I was still in shock, trying desperately to collect my thoughts and form them into understandable English words.

"What are you doing here? When did you arrive? What about the tour?"

Demi just smiled her patient smile, the one that meant 'I think you're awfully cute'. She could sense my inner whirlwind and was kind enough to start at the beginning.

"The tour is done. I played my last show in New York and immediately got on a plane to come here. I arrived yesterday afternoon and came straight over to check on your Mom. Penny let me know how strong she was feeling and was even gracious enough to let me talk her ear off for a few hours last night," Demi said, smiling over at Penny who was watching the reunion. "As for why I'm here... I'm here because I love you."

Demi had taken my hands in hers by this time and I felt her warmth rush through my veins. I'm not sure if this is common to everyone in love but when Demi touches me there is something different about the way her skin makes me feel as opposed to any other. It's like the gods or the universe or whatever you want to believe in set some type of spark that is unique only to her. No one has ever made me feel that instantaneous electricity, safety, or love that can be felt.

"I love you too," I uttered, my voice so dry and raspy. "And to think you were in on this!" I exclaimed, looking over to my Mom who seemed to have a renewed strength.

"What can I say? I love love," my mother replied. "These past two months have been hard Grace, and not just because of the treatments but because it's hard for a mother to see her daughter live through heartbreak day in and day out. Those six months you were with Demi I know they were the happiest I have ever seen you. That's all I want for you. And the way Demi talked about you last night...well I know she feels the same way."

I looked over and caught sight of Demi forcing back a blush from her cheeks. She was never good at hiding it from me though and under my knowing gaze she winked at me and smiled, as if to say 'you got me, it's true'.

"Grace I don't want to be the reason you're not with the love of your life, and yes a mother can recognize that kind of love. This girl came half way across the world for you. I don't care if you need to go back to America to be with her. I'm ok now, I will be ok. Just don't be daft. Go make her your girlfriend again."

I laughed, not remembering my Mom being so upfront and humorous since before I'd been back. Maybe my Mom was becoming herself again. Maybe I could dare to dream that I wouldn't be alone the rest of my life.

"Uh, actually," Demi piped up with some hesitation. "There was actually something I wanted to ask before we get to the question of labels."

All of a sudden I was having trouble reading Demi. I wasn't sure why she sounded nervous, or why she wouldn't want to classify the relationship. As my Mom said she had just flown from New York to see me right? I anxiously watched Demi clear her throat and wipe her palms hastily against her jeans. She took two steps towards me, her usual smile still absent from her face. Did Demi want to have a private relationship? An open relationship? A long distance relationship? I braced myself for whatever conditions were about to be laid out.

"Grace," Demi began and slowly intertwined our fingers. "When I walked into the medial center earlier this year I did so because I was looking for help. What I didn't realize though was that wasn't going to come from the doctor, but instead the cute and flustered receptionist. You were so kind and patient with me Grace, you put my needs first and did everything you could to reassure me things were going to be ok. And they would be, mostly because you continued to make them ok. Your presence in my world has brought highs that I haven't experienced by traveling the world or playing music for stadium size crowds. Your effect is a quiet but powerful reassurance that I am loved exactly as I am and that it has nothing to do with my career. I can't thank you enough for that feeling. It's empowering and exhilarating and I don't want to ever stop feeling that high. Which is why I don't want you to ask me to be your girlfriend Grace, because I want to ask you to be my wife."

By now tears were flowing quickly from my eyes and through the glaze I witnessed Demi drop to one knee in front of me. My heart was racing as she reached into her pocket and held out a ring that had been in my family for generations and held great promise for a loving and long lasting marriage if my parents and grandparents were anything to go by.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" I almost shouted before remembering we were in a hospital. I lowered my voice but the excitement still shone through. "Yes Demi I will marry you!"

As I sat on the side of my Mom's hospital bed, showing off how the ring looked on my finger with giddy excitement I felt Demi take my right hand and give it a squeeze.

This would truly be one of the most magnificent days of my life.