Chapter Text
Time One
“Do you wanna get married?”
Stevie coughed and spat her wine. “What?”
Stevie sat on the center table of the store, David standing in front of her, between her knees. It was after close.
He took her glass and set it on the table.
“Do you want to marry me?” David repeated. “We’ve lived together like a year now, seems like the thing to do.”
“The thing to do? You’re such a romantic.”
David placed his hands on Stevie’s thighs and waited for her to look him in the eyes.
“Stevie, when I met you I was lost and broken. And really poor.” Stevie smiled. “And so were you.”
“Pretty sure we’re still broken, David.”
David nodded. “Sure, but you tried to put me back together. And sometimes it actually worked. I’m kind of taped together, the pieces don’t match and might come apart again, but I don’t feel lost anymore. There’s not a lot I’m sure of, but I’m sure about you. You see me like no one ever has. You know everything about me and didn’t run.” He brushed his fingers through her hair. “I like to think I’ve done the same for you.”
“Yeah, I guess you have. Before you I didn’t feel…” she sniffled and wiped her cheek with her flannel sleeve. “Jesus, this is a lot. Um, before I met you I accepted the fact that I’d be alone. That was too fucked up for anyone to…” Stevie buried her face in her hands. “Why is this so hard to say?”
David gently pulled her hands away. He placed a hand on her face, thumb stroking her strong, stunning, perfect cheekbone. He stepped closer and ran his other hand along her thigh.
“It’s okay,” David said. “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.”
“No, I do.” She took a deep breath and shaky hands gripped David’s hips. “I didn’t think anyone would ever love me. That way. That anyone would want to deal with me and accept me and want to stay with me.”
David tilted her head and kissed her, soft and slow.
“So? What do you think?” he asked.
Stevie laughed hysterically. More tears fell. For someone who didn’t like to show her hand, she had a lot of emotions close to her vest.
“Okay,” Stevie said. “Yeah, fuck it, let’s get married.”
David dared to smile. “Yeah?”
She took his hands in hers. “Yes.” She laughed again. “I love you.”
David finally let go of his waiting tears. “I love you too.”
***
“This is fucked - I don’t have any female friends,” Stevie whined. She and David were at their third cake tasting. Stevie really knew how to work their engagement to get free stuff.
“You don’t have any friends,” David said, mouth full of cake.
“And what about you? You gonna default to Alexis?”
“Actually, I was thinking of asking Patrick to be best man.”
Stevie smiled in a way that was almost shy. “That means I can have Alexis?”
“She’s gonna be your sister,” David said, “you’re gonna get a lot of Alexis.”
***
“Patrick brought that guy he’s been seeing,” Stevie said. She and David were in the middle of the dancefloor, using their first dance as a chance to dish about wedding guests.
“Good for him.” David twirled her. “You look fucking beautiful, have I told you that?”
Stevie laughed. “Yes you have.” They moved around the floor as more couples joined in. They both wore black tuxedos. Stevie’s hair fell in waves and Alexis did her make up, bringing out her dark eyes.
She leaned her head against David’s shoulder. “You look beautiful too.”
“I can’t believe we just did that,” David murmured. Stevie looked up at him and grinned.
“We got married! This is insane.”
David kissed the top of her head. “I fucking love you, Stevie Budd.”
“I love you too, David Rose. So fucking much.” Stevie wound her arms around David’s neck. “Now we’re Rosebudd.”
“Oh my god, we’re not doing Rosebudd.”
They laughed, smiling into a kiss.