The next day.
Hawk smelled the scent wafting to the tip of his nose, and his mind left his own Little Cosmos. After opening his eyes, he saw his girlfriend, Gwen, lying on top of him, teasing him back and forth with her hair.
No, wait.
It should be fiancée Gwen now.
Because he had proposed to Gwen last night.
And Gwen agreed.
Actually, according to the customs, he should have first sought George and Helen's opinions before proposing.
But!
The atmosphere was just right.
Moreover, last night when he proposed, George and Helen were also present, so strictly speaking, it didn't break any customs.
At least everyone was very happy last night.
When Gwen saw him take out the engagement ring, her eyes immediately reddened, and she leapt forward to hug him.
Helen was also shocked but then covered her mouth, looking at Hawk with a delighted and satisfied expression.
Howard and Simon didn't need mentioning.
After all, the two of them are still sleeping in the same room, wanting Gwen's room wasn't a matter of one or two days.
And Howard got his gift.
As for Simon.
Simon was so happy that he immediately asked if he could move to his sister's room.
Speaking of George.
Uh...
Let's not talk about George!
Hawk recalled the scene of the proposal last night, holding Gwen, who was lying on top of him, and thought of George: "How's George doing?"
Upon hearing this, Gwen's expression turned a bit odd as she looked at Hawk.
"Dad took a day off today."
"Uh..."
"Headache."
"...Alright then."
Hawk's expression eased, he shook his head and chuckled: "My bad."
Thankfully.
It was only a headache; at least George didn't think of taking him to the precinct, or to the New York border to practice shooting.
However...
Hawk's thoughts shifted, and he looked into Gwen's gem-like green eyes: "But George didn't object, right."
Gwen didn't speak at first.
Her pretty face was serious and tense.
Then, the next second.
Gwen's smile fully bloomed, and she looked at Hawk, smiling as she said: "Of course, that's why Dad agreed, he's got a headache."
Hawk's heart relaxed, and he laughed completely.
Though whether George agreed or not didn't really matter.
Getting George's consent for his proposal actually didn't bother him, but Gwen surely cared a lot.
After all, George would be worrying about the wedding expenses for Gwen.
An hour later.
In the kitchen on the first floor, the radiant Gwen was preparing a breakfast full of love for Hawk.
Hawk didn't help.
He wanted to help, but Gwen ordered him to sit on the high stool at the island and wait.
Hawk sat unwaveringly on the high stool, watching Gwen, who was busily making breakfast for him and looked more like the mistress of the house than ever before.
Ever since his proposal last night, when he put the ring on Gwen's finger, she truly became the mistress of the house.
With parents witnessing, legitimate and rightful!
Hawk admitted that last night's proposal was a bit impulsive.
Of course.
He had no regrets, as he never had the thought of harem-building in the Marvel Cosmos.
It's just, Hawk originally thought of proposing to Gwen after graduating from college, then marrying, and naturally having children.
But as always.
The atmosphere was just right last night.
Gwen chose him so firmly, naturally, he couldn't let Gwen down.
Luckily, that NASA scientist wasn't bluffing, otherwise, Hawk really wouldn't know where to find an unique diamond in such a short time last night.
Oh right.
The engagement ring.
Hawk looked at Gwen, who happened to turn around, and blinked.
"Gwen, where's the ring?"
"You mean this?"
At Hawk's words, Gwen took out from her pocket the enormous purple-red diamond ring, which looked like wearing a giant piece, and seemed to know what Hawk wanted to say. She said to Hawk: "I plan to keep it in the main bedroom's safe."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"It's too big."
Gwen said so, then sat on the high stool too, and with a look that said she really liked, really liked the engagement ring which seemed too overwhelming in her palm, especially as she looked at the diamond with her name's initials inside it, she resisted the urge to wear it on her finger, and said to Hawk: "You know after you left last night, the way mom looked at this ring of mine."
Hawk realized at this moment too.
Last night he only thought about uniqueness, forgetting about practicality, after all, a fifty-carat ring, even if Gwen wasn't afraid of getting robbed, would probably make life inconvenient.
Hawk thought inwardly, smiled, stepped down from the high stool, and under Gwen's watchful eyes, once again knelt on one knee in front of her.
In his right hand appeared another purple-red ring, but this time only six carats.
Gwen's eyes widened, covering her mouth.
Hawk smiled at Gwen.
"Gwen Stacy, once again, would you marry me..."
"Of course, of course, I will."
Before he could finish speaking, Gwen eagerly extended her hand.
It was clear she was very anxious.
Hawk smiled, slid the six-carat ring onto Gwen's finger, and the moment he stood up, she embraced him and kissed his lips.
Three minutes later.
Lips parted.
Hawk looked down, holding the hand with the engagement ring back on it, and smiled, saying, "This time, no need to take it off and put it in the safe, right?"
Gwen gazed at Hawk and said seriously, "No one can make me take off this ring."
After saying that,
Gwen eagerly ran towards the master bedroom upstairs.
She wanted to put the 50-carat engagement ring in the safe and then send a picture of this engagement ring to her mother.
Hawk watched his fiancée, who was in a hurry to share the news with her mother Helen, and thought about George, who took a leave to rest at home today.
If Gwen sent this photo to Helen, George's headache would probably get worse.
Hawk thought to himself.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Hawk snapped back to reality, first looking at the breakfast Gwen made for him with love, then glanced at the front door before walking over.
Opened the door.
A familiar face appeared at the doorstep.
Last time he returned from the Quantico Base with her, Sharon Carter, niece of Peggy Carter, looked at Hawk who opened the door and smiled, saying,
"Good morning, Mr. Hawk."
"Good morning,"
Hawk replied, then stepped aside, allowing Sharon Carter to enter after thanking him.
In the living room.
Hawk handed Sharon Carter a glass of ice water.
Sharon Carter took it and thanked him again.
Hawk then sat down on the sofa opposite her.
After placing the ice water on the table in front of her, Sharon Carter looked at Hawk.
"Mr. Hawk..."
"Just call me Hawk,"
Hawk said.
When he flew back from Quantico, he had a good impression of Peggy Carter's niece, Sharon, on the plane.
Sharon smoothly responded, called him Hawk, and then stated the purpose of her visit today.
About last night's affair.
Sharon smiled and said, "Hawk, your speed last night scared a lot of people."
Hawk heard this and looked at Sharon, "Scared? How would they be scared, unless they did something guilty and were worried I'd come looking for them?"
He considered himself a reasonable person.
And he never liked the game of pretending or disguising strength.
Except for the first time he went to the Quantico Base, he somewhat played unfairly and masked his face.
But that was during the developmental phase.
Since then, almost all his actions have been upright and open, without any concealment.
The most important point.
Most people respect power rather than virtue.
The more intimidating his power seemed, the fewer people tried schemes against him behind his back.
Hawk also demonstrated his means of retaliation.
The still-rebuilding Quantico Base and the now grass-covered grave of Thaddeus Ross are good examples.
However...
He understood Sharon's visit.
Hawk then smiled at Sharon, saying, "Don't worry, as long as no one provokes me, I am happy to abide by the law. Last night, I went to the moon."
Sharon raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"The moon?"
"Yes."
"Can you explain why?"
Sharon asked, then with a smile in response to Hawk's gaze, she said, "Of course, if it's inconvenient to say, I can submit a reason myself."
She was actually on vacation today.
But...
A count through all of S.H.I.E.L.D revealed that few agents had interacted with Hawk.
Maria Hill?
She is still in Africa overseeing a mission related to Wakanda.
Natasha and Barton?
They flew to Wakanda a few days ago to coordinate with Crossbones agents and others to clear out the locals hiding in the mountains, which was causing issues with the UN's Vibranium management work.
After all, these locals are quite capable, especially at night, when they come out to attack UN camps, causing headaches.
These aren't just any ordinary locals.
Heavy measures must be taken.
This is why most of the codename agents of S.H.I.E.L.D have gone to Wakanda to execute the clearing mission personally issued by the Five Great Benefactors.
So, among all of S.H.I.E.L.D, Sharon was the only one who had dealt with Hawk.
Therefore,
Sharon had to come.
Hawk listened to Sharon's slightly cautious words and smiled, "There's nothing to hide."
Just then.
He was about to explain his reason for going to the moon last night when he heard conversation downstairs, and Gwen, who was upstairs, came down from the stairs.
Hawk raised an eyebrow, and introduced Gwen and Sharon to each other.
"Gwen, this is Sharon, Sharon Carter, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent."
"Sharon, this is Gwen Stacy, my fiancée!"
"..."