Hyde and Laurie Get Engaged

A/N The next morning and Hyde and Laurie are in for a shocking surprise.

Laurie looked at the ring finger on her left hand in stunned silence. Hesitantly she glanced up at Hyde; he was also staring at the third finger of her left hand. His mouth was agape. There for the entire world to see was an engagement ring that had belonged to Red's mother at one time.

Thinking back to the events of ten minutes ago was a chore. It seemed like it happened yesterday. Hyde was cooking her breakfast since it was a Saturday and Red came in all smiling and happy, which was not his normal demeanor in the morning. Nor was it normal for him to be up this early on a Saturday. The conversation started off normal enough but then.

Hyde looked up mildly surprised that Red had made an early appearance at Saturday morning breakfast. "Hey Red, want me to set a plate for you?"

"Please do Steven." And Red slipped into his customary chair.

Red just sat silently with a smile on his face till everyone was seated. He then reached into his pocket and handed Hyde a small object. "Put it on Laurie's finger Hyde." Then he turned his attention to Laurie. Accept this engagement ring from Steven.

Both Hyde and Laurie looked at Red in stunned silence. "Do it now." Red barked. "Or you'll need an adding machine to count the foots up the ass you two are about to receive."

"But why daddy?" Laurie blurted out.

White faced Hyde spoke. "Is this some sort of joke Red?"

Red slammed his fist on the table and the dishes jumped then stood up. Is it a joke when the boy I took in is in bed with my only daughter? Is it a joke when my only daughter is fornicating under my roof? I can't believe that either one of you would do something like that to Kitty unless you were planning on getting married. So I figured I'd help you out. You two are now engaged to be married. I expect a wedding within six months or the amount and quality of foots in the ass will even amaze me; and Laurie when you see your mother show off your ring and tell her how much you like it."

With that said Red scooped up all the bacon on the table and left.

Hyde spoke first. Laurie what are we going to do? Do you think if we told Red we were doing nothing he'd let us off the hook?"

Laurie looked at Hyde with a trace of amazement on her face. "Come on Hyde do you really believe that he's going to believe that I was in bed naked with you and you didn't do anything."

Hopefully Hyde blurted out. "I have great will power."

"No you don't Hyde. I take off my clothes and you're like the Energizer Bunny.

Hyde stood up and started pacing the room. "So what are we going to do Laurie?"

"Well Hyde, I guess it is move out and hide from Red the rest of your life or be my fiancé."

Hyde was slamming his right fist into the palm of his hand while he was pacing around the kitchen table. "I don't want to be engaged Laurie. I don't love you."

Laurie quietly let Hyde's words sink in. "In that case Hyde I'm going to have to see daddy and tell him you told me you'd marry me and now you want to back out and that was the only reason I slept with you." Laurie rose from the table.

Frozen in his tracks Hyde urgently spoke. "No, no Laurie don't do that, he'll kill me. I do you like you a lot I mean a whole lot."

Laurie turned and faced Hyde. "

"You mean you might even love me a little bit?"

With a resigned look on his face Hyde replied. "Yes Laurie that is what I meant."

"I thought so Hyde. Look at the bright side being engaged we don't have to sneak around anymore."

"God I think you're getting blonder by the minute Laurie. Then what happens at the six month mark. I don't think Red is going to go for an extension. If I don't marry you, He'll hunt me down."

"You have any better idea's Hyde. Are you going to run and leave your business behind?" Look Hyde we enjoy each other and we definitely enjoy our nights together. So let's play his game and maybe we can figure a way out of this."

Hyde nodded. "I think you're right Laurie. Alright we're engaged. Let's have breakfast. Hyde sat down and reached for the bacon. Damn it, Red took it all."

Kitty was overjoyed when she saw Laurie's engagement ring she couldn't stop hugging Hyde and her daughter. "All she could say was. "When you are two getting married and how many grandchildren am I going to have?

Kitty turned to her husband. "Oh Red how did you know Steven was going to propose to Laurie this morning?"

Red just smiled and kissed his wife. "Not sure honey, just a feeling I had."

Red waited till his wife busied herself in the kitchen, then he walked the familiar steps to the basement. Hyde was in his chair watching television, and Laurie was looking at her ring and fiddling with it. "One more thing I forgot to tell you."

In unison both Hyde and Laurie looked up at Red.

"There will be no fornicating in my house by unmarried couples. Kitty is against it. So you two keep your hands off each other and take plenty of cold showers. Red paused for effect "Alone." Red smiled and chuckled then turned on his heel and left the basement.

Shocked Laurie jumped up. "But daddy what is the purpose of being engaged then?"

Turning at the sound of his daughter's voice Red noticed Hyde sitting with his head in his hands and muttering to himself. He then replied to Laurie. "To plan your wedding sweetheart."

Next up…..Hyde and Laurie's first date.