Martha stared at the object inside the box, too stunned to say anything. Inside was a silver chain and on it hung a small silver horseshoe pendant, studded with diamonds.

"A necklace," she finally managed.

"Yeah." Jack looked at Martha's face which seemed to be more shock than pleasure. "Why? You don't like it?" he said, now concerned. He wasn't expecting this response.

"No," Martha exclaimed, snapping out of her daze. "It's not that, it's just…" She looked at the small box and looked up at Jack. Jack looked at the small box and looked up at Martha.

"Oh!" Jack's jaw dropped open and he started gawking and then laughing. "You thought…" he said in between laughs.

"Well, what do you expect?" Martha said defensively. "You get this box and present it to me just after Robbie and Tash have got married and I've told you you never do anything romantic!"

"But you said you weren't the marrying kind?"

"I'm not! But that didn't mean you might not try. God, I've never been more stressed in my life."

Jack burst out laughing and Martha started giggling too.

"Oh Martha darling," Jack said stroking her face and kissing her on the forehead. "You didn't really think I was going to ask you to marry me? Jesus, we've been going out less than a year and I'm twenty-two and you're nineteen!"

"I know, believe me. But look at Rob and Tash, they're even younger than us."

"Yeah, but that's Rob and Tash."

"Good point," said Martha and they both started laughing again.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," exclaimed Martha, and hugged her handsome boyfriend.

Pulling apart Jack said almost shyly, "well, do you like it?"

In the chaotic confusion Martha had completely forgotten about the gift itself.

It was simple, elegant and very beautiful and she told Jack so.

"It was my Mums," Jack said suddenly.

Martha glanced up quickly in shock. "Your Mums? But Jack I can't take this."

"Of course you can. It's not like Dad gave it to me to wear. He wanted me to give it to someone special, and well even though I don't want to marry you Martha, I know you're that someone special. I don't want to do a Robbie and get all corny," – Martha smiled at this comment – "but well, I know I don't always show it, but you know I'm mad about you Martha and I can't imagine ever feeling about anyone else the way I feel about you." He said all this gruffly and quickly and Martha knew how uncomfortable Jack felt expressing his feelings in this way. Somehow it made it even more meaningful.

Martha smiled. "Well are you going to put it on me then?" Jack grinned back and taking the necklace from the box gently pushed Martha's hair over her shoulder and did the clasp up behind her neck.

Martha turned to face him and putting her arms around his neck, looked into his warm brown eyes, which were shining back at her. "I love you," she said simply, "and I feel the same way." With that she placed her lips slowly on Jacks and drew him into a long and tender kiss. Eventually she broke away and grinning at Jack she said, "and don't worry, this definitely fulfils the romance quota for at least another two months."

"Two months! More like two years," Jack exclaimed and before Martha could protest he pulled her into his body to kiss her again.

Martha was resting her head on Jack's bare chest while Jack absent mindedly stroked her hair. They had taken the romance back to Jack's house and one thing had led to another. Their contented silence was broken by Martha's phone which was ringing inside her bag left discarded beside the bed. Groaning, she reached over to the bag and drew the phone out. "Hi Rob. What? Slow down Robbie, what's wrong? What! Oh my god, yeah, we'll be straight there."

"What's going on?" Jack asked as Martha hung up.

"Come on, get dressed. We've got to get to the hospital. Tasha collapsed at the wedding and they don't know what's wrong."