Ford had never really spent much time alone with Maddie, not because they didn't want to, merely because there hadn't been a reason to. They had become friends via Fiddleford; Ford was his roommate and best friend, meanwhile Maddie was first his friend and then his girlfriend. Plus, Maddie was Hephzie's friend and Hephzie was Ford's girlfriend. For now, anyways.

Maddie had gone out with Ford to San Francisco; Fiddleford would have gone with them, but he had class and Ford wasn't sure how much help he would be, anyways. Besides, what were the odds that Fiddleford would get over excited and spoil the surprise? Ford had to admit that it was nice to be hanging out with Maddie alone; she was kind, funny, and smart. She reminded Ford of the sun; she was radiant.

The good company he had with him helped to ease his nerves as he looked down at the rings that were protected by glass. There were so many to choose from and many other stores they could go to that it was a little overwhelming to choose a ring. Shermie had been lucky with his girlfriend; after the birth of their son, he had given the mother of his child their grandmother's engagement ring. If Ford had to guess, Ma had given that ring to Shermie to give to Daisy. While Ford was certain she didn't have another engagement ring that wasn't in use, it would have saved him the anxiety-filled task of finding the perfect ring for Hephzie.

Maddie saw the look on Ford's face and smiled gently. "Look, you're all about logic, right? So let's use it. First off, did Hephzie ever say what kind of ring she wanted?"

Ford stood up straight from peering down at the jewelry and held his cleft chin as he thought about it. "She likes gold. And she once commented that she wants her engagement ring to match her wedding ring."

"Okay, good." Maddie said and patted his shoulder. "Golden bands. Can you think if she wants somethang bigger n' flashier, or does she want somethang more plain?"

Ford racked his brain for anything else Hephzie had ever said to him in the years they had known each other, but that had been since they were children! While dating, Hephzie had certainly talked about rings or jewelry if the topic came up, but she never shoved it down Ford's throat that she wanted one. Shit, what if that was because she didn't want one?! Ford gave his head a little shake to focus. No, she had talked about this in the past. They both had. Ford was sure that he could surprise her and also grant her what she wanted.

"She works with her hands a lot." Ford said. "Working with newborns and constantly washing… I think she'd want something a little smaller, but she would also want something a little more prideful. Something that says she's proud to wear the ring. Something that would make her grin."

"Well, anythang from ya will make her do that." Maddie giggled and started to browse the rings. "Okay, let's go here, they got alotta gold bands. Maybe a small diamond?"

"But not too small." Ford said as he looked down at the rings.

Maddie giggled again, rolling her eyes, and kept an eye out for anything Hephzie might like.

After a few minutes, Ford and Maddie were greeted by a saleswoman. She was very helpful, willing to pull out rings to let them have a better look or hold the ring, but Ford seemed to find something wrong with every ring he saw. The band was too skinny, the diamond was too round, the diamond was too dull, the band as too thick, it had too many diamonds on it, the band was too fancy, the diamond was too square. Maddie didn't know whether to laugh or smack him upside the head. The saleswoman looked dead inside, like she had done this way too many times. Finally, after countless rejected rings, Ford's eyes were glued to one that he deemed worthy of Hephzie's hand.

It was gold with three diamonds on it, two smaller ones that sandwiched a bigger one, but the set altogether was just the right size. It sparkled, catching the eye, but it wasn't too big. It wouldn't inconvenience Hephzie as she worked. The band was just the right width; it wasn't too skinny where it looked like the diamonds stood alone, but it wasn't too thick, either. The band was also decorated with swirls etched into the metal. The ring reminded Ford so much of the watch he had given Hephzie on her eighteenth birthday. Ford could practically see her wearing that every day for the rest of her life: he could even picture it becoming a family heirloom and one of their great-grandchildren earning it, seeing how in a perfect world Hephzie would get to live to see all of her grandchildren marry.

"It's perfect!" He declared and was proud to be able to pay for it all in one payment; it wasn't a very expensive ring, but it did take four years or working at the library to save up for it.

Maddie grinned when she saw him pocket that little box and she squealed when they left the shop for the trolley back to Backupsmore.

Hephzibah was wearing a little black dress. Grandma taught her that every lady should have a little black dress. It wasn't the same one she had worn to her funeral; it was short, going to her knees, and it was a tight dress with thick straps instead of sleeves. It was plain and simple, but the golden watch and earrings helped to bring some color to the outfit, as well as her dark-red lips and beautiful hair and makeup. Though Stanford had seen Hephzibah in less plenty of times and would have liked her just fine in pajamas and no accessories, tonight she took his breath away.

Stanford also dressed up for the date. He wore his suit, completing it with a blue bow tie. While Hephzibah had said he looked handsome in any type of tie, she also said bow ties made him look less like a stick in the mud, so he laughed and was happy to complete the outfit with something a little more fun. Hephzibah seemed to stare at him as much as he was staring at her. When Hephzibah wasn't admiring Stanford's appearance, she was looking around the Italian restaurant he had taken them to. They were on a balcony, on the second floor of one of the nicest restaurants in San Francisco. The sun was setting colorfully in front of them, the clouds shielding the bright rays and spreading them across the sky like ink. Stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky, high above where the sun couldn't touch them. The balcony was beautifully decorated with lights and lanterns, and their tables was beautifully set by a lit candle and wine glasses, just waiting to be filled.

"Wow, ya weren't kiddin' when ya said we were gonna be fancy tonight." Hephzibah admired.

"Well, tonight is very special to me." Stanford said as he watched his girlfriend gaze around the balcony, soaking it all in.

Hephzibah smiled at him as color rose in her face. "Why's that?"

Stanford had a plan. He wouldn't do this here. It was too crowded and too noisy. He wanted to do it alone and secluded, back on campus. Stanford only continued to smile at Hephzibah as he took her hand that laid on the table. "Well, it's the day the woman I love came into the world. Happy Birthday, darling." And he raised her hand up to his lips to kiss it.

Hephzibah wished that the table wasn't between them so she could kiss him back in gratitude, but she supposed she could wait until after dinner. "Thanks, sweetheart. I just don't want ya to go hungry or anythang just for a date night. We're still broke college students. I'd be perfectly happy with an in-dorm movie n' some popcorn." Hey, old habits die hard. The Cece family had been tight on money for a very long time. Still was tight on money. Stanford's family had always been, too, but at least it never got so bad that they had to cut out meals like Hephzibah's.

Stanford chuckled and rubbed her hand with his thumb. "I know, but don't worry. I've been wanting to do this for a long time. It's nice to act a little more sophisticated every so often." Hephzibah nodded in agreement and their waiter came with a bottle of red wine. Stanford jokingly took the bottle, sipped from it, smacked his lips, and said, "It's perfect. She'll take it."

Hephzibah covered her mouth with her hand to stiffen her laughter and they happily toasted. The food was delicious, but as the meal went on Stanford's nerves stole his appetite. He managed to play it cool and eat an unsuspicious amount that wouldn't lead Hephzibah to worry about him and nag him to eat more or accidently tip her off of Stanford's ultimate goal. During the meal, he often felt inside his pocket to make sure the box was where it should be, but he was careful not to do it too much. Hephzibah was an observant and intelligent woman. If Stanford wasn't careful, his anxiety would give everything away. That thought made him more nervous, so instead he focused on what made him happy and feel complete.

Then Stanford noticed something. Hephzibah was thinking too deeply to notice how nervous he was. She was picking at her pasta and had her chin resting on her knuckles. They had been talking for most of the meal, but when the entrees appeared they had fallen into silence in order to eat. The look in her clouded brown eyes told Stanford that something was on her mind.

"Hephzibah?" When she looked up at Stanford, she smiled a little. "Are you alright?"

Hephzibah blinked to regain her focus and sat up straighter in her seat. "Yeah, m' great! Why do ya ask?"

Stanford shrugged. "You seemed lost in thought."

Hephzibah nodded, admitting that it was true. "I was just thinkin' of our first date. Remember? We went out to A Calidum Sedes."

Stanford chuckled as he remembered that night. He didn't know how they managed to pull it off without anyone suspecting their true intentions, but Stanley was busy serving detention at school, and after Stanford had tutored Hephzibah in the library to help her catch up from the days she missed school, they took a cab to the restaurant and they both pitched in to enjoy a nice dinner that wasn't street-corner tacos or cheap burgers.

"I remember. We almost left your purse in the cab so I had to chase it down."

Hephzibah laughed a little as she remembered standing helplessly, having a broken leg, two broken ribs, and a broken arm from a recent car crash, and watching Stanford run after the disappearing cab. She looked down at her half-empty plate and said, "I was a nervous wreck the whole night."

Stanford could have guessed it. He had been, too. "Honestly, I was so worried about getting caught that I didn't worry too much about how the date was going." Stanford admitted as he rubbed the back of his neck. They had kept their relationship a secret for around three months, until Stanley figured it out. They did it for a number of reasons: privacy, not wanting to have to worry about their families' judgment, unsure of Stanley's reaction, and fully aware that what they were doing was still taboo, even after laws were changed.

"I was worried that it would be our only date." Hephzibah shared and sipped her wine, her eyes down and not meeting Stanford's gaze.

Now, he didn't know that. "Really?" Stanford asked in a quieter, softer tone. "How come?"

Hephzibah sighed and cast a glance up at her boyfriend before looking out at the view to avoid doing that. "I guess I was worried that ya didn't like me. Ya liked what I did."

Stanford opened his mouth to ask what she was talking about, but he settled for a quiet "oh" when he figured it out. They started dating after Hephzibah had pushed him out of the way of a drunk driver and, quite possibly, saved his life.

"It… it almost felt I was countin' down the days until ya realized ya didn't have feelin's for me n' ya could do so much better." Hephzibah admitted. "I was so worried that one day ya were gonna wake up n' realize that ya were only datin' me cuz ya felt guilty, ya felt obligated or felt like ya owed me somethang."

"Hephzibah," Stanford breathed, unsure of how to take this. It happened four years ago, and as far as he could tell, Hephzibah wasn't afraid of that happening anymore, but he had to be sure. "I… y-you… you know I love you, don't you?"

Hephzibah looked at him and now it was her turn to take his hand. "Of course I do! Ya tell me every day. I know that now, but… all I'm sayin' is that, for a few weeks, I was scared that ya were datin' me for all the wrong reasons, n' that ya didn't... have feelin's for me. I knew ya… I knew ya loved me when ya were willin' to say so in front of your family."

Stanford smiled at that memory. "You said it first." He teased. It was true. Hephzibah had yelled at Stanley right as Ma and Pa had walked in that she loved Stanford, and he said that he loved her, too.

Hephzibah chuckled and squeezed his hand. "I only said it cuz it's true. I love you, Ford. I've loved you for so long that I forgot what it's like to not anymore, n' quite frankly I don't wanna." And she kissed every last one of his fingers.

Stanford felt himself swell with pride. Maybe he should do it now, to reassure her that he loved her and wanted her. No, no! Stick to the plan. Just tell her. "I love you, too, Hephzibah. I do. I owe you my life, not because you save it, but because I want it to be yours. Everything I have and am, it's yours. I wouldn't have anything without you, anyways."

Hephzibah blinked her stinging eyes. "Good God, Fordsie, when did ya become a poet?"

Stanford laughed at her little joke and the mood was lightened.

Dinner was delicious and they managed to save room for a famous slice of cake they had both heard of. It was a decorative chocolate cake with whipped vanilla frosting, topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and fresh strawberries. Apparently it was the best cake in San Francisco, maybe even California, and it even won several awards. Hephzibah and Stanford shared a slice, it being quite large, but soon a playful fight over bites of cake ensued, even beating off bites of cake from each other's forks and stealing the bits of dessert with wicked grins and low chuckles. Hephzibah went as far as to scoop up some whipped cream on her finger and boop it on Stanford's nose, which he proceeded to attempt to lick, crossing his eyes and making Hephzibah laugh so hard she had no choice but to put her fork down to risk choking on cake.

They were both grateful they hadn't driven the motorcycle and that they to take the trolley; they were too full and sleepy to be able to drive safely. They nearly fell asleep on each other, sharing a seat and holdings hands as they leaned on each other. The call for Backupsmore pulled them back to reality and they walked off the trolley and up to the college. They held hands and walked around campus. It was a Wednesday night on the last week of April. Many students were still awake, but studying for finals indoors now that it was dark outside. A few were out on evening jogs or lying on blankets under the stars, but the vast campus gave a sense or privacy that also said that they weren't alone in the world.

Hephzibah and Stanford talked aimlessly as they walked, their fingers entangled, and soon they sat on the stone bench under the willow tree, their favorite spot on campus. They often shared it with Madeline and Fiddleford, but tonight it was all theirs. They looked out at the giant fountain that was right in front of them, the same fountain that separates the boys' dorms from the girls'. As they sat in blissful silence, Hephzibah's head on Stanford's left shoulder, Stanford racked his brain on what to say and do. This was it. This is what he had been preparing for since… well, really, since he first started dating Hephzibah. He decided to do it before he lost his nerve.

"Hephzibah," He said softly. She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. "Do you know why I asked you out on that first date?"

"I have a good guess, but I'd still like ya to tell me." Hephzibah said quietly.

Stanford smiled at her. "Though I was grateful that you saved my life, and I wanted to show you my gratitude in some way, shape, or form, that wasn't why I asked you out on that date. I asked you, because… because I saw for a split second what my life looked like without you in it, and I never wanted to live that kind of life again. I never want to live a day without you ever again. You're my entire world, Hephzie. I love you more than life itself. You make me happier than I ever thought possible."

Knowing just what to say, knowing just what to do, Stanford slid off the stone bench and got on one knee in front of Hephzibah. Her jaw dropped, but she quickly bit her lip to keep her mouth closed. It was hard to tell in the night, but Stanford could have sworn that her eyes were sparkling more in the street lights the campus provided due to tears. Before she could ask or before the shock could wear off, Stanford continued.

"Hephzibah Cece, I love you. I love you very much, and even though I have no clue what I'm doing, I want to spend the rest of my life with you and try to make you as happy as you've made me. I want to have a home together. I want to grow old with you and, someday, have our own children and raise them together. Hephzibah, I want to marry you." With trembling hands, Stanford pulled out the little box from the pocket inside his suit-jacket and opened it. "Please, will you marry me?"

Stanford had never seen Hephzibah grin so big or look so happy. "Yes." She said with a tight throat, and she collapsed on her knees in front of Stanford and hugged him tightly around the shoulders.

With the ring still in his hand, Stanford hugged Hephzibah back tightly and grinned as the happiest man in the world. Holy Moses, she said yes! She wanted him! She wanted to marry him! Stanford could feel her heavy breathing and he knew she was thinking the same thing, rejoicing over the fact that he wanted her, that he wanted to marry her. They pulled apart just enough to kiss, one of Hephzibah's hands on the base of his head and the other arm around his shoulders, Stanford's free hand on her hip.

When the kiss was done, Stanford happily slipped the ring on Hephzibah's finger. He first thought she'd admire the ring or awe at it, but the minute her hands were free she used them to hold Stanford close, feeling as if she would never let him go. Stanford wasn't offended at all, rather happy to hold her back just as tight and see to it that he went to sleep every night and woke up every morning like this, with Hephzibah in his arms.