"Well, it looks…better." I said unsurely to Will, cocking my head to the side.

The attic looked livable at least. We had vacuumed the large Persian rug, swept the wooden floors, changed the bed sheets and cover, dusted… twice, replaced the burn out light bulb, and I'd insisted on polishing the brass bed frame.

It had taken only one trip to bring up Will's stuff. Cavalier included. His things added a personal touch to the room.

A picture of him and his mom, Jean, sat on the nightstand. Cavalier's favorite blanket laid in the corner and his clothes hung on the long metal pole that was now his makeshift closet. Overall, it looked like he might actually spend time in this room.

I caught him staring at me in the corner of my eye. I whirled around and looked back at him. He was smiling. I walked the two steps over to him and kissed him with all I had. Which wasn't all that much considering the work we'd done in the last two hours.

He grabbed me tightly around the waist and lifted me up into his arms. Some way or another I ended up being cradled in his arms, my own arms around his neck. I looked up at him dreamily, because moments like this, they seemed unreal.

He looked down at me in the same way, which was truly incredible to me. That he could possibly feel the same way I did.

I sighed contently and leaned my head against his chest, he sat down on the bed with me still in his arms, it squeaked as he did.

"Elle" he half-whispered.

I looked up in response.

"I love you." He said, his eyes: sparks.

Did I hear that right?

Yeah, I had.

All I could do was breathe for a moment. Just breathe.

"I am in love with you. All I could think about when you said "I need to talk to you." was that I hoped you weren't kicking me out, I didn't want to leave this house, you, without saying that I loved you. It would've felt like a betrayal to everything I've felt in these last two months. Which is why, after Geoff walks through that door and we go through the welcomes and how are you's, I want you to meet me back up here. Here in the attic because I've got to talk to you this time. But if the feeling isn't returned, don't bother coming up. I'll understand. I really will." He exhaled and peered down at me.

I wanted to do a lot of things. Kiss him, scream, cry joyful tears. All kinds of things. But I didn't.

" I love you too, Will. And I'll be up here when we're done with Geoff." I leaned up towards Will, and kissed him on his jawbone.

It was at that moment that the doorbell rang.

I practically jumped out of Will's arms and he laughed. I grabbed a hold of his hands and walked down the two flights of stairs. At the top of the second flight I caught sight of my brother, Geoff. He looked good. All things considered. And those were that I knew he still played dungeons and dragons, had a tendency to forget he had toothpaste on his mouth and was incapable of operating a washing machine.

Where I had been formally against all talk of medieval ways in my household, my brother had loved that stuff. Now, I paid much more attention when my parents' conversations headed in that direction.

He stood in the doorway with a large army surplus duffel bag and a netted laundry bag. Of course. Geoff had on a shirt that said "Warlocks are Cool" and a pair of baggy looking shorts. His hair was short and untidy and his glasses were slightly off center, but overall he seemed to be doing well.

"Ellie!" He yelled, smiling. I rushed down and gave him a huge hug. Almost forgetting about Will at the top of the stairs.

"You'll never believe it!" He exclaimed still talking loudly.

"What?" I asked, genuinely curious.

He pointed to himself and replied in a slow, whisper.

"I learned to do laundry." He said, dramatically finishing.

My eyebrows furrowed.

I pointed to the full laundry bag.

"Then why…."

He cut me off. "What mom doesn't know can't hurt her."

I slapped him on the back of the head and laughed.

It was then that I heard someone behind me clear their throat. Will.

I immediately went into polite mode.

"I'm sorry" I said glancing in Will's direction.

I stepped between the two guys and introduced them.

"Will this is my brother Geoff. Geoff this is Will Wagner, he's a… friend of mine. He'll be staying in the attic for awhile." Hopefully my brother didn't catch up on the slip.

I turned to Geoff, he was looking at me with one eyebrow raised and a slight grin on his face. Obviously he hadn't missed a thing.

Will stepped forward with his hand out-stretched.

"Pleased to meet you. Elle couldn't wait until your arrival."

Geoff took his hand and shook it.

"Well, if you will excuse I have some things to finish upstairs. It was a pleasure." Will said, and turned towards the stairs. He gave me a nod, his eyes doing the talking. I wondered what was so important that he needed to talk to me about. Once he disappeared, my brother looked at me slightly awed.

"You? And… and him? And he calls you Elle?" Geoff asked teasingly. I slapped him again.

"Shut Up." I grumbled.

"Hey, whoa, I have no problem with the guy. He's taller than you, and a lot better than that Tommy Meadows." He teased again. There was no way he was ever going to let that go. I reached out to slap him again, but this time he dodged me and ran towards the living room where my parents were arguing about whether Alex Trebek dyes his hair white on purpose or whether it was naturally snowy. Geez…

I watched as Geoff said hi to my parents, then quietly fled to the stairs.

I reached the attic and opened the door. Will sat on the brass bed fumbling with something in his hands.

It was a small… square… black… velvet… jewelry box. To be more precise, a ring box.

Oh my god.

Will looked up suddenly and I realized I must've said that out loud. But really, in this situation going without saying "Oh my god." is almost passé.

I could tell my eyes were wide and that I was gripping that doorframe extremely hard but all I felt was the thumping of my crazy heart.

"Elle?" Will asked, looking extremely concerned. He looked at my eyes and finally noticed what they fell on.

He looked down at the box and then back at me. Registering what I must be thinking.

"I really need to talk to you."

I just nodded, walked over and sank on to the bed beside him.