Disclaimer: Not mine, but I'm going to borrow them a little bit longer.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for all of your wonderful feedback on this story and this series. I know that I haven't been able to update as often as I'd like, but I'm glad everyone is still hanging in. There will be one chapter following this one just as soon as I can finish writing it. And again, iheartbridges, CineFille and Lula Bo are the best.
He's been feeling a little jittery lately, not in a spaced-out, caffeine-high kind of way, but like there's an extra bit of energy humming in his muscles, and in his bones. It's pleasant and warm and it's only his curiosity about where it's coming from that makes him think about it at all.
It's developed somewhat gradually as he and Lorelai have continued to move forward in their relationship and as he's worked to make room in his life for both her and his daughter. Things had been going better than he could have imagined until Christopher called and sent Lorelai into a tailspin, questioning everything from their relationship to her own failures as a mother.
They've talked since, having the kind of conversation where admissions and confessions become the glue that holds two people more tightly together. He'd known as they had talked that she was speaking fears aloud that she'd never told anyone else, and it had been both heartbreaking and reassuring to hear them, and to be able to admit some of his own.
It had shifted something between them, to talk like that. In the wake of that conversation and the dinner with Lorelai's parents the following night, the patterns they've developed undergo subtle changes.
So far, they've only spent the night at her house, but one night when Luke reminds her of an early morning delivery, instead of heading home alone, she stays with him above the diner. And though he's become accustomed to spending more and more time at her house, now they no longer need a reason or a plan to stay the night together. It just happens. And they let it.
With all of the time he spends at Lorelai's, he leaves more of himself behind with each visit. At first, every item was intentional: sweats and a t-shirt to sleep in, shampoo to replace the empty bottle, a few cooking necessities that Lorelai's kitchen lacked. Now though, he doesn't think about every pair of jeans or flannel shirt that ends up in Lorelai's laundry or about the kitchen gadgets he brings with him that get put away in her cabinets.
New routines develop too: Saturday dinner becomes a time when he cooks a special dinner for Lorelai when April's not with him and for both April and Lorelai when she is. He starts taking Sunday mornings off, which means a full-out breakfast for him and April or long, lazy mornings in bed with Lorelai.
With all of these little shifts and fine changes, it takes him a while to identify the weird humming. It takes him a while to recognize that he's restless. That the guy who last spring couldn't figure out how to be a father and a fiancé at the same time now can't wait to get married. Actually, at this point, he'd be happy to be engaged. Really engaged – with a date and a plan - not this 'ring-around-the-neck' limbo that they're in.
It's not until he recognizes and names his own eagerness that he can clearly see that Lorelai is not restless, to the point of being atypically serene. It gives him pause until he realizes that if he's come full circle perhaps she has as well. They're no longer the same people – not the broken woman who self-destructed outside the diner, nor the man who failed to see the deterioration. They're two people who are finally seeing a way forward together.
Her discovery of the ring could have been an opportunity to solidify that, but at the time she'd been so overwhelmed that he hadn't explicitly suggested it. And the fact that she began wearing it around her neck seemed to imply that she wasn't quite ready yet. So he's let himself focus on the present, the ease with which they have become a couple again.
Until Christopher finds his way between them. Again. In retrospect, he thinks he understands her over-the-top reaction. Christopher has always been more trouble than he's worth, but she'd been carrying around the guilt about going to him the night of the ultimatum for months.
What he would never have foreseen was the responsibility she'd taken on for the failure of Rory and her father to develop a relationship. For years, Luke had watched him stroll in and out of their lives, playing on some very real affection they held for each other. But for Lorelai to twist that around into a failure on her part had made his blood boil, had made it such that Luke could finally admit, to himself and to Lorelai, how much he hated Christopher.
It had been a turning point, that talk. He'd been able to give her some small measure of absolution and she'd made way for him to share his anger, at Anna, at Christopher. All of it has made them, if possible, even more solid and in tune with each other, giving in all kinds of little ways. They check in with each other more often during the day, even if it's just Lorelai letting him know that she's busy at the inn and won't be able to stop by for lunch. And he takes that as an opportunity to bring her lunch and the ever-present coffee. He notices her making an effort to keep her room neat, because even though he hasn't said anything, she knows her clutter drives him crazy. And he exchanges the screens in her windows for the storm windows without waiting for her to ask.
It's all such an easy rhythm they've settled into that's he's reluctant to upset the balance.
And, of course, there's April. He's not using her presence as an excuse this time, like he admits he'd done last spring, but he does want her to gradually get comfortable with Lorelai, with spending time with her, with the idea of them being a family. So the three of them have eased into some regular routines: the Saturday night dinners when April stays for the weekend, and casual weeknight dinners at the diner.
And, he knows, the two of them adore each other. But will that still be the case when they share a home, when Lorelai is a permanent part of his life? He's probably being ridiculous; there's been absolutely nothing to indicate any problem between them. It's just that he loves them both beyond measure and wants to know that it will all work out because he couldn't bear to lose either one of them. So, as impatient as he is for them to become a family, he just tries to bring them together in the best way he knows how without pushing them so quickly forward that they risk stumbling.
One family routine he's not looking to eagerly, but rather with apprehension, is April's first (of many, he thinks with resignation) Friday night dinner. For April's part, she's intrigued, having only heard the more lighthearted and absurd anecdotes from Lorelai about her parents.
Honestly, he shouldn't be surprised that April is not nervous. She rarely seems to be anxious about anything – except for the occasional mention of boys. He's nervous. He's seen first-hand the way that Richard and Emily can make someone feel as if they're not worth the space they take up on Earth. He doesn't want to subject April to anything that would make her feel less confident.
But perhaps that's it after all, he realizes as he watches his daughter all night. There's almost nothing that makes April feel insecure. Apparently, not even Emily Gilmore.
What he could not have ever predicted even if he'd been gifted with supernatural powers is the way that April and Emily take to each other. From the moment that they walk into the house and April holds out her hand and says, "It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Gilmore, Mr. Gilmore," Luke notices something in Emily's expression. She's impressed, and surprised to be so. And with that thought Luke can't help but smirk internally at the elder Gilmores.
They head into the living room, making small talk while Richard fixes their respective drinks. Emily clearly seems most interested in talking to April. After checking in briefly with her daughter about the inn and Rory about her classes, she turns to April and says, "Your father tells us that you've been spending more time with him recently. What do you think of their little town?" She doesn't seem to be able to keep a touch of condescension from her tone, but Luke is sure that April doesn't notice.
"Oh, it's great. Everything is so small and friendly and, well, you haven't really seen true improvisational comedy unless you've been to a Stars Hollow town meeting."
Emily seems to not quite know how to respond to that, simply nodding and saying, "That sounds…quaint." Then she turns to Luke. "Are you still living in that apartment above the diner?"
"Yes," he answers cautiously.
"Is that enough space for you now that April is spending the night sometimes? It doesn't seem as though it would be big enough for the two of you."
"Well, I separated off a section so that April would have her own room and we seem to be managing okay." He glances over in his daughter's direction. "Right?"
"Oh, totally. And Lorelai helped us paint it and then I took my dad out to Target to get some accessories to liven up the place. But you know what?"
April pauses dramatically and Emily lifts her eyebrow curiously, asking, "What?"
"He'd never been to Target! Can you even imagine that? Living this long and never having been to Target before?"
"That is hard to imagine," Emily answers with a completely straight face, though Luke can see an amused glint in her eye. It's hard to believe, but he's never seen her look quite so intrigued before. Sharing a glance with Lorelai, he notices that she looks as baffled as he feels.
He's so distracted, wondering at Emily's behavior, that he almost misses her next question, which is directed at him. "Have you considered moving to a bigger place, a house perhaps?"
It shouldn't be such a hard question to answer. He's been working on the assumption that he'd eventually move into Lorelai's place, like they'd planned over a year ago, but since they haven't officially talked about it he doesn't want to bring it up in this company. Looking up a little helplessly, he sees Rory hiding a smile and Lorelai wearing a sympathetic expression. "Well, uh," he hesitates, "I guess we haven't really thought that far ahead yet." It's not until he says 'we' that he realizes that he's not referring to him and April, but actually him and Lorelai. He lifts his eyes to Lorelai's, unable to interpret the strange look she gives him.
He's hoping Emily will drop the subject, but she doesn't let up. Even Richard seems to be watching the conversation with interest. "But eventually, of course," she insists, "you'll need more space."
"I assume so," Luke starts, but before he can continue, he is interrupted by Lorelai.
"Mom," she says, a touch sharply, "he doesn't have to decide this instant. It's not like there's a 'For Rent' sign in his window and he and April are going to be sleeping in a cardboard box tomorrow."
"Lorelai," Richard interjects, "your mother is simply curious. There's no need to bicker over this."
Lorelai sighs. "Dad, I'm not. I just…" She glances at Emily and Luke sees something pass between mother and daughter, a look of understanding in Emily's eyes and a relaxing of Lorelai's features as she breathes out what looks to be a sigh of relief. Luke makes a mental note to ask Lorelai about that later as Emily gives a 'take charge' smile and changes the subject.
"Did we tell you about the trip Richard and I are planning to Prague? Since we have to work around Richard's class schedule at Yale we can't do Europe properly this time so we decided to focus on one city instead."
For the next few minutes, Emily regales them with highlights from their itinerary and Rory peppers both grandparents with questions about their sightseeing plans. When the maid announces dinner, they all head to the dining room and Emily directs them to their seats, Luke and Lorelai on the far side of the table and April and Rory next to each other opposite them. Luke wonders if it's intentional that Emily has seated April closest to her or if she'd even given it much thought at all.
They've just been served their entrees, and even though Luke doesn't eat much red meat he knows that the cost of the beef tenderloin sitting on their plates could probably feed a family of four for several days. As they begin eating, Emily turns to April. "I hear you've been working on a science fair project about fishing." She says the last word with a note of disbelief, as if she can't imagine what there possibly could be to study about it. Looking up, Lorelai eyes her mother suspiciously, poised, like a mother tiger ready to pounce. Luke senses that Lorelai's intervention is unnecessary, but he's touched at the gesture nonetheless.
Predictably, April's reaction is as animated as it always is when she's talking about one of her passions. "Yeah. I got the idea when we were at the cabin this summer and I was trying to figure out where the best place to catch fish would be. I thought I might be able to use the pH and dissolved oxygen data I collected, but it wasn't really a controlled enough experiment, so I'm trying to figure out how to create pH and dissolved oxygen gradients within a regular fish tank.
"What exactly are you trying to find out?" Emily probes.
"Mom, why don't you let her eat? She hasn't been able to take a bite yet."
"It's okay, Lorelai. I love talking about my project," April says easily.
"See Lorelai, April is very happy to tell me about what is happening in her life."
Lorelai slumps back in her chair, poking absently at her potatoes and Emily looks triumphant.
Before April gets any further in her explanation, Richard makes an inquiry about the diner and they talk business for a few minutes. When the topic shifts to the economics class that Richard is teaching and Rory is taking Luke redirects his attention to the other end of the table, where April is describing her project in more detail. "Since they're vertebrates I have to make sure the conditions are not harmful to the fish." She shrugs, spreading her hands as she talks. "If I were studying slugs, no problem, but as soon as they have a backbone there are all sorts of restrictions. But I wouldn't really have wanted to know the most ideal conditions to attract slugs."
"Certainly not," Emily agrees, her lips curling in distaste. "So, what precautions have you had to take?"
As April answers and Emily continues to ask surprisingly intelligent questions about the experimental design, Luke smiles with pride at the way his daughter is holding her own with Lorelai's mother.
Every once in a while, Emily's gaze slides over toward him and then back to his daughter and he imagines that she's wondering how April could be related to him, at what strange combination of genes would result in someone with an intelligence so different from her father's, and from all of them actually. She's logical, analytical, always asking questions and looking for the evidence that answers them. He finds her personality refreshing and it's given him a new way to view the world. Perhaps that's what interests Emily; she seems to enjoy April's open frankness, the way she doesn't shy away from Emily's questions.
Emily also appears to be relishing the fact that every time Lorelai tries to 'save' April from Emily, April tells her it's okay, that she likes talking about her project. "She's not bugging me, Lorelai."
For April's part, the only way he can explain her ease is that she's not implicitly wary, that she's probably the only one in the room not wondering if there's some underlying motive for Emily's questions.
Regardless the reason, he continues to be surprised at the way they've connected. By the end of the night he's beginning to think that more than anything, beyond an unexpected meshing of personalities that much of what he sees is a new determination in Emily to stay close to the people that Lorelai is close to.
And so, as strange as the whole night has been, he's encouraged in a way he's never been on a return trip from Hartford.
Later, as Lorelai and Rory head home from the diner after a few cups of coffee and April finishes her Coke, Luke tries to process the night. Between Emily's strange connection to April and the revelation Lorelai had dropped on him as she sat at the counter sipping her coffee – that her parents not only wanted to buy them a home, but had even picked one out – his head is spinning. He's a little relieved to be able to focus on the mindless tasks associated with closing up the diner.
Try as he might though, he can't still his thoughts, can't stop that restless feeling that keeps him pacing and puttering, unable to relax. He wonders again when he became 'this' guy, when he lost his complacency.
Finally, April's voice interrupts his thoughts, "I was going to head upstairs, Dad. You almost done down here?"
He glances down at the rag in his hand and the coffeemaker he's cleaning for the third time, giving a sheepish smile. "No, I'm…uh…done."
They're heading up the stairs to his apartment when April asks, "So, Lorelai and Rory have dinner with Lorelai's parents every Friday?"
"Yeah."
She tilts her head to the side, a wistful expression on her face. "That seems like a nice tradition."
He tries. He really tries not to chuckle, but he's been there since the Friday Night Dinner 'tradition' started, and if Lorelai's (and his own) experiences have been any judge, 'nice' is not the best word to describe the weekly dinners.
April glances at him curiously as they walk inside and she plops down on the couch. "What's so funny?"
He pauses, choosing his words carefully as he pulls down two glasses from the cabinet and fills them with water before walking over and taking a seat on the couch as well. "Lorelai's relationship with her parents is…" He stops, taking in a breath and letting it out slowly. "Strained," he finishes. "She agreed to the Friday Night Dinner for Rory's benefit," which is close enough to the full truth, he decides, "but she doesn't always get along all that well with her parents."
"I guess I noticed some of that," she says, looking thoughtful. "I didn't get much of a chance to talk to her dad, but her mom was great."
This time he's able to stifle his laugh before it makes it all the way out. He's still not completely sure what to make of the April/Emily dynamic. "I'm glad you had a good time at dinner," he manages.
"So when you and Lorelai get married are we going to go to Friday Night Dinner with them whenever I'm here?"
It's a battle then between sputtering a response to the straightforward way that April assumes they're getting married and repressing his shock that anyone could be so enthusiastic about returning to the elder Gilmore house. He's finally able to stammer out, "When we get…you want to go back?"
He'd spent too long in his head though, mentally debating her question, so by the time he's got the words out his daughter is backpedaling. "I mean, if that's okay. Mrs. Gilmore did say that she'd love to have us back, but maybe she was just being polite."
"Well, she was being polite, but I think she actually meant it," he assures her.
"Good." She gives him a long look then. "You are going to marry Lorelai, right? I figure you'd have told me if you'd chosen a date, but eventually you two are going to get married, right?"
"That's the long-term plan," he says vaguely.
She narrows her eyes a bit. "How long-term?"
"What do you mean?"
"How long before you guys, I don't know, decide, and start planning the wedding?"
He shrugs, reluctant to admit out loud that he's been wondering exactly that.
"Is there some reason you're waiting?"
"No, we're just making sure that everything is right before we dive in again." He takes a sip of water, staring into his glass as he tilts it slowly back and forth, then shifting his gaze to meet her eyes. "I also wanted to give you time to adjust."
April's brow furrows. "Adjust to what?"
"I don't know, spending time with Lorelai…"
"What's there to adjust to? Lorelai's great."
He has to smile at that, first of all because it's true, and at the matter-of-fact way that April is looking at him.
"Well," he starts, hesitant, "if…when we get married, I'd probably move into her house, which means-"
"Which means that when I visit, I'll stay there." She shrugs. "I kind of figured that. I mean, I guess I'd have to work it out with Rory, but if she's not there I could probably stay in her room."
"Of course. I'm sure that would be fine with her." He looks April in the eye. "So, that would be okay with you, if I lived at Lorelai's house?"
"Well, it would be better than her moving in here."
"Right, well obviously." He then offers what may have suddenly become another option. "You know, it's also possible that we would move to a different house, still nearby, but bigger, so that you could have your own room."
"Well, that would be cool too. Then I wouldn't have to get in Rory's way. I just," she looks at him curiously, "did you really think I'd have a problem with this?"
He shrugs. "Not really. I guess I just didn't want to overwhelm you with changes all at once. I mean, you just started staying with me, so-"
She cuts him off. "Okay, I get it, but you don't have to worry about me. I'm fine. Really. Go ahead and marry Lorelai already."
And then he grins, because he can't think of anything he'd rather do.
Because she asked, April's gotten him thinking about not only a real engagement, but also the whens and wheres of a wedding itself. One of the days that April visits, to her pleasant surprise, he utilizes some of the computer skills she's been teaching him over the last few months to make some inquiries.
The ideas and anticipation make him jumpier than usual, so he's a little relieved that Lorelai is preoccupied with plans for a girl's night and spa day to celebrate Rory's birthday. Watching her when she's with Rory and in those moments when she's quiet and alone, he can tell that there's still some residual sadness surrounding Rory's birthday. It's like a symbol of everything Rory's missed out on and though he knows that she excited for a chance to spend some quality time with her daughter, it's clear that there's still some lingering regret over the way that her relationship with Christopher has affected their ability to simply be Rory's parents.
After Lorelai and Rory's day of pampering, Lorelai returns home flush with enthusiasm, but alone, Rory having headed back to New Haven for her party. Following their new Saturday tradition, Luke has prepared an all-out dinner at Lorelai's house, which they enjoy while Lorelai tells tales of her day, her smiles a touch brittle.
By the time they've finished eating, however, the forced animation has faded and Lorelai lets Luke fold her into his arms. "You know, if you want, you could still go?" he whispers into her ear as she wraps her arms around him and rests her head on his shoulder.
She sighs. "Am I that pathetic?"
"No but…" he pauses, choosing his words, "if you think you shouldn't go because of me. If you think it would bother me, you don't need to worry about that. I don't want you to cut off all contact with Rory's dad."
Her arms still tight around his neck, she leans her head back to meet his eyes and gives it a small shake. "No, I know that and I have no intention of cutting off contact, but some Rory/Dad time without me around can't hurt just now."
"Okay," he says, nodding.
She gives him a playful smirk. "Now, if you're worried I'm disappointed you should feel free to distract me with some crazy decadent chocolate dessert."
"I can think of plenty of ways to distract you." He can feel his voice low and soft in his throat and Lorelai smiles at the suggestive tone.
"Really?" she teases, tilting her head to the side. "I can't imagine what ideas you might have."
He lets his fingers graze down her back and kisses the hollow just below her earlobe.
"Ah," she sighs, "now I see, but first…" She kisses him lightly. "Fess up. I know you brought dessert."
They do share a ridiculously rich chocolate torte and then engage in some 'other' quite pleasant distractions. Luke is pleased that he's able to entice genuine smiles and laughter.
Over the next days, in spite of her sadness, her time with Rory seems to have brought Lorelai a sense of peace, of resolution. He's not exactly sure what they've said to each other, but it's as if a weight has been lifted off Lorelai's shoulders, brightening her mood and making her smiles freer.
And because of that, he can see the road clearing, obstacles dropping out of sight. That everything that has caused them pain is finally behind them, and he knows immediately that it's time.
It will be tonight, he decides, surprised that as sure as he is, he's still nervous. But he's ready and it's time to make sure she knows that. Once he's resolved, he makes a few phone calls following up on some earlier inquiries, then calls Lorelai to solidify the vague plans they'd made earlier to see a movie.
And, try as he might, he can't keep from smiling all day.
They head home after eighties night at the Black, White and Read, and though he hesitates ever so slightly to have this moment associated with a movie called Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, he has no intention of putting off this step any longer. When they return to her house, he takes her hand as they go up to the bedroom. Inside, he pulls her to face him, holding her hand loosely as he grazes his fingers down her cheek and presses a soft kiss to her lips. She leans in, willing, eager, and he kisses her again. He stops her when she starts to pull him back toward the bed, reaching to rest his wrists on her shoulders and his fingers on the back of her neck. Her eyes are wide and luminous as he finds the clasp of her necklace, loosens it, and then slides the ring off the chain into his palm. She waits while he refastens the necklace and then slides his fingers down to grab her hand. Lifting it he holds the platinum band next to her ring finger, whispering, "May I?"
She nods, her face breaking into a wide tremulous smile and her hand shaking a bit as he slides the ring onto her finger. Once it's in place, she closes her fist and looks down at the ring, biting her lip before reaching her arms around his neck and kissing him. It's soft and sweet and endless, but before he gets totally lost in it he pulls her over to sit next to him on the bed.
"So, here's the deal," he starts.
She lifts her eyebrow curiously, but stays silent.
"You've got three options." He takes a breath. "I checked with Reverend Skinner and he's available Saturday. We could have a small ceremony with just the family, in the yard or something." He looks up at her shyly, "Maybe under the chuppah?"
She gulps. "Saturday?"
"Or," he says quickly, worried now that he's jumped too quickly forward, "I reserved the Dragonfly for a month from now, if you want time to plan something a little bigger. Or," he pauses, taking her hand in his and running his thumb over her palm, "we can do it whenever you want, however you want." He looks at her hesitantly, and he can see her surprise softening into warmth and delight.
"I think I can wait until Saturday," she says softly, and before he knows what he's doing his arms are tight around her waist and he's pulling her toward him, turning so that she is snug against his chest and he can plant kisses across her lips, cheeks, jaw, brow, temple with an enthusiasm that leaves her laughing. He takes her face in his hands, kissing her tenderly and whispering, "I love you."
"I love you," she says softly, but with emphasis. She glances down at the ring and back up at him, "So, Saturday, huh?"
"Unless that's too soon," he says anxiously. "It doesn't have to be Saturday."
"Because you booked the Dragonfly, right?" she teases. Giving him a soft smile, she adds, "Don't worry, Saturday is perfect."
"Good," he says, leaning in for another kiss.
Before his lips touch hers, she pulls back, her face scrunched in confusion. "Wait! You booked the Dragonfly?"
He shrugs. "Yeah."
"How could I not know this? I book the events for the Dragonfly."
"I know." He gives a proud smirk. "You booked it."
"What? How?"
"You booked a 25th anniversary party for Robert Johnson and his wife Madeleine," he explains.
Lorelai's brow wrinkles in thought. "But I booked that one over e-mail."
He nods knowingly.
Her mouth falls open in shock. "You used email?"
"April set me up with a gmail account one weekend when she stayed over and then I was able to create another account to book the party."
"Well aren't you the technological guru?" She's looking at him in awe and he's ridiculously proud of himself for pulling it off. "So the Johnsons aren't having a party after all?"
"No." A thought occurs to him. "I hope I didn't keep you from getting another reservation for that day."
"No big deal." She lifts one hand and waves it at him. "In fact, we might want to keep it on the books."
"Why?"
"I'm quite sure that a backyard/front yard/whatever wedding will not suffice for Emily."
He face falls. "Oh."
"Oh, don't worry about it," she says reassuringly, running her hand down over his shoulder.
"Really?" he asks cautiously.
She nods. "Really." She quirks her mouth to the side, thinking. "But Luke, what about April? She's not with you this weekend."
"I think that I'll be able to work it out with Anna so that she can come over Friday and stay for the wedding." Lorelai looks skeptical, and he explains. "I didn't give her any specific details, but I asked if it might be possible to be a little flexible about the weekends, if something came up."
"Okay. And something came up?"
He grins. "It certainly did."
"So, if you've engineered this whole thing, does that mean that you've planned out the time and the guest list and everything too?"
"Well, I was just thinking sometime Saturday morning and that we'd invite our families, and Sookie and Jackson if you want."
"Sounds good. So, does that mean that we'll have my mother and T.J. in the same place at the same time?"
He gives a wry smile. "Looks like."
"Do you think the space-time continuum will survive?"
He chuckles. "I sure hope so. It would suck if our wedding caused the end of the world." She just smiles, and he continues, "So, I was thinking that we could go somewhere for the rest of the weekend, Monday too, if you can get it off. Maybe the Vineyard or New York or something? I'm sorry we can't do something more, but…" He gives her an apologetic shrug.
Before he can continue, she asks, "How about your cabin?"
"The cabin? You want to go to the cabin?"
She smiles softly, "Yeah, I just want to have you all to myself for a couple of days."
"Whatever you want," he says, pulling her close again, resting his chin on her head and smoothing her hair with his fingers.
They stay like that for long moments, breathing out contented sighs. He's just given her one more squeeze when she pulls back and looks up at him, her eyes huge. "We're getting married."
"We are at that."
"I guess it's probably about damn time."
"I couldn't agree with you more."
To be continued…