you & me. legal. forever.

2 Blip Bae Revisited

"So when? How? Where's the ring, man?" Sam grilled Bucky as they walked home from the dog park. "You planning something spectacular? A flash mob? Sky writing maybe?"

"Not really. She hates being the center of attention. I definitely want to do something special but, you know, more us, less unnecessary spectacle? I think she's going to be pissed enough that I'm proposing at all." Bucky conceded. "What are your thoughts? How can I avoid a major meltdown on her part?"

"She's not gonna be pissed." Sam laughed. "Surprised, sure, but pissed? Come on, man! She loves you! Why would you think she'd be pissed?"

"I don't know? Maybe I'm thinking too much about it?" Bucky laughed nervously. "She's been married before, so I don't want to take away from how important that was to her, you know? I don't want to be that guy who is trying to take anybody's place."

"Dude, you're way too sensitive about this." Sam teased. "Did she ever tell you how her husband proposed?"

"Actually, no." Bucky knew how much she loved him and was devastated by his death, but he never asked too many questions. She always said that she loved to talk about the guy, but he didn't want to make her relive anything painful that she didn't volunteer.

"That's cause he didn't." Sam answered plainly. "They were young, broke, and just decided to do it. It wasn't like she was expecting anything from him at that point in their lives, but I know that she was always a little bummed that he never actually asked her."

"So what does that mean for me? Do I just spring it on her? Should I maybe talk to her about it first, try and gauge her opinion on the subject?" In all his years, even when he was young and "swimming in women" as Sam liked to tease, he had never felt about anybody the way he felt about Zoe. She really was the best thing that had ever happened to him, but he also knew how much heartache she carried from previous relationships, not just her dead husband. He respected the fact that she was an adult who had a life before they met, and didn't want to do anything to make her upset. He knew it was a touchy subject with her last serious relationship..."Did she ever mention if that 'blip bae' guy talked about marriage?"

"Oh hell no! That was one of the things that she did actually tell me about that jerk." Sam snickered. "Apparently, he was one of those 'why buy the cow when you get the milk for free' asshole types...it's funny. For all of her fierce independence, she's just like everybody else. She just wants your weird robot love and to feel special sometimes, too, you know? I know you're scared to do anything wrong here, but she loves you for some unknown reason. No matter how you do it, she's gonna say yes. Just get your shit together and do it before you die of extreme old age, man!"

"I guess..." Bucky never realized he could have another friend like this in his lifetime. Sam was one of a kind, and no matter how rocky their friendship started, he was eternally grateful to have him on his side. "I was thinking of something vibranium...so we could match?"

"I love it!" Sam laughed. "Does she have to get the whole arm, or is just a ring acceptable?"

"Guess I'll have to ask her, birdbrain..." Bucky snickered.

The guys were still laughing on the couch when Zoe got home just before midnight. She had a feeling they might still be up, so she had brought a change of clothes with her to strip out of her dirty scrubs in the garage before entering the house. Usually, she just walked right to the laundry room and did this, but since Sam was there she didn't want to make him uncomfortable.

"Good evening, gentlemen. How was your night?" She asked, plopping down on the couch between them, resting her head on Bucky's shoulder. "What did I miss?"

"Not much." Bucky answered, kissing the side of her head. "We took the dog to the park, walked around for a while, got some dinner at that burger place you hate."