Angelo Lambrou wedding boutique and listen to the sound of silky and expensive fabric swirling through the air, gently touching your ankles.

"Do you like it, ma'am?" friendly seller asks you and you smile at her: "Feels like butterflies' wings fluttering around my ankles. It's a beautiful dress..."

You look at your friend and spin in front of her: "What do you think?"

She carefully scans the entire dress before lightly scrunching her eyebrows: "It's beautiful, but I'd look at few more dresses."

"You don't like it," you say more like a statement that a question. She sighs a bit: "I do like it, but I think you should look at other dresses. This is only your...third one. Come on, a wedding is a special occasion, you can't just decide in thirty minutes."

"Guess you are right...Can I see some more dresses, please?" you turn to the girl, who is waiting for you to decide.

"Of course. Would you like a strapless dress or no?"

"Strapless, please. Can't believe I am actually getting married in few months!"

"Believe it, you are finally tying a knot?"
"Finally? That sounded like I am really old..."
"Hey, I am joking. But I can't believe my best friend is getting married..."

"Honestly, nor can I," you grin and take another spin before heading back into the changing cabin where you pull the dress over your head and wait patiently for the store clerk to bring few more dresses.

An hour later you find the perfect dress and while paying it, you realize this is happening. You are getting married to Derek Stepan, the man you've spent majority of your life with. Your best friend and you continue your trip around the town and your next stop is a wedding planner Derek and you hired to organize your wedding. Well, actually, today is your first meeting and you hope Derek kept his promise and that he will be here.

"So you think he'll be already there?"
"I hope so. I have no idea where are we getting married..."
"Maybe he wants to surprise you."
"Trust me, he surprised me enough when he asked me to marry him. I doubt he could surprise me any more..."
Oh, you were so wrong. Diane, our wedding planner calls you in a next second, asking you where you are.

"I'll be there in one minute. And my friend is coming with me."

A minute later you wait for Diane to sit in her limo to take all three of you to the venue Derek somehow managed to reserve behind your back.

"You really can't tell us where are we going?" you ask and roll your eyes behind the blindfold you have to wear.

"Sorry, I can't ruin the surprise. But I bet you'll like it."

"I am sure I will, Derek knows me too well... Speaking of him, is he coming too?"
"He's already here," you hear Diane say and picture a huge smile on her face. Your best friend next to you sucks in a large breath: "Oh. My. God. Steph, you'll love this!"

"It would be great if I could take the blindfold off," you mumble and inhale sharply as you feel someone touch the skin of yout neck.

"Let me do it," you hear Derek say behind your back as his fingers gently slip the blindfold off. And when you can see where you are, your mind is going crazy. All you can say is, thank god you bought an expensive dress. After all, getting married in Plaza in a cheap dress... doesn't sound right.

"Is this..."
"Hotel Plaza aka our possible wedding venue. Do you like it?" he steps next to you and takes your hand in his. You intertwine your fingers tightly with his as you look up at him: "Are you being serious right now?"

"Yeah."
"Der, I love it. But you know you didn't have to do this. After all, it must be expensive and the ring must've been pretty pricey as well and..."
His lips cover yours as he shuts you down with a kiss.

"Just stop babbling. If you don't like it, we don't have to get married here."
"I love it, Derek, I really do. But I want you to know that you didn't have to do this for me."
"I know. But I did. Because I love you. in fact, I have loved you for a long, long time. "
This time it's your turn to kiss him: "I've loved you for a while too. And now we are one step closer to the family life."

His arm snakes around your waist and his lips land on crown of your head: "Our own family. So...you say we should get married here? In Plaza?"

"Only if you want."
"My first concern is to make you happy...Yes or no?"
After few moments of silence, you decide: " No. None of us is from New York and wouldn't it be romantic to get married in the state we both grew up? I am so sorry."
"Honestly, I was hoping you'd say we should get married in Minnesota. After all, as you said, we are both strangers in this town while Minnesota is our home state."

"So you are not sad I didn't agree with wedding in Plaza?"

"Not at all. I am glad you are one of those girls who don't get easily blinded by all the expensive things."
He smiles down at you before kissing your lips. His arms wrap tighter around you and he pulls you closer to him until your best friend clears her throat: "Uh, hello, you two. So if I understood correctly, you are ditching Plaza?"
"Yeah," Derek and you exchange a look "we are ditching Plaza."

"No matter how luxurious it is...we wanna get married where our home is."

"And Diana, I hope you'll still be able to organize our wedding," Derek laughs while playing with your fingers.

Diane, who was busy with her phone until now, looks at us: "So...if I understand correctly, you two are marrying in Minnesota? No, Mr. Stepan, I cannot organize wedding in Minnesota, but I can give you a contact of the best wedding planner there."
"That would be great, thank you so much. So, Steph, ready to go home for few days?"

"I am ready to see home again, yes."
"Then we are going home for few days. Just the two of us," Derek smile before kissing you.

Months later you got married in Minnesota, surrounded by nothing but beautiful nature and people you both love. And you became Mrs. Stepan.