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It surprisingly doesn't start on Valentine's Day, despite this holiday's inherent romantic nature. Not Christmas, either, arguably the most intimate.
Linda's a bit embarrassed about the holiday on which she realized her relationship with Becky was changing her as a person, actually. The day she proposed the idea of proposing to Becky.
Halloween is so un-sexy. Hell, she would have preferred Thanksgiving. At least that would have made more sense; being with family (and loved ones), that cozy autumn atmosphere Linda loves so much, spiced pumpkin lattes...it would've been a much, much more respectable story.
But it's not, and Becky likes to reminisce on it, anyways.
Their second Halloween together. The first was a bit complicated because their honeymoon phase had been at its peak and they did not actually end up going to the gathering they had been invited to, not even going trick-or-treating, instead spending hours getting something else sweet...that was Becky's favorite joke, and Linda had appallingly laughed at it as well the first time she heard it.
Now, the second Halloween was supposed to be different; they hadn't been invited to any party, but were going to an event at Miss Retro's. Linda hadn't been to the diner in years, but Becky had looked at her with her big ocean eyes and Linda was gone.
Becky also decided on the costumes, Linda had given her free reign. And with an 80s theme that Miss Holloway was adamant about, who else could Becky have chosen but two characters from the arguably most famous 80s movie?
"...I miss low-rise jeans, I look fucking spectacular."
"Yeah!," Becky replied excitedly, looking Linda and herself up and down in the mirror of their dressing room. The unmistakable reflections of Ren McCormack and Ariel Moore stared back—the most iconic 80s couple.
"Footloose has been one of my favorite movies since High School."
"You were not even born when it released."
Becky raised her eyebrows at her, and Linda there was little else Linda could do but smirk and pose for herself: "You think people'll get it?"
"It's Miss Retro's, babe, people will get it."
"Great. Maybe next year we can do Dirty Dancing. You were two when that one came out!"
"I know you're being making fun of my affinity for the 80s, but I would be so down for that."
Linda tried to fight a laugh, but it was useless with Becky. She couldn't win.
"I already call you baby, anyways. Although...I have to say, you look much cuter as Ariel Moore."
"Oh, yeah?"
Becky grinned and gave Linda a wink: "Much. Low-rise jeans, babe."
Linda just laughed. She couldn't remember a Halloween celebrated in the last decade where she actually had fun. This was all very unlike her, but she found she liked it that way. Maybe it could become like her. With Becky.
She didn't even realize it during a big moment, like a memorable recreating of the iconic lift scene from Footloose. That would've been a story. No, Linda was hit with it on the way to Miss Retro's. Becky was the one driving them, so Linda sat there in the passenger seat and looked real pretty for her. Some 80s playlist Becky made was playing, and though Linda could not fucking stand the song, Becky decided to sing along with her stupid angelic voice, and Linda never wanted the song to end.
And that was it. Going out to small diners for themed Halloween parties, letting someone else pick her outfit, being okay with their taste in music messing up Linda's carefully curated Spotify algorithm? It was love. Must be. Nothing else could explain this feeling.
Linda started looking for engagement rings that night. She'd been irreversibly changed by Becky Barnes, and could not fucking be happier about it. Even if she did realize it on Halloween.
...She should propose on Christmas. Better atmosphere.