:HER:

I've been happy before but I feel like I've reached my peak. Stefan and I had made up and oddly enough the fight that we had and the few days apart that we spent made us stronger than we were before. Even on a physical level too, usually a simple kiss would turn into a full-on makeout session and before any of us know it, I'm straddling his lap with his hands on my ass—each hand occupying a cheek. Now being without each other and realizing what we have going on is rare and special, a simple kiss can be just a simple kiss. Don't get me wrong, I love making out with Stefan and feeling his hands all over my body, but I like where we are now.

To treat my happy state, I went shopping. Stefan hates it when I shop especially when he isn't there to move me away from the expensive priced clothing to the ones on clearance. I was hoping that he wasn't home because I made sure to leave during his working hours, but I stayed out a little later than I had thought and when I opened the garage there I saw his SUV parked on the left side.

"Shit,"

The alarm beeps three times as I opened the door and I hear Stefan call out my name, it's procedure for the both of us. If he isn't home when I am and I hear the alarm even though I know it's him I still call out his name and if no one responds I know that my house just got broken into.

"It's me!" I shouted back.

Halfway up the stairs, I realized that I meant to keep the bags in the trunk of my car then take them out tomorrow but when I turn to head back, I hear his loud footsteps on the stairs then suddenly they stop.

"Babe…"

I closed my eyes then slowly turned around as I peeled them open. "Yes?"

"How much?"

"How much…?"

He folds his arms. "How much did you spend?"

"The question you should be asking is how much I saved. You see I saved forty dollars." I held the receipt up to him covering the total amount.

He narrowed his eyes and before I had the chance to pull it back, he snatches it out of my hands and his eyes widen.

"Five. Hundred. Dollars. You spent five hundred dollars on clothes?"

"Not just clothes, I got some stuff for around the house." I shrugged and walked past him up to our room.

"Like what?"

"Like," I search in each bag until I find what I wanted to show. "Like these nice towels."

"Babe, we already have enough towels, it's just the two of us."

"What if someone wants to sleep over and they need towels and well like 'oh we're sorry we weren't thinking about you in our plans so we only have enough towels for the two of us."

Despite his anger, Stefan had to chuckle at that.

"Let me guess, the towels were the only household item that you bought."

"It's not like I was being selfish, I got you some stuff too."

"Bonnie. Baby. I love you but I think you need help."

"Shut up,"

Stefan walked up to me and wrapped his arms around me as we kissed.

"You can't keep spending like this, we live on a single person's income."

"So are you suggesting I get a job?"

"No, I'm suggesting that you cool it with the shopping or at least spend it on groceries."

"Fine. I'll return most of it tomorrow."

"You don't have to, I didn't want to tell you this but you really needed some new clothes."

He smiled when I had a shocked expression on my face but then I punched his shoulder which didn't seem to have that much of an effect on him. Like at all, I don't think he even moved.

"I feel so tiny against you."

"I like it."

"I'm sure you do."

He walks me backwards until we fall onto the bed and I turn on my side as he does the same. I get lost in his eyes before I move my hand in his soft hair and his hand plays with mine.

"How was work?"

"It was good."

"Now I know how my mom felt whenever she would ask me how school was." We both smiled. "I want some details."

"Well, mom," Stefan said after a while, "I met with a client today I'm not sure if he wants to buy, but I'll call him up again and work my magic."

I smiled. "I would buy a thousand cups from you. Even if I didn't need it."

"Isn't that how we met?"

"I know, can you believe I was working then...ew."

Stefan smiled then kissed me but I kissed him a little longer but pulled away before things got too heated.

"I remember," Stefan spoke against my lips, "seeing you and having to double take." He kissed me. "You're so damn beautiful I don't even know how I got lucky enough for you to be my client."

"You know I actually did buy more than needed just to get in your good graces."

"You didn't have to buy anything to get in my good graces."

"I wish I known that sooner,"

"I wasn't obvious?"

"Well you were but I wasn't sure if that was you flirting or just trying to get me to buy."

"It was a little bit of both." We shared a laugh.

"Although I did catch you staring at my ass a few times so I guess I should've known."

"Sorry about that, you just wore that tight ass skirt,"

"Hey!" I moved his hand away once he pinched my booty.

"I'm your boyfriend now, I'm allowed to some touching."

"Touching, not pinching,"

"Fine,"

His hand first starts on my back then his fingertips flow along my spine then surprisingly stops at my lower back.

"Close your eyes."

I look at him strangely but I close my eyes anyway. He pulls me up with him and turns me so that my feet are dangling from the side of the bed. When he tells me to open my eyes I gasp for he's down on one knee.

"Bonnie Bennett,"

"Oh my God- I mean gosh."

Stefan chuckled. "Bonnie Bennett, you're more than the love of my life, you're my best friend and I love that. I can literally talk to you about anything and joke to you about anything and I just love you so much that I can't even put it into words. So, Bonnie Bennett," he opened the ring box and now I realized why he didn't want me to spend money because the ring was gorgeous. It wasn't too flashy which I like but anyone with eyes could see just how much or at least 'round about how much it costs.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

He smiled and slid the ring on my finger and I tightly wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him senseless. After I settled down I call everyone I know—excluding Evan— they were all so excited and happy changing my once calm-ish mood back to screaming. My mom tells me that she's coming over this weekend to discuss the details (which I knew she would) and after making my calls, I jump into my fiancé's arms and just kiss him all over until we land back on the bed.

"I love you"

"I love you more."

He squeezes me in his arms and I couldn't do anything but sigh in nothing but utterly complete, blissfully happiness.

I love my life.


I hate my life.

My mother decided to show up three days earlier than planned. Now you might be thinking 'well that isn't all that bad' but some way or somehow my mom made a key to the house and since I had my music blasting I didn't hear the alarm and again you might be thinking, 'that's pretty bad but typical mom stuff', but no. To put the icing on the cake, Stefan had just got finished showering and he usually gets changed in the bathroom, but he forgot something so I took advantage of his half-naked state and danced on him a little (secretly hoping that the towel around his waist would fall) and I guess I succeeded in turning him on some when he turns me around and connects our lips. My arms wrapped around his neck as his hand gripped me between the cheeks pulling my lower half in closer. When his other hand travels up my shirt and cups my breast then quickly lifts my legs around his waist, the music suddenly shuts off and he's walking me over to the bed and our moans are only heard for a few seconds before we realize that there wasn't any music. A clearing of the throat has our heads snapping to the right where we find my lovely mother with an eyebrow in the air and hands folded under her chest.

"Mrs. Bennett," Stefan says embarrassed setting me down. "You're early."

"And gladly I am or else you two would've-"

"How did you get in?" I interrupted.

"You gave me a key."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, I remember it was some time in January,"

I hold out my hand but my mom just turns and walks down the stairs. I grunt before following after her into the kitchen.

"I hope you two are careful, the last thing we need is you pregnant before the wedding."

"Mom, Stefan wants to wait until marriage, remember?"

"Oh, right. That explains why he's your father's favorite." She chuckled. "Well, he sure knows how to touch. And why was he carrying you over to the bed then?"

I tried to hide my blush. "You know, just to have a little fun. You gotta keep things exciting somehow."

She shrugged. "Well I first want to say congratulations, baby. You're getting married."

Stefan walks in before I had the chance to say something and kisses my mother on the cheek causing her to smile like a little girl. Did I mention that Stefan is not only my dad's favorite?

"My apologies, Mrs. -"

"Ah, ah,"

"Jodi."

My mom smiles and pats him on the shoulder before giving it a squeeze.

"How much do you lift?"

"Mom…"

Stefan chuckled and kissed her cheek again and moved to the cabinet pulling out a mug then poured his coffee and grabbed a bowl filling it with cereal and milk.

"Well, Stefan it's about time you proposed to my daughter."

"I told you I would, Jodi," Stefan said before eating a spoon full.

"When was this?"

"He called me and your father up about six months ago saying that he's bought a ring and that he's going to propose but he's waiting for the right time... I guess he found it."

"I did."

"I won't ask for specifics cause it's personal, but was it romantic?"

"I wouldn't classify it as romantic, it was more special, you know."

My mother put her hand over her heart causing Stefan and I to laugh. I frown when I notice that he's done with his breakfast meaning that he's leaving soon.

"It was nice to see you, Jodi, but I have to go to work."

"I'll be here when you get back."

He kissed her cheek before walking up to me, his fiancée.

"Bye, baby, I love you."

"I love you too."

He kisses me and I kiss him back then he pulls away.

"I'll walk you to the door."

He smiles at me and I follow him out closing the door behind me after the garage opens. My arms reach around his neck and our lips meet and we kiss like we always do before he heads off to work.

"I'm going to miss these lips... and the person they're attached to." He says against my mouth then kisses me.

"They'll be here when you get back."

We both smile and kiss again before he heads off and I watch him until his car turns the corner before I close the garage.

When I head back to the kitchen, I no longer see my mother so I head upstairs and find her unpacking a bag that I hadn't even seen her take in.

"Um, how long are you planning on staying?"

"Don't worry just until the week is over then I'll be out of your hair."

"Not that I hate you being here, but why are you staying here?"

"I thought that we talk about the wedding."

"We haven't even picked out a date yet, mom."

"Exactly, I can help with that and the planning and we'll knock this wedding out in four days."

"Mom, what's up?"

She sighed and sat down on the bed and I saw that look that I hate. I joined her on the bed and rubbed her back.

"Mom,"

"Your dad and I had a little falling out this morning and I threatened to leave him."

"Mom,"

"Don't worry he knows I don't mean it but your father can just get on my last nerve sometimes."

I chuckled. "I know what you mean, trust me. Sometimes with Stefan, I just want to wring his neck, but I love him to death."

"What did he do?"

I really didn't want to tell but I opened my big mouth and I couldn't think of a lie to tell.

"You know Evan, right?" I waited for her nod. "Well, Stefan doesn't like him because he thinks that he likes me more than a friend and-"

"Of course he does."

"What?"

"Please, Bonnie anyone with eyes can see that Evan likes you more than a friend. He's even asked you out a few times but you always thought it was a friend-type date."

"That explains the kiss." I didn't realize I said that out loud until my mother snapped her head over at me.

"The what?!"

"Yeah, um he kissed me."

"Does Stefan know?"

"No! No, and he will never know because it didn't happen."

"I wonder what he would do.."

"Stefan would kick his ass that's what."

"You think?"

"I know, he told me that he would."

She nodded. "I would love to see that fight."

I laughed and I didn't admit it, but I would too.

After my mom got done unpacking, we went to the grocery store to pick up things for dinner. My mom wanted to celebrate our engagement by cooking us a big homemade meal and personally, I'm damn excited.

When we arrive home, I call my baby because I miss him and afterward take a nap.

When I wake up and we get a good start on the cooking, I hear the garage open and soon the alarm beeping.

"Baby?"

"In the kitchen," I project.

For some reason I'm always smiling whenever I hear Stefan walk in, I can't help it, it's a part of my daily routine. My mom notices and nudges me and smiles too causing mines to grow wider.

"Two flowers, for two beautiful ladies."

We both turn to see Stefan walk up to us with a pair of single roses.

"I'm just kidding, Jodi, I know you hate flowers so I got you these chocolates instead."

"Oh, Stefan I wish you were marrying me."

He laughed and handed me the roses and my mom the candy. I pout on the inside because I want chocolates too but I'll keep my mouth shut...for now. My mom announces that she's going to put the chocolates in her room and when I hear her heading up the stairs, Stefan lifts me and sits me on the counter. I smile and kiss him then meet my forehead with his.

"You couldn't get me chocolates too?"

He smiles. "I did, I just wanted to make your mom feel special."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

He kisses me again then returns my feet to the ground and wraps a hand around my waist.

"Is everything with your parents okay? Your dad called me at work today."

"My mom said they had a little argument and she threatened to leave but she wasn't serious about it… Does he think she was?"

Before Stefan had the chance to answer, my mom enters causing us to break away. Stefan headed upstairs to change leaving me with questions buzzing in my mind.

"Hey, mom, have you talked to dad today?"

"How could I, we were out all day shopping."

"Yeah but we rested for a little while, I took a nap and you… actually, I don't know what you did, I was sleep."

"Where's Stefan?"

"He's probably watching the news, and I know what you're trying to do."

"What?"

I sighed knowing that she wouldn't talk to me about this anytime soon and decided to just focus on cutting the vegetables.


I call Stefan down once dinner was ready but when it took awhile, I figured he was napping so I went to wake him up. I stop and catch myself leaning on the threshold watching him sleep with the sound of recent events filling the room. I couldn't stop myself from imagining a little girl or boy just passed out on top of him, both with their mouths open from tiredness and either he or she softly rising and falling in pattern with Stefan's breathing. My mom calls up the stairs snapping me out of my vision and I go to wake up Stefan by blowing in his ear. It's one of my favorite ways to wake him up because it's entertaining. His hand swats his ear and a few blows later, his eye slowly open and he moans turning to the side.

"Babe, dinner's ready."

"I'll be down in a minute."

"Stef,"

"I promise, I just need to rest my eyes a little longer."

I watch him for a few seconds longer before I head downstairs.

ᴼᴼᴼ

Dinner is over and it was a bit of a bust since Stefan never came down. My mom and I, however, ate in his place which now that I think about it probably wasn't the best idea; I feel bloated. I go upstairs and rinse my mouth out with mouthwash before slipping on the bed next to Stefan. He's still out like a light so I take his hand in mine and place it on the side of my face.

I love feeling his hands there, there's something about it that makes me smile. His hand slides down until his four fingers are on the back of my neck and his thumb moves along my cheek. I smile then press a kiss to his lips.

"You missed dinner."

"I'm sorry,"

"It was supposed to be our engagement dinner."

"I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you."

"Why are you so tired? Are you living a double life and cheating on me with some woman down in Springfield?"

He smiled, his eyes are still shut. "No, I quit smoking and I guess the weed gave me energy."

"Oh,"

"You know, you never told me how you knew."

"I saw you two up on the roof and when I went to surprise visit you and we kissed I tasted it."

"And here I thought you could read minds. I was just about to accuse you of being a superhero."

Instead of laughing for some reason I cried and when Stefan heard, his eyes opened and face brooding.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"I'm just thinking about how happy we are when my parents aren't."

He frowns and pulls me into his chest and kisses my head. "Everything will be fine."

"What did my dad say?"

"He just wanted some advice, he knows your mom isn't leaving him, he just wanted to know what to do to get her back."

"Did you give him good ideas?"

"Seeing your mom get all gooey eyed over a box of chocolates, I say I gave him a hell-of-a-lot of good ideas." I smiled. "Jodi is just like you, as long as it comes from the heart it doesn't matter what you do."

"Uh-oh, you have me all figured out and here I am still trying to figure out what to get you for our fourth year."

"I better be good… Hot air balloon ride."

"Yeah, no wait, you would die,"

"I would be so scared."

We laughed and I just snuggle closer to his body.

"Wait if you're afraid of heights how did you manage to stay on the roof?"

"The weed, baby. The weed." I laughed. "Actually come to think of it, that's probably why I smoked in the first place I was so damn scared I needed to calm my nerves."

I pulled away some from his body to kiss him and he kisses me back with his gentle, soft lips. He pulls my head in closer and rolls over me for a better position.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Our lips meet again but this time more in a calming manner.

"Let's get married tomorrow."

"Damn, I wish we could." Stefan changed the script.

"Why are weddings so stressful?"

"I don't think they have to be," he kissed me then moved his body down mine, resting his head on my heart. "I think they can be fun to plan."

"I guess we'll see, huh?"

"Yep,"

I sighed then decided to play with his hair feeling myself doze off.