Chapter Text
The tiny bell above the door rings announcing their presence. In half a second a salesperson, Theo, according to their name tag, is beside them.
"Welcome!" They greet, their kind smile doing nothing to temper Lucy's nervousness. "How can I help you today?"
Lucy doesn't respond immediately, her eyes and body still trying to take in the fact that they are really here. This is really happening.
I'm gonna throw up.
"We are looking for a ring!" Says a small, but excited voice to her right. Then, whispering conspiratorially, he adds, "It's for my Mommy."
"Oh, isn't that exciting?!" Theo's smile broadens, the Micah Effect already taking place. "What are you looking for, Mister?"
"Mama, what are we looking for?" The boy asks, turning to Lucy who is still rather frozen in place. Micah shakes the hand he's been holding, "Mama?"
"What? Oh, right. Yes. Ring. Engagement. Please," Theo is politedly holding back a laugh and Lucy wants to shove her head into the nearest hole in the ground.
It's been nearly a year since Kate and Lucy became a thing and that fact alone has been making the brunette spiral. Lucy is not used to relationships that last for over six months, she has never allowed herself that level of vulnerability and she knows Kate hasn't either. So to catch herself thinking, on a random Tuesday afternoon, that she wanted to marry that woman is not doing wonders for her stomach.
Her logical brain was screaming that it was too soon, that she needed to slow down if she didn't want to scare Kate off. Her emotional brain, on the other hand, has been softly whispering that time is relative. After all, Kate's son is technically hers too.
So on a whim, Lucy picked Micah up from school the next day and drove them downtown. She stopped by his favorite ice cream shop and as they sat there, she shakily told him about her plans. The little guy was beyond himself with happiness, chanting, rather annoyingly, 'I told you so' . Once they were done with their sundaes, they went for a walk. Lucy was not yet prepared to go home and face Kate — nevermind she'd probably still be at the office.
They should've gone home. If they did go home, Lucy wouldn't have been dragged into this jewelry store by an overly excited Micah, saying they "must find Mommy her perfect ring."
Theo's voice, asking them to follow them further into the store pulls Lucy out of her disassociation. Theo rounds the display counter and disappears behind a wall with a quick "I'll be right back. Feel free to explore."
Lucy, still feeling a little dazzled by the fact she is in a jewelry store, prefers to just sit down on one of the little benches the store provides and focus on not fainting. Micah, on the contrary, doesn’t need to be told twice.
"Do you think they have anything with dinosaurs on it?" He says, smashing his nose against the glass in front of them.
"Mm, I don't think so, buddy," She says, pulling him away from the glass.
"Bummer," He says, already moving to another counter to explore the rings, necklaces and bracelets on display.
Lucy had always thought that handling hundreds of kids during summer would be enough practice for when/if she decided to have kids on her own. But boy, was she wrong… It turns out that dealing with hundreds of kids that you can delegate to someone else when you get tired and need a break is not comparable to being responsible for a kid, your kid, 24/7.
Micah wasn't a difficult kid by any means. He was respectful and kind and usually listened to your orders, but he was also exhausting and she says that with all the love in her heart. Genuinely, she couldn't love that kid more if she tried, but sometimes she just wanted him to stand still — which is a lot coming from her of all people.
She turns around in time to see him trying to sneakily pick up a ring that one of the salespeople took out of its case to show to another customer.
"Micah!" The boy freezes, his index and thumb in a pinch position inches away from the ring. The salesperson, finally noticing him, smiles kindly, but pulls the ring away from his reach.
He walks grimly towards Lucy, his head hung low, "I just wanted to see it."
"I know, nugget, but you can't just pick it up. You have to ask first," Lucy explains, running her hand through his hair.
He slumps on the seat beside her, but his gloominess disappears the very same moment Theo comes back carrying a few ring stands.
"This is our newest collection," They explain, setting the stands in a neat line in front of them. "Each piece is exclusive and we can adjust the size if needed."
"Wooooooooooow," Micah says slowly. "It's so shiny."
Lucy, who was thinking the exact same thing, chuckles, "It is, isn’t it?"
Even though Lucy has little to no intention of buying a ring in the first place she walks into, she has to admit the idea of giving Kate an exclusive piece is tempting. So with an open mind, she goes through each stand slowly, always taking Micah’s comment into consideration.
“Too boring,” “Not as shiny,” “Too big,” He says as he inspects whatever ring Lucy picks up, and she has to agree with all those statements. Kate wouldn’t like anything too flashy, she is a discreet person and Lucy couldn't picture her with a gigantic rock on her finger. But she also wouldn’t want something boring, something that lacked personality.
This is quite possibly the most challenging experience Lucy has ever gone through.
"What about this one?" Micah carefully picks one up and hands it to Lucy. It's pretty, but unfortunately, it falls into the ‘no personality’ category with a single small diamond in a simple golden band.
"Too meh," Lucy says, putting the ring back in its place.
They spend at least 30 minutes looking for what Micah keeps referring to as ‘ the perfect ring ’. Lucy is about to give up and tell Micah they could come back another day when her eyes land on the one.
A small gasp falls from her lips as she taps Micah’s shoulder, “Leaves!”
Micah, though slightly confused by his Mother’s outburst, follows her line of sight, once he understands what she means, his mouth forms a little O-shape.
“Leaves!”
The ring is a simple one, rather similar to the one Micah had shown her earlier, but where that one lacked, this one has in spades. On each side of the delicate diamond, there are a few tiny ones forming a pattern that resembles leaves around a flower. It’s the perfect amount of simplicity and detail. Plus, they did meet at a camp. She can’t think of a more fitting detail.
"You think she's gonna like it?"
Lucy can feel her stomach begin to churn. She does think the ring is perfect, but what if it isn't? What if she makes this choice right now, at the very first store she browses and ends up regretting it? What if Kate thinks it's too corny and ugly and says no because of that? What if, what if, what if…
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"I think she's gonna love it!" Micah reassures.
"Oh God. I'm gonna be sick," Lucy places the ring on the counter carefully, then touches her forehead as if checking her temperature.
Tiny arms wrap around her middle, “Mama, it’s ok. She’ll love anything you give her because it’s you and she loves you.”
Lucy wants to laugh, being comforted by her six-year-old about how much his Mom loves her wasn't on her bingo card for today, but she'd be lying if she said it didn’t help to hear that.
"I'd listen to the little guy if I were you. He seems very wise," Theo says.
"I am!"
"Yeah, yeah, you are," She takes a deep breath. "Fine. We'll take this one."
"Yeeey!"
"Perfect! What is your soon to be wife’s ring size?"
"Oh shit," She has no idea, she really didn't think this through.
Before she can hyperventilate, Micah answers the question for her, "8."
"And you know that how?"
Micah shrugs, "I shop with her sometimes."
“Riiight,” Lucy narrows her eyes at him, but he just shrugs again. "Size 8 it is then."
"Well, I guess it really is the perfect ring. No need to adjust," Theo says with a smile and Micah hoorays happily. "Do you want a red case or a black one?"
Before Lucy can open her mouth, Micah pitches in, "Do you have a dinosaur one?"
×××××
With the ring safely tucked into her backpack in its black velvet case — much to Micah's dismay — she takes the boy by the hand and they begin to walk towards her car.
"You know," The boy says, hopping into the backseat. "I think something is missing on that ring."
Lucy freezes. He did not encourage her to spend almost half of her savings on it only to change his mind now. "W-what?" She asks, hoping to whatever God is listening that he says a dinosaur .
"My name," He says bluntly. Lucy is equally confused and relieved. "I mean, if it wasn’t for me, would you even be together right now? I think I deserve at least a big diamond M."
“If it wasn’t for you? I didn’t even know you were your Mother’s son until, like, the third week!” Lucy argues, quite shocked by the turn this conversation has taken.
"That's not my fault! I told you on the very first day."
"No, you didn't!" At that Lucy starts to laugh. She still can’t believe how badly she missed the signs.
She is saved from the rest of the discussion by her phone. She doesn’t need to look at the screen to know who is calling.
"Shhhh. Act normal," She says to Micah before taking the call. "Hiiiiiiiii."
"That's normal?!" Micah whispers, and Lucy sticks her tongue out at him.
"What did you two do?"
"Nothing!" They both answer at the same time. If they were in the same room, Kate would be glaring at them. Through the phone, however, she only hums.
"Are you on your way over at least?"
"Yes. Sorry, babe. I took him out for ice cream then we went for a walk. Must’ve lost track of time."
"A shiny walk," Micah giggles and Lucy glares at him.
“That’s fine,” Kate says, her voice as soft as it usually is whenever she is talking about Lucy and Micah. “Just missing my favorite people. Plus, I might have gotten McDonald’s take out.”
Lucy is pretty sure that if it wasn’t for the seatbelt Micah would’ve gone through the roof.
“Happy meal?” He asks, his eyes shining.
“Happy meal.”
The boy squeals adorably, making Kate laugh.
God, I love these two.
“Drive, Mama. Drive!”
“The traffic light is red!”
“I don’t care! It’s a Happy Meal!”
Lucy just sighs, “We’ll be there at ten. Tops.”
“Lucy…”
“I’ll drive safely. Promise. Precious cargo and all,” More than one actually, Lucy thinks to herself.
"Good. I love you two."
"Love you, Mooooom.”
"Love you, babe."
The call disconnects and Lucy stares at Micah through the rear view mirror.
"Kid, you better not say a word, you got me?"
“About my Happy Meal?” Micah asks, his head tilting sideways like a puppy.
“About the ring!” Lucy has to hold back a laugh. Of course he forgot about the ring the second greasy food was mentioned. He is spending way too much with her, she needs to talk to Kate about that.
“Oh,” He says, nodding vicariously. “I got you. Not a word… To Mommy. I'm definitely telling Grandma.”
“Of course you are,” And she will never let us hear the end of it , Lucy thinks fondly.
“Now can you drive, pleeeeeaaaaaseeee? My belly needs a Happy Meal!”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m going.”