A/N: This is the second update today! Full disclosure: I did feel guilty about posting the previous chapter. It was a rotten place to leave you. But for some reason I have been struggling to get these updates for PK off the ground. Not sure why, but please accept my apologies and the following as a token of my appreciation for your continued and warm support! What a great fandom to belong to!

It was a relatively short hike to their favorite spot. Seth felt a secret thrill when she'd reached for his hand at the trailhead. This was the first time they'd been back to hike since their new understanding, and it pleased him to think she'd remembered that, too. They held hands, even when the path forced them to walk single file. He supposed it was that feeling of being important, meaningful to someone. He'd had that with Ruthie and over time they'd begun to communicate without words. It wasn't quite the same with Jess, and he neither expected nor wanted it to be. Jess was unique, and he wouldn't have her any other way. He could be grateful, now, for the way their friendship deepened into love.

He fought the urge to obsessively check his windbreaker pocket for the ring. He knew it was there. He'd obsessively checked before he left the house and again before he'd rung Jessica's doorbell. He didn't want to draw any undue attention to himself. He'd thought carefully about what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it. He had one opportunity to make this proposal, and he wanted it to be perfect. Should he propose first and then reveal the basket and blanket? Yes, yes. That would be best. Dragging all that out in front of her would be the same as hiring Jed to fly a banner over Spooner's Mill: Will You Marry Me?

"Seth?"

Seth was jolted out of his reverie. "Yes?"

Jessica stopped and turned to look at him. "Where have you been?"

"What do you mean, woman? I'm right here beside you."

"Physically, yes, but your mind was at least million miles away."

Seth grinned sheepishly and squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry, my dear. I was just thinking of how different it feels to be up here with you now." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "We've nearly hiked to our spot."

Jessica smiled. "Our spot?"

"I think of it that way. We've had some good conversations up here, some challenging ones as well. When I could unchain you from your typewriter, that is." He laughed and kissed Jessica lightly on the mouth. "We've never done that here before," he said softly.

"No," agreed Jessica. "We haven't." She pulled her hand from his and wrapped her arms around his neck, her kiss leaving him in no doubt of her feelings for him.

"Jessica, I-"

She seemed to rock back on her heels as she fought to stifle a grin. "I realize I'm setting up a nearly perfect Mae West retort, but I have to ask. What's in your pocket, Seth?"

Seth grimaced and took her elbow, gently steering her ahead on the path. "Let's head toward our spot, Jess."

She flashed him a brilliant smile over her shoulder. "Alright, " she agreed placidly.

He was pleased by her easy acquiescence, but he was also a little unnerved. He thought she might have a pretty good idea of what was coming next. Would he never be able to surprise this woman? He smiled. I'll have a lifetime to try.

They came to the little clearing, and Seth was grateful again for the sunshine and the brilliant cloudless blue of the sky. He released Jessica's elbow and she made a beeline for the cliff's edge, the wind whipping her hair about her face. She closed her eyes and smiled, her face tilted toward the sun. Seth stared; he'd never seen her look lovelier. or more fey His heart squeezed almost painfully in his chest as he reached for the jeweler's box in his pocket. He walked towards her carefully. "Jessica-"

She turned to him, a radiant smile on her face. In one smooth motion, each moved into the other's arms and their lips met in a passionate kiss. Seth was the first to pull back. "Will you marry me, Jess?" he gasped.

She smiled. "Of course I'll marry you, my darling. Of course I will."

Tears sprang to Seth's eyes as he peppered her face with kisses. Suddenly he remembered the ring. "Oh, Jessica. I had a whole speech planned out!" She laughed. "Oh, well." He pulled back slightly and held the small white box in front of her. "I hope, I hope you'll like this ring," he said tentatively.

Jessica looked at the box, then at Seth. He opened the box for her and she gasped. "Oh, Seth. Your mother's ring. It's beautiful." She pulled it from the box carefully.

Seth shut the lid and put the box in his pocket. "May I?" He asked as he took the ring gently from her hand. She nodded, and he placed the ring on her finger. "I love you, Jessica Fletcher. I look forward to being your husband and making you as happy as you've made me."

Jessica let the tears spill from her eyes as she looked at the ring, then back at Seth. "I love you, Seth, and I'm looking forward to being your wife." She smiled. "I never thought I'd say those words again, or that I could ever feel again what I feel for you." She leaned in to hug Seth and whispered in his ear. "It was only ever you, my darling. It could only ever have been you." Seth squeezed her and she laughed aloud. "I will need to breathe at some point, Dr. Hazlitt."

He released her immediately. "I'm sorry, Jess. I just got a little overwhelmed." He dashed a few tears from his eyes. "I do have a little something else." He drew his brows together in a fruitless attempt to appear stern. "I hope this, at least, will be a surprise!"

She laughed and watched as he walked to the rocks they often sat on and talked during the days of their deepening friendship. There were so many things she appreciated about Seth, but perhaps the one quality that had caught her heart was his ability to be content with what she could offer. It wasn't fair to him, of course, but his steadfastness, no matter the circumstances, endeared him to her as possibly nothing else could have done. Seth loved her purely, without guile. He loved her so completely that he wanted only what was best for her, what would bring her joy and happiness. Such selflessness was rare indeed. A shiver of joy ran through her as she watched him pull a blanket, a basket, and a bottle of what appeared to be champagne from their hiding place. "This is a surprise, Seth!"

"And what about the proposal woman?"

"Oh, I knew to expect that," she said breezily.

He barked a laugh. "Oh you did, did you? How could you be so sure?" She sidled up to him and whispered in his ear. Seth's comically shocked look gave Jessica an attack of the giggles. "Jessica Fletcher!"

She took a breath in a vain attempt to calm her giggles, then turned into Seth's arms, putting her arms around his waist. "I love you, Seth Hazlitt. Every last irascible inch of you." She kissed him again, long and slow and deep. Anyone might come upon them, but neither cared very much as they lost themselves in the bliss of finally, truly being together.

Eve glanced at them from about 100 yards. "Well, well, well, Doc. Looks like your proposal was a success!" She grinned to herself. She wasn't a fan of hiking, but she was a fan of being the first to know anything worth knowing, and this was something worth knowing. If only she could have gotten a good look at the ring. No matter. Mr. Zimmerman had already described it to Loretta in detail. She turned and hustled down the trail, eager to return to civilization and be the first to confirm the news. Jessica Fletcher was going to marry Seth Hazlitt.

TBC
About that whispered phrase: I suspect you all will come up with a number of ideas that would be far better than anything I might have written in there. Consider it a Lost in Translation moment. There will be a bit more...this time probably a true epilogue. Thanks so much!