Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or this world. I just like to be a part of it sometimes
Author's Notes: This is all A/U, but I'd say we can assume that anything we've seen so far in the show applies. I'm writing this so it takes place in Season 4.
Prompt: I would love to read a story about them talking about the rings (Courtesy of Guest)
Summary: The subject of their duplicate rings would have to be broached sooner or later.
The Rings
As they laid together in bed, Audrey started playing with the chain Nathan religiously wore. She twirled it around her fingers, and let it drop, before scooting the ring at the end of it across Nathan's chest with her index finger. As it neared the end of his chest, she hooked her finger in it to pull it back, and then started flicking it so it hopped across his chest.
Nathan watched this display, feeling Audrey's finger movements, but tracking the progress of the ring through sight and her finger, since he couldn't feel it. He stroked her hair as she played, waiting for her to speak. When she fidgeted like this, it was because she had something on her mind, and she would get to it when she was good and ready. It never helped to push her.
Finally, she grabbed the ring between her index finger and thumb, lifting it up as far as the chain would allow. "Where do you think your dad got this?"
"Hmmm?" Audrey had been playing with the ring for so long that Nathan had gotten distracted just feeling her skin under his touch. He had moved from stroking her hair to trailing fingers down her back, and no matter how often he touched her, just being able to feel something was overpowering. Not only could he feel how soft her skin was, but he could feel the warmth that radiated from her. If he left his palm in one spot on her body for a few moments and then pulled it off, he could feel the contrast in temperature between the skin that had been under his hand, and the skin that hadn't.
Not letting go of the ring, Audrey rolled on top of Nathan and held the ring up in the air, looking at him through the opening. "Where do you think your dad got this? I just keep thinking about how similar it is to Sarah's."
Nathan shifted his arms so he could continue tracing his fingers down Audrey's bare back, and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure. I don't ever remember seeing him with it."
Audrey put the ring back down on Nathan's chest, stuck her index finger in it, and started tracing random patterns, dragging the ring along with her finger. "I keep feeling like there's something to these rings, but I can't figure out what it is. One existed with Sarah, and one had to have existed with Lucy in order for your dad to have it. But why don't I have one? Where did they come from?"
Nathan shook his head. "I'm not sure."
Audrey took to rolling the ring with her index finger and thumb. "Do you think Lucy gave this to your dad?" She felt the constant movement of Nathan's fingers on her skin stop, which made her look up at him.
"That's possible. But, why would she?"
"Maybe they worked together?"
Nathan looked towards the ceiling and blew out a breath. "I cannot believe how much the Chief knew about you, and didn't tell either one of us."
Audrey put the ring down and reached up to touch Nathan's cheek. "He must have had a good reason."
As Nathan looked back down at Audrey, he sighed. "No reason is good enough to not tell us what was going on." His fingers started their exploration of Audrey's skin again, and he watched as Audrey looked back to the ring, picking it up again.
"I just wish we could figure out what they mean, and why Sarah and Lucy had one, but I don't. I wonder if the others had one as well?"
Sometimes it bothered Nathan that Audrey spoke of her other selves as completely different people, because he knew for a fact that deep down, they were all the same person, but he figured that it was the easiest way she could comprehend what was going on. Nathan framed Audrey's head with his hands, and leaned down to kiss her on the crown of her head. "Don't worry Parker, we'll figure it out. We always do."
Upcoming Prompt: A fulfills N's fantasy.(Courtesy of Guest S)
