Tony walked in front of the counter looking through the glass at all the rings in all of their different shapes, sizes and colors. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for but he knew what Alyssa liked and he was going to buy her the best ring he could afford on his McDonald's salary. He pulled out his wallet and counted the money he had withdrawn from his savings account earlier. He figured he could spend about $600.00 so he looked at rings that were within that price range.

A man approached him from behind the counter and asked, "If you see anything you like let me know." The man took another look at his young customer and said, "Wait, I know you, your Tony DiNozzo from the Buckeyes."

Tony just smiled, he was use to complete strangers recognizing him all around Columbus. It had been this way since his breakout season his Sophomore year. He had led his team to the 2010 Rose Bowl and the next season in his Junior year he led the team all the way to the National Title game where the Buckeyes beat The Texas Long Horns 43-17. He had a chance to go to the NFL Draft after his Junior year, after the consensus was he would definitely be a first round pick. But he decided to stay at Ohio State for his Senior year, much to the delight of his coaches and his girl friend, Alyssa.

Tony saw a few rings that he could afford and asked to see them. The salesman pulled the rings out and said, "These are nice but I want you to compare the quality to what I am about to show you." The salesman went and picked out a few other rings and laid them all out on a velvet cloth. Using his years of experience as the stores top salesman he soon had Tony convinced that he could not give the woman he loved one of the inferior rings, although he did not use those exact words, Tony got his message loud and clear. Tony wanted to ask Alyssa to marry him and when he did he wanted everything to be perfect, including the ring. Tony looked at the price tags on the nicer rings and his eyes opened wide, the salesman saw Tony swallow deeply and knew it was time to seal the deal.

"Are you familiar with our stores generous financing options?"

Tony shook his head no.

The salesman smiled and pulled out an application from under the counter. "Which ring do you like?"

Tony pointed to the 14 carat white gold band, with the 1 carat princess cut diamond, as soon as he saw it, he knew Alyssa would love it. The salesman ran his fingers over the numbers on his calculator and after a few seconds said, "You can walk out of here today with this ring for about $25.00 per month."

Tony picked up the ring and looked at the price tag, $1,199.00... He looked at the salesman and said, "I don't know, it's a lot more then I was prepared to spend."

The salesman then said, "Did I also mention, no money down? Just imagine the look on the lucky ladies face when she sees this ring."

Tony tapped his fingers on the counter and thought for a moment. It had taken him nearly six months to save $600.00 and it would be nice to put the money back into savings. He looked at the ring again and thought how beautiful it would look on Alyssa's finger. He thought about it for a minute or so then said, "I'll take it."

The salesman patted Tony on the shoulder and said, "You've just made some lucky lady very happy."

Tony smiled and said, "I sure hope so." He filled out his application and a short while later he walked out carrying the small velvet box in his pocket and decided to stop at his favorite CD store and treat himself to a few new CD's to add to his collection since he now had a little extra spending cash. He then passed the food court and stopped for pizza and grabbed an ice cream cone and ate it as he walked out of the mall towards his car. He loved the 1967 Green Mustang his mom and Gibb's had given him for his 21st birthday just two months earlier. He had been so happy when he received a letter from the Municipal Court of Baltimore informing him that he could once again apply for his drivers license that had been revoked since he was 18. He loved the freedom of being able to go where ever he wanted when ever he wanted.

It was once again Michigan Week in the city of Columbus and Tony was savoring every moment he could. He could not believe how fast the last four years had gone by and was sad to think that his last regular season game was just three days away. It was going to be a big game too. It was the big Ohio State, Michigan rivalry game and whoever won was going to make a trip to the Rose Bowl. Tony had loved the experience of playing in his first Rose Bowl game two years ago and thought it would be the perfect way to end his collegiate football career before advancing to the NFL.

Tony came home to the apartment he and Alyssa now shared and hid the ring in one of his dresser drawers under his socks and underwear. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and started practicing how he would ask Alyssa to marry him. He had already decided he would ask her to marry him tomorrow night when they took the annual jump into Mirror Lake before the Michigan game, now he just needed to figure out the words he would use. He heard the front door open and close and heard Alyssa call, "Tony are you home?"

Tony came from the bedroom and Alyssa thought he looked nervous, like he had been up to something. "Is everything alright?" she asked.

Tony quickly nodded yes and said, "Everything is fine."

Alyssa squinted her eyes and said, "What were you doing in there?"

Tony nervously laughed and said, "I wasn't doing anything."

Alyssa continued to study Tony who was wringing his hands together and slightly bouncing on his toes. "Were you looking at porn again on your laptop?"

Tony was about to deny the charge but figured if he said yes she would stop questioning him. "Yes I was, but I was thinking of you the whole time." He gave her one of his best smiles and waited to see what she said.

"I just don't get it, what's with guys and their porn?" She looked at Tony and walked over to him. She ran her hand down his chest stopping at the waistband of his jeans. "We have been together for over two years now and believe me I know all the kinky little things you like and I hold nothing back."

"And I appreciate that," Tony said in a shaky voice as he felt her hands continue to trace the waistband of his jeans.

Alyssa smiled as she rubbed against him feeling his arousal. "Yes, I know that you do. So tell me why do you need the porn, what can that give you that I can't?"

Tony couldn't think of anything to say, he could not defend what he hadn't done and right now he could only think about one thing. He wanted Alyssa right now. He reached down to kiss her and she pulled away saying, "Nope, it's not gonna happen, I suggest you go take a cold shower while I start dinner."

Tony made a little whimpering noise and Alyssa smiled as she turned away. She told herself she would make it up to him later tonight. Tony slowly made his way to the shower muttering to himself, "idiot, idiot, idiot....."

After dinner Tony and Alyssa made their way around campus hitting several of the best parties and when they got home Alyssa kept her word and gave Tony a night he would not soon forget. He loved nights like this when she would just take her time, exploring every inch of him reminding him how good it was to be a man. Her touch alone was enough to take him over the edge but when he felt himself inside of her the pleasure was so intense he often felt like he would cry, he hid it by mumbling incoherently or screaming her name, hiding his face in the pillow to hide the few stray tears that managed to escape. Tonight had been no different and as Alyssa slept with her head resting on Tony's shoulder, her arm draped easily over his stomach, he gently ran his fingers through her long dark hair rehearsing silently over and over in his head just how he was going to propose to her tomorrow night.

Tony stood with all of his friends as they shivered in the cold wearing only their bathing suits. His hand kept reaching into the pocket of his trunks and his fingers would lightly rub over the soft velvet box calming him as the moment neared. He found that he needed a bit more alcohol so when Steve and Josh jumped in he held Alyssa back and reached under his discarded clothes and pulled out the bottle of Jack he had hidden. He looked at Alyssa and grinned, "It's colder then usual, just trying to warm up a little bit more." The truth was, he was scared out of his mind and needed the drink to calm him down so he could get his mouth to say the words he had practiced over and over in his head.

Steve and Josh looked back on shore and saw Tony and Alyssa still standing where they had left them. "Come on you guys, what are you waiting for?" Josh screamed. Tony took another big swallow from the bottle of Jack then took Alyssa by the hand and together they dove into the freezing water. They stood amongst thousands but Tony only saw Alyssa as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She was standing in water that went just above her waist and Tony lowered his body under the water to where only his chest on up was visible. He then said through chattering teeth, "Alyssa Cardullo, I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you and every moment since then my love has grown more. I have been blessed with many great accomplishments these past four years but none mean more to me then you. You are the greatest thing that has happened to me and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Alyssa, will you marry me?" Tony reached down and pulled out the velvet box and opened it showing Alyssa the ring. She stood shivering with her hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes while Josh and Steve stood next to her in shock as they waited for her to say something. Tony continued to look up, his teeth chattering uncontrollably and he heard Alyssa say, "Yes Anthony DiNozzo, I will marry you."

Tony smiled and came up from the water and slid the ring on Alyssa's finger, everyone around them cheered and Tony and Alyssa shared a kiss, Tony not caring that Alyssa saw the tears in his eyes. Josh and Steve each kissed Alyssa and then shook Tony's hand then proceeded to dunk him under water several times for not telling them what he had planned.

When they got home that night it was late but they were both excited to tell their families so they first called Alyssa's family in California and her parents were thrilled to hear the news. They had met Tony on several of their visits and liked him a lot and could see how much he loved their daughter. Mr. Cardullo, an LAPD Homicide Detective had put the fear of God in Tony when they first met and told him, "If you get my daughter pregnant while she is still in school, it will be the last girl you ever get pregnant." Tony didn't know if that meant he would lose his life or an important part of his anatomy but he didn't really feel like asking Mr. Cardullo to clarify. However, after his heart to heart talk with Alyssa's father, he was always extra careful, spending the extra money on the better grade condoms.

Tony looked at the clock and saw that it was almost 2am and he thought about waiting to call his mom but he was so excited and he knew she would be happy to hear the news. He dialed the number and waited. A tired sounding Gibb's answered the phone. "Hi it's Tony, can I speak to mom."

Gibb's tried to process who was on the other end of the phone, "Tony?"

Tony laughed, "Yeah you know, Tony your step son, good looking guy, football player."

Gibb's wiped his hand over his face and looked at the clock. "Do you realize what time it is?"

Tony answered, "Yeah, but I have big news that mom is going to want to hear now." Tony heard Gibb's handing the phone to his mother and he heard Gibb's tell her, "I think he's drunk."

Marie took the phone and said, "Tony what is it, are you alright?"

Yes mom I'm fine and no I'm not drunk, well I may have a little buzz but I'm not drunk. I just wanted you to know I asked Alyssa to marry me and she said yes!" Tony went on to tell his mom how he proposed while they did the Mirror Lake jump and how nervous and cold he was.

Marie and Jethro were now fully awake and each of them talked to both Tony and Alyssa. Marie wanted to know what kind of ring Tony had given Alyssa and Tony was surprised that Alyssa knew more about the ring then he did, he figured it was a girl thing or something.

The next day Marie phoned all the family and told them the good news. They would now have an extra reason to celebrate on Saturday as the family gathered for the annual rivalry game between Ohio State and Michigan. They did not know their celebration would come to an abrupt end and a young life would be changed forever.