Original Prompt: shay proposes abruptly to rafferty, to show casey how it is done the right way

Casey's POV

"Come on, just practice on me."

Shay tugs on your arm and pulls you into your office, closing the door and the blinds behind you, "I don't need to practice, I know what I'm-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there, buddy," she interrupts, and you find yourself at her mercy not for the first time since you'd made her your wingwoman.

"Okay, Dawson is my best friend so you better do this right and the only way I'm going to know if you're doing it right is if you show me first so just… pretend I'm her."

You stare at her, eyes pleading for her to let it go, but she just stares back expectantly.

"Any day now Romeo, chop chop."

You nod, dropping down to one knee in front of Shay with a sigh, "Gabriela Dawson, you are the strongest, most single-minded woman… what?"

Shay is looking down at you, exasperation all over her face, "It's just, it's not, hold on."

She turns abruptly and lifts one of the blinds, peeking through in search of something.

"What are you doing," you ask, standing once again.

Shay mumbles under her breath and you think you hear her say something about "keeping their mouth shut" but before you can ask Shay is out the door and back again pulling a very surprised looking Rafferty behind her.

"Okay do you promise not to say anything," Shay asks.

"About what?"

"Casey's proposing to Dawson."

And just like that your cat is out of the bag.

Rafferty's eyes go wide as she turns to you and offers her congratulations, to which you respond with a reluctant nod.

"But what does that have to do with me," she asks, her attention back on Shay.

"Just go with it," she replies, turning to address you. "Okay, Casey, pay attention…"

She begins by explaining how if you just drop to one knee Dawson's gonna know what's coming before any words even come out of your mouth, adding that it would be fine if you wanted to "be like everyone else in the history of ever", which earns her an eyeroll from you and Rafferty alike.

"You gotta like, ease her into it, ya know," Shay continues, eyes darting over to Rafferty before landing back on you. "You want her to be able to focus on what you're telling her, not on what you're gonna ask once you're done running your mouth."

She pauses then, taking a moment before turning abruptly to Rafferty, "Hey Rafferty, you know how we uh, we bust each other's balls and stuff?"

"Yeah," Rafferty nods.

"I'm really glad we do that."

You have no idea where this is going or why an impromptu discussion of your proposal plan has turned into Shay and Rafferty talking about bonding but you sit back and wait just the same.

"Me too." Rafferty narrows her eyes as she speaks, apparently also wondering where exactly this is going.

"I mean you can handle me, you know? You don't turn tail and hide or take offense, you just give it right back."

Rafferty chuckles. "Yeah, I'm pretty good like that."

"You are," Shay continues. "And not just when we're screwing around either, I mean, you've seen me at my worst with the whole Darryl Bell estate thing and it really means the world to me, knowing I can count on you to be there when I need you the most."

Rafferty smiles softly and nods, her eyes focused intently on Shay.

"And that's why I want you to know that you can always count on me too."

You watch as Shay takes Rafferty's hand, the entire mood of the room suddenly changing.

"I can't even begin to imagine how rough the last couple of years have been for you, or how you've managed to stay so strong in spite of it all, but for what it's worth, you'll never have to deal with anything alone ever again."

Shay pauses and you can't help but smile at the way Rafferty is looking at her now.

"You know I'm actually really bad at being there for people," Shay continues. "I never know what to say, but with you it's easy… if not all that straightforward."

Rafferty laughs softly again.

"I just make fun of you so you'll know I'm there, or start an argument to remind you you're a fighter."

You watch intently as Shay continues to speak, idly wondering if either of them have realized you're still in the room with them.

"I learned that from you actually, if I'm being honest."

They share another laugh and as you lean back against your desk you notice that Rafferty's hand is still resting gingerly in Shay's.

"You taught me a lot of other things too," Shay offers, and you suddenly realize exactly what it is she's doing. "Like how if I insult your eyeshadow you'll think that's why I've been staring at you all day, and not because you're so incredibly beautiful I can't keep my eyes off of you."

You listen carefully as Shay continues on, completely in awe of the fact that while she's saying words most women hear from every potential suitor, the sincerity with which they're delivered is well on its way to bringing tears to Rafferty's eyes.

"So believe me when I tell you that there is nothing I'd rather do than spend every morning waking up with you in my arms and every night falling asleep to the feel of your breath on my skin, because if I can have that, just those two simple things, I know I'll be able to handle anything that life throws my way."

Shay drops to one knee, never breaking eye contact, and you see the first tear make its way down Rafferty's cheek.

"Allison Rafferty," Shay begins only to stand abruptly and turn directly to you. "And that, Matthew, is how you propose to a woman."

You're completely dumbfounded. Shay is standing next to you entirely unfazed while Rafferty wipes at her eyes just a few feet away and you can't help the words that fall from your lips, "You made her cry."

Shay looks over her shoulder and offers Rafferty a small smile before turning back to you with a nod, "Yep."

It takes you a moment of looking back and forth between them to figure out what else you should be saying, and by the time you think you've got it figured out Rafferty has already excused herself from the room.

"You made her cry," you repeat and Shay just chuckles. "But you're not even together, she's not even gay…"

Shay tilts her head and shrugs, and you wonder if she noticed how Rafferty was looking at her when all was said and done.

"Well even if she wasn't before I'm pretty sure she's in love with you now."

"That's the point, genius," Shay replies. "To make her fall in love with you all over again."

Her words hit you like a ton of bricks and the pressure you'd felt before to make it a memorable proposal just increased ten fold.

"Now promise you'll do it right," Shay says, inching towards the door. "Casey, hey, promise you'll do it right so I can go check on Rafferty already."

You nod and wave her off, only to stop her just before she gets the door closed again.

"Hey Shay," you call. "You're gonna need a date for the wedding. I bet Rafferty looks great in a dress."

She just grins.