Vignettes - Part 31: Don's Surprise
Title: Vignettes - Part 31: Don's Surprise
Author: ladygray99
Chapter: 31/36
Pairing: Charlie/Colby, Don/OFC
Rating: FRC
Disclaimer: Belongs to many other people, not me
Warnings/Squicks:
Summary: What moments mark a friendship, a love, a marriage, a lifetime?
Previous chapters: Heart Attack
Notes: Ok. A little dribble to keep the story moving. Technically not really any slash in this one but it's part of the over all story arch and there's a bit of a gap without it. The boys do get a shout out.
Beta(s): The always wonderful irena_adler
Don's Surprise
Don looked at the little stick. “Um. What does the little plus mean?”
“What do you think it means, Don?” Becca snapped.
“Oh.” Don’s brain froze. He refused to faint but he couldn’t think of how else he was supposed to react. He sat down.
“Oh? That’s all you have to say?”
“Oh god.” Don squeaked out.
“You know what, never mind, forget it.”
Don’s legs found their strength again as he jumped up. “What? No. I’m sorry, love. Wait. Just...I need to think.” Don put his arms around Rebecca and held her. He couldn’t handle it if she walked out before he’d had time to think. The seconds ticked by.
“Uh...Don...kinda need to breath here.”
Don let go and looked at the wonderful woman who’d been more or less putting up with his shit for several years now. “Do you want to keep it?” Don asked.
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean you...” Becca never finished her sentence.
“Marry me.” Don blurted out.
Becca sighed. “I’m not marrying you ‘cause I’m pregnant Don.”
“No! No. I know. Wait!”
Becca watched as Don ran to the door and rummaged around in a coat pocket. He came running back holding a box of duck egg blue. He held it out like a little boy showing off a frog. Becca just looked at him. Don looked around then dropped to both knees.
“What’s in the box?”
“It’s…uh…it’s a ring. I was...I was going to try and give it to you last night, then I was late and you were mad and I was mad and the food was bad.”
“It really was, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah...then you were sick.” Don opened the box. Inside was a Tiffany solitare. He’d saved up a years worth of beer money and mended old suits instead of getting a new one.
“What were you going to say last night?” Becca asked softly.
Don took a deep breath. “Becca, you have become the great constant in my life. Even when you’re screaming mad at me for being an idiot and trying to push you away you’re there, you’re always there, a creature of such beauty and passion and love and it would be the biggest mistake of my life not to try to marry you. I can’t see the future and I know the odds are against us but I can not begin to contemplate the thought of a future without you. So would you be willing to do me the honor of becoming my wife?” Don had spent weeks working on that short speech. He’d even asked Colby and Larry how they’d proposed then wished he’d hadn’t.
“Don. I’m going to have a baby. This wouldn’t be the marriage you’ve planned.”
Don lowered his head. “Ok. I’m improvising now.” Don took a deep breath “I don’t know what kind of father I’ll be. Probably the kind the kid talks to a therapist about when they’re thirty, but I can think of no one more suited to be a mother and I can think of no one I’d rather have bear my child. I know I’ve always been bad with change but I can … I can take the desk promotion, and be home by five and make sure to make piano recitals and parent-teacher conferences and I’ll do whatever I need to do to make this right and be a good husband and father for you and the baby.”
Becca looked down at Don and tried not to cry. It was nearly as sweet as his ‘buyer beware’ speech on their third date. So far she’d dealt with everything he’d listed that night and for the most part been happy. She knelt down in front of Don and took the ring from the box.
“Don’t take the desk job. You’d go insane. You have to be out on the street, keeping it safe for your child. New rule though. You get shot and I’ll kick your ass.” Becca slipped the ring on her finger, the white gold quickly warming to match her hands. Don was doing his fish impression and looked like he might pass out. “That was a ‘yes’ by the way.” Don nodded his head franticly then threw his arms around her. Becca took a closer look at the ring. “Is this really Tiffany’s?”
“I have to keep up with Colby. I don’t know what they teach those farm boys but I’m always looking like a schmo next to him.”
Becca giggled feeling a little light headed. Colby was prone to the grand gesture when he could manage it. “Do you think your family will mind?”
Don looked at her. “Are you nuts? They love you. If it came to you or me, they’d probably take you. My dad loves you, my brother loves you, my brother-in-law loves you, my niece loves you. There will be the biggest celebration out of this.”
Don froze suddenly thinking of wedding plans. Larry’s wedding had nearly killed them, and dad had felt cheated when Charlie and Colby had simply vanished for a day and showed up back home with wedding rings on. But a wedding, plus baby, plus moving in together...
Becca read a look of panic in Don’s eyes. “What to run off to Vegas for a weekend?”
“Oh god, yes.” Don kissed her passionately. “This is why I love you. You can practically read my mind.”
“I can also cook.”
Don kissed her again. ‘Oh.’ Don thought. ‘This is so good.’
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