Jeff took in a deep breathe of the cool night air hoping it would help settle his overly stuffed stomach. He felt as though he was about to burst from all the food. Emilie had warned him about her mother's uncanny ability to over feed anyone foolish enough to let her cook for them but he had no idea how accurate she was. He managed to slip away from others while they were having coffee and dessert before Janis could restock his plate one more time. He stood on the deck, looking out over the moonlight grass of the backyard. Suddenly he noticed a strange burning smell, almost like a cigar. He looked down and noticed a large figure sitting on the wooden steps leading up to the porch.

"I'm sorry sir." He said "I didn't know anyone else was out here."

"That's alright." Garry answered blowing out the smoke "Come have a seat son."

Jeff quietly walked over to the older man and took a seat on same step he rested on.

"You smoke Jeff?" he asked offering him a cigar.

"No sir but thank you."

"Yeah, that's good, it's a nasty habit. I have to cut back myself. Health reasons. I'm not as young as I use to be. Not to mention the wife hate the smell. Can't blame her." He laughed deeply "So you had to get away too huh?"

"Oh no sir. I just needed some fresh air after all that food."

"Its okay son I was just kidding."

"Oh" Jeff responded with a nervous laugh. He didn't really know what to say. Jeff couldn't remember the last time he felt so intimidated by anyone. Even Mr. McMahon failed to strike this sort of fear in his heart. But somehow this man made him incredibly anxious. Perhaps it was because of who he was and what his acceptance meant. Jeff knew how much Emilie's father meant to her. Out of all the people in the family she had the strongest connection with him. Some strange bond that could never be explained but could be easily seen. His blessing was important to Emilie, therefore it was important to Jeff. They sat there not saying a word for what felt like an eternity until Mr. Weissman finally broke the silence.

"She's had it rough, you know?"

"I know."

"The past few years have been really hard on her. She tries to hide it but I can see it in those big blue eyes of hers. She was pulling away, completely isolating herself from everyone that loved her." He sighed. It hurt him so much to think of Emilie's vivacious sprit being slowly eaten away, replaced with nothing but numbness. "Emilie's not as tough as people think she is. She can be broken almost effortlessly. But this is the happiest I've seen her in a long time. You don't know what that means to me."

"Probably as much as her happiness means to me."

"You really love her don't you?"

"Yes sir. More then I thought I could ever love anyone."

Garry looked at the intense expression on Jeff's face. He could tell just how much he meant it. As much as any father would never want to admit it, he knew that Jeff would be the one to replace him as the most important man in Emilie's life. He knew it was now up to him to let her go. With that he threw the cigar on the ground and patted Jeff on the back.

"You're a good guy Jeff." He said as he stood up. "The kind of guy Emilie needs."

He walked up the stairs towards the sliding door that led back into the house. Before walking inside he turned back to Jeff.

"I don't have to remind you that she's my baby girl, right? So remember if you hurt her I'll cut you into little pieces and wear your skin as an overcoat."

"Got ya sir."

"Just wanted to make sure I made that clear." He said before leaving Jeff alone in the open night.

Jeff just laughed as the relief began to settle in. Not only had he survived Emilie's family but he had been accepted. Imagine that, the wild Catholic daredevil Southern boy fitting in so perfectly with the zany Jewish New York folks. It was just one of those crazy twists of fate.

Emilie flicked off the bathroom light switch and walked into her bedroom where Jeff was already waiting in the bed. She took the clip out of her hair and placed it on the night stand before getting under the covers. Jeff put his arm around her shoulder, allowing her to snuggle as close as possible to him. She took a deep breathe, inhaling that intoxicating fragrance that was only his. It was times like these she had to stop and wonder if life could truly be this good. Any minute she would wake up and the past three months would have all been a dream. But it wasn't a dream. It was real. He was real.

"You have to be the most amazing man. Do you know that?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because not only did you manage to put up with the entire Weissman clan but you charmed the hell out of them all as well."

"Really?" he smiled.

"Yeah. You should have heard my mother after you left the table. 'Oh he's so smart', 'oh he's so handsome', 'oh he so sweet'."

"Never let it be said that your mothers not a wise woman."

"Well all I know is that she's never reacted that way towards any guy I've ever dated. Jewish or not...By the way, where did you run off to after dessert?"

"I was talking to your father."

"My father? Really?" she asked lifting her head up in shock. "What did you guys talking about?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Yeah, he told me how rough the past few years have been on you, and how glad he was to see you so happy. And I must say that's something he and I have in common."

Emilie couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her father never really talk to any of her boyfriends; much less have a full length deep conversation with one. She gazed long and hard at Jeff, who appeared to be oblivious to her stare. For the first time everything seemed so clear. She couldn't believe how blind she had been to what was right in front of her face. She had been so terrified about giving up her job, her apartment, her band, or whatever else was keeping her in New York. Believing that leaving those things behind would somehow mean that she would be leaving her life behind. But what she didn't take the time to notice before was that Jeff was her life. And now she knew exactly what she wanted and where she wanted to be.

"Okay" she said out if nowhere. Jeff looked down at her with a confused expression on his face.

"Okay what?" he asked.

"Let's move in together."

"You mean it?!"

"More then you can even imagine. I don't know what I've been waiting for all this time. I think I've been so scared that I would be making some huge mistake that I'd have to spend the rest of my life cleaning up. But I realize now that...I don't care what might go wrong, because no matter what it is, it's nothing we can't get through together. I love you so much, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And whether that means moving to North Carolina or Pluto I will do it. I would follow you anywhere."

Jeff's eyes grew wide at Emilie's sudden change of heart. He sat there trying to find the words to articulate his joyous feelings but he couldn't think of anything to say. She had said it all, so he replied the best way he knew how. He grabbed the sides of her face, bringing his warm tender mouth down to her soft pouting lips. He kissed her more intensely and passionately then he had ever kissed her or anyone before. His expert tongue tracing over every inch of her mouth. Emilie trailed her hand down the side of his face and up his scalp, tangled her fingers into his soft thick hair, pulling him into her as deeply as she could. As if to remind herself that he was real. "It's not a dream. It's not a dream" she silently repeated to herself, "and if it is don't ever let me wake up."