At least the words were coming out right, at last. She understood what he meant, about being claimed, about belonging. All his life, Sam had wanted to feel like he really, truly belonged somewhere, with someone. There had always been a reason why he didn't. But while the voice in the back of his mind could come up with plenty of arguments about why he didn't deserve to belong here, it couldn't come up with a single one to say he didn't belong. None of his arguments had worked in the face of her love for him, and he'd run out of them a long time ago.
His eyes closed partway, and he leaned his head against hers, feeling all the ways in which he belonged. There were signs, and some were tangible; the tree necklace around his neck, the small scar near his hip where she'd sewn up his skin. The rest was all just a feeling. She'd touched his skin so many times that it felt different, just standing here wearing it. His mind was clearer, his heart more whole, his soul brighter. But none of those were things that anyone other than her could see or understand, without having them explained. He wanted the ring because it was a sign that all of society would understand, just seeing it on his finger. That he was taken, that they had no right to try to take him for themselves. Not everyone took the hint, but at least he didn't have to give the hint himself.
His skin tingled as she traced the tattoo, and with it the small thrill that she knew him that well, to find it without seeing it. Of course, he'd memorized every inch of her, too, but there were no tattoos on her skin, not yet. "I could get through a hell of a lot by holding onto that, too," he agreed, voice coming out a little rough. "And there's going to be a hell of a lot to get through, I'm sure."
He had felt the tension in her, and known what she was imagining-- all the reasons why this wasn't perfect. Just the idea of telling Dean made Sam's heart clench so hard that he felt tears pricking at the back of his eyes, but she was worth the pain. And he'd find a way to cure Dean, to help him. His brother would be a part of this eventually, whether he liked it right now or not.
It took more effort this time to drag his thoughts out of that black pit that threatened to pull him in, but he managed it by focusing on Veronica, on what she was saying. "You know I'm willing to get a tattoo for a good reason. You're the best reason I've ever had for doing anything."
His gaze dropped down to the box, to the ring. He remembered thinking that it needed to sparkle, the kind of sparkle you could only get with multiple stones, because he was forever going to associate her with glitter and sparkles. But it had taken a while to find one that wasn't clunky or cheap looking-- and ironically it had seemed to him that some of the most expensive ones had seemed the most cheap, in terms of sentiment. The curves of the metal and simple but asymmetrical design of this one had, somehow, made it seem the most classy and elegant of them all. And despite being younger, shorter, and more experienced with the worst of humanity than anyone he'd met, the most classy and elegant of them all were descriptors that suited Veronica, too.
Reaching out, he took the ring from its box, and the tiny, delicate feeling of it in his hands made his fingers feel, for a moment, too large and clumsy. But he managed to hold onto it, and held out his other hand palm up for her to place her hand in it. Barely breathing, he slid it onto her finger, his own fingertips lingering over the ring and her hands for a moment before pulling them back to look at it.
The way he felt, seeing the reality of the ring on her hand, was indescribable. It was more than just appreciating the aesthetic of the jewelry on her fingers, where it looked like it belonged, suited her perfectly. It would have suited her even if she had been walking around in those pajamas she'd been wearing when she came out to meet him at night, so long ago. It made his chest tighten, his throat close over with emotion, and the hand holding hers tightened, not wanting to let go.