"So, I have a question for you, Jack. I have fallen in love with Miss Erin, and I want to make things a little more official and permanent between us."

"We're not getting ice cream?"

Aaron chuckled as he nodded. "We'll get ice cream on the way home, yes, but I have a question first. Depending on how you answer will determine if we have another stop to make before we get ice cream for everyone." Jack nodded solemnly and Aaron smiled at him in the rearview mirror before returning his full attention to the road. "Now, as I said, I want to make Miss Erin's role in my life a little more permanent. And the way to do that is to ask her to marry me. That doesn't mean she'll replace Mom, but she would be like a mother to you. Would you be all right with my asking her to marry us?"

There was a long pause, and Aaron felt his heart lurch in his chest a little as he anticipated Jack telling him that he was not okay with Erin marrying him. That would be fair, since the only mother he had ever known had been Haley. He hadn't felt comfortable dating, hadn't wanted Jack to feel like he had to choose between his mother and a new partner of Aaron's. Finally, he glanced up at Jack once more, seeing that his son was smiling softly to himself, and Aaron knew then what his answer would be. "Yes! I love Miss Erin, Daddy."

"I am very glad to hear that, Jackers. So I guess that our next stop is going to be at a jewelry store, so that I can choose the perfect ring for her." Jack nodded a little more enthusiastically this time, and Aaron grinned back before turning up the radio as he finished the drive to the mall. While he might have wanted to purchase something a little more over the top for Erin, Jessica's words reverberated through his mind, that Erin would want something a little more understated. And for that, heading to a more affordable option was the right choice in this case.

It didn't take long to find a parking space, since it was just a few hours until closing time, and he took hold of Jack's hand, bringing him inside. While they passed the different stores, he noticed Jack looking into a few of them and wished that he had the time to stop and go into a few. "We'll come back again, with more time to look, okay?" Jack nodded and stepped closer to Aaron's side, his grip tightening around his hand.

"Are we going to go in here, Daddy?"

Aaron nodded as they paused outside Zenks. "I think so, Jack." He entered the store, making a beeline for the engagement rings. Thankfully, there were a few other people in the store so he was able to look at the rings in peace. Jack tugged on his sleeve after a few minutes, and Aaron picked him up without looking away from the display.

"Have you found one yet?"

He chuckled as he shook his head. "I've only been looking for a few minutes, Jack." He cuddled his son close to his chest as he continued to intently study each of the rings available to him. Finally, he saw a ring that caught his attention for more than a few seconds, and he felt a smile curve across his lips as he nodded. "I think that's the one."

"Can I help you, sir?"

Aaron glanced up at the young woman who had suddenly appeared in front of them, giving her a small nod. "Yes. I believe that I've found the perfect ring for my partner." He pointed to the braided rose gold band that framed a small round diamond. The clerk pulled out the tray with the ring that he wanted before picking up the one that he wanted, holding it out to him. "This will suit her perfectly."

"Excellent. And do you have her ring size?"

Aaron blanched as he realized that he had forgotten one key detail. "She's rather slim, but has long fingers. I'm assuming that her ring size is about a six. This was a rather spur of the moment decision."

"That is the case about fifty percent of the time. Thankfully, we do provide free ring sizing if you do happen to purchase a band in the wrong size." She gave him a small smile before gesturing towards the tray once more. "Are you certain, though, that this is the one? We have other, larger, diamond available."

"Erin isn't an ostentatious person, this is the one that will suit her perfectly." The woman nodded as she put the tray away and brought the ring into the back with her. While he was waiting for her to return with the right sized ring, Aaron set Jack down and pulled his wallet out of his pocket, grabbing out his credit card to pay.

"All right, I've found the size you think she'll need, and included literature on how to care for it, and how to get it resized, if necessary. Is there anything else that I can assist you with this evening?"

"No, I think that's it," he replied as he handed over his card, not balking at the almost fourteen hundred dollar charge that was going on there. He had more than enough money in his savings account to cover that price, especially since the FBI had been rather generous with him, following Haley's murder. A part of him considered it hush money, but it was still a way for him to save for Jack's college, when that day came, and now it would help him start the first step towards his future with Erin. "Thanks for your help," he said as he signed the receipt and then picked up the bag containing the ring before slipping his card back into his wallet. "And now, we're off for ice cream. Do you know what kind you want?"

Jack nodded excitedly as they went back out to the car. "I do! If I can get anything that I want."

"Within reason, Jack. There will be limits, since it will be close to your bedtime by the time we return home." Jack pouted a little as he climbed into his car seat, and Aaron tried to swallow his smile as he reached out and ruffled his son's hair. "So, what do you think that you want?"

"A hot fudge sundae with extra fudge, and sprinkles, and whipped cream, and nuts, and three cherries!"

"Three cherries, huh?"

"Yes! You have to have extra fruit, then it's good for you, that's what Aunt Jess says."

Aaron chuckled as he shook his head a little. "Well, I suppose I can't really argue with that logic. We'll see, though, when we get to the ice cream store." Jack grinned at him as he closed the door, and Aaron just knew that it would be difficult to tell his son no, not when he was buzzing with anticipation over the ring that he wanted to present to Erin. "I just hope that I get something that Erin will like. I know you and Aunt Jessica, but there are still so many things that I've yet to discover about Erin." He wasn't really expecting an answer from his son, since he had said that last bit so quietly, but he still looked back at Jack as he pulled out of his parking space, feeling like there was nothing in the world that could take him down from this moment in his life.