One year later…

Stan stopped on the front porch of his new townhouse he shared with Wendy. People told him he was crazy to sell his veterinary practice to Karen and move across the country to buy a house in a trendy neighborhood of Washington DC to share with Wendy.

Maybe he was crazy, but he was happy.

Wendy had spent a few days in the hospital, recovering after her kidnapping. Stan had been by her side the whole time, helping her get better. Most expected her to be a shell of her former self after the trauma she had gone through. Instead, Wendy had the fire in her come back tenfold. The near death experience had cleared her head and set her priorities in order.

As soon as she woke up she declared her love for Stan. He accepted and they officially became an item. As soon as Wendy was better, Stan left his dogs with his mom and Kenny. He handed over the South Park Veterinary clinic to Karen even if she wasn't set to graduate until Christmas time. But Stan gave her the keys, only worrying about boarding the plane to Florida on time and of course if Wendy was happy.

What was supposed to be a week-long vacation at Disney World and to drop Wendy off to her parents in Cocoa Beach ended up turning into a few months living on the beach. Daily trips to Disney World. Spending time with each other and making up for lost time. They managed to rent a small house a few blocks from the beach. They had Kenny and Stan's mom bring the dogs over on their next trip to the Bahamas and it turned into the dream they both always wanted but now could admit to each other. A simple life living by the beach, taking Stan's and now Wendy's rescue dogs down to play in the sand and water daily.

Stan wanted to set up a veterinarian practice again down in Florida. Wendy wasn't sure what she wanted, but a bunch of therapy and career coaching later she knew politics were her calling. If things had gotten that bad in Colorado she was called to action to go and make things better. So saying goodbye to her parents and the beach she loved, she and Stan traded in their little beach bungalow for Stan's house back in South Park. She had become a local sensation with her story, now winning the sympathy of the public. She even got a few offers to sell her story for the movies, but had turned them down. With her assailants and former coworker Kevin behind bars she set her sights running for Congress in her district on the ticket of cleaning up corruption and helping the local citizens.

It was what she always wanted anyway. Having now become a local darling she had won the election easily. Another quick pick up and move resulted, this time to Washington DC. It was snowy and beautiful in Stan and Wendy's new home. It was the second Christmas and New Year's Stan and Wendy had spent together as a couple, and Stan was busy packing away the holiday decorations and putting something new up for Wendy.

"Look who I found at the airport." Said a light voice through the door. The dogs quickly rushed up to greet the visitors and Stan ran up with equal enthusiasm to hug Kyle who hadn't even had time to set down his suitcase. "Dude! It's been forever!" Stan said.

Kyle laughed and returned Stan's hug. "Thanks for inviting me. New house is nice. You sure it's okay for me and Bebe to stay here?"

"Yeah it has four bedrooms. One for each of you, the dog's room and the master for Wendy and I. I'm happy you both were able to take time away to come visit."

Bebe laughed. "Complete surprise. Can't wait to go and see Wendy get sworn in as a member of Congress tomorrow. I'm so proud of her."

Stan picked up Kyle's suitcase. "This is your room, sorry it's the smallest but it has a nice view of the city." He sets the suitcase on the bed.

"This is your room Bebe. The bathroom you'll share is over there. But there's one thing I want to show you." Stan's eyes look back and forth, as if Wendy would find out. "Promise me you won't breathe a word to her until tonight during the party."

"Promise. You know me dude." Kyle says.

"Yes of course, unless it's going to hurt Wendy somehow." Bebe says from petting one of the dogs.

Stan reaches on his tip toes and grabs something from the very back of the closet. He pulls out a small cream colored box with a gold bow on top.

Bebe puts a hand to her mouth. "Don't tell me…oh Stan." She hugs him again and wipes tears from her eyes.

"My bestie is going to get married. Never thought I'd see the day." Kyle punches Stan on the arm before also grabbing him into a hug.

Stan's face was red as he opened up the box to show off the ring. A white gold ring in a sweet red rose design adorned with lab grown diamonds and red rubies, Wendy's birthstone.

"Oh Stan, it's unconventional but elegant. Wendy is going to love it." Bebe said as she admired it.

Kyle hugged Stan again. "When are you gonna pop the question?"

"Tonight at her surprise party." Stan beamed before closing the box and hiding it back in the closet of the guest room.

Wendy felt weary driving home from her orientation at her new job working for Congress. New city and fresh start. She was happy to have the opportunity for change, considering what happened to her back in Colorado. This new city was alive, busy and she wouldn't have time to stop and think. To dwell. If she did that too long she would start to think back to that horrible October night. But her life was much better, and she had Stan by her side. Things were just so easy with him, maybe maturity had been the missing puzzle piece to their relationship.

She drove on the outskirts of town near a park. She breathed in and out slowly to settle her nerves. She was in the middle of a major city but this road helped her avoid the traffic so she could get home sooner. But something about the bare winter trees would remind her of back home and the terror would creep up. In a way she liked to be reminded of how close she came, and what she was fighting for. It was a daily reminder of all she had overcome, the light at the end of the tunnel was she knew she'd be back home with Stan soon enough.

"Wendy will probably take her shortcut home so we don't have much time." Stan said. Bebe and Kyle ran around the house crazily. Bebe setting up different bouquets of flowers, red roses and purple violets. Kyle was very carefully lighting tons of little white votive candles and making the light very dim. Romantic music was queued up for as soon as Wendy walked through the door.

Wendy pulled up to their little home, seeing it was dark. Maybe Stan had run to the grocery store? Slight disappointment hit as she realized she couldn't tell him about her first day of Orientation today. But she figured she was getting sworn in tomorrow which was her big day. As she parked the car and unlocked the door, the sound of violins and harps started up. She looked around curiously at the candle lit room filled with flowers.

Stan appeared from the kitchen dressed in a nice blue button down shirt and gray slacks, and Wendy couldn't help but laugh seeing he also had his slippers on. "What's all this?" She couldn't help but blush as he stepped forward. She hung her purse and coat on the hook by the door and slipped off her high heels to match Stan's level of comfort.

"I wanted tonight to be unforgettable." Stan said, grabbing a rose from a nearby vase and handing it over to her.

She laughed again and took it, sniffing the flower. "I've had plenty of unforgettable days and nights with you, Stan."

He smiled at her, dimples poking out. He leans over to kiss her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "This night will be one of them, for a good reason." He kissed her once more, before he reached into his pocket and started to go down on one knee.

"Stan, you're not." Wendy put a hand to her mouth, her eyes sparkling with tears.

"I've never met a woman as remarkable as you, I knew when we got back together I couldn't ever let you go, Wendy Marie Testaburger, will you marry me?" Stan popped open the box to show off the glittering ring.

"Oh, Stan. Yes, I'll marry you." Wendy sank down to her knees to kiss him. He hugged her tight and slipped the ring on her finger, a perfect fit as they stood up together.

Kyle and Bebe appear now from around the corner with the dogs. Kyle holding a bottle of champagne and Bebe glasses. Bebe squeals in delight over the ring as she embraces her now engaged best friend and her fiancé. "I'm so happy for you, you're going to be a beautiful bride and an excellent congresswoman."

"I never thought I would see the day. You're getting married dude." Kyle hugs Stan and fills up the champagne glass Bebe shoved in his hand.

"Cheers to the happy couple." Bebe says. There's a ring at the front door. Wendy looks curiously and Stan nods. She goes to answer only to find herself being fretted by her parents, and Sharon and Kenny right behind them.

"Mom…dad. Look…." Wendy held out her hand. Cheers and happiness went around as the now combined family settled in for what was originally supposed to be a swearing into congress party but now also turned into a surprise engagement party.

Hours later the party had winded down. Hugs and goodbyes were exchanged and Wendy and Stan had retreated to their room.

Stan was in the bathroom brushing his teeth, while Wendy was at the window overlooking the street. She couldn't take her eyes off the ring on her finger. "I'm still in shock." She remarked.

"Why is that?" Stan rinsed his mouth and went to join her. "I'm just glad you said yes." He grinned and kissed her on the back of the hand.

"Not just that, this whole year, this whole past few years. Never thought my life could be good." Wendy kissed him before looking down at her hand again. "The answer was right in front of me all along, the perfect man, the confidence boost I needed. Why now?"

"I think when we were young it wasn't the right time. We needed to be apart and make our mistakes to be joined together years later." Stan climbs into bed next to her now.

"It almost didn't happen, if I had not shown up that day, if you hadn't shown me kindness, if my kidnapper had succeeded." Wendy's eyes filled with tears.

Stan held her close and let her cry. "It's some kind of fate that brought us together. The world sees us as a doomed romance and determined to tear us apart. I was not going to let that happen and want to marry you to never let you go ever again. You'll change the world and I'll be here as your biggest support no matter what."

"It's just you. It has always been you." Wendy threw her arms around him and kissed him again. "Thank you for being you, for being my solid rock in this uncertainty."

"Thanks for bringing it out of me. I was scared to move on but had to take a stand. You're too good of a person to ever be treated so badly." Stan hugged her again. "Now you'll be my wife, how did I get so lucky?"

"How did I? You saw me, listened to me, fought for me. I'm such a fool and not worth it but thank you. Always thank you." She looked into his handsome face, holding him so close.

"Wendy please, don't ever say that. You're far too precious and important to me to ever stop fighting for. I should thank you for all you've done for me. I was just sleepwalking through life until you showed up on my doorstep. The stars or planets or whatever aligned that day and I'm grateful to be with you every day."

The two settled in bed, Stan's arms wrapped around Wendy protectively. Her eyes went from the ring on her hand to the window, snow had started to softly fall again. She felt Stan's breathing steady behind her as he dozed off, his strong arms not letting her go. She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She was nervous and excited for her first day of work tomorrow, she was determined to try and make the world better. But she felt something in her changed, not her underlying self, feisty and defiant, but she felt steady and whole inside. Her confidence had come back. That was something she could never thank Stan enough for giving her back.

She felt her eyes grow heavy, snuggling closer to her new fiancé, knowing even if the world was uncertain, things would be okay as long as they had each other.