Who would have thought that a simple game Ratchet suggested in their relationship's infancy would become such a lasting tradition?

That first little game of truth or dare at some point became a recurring thing between them. Anytime they were feeling bashful or unsure they would play it like a trump card. Something to break the ice between them and open them up.

Then, after more time still, it became just something they would do. Walking around the house, garage or store, they would play a round or two. Usually it reduced them to a giggling pile of melted lombaxes while other times it would spark some more romantic evenings.

Rivet walked through the garage hefting a box of engine parts on her shoulder while she looked at a datapad in her free hand. Despite the mess she and Ratchet consistently left around pretty much everywhere they went she glided through it with practiced ease. She reached her current project, a retrofit of some old parts in Peri's engine, and set the box down. Ratchet entered the garage soon after and greeted her the same as usual.

She didn't respond, which was odd. She was usually so attentive about the area around her, a leftover from the days of living with one eye open. He walked up to her, making no effort to hide himself or his presence, and even when he was mere feet from her she still didn't notice. He looked to see what had her attention and went wide eyed when he did.

On her datapad was a rendering made by a dress company wearing one of their pieces. But it wasn't just any dress.

It was a wedding gown.

He looked at the label for the company and recognized it from the free times they had shopped there. They were an older company that tailored to a bunch of different species across galaxies. That was nothing special, but what made them unique was that when the lombaxes disappeared they had made sure to keep most of their inventory. So they still had entire warehouses filled with clothes made specifically for lombaxes. Dresses, suits, even streetwear. Both usually had to special order their clothes to fit properly or make them themselves, so finding a place where they could by well fitting clothes in bulk was great.

And now Rivet was making use of one of their special services, swapping clothes on a digital model of yourself so you know how it'll look when you get it. She admired the one she was looking at before flicking to the next one. She seemed disappointed in it, but if you asked him she would look good no matter what she was wearing. He decided he should tell her that.

"You know, I think you'd look good in that one." He started and stopped right there. Since he was so close she snapped straight from her trance, eyes darting right up to meet his. On a reflex she threw the datapad deep into the shop.

"Ratchet! When did you get here!?" She asked with a nervous smile while trying to pretend she hadn't just almost put a hole through a wall.

"About one dress before I spoke." He joked. "Not like I snuck up on you either, I've been standing right here the whole time."

She sighed at her own carelessness. "Okay fine. You caught me." She huffed with embarrassment.

"That implies you were doing something worth catching. With how long we've been together I think it only natural to start wondering about that."

She scoffed at him. "You say that, but I don't see you agonizing over what suit you'll wear."

"That's because I picked it out last month." He answered quickly and smiled when her red hot blush became visible through her light fur before she tried her best to hide her face from him. He hummed in thought for a moment, pondering what he was about to do. He had made the decision a long time ago, he'd just been waiting for the right time to ask. Might as well do it now.

"Hey Riv." She sighed and brought her hand down to look at him, probably expecting some speech about how they'd do it eventually.

"Yeah?"

"Truth or dare?"

The glare she shot him was more questioning than angry. "Truth."

"Do you love me?"

She looked at him like he was crazy. "Of course I do, what kind of question is that?"

He wagged his finger at her. "Ah ah. Your turn."

She huffed but smiled at their usual antics. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Did… Did you really think I looked nice in that dress?" She made a point not to look at him while she asked.

"Very much so." He said with a small laugh. "In fact, I understated how much I liked seeing that."

Ratchet wasn't terminally ill, but he was 99% sure that if he was her smile would have been able to cure him if he was.

His turn to ask again. "Truth or dare?"

She chewed her thoughts for a moment. "Dare."

He smiled to himself and her while he closed the gap between them. In her flustered state she wasn't emotionally ready for him to grab her by the scarf and pull her in for a deep kiss. This was a distraction though while his other hand slowly opened a drawer on his workbench, careful to do it quietly. Once open he removed the false bottom and retrieved a small metal object that had been in there for a little over a year, twirling it in his fingers.

Once he had it they separated and she looked at him hazily.

"That wasn't a dare hotshot." She teased.

"No." He produced a golden earring and held it out to her. "But this is."