Hey guys, thanks for the patience! Here is the one you've all been waiting for… ladies and Gentlemen… chapter four!

I heard somewhere once that love is like friendship on fire.

That's how I feel about you.

-the perfect man

Esteban made his way past the desk manager who was, as Esteban could have guessed, sleeping. Usually the doors of the Tipton were locked at night, and the night manager let late guests in. The only problem was there were hardly ever any late guests coming to the Tipton. That meant that the desk managers usually slept on the job.

As Esteban opened the door he did a double take at the scene in front of him. A pretty blonde young woman was sitting on the steps, rocking back and forth slightly while she cried, hair mussed, dress ripped, make-up running down her face, and barefooted.

"Maddie?"

"Esteban?"

"Oh my gos- Maddie! What happened?" Esteban asked, horrified.

He quickly scrambled down the steps and, putting his arm around her shoulders, sat down. Maddie broke down completely. Sobbing, she flung her arms around Esteban and buried her face into his shirt. Esteban didn't say anything. He just sat there with his arms around her rubbing her back soothingly, softly saying 'it's okay' again and again. It felt good to hold her. Right to hold her.

Immediately the worst assumptions started to form in his mind, and it was all he could do to refrain himself from interrogating her. Biting his lip, he sat there and quietly waited for a break in the sobbing.

As she started to calm slightly, Esteban pulled her away and looked her in the eyes, "Maddie,' he said softly, yet solemnly. 'you have to tell me what happened."

Her eyes sparked with anger and tears welled up in them once again. "I-it wa-was-' she gulped. 'Trevor. H-he-" she stopped and broke down again.

Her muffled cries tore at Esteban, and all he thought of was the many ways he could decapitate a certain college boy. "Maddie.' He said firmly, causing her to look up at him. 'What did he do? He didn't… He, he didn't-?"

"No.' Maddie said hollowly. 'He tried. But London's been teaching me some of her Martial Arts moves." She tried to smile, but failed miserably.

"Where was London during all of this?" Esteban demanded, feeling angrier and angrier.

"Look, it's n-not her fault.' Maddie said between shaky breaths. 'She didn't know, she was dancing w-with Aaron."

Esteban bit his lip, and nodded once to show he understood London was innocent. He pulled Maddie closer and wrapped his arms tightly around her. He was sure that he would be dead before he let Trevor near her again.

Maddie rested her head on his shoulder and twined her arms around his neck. She wasn't crying anymore, and the aftermath sobs were slowing down.

Esteban rested his chin against her hair and kissed her on the forehead. Why hadn't he told her how he felt weeks ago? Maybe this whole ordeal wouldn't have even taken place. Why-?

Esteban's train of thought broke off as he realized Maddie had straightened up and was look right at him.

"Esteban.' She asked seriously. 'Do you love me?"

Esteban felt shocked and completely floored at this question. An alarm bell went off in his brain screeching at him to say 'yes' as he looked into Maddie's eyes. Of course the part of his brain that affected his ability to talk went completely blank. "I- uh, I-"

"Because I love you."

The alarm bell was making it impossible to think it was buzzing so loudly.

"And, if you love me… then you need to tell me."

Esteban screwed up his eyes against the confusing noise in his head, and plunged in. "I-I, I do." He croaked hoarsely. "I do, I love you."

Maddie's eyes lit up for second, and she threw her arms around him letting out a watery laugh. "Oh why didn't you tell me before?" She pulled back and smiled up into his eyes.

Esteban was still recovering from his shock as he answered. "You have no idea how hard it is to have to tell some one that."

"Oh, yeah?' she asked smiling sarcastically. 'I just did."

Esteban laughed. 'Yeah, well, still. You females put a lot of pressure on us guys. For you it's easy, 'cause no one expects it of you."

"Oh, yeah, uh-huh, sure." Maddie said all traces of tears gone from her face, except for a red nose, and some very runny mascara.

Esteban smiled and hugged her closer. Suddenly her bright eyes clouded over.

"What's the matter?" Esteban asked, peering down into her dark eyes.

"I just thought, it's just that…I guess I kind of realized-' she broke off and looked at Esteban, 'My parents are not going to like this."

Esteban frowned. "How so? They never even cared about any of your boyfriends before."

"Yeah,' Maddie said dismally. 'Well now that I'm eighteen they've been practically hounding me with 'marital advice'. Since their marriage isn't the best, they've seemed to decide that there is only one point in marriage.' She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. 'Money. If he's not rich then I might as well be dead in their eyes."

Esteban swallowed. Maddie's parents might not be the best, but he certainly didn't want her to have to choose between them and him. He cleared his throat.

"Don't say it." Maddie said abruptly.

"What?" Esteban asked.

"I know what you're going to say, and don't. They obviously DON'T have my best interests at heart, and I am not following their rules in this situation. They've gone to far."

"Well, Maddie you know that my grandmother is also going to have a fit. She expects me to marry one of the noble woman of my country, or at least someone from my country! If she finds out about us, she… oh, I don't even want to know what she will do."

"My parents will tell me I can't see you."

"My grandmother will separate us, and drag me back to my country."

"She can do that?"

"Oh, you haven't met my grandmother."

"Well then what do we do?' Maddie asked, wrapping her arms around her knees. 'I've known you forever and loved you for as long as I can remember. First as a friend, then as… more."

Esteban gulped. 'Me too."

"I wish… oh, I don't even know what I wish." Maddie said sadly.

"I do." Esteban whispered.

Maddie turned to look at Esteban, who had taken her hand, and was now moving down to the lower step. He kneeled and took something out of his pocket.

Esteban took a deep breath. "Maddie I should have asked you this the second you turned eighteen."

Maddie's breath caught in her chest.

"And I need to know if you really... truly... completely …if you love me."

Whoo! What do you think of that huh? Four chapters in and despite the way it seems this fic is FAR from being over. I do believe this might be the first proposal in all Maddie/Esteban-dom! Lol, anyway, I know that I was going to finish 'The Greatest Time of Year' before I wrote anymore of this, but I just couldn't stay away! (Don't worry I am going to finish it.) Reviews are muchly appreciated!