+Author's note
Starting the book off with everyone's favorite Texan!

Legs propped on a broken sentry, Dell laid back on a wooden crate, his arms hung lazily around (Y/n) as they watched the sunset bounce off the cliffs together.

Their sighs of contentment soon turned into groans as they heard a pair of familiar footsteps run towards them.

"Yo egghead! You here again with (Y/n)?"

The girl rubbed her temples, Dell relunctantly withdrew his arm, the wooden crate under him creaking as he changed his posture to something less intimate than before.

"Yea Scout?" he asked tiredly.

"Doc said dinner's ready"

The obnoxious sounds of his chewing and gum popping mixed together as the Bostonian's eyes darted between the two suspiciously.

Dell gave a sigh.

"Tell 'em we'll be there soon"

Scout didn't move, still bouncing there on his heels, and it took a scowl from (Y/n) to have him hightail back to the base.

+++

It had already been 2 years since (Y/n) had officially been deemed as Mrs. Conagher. It was a life changing moment for the two love birds, a momentous time that Dell vowed he would never forget.

And they both never did, but they probably would have if not for the secret meetings out the base.

+++

"Whaddya mean we can' see each other?!"

Ms. Pauling lifted her clipboard defensively against Dell's rage, a sheepish look on her face.

"Morale's low as it is guys, The administrator wants doesn't want them to think that you get special treatment-"

"WHAT SPECIAL TREATMENT?! WE'RE MARRIED DAMMIT-"

Holding onto her husband's arm, (Y/n) pulled him back from scaring the young woman further.

"C'mon Dell, let her finish-"

"Ah-ah..hah.. Look I'm sorry guys, I didn't get to have a say in this either. It's just that the people we hired all left their friends and family behind, and she doesn't want them complaining about being unfair, or about anything else any more than they already are"

Her feeble explanation did little to calm the fuming Texan, his wife giving a tired look at Ms. Pauling.

"Where are we going this time?"

+++

Both knew there was no arguing with the old withered hag; Dell's family was too closely tied with whatever she had been cooking up for the last few lifetimes, and (Y/n) had more experience working as RED's nurse than anyone else.

Begrudgingly they both packed their things and arrived at base, both pretending to be no more than old friends.

It wasn't easy. Dell was a man of affection, and nothing hurt him more than hearing his sweetheart refer to him as the "Engineer".

His wife fared the same, it took some time getting used to hearing the name "Nurse" replacing what used to be pet names.

Goodnight kisses and simple gestures were sorely missed, and the two soon found that lovesickness could take place even within a few centimeters apart.

But even in all this nonsense, the two still managed to steal some time together. Even if it were short lived, they snuck notes, gifts or had secret réndevous on a broken deck.

Time went on, and discreet as they were, it soon became impossible to escape the suspicious glances from their colleagues. After all, the base was too small for any secrecy.

Excuses were running out, and being caught by Scout on more than one occassion really started to raise questions among the men. Even Medic, who had little reason to care other than his experiments, couldn't help but stare in completation.

Suffering under the men's piercing gazes, the two wordlessly agreed to stay apart.

+++

On a paticularly hot day, (Y/n) kept herself busy organizing a shipment of syringes in the rec room as a certain Frenchman made his way towards her.

Taking a long drag from a cigerette, his fingers brushed softly against her hand, cold grey eyes studying it's features.

(Y/n) gave a jump, looking up at Spy with surprise, a little bit of fear mixed in as she saw how intensely he gazed at her.

"What a pretty little 'and petit. How do 'ou manage to keep it so soft?"

She couldn't help but shudder at his voice, his advances kept it hard to keep the strain out of her voice.

"I... Um.. Thank you Spy"

Wordlessly, he frowned as he took her hand in his grasp, his finger rubbing across the bare red tinge wrapped around her finger, taking the spot where once was the place of her wedding ring.

"Oh what's zhis? It looks like something used to be here.. A piece of jewlrey perhaps?"

(Y/n) quickly whipped her hand away, holding her hand against her chest, trying to keep herself steady.

"N-no, there's nothing there, I never wore anything like that before"

The skeptical look on Spy's face told (Y/n) that he was less than convinced; but he said nothing. And with another puff of his smoke, he left the room.

Spy was missing for the remainder of the day, and (Y/n) wasn't too sure if she should be worried or relieved.

+++

The 9 men went around prepping theirselves for another match, but Dell noticed that they were much quieter than usual.

He noticed how they seemed to whisper among themselves, or exchanging glances when they thought he wasn't looking. Scout wasn't quite subtle with his staring, and Medic seemed to shift uncomfortably.

He'd have to do something, or at least lighten the mood. He slapped a hand onto Demoman's shoulder and gave a good natured smile.

"Good luck out there partner!"

Demoman returned the smile, but said nothing as he also gave a slap on the back on the Texan.

Something was definately off, frowned Dell. And it was when he saw Spy whispering something to Sniper behind him that he was determined to find out was going on.

But interrupting his thoughts, the administrator announced the start of their daily battle.

+++

Left behind at the base, (Y/n) started preparing some water pitchers and a first aid kit on the table, waiting for the men to come back. The familiar roar of a beaten van and camper soon came up, and the 9 men came piling into the room.

Sweaty, tired and bruised, the men sighed making their way inside, most of them huddling around the water pitcher, and the ones that were more roughed up went straight to (Y/n).

She gave a smile, seeing Sniper clutch the back of his neck.

"How many times did you get backstabbed today Snipes?"

He gave a small chuckle, bringing up a chair in front of her.

"Too many times sheila, patch me up?"

(Y/n) quickly went to work, tending to the scratches on his face when Spy started slinking around them.

"Such a shame, isn't it bushman? A lady like (Y/n), all cooped up here, alone"

Dell flinched, (Y/n) pursed her lips and the other men exchanged concealed smiles. Sniper gave an evil grin.

"It's a bloody shame alroight, 'ow in the world is a sheila loike her single?"

Spy came forwards and placed both hands on her shoulders, and ignoring her jolt of shock, he crooned.

"To zhink zhat such a pretty little girl 'asn't been taken yet, it's quite shocking non?"

The men started to snicker, Dell's face went white with rage, his grip around the wrench tightening. Seeing this, Spy gave a smirk.

"Why, it's almost 'eartbreaking to zhink of! Why don't we do somezhing about zhis gentlemen?"

Scout cut in, his arm slinging carelessly around the Engineer.

"We should set her up with egghead here!" Scout gave a mischievous grin.

Dell and (Y/n) completely froze, and the men exchanged laughs.

"I mean, think about it!" Scout continued, "They're both pretty smart, and they both act like our mom and dad! She'd be perfect with ol' pally here!"

"I agree," Medic gave a warm smile at the two. "I for one zhink zhat zhey would make quite a couple"

The men bit their lips from laughing at the two, Engineer stood there, still processing the situation, and (Y/n) sat there with a hand across her mouth.

A gentle smile hung on Spy's lips, his legs prowling around the two.
"They do look good togezher, don't they gentlemen?"

A murmer of agreement went around the room, and Spy chuckled.

"Well zhen! Why don't we give zhem some privacy and let zhem decide? I'm sure zhey 'ave some zhings to talk about"

The men heartily agreed, and soon shuffled out the room, both were baffled and pleasantly shocked.

(Y/n) walked up to her husband, her hands in his; their smiles mirroring each other.

"Well then," shyly, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you think we should give us a shot?"

Dell laughed and gave her a little eskimo kiss.

"Well, Ah reckon Ah like the sound of tha' darlin', if you don't mind"

(Y/n) giggled, her body pulled up against the Engineer's, and she shot up a look of excitement and mirth.

"You know, maybe we should get married!"

"Ya think?" he laughed.

Taking her in his arms, he swayed softly with her, their warmth shared together, the scent of flowers and gunpowder mixing in the air.

"Do you think the administrator would mind?"

"Maybe, but Ah think the boys are havin' too much fun to complain"

She looked at what the Engineer was grinning at, and smiled at the sight of 8 men hiding behind the door waving.