New Fic: Ring Bearer, Reconsidered

[jackwabbit]

Ring Bearer, Reconsidered

Fandom: Star Trek Discovery
Rated: G
Category: Double Drabble. Culmets. RickyVerse. Angst.
Time Frame: Post-“Saints of Imperfection” and Pre-“Such Sweet Sorrow”/Season Two.
Spoilers: General series knowledge through the end of season two.
Summary: The best laid plans of mice and mycologists often go awry, even the second time around.
Note: Another Ricky story, because I just can’t help myself. Another alternate ending to “Ring Bearer.” This one is a bit hard, too, as befits its timing. More to come. Taken together, these tell a larger story.

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Paul had it all planned out.

Since Ricky couldn’t walk, the traditional meaning of the word didn’t work.

But ever since the idea popped into his head one night after one of Hugh’s truly terrible puns had set them on a contest that could only be described as ever-more-terrible with each exchange, he couldn’t shake it.

So he had it all planned out.

He’d have Ricky with him in bed. He’d wait until Hugh worked late so that wouldn’t seem strange. And when Hugh came home – when he came to bed – Paul would ask him to put Ricky back on his shelf in the living room so they could have some privacy.

The box would be under Ricky.

It’d be a surprise. It wouldn’t be a birthday, or an anniversary, or a holiday – just an ordinary day.

The kind of day Paul wanted so many more of.

And so he’d ask.

Hugh would say yes.

It would be the best ordinary day ever.

He had it all planned out.

And somehow, he’d been given a second chance.

So he didn’t want to waste any more time.

But Hugh had made his intentions clear.

So maybe not now.

Maybe not ever.