Disclaimer: Only plot and original characters belong to me.

"You know," Matthew said to Christine as they watched an old movie with a couple getting married at the end. "I really think we've waited long enough. Would you like to get married to me?"

"Well, yes!" Christine smiled. "I sure wouldn't wanna marry anyone else. Are you officially asking now? I just want to be sure."

"Yes," Matthew nodded and got down on one knee. "I am officially asking you to marry me now. I know I don't have a ring, but I would rather you choose one that fits you then just throwing a diamond at you. Unless that's what you want."

"No," Christine shook her head. "Not really. I'd love to pick a ring out myself, though. When should we go?"

"Well, it's a bit late now," Matthew pointed out, as the clock read nearly eleven in the evening. "Why don't we go tomorrow?"

"All right," Christine nodded. "I would love that."

They finished the rest of the movie and then Christine yawned, so Matthew took her hand, led her to her room, and tucked her in.

"I can't wait until we're married," she told him as she brought his head down to kiss him. "I really don't like sleeping alone all that much."

Just be patient," Matthew told her and took her hand. "It won't be too much longer to wait, I promise."

"It better not be," Christine smiled.

Matthew kissed her one last time, told her goodnight, and then turned off her light before going to his room to change into his pajamas and go to bed as Christine pulled the blankets over her head and dreamed of the day she'd finally be sharing a bed with him.

"Okay, what should I pick today?" Selina asked Elijah the next day as they headed to the jewelry store. "Should I add to my ever-expanding ring collection, or get a necklace, or-so many options!" She put her palms on the case and stared down into it where all the really fancy rings lay.

"You go ahead and look," the proprietor said as he gazed over her shoulder. "I have some business to take care of…someone to toss out."

Elijah turned to see what he was talking about and then told Selina as he leaned in real close, "Your father and Christine just showed up. He's wearing jeans, and I think he's about get thrown out."

"Oh, good lord," Selina said and stood up straight. "You wanna handle this, or should I? Why do you think they're here?"

"Go ahead," Elijah replied. "It doesn't matter to me. As for why they're here, it's probably for a reason you don't want to think about."

"You're right," Selina replied with a nod. "But because I'm a good sport, I'll go over and talk to them anyway."

So she strode over to Christine and Matthew, interceding just as the owner reached them. "This is my father," she told the man. "Be nice to him."

"Oh, all right," the owner said, the gel in his hair shining in the light as he stepped away from Matthew, his cheeks coloring a bit. "Anything you say, Mrs. Mikaelson."

He then gestured at Matthew and Christine. "Come over to the counter," he said. "What can I get for you today?"

"We're looking for an engagement ring, actually," Matthew replied. "She's choosing, so give her every option you have."

"Are you sure?" The man asked, eyebrows rising. "Even the ones you can't afford?"

Selina then stood back and watched her father handle the situation. The proprietor hadn't yet grasped that her father was a hell of a lot richer than he looked, and she was eager to see his reaction when her father proved it.

"Oh, I promise you," Matthew told the man, a strained smile on his face now. "I can afford whatever you show her. Just do it, please."

The man still looked doubtful, but put out all the rings he could find.

Christine finally picked a silver ring with a large aquamarine in it and tiny diamonds around the band. As the man rang it up and chuckled to himself at the final amount, Matthew, completely undeterred, asked Christine for her purse from which he pulled out a wallet that was just bursting with money. Even Selina was surprised by it and she knew what he was worth.

As the shocked proprietor watched, he began laying out hundred dollar bills on the counter until the bill was paid in full.

"Thank you for your help," Matthew told him with a smile as he took the ring and slipped it on Christine's finger and took his wallet back. "You have a good day now."

"Wow, Daddy," Selina said as she followed after them. "That was impressive. When did you and Christine get engaged, by the way?"

"I know," Matthew nodded. "I'm used to people underestimating me cause I don't dress like the man on the Monopoly box. But then I get the last laugh, so that's always fun. And we got engaged last night. I don't want to hear anything negative about it, all right?"

"Okay, okay," Selina replied. "I won't say anything else other than 'Congratulations'."

"Good," Matthew said firmly. "I'm going to be hearing enough complaints about this from your mother. I don't want to hear about them from you too. I'm sure you have other people to complain to when you need it."

When they reached the entrance of the store, he said to his daughter, "Didn't you come with Elijah? Don't forget about him."

"Oh, right," Selina nodded sheepishly and turned around to face her husband who was patiently waiting by the counter. "See you later."

She headed back to Elijah and he asked, "Did you forget about me?"

"Yeah, sorry," Selina said. "I just got so wrapped up in what Daddy and Christine were doing. But I didn't mean it. Do you forgive me?"

"Of course," Elijah replied and kissed her. "So…has what you feared come to pass?"

"Yes," Selina sighed. "They're engaged. He bought her this ring with a giant aquamarine on it. I might have to stop by Roxie's on the way home."

"Or you could not stop by Roxie's on the way home and just let me buy you things instead," Elijah suggested. "Isn't that a better idea?"

"Fine, but it's gonna take a lot of stuff to make me feel better about this. Are you prepared for that?" Selina asked him.

"Yes," Elijah nodded. "This is the sort of moment I've been preparing for ever since I've known you. So pick out what you want and I'll pay for it. Just make sure you don't pick more than there's room for in the car. That's my only stipulation. Okay?"

"Okay," Selina agreed. "I can deal with that."

"How are you feeling?" Andrew asked Selina as she tried on her jewelry in the spare bedroom at her house. "Not good? You know, your mother used to buy a lot of things when she was upset."

"This is really pretty," Alice said as she picked up a diamond necklace. "Can I try it on?"

"Sure, go ahead," Selina replied. "If you can do it without disappearing, that is." She'd taken a liking to the perky, good-natured spirit who'd become her uncle's new girlfriend.

"So be honest," Andrew told Selina. "Why did you buy all these things?"

"Because I wanted them," Selina replied. "And it's healthier than drinking. Plus, Daddy came into the jeweler's with Christine and bought her an engagement ring too."

"And there it is," Andrew smiled. "I thought this wasn't just about wanting all this."

"Don't get me wrong," Selina told him. "I do want it. Just maybe not for the healthiest of reasons."

"Well, the way you're dealing with this might not be healthy, but at least you're not hurting anyone," Andrew pointed out. "You're lucky you don't have to be around when your mother hears the news. I'll probably have to be the one that tells her."

"Well, good luck with that," Selina told him.

"Thank you," Andrew replied. "I know I'm gonna need it."

"What do you mean he's engaged?" Amelia yelled at Andrew, her arms flapping about wildly. "He can't be engaged! You're dating! Who's left?"

"I'm sure there's a whole world of lonely single ghost men out there," Andrew told her. "Go pick one of them. Nothing is stopping you."

"Well, I don't want them!" Amelia cried. "I don't want any random man off the street. I want…I want…" She stared into Andrew's eyes and then stopped short.

"Go on," Andrew encouraged. "What do you want? Who do you want? You can say it."

"No, I can't!" Amelia shook her head. "And I think it's really cruel of you to try and make me when you know that. When you know that I want you, but I can't-" She gasped, put a hand over her mouth, and disappeared, leaving Andrew alone and just as surprised as she was.