(I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW! I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY!)

Deryn just stood there, staring. Alek caught his breath, realizing he hadn't been breathing, and continued. "I have been courting a few girls, but haven't really settled. None of them really stand out to me." He glanced at her. Deryn was resting heavily on the railing, she look like she was going to be sick.

He moved closer to her and put his hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off. Alek had done this wrong, but he knew how to make it better. He placed his hand on her waist to pull her closer.

They began to sway slowly, almost like a dance. Deryn rested her head on his shoulder again, saying goodbye to her prince for the last time. She buried her head in Alek's shoulder so he wouldn't see her eyes start to tear.

Alek, however, heard her shuttering breath and held her tighter. He still wasn't getting it right! What was wrong with him? He could be charming and sly with any other girl. He could take their hand a crossed the floor and let them down easy, knowing all the while, that they will never be her. The woman he is holding.

How does Deryn not know that?

He pushed her hair back and looked at her face. Deryn's nose was red, her eyes were puffy, her cheeks wet; she was crying.

How does Deryn not know she's the only one?

"Don't cry." He pleaded, resting his forehead on hers.

"I'm not crying," she sniffed.

"Liar." Alek brushed away a few tears with his thumb and took a step back. "I've done this all wrong. I'm sorry." He reached into his coat to pull out the ring he had been rubbing all day. "This is what I was trying to say," and slid it onto her finger.

Deryn stared at it for a minute, then cried, then punched him, again, and again, and again.

"Ow! Stop hitting me!"

"That was the worst proposal in history!" Deryn shrieked. "How could you do that to me?! Barking spiders! And people think you're smooth and mature!"

"You think I'm smooth? Ow!"

"Not me, dummkopf! The papers! Reporters!" She took a deep breath and stepped away, much to Alek's gratitude. "You know I read about you all the time? And try my hardest not to clip out every picture of you… it's really exhausting."

"I'm sorry, but now you get to see me every day, right?" Alek took her left hand and spun the ring.

Deryn smiled at him, blushing. "Maybe I could see you nights, too?"

That's when Alek knew she was better. That's when Deryn knew she had him. That's when the reader (hopefully) realizes what's about to happen. Deryn took his neck in her hand and pulled him down to her, kissing him hard, making up for all the time she's been without him. And he was going to make it up to her tonight.

Alek rattled a bit before realizing what happened. He hadn't done this for a while and was trying to remember how things went. Luckily, Deryn never forgot and guided him through it gently.

She moved her hands into his hair and pulled, just enough to open his mouth wider. Alek moved his hands to her back again, running his fingers up and down her spine, making Deryn's eyes flutter. She pushed forward though; wanting more and more the longer they went, alone on a balcony at sunset, with romantic music playing softly. It was every girl's ideal engagement; only Alek has no idea to propose.

It was lucky Deryn knew what came after. She moved her hands to his chest, unbuttoning as she went down. And as her hands went down, so did her mouth. She moved from his mouth to his neck to his chest. Deryn heard Alek moan and knew he wanted her just as badly.

"Deryn," he panted, "we should go. We-we shouldn't be do-doing this here."

"Hmm." She hummed, moving back to his neck.

"Deryn, this is very improper."

"Alek," she whispered into his ear, "did you know your hand is on my butt?"

The look of realization on his face made Deryn laugh; she laughed so hard she forgot what she was really after. But he still stood there, jaw on the ground, unbelieving. Though, after a while, he composed himself, and picked Deryn off the floor. Wiping the tears that came with laughter from her eyes he kissed her. A sweet and simple kiss that should have been what came after the ring.

"You know," he said, pulling away, "we are still going to your house."

"Oh aye, don't think you're getting out of that one, love." And pulled him into her again.