What a healthy marriage looks like

The talk

Inside, Sniper flopped back down on the couch, and now he really was despondent. Pauling smoothed her skirt and sat down, "Sniper-", "You barge in, wreck the place, and now kick my girlfriend out of her own home? You are seriously fuckin screwy!" Pauling was feeling worse and worse as this went on, "Sniper-", "You know what? Whatever, it doesn't matter. Just tell me who.", "...Tell you- what?", "Tell me who you want dead. Cuz' the sooner I kill him, the sooner I can get you the fuck out of here, and the SOONER YOU CAN LEAVE ME THE BLOODY HELL ALONE! Deal?" That hit a nerve. Pauling shouted back, "No! If this is going to be a problem we do not have a deal! This shouldn't even be happening in the first place!", "Well it hasn't been a problem before! And fuck off. It's just my luck the one fuckin' time I ask for a bloody holiday you need something." Pauling gawked, "Hasn't been a problem before?! How long has this been going on?!" Sniper paused, just for a moment, "Tomorrow will make a year now...", "... A year? And I'm just finding out about this now?!", "You don't need to know every bloody detail of my life!", "I do if it's going to be a problem!", "She's not a fucking problem! She's wonderful! In fact, she makes it easier to get through my day, but you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? You bloody harpy!" Pauling waved her arms, "Me? A harpy? I can't fucking belive this! Well, guess what? We do know every fucking detail about your life- Hell, we supply your life. And guess what?! If we wanted you to have a girlfriend, we would have supplied you one!" From his spot sulking on the floor Scout piped up, "Wait, you can do that?" and both Pauling and Sniper started yelling at each other. At that point, Spy felt it was the right time to leave. He walked over the shattered pieces of door to find Heavy in a deep conversation with Caroline. He said, "...This, Heavy knows. I provide for family, but... is it enough?" Caroline nodded thoughtfully, "It's easy to worry about others, but sometimes we forget that we don't need to take up every burden, you know? Sometimes we can trust the people we love." Heavy's brow furrowed and he thought for a moment, "Heavy will have to think on this..." At that, Spy made himself known, "I hope I am not interrupting anything," Heavy nearly jumped out of his skin, but Caroline just shook her head, "Not at all." Heavy got up and excused himself while Spy rested on the Mezzanine railing. Caroline joined him and Spy offered her a cigarette. "No thanks, I'm cutting back." He looked at her quizzically, but he had more pressing matters to attend to. He lit the cig for himself and asked, "So, how long have you two been together?" She glanced at him from the side before returning her gaze to the parking lot and the horizon behind it, "We're celebrating our anniversary tomorrow... Unless he's got something more pressing I guess." Spy nodded thoughtfully, "And you know of his profession?" She raised an eyebrow at him, "... Yes. I know he's a sniper, and he's told me all about his... coworkers.", "Ah, that would explain why you were not surprised.", "Of course I was surprised! You bust through my door and accost my boyfriend, that's pretty surprising.", "I meant, that is why you have not run screaming for the hills." She cracked a smile despite herself, "I guess... No, I wasn't surprised that it was your plucky crew that bust through my door and accosted my boyfriend- God it's cold!" A chill ran through her as the sun set over the New Mexican desert. Spy gave her a once over before stating, "Probably not the best attire for the occasion.", "Yeah, well I wasn't planning on going outside.", "And yet you did-" He said as he took off his jacket and flung it over her shoulders, "This is your home, why would you not just make them talk outside?" She shrugged, running her fingers over the incredibly luxurious fabric, "I don't know. It just felt right I guess... Mick's just been having a hard time, and I do what I can to make it easier for him... I love him, you know?" Spy nodded at that. They both watched the sun go down over the horizon for a long time, then Soldier marched out through the doorway, "Thank you for the all American meal Miss Sniper's girlfriend! It was delicious!" She cringed at that, but not as much as when Scout followed behind saying, "Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I kinda like a girl that can hold her own. My offer's still up, if you ever want an upgrade-" Pauling followed behind, shoving Scout forward as she said, "Sorry for the interruption, Miss Sweeney... And for the broken door. We'll be going now- Pyro! Come on, we're leaving!" Pyro came running out as well and they all started to leave- except Scout, who shouted, "You know he pisses in jars, right?" before Miss Pauling grabbed him by an ear and dragged him away. Caroline just took off the coat and offered it back to Spy saying, "Thank you." He took it, kissed her hand with an, "Au revoir," and then he was gone. Caroline watched them leave for a moment before she went back inside where Mick was on the couch, rubbing his face. She was about to approach him, when the strong smell of burning food and natural gas hit her. "Shit!" She ran over to the burners, which were all on high, and turned them off. Mick ran in shouting, "What? What is it-?" and then he saw the carnage. The kitchen was a complete mess, and whatever was in the pan before was now burnt to shit. He sucked in a breath, "I-I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention, I should have known-", "Micky," Caroline stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to his worried mouth, "It's okay, really. I understand, and besides, with what you've told me it could have been much worse." While Mick agreed, he still felt awful about how everything happened. Caroline just turned and looked at the mess again with a sigh, "Well, I wasn't really feeling the all american cooking anyway. We could just order a pizza or take out or something... What do you think?" Mick wrapped his arms around her from behind and laid his chin on her shoulder, "I think, I just wanna spend the evening with you, Lynn..." She turned around in his arms and embraced him properly as he lamented, "I really am truly sorry. I had no idea they'd just blaze in like that... I just- I just wanted our anniversary to be special, you know? No interruptions... Guess I just mucked it all up.", "No! No, no, no, you're perfect. Yeah, it probably wasn't the best move to leave your boss on the hook, but these last couple days have been amazing! Never think that it's not enough for me, Micky, because any time I get to spend with you is worth it..." She kissed him again, and this time he kissed her back. He held her face, firm yet gentle, and as she draped her arms over his neck, she felt truly and completely safe. They broke for air and rested their heads against each other for support, just existing together for a long time. Caroline broke the silence by quietly asking, "So... When do you leave?" Mick groaned, "Bugger if I know. All she said was that we'd discuss 'it' later, whatever 'it' is..." She gave him a look, "You mean, me?" He held her tighter, "...No matter what, I'm not gonna let 'em tear us apart.", "But Mick, I don't want be the one to put your job on the line-", "Fuck that, I could contract anywhere. You're more important to me than anything- Oh! In fact-" He detangled himself from her and moved into the bedroom where he had left his stuff. For a single solitary moment, Caroline stood alone in the kitchen, then Mick came back with a little box. She gasped, covering her mouth. He passed the thing between his hands like he just had to keep his fingers moving as he said, "W-well, I-I was gonna wait till tomorrow, but... Uh, I dont-I don't know, it just felt like the right time," He got down on one knee and looked up into her tear filled eyes, "Caroline Sweeney, will you-" She hugged him so fiercely she nearly bowled him over, "Yes! Yes I'll marry you!" He hugged her back as tears pricked at his own eyes, "God Lynn, I'm so fuckin' happy!" He buried his face against her neck and whispered, "We're gonna make this work, whatever it takes." She just cried happy tears as they pulled back so he could show her the ring. "Oh Mick! It's perfect," He smiled sheepishly, "I didn't know your size, so if it don't fit, we can get it fixed." She put it on, sniffing and wipping her tear stained cheeks, "It's perfect... I love it- I love you, thank you so much!" She threw her arms around him again and he laughed, "I'm glad, I was hopin' my memory was right and you still like the little-" he gestured, "You know the- the little swirly thingy." She laughed and admired it, "You remembered correct! Geeze, I can't believe you remembered that. That was months ago.", "Belive it darlin'. Only the best for my Lynn,", "Only the best indeed~" She purred, leaning in to kiss him again. With the lightened mood, he nipped at her bottom lip and asked, "You wanna take this to bed?" She nodded but said, "Answer me one thing first,", "Hmm?", "Do you actually pee in a jar?" His head shot up, "What? Who told you that?", "The short one." He growled, "Damn it! I'm gonna fuckin' kill him ... Okay, you gotta understand it's all practical right? If I'm waitin for a mark I can't exactly get up and go find a toilet-", "I know.", "They might be gone when I get back! Wait, what?" She cracked a smile, "You're a sniper, sweetheart. I get it." He blinked, processing what she just said, "Aw, you were just rilling me up! You little minx! Come here..." He scooped her up, and as he carried her to the bedroom she said, "I hope you know I'm never gonna let you live that down." He sighed, "...Yeah, I know..."