Chapter Text
“How did you afford it?”
“I did some things I’m not so proud of downtown.”
“Ugh, I’m being serious. Though I must say this is probably the biggest one I’ve ever seen.”
“Well, nothing but the best for my Princess.”
Courtney Powell placed her copy of Modern Bride on the coffee table and laid her head in her fiancés lap, stretching her legs out on the couch. For the millionth time she admired the stunning diamond engagement ring that had adorned her left ring finger for the past several days.
“Regardless of how you got it, it’s gorgeous.”
Duncan Evers leaned down and captured the brunette’s lips in a chaste kiss instead of responding. It never ceased to amaze him how lucky he was to have landed and kept the incredible woman in front of him. No one believed they would make it, hell there had been days he didn’t think they’d make it. Everyone’s lives changed after Total Drama Island.
Every former cast member experienced some type of fame and all were stalked by paparazzi. Heather’s book, Unleashing the Bitch Within, became #1 on the NY Times Bestseller’s list only to be dethroned by Gwen’s book The Truth Behind the Diary. Bridgette’s surf shop became a huge success, as did Lindsay’s fashion boutique. No one went without their fair share of endorsements either.
Everyone’s inevitable fear of losing contact with each other over the years was quickly dismissed. Trent’s concerts enabled everyone to keep in touch, while Geoff’s never-ending parties kept them talking. Updates about college, careers, and relationships were constant.
Originally Courtney and Duncan’s island romance ended with the show. Courtney was accepted to Harvard University with plans to study law, while Duncan was prepared for a life of uncertainty. They cut off all communication and by sophomore year of college both were convinced they didn’t need the other. They were proven wrong when they attended a Christmas party hosted by Geoff and Bridgette. After many cocktails it became apparent that they were miserable without each other, having gone from one relationship to another with people they weren’t even interested in. That night they agreed to give their relationship one more chance and the rest was history.
Duncan moved into Courtney’s Boston apartment and took a job as a bartender. Over the next several months he noticed drastic changes in his girlfriends’ personality. Courtney would come home from classes ready for a fight, always on a warpath. Once her adrenaline rush stopped she would become lackluster and depressed. Duncan usually ignored her when she got in her moods, but when the depression started to last longer than a week he had confronted her. After hours of yelling and crying Courtney admitted to feeling trapped in a life she didn’t want. Since she was a child her parents had her life planned out, ultimately leading to her becoming a high powered lawyer with a doctor husband and 2.5 children.
Prying led Duncan to discover what Courtney wanted for her own life. Her dream job was to share her love of music through teaching, but above all she wanted to be free of her parents and become her own person. With his support, Courtney quit law school and applied to Julliard in New York, she was easily accepted; her parents’ hatred for her boyfriend only increased. The couple’s apartment in NY was small and bare, but the move was worth it; Duncan had never seen Courtney happier then when she was practicing her violin for her recital. Inspired, and bored all alone in the apartment, Duncan enrolled in classes at SUNY.
With pure determination and no time off he was able speed through his courses in order to graduate on time with his peers. With his degree in psychology and Courtney’s in music education, they moved back to Canada to be closer to friends and family. Courtney got a job at her old grade school, while Duncan became a counselor at a local juvenile detention facility.
After his twenty-fifth birthday, Duncan realized he couldn’t bare the thought of living a day without Courtney and began to plan his proposal. Like all men he wanted to make it special, something to remember forever. Deciding to surprise her, he arranged to have a boat take them to a romantic dinner where they first met: Camp Wawanakwa. Duncan revamped the campfire area into an outdoor French Bistro. He enlisted the help of Chris and Chef and had Courtney’s favorite meal prepared. They danced to her favorite genres, classical and jazz, under the stars.
It took Duncan nearly all night to work up the nerve to pop the question. As they held each other close and gently swayed to the music, he explained how much he loved her. He made sure Courtney understood how much he needed her and how she had helped him become a better man.
When Duncan got down on one knee, he could feel every nerve-ending pulsing and his slightly shaking hands revealed his fear of rejection. He looked into Courtney’s tear filled mocha eyes as she shouted “Yes.” He whooped and spun her around. They had never shared a more passionate kiss than the one that followed.
“So does that sound good?” Duncan jumped; he had been so lost in his thoughts he didn’t realize that Courtney had been talking.
“Hmm?”
“I said do you want to take a drive to see your parents tomorrow? We could break the good news then.”
“I guess. Ya know we could just call them? Goal accomplished without the hassle of actually being in the presence of my family for an extended period of time.”
“Duncan I think this is something we should break in person; doing things over the phone is so impersonal. Besides don’t you want to be crushed by your mother’s hug and listen to her go on about how her baby boy’s grown up so fast?”
“Oh God why would you even think of that scenario? I’d rather just avoid this whole ‘breaking the news’ thing. Want to elope,” Duncan grinned rakishly.
“No. I’ve dreamed of my wedding since I was five and I’m not abandoning it for a quickie in Vegas. I don’t want the only witness at our wedding to be an Elvis impersonator.”
“You gotta admit it’d be more fun than dealing with our families, Court.”
“Well, not everything in life is meant to be fun Duncan.” Stealing a glance at the clock Courtney exaggerated a yawn, standing up and stretching.
“We have a big day tomorrow, you should think about getting some sleep.”
As he watched Courtney walk towards their bedroom he smirked and stood up. Sneaking up behind her he grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder, reveling in her shriek.
“Princess, I can think of a million other things I’d rather do right now than sleep.”