All by Chance {Brollins}

/ Chapter 49 \

"What the hell is he doing?" Ron questioned his wife as they both stared at their son.

He was leaning back in his chair and just staring at the desk in front of him, unmoving. "You don't think they got into another fight, do you?"

Ron shook his head at Holly, "No, I'm pretty sure she would've killed him by now if that was the case."

Holly nodded, seeing Colby remain uncharacteristically still. "I'm surprised she didn't the first time."

Ron took a sip of his coffee, "Plus, I'd like to think he's not stupid enough to see if she'd forgive him a second time."

"No relationship is without turbulence." Holly pointed out, "They're both understanding. I'm sure it'll be okay. That's what separates them from others."

They continued to watch him for the next five minutes, and Ron got tired of trying to read between the lines. He rang the phone on Colby's desk, watching him all the while. Yet Colby didn't move or react as if he couldn't even hear it.

Holly looked over at her husband, concerned. "I'll go get him."

She knocked on the door and saw him suddenly jolt up like he was sleeping with his eyes open. Holly took note that Rebecca wasn't in yet, but that had become a regular occurrence due to the new daycare schedule overlapping with their starting time.

She opened it slowly, "Hey, sweetheart. Your father is looking for you... everything alright?"

"Yeah, just thinking." He blinked rapidly, realizing he must've zoned out for a while.

He followed his mother to his father's office and closed the door behind him. "What's up?"

"That's exactly what we'd like to know." Ron started, and Colby looked at him confused. "Is there a reason why you're examining the wood your desk is made of instead of working?"

"Oh." Colby just rubbed the back of his neck, "It's nothing."

"Well, it's interfering with your work, so it has to be something." Ron spoke slowly, calculated even, trying to read his son's expression. "Did you piss her off again? Because I swear to all that's holy-"

"No. We didn't fight." Colby spoke defensively, still sore about what he had said the prior time they did. "I'm just thinking about... things."

Confusion laced Holly's eyebrows, "And these things are?"

"Private." Colby answered as he stared outside his father's window out into the world.

Holly's eyes immediately widened, and a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. "Is she pregnant?"

Colby's head immediately turned towards her. "What? No."

Then suddenly, his hands went cold, "Why? Did she say something to you?"

"No, no." Holly laughed, seeing some colour return to his face. "What else do you expect me to assume with the way you're acting?"

"It's not that..." He started to pace, "It's just that- I don't know, I've just been thinking..."

Colby stopped and forced himself to take a deep breath, turning to his parents. "I think I wanna ask her to marry me."

Ron raised an eyebrow, "You think?"

"No... I know I want to." Colby sighed, beginning to ramble, "I just don't know if she does, and I don't know if it's too soon or something and-"

"Dammit, child, do you love her?" Ron slammed his fist on the desk, catching Colby and Holly off guard.

Colby stared at his father with wide eyes. "Yes, of course."

"Does she love you?" Ron's voice calmed as he looked at his son.

"Yes." Colby nodded surely, and his mother smiled.

"Then what the hell are you on about?!" Ron laughed as he raised his voice. "We've known since you were kids that you'd end up together forever."

Holly chuckled quietly, "We're just surprised it took you so long."

She walked up to her son and patted his shoulder. "You two were always meant to be together. It was only a matter of time."

"Are you sure you want to marry her?" Ron asked jokingly, mocking his son's indecisiveness.

Colby looked out his father's window, seeing Rebecca coming in in a rush, and placing her stuff down by her desk. He watched her move her hair out of her face, turning towards the office, smiling and waving when she saw Colby looking back at her.

He waved back at her slowly with a growing smile on his face. "I've never been so sure of anything in my life."

"We told you so." Holly grinned victoriously as she moved to hug her son.

"Then get on it already." Ron waved him off as he noticed Rebecca walking towards the room.

"What? I'm not doing it right now." Colby frantically whispered, now realizing he shouldn't have said anything, trying to seem calm when she entered. "Hey!"

"Hi?" Rebecca laughed at his strange enthusiasm and she gave him a quick kiss and hugged him, keeping her hand behind his back as she turned towards his parents. "Good morning, sorry I'm a little late, but ya know how it goes."

"Oh, yes, dear. No worries." Holly spoke, and Colby subtly scanned her face trying to see if her smile was normal or suspicious.

"Anyways, I was just telling them how much work we were going to have to do today." Colby started to try and guide Rebecca out gently.

"Not any busier than usual." She laughed, looking over at Colby with a raised eyebrow, "Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah, everything's good. Perfect, actually." Colby nodded confidently, "Just happy to be here with you."

Rebecca took a step back, and instead of just her eyebrow showing a sign of confusion, her whole face became written with it. "Are you sure everything is okay?"

Colby smiled at her with a nod. "Never better."

"Well, actually..." Holly started with a sly grin, and Colby internally began to panic. "It could be better if you just-"

"Never better." Colby cut Holly off as he grabbed Rebecca's hand and led her out, yelling out to his parents from the hallway. "Never better!"