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Bob was curious about this strange woman.
She was sitting next to him in the car, on their way to their second date.
"Linda?" He started, sparing a glance at her.
"Yeah?"
"Did...did you really hit that guy with a shrimp?"
Linda looked at him for a minute before laughing. Which he smiled at.
She had a nice laugh.
"Yeah! Oh, you should have seen it! His face was priceless."
He smiled again, he did that a lot, around her. she made him...happy. Really happy; happier than he'd been in a long time.
"Well, we're uhhh...here." He carefully parked the car.
He'd been hesitant to go on this date, but he was also lonely.
Maybe a girlfriend wouldn't be so bad...
Not that they needed labels.
Or that Linda would be his girlfriend...
But, a guy can hope.
They walked in, hands brushing against one another.
Bob was pleasantly surprised when she didn't immediately yank hers away at the contact.
Dinner was nice, they talked and talked. They had to split the bill, which Bob apologized for numerous times.
She quickly assured him that it was fine. She really didn't care about traditional stuff like that.
On the ride home, Linda told him story after story. He was amazed by how she never seemed to run out of things to say.
She was perfect and beautiful.
He was pretty sure this was what falling in love felt like.
He dropped her off at her apartment, an indescribable warmth flooding over his heart as she kissed his cheek, "Bye Bob. You better call me."
"I will." He replied maybe a bit too desperately. She just smiled, before walking away.
Bob grinned to himself the whole ride back to his apartment.
"A restaurant?" Linda inquired.
They'd been dating for almost a month, Bob was over at Linda's place, cooking dinner.
"Yeah. It's been my dream since...forever probably."
Linda smiled, "It makes sense, you're an excellent cook."
Bob felt a blush raising on his cheeks, "I mean-...I guess-"
She glared, "None of that mister," She stood up, softly kissing the tip of his nose, "You're an excellent cook."
He nodded. He didn't understand how Linda could just say stuff like that and truly mean it. She'd been helping him battle the little voice in his head since they started dating.
He knew he was a good cook--maybe even a great one--but hearing her say it, meant so much more.
He turned back around towards the food, listening as Linda ranted about her day. She really never did run out of things to say.
He liked that about her.
He loved that about her.
"You're dinner is served." He smiled, placing the plate in front of her.
"Aw! Thanks, Bobby."
He blushed at the nickname, "Bobby?" He repeated, it wasn't the first time he'd heard the name, of course, his friends often called him that growing up, but the way Linda said...with such fondness. He liked it.
She just nodded, "Mhmm. That's what I'm gonna call you since we've been dating for like, ever."
"It's been a month." He deadpanned, the smallest of smiles visible on his face.
"That's pretty much forever." Linda decided, smiling up at him.
He simply chuckled, settling down in his chair, "Whatever, Lin."
"Lin?"
"What? I get a nickname and you don't?" He raised an eyebrow, still grinning.
Linda laughed loudly, "You're adorable."
One day, 6 months since they started dating, they were cuddling on the couch, watching some old movie Bob loved.
Linda had her head resting on her boyfriend's chest, his arm loosely wrapped around her.
She had never felt so safe, so cherished, so loved.
He kissed the top of her head softly, Linda could tell he was exhausted.
They both were. They were both working almost every hour of the day, saving up any money they could.
"I love you." He muttered.
Linda was surprised as the words were processed in her brain. She felt him shift uncomfortably beneath her.
'Poor, anxious Bob.' She thought fondly.
"Sorry-...was that too soon? It's just...been on my mind, like, since I met you and-"
"I love you, too." She tilted her head up, just enough so she could softly kiss his stubbled chin, "Of course, I love you, Bobby."
She could practically feel his smile as he relaxes, "Cool." He mumbled, he kissed the top of her head again, "Cool."
She smiled, one of her hands coming up to hold his, her head still pillowed against his chest.
She really, really loved him. There was not a single doubt in her mind.
Bob staggered into their shared apartment, he'd moved out of his old apartment with his old friend and moved in with Linda only a few months prior.
They'd been dating for a little over a year. Bob loved her with everything he had. She was everything.
And she was his.
He still didn't understand why she choose him. She's...so out of his league.
"Heya, Bobby," Linda called from the couch, eyes on the TV.
He smiled softly, "Hi, Lin."
As he kissed her softly, all his worries seemed to momentarily fade away.
She cupped his jaw softly once they parted.
"What's the matter, hon? You look upset."
He sighed, "It's nothing."
She glared, "You can talk to me, mister." She reached down to pause the show.
"Just... a long day." He mumbled.
She opened her arms, "C'mere. Let me hold you."
He smiled, shrugging off his coat before walking over to the side of the couch, settling down next to his girlfriend, who immediately sprang to action, wrapping one of her arms around his neck.
She cupped his cheek in her other hand, before pulling him forward to rest their foreheads together.
"I'm here for you. Never forget that."
Bob didn't get jealous often. He tried not to. He knew Linda would never cheat on him, she just wouldn't. That wasn't who she was.
They'd been dating for 2 and a half years, and Bob still found himself falling in love with her a little more every passing minute of every day.
They were at a restaurant, it wasn't particularly nice but it wasn't...too bad.
Bob had been in the middle of a story when someone approached the couple, "Holy crap, Linda Genarro?"
Linda turned her head, her eyes widen as the recognized the man, "Austin! Hey!"
Bob froze, looking between the two.
The man...Austin looked Bob over, before sticking a hand out, "Hi. I'm Austin."
Bob shook it hesitantly, "Hi?" He sent a warry look over to his girlfriend.
"Austin and I grew up next door to each other since we were just little tiny kids." She explained, oblivious to her boyfriend's growing worries. "How have you been?" She asked the man.
Austin was tall, probably an inch or two taller than Bob, his hair was neat and his blue eyes shined in the light. His clothes were clean and new, and he stood confidently as he spoke.
He was everything Bob wasn't.
Bob found himself zoned out throughout most of the encounter, but was gained his attention was when Austin kissed Linda on the cheek.
His face grew red, "What the hell! That's my fucking girlfriend!"
Austin raised an eyebrow in confusion while Linda's face morphed into understanding.
"Bobby." She reached out her hand to grip his, "Relax, it's okay, he's gay." She laughed. Thumb massaging his knuckles.
"Oh." He mumbled, "Sorry."
Austin chuckled, "It's alright, man. I see where you're coming from." He smiled kindly at them both, "I better be going. Linda, great catching up with you, Bob, it was nice to meet you."
Linda smiled up at him while Bob just nodded. A silence fell over the couple after he walked away.
Linda's hand was still gripping tightly to Bob's, grounding him to reality.
"Bobby?"
"Mhm?"
"You're cute when you're jealous." She laughed, staring at him lovingly.
He sighed softly, "Sorry. It's just...I don't know what came over me."
She just smiled, "It's okay. I get it." She leaned over and kissed him softly, "You don't have to worry, I love you, just you, only you. Now and forever."
They didn't fight often, normally it was just tiny arguments over stupid things, this was one of those occurrences where it grew from that.
"Stop pushing me away, Bob!" Linda cried, hand's in fists by her sides, face red with frustration.
"I'm fine, Linda!"
"Stop telling me you're okay if it's not true!"
Bob sighed in frustration, "Just because I don't...want to tell you everything about everything doesn't mean anything!"
They'd been going on and on like this for at least half an hour. It was a stupid argument, fueled by insecurity on Bob's part and misunderstanding on Linda's part.
"What? So I'm not enough for you!?" Linda finally yelled, hands shaking slightly.
Bob's face changed, the anger disappearing, morphing into pure confusion, "What!? No-...no." He felt like he was about to cry, "That's not...Linda no."
"Then why won't you just fucking talk to me!?"
"BECAUSE I'M NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU!" He snapped. Finally, the word's he'd been thinking since their first date came to the surface, leaving a heavy silence.
"What?" Linda croaked, slowly approaching him, all past anger replaced with sadness. Tears already dripped down her cheeks, "Bobby."
Panic set over his face, "Please don't cry, I...I hate it when you cry." He said, hand raising to wipe her tears, "I-...I just, you're so, good. And I'm just me. And I've never loved someone like this before and it scares me because, I-...someday you're gonna realize you deserve better and leave."
Linda shook her head, "I'm not leaving...I promise. You're my everything, Bobby, don't you know that?"
He nodded, "I know...I know Lin, it's just...sometimes-..." he trailed off, Linda took the opportunity to kiss him softly,
"I love you, Bob Belcher. I wouldn't change a single thing about you, and if I have to spend the rest of our lives to convince you of that..." she pulled him down to her level, resting her forehead against his, "I will."
Bob was a nervous wreck. He had to do it today, he had to.
Otherwise, he'd never do it, and that wouldn't be good.
They were sitting on the couch, Linda was reading a book, and Bob was working up all the courage he had inside of him.
"Lin?"
"Hm?"
"Would you...wanna get married?"
She raised her head from the book, "Is that a question or a proposal?"
He blushed, "Both?"
Linda smiled, "Well, you have to ask correctly, mister."
"I don't...have a ring."
She rolled her eyes, "I don't care about that! Y'know that Bobby."
Bob nodded, standing up just to take a kneel, "Umm, Linda, will you uhh...marry me?" his voice was small and Linda saw his hand shaking.
Poor, anxious Bob
She stood up in front of him, tears brimming her eyes, "Of course, yes."
He smiled so big Linda was sure it must have hurt. He had tears of his own rising in his eyes, "Okay...cool." He stood up wobbly, pulling his girlfriend fiance into his arms, "Cool."
Linda embraced him tightly, "I love you."
He squeezed her, wondering how he managed to get so damn lucky, "I love you too...I love you so much."
Their wedding wasn't anything special, Linda had a nice dress, Bob wore a tux, they only invited a few close relatives and friends.
It wasn't anything special, but it was theirs.
Bob still couldn't wrap his head around any of this, it all seemed like a dream.
Linda agreed to marry him.
Linda was going to be his wife.
He was going to be Linda's husband.
Linda and he were going to get married.
He exhaled shakily, nerves raking through every part of his body.
Bob was pretty sure he cried through the whole wedding...but it was okay because he knew Linda cried too.
He wished his mom could see him now.
His mom would have loved Linda, that he didn't doubt.
It was late once they eventually arrived back at the apartment. Bob hadn't stopped smiling since their I do's
Linda beamed up at him, "Oh Bobby." she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck to bring him down to her level, "We just got married." Bob breathed out in disbelief.
"Yeah." Linda returned.
Bob returned the embrace tightly, finally being able to name this feeling, the feeling of being in her arms, and all the worries of the outside world drifting away.
It was home.
Bob woke to a scream, his first instinct was to protect Linda, but when he looked around the dark room, she was nowhere to be found.
"Lin!" He screeched, jumping out of bed faster than he knew was possible.
The light was on in the bathroom, and as he got close enough, he could hear muffled sobbing.
"Lin? Linda, open up!" He called, voice laced with worry. His hand gripping tightly to the door knob.
Was she okay?
He was just met with more sobbing, he tried again to open the locked door.
Eventually, Linda managed to open the door.
Bob burst in, eye's falling on his wife, sobbing on the floor with a tiny object in her hand.
His brain seemed to malfunction when he realized that it was...
It was a pregnancy test.
"Oh my god..." He breathed out. All color drained from his face.
He knelt down in front of his wife, carefully taking the object from her grip.
Two lines.
Holy shit
Linda was pregnant.
Bob was going to be a father.
He stared blankly at the test.
"Bobby." Linda begged, "Say something. Please."
Tears welled up in his eyes and his throat seemed to close up, "I-...I'm happy."
Linda seemed to exhale out of relief, pushing herself closer to him until her chin was resting on his shoulder.
"What do we do?
"I don't know...but...it'll be okay."
"And...you're not mad."
He turned his head to press a hard his to her temple, "Of course, not."
Everything would be okay.
Bob hadn't been in the room when his daughter was born. He felt indescribably guilty for that, but he couldn't handle the blood.
As soon as they cleaned the baby up, Bob was permitted into the room.
Linda was crying with the baby in her arms, the sweetest smile on her face.
Bob approached slowly, Linda looked up at him, "Bobby...c'mere. Come...meet your daughter."
Tears were trailing down his cheeks. He reached out for the baby, his baby.
He hadn't thought it was possible to love someone more than he loved Linda, then he met Tina.
"Hi, Tina." He mumbled, he knew the baby couldn't understand him, but the words kept flowing out, "I'm your dad. I...I-..." He trailed off, unsure of what to say. Linda stroked his arm, knowing exactly how he was feeling.
He leaned over and kissed his wife, "I love you so much, Lin."
"I love you too, Bobby." She turned to the baby squirming in his arms, "I love you both." She reached out to cup her husband's cheek, smiling lovingly at him, "More than anything."