"I got that degree so you'd be impressed by me. I made the farm successful so that you wouldn't be ashamed to call me your boyfriend. I told myself that I was doing it for me, that I was making my future the best it could be, but you were right. I am a deluded loser, because I did everything for you!" He was gripping her so tightly it nearly hurt, eyes wide due to lack of sleep, hair arranged by the bed in tufts that made him look adorable. He'd woken up at 8 to an empty bed, and assumed the worst. Mini had left him before, she'd left without a goodbye before, and he assumed that this time was no different.

When he'd charged over to her house, she'd found a worried looking Shelley, who informed him that Mini was currently a few thousand feet up in the air. And still, Alo decided to try and make it to the airport. Even though her flight should be leaving any minute. Even though his attempt could be futile, he had to make it anyway.

"Alo, I have to go." Mini whispered back, unshed tears in her eyes at the thought of what might await her when she got home. She'd ignored all his calls this morning, knowing that saying goodbye would be too hard. Just like before, though she was unsure if it was a good thing or a bad thing, her flight had been delayed, and Alo had managed to catch up with her. "Alo, it's my dad. You know I'd never forgive myself if I didn't get to say goodbye-"

"Mins, he hasn't been a part of your life. Not really. He took you to Australia and then barely contacted you. He probably doesn't know what Gracie looks like, and..." he trailed off as for once he finally understood what was going on in her head. "But he's your dad and you love him."

"I have to get on my plane. I'm sorry, but I can't stay any longer."

As he watched her walk away, he knew that he had to ask. Just this once. Even if the answer wasn't what he wanted to hear, even if it broke his heart all over again, even if she was still going to be ridiculous and deny everything... he just needed to ask. "Why did you keep her?" He called after the love of his life, taking one last shot at getting her forever.

"You could've got rid of her and none of this would've even happened. You would've stayed in Bristol, you wouldn't have got in contact with your dad, we would've carried on fucking as per usual..." She was the one staring at him now, eyes wide and a faint smile on her lips.

"You are so fucking dumb, farmboy." She was grinning now, as if she had just realised something. And that just made Alo realise what she meant.

"It's because you... love me?" He laughed at it, and his smile could break his face it was so wide. "You love me."

Even though it was the truth, she still turned and walked away, gesturing with her hands that she had to. But now Alo knew that their love was mutual, that he hadn't waited around for years for something that would never happen, he didn't hesitate in running to the ticket booth and booking himself on the next flight to Australia. He needed to hear those words from her lips and he needed to kiss her and he needed to make sure that they would be together for the rest of their lives.

...

"Marry me." Alo recognised her curly blonde hair from a mile away (or rather, from the car park where she was currently standing), and had to control himself to keep from running to her at lightning speed.

"Alo?" She whipped her head around, mouth falling open and eyes wide. He'd checked with Mini's mother, and Gregory was going to be fine. He'd had a mini heart attack but as long as he was careful, he wouldn't suffer any serious, life-altering consequences. So now wasn't a bad time to propose. It wasn't the most romantic of proposal locations, unless you considered the fact that he had travelled across the world to get to her, and waited years and years for her to say that she loved him too.

"Say you love me and marry me." She was already preparing herself to say no, so he just continued talking. "We have a kid. A kid who I'm going to love as much as I love you. You kept her because you couldn't bear the thought of saying goodbye to something that was made up of me and you. The sex is fantastic, that's obvious. I satisfy you better than anyone else ever could. And more importantly... we love each other."

"Alo..." She was smiling, but not in a 'oh gosh I love Alo so much and he's about to realise that' way, like she had at the airport. No, this smile was a 'I can't believe I'm going to have to break his heart again' smile.

"Don't do this, Mini. Just say you love me and then marry me and we can live happily ever after. You, me, and little Gracie. That's why you kissed me the other night, right? Because you want what I was telling you about. You want us... under the same roof... all that love in one household... you want Gracie to have the life that you never did..." and then she mouthed the words. "What was that? You're going to have to speak up..."

"I love you, you arse!" And then she was in his arms and they were kissing and Alo could die from the happiness he felt.

The best thing was, he knew she felt it too.

...