Most of the rest of the day was spent unpacking as much as they could. The three of them managed to get most of the boxes done and only a few remained when Marco left that evening. There were clothes and other items all over the place, but Ellie had put a few picture frames on the dresser, their toothbrushes in the bathroom, and the plant on the windowsill and it already felt more like home.

"Did you finish registering for classes?" Craig asked Ellie as they got ready to go out that evening.

"Yeah I got into Professor Lannigan's journalism class," Ellie replied, stepping into a long black dress. "I hear students in his class get a lot of the internships even at the big news stations."

"That's great." Craig pulled on a navy sports jacket. "I can see it now, 'Ellie Nash: Investigative Reporter'. Uncovering dirt all over Toronto. With your own cheesy billboard and everything."

Ellie smiled. "And what about Craig Manning? You have to declare your major this year, you know."

"I know, I know. It's just a tough decision. I've pretty much got it narrowed down to teaching music or just majoring in music and trying to make it big." He shrugged. "Not gonna be able to support a family on just trying to break into the business though." He paused. "I mean, you know, whenever that is. In the future." He cleared his throat. "I mean, I like working with Joey and all for now, and it makes enough to pay the rent, but as much as it'll break his heart, I don't want to run the car lot for the rest of my life."

Ellie nodded, rubbing his arm. "I know you don't. You just need to do whatever you think will make you happiest."

"How much money does being happy make?" Craig replied wryly. "Are you ready to go?"

Ellie put on some dark red lipstick then nodded. The two of them left and headed down the hall. As they were walking down the stairs, Ellie heard something clunk and fall down the stairs ahead of her.

"What was that?" she said.

"Oh I just dropped something," Craig said quickly. "I got it."

"Oh it's right here." Ellie bent down to pick up the object. It was a small gray box, no larger than the palm of her hand. "What's this?"

"Oh it's nothing, I'll take it." Craig reached for it but before he could close his hand around it, Ellie opened it.

The diamond ring was so brilliant she could still make it out plainly from the dark landing they were standing on. Her breath caught in her throat and her heartbeat increased two fold. "Craig…"

Craig quickly took the box from her. "Well I was gonna do it at the restaurant, but of course I managed to drop it in front of you." He sighed.

"Craig…are you asking me to marry you?" Ellie blurted out.

Craig smiled hesitantly. "Maybe." He took a shaky deep breath. "I know we haven't really discussed this and we're still in college and all but I still want to know that in the future, even, in the way distant future, that you'll be there with me. That sarcastic, fun, individual, wonderful, beautiful Ellie Nash will be with the insanely lucky Craig forever." He looked at her with wide earnest eyes, the moonlight filtering in from a small high window making them gleam.

Ellie looked away, unsure of what to say. She certainly hadn't been expecting this. The Beatles greatest hits CD she had been wanting, maybe. A million questions flooded her mind at that moment. Did she really want to be with Craig for the rest of her life? Did she love him enough to want to be there through thick and thin? To make this kind of commitment? To pledge her love to him and be sure it would never wane or fade?

One word came to mind as an answer to all these questions and she said it aloud. "Yes."

Craig's eyebrows shot up as though he hadn't expected the answer he received. "I'm sorry, I'm a little hard of hearing can you repeat that for me?"

Ellie grinned. "I said yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes."

A small smile spread across Craig's face. "Yes? Really?"

Ellie laughed. "Accept it before I change my mind." His arms came around her waist, lifting her into the air for a long embrace. She pressed her lips against his for a deep kiss before he set her down on the floor. He knelt in front of her on one knee, grinning broadly then took her extended hand and slid the ring on. Ellie leaned in to look at it closer. It was a silver band with two tiny diamonds on either side of a larger one in the middle.

"It's beautiful," she said as he got to his feet. "I love it. And you of course."

"I love you more."

Ellie wrinkled her nose as they continued down the stairs. "Just because we're engaged, doesn't mean we start that mushy talk."

"Engaged," Craig said, sounding a bit dazed. "You know I thought about this a lot but I still couldn't have imagined this feeling."

"How do you feel?" Ellie asked as he opened the door to her and they stepped out onto the street.

"Like…like I have something to look forward to. Everyday. For the rest of my life. No more gloomy days." Craig smiled down at her. "Everything is ahead of me."

Ellie smiled back up at him. "Yeah I get what you mean. Like you've been hungry all your life and now you have this whole table food in front of you."

Craig rubbed his stomach as they walked to his car. "Mmm food. You know, I am glad I got it over with because I was so nervous I probably wouldn't have been able to eat. And this restaurant we're going to rocks."

Ellie climbed into the car and as she sat down, she couldn't help but start to imagine their wedding. She had never really been the kind of girl to think about the event, but now that it was a reality, she couldn't help it. It would be a small occasion, nothing too fancy. Craig in a nice black tuxedo, yet still managing to look a bit disheveled like he always did. Herself in a long simple white gown walking down the aisle with her father. Her mother beaming at them from the front row, Joey on the opposite side with a camcorder. Marco would probably be Craig's best man. Ellie wondered if Ashley would be interested in being her maid of honor. The girl was still one of her closest friends, even though she had gone to school a few hours away. Ellie had been the maid of honor at Ashley's wedding as well. They kept in close contact and visited each other often. Her husband, Peter, even came occasionally. The four of them had gone out a few times and surprisingly, it hadn't been awkward.

What else? Angela would be too old to be the flower girl. Maybe her baby cousin would be old enough by then…

"El?"

Ellie started and she realized that they were driving. She hadn't even noticed Craig start the car. "Yeah?"

"Your phone was ringing."

"Oh." Ellie bent down to pick up her purse. She flipped it open. The screen told her she had one missed call from the Nash residence. "It was my parents. Probably my mom wanting to know if she could come by and visit."

Craig chuckled. "It's sweet." He turned the car into a small parking lot. "Well we're here now, so I guess you can give them a call tomorrow."

Ellie hesitated before putting her phone back into her bag. For some reason she felt a bit uneasy about waiting to call back. Then she shook it off as Craig opened the door for her and reached out his hand. She took it and looking into his eyes, her worry melted away. How could she worry about anything on a night like this? Besides she was sure it was nothing.


I'll have the next chapter up soon! Keep on reviewing please!