Several months had passed since Santana had passed away in his sleep. Jesse had somewhat returned to normal, but could sometimes be found staring off into space as he looked at something. The guitar, the rosary he kept hanging by the front door, a bill that came to the hotel with Santana's name on it. Luckily he didn't have to go through his grieving process alone, Sarah had moved in officially the day he asked. Slowly she had her things sent to the cabin and began helping Jesse with his long list of things that needed to be fixed.

Jesse was fixing the ceiling fan in the living room while Sarah was cooking in the kitchen when a knock at the door cause him to pause, unsure of what he heard. Sarah's head peeked around the door, eyebrows raised—it was strange for them to get visitors without some prior notice. Jesse looked over to her and watched as she pointed to the door, and Jesse nodded, slowly lowering himself from the step stool and putting his tools down on the top step as she disappeared back into the kitchen.

Jesse put his hand on the rosary and peeked through the peephole to see who figures outside with their back to the door. He backed away as Sarah walked over to the window, but he waved her away, reaching into the drawer on the table beside the door and retrieving Peacekeeper. He passed it over to his left hand and opened the door a bit with his right, peeking outside as one of the figures turned to look at him.

"Uncle Jesse!" Poe and Tosh turned to grin at him, making him sigh again and give them a half-hearted glare.

"Damn it! Ya'll gone and changed yer hair again—I coulda shot ya both!" Jesse opened the door the rest of the way and replaced Peacekeeper in the drawer, waving them in. "Babe! Boys are here!"

"Without calling?" She called, "What trouble they running from now? Does Ami know?"

"Yeah!" Tosh yelled, "She knows! We're just here for a min to talk to Jesse!"

"To me?" Jesse asked as Poe shut the door behind him. Sarah came into the living room and hugs were exchanged before her and Poe went into the kitchen to set the table, an offer to stay for dinner turned down. "What you needin to talk to me for?" Jesse asked as Tosh looked over his shoulder, when he was sure that Poe was keeping Sarah busy, Tosh pulled a small black box from his pocket and showed it to Jesse who panicked and grabbed it before the teen could open it. "Ya wasn't supposed'ta bring it here!" Jesse whisper snapped through his teeth, grabbing Tosh by the arm and dragging him to the bedroom and closing the door. "That's why I asked yer Ma to keep it for me! Rosa cleans every inch a dis house! She'll find it no matter where I hide it!"

"Relax Uncle Jess," Tosh laughed as the cowboy opened the box to look at a silver diamond engagement ring. "We gotta head outta town for a while, she wasn't sure if you'd change your mind and wanna drop the big Q when ya'll where alone—so she thought you should have it just in case."

"Well," Jesse smiled at the ring and closed the box, squeezing it in his human hand. "I suppose I get her line ah thinkin'…" He pat Tosh on the shoulder and chuckled. "Not like I ain't thought about it."

"Please," Tosh teased, rolling his eyes. "You have been thinking about it since you laid eyes on her years ago, don't even make that noise." Tosh shook his head as Jesse put the box in his pocket, the doorknob was being turned. Poe stuck his head into the room and spoke in his usual monotone voice.

"Did you give him…the thing?"

"Yeah." Tosh nodded and gave a thumbs up. "Mission accomplished, the package is secure." Poe gave a two-fingered salute before stepping back and leaving the door open. "Still can't believe Mama Sarah is gonna get married…and to the guy, she's harped about since she was a kid." The younger boy smiled at Jesse who flushed a little in the cheeks.

"If'in she says yes." Jesse corrected him to which Tosh punched Jesse in the arm lightly.

"Please! Like she's gonna say anything else! When you gonna do it?"

"Patience boy," Jesse laughed, "You gotta do these things just right," Jesse began talking with his hands in the way that made Tosh tease him relentlessly for it. "There will be a right time, and I'll know when it is. Just gotta cool my heels and wait."

"Haven't you done enough waiting though?" Tosh asked as he leaned against the bed railing. Jesse started for the door and stopped with his hand on the knob, starting to close the door. "I mean, you guy were separated for so long, why wait any more than you have to?"

"Cause there's a way ah doin' things right," Jesse said to the door, then smiled to Tosh with a wink of his eye, "You only get one chance to propose the first time. I wanna get it right." Tosh shrugged, and a call from Sarah brought both to the kitchen where Poe was helping her move food from the oven to the table in bowls and plates. She offered them a place and food, but the boys declined once more, saying they just needed to talk to Jesse for a moment before heading back home. Clover was doing a tour, and they would be heading out at midnight. When they had said their goodbyes, hugs had been given and promises to call before popping up again, Sarah and Jesse watched them drive away in a jeep.

"What did they need to talk to you for?" Sarah asked, making Jesse scramble for an answer.

"Oh, they wanted to know some stuff about Peacekeeper. Where I bought it and what to clean it with," He shrugged and walked back inside, rubbing his stomach. "I'm starved!"

"Thief~" Sarah called as she followed him in the house, shutting the door behind her. Jesse didn't answer right away, giving a half-hearted 'hm' when she followed him to the sink and gave him a curious look. He washed his hands as she spoke, tapping a finger on her arm. "Is there something I need to be aware of?"

"No?" Jesse shook his head, resisting from breaking out into a full grin.

"Liar." She said sternly, making him give her a hard look as he dried his hands. "What's going on…is something wrong?" She put her hand on his arm, and he smiled at her, she could read him like a book, but she still wasn't clairvoyant.

"No darlin'," Jesse promised and kissed her lips softly, "I promise, everything is fine. Just been thinking a bit."

"About what?" She asked, following him to sit at the table beside him.

"It's been a while since we had a date night…not since, well…" he paused as he picked up his silverware. "Well…since you moved in!" He laughed sadly, thinking of the small candlelit dinner they shared in the floor of the living room because a storm had knocked out the electric. "I need to treat ya proper. You know, a real date." He started to tuck into his food when he noticed she was giving him an odd look, he spoke around the food in his mouth—a garbled 'wut'.

"Honey, I don't need to go out to have a date night," She laughed, shaking her head. "Just spending quality time with you is enough to call it a date." But Jesse swallowed his food and held up his hand.

"Nope, I'm takin' you out, and that's final."

"Jesse—"

"Darlin' I wanna." He put his utensils down and covered her hand in his. "You deserve it…you been workin' so hard and you need some pamperin."

"You act like I'm moving mountains!"

"You are!" Jesse seemed shocked, "You done gone and made this place a real home—"

"Jesse, putting up some photos, getting some knickknacks and drapes while cleaning each day doesn't make it a home."

"You been helpin' me with the hotel—"

"Of course! It's going to be our jobs, we need to get it rolling—what is your point Thief?"

"My point is," Jesse sighed heavily, "I wanna take you dancin…" His brown eyes had a shine to them as he took in her face, a look that radiated drunk love. "I wanna take you out somewhere nice, show you off, make you feel like the queen you are to me." He gave her hand a squeeze as she gave him a soft smile and a nod of consent. "I wanna show you how much I appreciate you, and everythin' your takin' on by being here with me."

"I love you Jesse," Sarah smiled and leaned over on the edge of her seat, kissing his cheek and nuzzling his beard before going back to her seat and beginning to eat.

"I love you Sarah, and I wanna show it to ya."

Jesse spent the rest of the night half buried in his own thoughts as he tried to think of a nice date. He knew how he wanted to propose, it had come to him when he was washing his hands at dinner. He wanted to finish their last dance and ask her then, but he wanted the entire afternoon and night to be about her and making her feel special. He decided on taking her out for a special dinner before dancing and pampering her before they left the house.

The next day, under the guise of getting supplies to clean up the hotel, Jesse went into town alone and got her an outfit for her to wear. With the help of the women in the stores, he was able to complete the look with accessories and shoes. He went back to the house and hid it in their bedroom as best he could—hoping that she didn't find it before tomorrow.

He spent the rest of the day trying his best to reign in his excitement as he worked with a burst of energy, which didn't go unnoticed by Sarah. When they laid down for the night in bed, Jesse stretched out and grinned happily.

"What are you up to Thief?" Sarah asked as she climbed into bed, poking Jesse's mouth with her finger as his smile threatened to let loose laughter. "You have that excited look on your face like you have something big you wanna tell me."

"I just hope you sleep well." He lied, pulling her close and snuggling as she struggled to climb under the sheets. "We finally get a day off tomorrow while we wait on all that paint to dry and for stuff to get delivered…anythin, in particular, you wanna do?"

"Not really," She laughed and adjusted herself, using her hand to smooth down Jesse's chest hair before putting her cheek to his bare skin and listening to his heartbeat. "Just to relax and take a moment to enjoy the stillness before we get back into crazy cleaning mode. Can't believe I'm this excited to decorate the rooms." She pat Jesse's chest as he rumbled with laughter, running his fingertips lightly over her arm as he felt the wear and tear of the day settle in his bones and muscles. They had painted nearly every guest room in the hotel and the main lobby where folks would do check-ins and outs, it was also the entrance to the inside of the restaurant.

"It is kinda excitin and all," Jesse admitted as he got comfortable on his pillow, "Startin a whole new chapter."

"Yup," Sarah yawned, and before long, Jesse could hear her softly breathing out a rhythm that soon lulled him to sleep as well. Jesse found he was plagued by his nightmares a bit less with Sarah sleeping with him, but there were times that he would wake with a start, drenched in sweat and his heart racing from fear. She was always right by his side, ready to offer in some way to help, even if it was just to lull him back to sleep by stroking his hair and singing to him until he forgot his troubles. Tonight, he had no nightmares, he didn't dream at all from what he could recall as he woke the next morning before Sarah. He smiled and gently rolled her over onto her side of the bed before climbing out and starting his morning routine.

He had just put on the finishing touches on breakfast, walking into the bedroom to see her lift her head, noticing that Jesse was gone.

"Mornin' darlin." Jesse greeted softly, making her roll over and sit up with a smile. "Today you gettin' the pamperin' you deserve…" He put down a plate of food in front of her and kissed the top of her head. "You go ahead and eat, I got some stuff to take care of today, but you got your own list of stuff to do."

"I do?" She asked, laughing as Jesse grinned, handing her the small notebook he used to keep by the door.

"You do, now you eat—shower n get all nice and ready," He wiggled his eyebrows and gave her his most suggestive grin which made her snort with laughter as he backed toward the door, "And do what's on the list—we'll meet back here round dinner time, and we'll go out for our date, sound good?"

"This is what you were up to!" She laughed and waved the notebook at him as he stepped through the door. "You planned all this?" She flipped the notebook open and gasped at the list of things Jesse had written:

Eat breakfast

Shower (Do your primpin business)

Go to Sally's, get hair and nails done

Come home, take a nap

Get ready (hair, make up)

Get dressed

When she looked up Jesse was already gone, he was going to occupy himself by setting up the outside area at the hotel. He had enlisted Honey, the female bartender from the bar that Jesse and Rosa had reunited at, to help him since Ami and the kids were across the country. After stringing lights and cleaning the tables, Honey had to leave, but Jesse thanked her for her help. She was just as excited for them as Ami, and the kids were. Once he was finished, he checked the speaker system that he had set up, it would be hard to pay for a performer each night, so Jesse decided to play music through a system and splurge on performers when they could.

He only shocked himself twice when messing with the wiring and lost count of the number of curses he dropped when things didn't work out right. Before long, the sun started to set, and Jesse went to one of the finished guest rooms to shower and get himself ready.

Being a simple man, it didn't take Jesse long to finish his own primping before heading back to the house. When he tried to open the door, he realized it was locked and was happy to see that Sarah was in the bathroom. He slipped past the bathroom without being seen and laid out the outfit on the bed, lying a note on top of it all that said 'wear me for now' before slipping back out the door as he heard her call and ask if he was home. Laughing softly to himself, he ran to the edge of the porch and vaulted over the side, double over to run under the window and in a sprint to the barn in the backyard.

He wanted everything to line up just right, and so far everything had. He pulled out Sarah's vehicle and drove it around the side of the house and into their usual driveway before hopping out and announcing his arrival as he came inside once more.

"Hey! I'm home!"

"So I saw!" Sarah laughed, "Creeper!" She came into the living room as Jesse laughed at her light insult. "Where did you get this?" She held her outfit out and did a small twirl to show him all over her as he whistled approvingly.

"Just a lil something from out in town," Jesse told her, wrapping her up in a warm hug, inhaling her fresh scent. "Mn!" He kissed her neck as she squeezed him back, "Ready?" She nodded but gave him a wary look.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Just into town~" Jesse assured her, leading her outside. As he locked the door, he told her 'no' to each of her guesses. She was still guessing as he held open her car door for her and groaned as he shut it. "Won't be much of a surprise if I go in spoil it by tellin' you!" He pouted at her as he climbed in on the driver's side, "Don't you trust me?"

"With my life Jesse." Sarah gave him an apologetic smooch on his cheek as he started the car and pulled away from the house. "I'm sorry, I'm just a bit excited and curious is all. You know you can't keep a secret from me."

Jesse laughed nervously, feeling like there was a time bomb in his breast pocket where he had the ring hidden. He took her into town, the square they had both loved so much as teenagers. They spent the waning hours of the afternoon exploring, taking in the sights. A community festival was in full swing to celebrate tourist season, so when they stopped to rest at the fountain, the square was lit up by paper lanterns and decorated in vibrant flowers. Kids were playing excitedly in the street, bouncing back and forth from the stalls set up between shop doors, or playing soccer with one another.

"This brings back so many memories…" Sarah sighed as she looked around, taking in everything as people passed them by.

"Good uns or bad?" Jesse laughed nervously, tilting his hat back as scooting closer to her as she gave him an apologetic smile.

"Good." She laid her hand on his metal one, her green eyes twinkling as her smile turned from apologetic and somewhat sad to bright and loving. "I'd always hoped this would happen."

"Hm?" Jesse smiled, feeling his heart slide back into its place in his chest—rather than his throat.

"Us, coming back to this place…hopefully uninterrupted." She scolded lightly, tilting her head slightly to the side, narrowing her eyes as Jesse laughed again. "You haven't done something to piss off another outlaw lately have you, Thief?"

"No, ma'am." Jesse smiled and crossed his human fingers over his heart and gave her his brightest smile. "Been on my best behavior."

"You better be!" She leaned over and nuzzled his shoulder gently. Jesse could feel his heart swelling and his stomach starting to get squirmy in anticipation. "So whats next?"

"Food, then back to the hotel for the last surprise ah the night." Jesse winked when she looked up at him, "You'll love it, promise." He stood up and held out his metal hand to her, sweeping his cowboy hat off with the other and dipping into a short, gentleman bow. "Been waitn' on it fer a long time." Jesse could see the excitement and anticipation in Sarah's eyes, the way her back straightened and the bounce in her step as she stood up.

Jesse took her out to a nice restaurant, he felt like his pocket was weighing him down with each passing minute. Several times, as she looked away to watch a couple dance or when she excused herself to the bathroom, he thought about abandoning the rest of his plan to ask her now. But he shook himself and reminded himself that he and Honey had spent all that time setting up the dining area and all his slight electrocutions in preparation of the perfect moment.

Cool, yer heels. Jesse scolded himself while she was gone, patting the pocket and feeling for the ring nestled inside. You got this.

Except he didn't.

In a state of panic, Jesse pat his pocket again, only to realize it was empty. He was looking under the table, trying to spot some sign of it when Sarah's voice made him yelp out in surprise.

"Jesse? You okay?"

"Yep!" Jesse lied quickly, taping the table with his hands, "Uh, scuse me darlin', gotta freshen up myself." Jesse jumped to his feet as she sat down and with a sharp, critical eye, inspected his seat and the area around the table for any sign of the silver ring—but it wasn't there. When he made it to the bathroom, he took in a deep breath and leaned against the wall, head in his hands. Where had he last seen it?

He had taken it with him when he worked on the dinner area, he had shown it off to Honey who praised him on his choice of style, before putting it away in his vehicle. Before he had gotten out back at home, he had tucked the ring into his breast pocket and buttoned it. He had checked his pocket by patting it every so often to make sure it was still there—until they went to the town square. Jesse felt his stomach turn to a block of ice and his heart threatened to stop in his chest as he remembered tinking sounds as he bent over to pick up a ball for some kids who had been playing.

At the time he had thought it to be the duck shooting game a few feet away, but it dawned on him that he had been so engrossed in Sarah, and the moment, he hadn't checked his pocket since then. That had been hours ago, although they were ready to leave now, taking her back to the square to revisit the place he thought he lost the ring in would be a bit suspicious. He raked his hands down his face and cursed his bad luck before heading back out to the table.

Almost instantly, Sarah could tell something was wrong, she stood to greet Jesse who was desperately looking around the floor around their table in hopes that he was wrong in where he lost it.

"Thief? What's wrong?"

"I uh…I'm embarrassed to admit it but…I lost…sumthin' important." He gave her a sad look that made her give him an understanding smile. "We need to go back to the square so I can look fer it. I'm so sorry darlin'. Wasn't supposed to happen like this."

"Jesse we all make mistakes, how many times did I misplace the keys the other day?" She was trying to make him feel better but Jesse was mad at himself and the situation, so it did little to help. After they had paid, Jesse checked the vehicle to make sure it hadn't fallen out as he got out, Sarah offered to help but Jesse danced around admitting what he was looking for. Even if there was a hiccup in the nights events—he still wanted it to be a surprise.

Still he couldn't find it. The drive back to the square was a bit silent as Jesse sulked, worried that he wouldn't get the ring back at all—and while the night wouldn't be wasted, he would have to postpone the proposal. He wasn't sure what he was more upset about. He knew that Sarah could read the souring of his mood and tried to cheer him up, but the thought of admitting he lost the engagement ring only made the mood worsen.

Jesse spent the better part of an hour scouring the grounds where they walked, asking the local police officers on duty and shop owners if anyone had found it. But no one had seen anything. Jesse had asked Sarah to wait for him at the fountain while he looked—still refusing to tell her what he lost. When he finally decide to write it off as gone forever, he trudged back and sat down hard, putting his head in his hands.

"Are you ready to tell me what it is you lost hon?" She asked gently, patting his back as he looked up at her sadly. "Cause I'm guessing you didn't find it." Jesse shook his head. "Was it a credit card or something, cause we can call the company and have it shut down before anyone gets to wild with it?" Jesse laughed and shook his head. "Then what was it?" Jesse hesitated at first, taking in her features. From the shape of her eyes and nose, to the curve of her cupids bow on her lip.

"Can't fuck it up more than I have I suppose…" Jesse sighed heavily before getting to his feet and pulling her up gently. Without looking at her face he led her to a brightly lit spot under a clutch of lanterns and got down on one knee, holding her left hand in both of his. "Rosa,"

"Thief?" Sarah's voice was soft, quick and panicked.

"I love you. More then I've ever cared bout any woman in my life." He kissed her hand gently, rubbing it with his metal hand. "Ever since we got separated you were stuck in my heart like a thorn I couldn't get loose." He looked up into her eyes, watching as she watched him. Her breath steady but short as she closed her mouth and let him speak. "I never felt right after bein' pulled away from you. I looked for you for so long, hopin' to run into you again and sure as I was ready to give up-you came walkin' into that bar and found me." He smiled up at her, not noticing as people were starting to somewhat crowd in small groups at a distance. Taking an interest in what was going on.

"Rosa, I don't wanna be apart from you again. Twenty years was too long, we lost so much time...I know it's a bit…rushed for some folks?" He cocked a brow, thinking about how long they had been living together, "But…I ain't ever been more sure of anythin' than I am about asking you this." He cleared his throat and tipped his hat back with one hand so he could clearly see her face, the quiver in her lips and the way she was blinking back tears. "Rosa, take pity on this ol fool, and marry me even though I lost the damn ring?"

This caused a mixture of laughter and groans from the crowd that had gathered, encircling them. Sarah was laughing now, using her free hand to hide her eyes as she smiled brighter than Jesse had ever seen her.

"Thief, stand up," She pulled on his hand and helped him stand. "Look, I wouldn't marry you for a ring, or a job or anything like that, so don't beat yourself up about looking a ring." She wiped her eyes and Jesse felt the tell tale rythem of his heart pick up, he was becoming panicked by her lack of an answer. "Do you remember," She put her hands on his chest, slowly sliding them up to his shoulders. "When we were teenagers, you once told me there was something you had decided to make off with of mine?" She tilted her head to the side and he nodded. "Back then I was pretty sure you had just wanted a kiss," She gave him a sly look and Jesse felt his cheeks heat up a little. "But in truth, you made off with something so much more than a kiss." She put her hands on his cheeks and made him look at her as he tried to look away. "You were indeed a thief that got away scott free…you stole my heart Jesse McCree, and it's been yours ever since. So yes, I will marry you."

"Even without a ring?" Jesse laughed at himself, feeling tears welling up in his eyes as Sarah rolled hers and nodded.

"Jesse, you could get a ring from a quarter machine and I'd still marry you. Hell," She held up her left hand. "Draw me a black band on my finger and it would be enough." She tiptoed and pressed her lips to his deeply, pulling him close and wrapping him up as tightly as she could before pulling away—someone was tapping Jesse's hip.

It was a young dark haired boy, a local that had been playing when they came through the first time. He was holding up a small capsule from a toy dispenser. Jesse laughed heartily and opened it to see a cheap ring with a purple stone in the center. The boy pointed to Sarah with a bright smile, two of his teeth missing and when Jesse tried to hand the ring back to the boy with a shake of his head, the boy took Jesse's hand and pushed it toward Sarah.

"Do it over!" Someone yelled
"Yeah!" a few others agreed.
"Start it off right!" A third called.

Jesse laughed and kneeled back down on one knee, taking Sarah's left hand in his, slipping the toy ring onto her finger and looking up at her with the happiest smile he'd had since their first night together.

"Sarah…..Mi Rosa," Jesse was talking louder, so the crowd could hear him, "Will you marry me?"

"I will, my thief." Sarah smiled as Jesse slipped the ring onto her finger and found with surprise it fit almost perfectly. When it was in place Jesse got to his feet and wrapped her up in a big hug, kissing her along her cheeks, neck and jawline before planting a long, passionate one on her lips which caused the crowd to hoot and cheer happily. When the kiss was finished, Jesse picked up the little boy and set him on his shoulder, patting his knee and declaring him the hero of the night.

When the crowd dispersed, and the boy had gone off to play, Jesse held out his hand to Sarah and walked her back to the vehicle. Other than small giggles of joy and the occasional kiss or sigh, the ride was silent. Jesse took her to the hotel and lit up the dinning area as he had planned. He turned on the music to a slow country song about love, and they began dancing together.

"So, how was it supposed to go?" Sarah asked as Jesse pulled her closer, pressing her against him as they swayed. His hand tightened around her waist and he kissed her hand.

"Well, I was supposed to bring ya here after dinner, give you that dance I owe ya, and ask if you'd like me as a permanent partner." They turned as they swayed and Sarah laughed, "Can't believe I lost that damn ring,"

"It'll be alright Thief," She smiled up at him before laying her head on his shoulder. "It worked out alright at any rate." Jesse laid his head on hers, closing his eyes and smiling.

"Yeah, life goes on."