24 Fic: The Right Moment 1/1 (Karen/Bill)
Title: The Right Moment
Fandom: 24
Characters: Karen Hayes/Bill Buchanan
Prompt: #081. How?
Word Count: 567
Rating: PG
Summary: Ever wondered how Bill and Karen got engaged? Well now you know.
Author's Notes: Just fluff. No spoilers.
The dishrag hit his chest with a wet smack, causing him to gape. She'd just thrown something at him. Karen Hayes had thrown something at him. And grinned about it. He was seeing new sides of her every day.
"What the -"
"Just wanted to see if you were awake, Bill. You looked a little sleepy for a minute."
"Cute, Karen, real cute."
“Well we still have an entire movie to watch, I can’t have you falling asleep on me, can I?” she teased again.
She squealed when the first spray of water hit her face and sluiced down her neck into the collar of her dress shirt. He knew she’d been expecting retribution of some kind, but apparently hadn’t anticipated it coming so soon. He was more of a wait for the right moment sort of person and she knew that.
"Bill! This is dry clean only." Her voice was dangerously close to a whine, and that only made him laugh harder. He loved seeing her like this.
The smile never faded from his lips as she turned away to dab uselessly at her shirt. It signaled a (possibly temporary) ceasefire in their water war, but that was okay. It gave him time to gather his courage.
Who knew picking out a ring didn’t automatically give you the guts to propose. It just wasn’t that easy when you were dating Karen Hayes. Hence the reason the ring had been burning a hole in his pocket. He had to figure out the way to ask that would get him the best results.
Since, obviously, her saying no wouldn’t be his first choice outcome.
His window was closing, he knew. Eventually she’d give up trying to dry her shirt and his moment would be gone. He wasn’t getting down on one knee, though, Karen would hate that.
Instead, he had the ring waiting for her in his outstretched hand when she turned around again. The gesture was simple, exactly the way Karen liked things. Her eyes widened and he watched her mouth open only to emit no sound.
Well it was a first to see her speechless. He watched the flush rise from her chest and settle over her cheeks. She was flustered.
“Bill,” she breathed, setting the cloth aside before apparently realizing it gave her hands nothing to do. “Is that…?”
He nodded, feeling a little bit tongue-tied himself. “It is.”
She licked her lips quickly. “Are you…?”
He took that as an invitation to step closer. “I am, Karen.”
Her fingers were shaky as they brushed over the stone. He hoped that meant she liked it.
Her laugh sounded suspiciously choked up and he changed a glance at her face. She looked positively misty-eyed. Well this could mean good things for him.
She stepped closer. “You’re asking me to marry you?” she reiterated. “Just to make sure we’re both on the same page.”
Smothering a nervous chuckle took more effort than he thought it would, but he managed. “I am. I’m asking you to marry me.” It wasn’t the most articulate of proposals, but from the way she swayed into him, it seemed to be enough.
The kiss that landed on his lips was uncharacteristically delicate for Karen Hayes, but he wouldn’t tease her about it.
“Good, because I’m saying yes.” He felt her grin against his mouth.
And just like that, he was getting married.
Fandom: 24
Characters: Karen Hayes/Bill Buchanan
Prompt: #081. How?
Word Count: 567
Rating: PG
Summary: Ever wondered how Bill and Karen got engaged? Well now you know.
Author's Notes: Just fluff. No spoilers.
The dishrag hit his chest with a wet smack, causing him to gape. She'd just thrown something at him. Karen Hayes had thrown something at him. And grinned about it. He was seeing new sides of her every day.
"What the -"
"Just wanted to see if you were awake, Bill. You looked a little sleepy for a minute."
"Cute, Karen, real cute."
“Well we still have an entire movie to watch, I can’t have you falling asleep on me, can I?” she teased again.
She squealed when the first spray of water hit her face and sluiced down her neck into the collar of her dress shirt. He knew she’d been expecting retribution of some kind, but apparently hadn’t anticipated it coming so soon. He was more of a wait for the right moment sort of person and she knew that.
"Bill! This is dry clean only." Her voice was dangerously close to a whine, and that only made him laugh harder. He loved seeing her like this.
The smile never faded from his lips as she turned away to dab uselessly at her shirt. It signaled a (possibly temporary) ceasefire in their water war, but that was okay. It gave him time to gather his courage.
Who knew picking out a ring didn’t automatically give you the guts to propose. It just wasn’t that easy when you were dating Karen Hayes. Hence the reason the ring had been burning a hole in his pocket. He had to figure out the way to ask that would get him the best results.
Since, obviously, her saying no wouldn’t be his first choice outcome.
His window was closing, he knew. Eventually she’d give up trying to dry her shirt and his moment would be gone. He wasn’t getting down on one knee, though, Karen would hate that.
Instead, he had the ring waiting for her in his outstretched hand when she turned around again. The gesture was simple, exactly the way Karen liked things. Her eyes widened and he watched her mouth open only to emit no sound.
Well it was a first to see her speechless. He watched the flush rise from her chest and settle over her cheeks. She was flustered.
“Bill,” she breathed, setting the cloth aside before apparently realizing it gave her hands nothing to do. “Is that…?”
He nodded, feeling a little bit tongue-tied himself. “It is.”
She licked her lips quickly. “Are you…?”
He took that as an invitation to step closer. “I am, Karen.”
Her fingers were shaky as they brushed over the stone. He hoped that meant she liked it.
Her laugh sounded suspiciously choked up and he changed a glance at her face. She looked positively misty-eyed. Well this could mean good things for him.
She stepped closer. “You’re asking me to marry you?” she reiterated. “Just to make sure we’re both on the same page.”
Smothering a nervous chuckle took more effort than he thought it would, but he managed. “I am. I’m asking you to marry me.” It wasn’t the most articulate of proposals, but from the way she swayed into him, it seemed to be enough.
The kiss that landed on his lips was uncharacteristically delicate for Karen Hayes, but he wouldn’t tease her about it.
“Good, because I’m saying yes.” He felt her grin against his mouth.
And just like that, he was getting married.