A little while later, Liam and Grace were sharing one of Serendipity's famous frozen hot chocolates.
When they pulled back from the drink, Grace sighed contentedly before she spoke, "This is so amazing."
Liam nodded his agreement before Grace suddenly shivered. He then spoke, "Are you cold? I can give you my jacket."
"Thanks, Liam. I'd appreciate it," she responded. He then started taking off his jacket when he remembered the ring box in his pocket.
He resisted the urge to scratch behind his ear as he discreetly placed the ring in the pocket of his jeans.
Unfortunately, he wasn't quite as discreet as he had hoped. Grace asked him, "What did you just put in your pocket?" a curious look on his face.
"Uh, well," Liam nervously began before he cleared his throat and told the truth: "It's your anniversary present - it's a surprise."
Grace couldn't help but smile at him. She then said, "That's so sweet of you. I meant to get you something, but I didn't think I was gonna see you. And then I was so busy with classes," her expression turning to disappointment.
Liam reached over and squeezed her hand before he assured her, "Seeing you is my present." In response, Grace leaned over and kissed his forehead.
She then swiped his jacket and put it on. As she snuggled into it, she commented, "You must have changed colognes."
He tilted his head as he told her, "No? Why would you think so?"
"I wear your shirt practically every week - I think I know what your cologne smells like," Grace pointed out.
Liam couldn't help but grin as he told her, "Then I'm fairly certain that you've washed that shirt to death."
Grace couldn't help but giggle in reply. She then said, "I guess I can't really argue with that," before taking some more sips of the hot chocolate.
As she was drinking, Liam snapped a picture with his phone. When Grace pulled back, she asked him, "And you needed a picture because?"
"I wanted a more recent picture of you, and I like it more if it's, like, candid," he explained as he slipped his phone back in his pocket.
Grace rested her chin in her hand as she observed, "So, your idea of me being beautiful is drinking frozen hot chocolate?"
Liam smiled at her as he told her, "I think you're always beautiful, Grace." She smiled back at him before he teased, "And you're also pretty adorable."
He fully expected an eye roll or a head shake from his girlfriend, but she instead offered him a fond smile.
With a tilt of his head, Liam spoke, "You okay? You normally get annoyed with me when I call you that."
"I know. As strange as it may sound, I miss you calling me that - and all the other ways you tease me," Grace admitted as she ran her fingers through her hair.
Liam then reached over and entwined her fingers with his. He smiled once more as he said, "I don't think it's strange at all. Without you there, no one makes fun of the fact that you used to be taller than me."
Grace giggled before she added, "Or when your voice would crack or squeak when it was changing."
The 18-year-old rolled his eyes before Grace added, "I'm only kidding, Liam. I know you couldn't help it."
He simply nodded in response. He took a few sips of the hot chocolate before he told her, "The fact that it was when I started realizing that I had a major crush on you didn't exactly help anything."
"Well, you didn't really have to say too much for me to see that you liked me," Grace replied as she ran her fingers through his black hair.
"Yeah, I know," Liam conceded before he reached up with his free hand to scratch behind his ear. Grace shook her head in response.
She then pointed out, "You know you don't have to still be nervous about your completely transparent nature, you know."
With a sigh, Liam told her, "I just can't help it. You're you - sometimes I swear that these bloody butterflies will never go away."
"That makes two of us," Grace admitted as she squeezed the hand that was still holding hers.
Liam smiled widely before he leaned over and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek. When he pulled back he told her, "I love you so much."
"And I love you, Liam," she responded with a bright smile. He smiled at her once more before they both took another sip of the hot chocolate.
Grace then suggested, "How about a photo? I could always use another photo of us for my wallpaper."
Liam couldn't help but grin as he told her, "Maybe a little later - I have a feeling that you'll want to remember your reaction to your surprise."
"Liam! You can't say stuff like that! How am I supposed to wait for you to give to me?" Grace playfully scolded.
"You'll just have to," he told her, his grin growing. She rolled her eyes in response.
Just then, the familiar Nickelback tune began playing across Serendipity. Grace hummed for a few moments before she looked at her boyfriend with a smile.
"Dance with me?"
Liam raked his hand through his hair. He then tried to reason, "We are in public, you know."
Grace shook her head before she pointed out, "That didn't stop us from kissing at Sam's earlier."
"Yeah, but that didn't involve me having to dance," Liam told her, running his fingers back through his hair.
"From what I remember, you weren't that bad."
"You've clearly blocked out our junior proms. The first time, I kept stepping on your feet, and I slammed my knee into yours. And then the next year, I tripped over your dress - twice."
Grace couldn't help but laugh, and Liam bemused, "I'm glad you find this funny," crossing his arms.
"It is a little funny," she admitted. She then took a breath and told him, "Despite a few mishaps, we did end up having an amazing time, and you did end up finding your footing. I wouldn't have wanted another dance partner."
"It's only because I was dancing with you," he sincerely told her, a smile making its way across his face.
He then stood up and offered his hand to her. She smiled back as she took it, and he then pulled her to her feet.
"I think if we just sway back and forth, I'll be alright," Liam told her. She just smiled and shook her head.
They had been seated in the back, so they didn't draw too much attention to themselves as they began swaying along to the song.
Grace laid her head on Liam's shoulder before she started singing softly: "And now, as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands. Cause, forever I believe that there's nothing I could need but you, so if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know - you're never gonna be alone, from this moment on…"
She cut herself off when Liam whispered an "I love you" in her ear. In response, she wrapped her arms tighter around him - that was all the answer he needed.
They continued swaying along until the song was over - unaware that they had sparked other couples to do the same.
When they pulled away, they couldn't help but chuckle at the sight around them. Once everyone had sat down and resumed their own conversations, Liam reached up to scratch behind his ear.
He then told Grace, "I never pegged us to be one of those couples who would just cause scenes in public like this."
She laughed at that. She then told him, "I don't think we're quite as bad as all that," pausing before she spoke, "But you know what they say about love - it makes you do crazy things."
Liam couldn't help but chuckle before he said, "Yeah, it does. I guess that's what I get for always ragging on my parents."
Grace only smiled as she hummed in response. She then reached over to squeeze his hand as she told him, "Well, I hope that we're still together when we're our parents' age. And that we're still so in love."
"I don't think there's any room to doubt that," Liam replied with a wide smile. Grace squeezed his hand once more in response.
Both of them then continued drinking the frozen hot chocolate. They had nearly finished it, and Liam pulled away as he had his fill. Grace continued sipping on it, unaware that she was drinking it a bit too fast.
She quickly pulled away, holding her hand to her head. "Ugh, brain freeze," she complained, closing her eyes.
"Stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth," Liam suggested. Grace nodded before she did as he said.
About a minute later, she let out a sigh of relief. She then offered, "Thanks, Liam. I'm kind of impressed with how fast you knew that."
"It comes with the territory of babysitting. I was watching Leo for Evie the other day, and he got a little too excited about eating ice cream. Knowing it was bound to happen because ice cream is his favorite snack, Evie left me note with ways to combat a brain freeze," he explained.
Grace nodded before she told him, "Since we've finished off the last of our dessert, I think maybe we could head to Central Park?"
"Yeah, let's go," Liam replied before he stood up, offering his hand to Grace. She smiled as she took it, and the two of them then walked out of Serendipity.
Just as they had made it to the truck, Liam heard someone calling his name. He and Grace both turned around to see a middle-aged man walking toward them.
He then greeted, "Liam, it's good to see you. I have to say that I didn't expect to see you back up here so soon."
The 18-year-old resisted the urge to scratch behind his ear as he explained, "I just came to visit my girlfriend, Grace."
He then turned to her and introduced, "Grace, this is Mr. Pierce - he's the director of the NYC Carpenter Training Center."
Grace managed to scale back her surprise as she and Mr. Pierce got acquainted. He then told her, "I'm sure you're looking forward to having Liam so close."
"Yes, I am," she replied before discreetly casting a sideways glance at her boyfriend.
Mr. Pierce nodded before he spoke, "Well, I'll let you two get back to your afternoon." He then addressed Liam, "I look forward to working with you in the fall."
He nodded before Mr. Pierce headed on his way. Grace then turned to Liam with her hands planted on her hips and scolded, "Liam! Why didn't you tell you were looking at trade schools - and that you got into one!" though her tone was more surprised than angry.
He scratched behind his ear as he defended, "I swear I was going to tell you - it's all part of your surprise for our anniversary."
Grace let out a sigh before she told him, "I am happy that you'll be moving up here." She then paused and added, "But what about working with Marco?"
"He's - and by he, I mean Uncle August - already found someone else to help out starting in the fall. Marco's gonna miss me being there, but he knows that I want to move on from Storybrooke," Liam explained. He then took her hand in his and added, "And to be with you."
"Oh, Liam, I really do love you," Grace replied before she closed the distance between them for a sweet kiss.
When they pulled away, Grace told him, "This is the best surprise."
"You have no idea," Liam thought before he kissed her forehead. He then spoke, "We still on for Central Park?"
"You bet," she responded with a bright smile. He smiled back before he opened the door to his truck, and she climbed inside.
They simply sang along to the radio as they rode to the park. When they arrived, Grace laced her fingers with Liam's and told him, "I can't believe you're moving up here."
"Sometimes, I can't believe it either. For a while there, I wasn't sure what the bloody hell I was gonna do when I graduated high school," Liam admitted.
Grace giggled despite herself. She then told him, "Well, I think you've found the perfect fit. You have always liked working with your hands - I mean, you made me a bookshelf with Anne of Green Gables quotes carved into the sides and the top the Christmas before I left to come up here."
"Yeah, I guess you have a point. But I don't think I wanted to just pick what seemed like the obvious choice because it's basically what Dad does," Liam told her as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I get that - you wanted to find your own thing," Grace began before squeezing his hand. She then smiled and continued, "And you found it. I'm proud of you, Liam."
He smiled at her as he added, "I'm proud of us. We didn't give up on what we have, and we'll keep making it work."
With a nod, Grace agreed, "Yeah, we will." She then paused and told him, "Which will be easier when you're only a few minutes away."
Liam smiled once more as he hummed in response. He then told her, "You ready to take a walk around the park?"
She nodded, and the two of them then got out of the truck. They then began walking along the tree-lined sidewalk.
As they were walking, Grace surmised, "I'm guessing you'll be moving here in the fall?"
"Yeah. You know I finished the last of my classes in December, so I spent the extra time working with Marco. I'll probably keep doing that between finishing up with graduation stuff, and then move here right before the program starts," Liam explained.
The red-head then stopped walking, jerking Liam's hand in the process. She quickly apologized before she asked him, "What about your trip to visit the author museums?"
He scratched behind his ear before he told her, "I still have plans to go - one day."
"One day?" Grace incredulously questioned. A thought then occurred to her, and she tried to reason, "Liam, I'm sure your parents would let you go if you just talk to them."
"That, uh, isn't it," he told her, scratching behind his ear. Seeing the questioning look on his girlfriend's face, he explained, "I do want to go on that trip… and I want you to come with me."
Grace's brown eyes widened as she asked, "What exactly are you saying?"
He led her to a wooden bench off to the side, and they both sat down as he let go of Grace's hand. He took a deep breath before he discreetly slipped the ring box from his pocket.
His hand was shaking as he took the ring from its box. He then turned back to Grace and told her, "I think this will help answer that," showing her the ring.
Her eyes widened even more, and she covered her mouth with a gasp. She was speechless as she studied the ring before her.
Liam and Grace's birthstones - a garnet for January and an amethyst for February - were encased in two silver connected hearts along a silver band, which had their names engraved on it.
"Oh, Liam, it's so beautiful. I can't believe you would do this for me," Grace managed to speak, but her voice was breaking from the emotions.
He simply nodded before he smiled at her. He then took another breath before he told her, "I am so in love with you, Grace. I think I have been since I was 14, and I realized that just being friends wasn't going to work. You're the only girl I ever wanted, and I want you for the rest of our lives."
He then offered a bright smile before he continued, "This promise ring is, well, a promise that I'll always want you. I'll always love you, and I'll always be here for you. And that one day, we'll talk about changing your last name to mine."
He took a breath as he finished, and Grace immediately planted her lips on his. Liam smiled into the kiss before he tilted his head to deepen it, tangling his fingers into her red hair. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer. The kiss was slow and sweet, and the couple poured every ounce of their feelings into it.
In short, the kiss - and the moment - was perfect.
The kiss went on until they both needed to breathe. When they pulled away, Grace had tears in her eyes as she told him, "I can't imagine my life without you in it, Liam. I can't imagine anything more amazing than spending the rest of our lives together."
She then held out a shaky left hand and asked him, "Will you?"
He smiled the brightest she had ever seen him as he slipped the ring on her finger. He laced their fingers together before he kissed her forehead.
When he pulled back, he ran his fingers through her hair and told her, "This is the best anniversary present I could have asked for."
With a grin, she replied, "I think I may have got you beat," as she held up their entwined fingers, where the ring was still visible.
He couldn't help but chuckle at that before he spoke, "I'm really happy that you like it," pausing before he admitted, "I was more nervous about giving to you than I was asking your parents about it."
Grace cupped his cheek as she told him, "I can't tell you not to be nervous, but I can tell you that I have adored everything you've ever given me."
Liam smiled at her as he ran his fingers back through her hair. He then teased, "That's good to know," with a grin.
She giggled before she shook her head. She then joked, "I guess it was too much to hope that all the teasing you do would be on hold for today."
He only shrugged before he pointed out, "I've always been like that. And now, you're basically stuck with me for the foreseeable future."
"Yeah, well, I happen to like that about you," she told him with a smile. She then became reflective as she began drawing circles with her thumb on his, looking down as she did.
When she looked back up, she said, "We're really doing this, aren't we? It's one thing to say it - but a ring makes it real."
Even as she expected to be filled with nerves, all she could feel was the happiness she felt at spending her future with the man she loved.
Liam saw the smile inching its way on her face, and he conceded, "Yeah, we are. But I think we can handle it."
"I think we can, too," Grace agreed. She then laid her head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly.
Liam then kissed her head before he joined her in taking in the greenery around them. He smiled as he suggested, "How about that picture now?"
She nodded against his shoulder before she looked up and smiled back. She then grabbed her phone and unlocked it before she handed it to him.
He let go of her hand in order to wrap his arm around her, settling his hand on her waist. She wrapped both arms around him and rested her left hand on his chest.
Both of them adopted bright smiles – with love shining in their eyes – before Liam snapped the picture.
He handed Grace's phone back to her before he kissed her head once more. She smiled as she rested her head against his chest.
There were sure to be obstacles for the couple - as they already had a taste of what that felt like - but they knew they would face it together. No matter what the future held for them, they'd always have each other.
A/N: I hope you guys all enjoyed this very sweet installment of Liam and Grace's story. Up next is an update for The Clash - until next time! :)