He had her permission,yet he was nervous. This would be no surprise, but that was right for them, they never had been one to follow the rules. He tried to be sneaky about it, the 'accidental' spilling beer onto her hand as to obtain her ring size, she knew his game and as she stood up and moved to the table laid with food she couldn't help the small smile that fluttered to the corner of her lips, and the sharp pick up in the pace of her heart. She wanted to enjoy it like any other young woman, so distracted herself by running through her head the taking apart and modifying of the latest Ferrari model featured in 'Car and driver', working her way through, improving the design. She didn't know what his plan for the proposal or when or where. She had to stop herself. Just focus on the Ferrari.

She was startled by the sudden appearance of Ralph at her side.

"your smiling. Why are you smiling? You rarely smile"

"No reason. I'm just happy."

Ralph gave her a raised eyebrow, smirk and knowing look, his eyes never leaving her face. making it evident the meaning behind his works.

"yes, you are."

he placed some more food on his plate before looking back to her and giving her a toothy grin as he headed back to his table.

She wasn't going to let him have the last word, he may interpret that to be some sort of agreement of his observation.

"I think it would be wise for you to be spending less time with Toby" she quickly said before he got too far.

"Jealous are we?" he threw back over his shoulder

she could hardly believe it. The little man had sassed her, she never would have thought him capable of it. Least of all to her.

She had forgotten to wipe the smile off her face before returning to Toby, he couldn't help but notice when he looked up from picking off the label of his beer.

"what has you smiling"

she couldn't help the breath of laughter that escaped her as she remembered the conversation that had just transpired.

"I was just sassed by the 10 year old."

Toby's eyebrows shot up

"What? Where did he get the cojones to do that?"

she threw a chip at him

"i'm not that scary"

"yes you are! Hell you scare me and your half my size"

that stung a little. She wasn't scary,she didn't want to always be seen as scary. She was just guarded and to be labelled so by someone as close to her as ?Toby was, it bothered her. Did he really see her as scary? Did he hold back with her, in fear of her reaction? Did he feel as he could be as carefree with her as he did with Amy?

she threw another chip at him with more force and avoided his gaze, instead focusing on removing the label of her own beer.

The energy between them had changed. Toby felt it and he quickly ran back though the conversation as to try determine why the sudden shift in her mood.

"do I really scare you?" she couldn't help the insecurity that wavered in her voice.

Toby scooted his chair as close as he could to hers, taking the bottle from between her hands and placing it on the table, replacing it with his own hands patiently waiting for her to look at him.

"yes, because I love you and I don't want to mess up, But i'm also scared for you a lot of the time. Every time you do something even remotely dangerous, because you are unstoppable and too angry at times for your own good, and that makes you a little impulsive sometimes, it has me with my heart in my throat. But I also know that to fight you, I'd be as well admit defeat before the first swing. Not even Andrew Bynum

would stand a chance, Your so bad ass it's terrifying, but also sexy as hell"

She couldn't stifle the laugh she gave and shook her head softly.

"do you even know who Andrew Bynum is?"

" he is a giant"

she didn't even try to control the laughter.

" no dummy,he's one of the Lakers, a basketball team, the Giants play football and are from New York

Smiling he leaned in close.

"I know, I was making reference to his size, and since when did you start keep tabs on sports"

the twinkle in his eyes made the truth indistinguishable, he may have been humouring her, but being a betting man she couldn't be sure as just to how many sports he had once had been placing his bets on. The horses were one thing, but how far his reach extended she may never know.

" I work in mechanics, men of such industry seem to like such things as basketball and football. I can even tell you a bit about baseball too"

"I'm sorry, but I think you some how have become even hotter. How did I get so lucky."

"hmm, you are very lucky, for so very many reasons"

they were quiet, just taking in the action around them, she caught Ralph's eye and he gave her that knowing smile again, her lips twitched at the corners in return.

"how long do you think we have to stay?"

"Toby you gutterball!"

"what! I'm only flesh and blood. I am tired, we saved the world. Again. I think I deserve some R&R"

she gave him scathing laugh before standing up and returning with another beer for him.

"i think we have to at least stay to have another beer, and a soda in my case." he slid the beer towards her and the soda towards himself.

"You have it, I'll drive us home. Also can the effect of alcohol on a man's ability to.."

"ok! ok. You drive, I'll drink."

"yes ma'am" giving her a side glance as he raised the soda to his smirking lips.