Clint smiled as April walked across the stage to get her diploma. As part of the faculty, he sat on the stage in a ceremonial robe of this own. Raven, thankfully, wasn't attending.

April caught his eye, so he winked.

After the ceremony, April found Natasha to congratulate her and say hello to her parents. Then she went to find her own parents in the throng. She was surprised to find Clint there shaking hands with her father. She hugged her parents, then looked at Clint.

"How did you find my parents?"

"I didn't. They found me."

"Sweetheart," her dad said, "every phone call we got consisted of how great Professor Barton is, how much you loved his class, how much you enjoyed your T.A. position. We had to meet him."

"My gosh. Did I really carry on like that?"

"You always do when you're passionate about something." Her dad put a hand on Clint's shoulder. "Mind if we talk?"

"Umm…" he gave April a quick look. "Sure."

"Walk with me."

April stared after them as they walked away.

"Mom, what's going on?"

"Do you really think we don't know you're in love with that man?"

"I… how?"

"You're our daughter. We pay attention. We also saw how he looked at you when you walked the stage. Your dad just wants to have a talk with him."

"Oh, God." April covered her face with her hands. "Dad's going to kill him."

"Why would he do that?" Her mom chuckled.

"Because Clint's closer to your age than mine? Because he was my professor? I don't know, pick one."

"April, we've always known you've had a more… sophisticated taste in men. Now, we aren't happy that he was your professor, but you're not a student anymore."

"You're not upset?"

"Does he treat you well?"

"Better than any boyfriend I've ever had."

"Mr. Barton, my wife and I both believe that you are in love with our daughter."

"Wow. Straight to the point. Now I know where April gets it."

"Well?"

"Well, I am in love with her."

"And you see no issue with falling in love with a student?"

"I see many issues, but I met your daughter before I knew she was my student. We met on a cruise, before—"

Her father laughed. "You're the one from the cruise?"

"You know about that?"

"Oh, she went on and on about this great guy she met who loved psychology. According to her you got a young frat boy to back off."

Clint smiled. "Yeah. Kid wouldn't leave her alone. So, I stepped in. It's how we met."

"Mr. Barton…"

"Please, call me Clint."

He nodded. "I won't pretend that your age difference doesn't concern me."

"I had my own doubts about it. But April is more mature than most women I've dated around my age."

"She's always been that way. Older than her years." He stopped walking and faced Clint directly. "What are your intentions for my daughter?"

Clint sighed. "Sir, if I could have proposed to her already, I would have. I've never loved a woman like I love April."

Her dad smiled. "Call me Drew."

April's dad hugged her when he and Clint got back.

"It was a long drive for us. We're going back to the hotel to rest. Dinner tomorrow?"

"Of course! I'm so glad you both could be here."

"Wouldn't miss it. You put in all that hard work. It deserves to be recognized."

Her mother hugged her. "We're so proud of you."

"Thank you, mom."

"Clint," her father shook his hand. "Good to meet you."

"You, too, Drew."

April smiled as her parents walked back to their car.

"Drew?"

"He insisted." He glanced around, then moved a little closer to her. "Why don't we go back to my place and get out of these ceremony getups. I have a few surprises for you."

"Surprises?"

"Mmhmm."

Clint and April shed their robes.

"Have a seat. I'll be right back."

"Clint…"

"Yeah?"

April wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a soft, lingering kiss.

"In case you were wondering. I still want you."

Clint smiled, then kissed her back the same way.

"I still want you, too." He brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. "I'll be right back."

April waited on the couch until Clint returned with a present.

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"I know. I wanted to. Besides, this isn't some random graduation gift. This is special."

April smiled as she ripped the off the wrapping paper and opened the box. She gently lifted a framed Rorschach inkblot.

"Clint, I love this."

"Yeah?"

"So much."

"Ok, Ms. Psych Grad, what do you see in the inkblot?"

"I see us… how we met."

"You remember," Clint said with a smile.

"Of course, I remember. If I hadn't been reading that book on the cruise, we may not have bonded the way we did."

"I've never loved inkblots more."

She stared at the image.

"Ready for the second surprise?"

"Yes."

"I was offered the head of Psychology position in Colorado."

"Oh! That's… that's so great."

"It is. Much better position and pay."

She kissed his cheek. "I'm so proud of you."

"You don't seem too excited."

"Well, it's Colorado. I hadn't thought about you leaving since you first mentioned it."

"Which leads me to the third surprise."

"There's more?"

"When I submitted my application, I submitted yours, too."

"You, what?"

"I gave them your transcripts, and a glowing recommendation letter as both your professor and your employer as my T.A. Now, you don't have the job, but they want to schedule an interview. They're very impressed."

"What's the position?"

"It's in the psych research lab."

April covered her mouth. "You're kidding."

"Nope. Like I said, it's an interview. You still have to get the job. Not that I doubt you."

"You really want me to go with you to Colorado?"

"I told you that I did. And that leads me to my last surprise."

"That's a lot of surprises." She laughed.

"You know I love to shower you with attention," he said. "Make you feel special. Take care of you. And I know you like that." He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "But I also learned that you like simple, small moments. So, I thought, what's the best way to do this? Some big, loud, shout it to the world thing? Or just us? Private and personal? I decided to keep it simple."

Clint kissed her softly, then slipped from the couch to one knee. April started to cry as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.

"Will you marry me?"

April knelt in front of him and pulled his lips to hers.

"Yes."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulder and Clint deepened the kiss. He gripped her waist to hold her close until they both had to pull away.

"Give me your hand."

He slipped the ring on her finger, then kissed her palm.

"Your dad approved, by the way."

She laughed. "He did?"

Clint nodded and brushed the tears from her cheeks.

"Ready to go start a new life with me?"

April wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I've never been more ready for anything in my life. I love you."

"I love you, too, baby."

Clint stood and pulled her up with him, then took her hand and headed toward the stairs.

"Come on. Let's go celebrate."