A/N Is this story really that bad? There's hardly any reviews! Noooooo, oh well. Please read my other fic Cries in the dark I haven't posted for a while but at least that fic gets reviews! Enjoy this part!

Ryan watched as Marissa slept soundly next to him, her chest rising and falling steadily and her golden brown hair was spread like a fan around the cream pillows her head rested on. She was smiling slightly in her sleep and her delicate hands rested across her chest as she shivered slightly. Ryan glanced over to the window and watched the curtains dance and twirl as a gentle breeze blew around the bedroom. He slowly got to his feet silently trying not to disturb Marissa and he closed the window and sighed deeply. He watched her for a few seconds before opening his nightstand drawer and taking the ring out. He opened the small box slowly and looked down at the sparkling ring in front of him. If it hadn't have been for Luke he could have been engaged by now...if she had said yes that is. He closed the box bitterly and let out a long sigh before putting it back in the drawer. He loved Marissa and he wasn't going to let something like this put him off…he would make this perfect, better than it would have been at the restaurant. It's what she deserved.

Seth took a pudding cup from the fridge and grabbed a spoon from the dishwasher, not caring whether it was clean or not…he needed his tapioca. He pulled off the lid and his spoon hovered over the top and a satisfied grin spread over his face. Nothing was going to come between him and his pudding, not even bagels. His spoon drew closer to the pudding when the phone rang shrilly and he dropped the spoon in surprise. He groaned and picked up the phone angrily

"What?" He snapped angrily not even looking at the caller ID.

"Woah, what's up with you this morning? Did Summer make you sleep on the couch again for breaking wind in bed?" Ryan asked enjoying bringing up one of Seth's embarrassing conversations. Seth felt himself flush red and he decided to quickly change the conversation.

"No, actually you interrupted my daily ritual." He grumbled. Ryan nodded knowingly and laughed slightly.

"Oh the morning paper, coffee and tapioca pudding?" He asked.

"Yeah, so what's up anyway, why are you calling me? We live next door to each other."

"Don't worry about that but I need your help okay?...I need you and Summer to distract Marissa for the day because well…I need to set up back here if you know what I mean?" He said looking around and checking Marissa wasn't about to resurface. Meanwhile Seth started to grin.

"Ooh I'm sensing another stealth mission here…my speciality." He said his grin growing wider.

"Whatever Seth, just don't let Summer do what she did last night okay? Just keep her away, I'm trusting you with this."

"Sure thing dude…she won't suspect a thing especially not with Seth Cohen on the case!"

"C'mon Coop, I need a shopping trip and what's a shopping trip without your best friend?" Summer said brightly tugging her friend's arm and pulling her towards the door. Marissa smiled slightly and picked her bag up from the work top and grabbed her keys quickly before Summer yanked her through the doorway.

"We'll have lunch first then we'll hit the mall, where do you wanna eat?" She asked strolling down the stairs to the ground floor watching her friend and biting back a smile. She couldn't believe Ryan was going to propose, this was huge! Two of her best friends could be getting married! She strolled out the apartment block linking arms with Marissa and hailing a taxi. She wasn't going to muck this up, she would keep Marissa away for the day and things would be perfect. Those two deserved a happy ending more than anyone…

Meanwhile

Julie's carefully manicured fingers hovered delicately over the call button on her phone. She chewed on her bottom lip uncertainly not caring that she was smudging her flawlessly applied lip gloss. Should she do it or not? Marissa deserved better than this, she deserved better than that thug. She wasn't going to let this go ahead, she would put a stop to this and make sure Marissa would never marry Ryan Atwood. She didn't care that Marissa thought she loved him, she doesn't know what she wants. She was doing this for her own good. She pressed the call button and listened to the dial tone for a few seconds before the line cleared and someone picked up.

"Hello?" Said a deep gruff voice. Julie smiled slightly

"Hi, you know you said you owed me that favour…well now's the time for me to call it in…It's going to be expensive so listen carefully…"

Later

Ryan put his phone down and sighed deeply his hands shaking violently as he gripped the ring in his hands almost scared it would dissolve if he didn't hold onto it tightly enough. Summer had just called him to tell him Marissa would be here any moment now…he was going to ask her. He was finally going to ask her to be his wife, all he wanted was for her to say yes and for them to have the happy ending they had suffered so much for. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He paced the bedroom frustratedly straining his ears for that familiar sound of the door opening. Waiting for her to step through… He closed his eyes and let the darkness engulf him desperately trying to steady his jangling nerves. He let the memories of her run through his head, the first time they had met in the driveway…their first kiss, first date, the ferris wheel, leaving her to go back to Chino, each kiss, each embrace and every 'I love you'. Then he heard that sound…that sound he had been waiting for. The sound of the front door opening….

Marissa shuffled down the hallway her heavy shopping bags weighing her down. Summer had gone to get something she left in the cab and told Marissa to go on head. Her feet were aching and she was exhausted, shopping with Summer was not for the faint hearted. She reached her apartment door and fumbled around in her pockets for he keys, carefully putting down her shopping bags so she could get the jingling keys from her seemingly never ending pocket. Finally she pulled them out and un-locked the door, she picked up her shopping bag and looked up as she walked through the door. Her mouth fell open and she heard her shopping bags fall to the floor with a soft thump but she didn't remember dropping them. She gazed in amazement at the scene in front of her. The entire apartment was lit by uncountable amounts of candles, the glowing flames bathed the room in glimmering golden light. The light shifted and danced as the small flames f!ckered. Her tear-filled eyes drew away from the candles to the scarlet rose petals that littered the floor and furniture and a large bunch of crimson tulips rested on the table. Her hand flew to her mouth and she took a shaky step further into the apartment, her heart was hammering and her vision was blurred by tears. She looked around her hands shaking and she could hear the slow soft melody of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah playing…their song. As the bedroom door opened slowly her gaze was immediately drawn in that direction. Ryan emerged slowly from the room, his face was immersed by the golden light and his bright blue eyes glimmered in the flickering glow.

His face spread slowly into that familiar half smile and he took a few steps closer to Marissa. His heart was hammering at what felt like 100mph and the blood rushing in his ears was deafening as he looked into her sparkling, tear filled sapphire irises. He drew slowly closer to her his hand gripped tightly around the ring in his pocket. He had no doubts…she was the one.

Marissa watched him crack that familiar smile and she felt her knees go weak and her already racing heart hammer faster. They were now inches apart and she felt her face spread into a smile and a small solitary tear roll down her cheek…Why was she crying? She thought ready to kick herself.

"Ryan…this is…it's beautiful." She whispered looking around her and then drawing her gaze back to the man in front of her, the man she loved. He smiled at her and took her delicate hand in his and raised his other to her lips cutting her off…

Well I heard there was a secret chord…

"Sssh…" He soothed softly, she smiled and kissed his finger softly.

That David played and it pleased the Lord but you don't really care for music, do ya?...

" 'Riss…I love you SO much. Ever since I first met you, ever since I first looked into those amazing eyes I knew you were the one, the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We've been through so much together but we're still here, because I don't know what I'd do without you…" He said looking into her eyes suddenly forgetting how nervous he was before, he didn't need to be nervous…

Well it goes like this :The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift, The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Marissa felt her heart melting as he said everything she felt inside of her. Ryan gave her hand a small squeeze and suddenly sank down onto one knee and pulled the ring from his pocket. Marissa let an inaudible gasp and drew her hand to her mouth her eyes filling steadily with tears, she was shaking from head to foot as she looked into his shining blue eyes.

"Marissa Cooper, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He asked his voice steady and his gaze locked with hers. He slowly opened the box and the ring sparkled in the candlelight, the diamonds glimmered and Marissa stared down at the ring in amazement, enchanted by how beautiful it was. Her racing heart grew faster as he tear stained face broke into a teary smile as she let the question sink in slowly…he was asking her to marry her, he wanted to marry her, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah...

Ryan looked up at her holding his breath waiting for her answer…this was the worst wait of his life, the most nervous wait of his life, each second feeling like a life time as he watched her expression break into a smile.

"Yes." She whispered softly

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof, You saw her bathing on the roof. Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya

"Yes!" She said louder now shrieking and tears were falling, Ryan felt like the world had been lifted from his shoulder and he let out a long breath as his face broke into a huge grin. Tears of happiness sparkled in his eyes as he gently slid the ring onto her long slender fingers…perfect fit. He rose slowly to his feet and Marissa lept into his arms crying exstatically…He lifted her up and spun her round pulling her closer to him. Their faces inches apart they drew closer and their lips locked in a passionate clinch. Marissa never wanted this moment to end, in his arms, kissing him and wearing the engagement ring he had bought her and embracing in a room full of candles and roses…it was perfect. Ryan gently lowered her to the ground and they looked into eachother's eyes, both pairs full of happiness and love.

"I love you so much." Ryan said never wanting to let her leave his arms. He kissed her softly and lovingly and when they pulled away Marissa smiled

"I love you too…" They stared at each other, lost in each other's loving gazes when two muffled voices carried through the door.

"Can we come in yet? We're dying out here!" Summer and Seth cried from the other side of the door.

"Yes!" Marissa cried for the third time that evening and the door burst open expelling Seth and Summer. Summer raced over to her friend and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Oh my god Coop! Let me see it!" She cried excitedly, Marissa pulled away and extended her hand looking happily down at the beautiful ring that rested on her finger. Summer let out a small gasp

" What a rock! Congratulations you guys, this is amazing!"

Seth and Ryan exchanged manly hugs and congratulations before Ryan put his arm around Marissa happily.

" I think this calls for a celebration don't you?" Seth asked happily slipping his arm around Summer's waist.

"Break out the champagne!" Summer said happily! Marissa and Ryan smiled happily unable to take their eyes of one another whilst Seth and Summer squabbled over the champagne bottle…the fantastic four were definitely fantastic…but for how long?

So? What did you think? Please review and tell me what you think and how I can improve so I can get more reviews! Lol Next part should be coming soon...

Next Time: Marissa and Ryan share their happy news but is Julie's plan going to ruin their happiness?