Heaven Sent (Loki/Asgard Fanfiction - Aislinn's Story)

Chapter Nineteen

"So, what do you think?"

"I think you're batshit crazy, Steve. You met this girl like a month ago."

Steve sighed. "Tony, you're not helping."

"Sorry. Didn't know I was supposed to."

Steve bit back the swear rising to his lips as the woman on the far side of the counter smiled pleasantly. "Take all the time you need, Mr.--" she glanced down at the driver's license on the counter--"Molinaro."

Chris, the oldest of the three Molinaro boys, elbowed Tony in the ribs. "Enough. He's not stupid, you know. He loves this girl. He wants to marry her. If you can't help him pick out a ring she won't want to exchange, shut the fuck up."

Steve rolled his eyes as he stared down at the rows upon rows of sparkling diamond rings. No matter which one he looked at, none called to him and for some reason, he thought the engagement ring he gave Aislinn should call to him.

He looked up at his brothers. The resemblance between them was a strong one, as they all favored their father--thick dark hair, eyes that were a mix of amber and brown--and not one of them taller than five nine. Tony was a stick figure, but Chris was more like Steve--broad across the shoulders and chest, kind of like a linebacker in miniature.

"I know what I'm doing," Steve told them. "I knew, when Jenna was pushing, that I didn't want to get married. Since I met Aislinn, all I can think about is getting married. She's the one."

"Yeah, well we're all beginning to doubt her existence," Tony said, tapping on the glass. "Are we ever meeting this girl, or do we have to wait for the wedding itself?"

"You'll meet her this weekend. I'm bringing her home for Tracy's birthday. But do me a favor," he looked from Tony to Chris and back, "and don't say a word about my getting married. I don't want to steal Tracy's thunder."

"She's not going to care, Stevie," Chris said, moving to the display across from them. "She'll be too busy putting Aislinn through the third degree, making sure she's good enough for you." He tapped the glass with the tip of his forefinger. "What about this one? You said her eyes are green, right?"

"Yeah." Steve turned and crossed to his brother. "Very green."

"So, why not something like this?"

Steve peered down. The ring was a princess cut emerald surrounded by clean, white diamonds. Along the band, smaller emeralds and diamonds sparkled brilliantly. "This is nice, but I don't know if she likes emeralds."

"Maybe you should have brought her instead," Chris suggested. "Since she's the one who's going to hopefully be wearing it."

Steve grinned. "She's already said yes. But it was a spur-of-the-moment proposal and I couldn't get her to come back to look at rings."

"Are you kidding? A girl who doesn't want to look at sparkly things?" Tony elbowed him this time. "So why are you here, then?"

"Because I'm not enough of an asshole to not get her a ring at all." Steve rolled his eyes. "So, can we please get back to helping me find one?"

"I don't like the emeralds," Tony said, gesturing to the case in front of him. "And I know you said none of these grabbed you, but what about this one?"

Steve peered down. The ring was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Three princess-cut diamonds set into a platinum band. "That's the one." He looked up at the saleswoman. "Can I see that one?"

"Certainly. It's a beautiful ring." She went into her spiel about the color, cut, clarity, and carats, and Steve just held his breath as she quoted him a price. Expensive, but not out of his range.