Author's Note: This is a series of short one-shots depicting the story of Freddie proposing to Sam. Freddie and Sam have already been together for six years, ever since halfway through college. They are in their late twenties and living together before this story starts.
Warning: There will be some language and things implied, but nothing graphic. I don't own these characters.
Searching
Freddie is going to propose to Sam.
It has been years since they have started dating, six years almost exactly, because Freddie is a dork who counts the days and remembers all of their anniversaries. Sam refuses to say they're dating out loud. She has an instinctive fear of commitments, after watching her mother and father split up in her childhood. Freddie understands and accepts it. He wouldn't have been with Sam for long if he hadn't been willing to learn and live with her little quirks. He could do without the physical violence, but Sam has calmed down some since their teenage years. It helps that Freddie is now much taller and stronger than her.
He wants to settle down. The years have shown him he wants no one else but Sam. He cannot imagine living without her. So Freddie calls Carly and they go to a jewelry store. Freddie isn't sure what to get Sam. She doesn't like "girly things" and refuses to wear most jewelry. She barely wears make up, something Freddie loves. He feels that she looks so much prettier without it. Freddie looks at the rings and his confidence wavers. If Sam will not even admit they are dating, why would she agree to become engaged to him?
But Carly insists that Sam loves him too (Freddie has only heard Sam mumble it occasionally, while he says it everyday at least, and most of those times she had been eating ham; so she could have been talking to the meat) and tells Freddie he should get Sam something simple, nothing decadent. Freddie has a steady, well-paying job. He co-owns a computer company not unlike Pear. His reputation is rising in the industry and he is gaining more connections and support. He interprets the stock market expertly, and could easily afford any of the rings in the display.
He hesitates. Doubts and fears plague him, digging at him, distracting him. Freddie observes every ring and the employee tries to help him. Two hours pass by and even Carly is beginning to get disheartened. No ring for Sam has magically appeared, and the other rings are far too gaudy for Sam to wear.
Freddie muses out loud, saying he should just get a ring for twenty-five cents at the machines in the grocery store and be done with it all. "It's not like Sam's going to say yes, anyway." He mutters miserably to himself.
Carly smacks his shoulder in reply.
"This is important," she tells him, not for the first time that day. "This is Sam."
"Sam," Freddie mutters, shaking his head. He runs a hand through his hair—it's longer than he likes it, starting to get shaggy. Sam loves it, though, even though she has never told him so. She has her hands in his hair at every opportunity when it's this long. So Freddie keeps his hair long, because Sam running her hands through his hair is soothing. He would do anything for Sam.
'Anything' includes spending five hours combing through every jewelry store in town looking for a ring; Carly has to go and meet her own boyfriend after the third hour. Freddie has no experience shopping for jewelry. He doesn't want to call his mom, but he gets desperate after the twenty-third jewelry store failure. He calls his mom and she is there in ten minutes, taking his hand and leading him into a quiet, small jewelry store just on the edge of town.
Freddie has never been so glad to have his mom with him in his life. She directs the employee around expertly, describing Sam and then all of the rings Sam would not like. The employee immediately brings out a case from the back.
"Rings for girls who don't like rings," the employee says to Freddie with a friendly smile. The employee opens the case and Freddie's mom gasps.
Freddie himself is too busy gaping to notice his mom's reaction. His eyes are studying the five rings before him, a Christmas carol echoing in the back of his head distantly. He looks at each one. His gaze rests on the middle one and it stays there. The ring is understated, beautiful in its simplicity. It is a silver band with a small design of tiny, tiny diamonds etched in its side. The ring catches the light and throws beams of rainbows around. Sam's oversized sleeves would probably cover it up anyway. The ring is absolutely perfect and worth all of the trouble. Freddie reaches out and picks the ring up, even though it's probably against store protocol. Living with Sam has cured him of his habit of following and caring about stupid rules.
He holds onto the ring protectively when his mom goes to take it from him. His fingers curl around it and he steps back, watching his mom warily. He knows he's attacking like that goblin from Lord of the Rings, whose name he can't even remember because he's so focused on the ring, but Freddie doesn't care. He will pay whatever price because this is the ring for Sam. It's the one that will fit, the one that will turn her into Cinderella, the one that will make her consider marrying Freddie and committing herself to him.
"Honey," his mom says gently, smiling lovingly at him. "You need to give the ring to Mr. Richardson so he can wrap it up."
Freddie numbly turns to the employee and hands the ring over. He stares as the man puts the ring in a box and carefully puts that box in a nice, expensive-looking bag. Mr. Richardson asks how Freddie will be paying. Freddie hands over his credit card and has never felt happier paying for something.
He usually spends his huge salary on computers and electronic things and fencing equipment and rent. Sam spends his money on food and clothes and movies and worthless junk. She works as a free-lance comedian and is looking into getting her own steady show in the city. Freddie supports her and as much as Sam whines about it, she likes being taken care of; or so Freddie hopes. Because Freddie is more than happy to take care of Sam. She is fierce and independent and her own woman and just maybe this ring will convince her that she can be Freddie's woman without loosing herself.
Freddie walks out of the jewelry store with a ring in a bag, his mom holding his hand, Carly calling his phone, and Sam on his mind.