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Sunlight poured into the bedroom despite the shut blinds. Nibbles was still asleep beside her, purring every other breath. V had woken up an hour earlier. She probably would've slept until noon, but Judy had gotten up early to go into town with Abuelo, and she had always had trouble sleeping without her girlfriend beside her. The two were supposed to get groceries and come right back so Abuela could start on a big dinner she had insisted on fixing because her and Judy were far too skinny, according to Ainara. But V had a hunch the dinner would have to wait until tomorrow. The two of them had most likely gotten distracted and went exploring somewhere.
When they had all went into town the other day for lunch, Judy and her grandfather had kept wandering off. Once, it took thirty minutes for V and Ainara to find them. When they did, Alejandro had a bag full of spare parts with him, and Judy had found a real rose that she had shyly handed to V.
V was currently twirling the rose in her hands, studying the petals. Well, she was pretending to anyway. Her gaze kept drifting to the bottom dresser drawer she had stuffed her clothes in. Underneath an old hoodie she never wore anymore was a small, velvet box. Inside was a slim gold band that had a shiny teal sapphire attached to the front. She had spent hours on the phone with Zane Jagger, a man she had went to a couple times back in Night City for clothes. V had also saved his life once during a cyberpyscho attack. He had given her some tips for what rings would be best, and then sent over a couple jewelers he "trusted with his life." V went with Panam a few weeks later into Atlanta for supplies and the ring.
The nomad assured V that Judy would absolutely love the ring. The former merc had nodded and said she would propose soon. That was six months ago.
Panam had rinsed her before the couple had left for Oregon, threatening to make V scrub the toilets for life if she came back with a girlfriend. She had mumbled a promise to return with the ring on Judy's hand, but… Fuck, she was so nervous.
What if Judy had changed her mind? What if, now that V was better and not actively dying, Judy wanted to leave? To go somewhere far away from her and the Aldecaldos? Away from Night City and all the shit that V put her through while they were there?
That was why the ring box had been sitting in a small bag in the corner of the Beast's truck bed for months. Why it was now hidden and remained untouched for the past two weeks that her and Judy had been staying with her family.
V sighed heavily and sat the rose aside. She ran her hands down her face roughly and sat up. The clock beside her read 10:28 A.M.
She was about to move Nibbles and get up when Ainara's voice came through the door.
She knocked softly a couple times. "Valerie? Are you alright?"
V rubbed the sleep that was crusted in the corners of her eyes and stood, quickly moving to open the door. Ainara stood outside the room with a worried look on her face. " 'M fine, abuela. Why wouldn't I be?" She frowned. During the time she'd been there, she hadn't once woken up before 11, at least. Her sleep schedule shouldn't be worrying her, especially not now.
"I raised Judy. Do you know how hard it is to get her to talk about her feelings? I have a sixth sense for when someone I love is upset, mija." She eyed V suspiciously. "Come on, you can tell me about it while you eat breakfast. I made waffles for you."
"Uhm-" V stepped backwards and quickly changed into a tank-top and shorts, throwing the pajamas she had slept in on the bed. She hesitated, then crossed the room and dug out the ring box, slipping it into her pocket. Nibbles shot her head up with a mrrp? as V stepped past and walked downstairs into the kitchen. "Thank you, abuela. You didn't have to cook for me."
Ainara waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense. I won't have anyone going hungry while they're here." She laid a plate with two waffles that were stacked, both had melted chocolate poured over them. V's stomach growled. "Now, sit. Eat. Tell me what's on your mind."
V flopped down in the chair, thanking Ainara again when the woman slid her a cup of steaming coffee. She ate quietly, grateful that the old woman was willing to wait for her to finish. V was halfway through her meal before she swallowed a bite hard and looked at Ainara.
"Abuela," she said softly. "Do you think… nevermind." She shook her head and grabbed her coffee, hiding her expression behind the cup as she took a drink.
"You are thinking of proposing, si?"
V choked. She spit out the mouthful of coffee she had back into the cup and eyed it with disgust as she sputtered. "What- shit." She coughed hard a couple times and gasped for air as she raised her head to look at Ainara. "What are you talking about?" She asked as innocently as she could.
"Valerie, please. I can tell when you're lying. It's not a good look for you." Ainara raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you not have a ring yet? Is that what's stopping you?"
V averted her gaze. "No… I have a ring, I just, I don't know. What if Judy says no?" Her eyes widened as Ainara laughed at her.
"V, you cannot be serious. Judy would marry you in a heartbeat if you asked! And you know me and Alejandro approve of you two. You have our blessing."
"It's not that simple."
"What is there to think about?"
"What if-" V felt her throat closing up suddenly and she blinked away the tears that threatened to escape. "What if I ask and something… happens? What if she realizes that I'm not what she wants? Judy could have anyone she wanted in this world, why would she settle for me?"
Ainara's gaze softened and she gently took V's hand. "Oh, Valerie. You are too in your own head. Judy loves you dearly. I've never seen her so happy. Do you know how she acted with Maiko?"
V shook her head. "Did you even meet her?"
"I did. It was terrible." Ainara chuckled and squeezed her hand. "Me and Alejandro went to Night City to visit Judy. We stayed in a hotel that was close to the Badlands. It was nice, actually. Nomads are very friendly. We explored a little bit but stayed mostly within the city lines. Can't ever be too careful down there. Anyways, we went to Ranita's apartment for dinner. Maiko was supposed to be there when we arrived." She gave V a droll stare. "The woman showed up two hours late, smelling like cheap tequila. She acted like a corpo suit when she spoke to me. I told Judy to break up with her before we left."
"Abuela…" V laughed softly and wiped her eyes.
Ainara smiled at her. "It was the truth. I would never lie to my family. And do you know what I told her after we spoke?"
V's stomach turned but she nodded, nervously chewing on her lip. "I told her you two would have very cute children."
V burst out laughing and shook her head. "You did not!"
"I didn't." Ainara chuckled. "I told Ranita you were a wonderful, honest woman. I told her if you two broke up, it better be because you fucked up horribly." V straightened back up and cleared her throat. Ainara gave her a knowing look. "I am well aware you'd never do such a thing. You would've burnt that city down if Judy asked you to. And she would do the same for you." Ainara paused and thought for a moment. "She doesn't have much experience with crime, though. A couple buildings would still be standing when she was done. It's the thought that counts." She shrugged.
V smiled and relaxed into her chair a little more. "So, if I did propose… you think she'd say yes?"
Ainara nodded. "She would tackle you to the ground and not let you up for an hour. Judy loves you, Valerie." Her expression shifted to something deadly serious. "If you get married, though, you must promise me something."
"Of course, anything." V tensed again.
"You let me teach you how to cook. I love mi Ranita with all my heart, but she's a terrible cook. At least one of you needs to know how to make dinner."
V grinned and put a hand over her heart. "I promise. Be the best apprentice chef ever."
"Good. Now, you said you had a ring?"
V pulled the box out, showing the woman the ring. Ainara gasped and started gushing to her, showing V the ring that her husband had proposed with.
A few minutes later the door opened and Alejandro walked in, Judy a few steps behind him.
"We're home! You'll never guess what we found!" He exclaimed. V yelped and quickly shoved her chair back, knocking her knee painfully against the table as she swiped the ring box and ran upstairs to hide it.
Judy stared at the spot she had just been in. "Abuela." She said slowly. "What'd you do to my girlfriend?"
Ainara stood and raised an eyebrow at Judy as she took a bag from her husband. "Nothing at all. What makes you think that?"
V returned and leaned casually against the wall beside the old woman, panting hard. She raked a hand through her hair and smiled. "Hey Judes, what's up?"
Judy shook her head and kissed V's cheek as she walked into the kitchen to set the bags down. Her grandfather was already halfway through his story about the morning as V followed and hopped up on an empty counter. She caught Judy's eye again and grinned at her. Judy snorted and flipped her off before turning to help her abuela with some veggies the woman was chopping up.
V would propose tonight, for sure. She was still nervous as hell, but Judy loved her. That's all V needed for now.