When she stopped at the stop sign at the entrance to the parking lot, Ian spoke again.

"Do you mind stopping by my place for a minute?"

Cassie looked over at him, curiously, and he gave her a look that was probably supposed to be innocent.

"I forgot your present…"

Uh huh. She didn't buy that for a minute.

"Mom's expecting us…"

"She won't mind. It won't take long. Please?"

It wasn't that out of the way, after all.

Cassie nodded, wondering what he was up to, and pulled the car out of the parking lot, heading for his apartment.

While they normally drove with one of them touching the other (usually Cassie's hand would be on Ian's leg while he covered it with his own) this time Ian didn't touch her. Not because he didn't want to, but because Cassie was driving a new car for the first time, and he knew she wasn't as accustomed to the Beetle as she was to her mom's car – or even to Ian's, which she'd driven a few times. He didn't want to end up in a wreck – and certainly didn't want to cause one.

It was less than fifteen minutes later when they pulled into the parking area of the apartments, pulling into the spot beside Ian's sport car, and he opened the door, and then looked over at her.

"Come up with me?"

"You're just getting your present, aren't you…?"

He shrugged.

"I can use the company."

And of course, now she knew he was up to something. She frowned, wondering if this was a tryst in the making. Not that she wasn't all for an afternoon fling with him, but it wasn't really the time, and she was still a little miffed at him.

"Ian…"

"Please?"

She sighed, and got out of the car.

"Not for long, though. Okay?"

He nodded.

While he knew she was still mad at him, Ian reached out and took her hand. The worst she could do, he figured, was pull away, and she didn't do that. Instead she gave him a slight smile, and allowed him to guide her into the building, up the elevator and into his apartment.

Neat as a pin, Ian's place was by far the tidiest place Cassie had ever seen. And the amazing thing was, it was always like that. He told her it was because he was used to picking up after himself from an early age, but Cassie had a feeling that it was just because he hated clutter. And no clutter would dare come to his apartment, or it would risk being swept away. His living room was spotless, his kitchen was spotless, and the dining room table (which was a catchall in Cassie's house) was always cleared off.

Except that she saw when they walked in that it wasn't cleared off at all. In fact, there were several neatly wrapped presents sitting on the table, all sizes and shapes and wrapped in different colored papers.

Ian smiled, a little nervously, she noticed.

"Happy graduation, Cassandra…"

She looked at him, confused, but charmed by the smile and the uncertainty in his expression.

"You didn't have to get-"

"Yes, I did." He interrupted, something he never did. He walked over and picked up one of the presents and handed it to her. "Open it."

Cassie took the gift, and hefted it, trying to discern what was in it without opening it. But that was impossible. Instead, feeling a little excitement – and who didn't feel excitement when they had a present in their hands? – she tore off the wrapping paper, and opened the box. And pulled out a gorgeous sweater made of soft cashmere. Her smiled lit up her face and she turned to him.

"It's beautiful."

He nodded, and smiled.

"I'm glad you like it."

She started to reach for him, to hug him, but Ian pulled away and handed her another box from the table.

"Now this one."

Cassie frowned.

"Shouldn't I open these at the house?"

"No. Here. Please?"

She shrugged and took the box from him, and opened it. Inside was a pair of sandals, neatly done up with little sparkles that Cassie adored so much – although she very rarely actually wore something like it. She smiled, delighted, and wondered how on Earth he'd known to get her something like that.

"They're great," she told him, sincerely. "How did you know I wanted some?"

He smiled, and now he was looking a little more assured of things. So far everything was all right.

"A little bird told me." He handed her another present. "Here."

This time Cassie didn't even argue. She just took the package from him and opened it, revealing a hat. A powder blue baseball cap with the Volkswagen logo on it. Obviously Ian had known about the car, and had decided she needed something to wear to keep her hair out of her eyes when she drove. Cassie grinned, and tried it on immediately, but Ian wasn't finished.

"Don't stop there," he chided her, handing her another present. This box was small, and gaily decorated, and when Cassie opened it she found a long jewelry box. Opening that, she gasped softly and smiled again. A delicate chain of silver of some sort, with a black hills gold pendant was inside, and beside the pendant was a pair of matching earrings.

"Oh…" she said, softly, looking up at him. "They're beautiful…"

He nodded.

"So are you."

Cassie flung her arms around him, holding him tightly, and this time Ian didn't pull away until she made the first move to separate.

"We're not done," he told her, handing her a fair-sized box with green wrapping paper. "Open this."

Curious what could possibly top the necklace and earrings, Cassie grinned when she saw that he'd bought her a Chia Pet. A man's head that was designed to grow a head filled with grass for hair. It was silly, and ugly, and she loved it immediately – even as she realized what he'd done.

"You bought me everything on my list…" she said, accusingly, even as she looked at the Chia Pet again. That had been the giveaway, after all. She couldn't remember what else she'd told him to get her – she'd been angry, after all – but Ian obviously had. He'd remembered most of it, anyways. One thing was glaringly missing, but Cassie didn't mind a bit. "Most everything, anyways…" she said, smiling to prove to him that it was okay that he hadn't completed the list.

"Everything," he corrected, smiling. He reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out the final present.

Her eyes widened, and she almost dropped the Chia Pet that was in her hands as he handed her the little box – not even wrapped. She knew immediately that it held a ring – it was the only thing those boxes held, after all. And sure enough, when she set the Chia Pet down on the table and took the box, it opened to reveal a ring.