Tacoma Falls: Blazing Hearts

Can I keep you?

Maury

Shep's question threw me off. I never had anyone ask me if they could keep me. Most avoided me or wanted to get rid of me.

I stood up and walked away, trying to comprehend what Shep just asked me. I paced around, trying to make sense of one simple question. It threw me all out of sorts.

Can I keep you?

Can I keep you?

Can I keep you?

The question kept replaying in my mind. I didn't even know how to respond.

"Maury?"

I whirled around and looked at Shep while fidgeting with my hands. "You want to keep me?"

Shep nodded. "It's an honest question. But it needs an honest answer. It would help if you gave me one."

I opened my mouth and closed it several times. Why did this question make me nervous? It wasn't like Shep was proposing to me. Wait. Shep wasn't proposing marriage. Does that mean he doesn't want to marry me ever? My heart sunk at that realization as my lips turned downward.

"Maury, what's wrong?"

"You want to keep me but not marry me."

"What?" Shep's brows drew together in confusion.

"You'll keep me but never marry me. So, I should learn not to get my hopes up."

"What? No! Maury." Shep took quick strides toward me.

But I took a step back so he couldn't touch me. "I understand, Shepherd. It's another thing I'm not good enough for."

"Maury."

"The garden needs my attention." I turned on my heels and walked to the truck. "At least something needs me."

******
Shepherd

Shit. That was not how I expected that conversation to go. I was hoping Maury would say yes before he realized what I meant. Nope, he misunderstood me.

I marched my happy ass to the truck and yanked open that damn passenger-side door. Maury had a blank expression on his face.

"Now, we just had an open and honest conversation until miscommunication reared its ugly head. When I asked if I could keep you, I meant as forever."

Maury blinked at me as his brows knitted in confusion.

I shoved my hand in my pocket, dug out a ring, and held it up to him. "When I asked if I could keep you, I hoped you realized what I meant. But you understood the opposite."

Maury stared at me and blinked.

"I planned to ask you on the night our lives imploded. So, I held onto this ring for a while. Then, you landed yourself in the hospital. That didn't help things. I couldn't ask you while you were healing. It would make me an asshole. So, I waited until we had that honest conversation, which we did. Now, I expect an answer to my question. Can I keep you forever?" I waited for Maury's answer. Hell, I would wait forever if that's what it took.

"You want to marry me?"

"In all that, you still need to ask?"

"Well, uh."

"Yes, I want to marry you!" My frustration was starting to show.

Maury got out of the truck and stood before me. "Then, I expect you to get on bended knee. A guy has standards, you know?"

My lips curled into a crooked smile before I got on bended knee and took Maury's hand in mine. "Maury, I have loved you since the day we bumped into each other outside your office. I have loved you every day since then. I love you more than anything. Will you let me keep you forever?"