So after almost three long years I have decided to post an update to this story. I hope that the slight changes to the characters do not spoil the story.

Though we had gone to school together the drive was more than a few minutes. I lived a few miles away from the school district in a private community. I was more than happy to see my family after a few months. I hadn't been home since New Year's.

New Year's

I needed to go home. I trusted Greg fully and we may have moved in together but I wasn't ready to introduce him to my family. My mother spent the majority of the holiday pestering me about finding someone. I held my tongue, and curtly nodded every time.

"Holly when will you find someone my dear?"

"Mother must we start this again?"

"Dear I only want you to be happy."

"Mother I told you that I am taking my time. I want to make sure that I am well established and settled before anything else happens in my life."

"Holly you will never be more beautiful than you are now. Why wait? I don't see the logic dear."

Present Day

"Holly? Holly?" I was pulled out of my day dream by Greg tapping my shoulder and calling my name. I took a deep breath.

"Yes?"

"We are here honey."

"Oh yes right." I looked up to see my front door opening and my parents stepping out. Greg walked around to open my door while I gathered my things. He held my hand as I got out of the car.

"Hello mother, father."

"Hello sweetie!" My mother leaned over to give me a kiss.

"Hi honey." My father took me in for a hug. Greg had been standing to the back.

"Mother, father, I want to introduce you to my boyfriend Gregory Heffley."

"Mr. Hills, Mrs. Hills." He reached out and shook their hands.

"Gregory, pleasure to meet you." My mother took a few seconds to look him over. At the same time my father reached over to shake Greg's hand.

"Please come on in." My mother motioned for the both of us to follow her. We made our way into the living room. My mother sat with my father on small chairs while Greg and I sat next to each other on the small sofa. Greg seemed wary of touching me. Normally he would wrap an arm around me and I would mold into his side. Even at his house we sat close together.

"So Gregory, what is it that you do?" My father was starting already.

"I work in a video game firm. I am a manager there. I help design the software and write the code mostly. But more recently they have put me in charge of marketing efforts."

"I see."

"Actually Mr. Hills, lately I realized that I am more interested in the management aspect of the firm. I have been taking on a lot more responsibilities, I am trying to figure out my next move."

"Well I would recommend starting on building the company profiles, work out a few proposals and present them. More importantly take income as equity in the company. Find investment opportunities."

"I see, would you recommend looking into acquisitions? Branch the company from just video game programming to other programming?"

"Diversification is wise."

"So Holly, when did you two meet?" Holly's mother intervened. Holly looked at meet slightly. I gave her a small curt nod. I moved to hold her hand and smiled.

"I was out with a group of friends at a local event. And I saw Greg there. We had known each other at high school and we started talking. Then we starting hanging out more with our friend groups and then we eventually started dating."

"Aw how sweet honey. And the ring? You aren't engaged already are you?" Her mom asked sarcastically. Greg cleared his throat. And the silence that fell over the room was palpable.

"Well um…" Greg started.

"Your kidding right Holly?" Her dad asked.

"The ring is my way of making a promise to us. It means that we are together in everything. And one day maybe with your blessings I will be able to put a real ring on her finger." I looked Holly in the eyes the whole time. Her dad cleared her throat.

"That's a nice gesture Gregory."

"Listen why don't we turn on some soft music and get breakfast." Holly's mother suggested.

"Breakfast would be great mother. Let me help you." Holly and her mother got up and left. Greg and her father looked at each other.

"Listen Gregory, I just want my little girl to be in good hands. She's an adult, I trust her judgment."

"No problem here sir. I just I did want to talk to. I'm sure Holly mentioned that we have been dating since December. I know that it hasn't been long but I do care for her deeply. I want your blessing to ask her to marry me."

"It's been what seven months? How could you know anything about her?"

"I love her, I am in love with her, we had been friends forever and I am a serious man. I don't play games with my future. I want your daughter to be apart of my future. I am asking your blessing out of respect. I know that I am not from the same social circles as you, but I hope that one day I will be. I want to be worthy of your daughter, and I can't do that unless I ask for your blessings." Greg had already talked to his parents, he just needed to win over her parents.

"Yes." Mr. Hills curtly smiled and shaked Greg's hand.

"Thank you sir. I really appreciate it. I won't let you down."

"I hope not for your sake."

"Father, Greg?" Holly came in and looked at us standing by the grand fireplace. "Breakfast is waiting." She stared a little longer. Then we all moved into towards the eatery. Holly stepped aside and grabbed my forearm. "Just give us a minute father." He smiled and went in. "What was that about Greg?"

"Nothing, I was just getting along with your dad."

"That all?"

"Nothing else, I promise. I can't lie to you anyway remember?" I leaned down to kiss her lightly and she stopped me with a hand on my chest.

"Greg you know we can't. My parents, they are watching trust me I want to." Greg sighed.

"Right, let's go in."

Breakfast passed rather quickly and then the family went to the family room. In a rather formal seating arrangement. Greg and Mr. Hills picked up papers to read and Holly and her mother sat to the side talking quietly.

Holly's P.O.V.

"Mrs. Hills, would mind maybe showing me the gardens? I hear from Holly that you are rather talented?" I looked at Greg with a questioning smile, I had only told him that once. I was surprised he remembered and that he took an interest in that.

"What a proper gentleman. Takes good notice of a woman's real hard work. I would love to." Greg offered her his arm and then they proceeded to walk out." What was Greg upto?

Greg's P.O.V.

We started off slowly walking admiring the different parts of the garden. We came to a small clearing, as best as I could tell we were near the center of the gardens. Mrs. Hills motioned for us to take a seat.

"So Gregory, what is it you really wanted to talk about?"

"You are very perceptive Mrs. Hills."

"Never doubt a woman's ability to pick up on social cues, and read people."

"Noted." I took in a deep breath. "This is a really beautiful place."

"Is this somewhere you can see yourself in a few years?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean if you wish to marry my daughter you must know that one day this place will be home to you and to Holly. Can you be here? Can you live here, call it home and not just a house?"

"You really are perceptive. Yes I hope so. I wanted to do you the respect of asking for your daughter's hand in marriage. I love her, and I am madly in love with her."

"I know, I see in the way your face lights up when you talk about her or are with her. Do you think you can treat her to a lifestyle like this? Can you always promise to never put anything else before her?"

"I will always put her first, and I will always strive to give her the best I ever can."

"Spoken like a wise man. If you are seeking my permission, the answer is yes. But I am not your toughest obstacle. Her dad is very particular. He has scared off a few young men before-high school boy friends."

"Thank you. I have already asked Mr. Hills for his blessings, though you are very accurate." She smiled at me grabbing my hand. It's like she knew something I didn't, she saw something I didn't. "Would you like to see the ring Mrs. Hills?" She nodded and I took the ring out of my jacket. She marveled at its beauty. "It belong to my Great Grandmother. She gave it to my grandfather when he got married and she pasted it on to my father when he proposed to my mother. When I told my mom that I love Holly, that I wanted to marry her, she couldn't have been prouder. She gave me the ring. I had the band resized, the ring polished. I figured that if I were fortunate enough to get yours and Mr. Hills' blessing, I could it to Holly. It represents generations of love and successful marriages to my family, and I want that to continue with Holly and I."

"I will be proud to call you my son in law Gregory." She hugged me lightly. I tucked the ring away back into my jacket. "So when will you ask?"

"I wasn't all too sure, I was more concerned I wasn't going to get your permission. Now that I have, maybe her birthday in September?"

"That would be nice, she will love it."

"Thank you. Shall we return to the house?" She nodded and we walked back. A huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Once we returned, the rest of the day was rather uneventful. I was shown around the house and grounds. They showed me some photos and momentos for Holly. That night before we retired for the evening, her parents suggested that we give our formal clothes for tomorrow so that they could be set up. Apparently we had to attend a social event at the club tomorrow night.

"Mr. Hills would you mind showing me to a guest room?"

"Mmh? Meaning?"

"You know where I am staying for the duration of our visit?" Him and Mrs. Hills had a puzzled look on their face.

"You can stay with Holly, no need to stay in separate quarters, you are a couple." I was stunned and a part of me wondered if this was because I had asked to marry their daughter. I was definitely not expecting his answer.

"Oh, okay. Right no problem, thank you sir." Holly looked at me, then her and her mother started to walk toward the stairs. I went to shake Mr. Hills hand and bid him good night.

Right before he let go of his rather tight grip. In a hushed tone he whispered "No funny business, am I clear?"

"Yes sir." We both walked to the stairs and then I followed a servant towards what I supposed was Holly's room. Mr. Hills joined Mrs. Hills and walked in the other direction down a different hallway. The servant pointed to a door and then walked away. I knocked gently.

"Hello Greg. Come in." Holly opened the door to her room. It was rather large and there was a desk and giant bed. There were two doors off to the side and then a clear door on the left. She held my hand and closed the door behind us. She pulled me toward her and kissed me gently. I could tell she wanted more from our kiss. She started walking back toward the door and then she jumped up using the door and support. God this was hard to refuse. We broke our kiss once air became absolutely necessary.

"Holly… I can't. You know what you said to me at mother's house. Well the same applies here, you know that."

"Oh come on Greg. Obviously we are adults, my parents surprisingly let us stay together, we should take advantage of that partly."

"I can't Holly, believe me I want to. I want to so badly. I promised your dad." She sighed and nodded. I went to the bathroom to shower and cool down. Once I came out ready for bed, Holly went to shower. Then we went out to the patio and sat under the stars.

"You know how much I love you right?"

"Yes. And you know how much I love you right?" I nodded at her question. "So earlier Greg, did you mean what you said?"

"What? About my promise to your dad? Yes, I did and I don't want to break or lose his trust."

"That's sweet...I was uh, referring to the comment about marrying me." She looked at me uncertain.

"I know we haven't talked about us that far ahead, but I do want us to last. Like I said when I gave you the promise ring, I fully devoted to you and only you." I reached over and wrapped my arms around her.

"Greg, I know I, we haven't explicitly talked about it, but one day I would like to get married and have a family. I have always wanted that, I do hope that it is with you if we are lucky enough." She kissed me lightly. We walked inside and slipped into bed. I wrapped my arms around her and quickly fell asleep.