Adrien sat there on the bench speechless for a moment. The question rang in her ears. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She'd imagined it a thousand times, but she never thought that it's actually happen.

She looked at Adam's expectant face in front of her. She leaned down and tried to kiss him lightly, but she couldn't hold passion back. Adam could feel warm tears streaming down her cheeks. The kiss was so long and deep that he had to catch his breath.

"I can't believe it…." She whispered and trailed off into her own thoughts.

"What is it, Adrien?" Adam asked.

"It's just that this morning, I…I woke up in…in a living hell." She said, beginning to tear up. "I thought that you were gone. I felt like I didn't have anything left to live for. I felt like a shell without you….And ….And then tonight….You set up this beautiful, romantic thing…and then tell me that you're alive. I didn't think that my heart could get any fuller, and ….and now this…"

There were tears streaming down her face now.

"So what is wrong?" Adam asked. "Do you not want to marry me?"

"No, Adam it's not that."

"Then why are you crying?"

"I'm just so happy."

"So…"

She kissed him again and whispered "Yes" in his ear.

He slipped the ring on her finger. He hugged her close to him.

"Thank you, Adrien. Thank you so much." He said over and over again, tears of joy fell from his eyes.

"How could I say no? There's no way I could live without you."

They walked all the way back to Adrien's house and there they uncorked another bottle of wine. Adam told Adrien of how he was being hunted down for the very jewels she had on her finger, and how much work it was to find them and get them put in the ring the way he thought they should be.

"You did all of that just for me?" she asked surprised at what her went through.

"This ring had to be perfect, just like you," he answered.

"Darling, you shouldn't tell such lies."

"Who says that I'm lying?"

The next night, Adrien joined the Cartwrights for dinner. Ben, Hoss, and Little Joe sat each wondering what was going on. Adam had quickly arranged for Hop Sing to serve a very nice dinner. He wore the red shirt Adrien loved but was a rare sight. Adam was not the only one dressed unusually, Adrien wore a new dress that Adam had brought back from San Francisco. It was a blue satin gown with an elegant lace on the collar.

Adam loved the way she looked in that dress. Buying a dress for a girl had never crossed his mind before he met Adrien, but he always wanted her to look beautiful. She always had deprived herself of so many beautiful things before. She only wore jewelry when it was absolutely necessary, and her evening gowns were always of simple patterns and basic colors. She was beautiful in anything, but Adam always thought she deserved so much more than she gave herself. This time he'd gotten her a simpler dress, hoping she'd wear it more often than the last one. She still looked stunning in it, and tonight he couldn't take his eyes off her.

All through dinner, Adam couldn't help but smile at her, and Adrien couldn't help but giggle every time that he did.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you two were drunk," Ben commented, amazed at his son's unusual silliness.

"I'm sorry, Pa," Adam answered, almost laughing, "I don't mean to cause a disruption."

"Yes, be careful Adam, " Adrien quipped back with a giggle. "You might make Hop Sing think that you're laughing at his cooking and make him mad."

"And no one would want that," Travis countered with a smile. The whimsical attitude of his sister was becoming contagious.

"I know," Adrien added, "just imagine if we made him mad enough to quit…."

"Then Adam would have to cook." Travis interrupted.

"Oh God, we'd all starve," Hoss said, deathly serious.

"Oh Lord help us all," Ben replied catching the attitude of the room also.

The entire table erupted in a roar of laughter.

After dinner, everyone adjourned to the great room. Ben went to the desk and poured himself and Adam a brandy. They then rejoined Adrien and the 2 boys around the fireplace. Adam sat beside Adrien on the settee. He reached to grab her left hand, and she shuffled his into a position to cover hers up. Ben took notice of another strange behavior between them.

"Well, I must say, Miss Cooper, it is not very often that we have you here for dinner on a Sunday evening."

Adrien smiled.

"I'm sorry if it was an inconvenience to you, Mr. Cartwright, since we're being so formal." She grinned, and Adam laughed.

"I'm sorry, Pa," Adam added, "I guess I should have asked before bringing her."

"Don't worry about it, son. It's not that big of a deal." Ben answered. "It's not like we don't enjoy having her around."

"I know," Adam answered, putting his free arm around her shoulders, "I like having her around her too." He smiled at her with a rather goofy smile and she giggled as she smiled back.

"What is with you two tonight?" Ben asked, seriously beginning to wonder if his son was drunk. "You're both worse than a couple of thirteen-year olds tonight."

"I know," Joe joined in. "I'm tired of watching you two's mushiness."

Travis laughed loudly. "Why don't you two get married already so we don't have to see it all the time," he chided

Adam and Adrien couldn't help but laugh at that one.

"You know Travis," Adam responded, "We just might have to give that a try."

"What are you saying, Adam?" Ben asked.

"I'm sorry, Pa." Adam answered. "We're just this way because Adrien and I have finally come to an agreement."

"What sort of agreement Adam?" Ben inquired.

"Actually, it's that agreement that is the reason that Adrien is here tonight, and also the reason that Travis was invited too," Adam answered, again, smiling at Adrien.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Hoss got up to answer it and found Mr. Welch the telegraph operator standing there.

"Oh, Hello, Mr. Welch" Hoss greeted.

"Won't you please come in?" Ben invited from his chair in the great room.

"I'm sorry, but I can't stay," Mr. Welch answered, taking a piece of paper from his jacket. "This telegraph was just marked as urgent, so I thought that I'd better deliver it tonight."

"Oh, well thank you, Mr. Welch." Ben answered, rising to take the paper from the man. "I greatly appreciate your consideration for me good man. I wasn't expecting a telegram though. I wonder who it's from?"

"Actually, it's not for you, Mr. Cartwright. It's for Miss Cooper." The old man then looked at Adrien. "It's another one from San Francisco."

Adrien rose, and took the telegram from Mr. Welch.

"Thank you. Mr. Welch." She said as she opened up the envelope and read the telegram quickly.

"Will there be a reply, Miss Cooper. They'd like one back tonight" He asked.

"Yes," she answered. "Tell them that I will send them a full reply with my decision in the morning."

"Yes, Miss Cooper."

"Thank you," Adrien answered, and reached into her purse and handed the man a few coins to pay for the reply.

"Good evening, Mr. Welch" Ben said as he showed him to the door.

"Good evening everyone." Mr. Welch answered, as he went out the front door.

"So, Adrien" Adam asked. "Who needs a decision from San Francisco?"

"The San Francisco Ballet Company" She answered, looking down at the floor.

"What?" Adam asked in amazement.

"I have been offered a position there as a principle dancer. They've offered me the position before, but I've always turned it down. But this time, it came while you were gone and they'd sweetened the deal by offering me the position as their choreographer as well. It came yesterday, so I responded, just to ask questions. I told them that I didn't want to dance, so they want me as the choreographer."

"So what did the telegram say" Adam asked.

"They wanted to know if I'd come to a decision yet."

"That is a great opportunity for you, Adrien." Ben added in. "You really should consider it. It's not like you have anything holding you back. You're not held back by your teaching contract anymore. You've already turned in your resignation. There's nothing holding you here."

"I was seriously considering it but considering recent events…" Adrien smiled as she looked at Adam and trailed off. Adam squeezed her hand tightly.

"Recent events…." Ben thought aloud. "Do you mean the agreement that you have come to with Adam?"

"Yes," Adrien answered, "That's precisely it." She smiled at Adam again and they both giggled just a little.

"So what is this decision that you two have come to?" Travis asked, tired of the suspense.

"Well, Adrien and I…" Adam started.

He then looked at Adrien. "Do you want to tell them?" he whispered to her.

"No, go ahead," she whispered back, beaming.

"Are you sure?" he asked still whispering.

"Yes, I love to hear you say it!"

"Ok."

"Will you just tell us already?" Ben yelled, his patience had run out.

"Pa, as you know, Adrien and I have been thru a lot together and we have a lot of history, and I care for her very much. So last night, I asked Adrien to marry me, and she said yes." Adam announced beaming. He no more got the words out of his mouth, than the couple was drowned with hugs and congratulations.

The rest of the night was spent talking about future plans. Of which, they really hadn't made any yet. But many ideas were discussed.

Later that evening, Adam took Adrien home.

"Shall I see you tomorrow, my future wife?" Adam asked holding close and giving her a kiss.

"If you want to see me, then you'll know where I'll be, my future husband." She answered, kissing him back.

"Good night, love."

"Good night"

Adrien fell asleep that night with it all still ringing in her ears. She couldn't believe that for the second night in a row, she was actually falling asleep with a ring on her finger and a smile on her lips.

But more than ever she couldn't believe that she was going to be Mrs. Adam Cartwright.

He actually loves me. She thought as she fell asleep. He wasn't lying. He really loves me. He's loved me all along. All this time, and now he's finally mine.