Slash was nervous. Palms sweaty, might puke at any moment, wishing he had taken a Xanax nervous. And as he stood in the garden waiting for his girlfriend to meet him for their date night that he had spent the last two months planning his nerves were rising with each passing second.
He rubbed his hands on his pants, wet with sweats N’s felt for the ring box that was in his jacket pocket. He wished he had dressed nicer for this. He knew she was going to look like a million bucks and here he was wearing his usual cowboy boots that he hadn't even shined.
“Stop looking so nervous.” Duff hissed from behind the bush. Everyone was waiting, not just Slash. He had flown out her family, friends, his family and friends. Everyone was hidden all around this garden.
The table he was sitting at was made up for dinner. A pink roses centerpiece in the middle of the table and China with hand drawn golden designs and pink flowers were set for two.
She was never late and by his watch she was running almost ten minutes past schedule . What if so when had ruined the surprise for her? He’d break their fucking neck. He wanted this to be her moment where she was the center of attention. This was all for her.
For the past six years his girlfriend had been there for him. She had been the one helping him scrape up money to buy guitar strings or buying him cool clothes so he felt like a rockstar. She had worked her way through college and paid for an apartment for them to live in, not complaining when all five of the band would be sleeping on their living room floor.
The only time she had said something was when one morning Duff had made a lewd comment about how he couldn’t sleep because of all the noise she was making. Before slash had been able to tell him to shut up she had smacked the blonde in the back of the head, the look of surprise he had given her when she told him if a woman wasn’t making those sounds he was doing something wrong had been priceless.
She had kept them all grounded, even when they were strung out she knew she couldn’t stop it so she had just made sure none of them died until they were ready to start living a bit more.
Now he was ready for her to be his wife and she was rubbing 23 minutes late.
Slash started to panic when he realized she was this late. What if she had gotten into a car accident or if someone broke into their home and murdered her? He was ready to call the police when he heard high heels clicking down concrete.
And there she was.
Beautiful. Her hair was braided and pinned up, her skin glowing as she moved down the steps. The white dress she was wearing making her look every bit of the Angel that she was. He was going to throw up from being so excited. This was his girl. The woman he was going to make his wife.
“I am so sorry I’m late. The doctor called me with some test results and I had to go over them.” She kissed the side of his mouth as he started to panic.
Test results? Had he zoned off during an important conversation and not known something was going on? He held his breath.
“Are you okay?” He selfishly didn’t really want to know; if it was something bad his emotions were already so heightened that he was going to throw up on the table. She gave him a look, fighting something and shrugged her shoulders. Her hand reached out for the water and Slash gripped the fabric on his leg so tightly he thought he was bleeding.
What the fuck.
“We’ve been together for six years, Saul. Six years and I’ve loved every day with you. Not always at the time but looking back even the worst days were worth it. But now.” Her eyes left him and she breathed out.
She was breaking up with him. He was going to die. He had waited too long to propose to her and she had hit her limit and decided to break up with him.
“I want children. I want a family that’s not a drunk bassist of a lead singer who has temper tantrums. I want a husband who is there for me and doesn’t forget to call me because he’s on a bender for four days. I loved all the good years of my twenties waiting for you to want me enough and now it just feels like you don’t want me.” The way she spoke broke his heart. She was right that she had taken care of everyone and he was kind of an asshoke about calling her sometimes. But surely that wasn’t enough of a reason to leave him. He loved her.
“Listen, I love you. I love you so much that sometimes I think it makes me crazy.” She gave him a slight smirk at this. “I want a family with you. Little babies with your full lips and humor. Definitely my musical talent because you lack in that department.” She laughed at this but there was something sad in her eyes, “But most of all I want you, forever.” She shook her head and he felt that sickness come back. Her eyes glistened with tears and she shook her head at him.
“I can’t give you that.” Her hands flew to her eyes and she sobbed so loudly that he knocked over a chair to rush to her side. Holding her as she cried into him, rubbing her back, “I’m so sorry that I can’t give you that.” She cried and he didn’t know what she meant.
He reached for the table, grabbing a napkin and thinking about how everyone was supposed to be popping champagne right now. This obviously wasn’t where he saw their night being.
“Saul, I haven’t been on birth control in two years.” He blinked several times thinking about when the last time he wore a condom was. Has he ever? “The doctor said I’ll probably never get pregnant.” She sobbed at this and he held her.
No kids. No seeing his girl screaming in pain during childbirth. No seeing her struggle with pregnancy or how it made her feel. No kids.
“So why don’t we adopt? You always said you wanted to help people. Why don’t we give someone else a chance to be loved?” And the way she looked at him in that moment let him know for the first time in his entire life he had said the right thing.
“Really? You’d be okay with that?” And from the reaction he got from her hell yeah he’d be okay with that. Fuck he wanted to do it now.
They were the perfect pair for helping kids. He could be the cool fun parent and she’d be the one that would smother them in love. He’d sneak out to toss a football around with his son to talk about girls after she found him with a dirty mag. Or she’d be so good with a baby and he didn’t sleep at night so he could take over nighttime feedings to let her sleep. Dream team.
“Listen, wipe those tears away from your pretty eyes.” He watched her wipe them off and adjusted so he was on one knee. “I’ll do anything with you to have a life with you as my wife. please just say yes?” And he pulled out the ring box, opening it as her mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Saul…did I ruin your-“
“Please…please just say yes?” He didn’t care about anything else except her answer. Everything else could get worked out along the way but if she didn’t answer soon he was going to pass out.
“Yes.” The sound of cheering had them both jumping and as they were rushed by their family and friends, champagne spraying through the air Slash slid her ring onto her finger.
Everyone came around congratulating them, hugs and love all around. Until it was Axl’s turn. He came over with a grouchy face.
“I do not throw temper tantrums.” He said and they waited for him to stomp his foot annoyed but he just smirked, “At least not all the time.”
dailybridgerton
stormborns
pixelskylines
titsay
tangentwithtanner
ellievsbear
