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The man smiled, clearly pleased. "Excellent choice," he said, lifting the ring from the velvet tray and turning it so the light caught the sapphire. The stone flashed a deep, rich blue—bold without being flashy. "Sapphires are strong. They hold up well. Much like the way you described her." Athena nodded, eyes never leaving the ring. "That's exactly why I like it." Natasha watched her daughter for a long moment, arms loosely crossed. There was something in her expression that was softer than usual—pride, maybe, mixed with the faint ache that came with realizing your child was no longer a child. "It suits her," Natasha said quietly. "Carol's never been subtle."

Athena snorted. "That's putting it mildly." The jeweler chuckled and set the ring on Athena's finger so she could see it in scale. "Do you know her ring size?" Athena grimaced. "Uh... approximately?" Natasha raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?" "She doesn't wear rings," Athena defended. "And the one time I tried to measure while she was asleep, she woke up and thought I was stealing her hand." Natasha huffed a laugh. "Sounds about right."

The man waved a hand dismissively. "That's alright. We can size it after the proposal, or estimate based on this." He glanced at Athena's hand. "You're a similar build." "That works," Athena said decisively. "I don't want to risk her finding it before I ask." "Smart." Natasha reached out and squeezed Athena's shoulder. "Very smart." The jeweler placed the ring back into its box—a simple navy velvet that made the sapphire look even brighter—and slid it across the counter. "Would you like it engraved?" Athena blinked. "Engraved?"

"Many people choose a date, initials, or a short phrase." Athena thought for a moment, then smiled, slow and genuine. "Yeah. Can you engrave 'Higher, Further, Faster' on the inside?" The man's eyes flicked up with interest, but he nodded. "Of course." Natasha's throat tightened just a bit. She turned her head, pretending to study a nearby display case while the engraver details were discussed.

Once everything was paid for and the ring safely tucked into Athena's jacket pocket, they stepped back out onto the Manhattan sidewalk. The city buzzed around them, loud and alive. Athena exhaled like she'd been holding her breath all morning. "Okay. I have the ring. I have the plan. Now I just have to actually do it." Natasha glanced at her. "Nervous?" "Terrified," Athena admitted. "Carol faces alien invasions without blinking, but this?" She shook her head. "This feels bigger." Natasha stopped walking. Athena did too, turning to face her.

"You know," Natasha said carefully, "I've watched you grow into someone who loves fiercely and without apology. That's not easy. And it's not something everyone deserves." She met Athena's eyes. "Carol does." Athena swallowed, blinking rapidly. "You're getting emotional."

"Don't push it," Natasha warned, but there was a small smile on her face. "Now come on. Let's get home before someone starts interrogating us." Athena laughed, slipping her arm through her mother's as they headed back toward the Jeep—ring secure, plan in motion, and a future quietly waiting just around the corner.