The next morning, Bianca trudged down the stairs to the kitchen, where her father was topping off his mug of coffee. He grabbed a spare mug, filled it, and handed it to his daughter.

"Thanks, Daddy," she said, moaning a little as she eased herself into a chair.

"Rough night?" he asked sympathetically. When she nodded, he pried further, "Did your date go badly?"

Bianca recounted the events of the previous night. Her father answered by saying that he was sorry she'd gone through a breakup, but that he was proud of her for selling a painting.

"The worst part is," she moaned, "I had the perfect guy, right there in front of me for all that time, and I didn't realize it. I am such an idiot."

"You are not an idiot," her father reassured her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you talk to him?"

"What's the point? I'm sure he's moved on," she said.

"How do you know until you try?" he asked. "Go to him. Tell him about your painting. If he's as great as you say he is, then I'm sure he'll be thrilled."

She thought about it a moment. Maybe her father had a point. What did she have to lose? She took a deep breath. "You're right. It's worth a try."

After showering and throwing on some casual but pretty clothes, Bianca hopped in her father's minivan and headed down the coast. Her heart raced in anticipation. Today she would find either love or heartbreak.

As soon as Bianca pulled up to the house, she saw Brian sitting on the front porch, strumming his beloved guitar. She shouted his name, barreling out of the car.

Brian looked up and froze like a deer in headlights. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked defensively.

"That's some greeting." She stopped in front of him, arms crossed. "Someone bought one of my pieces," she announced proudly.

"What?" he asked, placing his guitar to the side, standing up, and looking into her eyes. He shook his head, as if he couldn't believe what she was saying, or perhaps that she was standing there.

Bianca could have been cautious. But she didn't care. She released all her enthusiasm, knowing that Brian would be disappointed if she held back. "I sold a painting!" she exclaimed.

"I knew you could do it," Brian said, finally breaking into a smile and opening his arms. Excited, she jumped up into them. He lifted her up and spun her around in a circle. Bianca shrieked as her legs flailed helplessly in air. She felt a little like she was flying.

Brian gently set her back down on her feet. His face was flushed, and they were both breathing heavily from the physial exertion and the excitement. "I'm really proud of you," Brian said, still smiling broadly.

Bianca noticed that even though she was standing on her own two feet, Brian hadn't moved his hands from her waist… so she didn't move hers from his shoulders. She was close enough to catch his scent. After wearing his clothes for months, she had gotten used to what he smelled like, but now… it was different somehow. God, he smelled so good. She breathed in deeply, giggling a little to release her giddiness. "Thanks." Silence hung between them; Bianca didn't want to end this perfect moment by starting in on a serious discussion.

Brian spoke first. "So… why are you here?" he began tenderly.

"I just wanted to tell someone," she answered, a little too offhand.

"Oh. I see." Brian let his arms drop to his side.

"No! That's not it!" she said frantically. What a start, she thought. "I mean, it is, but…" She hesitated, then blurted out, "I miss you."

"Really? But what about Dr. Prince Charming?" he said, only half-jokingly.

Bianca shook her head. "He's not right for me."

"Ah, but I thought he was handsome and everything. I thought he was exactly what you wanted." Brian ran his fingers gently down her arm, sending a chill down her spine.

"When I told him about my painting, he said, 'That's nice.' That's nice!" she said, making wide sweeping motions with her arms. "As if I said that I found a shampoo sale or something!" She looked up at Brian.

"I love how you talk with your hands when you get excited," Brian mumbled, laughing. He took her hands in his, weaving his fingers through hers. "And I happen to think that selling a painting is more exciting than finding a shampoo sale." He kissed her on the forehead. "In fact, I think it's pretty remarkable."

"You do?" She looked into his eyes; they sparkled as they caught the light of the sun.

"Yeah, I do. In fact, I think everything about you is remarkable."

Bianca shook her head slightly. "No - you're the remarkable one. I didn't realize until you weren't around anymore. I'm so sorry, Brian."

He smiled. "Well, you're here now. That's what matters." He leaned forward, so close, and waited for her to move to him.

Bianca's eyes fluttered closed. She brushed her lips against his. He kissed her gently, slowly.

Bianca waited a few seconds before pulling back. His lips were so soft, she thought with a slight smile. "Brian… thanks. I mean, for everything." Bianca spoke slowly; she wanted this to come out right. "You've done so much for me. I mean, you gave me a home. And you helped me stop being an uptight bitch."

Brian laughed. "Well, in that case, thank you… for being yourself. I could tell it wasn't easy," he teased.

"Oh, come on. That's nothing," she said.

Brian grinned. "No, it's definitely something. I was lucky to fall in love with you." Hastily, he added, with an apologetic smile, "I'm not usually this cheesy, I swear." He pulled her close against him and began to kiss her, not quite as softly this time.

Bianca kept bursting into a smile. She had thought that people were supposed to be serious and sexy and dignified as they kissed, at least, that's what movies had told her. This was nothing like that. It was fun and messy and exhilarating. Brian didn't try to show off any particular techniques or skills, and Bianca was relieved that she didn't feel that she needed to know what she was doing. He acted and she reacted gladly. He moved his lips against hers, with hers. In its own chaotic, passionate way, this kiss was more perfect than Bianca had even imagined.

Many months later, Bianca sat on a stool at the kitchen counter, her bare feet brushing the floor as she swung them back and forth. She sipped coffee as she glanced at the morning paper. The men's house was once again her home. She was attending a local art college, and had moved back in, wanting to be closer to school, in a place where artistic inspiration was abundant. Her art was thriving; more and more people had indeed started to buy her pieces, as her friend had guessed, and she had become locally famous.

"Hey, baby," she heard Brian say. Before she had time to react, his mouth had covered her own. He kissed her wildly, leaning her backwards, then broke away.

Breathless, Bianca grasped the edge of the countertop and regained her balance on the stool. Laughing, she said, "Good morning, Brian. You're in a good mood."

Brian shrugged. "I just have a feeling it's going to be a great day." He grabbed a doughnut from a box on the counter and bit into it. "What are you up to today?"

"Well, I've gotten most of my homework for the weekend done, so I think I'm going to paint. I don't know what, though, I'm not feeling particularly inspired."

"You could paint me. Just look at me. I'm like a living piece of art," he joked.

"You're a piece of something," she muttered, teasing him.

Brian pretended to sulk. "Come on. How can you be mean to me, after I kissed you like that?"

Bianca laughed. "You're right. You know, you're pretty cute, actually; I may actually sell a few potraits of you." She leaned in for another kiss.

"God, get a room," Trevor groaned, staggering into the kitchen with a hand shielding his eyes. "I don't want to see that before breakfast."

Laughing, Bianca honored Trevor's wishes, saying to Brian, "It's cool. We can go outside and I can start my painting."

Brian agreed, and after Bianca made a brief detour to grab her art supplies in her now-permanent bedroom area between Brian and Jakes' rooms, they stepped out into the sun. At Bianca's suggestion, he sat, leaning his back against a tree, as she made strokes on a paper with her watercolors. It was fun, she realized, to have an excuse to stare at Brian so intently for so long.

The longer he sat, the bigger his smile grew. "What?" she finally insisted.

"Will you marry me?"

Bianca's arm stopped moving. She stared at Brian. "What?" she asked incredulously.

"You're really going to make me repeat that?" An easy grin was stretched across Brian's face.

Bianca was still incapable of processing what Brian had just said. "Did you just ask me to marry you?" Slowly, she put the brush down, still not taking her eyes off of Brian.

"I did." He leaned forward, eager for her answer.

"Yes!" she shrieked. Bianca bounded towards Brian and leapt at him, practically pummeling him. "Oh my God, yes!" she screamed into his face, laughing as the two fell backwards onto the shady grass, a tangled mess of arms and legs.

Brian smiled and swept a curly tendril out of Bianca's face, then curled his hand around to the back of her neck and kissed her. "Will you calm down?" he begged. "I haven't even gotten a chance to give you the ring yet!"

Bianca gasped. "There's a ring?"

Brian looked at her. "Come on. Do you really think I'd propose without giving you a ring? What kind of guy do you think I am?"

"I'm sorry, you're right." Bianca sat up so that Brian could reach into his pocket. He retrieved a black velvet box and opened it, to reveal a simple solitary diamond ring. Wordlessly, he slid it onto her finger, then kissed her on the cheek.

"It's so pretty," Bianca said, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. She buried her face in Brian's chest. "This is so amazing. I'm so happy."

Brian kissed the top of her head. "I am too."

After they had spent a good deal of time kissing and talking and staring at the sky, Bianca and Brian walked down into the kitchen to show off her ring. When she held her hand up in the sunlight, letting the diamond sparkle, pandemonium ensued. The guys practically mobbed the two of them, generally saying "Congratulations" to Bianca and "You finally did it, man," to Brian. They all hugged Bianca and welcomed her into their "family," even though, of course, she was really already a part of it, and they offered their beautiful lawn for the wedding and reception.

Bianca thanked them gratefully, then excused herself. Grabbing her phone off of her bedside coffee table, she dialed a number she knew very well.

"Hello?" Her father's greeting sounded tired.

"Hi, Daddy. It's me."

"Oh, Bianca! How are you?" he asked, only slightly more enthusiastically.

Her father's lethargic tone worried Bianca. "Um, Daddy, are you alright?"

"Just didn't get much sleep, that's all," he answered. "There have been police calling here all night."

"Oh my gosh!" Bianca panicked. "Is everything alright?"

"They found Regina."

"Really? Where?"

"Out on the east coast. Apparently she decided to move away and start a new life, where no one would recognize her," John explained.

"Wow," she breathed, sitting down on her bed cross-legged.

"And people keep calling me, telling me more information, or questioning me. As if I can help them out. The woman was clearly a great mystery to me."

"Well, anything you say can probably help," Bianca reasoned. "I'm just glad they caught her. I still can't believe what she did to me. She completely went off the deep end."

"It appears so," her father sighed. "But she'll be punished for what she did to you, I'll make sure of it." After a slight pause, he wondered, "What was it that you were calling me about?"

Bianca had nearly forgotten, she was so wrapped up the horrible memory of Regina. But this question struck her back to the present. "I'm getting married!" she squealed into the phone.

"Married? Congratulations, honey! That's amazing." Her father sounded genuinely happy for her. "See? I've always told you that things will work out for you."

"Well, now I actually believe you," she joked. After a confession on her father's part that he had already known since Brian had come by to ask for permission, and a promise on Bianca's end to bring Brian by the house very soon for dinner, they hung up. Bianca sat on her bed, just thinking. She was engaged. To Brian. How incredible.