Author's Note: This story is a sequel to "Inevitability" and takes place in the same universe as "Tell The Whole Story," which may explain some of the references you see here, depending on how far into TTWS I've gotten when you read it. The story is also a gift for ChimericalParoxysm for being an overall winner in my Timed Tiers Challenge. (:
"It's occurred to me," says James as they trek up the slope towards the jewelry shop, "that even though we were the first to get together, we're the last to be doing this." He indicates the shop with a sweep of his hand.
Regulus laughs and catches James's hand before it can drop to his side again. "That's because we've never had any doubts. Every time Sirius or Severus proposed, it was because they wanted to prove something to each other, which is probably why most of the proposals fell through."
"Right, well, I guess I can count myself lucky that neither of us has ever been captured by Death Eaters," says James darkly. "How about Lily and Narcissa? They never had any doubts that I know of."
"That you know of. They're women, they're not going to tell us about it."
James chuckles. "All right, I'll give you that."
They're at the door to the jewelry shop now, and they jostle for a moment to decide who goes in first. Regulus wins, but he doesn't let go of James's hand as he leads the way inside.
It's worse than James expected. Every kind of jewelry imaginable is on display, and the first thing he thinks is that Lily and Narcissa probably spent hours in here searching for their rings. The second thing he thinks is that Sirius and Severus probably don't even know this shop exists. Unfortunately for James, Narcissa is the person he asked for advice.
"I had no idea women had so many options," Regulus murmurs. His expression matches the anxious feeling in James's gut. "There must be a men's section somewhere."
James inspects a nearby diamond necklace that probably costs several hundred Galleons by itself. When he realizes even the chain is made of diamond, he backs away.
"Can I help you?" The speaker is a young woman with shortish blonde hair and a wide, slightly lopsided nose. James and Regulus both turn towards her, and she grins at the looks on their faces. "Oh, I see. Finally taking the plunge, are we?"
"Er –"
"Can we get something not too expensive?" says Regulus, squeezing James's hand. "And, ah, something simple? But matching, of course."
"Of course." The woman nods knowingly, and James guesses that they aren't the first couple to be startled by the selection. "I think you'll find what you're looking for right over here." She leads them to a relatively small case that is filled with rings of various colors and metals, none of which include any gaudy jewels.
Relieved, James lets Regulus choose, since he's got a better eye for these things.
"Who knew buying two rings would be such a bother?" Regulus grumbles when, a few minutes later, they leave the shop, their purchases sparkling on their fingers.
"Narcissa's the one who told me about this shop," says James.
"Right then, I think it's about time I visited my stepchildren, don't you?" And without further ado, Regulus grabs James in a tight embrace and Apparates them both away.