Kendra Nielson had liked the sound of Ryan Evans the moment she heard about him. The young man made her daughter cry, smile and laugh. Every time Kelsi talked about him, her eyes twinkled in happiness and she chatted merrily about him for hours. When Kendra finally met Ryan, she had loved him like her own. He was everything Kelsi had told her he was and he was perfect for her daughter. It was just too bad her husband did not share her point of view.

Keith Nielson had hated the sound of Ryan Evans the moment he had heard about him. Ryan's sister was a pain in the butt and he could not stand up to his own sister. He had made Kelsi cry with his actions during the first year of high school when he and his sister tried to sabotage Kelsi and her friends. And what Keith hated most was that Kelsi had accepted Ryan the moment he stood up to his sister so readily even after everything he had done to her.

And so, no one, but Ryan himself, was surprised that when Ryan had come over to ask for the Nielson's blessings to ask Kelsi to marry him, Kendra had given hers immediately while Keith's answer had been –

"No."

Ryan blinked. "No?"

"No. You do not have my blessings to marry my daughter," Keith had answered calmly all the while fighting the temptation to punch the blonde man in front of him. Ryan seemed to be struggling with his rejection before nervousness left his façade and determination settled upon his face.

"May I ask why, sir?" he asked politely.

"You, Ryan Evans, are not good enough for my daughter."

"Keith!" Kendra shrieked and looked at Ryan in panic. Ryan shook his head softly at her, as if assuring her that he was not going anywhere, before turning back to face his girlfriend's father.

"In my opinion, Mr. Nielson, nobody is good enough for Kelsi. I'll give you that," Ryan said, his heart thumping wildly. He wanted Mr. Nielson's permission. Ryan respected the man for the love he had for Kendra and Kelsi, for always being there for Kelsi and for always standing up to those who posed as a threat towards the two most important people in his life. What Ryan wanted Keith to know was that he was ready to be all those things to Kelsi too. "But nobody will love her more than me."

Keith narrowed his eyes at Ryan. He loved his daughter more than the drama freak did.

"You never stood up for Kelsi when your sister was bullying her," he pointed up his thumb as though that was the first thing of wrongs Ryan did on his list. "You almost destroyed Kelsi's chances of being in the school play just because your sister wanted the glory," the second finger came up while Ryan and Kendra watched on. "You asked my daughter to prom just because your sister told you to," his middle finger came out and Keith glared at Ryan while Kendra rolled her eyes. "I'm seeing a certain similarity here, Evans."

"In my defense, Mr. Nielson, those events happened during high school. I was young and the thought of standing up to my sister never occurred to me until your daughter came into my life. No, please, let me finish," Ryan held up his hand to stop anything Mr. Nielson was about to say. Beside Keith, Kendra smiled encouragingly at Ryan.

"I'd always been fine with Sharpay being in the spotlight while I stood behind and watched her shine. I'd never minded that she was mean to people because she was always nice to me. Sharpay is my sister and she was my best friend. And then your daughter came into my life and everything changed. I started minding a lot of things my sister did. I hated it when she snapped at Kelsi when Kelsi didn't deserve it. I hated it when she demanded that Kelsi stay back late just so she could practice. I hated it when she never noticed the tears in your daughter's eyes every time she got too harsh. I'm sure you're seeing a certain similarity there, Mr. Nielson," the blonde man chuckled.

"What guarantee do I have that Kelsi comes first in your life?"

"Kelsi became the first girl in my life the moment she became my first true friend. She's the reason I had the courage to stand up to Sharpay, sir. I have to admit that my sister comes a very close second, though."

"Even after everything she's done to you?" Mr. Nielson asked, still not convinced.

"Sharpay is my twin, sir. I'll always love her. And besides, she's different now. It's easier to love this Sharpay than the one in high school. Kelsi and her are quite close now."

Mr. Nielson stood up and so did Ryan. Holding out his hand for a handshake, Ryan smiled, shook hands with his future father-in-law and almost gasped in pain when the older man squeezed his hand tightly.

"Hurt her and I'll kill you," Keith warned him. Ryan nodded and Keith's grasp loosened before vulnerability crossed his face. "Please take care of my baby girl."

"Always, Mr. Nielson."

Kendra, who had been quiet the whole time, squealed and hugged Ryan.

"Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Kendra. So," Ryan turned back to Keith and smiled cheekily. "Does this mean I can call you 'Keith' now?"

"Don't push it, Evans."

"Hurt her and we'll kill you, Ryan. She's our baby sister," Troy warned him as Chad, Jason and Zeke nodded their heads in agreement. Ryan repressed the urge to roll his eyes. Seriously! What was the point of that threat when Ryan would rather kill himself before anyone did if he hurt Kelsi?


"I'm going to ask Kelsi to marry me."

His sister's excited squeal rang through his ears and Ryan jerked his phone away as a happy grin spread across his face slowly.

Well, at least he had no problems getting his sister's approval and at least she didn't faint. Ryan cringed at the memory of his mother's reaction to him asking Kelsi to marry him. Yep, if she said yes, Kelsi was going to have to prepare herself for a whole lot of drama.

"So, when are you going to ask her?"

"After I've gotten her a ring, Chad."

"Right. And when would that be?"

"When I find one!"

"What about this one?"

Ryan rolled his eyes at the tacky Hello Kitty ring Chad had picked up. "Gabriella would have killed Troy if he had gotten her that ring, Chad, and Kelsi and Sharpay would kill me."

"C'mon, Ryan! We've been here for hours!"

"Déjà vu, much?" Troy chuckled. Ryan rolled his eyes once again.

He absolutely had no idea as to why he even thought of bringing Chad and Troy along with him to pick out his ring for Kelsi. They were the most uncooperative and tiresome people in the world. Well, Chad was, anyway. Troy was Troy and he was still in a daze from his engagement the month before.

Ryan watched on as Troy and Chad goofed around with the pieces of jewelry they could get their hands on and almost groaned when they acted as a gay couple shopping for wedding rings. If Ryan hadn't been so stressed about getting the right ring for Kelsi, he might have been amused and joined in.

"Would you two stop fooling around and just help me find a proper engagement ring for the love of my life, please?" he asked through gritted teeth and Troy and Chad shrugged. Troy handed the ring he was holding back to the salesman and Chad did the same.

"Ryan, just chillax, alright? You'll find the perfect ring, man. You just got to be patient,"

Troy tried assuring him and Ryan just nodded.

"Hey, Ryan, what about this one?" Chad patted him on the back. Ryan braced himself for another atrocious horrible looking ring.

"Chad, it's – "

He stopped short and felt his heart beat a million times faster. Gently, he took the ring from Chad and examined it. The white gold diamond ring glittered in the light and Ryan heard Kelsi's melodious laugh, pictured her lips quirking into a beautiful smile and saw her accepting his proposal as her eyes glistened with happy tears. That was it. That was the ring.

He turned to Chad and Troy and suddenly felt immensely grateful to them.

"This is it. This is the ring," he said softly.

"Go get it, then," Troy smiled at him comfortingly and Chad nodded in agreement.

As Ryan paid for the ring, he could not help but appreciate the day Gabriella Montex stepped into East High. She broke the status quo and brought the gang together. She was the reason Chad and Troy were almost like his brothers – now more than ever since they helped him find the ring – and she was the reason Kelsi was his.

He had it perfectly planned. He was going to bring her to an expensive Italian restaurant and at the end of their meal, he was going to ask her. It was too bad his sister had other plans.

"Kelsi dear, I don't see you wearing the ring Ryan bought you. Is there something wrong with it?" his sister had asked concernedly. In front of her, Kelsi looked at her in confusion while the members of the Wildcat gang who had heard her either shot Ryan looks of sympathy, groaned or just stared the them. The parents looked bewildered except for his parents who looked like amused and Keith and Kendra, the former who had crushed his plastic cup and the latter who had a big smile on her face.

"Ryan didn't give me any ring, Sharpay," Kelsi tried correcting her boyfriend's sister politely.

"He proposed to you without a ring?"

The cup Kelsi was holding slipped from her small hands and all eyes turned to her as she turned to Ryan, her eyes wide and questioning. Behind Kelsi, a small smirk slowly spread across Sharpay's face and Ryan resisted the urge to narrow his eyes at his twin. She'd planned the 'slip'!

Ryan cursed inwardly. Digging his hand into his pocket, he let out a sigh of relief when he felt the small box. His green eyes never leaving Kelsi's face, he slowly got down on one knee and held the small velvet box out to her.

Kelsi could not remember feeling so nervous before as Ryan got down on one knee and held out the velvet box to her.

"I was supposed to ask you in a less crowded environment but apparently someone had other plans," he had glared at Sharpay as he said that and Kelsi found herself smiling at the close bond between the twins. "Kelsi, I love you so much. You've always been there for me and I want to be there for you now. I want to be the man your father is to Kendra, the my dad is to my mom and the man Troy is to Gabriella. I want to always be the reason you smile cause you're the reason I do."

Tears swarmed her eyes and all Kelsi saw was Ryan. Her Ryan. The man who made her laugh and cry. The man who made her curse and made her feel blessed. Ryan was the man she loved and cherished. She wanted to be his Kelsi.

"I loved you in high school, I love you now and I always will, Kelsi Nielson. Will you please do me the favor of being my wife and making me the happiest man on earth?

She nodded, too overwhelmed to say anything and laughed happily as Ryan slipped the ring onto her finger before they shared a passionate and tender kiss.

"Now, wasn't that a better proposal then the cheesy one you had planned?" Sharpay grinned.

Ryan just narrowed his eyes at her and growled, "Run."

The gang laughed as Sharpay let out a shriek before taking off and running around the backyard at a surprisingly fast speed, Ryan hot on her heels. Mr. and Mrs. Evans joined in the chase not long after although no one knew if they were joining or stopping their children.

"You sure about this, darling? You're marrying into a family of weirdos," Keith Nielson asked worriedly as he put an arm around his petite daughter. Kelsi laughed.

"I'll be fine, Dad. They'll be my family of weirdos."

A/N: Please review and tell me which couple I should do next! Chaylor or Zekepay?