A/N: It's update time! Yay! I apologize in advance for any typos. I don't feel like proof reading and since I write on my phone, I'm sure autocorrect has made it a point to make me look like a dumb ass sooooo...whatever. I'm giving y'all advance warning, this story is about to make you feel things. Maybe not this chapter per se, but future chapters will be a lot like getting punched in the throat so stand by for that. Please leave a review if you feel so inclined. Enjoy and thank you for reading.

When Selena and I were younger, I used to hold her hand everywhere we went. It was the most natural thing in the world to me. Neither one of us gave it a second thought. We grew up holding hands. Back then it was just a friendship thing. As we got older it became a way to satisfy a need that would remain unspoken until recently. It all seemed silly as I look back on it. I still couldnt help but smile. Holding her hand is how it all began.

As we walked along the beach, I heard her let out a sigh as I felt her thumb stroke the back of my hand. We had been back in San Diego for a week and every night she insisted we take walks. I enjoyed time alone with her like this. She had always been quiet and soft spoken. Her gentle approach to life was a stark contrast to my "balls to the wall" strategy. She was more meticulous and I was more random. We were different in so many ways, but we fit together perfectly.

I loved her as she was. She was the type of girl who'd slide down the hallway wearing nothing but socks. She had a tendency to misplace her clothing when she drank tequila. She loved naps, Jack In The Box, pickles, and the color green. She looks beautiful first thing in the morning right when she wakes up, no makeup and hair everywhere. She's the type of girl that wants a huge kitchen not because she likes cooking, but because she wants room to dance in it. There wasn't another woman like her, and she was mine.

"What are you thinking baby?" She asked softly as we continued to walk.

"I'm the luckiest person in the world." I smiled.

She didn't say anything, she just smiled. That's another thing I loved about her. She didn't talk unless she had something to say. Words were important to her and she preferred to not waste them.

We finished up our walk and headed inside the house. Taylor and Joe were sprawled out on the couch watching Gladiator. During Selena and I's trip to Texas, they started seeing each other. They were a good match. Joe was head over heels for her. It was sweet.

"Wanna join us?" Joe winked holding his arms open.

"No." I laughed.

"You wish." Selena scoffed sticking her tongue out at him. "I'm gonna get some ice cream." Selena stated before walking into the kitchen.

I laid down on the loveseat and turned my attention to the movie. Selena returned a few minutes later with a ridiculously large bowl of ice cream. She tapped my shoulder and I sat up so she could sit. Once she was settled, I leaned back against her and continued watching the movie. It didn't take her long to start feeding me ice cream.

"This movie is depressing." She sighed.

"It's awesome!" Joe smiled. "Not depressing. Maximus is a fucking bad ass."

I nodded my agreement.

"Seriously Joe?" Selena said as her forehead scrunched up. "He spent years away from his family fighting to expand the Roman Empire only to have his country betray him and slaughter his wife and son. " She said seriously. "As if that wasn't enough, they try to execute him and he ends up a slave. How is that awesome?"

"It's awesome because despite all of that, he keeps fighting. He keeps fighting because he knows that someday he will be reunited with his family. He never loses himself to grief. He fights for his family and he fights for his country despite everything that's happened." I said as Selena looked down at me. "It's what I would do." I added before returning my attention to the tv.

"Exactly." Joe nodded.

"He's sad though." Taylor added.

"Well obviously." Joe said chuckling. "His entire life is destroyed."

"It's depressing." Selena said again.

The doorbell rang and Selena got up to go answer it. She walked to the front door, opened it, and mumbled what sounded like "Jesus fucking Christ" before slamming it shut and walking back over to the couch.

"Demi. It's for you." She said looking quite annoyed.

"Who is it?" I questioned as I got up off the couch. She didn't answer.

I opened the door and I was immediately confused. I didn't expect to see Justin standing there looking completely lost and uncomfortable. I immediately shut the door and turned around so I was facing the couches.

"What the fuck Sel?" I questioned.

"Make him go away." She said still annoyed. "It's your job." She added as he crossed her arms across her chest.

I narrowed my eyes at her before turning around and once again opening the door. Justin was still standing there like an idiot. A squinty eyed, smug little idiot.

"Umm...are you going to invite me in?" He asked awkwardly.

"No." I answered as I stepped outside and closed the door behind me.

"I need to talk to Selena." He said clearing his throat.

"No. You need to leave." I replied.

"Excuse me?" He questioned.

"You heard me." I said slowly. "Pound sand."

"Come on." He sighed. "I came all the way from New York..."

"I don't give a fuck where you came from." I interrupted. "You are not talking to her. She's not interested."

"How would you know?" He snapped.

I laughed. "Because. I know her inside and out. Quite literally actually."

"Wait...what?" He asked, scrunching up his face.

"She's moved on. You should too." I answered trying to be nice.

"She's with you?" He questioned in a slightly high pitched voice.

"Yes Justin, she's with me." I sighed.

I actually felt kind of bad for him. He flew across the country in an attempt to win back a girl that wanted nothing to do with him. She spent several years of her life settling for him and now he had to come to terms with the fact that she never loved him as much as she probably should of. He didn't deserve her anyway, but I still felt bad. He was so clueless he'd never understand why she left him in the first place. He was a douche.

"You've got to be kidding me!" He said as he ran his hands through his hair.

"Nope."

"This is bullshit!" He snapped. "Move." He said angrily stepping up to me.

I stood my ground. "No." I stated. "I'm going to ask you once again to leave. It's not a suggestion. It's not a friendly piece of advice. It's me telling you what you're going to do." I said calmly. "You aren't here because you love her, you're here because you want to possess her. The woman in that house is nothing more than an idea to you. You do not know her and she does not love you."

"She's..."

"Justin." I interrupted. "Let her go. Don't do this. I'll win and you'll put her through uneccessary pain."

"No. You're wrong." He said shaking his head. "She was going to marry me. We had plans."

"She never would have married you. I wouldn't have let her. Walk away." I said softly.

"You have no idea what you're talking about." He practically whined.

"I'm pretty sure I do." I laughed.

"You won't let me see her because you're afraid of the truth!" He spat. "You're afraid she will realize her mistake and choose me!"

His outburst annoyed me. I was trying to be reasonable but the insinuation that Selena would ever leave me for him was maddening. I snapped.

"Who the fuck do you think you are showing up at my fucking house telling me how she feels?" I yelled angrily. "You're a fucking idiot. You want truth? I'll give you truth. She hates you. You don't know a damn thing about the woman sitting inside that house. She's not your fucking possession and guess what bro!" I said shoving a finger into his chest. "You can't have her!"

He looked shocked.

"Regardless of what you say, you're not going to see her." I said as I tried to get my anger under control. "She doesn't want you. She doesn't love you. She apparently doesnt even have time for you seeing as how she slammed the door in your face and you're talking to me." I said with a shrug. "With that being said, she will be my wife. She will be the mother of my children. You'll always be that mistake she made when she was college."

I saw it in his eyes the moment he gave up. His pride was bruised but he silently turned and walked away. I watched him until the taillights of his rental car disappeared down the street. Something told me that I'd be seeing him again. I frowned as I walked back into the house.

"Is he gone?" Selena asked.

"Yeah. He's gone." I said before collapsing on the couch. Joe handed me a beer.

"Thank you baby." Selena said softly. She bent down and kissed me gently on the lips. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Taylor and I are gonna go for a run. Well be back in a little while." She informed me before she walked away to get changed.

"Let's make dinner." Joe suggested. "Steaks?"

"Steaks." I agreed.

Once Taylor and Selena left, we turned on the heaviest metal music we could find and started dinner. Steaks, baked potatoes and salad. It was the perfect menu. We drank and played air guitar the entire time we cooked. We sang along obnoxiously to every song. It was a blast. By the time dinner was finished we were both completely drunk and laughing at literally everything. Selena and Taylor returnd fron their run and found us in the hotub wearing snorkels and masks. We were a mess.

Luckily the meal we had prepared was perfect. We had set the table and lit candles. That small detail made Selena and Taylor find our drunken state cute since we managed to be so thoughtful. Once Joe and I got out of the hot tub and changed, we joined the girls for dinner. We tried our best to act sober and they spent most of the meal laughing at us. By the time we finished eating we both felt relatively normal.

"I'm surprised that dinner was even edible." Taylor teased.

"We're just that talented." I smirked.

"I think lucky is the word you're looking for babe." Selena chimed in.

"More like awesome." Joe smiled, giving me a high five.

"No more alcohol for you tonight." Taylor said to Joe.

I laughed at him. "You got cut off!"

"You either!" She playfully scolded me.

"Well shit." I sighed.

"I agree." Selena smiled. "With Taylor." She added as if I didn't know.

"Wanna hp me with dishes Sel?" Taylor asked my absolutely perfect girlfriend.

"No. But yes." She answered as she reluctantly made her way into the kitchen.

"Cigars?" Joe asked waggling his eyebrows.

"Yeah buddy!" I said happily.

We went outback and walked down to to the edge of water. Once we were both comfortable with our asses planted firmly in the sand and our toes in the water, we lit the cigars and stared out into the water.

"Selena's right you know." Joe said as he exhaled smoke. "We are lucky."

I just nodded in agreement.

"Can you keep a secret?" I asked as I reached into my pocket.

"Of course." He grinned.

I pulled the ring out of my pocket and handed it to him.

"Holy shit Dem!" He said as he studied the diamond. "Is this..."

"Yup." I answered, cutting him off. "It is."

"When are you going to ask?" He asked.

"I don't know. Soon."

"You should talk to Brian first." He said. "He'd appreciate it."

"Yeah. I was planning on it. I just don't know how to go about telling him." I said with a grin. "This is all shit that dudes worry about. I have no idea what I'm doing."

Joe laughed. "It's simple. Just talk to him. Be honest and that's really all there is to it. He loves you. You'll be fine."

"You're probably right." I sighed. "I'm gonna book a flight tomorrow."

We takes some more as we finished off our cigars. By the time we made it back to the house, Selena and Taylor had already went to bed. I finished my nighttime routine and climbed into bed. Almost immediately Selena scooted closer and I wrapped my arms around her.

I woke up early the next morning and booked an afternoon flight to Texas. I told Selena I had business in LA and I wouldn't be back until the early morning. Since she trusted me, she didn't even think twice about my misdirection. As soon as I arrived in Texas, I picked up a rental car and headed to Selena's childhood home. My arrival was a complete surprise. Gracie was completely delighted with my sudden appearance.

"Demiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" she squealed as I waked up the stairs an onto the front porch.

"Hey baby!" I smiled as I picked her up and lifted her in the air. It didn't matter how old she was, I was pretty sure I'd always try to do this.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and held onto me tightly.

"Well this is an interesting surprise." Mandy said as she smiled at the two of us.

"Sorry I didn't warn you. I don't want Selena knowing I'm here." I explained.

"Oh?" Mandy said raising an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because I'm going to ask Brian for his permission to marry her." I said as I continued to hold Gracie.

Mandy let out a sound that I don't think I'll ever be able to properly describe. "Ohmygod!" She said as she wrapped her arms around me and smushed Gracie in the process.

"Mandy." I grunted. "You're smashing your child."

"Mooooooom!" Gracie complained. "I can't breathe!"

She let go and took a deep breath. "I am so incredibly happy right now." She said as I put Gracie down.

"Gimme a minute squirt." I said ruffling Gracie's hair. She nodded and I opened up my arms and hugged her mother again.

"Selena loves you so much Demi." Mandy said as she held onto me tightly.

"I know. That's why I'm giving her the rest of my life. Assuming Brian is ok with it."

Mandy let out a slight chuckle. "Of course he's ok with it. He wants Selena to be happy. You make her happy."

We stood there hugging for several more minutes.

"You guys are weird." Gracie said rolling her eyes.

"Let's go inside." Mandy suggested.

We let go of each other and made our way into the house. As usual, Mandy went ini the kitchen to set out some food. I learned a long time ago not to object.

"Are you gonna marry my sister?" Gracie asked as I sat down on the couch.

"Yes." I answered with a smile.

"That's cool." Gracie said as she sat down next to me. "Demi chews up everything." She added referring to her dog.

"That's what puppies do." I laughed. I still couldn't get over the name. "Wanna play with him?" I asked.

"Yeah!" Gracie said excitedly as she jumped up off the couch. "Come on!"

We made our way into the backward where we were immediately assaulted by an eager and happy Pit bull. We ran around like a bunch of crazy people until we could hardly breathe. Mandy insisted we eat and once we were done the three of us, boy dog Demi included, were pretty much comatose. We laid in Gracie's bed reading a book about dinosaurs. Gracie was snuggled up on my chest and Demi the dog, was sprawled out across my torso and Gracie's legs.

I woke several hours later to find Brian sitting in a chair observing the three of us.

"I was wondering when you were going to wake up." He said softly.

"How long was I out?" I asked speaking low so I wouldn't disturb Gracie and the dog.

"A while." He smiled. "The answer is yes Demi." He added.

"What?" I asked slightly confused.

"You can marry my daughter." He explained.

"How did you know I was going to ask?"

"I kinda figured that's what you were up ro when Mandy told me you showed up out of the blue. I watched you grow up Demi. I know what kind of person you are. You're the kind of person that takes everyone's feelings into consideration. You're the type of person that would do anything for my family, so my answer is yes." He said as he leaned forward. "You love my daughter and she loves you."

"I...I don't know what to say." I said as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Dont say anything, just take care of her."

I nodded.

"I'll wake you so you can be on time for your flight." He said with a smile.

I watched him stand up and disappear through the door. There wasn't a single moment of hesitation when he spoke to me. I couldn't help but smile. I was going to propose to her the second I got back home.