"How the hell do I explain why they have to be there, Lucas?" Victoria asked.
"I will tell Sullivan to make it an order of sorts." Lucas replied.
"No, they'll fight it too much, I will just tell them the truth, at least Travis and Sully will show up and Jennifer and Lila will be there." She said with a kiss to his cheek as she ran out to her car to rush in to shift. She must be twenty minutes late already.
**Ten Minutes Later, Station 19**
"Yes, I know I am late. But I'm here." She said to Sullivan as he stepped out of his office and she ran up the stairs to get changed.
"Hurry up, Hughes." He said and she threw a thumbs up behind her back as she made her way to change.
"Damn, your naked man friend keep you up all night?" Travis asked as they sat to breakfast with the rest of the crew.
"You could say that. Speaking of him, I have to tell you all something." She replied and they all looked at her and waited for her to continue.
"I'm getting married. After shift, I want you all there, just at the courthouse, but I still want you there." Vic rambled.
"To who?" Bishop asked in shock.
"Lucas Ripley." She replied and shoved a fork full of eggs into her mouth while they swallowed the news.
"What?!" Andy asked and Travis patted Vic on the back.
"Yeah, it's been going on for a while, and I love him. This is the only way, what with policy, that we can continue to be together. And I can't stand to lose him. I didn't expect this when it started but I need him." She answered not noticing Lucas standing in the doorway behind her. He strode over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him.
"The way you ran out, I figured I could help tell them, but it appears you've beaten me to it." He stated and she nodded. Maya and Andy nodded and clapped their hands over hers.
"If you want us there, we'll be there." Miller said as he shoved bacon into his mouth.
"Warren, it's alright Miranda and Tuck join us, if they want to. I figure you want as much time with them as possible while you have it." He nodded.
"I'll let them know. I'll get back to you by the end of shift." Ben replied. Lucas smiled and pulled Victoria away for minute.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Yeah, just overwhelmed." She replied and crashed into his arms.
"I love you, and I need you too." He said as he kissed her head.
"I know. I just haven't said any of that out loud before. It hit me hard and it made me extremely excited for the end of shift because you, Lucas Ripley are the one I plan on spending the entirety of my life with." She said as she leaned up and kissed him. She returned to the table and he made sure she was alright before he left and went to his office across town.
"So, when did this start? If you don't mind me asking." Maya asked.
"The night of the support group after the skyscraper." Vic replied.
"Damn. We're halfway through April now." Bishop replied as the girls cleaned up and sent the guys, minus Travis to work. Of course gossip must ensue.
"So, how good is he?" Andy asked and they all leaned in to hear what she said.
"Best I have ever had. Let's not bring that up to him though. It'll go to his head." Vic replied and blushed, hard.
"Oh our little Vic is blushing. Are you gonna take his name?" Maya asked.
"Yeah, I'll still be Hughes at work but legally I will be Ripley." She answered as she washed the dishes. Travis grinned.
"His sister and niece will be there tonight too." Vic added.
"Is he good with her?" Andy asked.
"So good. I can't wait to see him with our kids. And yes, we both want them." Vic smiled and ran her hands through her hair in a daydream.
"Damn, you got it bad." Maya grinned.
"Tell me something I don't know." Vic replied as they made their way to the barn and got to work. They were tasked with washing the trucks today. They pulled the first engine out and wet it down with the hose before they all started washing it with the sponges and rags. The girls climbed up and cleaned the roof of the cab as well as the ladder. The guys worked on the inside of the cab, the wheels, and the front half of the truck before the girls climbed down and finished up with the rear half of the truck.
They left it out to dry and pulled out the second truck. This time they swapped duties and the ladies cleaned the inside, the wheels, and the front half of the engine before the guys finished it up. They decided to take a hydration break. It was a scorching Seattle day.
"Did he do a big proposal, or did it just come up casually?" Andy asked as they all rested in the entertainment room.
"It came up casually a few weeks ago. I don't think he expected me to agree with it, but he insisted on a real proposal. It was so beautiful." Vic said as she closed her eyes to remember as she told them.
**Flashback**
The night before had been magnificent. She came home from the grocery store to find that Lucas had scattered rose petals everywhere.
"Damn you Ripley." She muttered. She was going to cry, and she knew it.
She smelled the delicious meal he had cooked up and she smiled when she saw him walk out in his turnouts. She was wearing a ratty SFD t-shirt and jeans with a pair of combat boots. Of course. The life of two firefighters who'd fallen in love. He bent down one knee.
"Victoria Elizabeth Hughes, you are the most challenging, kind, caring, loving woman I have ever met. I love you, and I don't plan on losing you any time soon." He started as she dropped the groceries and stepped towards him. She used the back of her hands to wipe her tears.
"I can't wait to watch to you with our children. I can't wait to grow old with you. I love you and I need you with me in this life. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" She choked out a sob as he presented a beautiful ring and she hadn't needed or expected.
"Yes, Hell yes, you are all I need and all I want." She replied as she sat on his knee and kissed him. He chuckled and slipped the ring on her finger.
"I love you to the ends of the earth Lucas Christopher Ripley." She said as she helped him up. He led her to the table and poured the wine as she started making their plates.
**End of Flashback**
"Damn Vic." That was all Travis could muster. Her phone rang and she answered it.
"Hello, Lucas." She said and smiled when he confirmed her guess as he greeted her.
"Hello darling. Lila wanted me to ask if she could dress up all pretty and be our flower girl, even though she won't throw petals, because as she said, 'making a mess for something so amazing is stupid' and she just wants to make you feel special." Vic smiled.
"She can do whatever she likes as the honorary flower girl and we will be sure to treat her to some ice cream to thank her for her dedication." Vic replied and he chuckled.
"She'll love that." He chuckled and they chatted for a few more minutes before they hung up.
"You are so smitten." Bishop teased and Vic blushed.
"No duh." Vic replied. As they got up and started to get some of their chores done. Vic was mopping the catwalk and pole area when she slipped and fell down from the upper level to the ground level next to the pole.
"Shit! Hughes are you okay?" Maya called and ran over to her.
"My hip and my knee. Right leg." Vic huffed out in pain.
"Montgomery call the chief. Warren get the aid cart ready. Herrera help Bishop get Hughes on the stretcher. Miller tell Grey Sloan we're on the way. Gibson tell dispatch half of us are on the way to the hospital and we'll be back as soon as we can. Hughes is off the clock as of now. I am grabbing her things now and transporting them with her." Sullivan barked out orders and bolted up the stairs to get her things from her locker and emptied it into her bag and carried back to the aid cart.
"Captain, the Chief is going to meet you at Grey Sloan. They're ready for you and Hughes just fainted. They think it's because of the pain." Travis said and Sullivan jumped in the aid cart and they sped off towards the hospital.
"Holy hell it hurts." Vic said as she came back into consciousness.
"You need Morphine?" Andy asked and Vic nodded.
"Yes." She answered softly as she winced in pain. They gave her some Morphine and unloaded her from the aid cart and Ripley met them at the door.
"Victoria."
"Lucas, it hurts." She cried out and squeezed his hand.
"I know." He said as he made it clear to the doctors that he wasn't leaving her side. He stood out of the way on her left side as they did the preliminary exam and stayed with her as they headed to x-ray, and he stood with Dr. Owen Hunt in the technician's room.
"Luke. Are you still there?" Vic asked through the intercom in the x-ray room.
"I'm here love. You're almost done." She nodded and smiled.
"Don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere. They're coming to get you out babe. Be still." He said as she was wheeled back into the hallway and he took her hand again.
"Lucas, we're not going to be able to get married today." Vic said as she shed a few tears.
"I know. As soon as you're released, we'll go."
"Okay, we need to get you into surgery. Your have major bruising in your hip, but your patella is nearly shattered. Luckily, we'll be able to fix it without plates and screws." Dr. Hunt said as Dr. Link walked in.
"Hi. I am Dr. Link, head of Ortho. We're going to get you taken care of." He smiled and Lucas kissed Vic softly.
"I'll be here when you wake up, love. I'll tell the crew what's going on. I love you." She smiled.
"I love you too." Vic replied as they wheeled her up to pre-op.