Crescent Acres (Steve Rogers AU)

24

Steve 

For weeks I've been looking at this ring, kept it in my pocket - wondering when would be the right time to let Darby know that it's very much there for whenever she decides to give me her answer, and now as I look up at her and tell her that I'll wait, I really mean it.

I would be happy to just wait forever if it means that she knows how I feel and always have about her.

I'm not going to push her. We both have our own shit to get over. Hers more marriage based than mine, but still - she's the one. I've known it from the start.

"You'd wait?" She asks, a little surprised that I'm not actually begging her to marry me right now now - even though I would in a heartbeat, and it's obvious to her that she knows that.

I nod. "We said slow, whether you say yes? Or whatever you say no - I won't be disappointed. But this?" I show her the ring again. "I just thought I would tell you now that if you wanted it to happen, then here it is - for whenever you decide if you do want to end up spending the rest of your life with a semi grumpy medicated bastard".

She smiles, looking like she almost could cry, but nods. "No man would give me this choice".

"I'm not like other guys". I shrug and get up, putting the ring back into the box and into my pocket. "But now you know how serious I am about you Darbs - you're my best girl".

Seven years in a dead ass relationship and Sharon never made me feel like I do when Darby is here. Everything is brighter, days, nights, the future...it's like having perfect vision when it had been blurred for so long.

She leans in and kisses me, then briefly pulling away. "I know, and I do want it for us - just know that I do. I will say yes when the time is right, I want you to know that now. I would never say no". She toys with my shirt, fingers grazing against where part of my chest is exposed.

"Does this mean you'll stay?" I ask. "No leaving again".

I don't think I could mentally handle it if she left without a word again. The last time she did I knew she was a part of me from feeling its absence within. It hurt like hell, ached worse than some of the injuries I had from the accident.

"No leaving". She confirms. "Although I'd need to get the rest of my crap sent here, and my apartment sold..."

"We have time". I assure her. We have all the time in the world now.

"Obviously I'd need to give up my job..." She carries on more to herself.

I stop her. "Darby, you don't have to give anything up for me".

She looks at me seriously. "The ranch is a part of me, always has been. I wanna learn more, better myself - and to be honest? I can't see anyone needing my expertise in interiors here". She now chuckles. "I want to do this, if I didn't then I'd certainly tell you - you know that".

I nod, having learnt more about her since she returned. From the little things she does, such as the nose scrunches when she laughs, right down to her twirling her hair around her fingers when she's tired. "I know". 

Noting her shiver a little where the temperature is now dropping, I slip my jacket around her shoulders. "C'mon, let's get back home". 

Home. 

Not just mine now, but hers too.

We return back to the ranch and she goes off to take a call from her mom while I find my own reading a book on the porch, looking up as I approach and smiling at me. "Where did you two sneak off to?" She enquires, putting her book down and shifting over so I can sit next to her.

"The point", I say. "Thought we'd take advantage of the free time".

"Well I hope to god that you're being safe".

"Mom!" I look at her in dismay. "Not that kind of advantage!"

She doesn't give a crap and brushes it off casually. "Your dad and I did the same when we were your age..."

I groan and cover my ears with my hands. "I don't wanna know! La la la la la!"

Mom loves to embarrass me in this kinda way and now pulls one of my hands away from my ears. "Alright, alright - I'll stop. But it's nice finally seeing you smile and not just forcing it out for my benefit".

I stare at the floorboards for a moment and then speak. "Can I tell you something?"

"Go on..."

I pull out the box from my pocket and immediately she becomes flustered with the exciting prospect that I'm finally gonna settle down. "Did you ask her?"

"Not exactly". I say. "I said that this is gonna be there for when she decides the time is right for us to take that step".

"But she's gonna say yes right?" Mom now presses.

I nod. "She's said that she will, and will tell me when - but right now? Things are going as they should".

Nothing is going to ruin it. I'll make damn sure of that.

Mom throws her arms around me with a squeal and then looks a little teary eyed. Seems I'm making a lot of people feel that way today. "Your dad would be proud of you - especially if he knew that this is with Darby".

"He knows". I say and look up to the sky. "I know he does".

As I look down and out at the ranch, dad's leant against the handrail of the porch step and just smiles with an approving nod.

It's his blessing. He approves of my choice - and there is no one better to help continue keeping this place going, than Darby Reeve.