(A/N; I KNOW! Updates arent as fast as I'd like them to be, or I'm sure as fast as you'd like them to be. I've been so busy but hopefully this chapter will make up for it. The thoughts for this fic that are in my head arent coming out quick enough, sorry about that!)

The next week, the two started going to LaMaz classes and took parenting classes every chance they got, which made it even more real. Between work, school and preparing for this new life, Ephram had no time to himself. The semester was almost over, just a little under two months left. As he promised Madison, he was taking the relationship pretty slow, didn't want to make any of the mistakes he had in the past.

One day while at work, Ephram got a call from Madison.

"Hey you, what's up, are you okay?" he asked concerned since she never called him at work before.

"Oh yeah!" she said cheerfully, "I just want to give you a quick call and tell you that...tell you that I love you."

This definitely made Ephram smile since he hadn't heard her say those words for almost a year. He teased her, "you said it first this time! I love you too."

"I have to go now, but I'll see you later." and she hung up the phone. Ephram was in a good mood for the rest of the day and nothing could get him down. This made him think of something to do for her, something to make her feel special and let her know that he still thinks she's the most beautiful person in the world. He called up Yanu after he got out of work and asked him to take Madison to a movie so Ephram could prepare a special evening. Yanu was a tall lanky black man with long dreads who loved to breakdance and he met Khaki at a club. Khaki was rather eccentric with blue hair and loved wearing her oversized overalls with paint stains and holes.
Yanu told Ephram that he had him covered and would take Madison out for a few hours, "Its about gosh durn time that you did something special for her! I mean, she talks about you almost every chance she gets!"
"really?" asked Ephram surprised

"dude, she loves you and she wants to marry you, she just doesnt know how to bring it up so maybe tonight will encourage her to say something." he then said candidly, "Just don't let her know that I told ya, right!"

Ephram laughed, "you got it, thanks Yanu!" then the two hung up and Ephram went to work on figuring things out to surprise Madison.

Ephram drove to her house with a half dozen pink roses and a red carnation, but when he got there his plans sort of fell through because Madison was still at the apartment. He quickly called Yanu who told him that Madison was insistent on not leaving the apartment.

"Hope ya got a plan B, brother!" he chuckled.

"not really" Ephram replied, but he figured he could wing it anyway. He thought for a few minutes then decided to go up to the apartment with the little stereo he had in his car. When he got to her door, instead of knocking he decided to play one of her favorite songs by Vertical Horizon;

He's everything you want

He's everything you need

He's everything in side of you

That you wish you could be

He played it just loud enough that Madison would want to investigate to find out where the music was coming from.

Yanu started laughing and thought, 'good one, Ephram, boy, very nice.'

"What are you laughing at?" just then she heard something but wasnt quite sure what it was and decided to try to find where it was coming from. As she got closer to the front door, the music became louder,

I am everything you want

I am everything you need

I am everything inside of you

That you wish you could be

I say all the right things

At exactly the right time

Just then Madison opened the front door to find a small stereo sitting in front of her playing one of her favorite songs. She looked around and then saw Ephram standing off to the side with his hands behind his back.

"What are you doing!" she hissed, trying not to smile.

He didnt say anything, instead he just walked closer to her and held out the flowers which made her gasp. She took them slowly and Ephram leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "read the card", which she did just that. The card read; 'There is a rose for each day of the week that I will be by your side. The red carnation, since it will never die, represents my love for you since that too will never die. You will always and forever, have my heart.'

Madison covered her mouth with her hand. After a few minutes, she finally said, "this is what I wanted." she threw her arms around Ephram's neck and hugged him tightly, whispering, "I want to marry you, Ephram."

He didnt know what to do, he just grabbed her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately. Madison wanted to just melt with that kiss since she had been waiting for it for as long as she could remember.

To intentionally ruin a perfect moment, Khaki said, "invite us to the wedding now kids!" which made Madison laugh.

"Oh, before I forget" replied Ephram as he pulled out a pager, "I got a pager and here is the number, Madison, so in case you need me and I'm not readily available then you can call that and I'll come running." he smiled, "I'm sure it will come in handy."

For the rest of the evening she couldnt help but hold Ephram's hand, even during dinner. She finally realized that she wasn't alone anymore and there was no need to be scared because she had Ephram. The four year age difference didnt seem to bother her anymore. He was so wise beyond his years that, even if he was scared or freaked out about everything, he barely showed it, which gave Madison strength. Before Ephram left, he took the little box that held the ring out of his pocket and put it up to his face. He opened it towards Madison. She smiled like a little kid as Ephram pulled it out of the box and slid it gently on her finger. He tilted his head and looked at her in a loving way. He leaned in slowly and kissed her softly. "I'll see you" he whispered as he moved some stray hairs out of her face. Madison couldnt help but touch his face and kiss him again. Ephram seemed to always find a way to make her feel beautiful, even being six months pregnant.