I'm erractic with my posting, I know. I'm sorry. This one came to me after listening to Gavin DeGraw's Soldier, and I just felt like I should post something if it was just going to sit around. All errors are mine, because no matter how much editing I do, I always miss something.

I want to thank the person that gave me the idea of jealousy, because that's what I started this out around, but then it morphed into it's own thing. This takes place almost 2 years into their partnership and is still AU.

I welcome suggestions for stories, so read and enjoy people.

Oscar wasn't naïve; he knew that what he and Angie were doing was daring to say the least. Not just to the dynamics of their partnership, but to the lives of the people that expected them to protect and serve. They'd been together for almost a year and a half, and he was shocked that they'd kept it to themselves this long. He looked over at his partner, watching the way her hair brushed her neck as she got out of the car, and he felt that familiar drop in his stomach every time she didn't realize just how beautiful she was. It was an exhilarating feeling, knowing that she chose to be with him despite their demons; his father, her commitment issues, her worry that Manny would get too attached to him… It all wasn't enough to keep them from falling into one another. He remembered the worried look on her face the first time he'd laced their fingers together after a hard case, and it all just went from there. He understood that she wasn't going into their relationship blind, but her reservations didn't matter when he'd kissed her two weeks later. The way she smiled into their kiss told him she was in this come hell or high water. He recognized the look on her face as she stepped up close to him on the sidewalk holding the bag of food in one hand, and he just nodded towards the doors, ignoring her eye roll in favor of avoiding the fight he could feel coming. He was in deep if even the thought of an argument made him smirk.

"Did you see the way she was flirting with you? Seriously, she is so lucky I'm in a good mood," she muttered irritably, pushing into their bullpen as Oscar just stared at her back incredulously.

She turned towards him and made a face as she shrugged her coat off, throwing it onto her chair before opening the bag of food. She huffed in annoyance as she looked through the bag, pulling out burgers and fries as he calmly took his coat off, hanging it on the back of his chair. He made his way slowly towards her desk, hitching his left hip up onto the desk to face her. She looked up at him, his face soft as he watched her drop their food carelessly on the space between them again, and she just stared at him until she placed her hands on her hips defiantly.

"What?" she asked crossly, but she relaxed when he reached his left hand out to rest on her waist, pulling her closer to him in the process. She looked around briefly, knowing they were alone but wanting to make sure. They had been careful thus far; she wasn't about to make them the newest story on the rumor mill more so than usual. She sighed and placed her right hip against his thigh as she turned to face the same direction as him, leaning her weight into the side of his body. She picked an invisible piece of lint from the leg of his pants as she tilted her head down, looking at her hand intently while he spoke.

"Why are you so worked up? What's this really about Ang?" he asked gently, nudging her shoulder with his to get her to look up at him. She did, but he could see the moisture around her eyes as she shrugged, tapping a rhythm against his thigh that had him reaching down to cover her right hand. She flipped her hand over and he threaded their fingers together instinctively, loving that she was just as tactile with him as he was with her. He brought their hands up to his mouth and brushed her knuckles with his lips, eyes urging her to say something. When she did, he wasn't sure what to say.

"I don't know whether to be upset or relieved when women hit on you and you're oblivious Oscar. It's like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop; we've been happy and good together so far, but a year and a half doesn't mean I get to claim you," she mumbled, but he heard her loud and clear. He took a deep breath and squeezed her hand, resting their hands on his thigh again. He understood her fears; they mirrored his own most days. It was why he'd avoided pushing her into something she wasn't ready for; he was afraid her fear would make her run.

"I know it's stupid, but you can't say you haven't thought it-"

"Oh I have, believe me," he assured her, and the small smile her got in return was worth it. He figured this was one of those moments that would make a difference in their relationship, so he decided to go out on a limb; it wasn't as if she'd leave him out there alone. He leaned into her, resting his temple against her forehead as she sighed. He could feel his heart beat dangerously fast, but he swallowed the anxiety that was building in his throat to whisper the words he'd been holding onto for a while. His lips brushed her skin, and feeling her even breaths calmed him immensely.

"Maybe you should consider marrying me, it might assuage this fear you have of us not working out long term," he said, and she pulled her head away from his, her eyes glassy this time as she watched him shrug.

"Did you really just propose to me at work?" she asked disbelievingly, her hand still in his as she looked at the sincere expression on his face. She laughed quietly, the sound wet as she tried to keep the tears at bay. He chuckled too, and released her hand as he slid off her desk, walking over to his desk to reach into a drawer. He came up with a little velvet box, and she covered her mouth, the tears falling down her cheeks silently.

"I hate to bother you, but I kind of need this hand," he remarked as he peeled her left hand away from her mouth. She glared at him lightly, but he just smiled brightly, the joy on his face contagious.

"I would have preferred doing this over dinner, but I know that this right here; this is us. The insecurities, the doubts, the love; this is what makes us work. It all started here," Oscar said, looking around the bullpen as he steps that much closer to Angie, "It seems fitting that we'd start a new chapter here too. Plus, Manny gave me the go ahead to propose to you when the time was right. I even have a chain for your ring, so you can always have it with you" he remarked, and she was shocked that this wasn't a spur of the moment decision. The ring reinforced that, but the fact that he bought a chain and Manny had discussed them getting married and he approved meant the world to her. She had two great men in her life, and they weren't going anywhere. She looked at him, squeezing her hand in his, looking from his eyes down to the ring box, smirking at the head tilt she received.

"I think engaged women traditionally get rings to tell the rest of the world she's taken Oscar…" He laughed outright, opening the box and sliding the ring onto her hand, and she sucked in a breath, biting her right thumb as Oscar held her gaze. She smiled brilliantly at him, reaching her hand around the back of his neck to run her nails through his hair as she pulled his face close to hers. She saw the way he grinned before she kissed him, feeling his smile now as he brought the hand holding her left between their bodies. His left hand grabbed her hip, anchoring her to him as she deepened the kiss, the ring box dropped onto the desk forgotten. Angie moaned low in her throat, Oscar swallowing the sound as his tongue stroked hers slowly. They started to part for air when a throat cleared behind them, and Angie's eyes popped open as she froze. She closed her eyes again, leaning her head against Oscar's briefly before pulling away from him completely. She turned around and stood by his side, facing Boyd head on. He looked at them thoughtfully, but his face blanked as he motioned with his head towards his office.

"My office. Now," he demanded, leaving them to follow him across the bullpen. They moved slowly, Oscar behind Angie as they walked closer to the door.

"Uh oh, Dad doesn't look happy," Oscar muttered, and Angie let out an unladylike snort and slapped her hand over her mouth as Boyd gave them a glare. They sat in silence, closing the door behind them as Boyd stood behind his desk. He crossed his arms over his chest as they shifted in their seats, giving each other looks before he spoke.

"I see a congratulations are in order, am I right?" Boyd asked, and Angie flinched, slouching in her seat further as she gripped the arms of her chair tightly. Oscar sat up straighter at that, leaning forward as he held Boyd's stare.

"That's correct sir, Angie and I are engaged," he stated confidently, giving her an encouraging smile as she looked at him in her periphery. She smiled faintly, her thumb rubbing the band on her hand before she looked at Boyd again.

"It's true sir-"

"That much is obvious," he threw back as he looked down at her hand, and she nodded apologetically.

"Why am I just finding out about this now?" he asked rhetorically, falling back into his chair. He reached into his drawer, pulling out a laptop and a bottle of bourbon, three glasses following as he poured them each a glass. He passed them over and they muttered their thanks, grateful to have something to do with their hands.

"So, how long have you been together?" Boyd asked, and Angie decided it was time she do more than point out the obvious.

"About a year and a half sir, ever since-"

"The Johnson case" he finished, remembering the way they had seemed closer than usual after that case, but not being able to put his finger on it. Oscar nodded; taking a sip from his glass as he patiently waited for the reprimand he knew was coming.

"Is this for the long haul? Because if it is, I'll be the first one to fight for the two of you," he said after a minute, and it surprised the hell out of Angie and Oscar. They were waiting for a transfer request and desk duty, not his blessing. They looked at each other and Angie shrugged, still confused by the turn of events.

"It is sir. I love her, and there's nothing I wouldn't do to protect what we have, including keeping it from you," Oscar said, and Boyd nodded supportively, draining his glass as he stood with his laptop in hand. They both stood as well, putting their glasses on his desk as they waited for the other shoe to drop. It seemed like the theme of the evening.

"If you could be together this long and not let it interfere with your jobs, I'm on your side. I won't split you up as long as you can keep things professional, which means…" he left off, raising his eyebrows as they both looked embarrassed.

"Got it, no more making out at work," Angie muttered, and Oscar tried to suppress his laughter as Boyd rolled his eyes.

"Get out of my office. I'll see you both in the morning, and please, for the love of god don't make me regret this," he said, and they nodded as they left his office. Oscar hesitated, but ultimately reached out a hand for Boyd to shake, wanting to thank him again for keeping them together. Boyd just smiled faintly, nodding in Angie's direction as they parted. Oscar made his way towards her, watching Boyd leave with his laptop, saluting him as he got on the elevator. He stuffed his hands back into the front pockets of his pants, looking at Angie almost shyly as she leaned back against her desk, arms crossed. He got closer, rocking back on his heels as he invaded her personal space, tilting his head to look at her almost nervously.

"So, does this change anything for you?" he asked, aware that there was a chance everything had just changed for them for the worst. He wanted her to be as sure about their relationship as he was. She leaned into him, putting her left hand against his cheek as he shut his eyes, tenderly placing his right hand over hers to keep her close. She leaned in and bumped her nose against his, and she smiled when he blew out a breath she knew he'd been holding. Her lips brushed his as she spoke, and she could feel his smile now more than ever.

"I still plan on marrying you Oscar, you're stuck with me," she whispered, and she let out a squeal when he picked her up briefly, her arms winding around his neck quickly to keep her balance. She laughed loudly, and Oscar didn't think he'd ever heard a more beautiful sound in his life.

Well, there's that.