Hello friends! This is my first attempt writing a fic for The Middle fandom. It has been so much fun seeing so many new Sean and Sue fics lately. Hoping to see Sue Heck spinoff.

"Mr. Heck. I love your daughter and the life we are building together, and I want your blessing to ask for her hand in marriage…" Sean cringed as he rehearsed the words he desperately wanted to ask his girlfriend's dad when he was all by himself in the staff lounge of the St. Matthews Hospital ER.

None of the words he practiced felt right. Part of him thinks the tradition of asking a father for permission to propose is a cheesy, condescending, and even barbaric. But he is a Donahue and Donahue's always follow tradition. He also knew Sue loved all things cheesy and traditional. He could picture her eyes welling up as he recounted the story about how he was terrified to ask her dad's permission to their future children.

At one time Sean felt like he formed a bond of mutual respect with Mike Heck and even thought of him a second dad. Since Sean returned from Ghana and started dating Sue he found himself at the end of his angry stares a few times. Most notably during the neighborhood block party in the summertime when Sue was wearing scarf to hide a hickey and the day Sue announced that she would be moving in with Sean. Sean carefully took in Mike's response to this announcement and saw his eyes widen in shock and dart to his daughter's finger to see it bare. He saw the older man take in a half a breath of relief before tightening his jaw. Since that moment Sean was uncertain about where he stood with Mike Heck.

Today, Sean is in his final year of medical school and will be starting the process of interviewing for internships soon. Some hospitals are nearby, and others are a several states away. He knows made it this far through medical school without Suzy Q's love and support. Instead of dinners by candlelight they had greasy pizza as she helped him by prepping quizzing him with flashcards. She has absolutely no poker face. He can tell when she is trying to fight an enthusiastic grin by biting on her lower lip to suppress a smile when she gets a flashcard about a specialty that was one of his strengths and the cautious smile of encouragement when she delivers a question in a specialty he struggles with.

Sue's career is thriving. She is currently working at the Chandler Inn. She started in Guest Services and spent most of her day at the front desk at the hotel. Recently the hotel created a new position for her where she oversees special events. Sue makes sure events like corporate conferences and weddings go smoothly. She always makes her guests dreams her own. During her senior year of college Sue participated in the Disney College Program along with Brad. She worked at hotels in Disney World and attended classes. Sue made tons of new friends and flourished in the program. She was even encouraged to continue her career with Disney but decided she wanted to go home to Indiana to be with her family and Sean.

Sean's thoughts were interrupted by Nurse Jan walking in with Sue in tow. Sue was wearing a new knee length floral dress she bought from Ross after she got her promotion. She needed to be able to be along with a pair of shearling slippers while carrying a large bright green bag and coffee traveler. Nurse Jan was the former nurse manager at the St. Matthews ER. She resigned a few years ago from her management position at the hospital to spend more time with her family. Even though she retired with a full pension and benefits but still regularly worked a few shifts a week. She took Sean under her wing and showed him the ropes in the ER and gave her the scoop about the other departments in the hospital.

"You got a good girl here, Sean. Not only does she bring you a meal, but she brings amazing coffee and pastries for the rest of the staff. At 1am and everything." Nurse Jan compliments puts an arm around Sue in a half hug.

"I know I am a lucky guy Jan. Suzy-Q is an amazing girl." Sean beams with pride giving Sue a kiss on the cheek then helping Sue unload the boxes of pastries for the late-night staff in the ER. Sue's face blushes at the compliments as she pulls a Tupperware container out of the bright green bag and pops it in to the microwave to reheat it as Sean helps himself to a cup of coffee to power him through the final 4 hours of his shift.

"Thanks Jan. It really is no trouble. The executive chef at the Inn adores Sean especially after he stopped by her house after his shift a few months ago to help her little one with the croup." Sue remarks because she doesn't want to take credit for Chef Julia's work.

"Oh, my goodness I nearly forgot to ask. Do you kids have anything planned on tomorrow? I noticed Sean isn't on the schedule and my husband and I can't use our season tickets for the Colts game. We would love if you could use them." Nurse Jan asked grabbed a cup of the French roast from the coffee traveler.

Sue frowns, "That is so nice, but I promised I would watch The Bachelor with my mom. It's the final rose ceremony and it is her version of the Super Bowl. Sean, how about you take your dad?"

Sean smiles one of the biggest obstacles to asking for Mike's permission was getting him alone. Part of him wanted to get both Mike and Frankie's blessing but he knew Frankie would spill the beans to Sue before he would get the chance to propose himself. "Do you think your dad would want to join me, Suzy-Q?"

Sue's face lit up at the idea of her two favorite men would be spending time together. "Are you kidding?! It's a Colts game, my dad would love it! Just let him know I gave up my seat so he could go and bring me home some cotton candy!"

Nurse Jan smiled at the couple as she grabbed a blueberry scone to go with her coffee, "Well, I will leave you kids alone. I will print out the tickets for you and put them in your mailbox. Have fun and don't forget to get your lady cotton candy!"

The microwave beeps, and Sue hops up and fetches the Tupperware along with a fork.

"What was for dinner tonight?" Sean asked rubbing his hands together knowing he was getting the daily special from the Inn restaurant.

"Beef Bourguignon, Chef Julia's specialty," she announces.

"How is it?" Sue asks as Sean takes his first bite. It is amazing, and the first bite practically melts in his mouth.

He makes an exaggerated look of disgust and says, "Your hamburger helper is so much better."

Sue blushes knowing her boyfriend is lying and snuggles into him on the couch in the staff lounge.

"I need to take a picture of us, so my helicopter mom will know you are at taking care of me," Sean admits with as he kisses Sue on the forehead and fishes his phone out the pocket of his green scrubs and took a selfie of him and Sue with his gourmet dinner prominently featured.

Most of the time Sue loved Nancy Donahue. Last year when Nancy stopped by their apartment to check in on them after they moved in together. Nancy seem pleased with how the couple made the tiny apartment a home but both Sue and Sean couldn't miss how Nancy's pursed her lips in disapproval when she saw freezer filled with Stouffer's and Marie Callender's frozen meals and a cabinet filled with boxes of Hamburger Helper, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and cans of Campbell's soup. Even the ever-optimistic Sue couldn't help but feel the sting of Nancy's judgement.

Sue was an insecure mess until Sean reminded her that she had been working just as many if not more hours as he was, and cooking was both their responsibility. Eventually they both enlisted Nancy's help to her delight. Sean asked for help about what gadgets to buy and Sue asked for her to keep her eyes peeled for easy meals for two on Pinterest. Sue and Nancy even bonded when they spent two days together prepared homemade meals that could be kept in the freezer and served later and knew to make a few extra for Mike and Frankie Heck.

Sean opens the Instagram app on his phone and post the picture with the caption: "Late night dinner courtesy of SueHeckWins. #beefbourguignon #luckyguy #ilovemysuzyq". Sean grins at the picture he took of them. Sue is looking up at him and smiling genuinely and showing her teeth. All those years of wearing braces, retainers, and headgear paid off.

"How did the wedding go?" Sean asks. Even though they share a home and a bed these 1am dates in the hospital are usually their best sources of quality time. Most of their communication was via exchanging encouraging words via post-it notes on the coffee pot or the bathroom mirror or having semi-conscious conversations when one of them climbs into bed while the other is sleeping.

Sue frowns and confesses, "I had to get mean with the linens company. They were insanely late on delivering our table cloths and napkins we were scrambling to make sure all the tables were ready for the reception. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day, but everyone seemed happy by the end of the night. Fifteen hours in heels as brutal though thank goodness my parents got me these last Christmas," Sue points to the well-worn slippers as she puts her feet on the coffee table in the alongside Sean's Nikes.

"Well that's all that is important is your guest ended up happy and that linens company knew not to mess with you again." Sean frowned remembering when the same company shorted the Inn on their order. He planned a date with Sue at the zoo with a picnic lunch. Sue wanted to stop in to make sure one her guests for a wedding was properly welcomed. Sue learned the linen's delivery was delayed she couldn't leave her co-workers in a bind so and they spent the day in the Inn's tiny laundry room washing and folding towels, sheets, and table cloths.

Sue continued to tell Sean about her day as he scarfed his dinner, "… Anyway, the cousin finally sobered up enough to be able to return to the reception and caught the bouquet," Sue finishes her story with a yawn.

"On that note you should be making it home soon. You're exhausted the bars will be closing soon, and I don't want you shouldn't be on the road with a bunch of drunks," he said glancing at the clock and pulling her up from her comfy spot on the couch.

"Text me so I know I you made it home okay," Sean reminds as they walk to the car.

Sue climbed into the driver's seat and turned on the engine, "I will, I promise. Wake me up when you get home? I sleep better."

"I will," Sean promises as he leans in and give Sue a quick kiss on her forehead before rushing back to the ER to get a rundown of his incoming patient.

An hour and 4 patients later Sean was finally able to peek at his phone. He relieved to see he had a picture message from Sue. She took a of her reflection in their bathroom mirror while she was brushing her teeth. Her face was freshly scrubbed and free of make-up and her hair was up in a sloppy bun. She had a toothbrush hanging from her smiling mouth. Along with the picture message came a text. "I kept my end of the deal. Don't forget to wake me up when you come home! Please bring the blue bag home. I forgot it. It is bright green and I think I left it on the table with in the staff lounge," Sue ended her text with a kiss face emoji.

He looked at the picture wistfully. He loved working in the ER but hated the crazy hours. He treasured nights where he could get ready for bed alongside Sue and the mornings they could wake up together.

It was finally the end of his shift and he finished writing up the discharge notes for the resident overseeing him to review a and sign off on for the patients they treated towards the end of his shift and updated treatment notes. He stopped by his mailbox at the end of his shift and in the middle of the pile of paperwork he found an envelope with the Colt's tickets Nurse Jan as promised along with a note from her, "I overheard you rehearsing your conversation with Sue's dad earlier. Just be yourself and you will find the right words when you talk to him. Any man would be lucky to have you as a son-in-law. Good luck and don't forget to invite me to the wedding."

The ball of anxiety in Sean's stomach started to settle after reading the note. Being true to himself was the same advice Sue has been giving him for years.

Sean tiptoed into the little apartment and dropped the green "blue bag" the kitchen counter next to the rolls of quarters he and Sue used at the apartment building laundry room. Sue did such an amazing job making their apartment a home using hand-me-downs from both the Heck and Donahue homes, a fresh coat of paint, and a few good finds from OfferUp, Target, and T.J. Maxx. He felt more at home surrounded by mis-matched scratch and dent furniture than the pristine house he grew up in.

He glanced at the mantel above the fireplace in the living room that contained a framed photo of them when they proclaimed their love for each other along on the side of the road at mile marker 16. The mantel also displayed the broken snow globe that finally brought them together along with the snow globe's they gifted each other with each Christmas since they became a couple.

After washing the off the gross parts of his day in the shower he creeped quietly into the dark bedroom with a towel wrapped his waist.

"Didn't I ask you to wake me as soon as you got home?" Sue mumbles as Sean pulls on his boxers and tee shirt.

Sean settles into bed next to Sue and spoons her from behind. His warm hands found her bare stomach under the Notre Dame t-shirt she was wearing. The shirt was his favorite, but he hasn't worn it in ages because Sue claimed it as her own.

"I didn't want to wake you when I was smelling like vomit, blood, and hospital disinfectant," he explains.

She rolls her sleepy eyes and rolls over to face him, "You are such a Donahue…" she stops and breathes in his familiar clean scent; Irish Spring soap mingled with the minty scent of his toothpaste then gives him a peck on the lips and continues, "but I appreciate your thoughtfulness."

Sue snuggles closer to him. She is still sleepy but unable to resist running her hands over his clothed chest and savoring the closeness. She was tempted to caress the skin under his shirt, but she knew they both were way too exhausted for anything more than snuggling.

Her boyfriend just as exhausted but slightly more alert. He brushed Sue's hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. He couldn't resist leaving some soft kisses on her neck and cheek and whispered, "I love you Suzy-Q, go back to sleep. Will you wake me up in the morning? I want to call your dad and invite him to the game?"

Sue rolls back to her back and yawns, "I texted him when I got home earlier. He called me and seems excited about it. He wants to buy you a drink."

Sean furrowed his brows and frowned, "Was he mad that you texted him so late?"

"No, I've texted him every night since I fell asleep when my phone was dead sophomore year. Dad woke me up pounding on my door at 3am. He gave me the biggest hug ever and then yelled at me for making him worry," she mumbles with a yawn.

Sue leans against Sean and continues, "It was actually the sweetest thing. He told me he heard sirens and that is the worst sound in the world when don't know if you know someone you love is safe."

Suddenly the ball of anxiety in Sean's gut returned. He isn't the only person in his relationship with a helicopter parent. But he doubted he would get into Mike Heck's good graces by making freezer jam or bonding over Pinterest.