A year later, Robert and Ashley had just graduated from the University of Albuquerque. They had officially moved into an apartment together. Robert had gotten a job at a big corporation. Ashley had also gotten a job but at a smaller corporation. They didn't want to go into business together because they didn't want their work to seep into their relationship. One day, Ashley came home and smiled when she saw Robert on the phone. She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. Robert looked at Ashley and smiled. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her lips softly. Robert wrapped up his phone call and looked at his girlfriend of three years.
"How was the office?" Robert asked.
"Fine. We have a big marketing meeting next week" Ashley said.
"Cool. Do you have more products launching?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded.
"In a couple of weeks" Ashley said.
Robert smiled.
"Do you need me to take a day off to go with you to the launch?" Robert asked.
"You don't have to take the whole day" Ashley said.
"I want to" Robert said.
"That's sweet of you" Ashley said kissing Robert's lips.
Ashley worked for a cosmetic company. She was the head of the marketing team.
"What time do you want to go over to your parents' house?" Robert asked.
"An hour maybe" Ashley said.
"Okay" Robert said.
"I'm going to go take a shower" Ashley said.
Ashley walked into the bathroom and took a shower. Robert was going to ask Ashley's dad for permission to marry Ashley that night. He was really nervous. The couple got ready to go. Once they arrived at Ashley's parents' house Robert walked over to Ashley's dad, Chris and shook his hand.
"Can we talk for a minute, Chris?" Robert asked.
"Yeah" Chris said.
The two men went into Chris's office.
"What's going on, Rob?" Chris asked.
"You know how much I love Ashley. We've been dating for three years now. I wanted to ask for permission and your blessing to marry her" Robert said.
Chris smiled and nodded. Robert took a deep breath and released it.
"You have our permission. You have become family since we met you" Chris said.
Robert smiled.
"Thank you. That really means a lot to me" Robert said.
The two men walked out of the office. That night, Robert walked into his parents' house.
"Hey dude" Robert said shaking Easton's hand.
"Hey. Why do you look like a deer in headlights?" Easton asked.
"I just asked Ashley's dad for permission to marry her" Robert said.
"Wow. What did he say?" Easton asked.
"He said that I have his blessing. Now, I just need to choose a ring and figure out when I am going to propose" Robert said.
"Are you going to ask dad for help?" Easton asked.
"Yeah. I know her ring size. It's just the technical stuff that I need help with" Robert said.
Gabriella walked into the living room and smiled when she saw Easton and Robert talking.
"Hi, Rob" Gabriella said.
"Hi mom" Robert said.
"What are you doing home?" Gabriella asked.
"I need to go ring shopping" Robert said.
"Why?" Gabriella asked.
Easton looked at Robert and then at his mother.
"I'm going to ask Ashley to marry me" Robert said.
Gabriella's eyes widened.
"Wow. When are you planning to ask her?" Gabriella asked.
"I'm not sure yet. But we went over to her parents' house for dinner tonight and I asked her dad for permission" Robert said.
"You're really serious" Easton said.
Gabriella and Robert looked at Easton and then back at each other.
"I know that you and dad had concerns when I gave her the promise ring, so that's why I'm trying to include you more" Robert said.
Gabriella smiled slightly.
"We just love you, Rob. We just didn't want you doing it for the wrong reasons. But, now that we've known Ashley for a while, I can see you guys getting married. I know that your dad would be happy too" Gabriella said.
"Happy about what?" Troy asked as he came into the room.
"I'm going to ask Ashley to marry me" Robert said.
Troy smiled.
"When are you going to propose?" Troy asked.
"I don't know yet. But I asked her dad for permission and he gave me his blessing. I need to go look at rings, but I don't really know a lot about engagement rings. I need your help, dad" Robert said.
Troy nodded.
"I can help" Troy said.
"Thanks. We can go this weekend if you aren't busy. Ash is going to go to her parents' house for the weekend" Robert said.
"Okay" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"My baby is going to get married" Gabriella said kissing Robert's cheek.
"Not yet" Robert said.
"Yeah, but you are going to propose" Gabriella said.
Robert smiled.
"Does she have any idea that you are planning to propose?" Troy asked.
Robert shook his head.
"She's been working on a couple of new products and has been preoccupied" Robert said.
Robert left his parents' house. When he returned to the apartment, Rob smiled when he saw Ashley on her laptop. He walked over to his girlfriend and kissed her cheek.
"How's it going, baby?" Robert asked.
"We are trying to figure out launch dates for new products. The production team is still creating products for this launch so we have to push the date back" Ashley said.
Oh. So, that means you have a little more time, right?" Robert asked.
"Yeah" Ashley said.
"Good" Robert said kissing Ashley's lips softly.
"Rob, I have work to do" Ashley whined.
"You just said that everything was pushed back" Robert said.
"Yeah, but-" Ashley started.
Robert started kissing Ashley's neck.
"You can finish tomorrow" Robert mumbled.
Ashley looked at Robert, who looked at Ashley.
"Fine" Ashley said.
Robert smiled. Ashley closed her laptop. She then held out her hand to Robert. Robert smiled and took her hand in his own. Ashley stood up and the couple walked into their bedroom. Ashley changed into her pajamas and got into bed. Robert took his shirt and pants off and got into bed. Ashley snuggled into Robert's chest.
"You were at your parents' house for a long time. Is everything okay?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah. East was home so I talked to him for a while. My mom and dad heard that I was home and wanted to talk to me too" Robert said.
"Oh. Everly was at dance?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah, she has a show coming up I think" Robert said.
"Oh" Ashley said.
Robert smiled.
"Have you ever thought about our future?" Ashley asked.
Robert looked at Ashley.
"How far into the future are we talking about?" Robert asked as he ran his fingers through Ashley's hair.
"Like do you want kids?" Ashley asked.
Robert smiled. He kissed Ashley's cheek. He moved so that he was looking directly at Ashley. Ashley looked at Robert.
"Yes. But, if you don't I-" Robert started.
"No, I do. I just didn't know if you did or not" Ashley said.
Robert smiled. He leaned over and kissed Ashley's lips.
"How many do you want?" Robert asked.
"I want at least two. One boy and one girl. I know how having a son would mean a lot to you" Ashley said.
Robert smiled and nodded.
"It would mean a lot to me. But, if that didn't happen, I would still be just as happy" Robert said.
The couple continued to talk about their future. They fell asleep happy that they were both on the same page. The next day, Everly was going to come over to hang out with Robert and Ashley for the first time in a while. Robert told his parents and Easton not to tell Everly about his plans to propose to Ashley yet. He wanted to tell her himself. Since the pair were so close, Robert felt that it was better to tell his little sister as opposed to her hearing it from someone else in the family. Ashley was currently in the kitchen working on her laptop. Robert came into the kitchen and kissed Ashley's cheek.
"What time is Ev coming over?" Ashley asked.
"An hour. I told my parents that I would go pick her up" Robert said.
"Okay. Do you have a plan of what we are doing?" Ashley asked.
"I thought that we would go out to eat and just hang out. Is that okay?" Robert asked.
"Yeah" Ashley said.
An hour later, Robert picked Everly up from home. Once they were driving, Robert looked at Everly.
"I need to tell you something, but you have to promise me that you won't tell Ashley" Robert said as he drove.
"What's going on?" Everly asked.
"I am going to propose to Ashley" Robert said.
Everly squealed.
"Really? When?" Everly asked.
"I don't know yet. I asked her dad for permission and then told mom and dad that I was going to propose. Easton was home so he heard that I was going to. But you were at dance. Also, I felt that since we are so close, I would rather you hear it from me than mom and dad or Easton" Robert said.
Everly smiled.
"Thank you for telling me. I'm really happy for you Rob" Everly said.
Robert smiled.
"Thanks, Ev. That's why I wanted to pick you up. I wanted to tell you and not be in the same vicinity as Ashley" Robert said.
Everly nodded.
"Did you pick a ring yet?" Everly asked.
Robert shook his head.
"Not yet. Dad is going to help me pick it out" Robert said.
Robert and Everly arrived at the apartment. The couple and Everly spent time together. Everly was so excited for her older brother. A couple of weeks later, Robert had told Ashley that he had made dinner reservations for the two of them that night. Robert was going to propose. He kissed Ashley's cheek.
"I'm going over to my parents' house to pick something up. I'll be right back" Robert said.
"Okay" Ashley said.
Robert left the apartment. He drove to his parents' house and parked his car. Robert got out of the car and walked into his parents' house.
"Hey bud" Gabriella said.
"Hey" Robert said.
"Why are you shaking like that?" Gabriella asked.
Robert didn't even notice that he was shaking.
"You okay?" Gabriella asked.
"I'm going to propose tonight" Robert said.
Gabriella smiled. She hugged her eldest son and felt him stop shaking.
"You excited?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah, but also nervous" Robert said.
"She's going to say yes. She loves you so much, Rob" Gabriella said.
"I hope so" Robert said.
"How are you going to do it?" Gabriella asked.
"I am going to take her to dinner at a restaurant where we celebrate our anniversaries" Robert said.
Gabriella smiled.
"That's so cute" Gabriella said.
Troy came into the room and smiled.
"Hey dad, can I have the ring?" Robert asked.
"Yeah" Troy said.
Troy walked upstairs and brought the engagement ring downstairs. Robert had asked his father to keep the ring so that Ashley wouldn't find it somewhere in their apartment. Troy handed Robert the ring box.
"You ready for this?" Troy asked.
Robert nodded.
"I think I just want to do it perfectly" Robert said.
"There's not a perfect way to do it. It will be perfect because you are asking the love of your life to marry you. Just be yourself. Don't do anything crazy" Troy said.
Robert smiled slightly. Troy hugged Robert.
"Thanks, dad" Robert said.
Troy smiled.
"Go get her wildcat" Troy said.
Robert smiled at the nickname that had been passed down from Troy to Robert when he played basketball at East High. Robert left the house and drove to the apartment. A couple of hours later, Robert was dressed. He was waiting for Ashley to finish getting ready. Robert heard footsteps and smiled when he saw Ashley come into the room.
"You look so beautiful" Robert said kissing Ashley's lips.
"Thank you, baby. Where are we going?" Ashley asked.
"Our usual spot" Robert said.
"Dressed up?" Ashley asked.
"Why not? It's just us" Robert said.
"Okay" Ashley said.
Robert and Ashley left the apartment. They drove to the restaurant. Once they were seated and had ordered, Robert placed his hand on top of Ashley's.
"Why are you so nervous tonight? Did something happen at work?" Ashley asked.
Robert shook his head.
"I need to tell you something" Robert said.
"Okay" Ashley said looking at her boyfriend.
"Over the last few years of us being together, you have helped me grow as a person. I have never been more in love with someone than I am with you, baby. You have been my rock through good and bad times. I honestly fall more and more in love with you every day" Rob started.
Ashley had tears in her eyes.
"We have gone through so much together and I never want it to end. So, I wanted to ask you if you would marry me" Robert said taking out the ring box and opening it.
Ashley had tears running down her face.
"Yes" Ashley said breathlessly.
Robert kissed Ashley's lips softly. Ashley pulled back slowly.
"A million times, yes. I love you so much, Rob" Ashley said.
Robert kissed Ashley again. Ashley felt Robert shaking. They pulled away. Robert took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger.
"I love you so much" Robert said.
The couple ate and paid their bill. They then drove back to their apartment. Later that night, Ashley and Robert were in bed. Ashley looked at her engagement ring on her finger.
"My dad helped me pick it out. That's why I kept going back and forth from the apartment to my parents' house. I asked your dad for his blessing when we went to dinner over there" Robert said.
"It's beautiful. You asked him that long ago?" Ashley asked.
Robert nodded. He kissed Ashley's head softly.
"I wanted to ask him first. I then wanted to tell my family and see how they would react. I asked my dad for help with the ring and here we are" Robert said.
Ashley smiled. She snuggled into Robert's chest.
"When you asked me about kids" Ashley said trying to put pieces together.
"I was already planning on proposing then" Robert said.
Ashley kissed Robert's lips passionately. Clothes were discarded and the couple made love that night and for the first time as an engaged couple.