Deveraux

👗 Fix/Straighten my muse’s clothes

“I thought that with you working in LA we would never, ever, get to play again at my office” Andrew said with a chuckle as he tucked his shirt under his pants, trying to look as presentable as he could, and not like his girlfriend had just given him the best time of his life. When Rory came and fixed his tie, he thanked her, kissing her quickly. “Your hair is a mess, I feel proud of that”

🤗 Pull my muse into a hug

Andrew chuckled when Beth hugged him, excited. “We still don’t know the exact location and date but you need to be prepared for when I tell you all the details” Because of course his sister needed to be at his wedding. “Invite your boyfriend, of course, all expenses are on me” Because if you’re going to have a wedding in an exotic resort, the least you could do was to make sure to pay for the flight tickets of your guests and their stay. 

“Andrew—” Rory tried to stop him, but it didn’t bother her that he kept going. Still, she took his lips in a gentle kiss, then kissed his cheek. “I asked for honesty and I got honesty. I’ll just come to you for the big decisions, then.” It also helped keeping Rory in check, because if Andrew wanted to be involved with every small decision they’d have to make, it could slow down their process. They needed to be practical and not emotional. “Babe, I think that’s the kind of big decision that I can’t be involved with. I’m sure that if you talked to your sister about it, checked how she felt and all of that, it would be easy to make that decision. All I know is that I want my sister by my side, hence why I asked about Jaehyun.” Rory leaned in, nuzzling his cheek once more. “She doesn’t have to stand with us, but if you’d like her to, I wouldn’t mind. She’s your family, soon to be mine too, so it’s up to you.”

Andrew nodded against her lips, smiling. “Good, happy to have cleared that out” because honestly, he didn’t know about weddings and he just wanted to be there and sign wherever he needed to sign to become her husband.  He nodded at her explanation, shrugging “I should ask Alex too, maybe he would want to be there too, although I doubt he really cares about where he stands, it would be nice to have him there” Because he liked the man, and if Beth wanted to be there too, then maybe they could both be a new pair. “I’ll ask her”

Rory adjusted herself so she was resting against Andrew, but on her sides, so it made things easier for her to be looking at him while they talked about some wedding arrangements here and there. “Honest question for an honest answer: do you want to be actively involved in all of the decisions or only the big ones? I’m trying to find a happy middle, where I don’t call you in the middle of the day to decide napkin colors, but I also don’t leave you out of important decisions—if I’m honest, I don’t even want to pick napkin colors, but you know what I’m talking about, right? Small decisions.” But yes, them getting married and it being a small ceremony felt right. It felt like them. “Yes, Amelia is definitely my option. If you have someone else in mind, I can have your sister standing with me. It’s up to you.”

Andrew loved how practical Rory was, and it was kind of relieving to be asked this because he could only answer with the same honesty. “I want to be involved only in the big ones. Like, it’s not because I’m not interested in our wedding, at all, you know I totally am. But I couldn’t care less about napkins, babe, so even if you asked, I would just agree with whatever you say and wouldn’t really be of help” So it was better if he only participated in like, trying the menu, deciding the place, and well, the time? What else could he do, honestly? “Is it selfish from me to want you to deal with all those small decisions I don’t care about?” He asked with a chuckle, kissing her head. “Do we want to have people standing with us though? Like, it’s okay to just have them, right? Or do you think I should ask Beth? I don’t know how these things work, would it affect my relationship with her if she’s a guest or if she has a bigger role?”

Since Rory wasn’t a religious woman and Andrew had shown himself not to be religious either, it would be easier to plan this wedding without having to worry about making it comfortable for both sides when it came to religion or no religion. “How do you feel about a beach wedding?” Rory didn’t think Andrew would want a big party for 500 guests or anything like that and even though they wouldn’t fail in showing everyone how in love they were, she honestly didn’t want to plan something huge like that. A simple ceremony by the beach and a small dinner reception later would be ideal for her. “It’s kind of crazy, yes… but the good kind of crazy. Pretty much like everything else in our lives, let’s be honest.” Rory chuckled softly. “Do you have a best man in mind yet? Because I’m pretty sure we’re going to put a certain couple up there with us too.”

A beach wedding? Andrew tried to imagine it and he figured it fit them very well. He could see himself there, standing in the sand with the wind against his hair. “You know? I actually think that would be really cool? Very chill and relaxing and... yeah, I could have a beach wedding” He agreed, glad to know Rory’s brain was already thinking of those things since he didn’t have any ideas or preferences about it. “I think crazy suits us, despite how controlling we can be about our professional lives, I guess this is really fitting” Because they were logical and smart people, and well, they loved each other. Marrying wasn’t a crazy idea, at all. “I think Jae is probably my option? And I’m assuming you’re thinking of Amelia?”

Officially and engaged woman. That was so—odd? She chuckled again, nodding as she offered her hand so that Andrew could slide the ring on her finger. It was a really pretty ring, Andrew had outdone himself and even if she wasn’t really big on wearing jewelry, it was impossible not to love this one. It screamed Rory. “Shit–I’ve got a wedding to plan.” She laughed, resting her forehead against his shoulder for a moment and not even noticing the fact that she had, again, excluded him from that sentence, but it wasn’t on purpose. She’d just been used to doing everything for herself, so she was still adjusting to a different pronoun when she had to use it. “Maybe I’ll borrow Amy’s little wedding book and get everything from her.” Oh… wow… this was different… this burning on her chest and this funny sensation that made her want to laugh. “We’re getting married…” Turning around completely this time, Rory got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “I’m so happy…”

Rory had never expected anyone to propose to her in the middle of a spring festival, with lots of people around them, too much noise, music and all of that—especially when talking about Andrew, but they were enjoying a quiet moment and she couldn’t help but smile. She was different from Amelia, she didn’t want the fairy tale… she wanted stability and companionship and that was exactly what she got with Andrew. For the past three weeks, though—that’s what got to her. He’d been thinking about it before the whole baby fiasco happened, which meant he wasn’t marrying her just because of that or he hadn’t bought that ring because of that. “I will, yes.” She nodded, turning around in between his arms to face him. Cradling his face, she kissed his lips, smiling against him. “But unless you mean next year’s spring, we’ll push it to a summer wedding…” She chuckled against his lips. “Okay?”

Rory laughed as she leaned back against his chest, really glad to have left the apartment for this because they could definitely need a break from their break and at least see people. “Good. If you ever shave, we’re over. The beard is sexy.” She confessed, brushing her lips against his jaw to let his beard tickle her skin like that. “He’s cool, but I love serious, professional Andrew too. He makes me weak in the knees.” Because Amelia was right… for someone as dominant and assertive as Rory, it would be such an odd thing to see her with someone who wasn’t on the same level as her. “Good. Give me him all the damn time, please.” She pulled his arms even closer to her, enjoying the nice feeling of his warmth against her. “Are you proposing, Deveraux?” She chuckled.

“It’s true… you are kind of old and wiser. I think it’s the beard.” Rory joked, leaning up to kiss his cheek, before she listened to what he was saying about both the restaurant and his idea for the cyber security company, bobbing her head along to his words. “Then do both.” She replied with ease. Even though it was possible Andrew was still going to spend some time considering everything he had just said, it felt to Rory like he was getting close to having his mind made up already. “That’s his name. He has several names. Casual Andrew is one of my favorites.” Rory laughed softly, sitting back against him and pulling his arms around her body. “As long as I get to see Casual Andrew every once in a while, go big or go home, babe.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s some unsaid rule of the universe that says you’re allowed to be irresponsible once in your life.” Rory replied with a minor shrug because, given what he’d shared about his past and his family, she figured he needed a couple of seconds of irresponsibility. Kind of like a free card out of responsible jail, per se. Since she knew Andrew would probably never make an immediate irresponsible decision, this was really not something she would waste too much time thinking about. “Maybe you should check with him. I don’t know if every chef wants to open their restaurant, but I’d imagine so? And if it’s successful enough, I’m sure you could handle both the restaurant and the cyber security company. I mean… would you be the restaurant’s manager or just an investor?” Rory looked over at him, before motioning to a spot on the grass so they could sit for a moment. “See, this is why I love you… your brain never stops. But you promised to take your time… so take your time. I’m looking forward to coming home to casual Andrew soon.”

“Oh I’ve been irresponsible before, I just like thinking before acting now that I’m older” And it was a great advice for the future generations, except that no one would take him seriously.  “The restaurant would be just as an investor, you know, hire someone to take charge while I just invest some money on it. The security thing, I think that would actually be fun. Like, it’s actually something that interests me, more than managing a hospital, you know?” He chuckled, since running the hospital wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t something that he felt too passionate about.  The restaurant would work on its own, he would just need someone he trusted making it work, and he knew some people, he was sure he could find the right person.  “Casual Andrew? Is that his name now?” He laughed, sitting and extending his arms so she could sit on his lap or be comfortable against his body.

“See?” Rory smiled, her free hand going up to scratch his beard, a habit she’d picked up these last few weeks that they’d spent together. “Ooh, a chef? Please send me lots of free meals. I’ll be all the way down in LA from now own.” Rory stuck her bottom lip into a pout, before sliding her hand to the back of his neck and bring him down for a kiss. At least they wouldn’t have to deal with gossip around the hospital anymore. Even if she went back to county general, with Andy out, things would be better. “Isn’t that what Jaehyun’s brother do? Maybe he could work with you too. But really, Andrew… please promise you’ll take a few days to think about what you want to do. It’s no use to live one job to be miserable in another. Just—take your time. We’re fine, you don’t have to worry either.”

“If there’s something I’m definitely am, is not worried about us.” Whether it was money or the way Andrew acted with her, Rory hadn’t been this certain of someone in a long time. More than girlfriend and boyfriend, they were partners, she knew that now. If Andrew needed her to pick up an extra shift, she would. If she needed him to find a job quick because they were short on money, she knew he’d make it work. “I think you’ve spent far too much time living your life for others. Now it’s time to live it for yourself.”

“Good, because there’s no need to worry about anything” Andrew was certain that whatever happened, they would be fine. It was just how their team worked, facing whatever came in their way together. That gave him a peace of mind that he hadn’t had in a very long time. “You know, you’re right. I always work for someone else, it’s time for me to do something I want. I met a chef the other day, a bright kid, tons if inspiration and very original. Who knows? I might invest in a restaurant. I love food and that would give us free meals for the rest of our lives” He said with a chuckle “Or start my own cyber security company. I know about that, trust the people I work with, I could steal them all and start my own thing, bet I would find clients quickly”

“I think a break from everything will do you some good.” Rory shared while leaning up and pressing a kiss to his cheek. She definitely wouldn’t mind stretching things up a little so that Andrew could figure things out, especially since she knew he would do the same for her in a heartbeat. “Take a step back, reasset everything, you know?” After all, being a couple meant supporting the person you were with. Rory smiling, rubbing his back gently. “Babe… even if you were broke. I’m here for you. I have some savings, I can take an extra night shift until you get back on your own two feet again. We got this.”

Andrew hadn’t really thought he would end up doing this, after all, he was a man who liked to be in control and quitting the conglomerate, the hospital, without a definite plan, was a big leap of faith. But somehow it felt right, to hear it from Rory, to know he had her support. “Maybe I’ll do it, like, soon, not sure when, but soon” He assured her, because he needed to find something that would make him feel passion about his work again. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that yet, do you really think I haven’t invested in a few things already? I think we’ll survive, don’t worry” He would only worry if he starts a business and things go south, because then he would have to use all his savings to cover that up. But until he figured it out, he was sure they wouldn’t have to worry. “Thanks babe”

“Technically, we have for the past few weeks.” Since she was recovering for an emotionally charged surgery, sex had been the last thing on Rory’s mind. Which was to say a lot because she’s always had a very high sex drive and was glad Andrew matched it, but no, they hadn’t done anything in a while… and considering she’d be starting her hormonal treatment soon, they probably shouldn’t even open that door yet. “Why don’t you?” She asked as she snaked one arm around his waist, walking aimlessly with him. Rory could probably point out to him that here they were, discussing work at a spring festival and they probably should’ve been trying to distract themselves, but who was she kidding? She actually liked talking about these things. “You know you’ve been dissatisfied with the conglomerate for a while now, so maybe you should take this opportunity to either go work with your friend or invest on something you feel passionate about.” Changing jobs would definitely be a great change in their lives, both in the rhythm and financially speaking, but they would manage. “You know you’re great at what you do, so maybe it’s time for a new challenge.”

“But it’s been nice, don’t you think?” Andrew told her, because this has also proved to him that their relationship wasn’t just a sexual thing. He liked just spending time with her, talking, watching TV, doing whatever they felt like doing. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m thinking about it. I need a plan, can’t really quit and be left with nothing. I’m far too active and workaholic to start from zero” Andrew would need at least to have some sort of guide before making any calls. “I think that Alex mentioning made me really think about it, like, I don’t want to work for another company, even when I would love to work with him. I feel like buying something that is broken and try to make it survive, that’s what I do for the conglomerate anyways” He was always sent to companies that were losing money and he always made them float again. “You think so? Because I would really appreciate your support, like, I’m not a poor man, not going to be broke just because I start a new business but things can get tough if it goes wrong”