The grey storm clouds are gathering as they make their way through the park a few hours later. It's funny, Stevie muses, how its been sunny for months with barley any rain, and the second that she feels better there's a storm. Then again, she doesn't really mind. After all, she would much rather have rain than sun any day. Rain meant movies, and cuddling with Zander. Rain meant hot chocolate and being able to rug up in warm blankets while the rain trickled down the window pane.

But right now, as they sit quietly on the old wooden bench and watch as the park slowly empties itself of the laughing children and worried mothers, Stevie couldn't care less what the weather is. It's the most comfortable silence they've had in months, not riddled with guilt or unspoken lies or the worry of tomorrow, but rather it's filled with an easy sense of calm.

As usual, Zander has his arm slung casually round her shoulders pulling her body closer to his. But this is a different sort of closeness. Not just the bond between best friends or lovers, but a sense that they've shared in something bigger.

Stevie rests her head on his shoulder, smiling gently as Zander picks up her hand and inspects the lines on her palms, running his finger down each in turn. He does this all the time, and it's become a feeling that Stevie has come to associate with him being nervous or overly calm. None the less, it feels wonderful, his touch makes her hands tingle, and it never ceases to amaze her that Zander can make her melt completely. It crossed her mind once, that really she could be compared to ice cream. Cold and hard in the freezer, but the second Zander (aka, the sun, or heat) appeared, all of her defenses had started coming down- like ice cream melting. But she hasn't really given it to much thought, she's not really one for using such analogies outside English class.

"Steves?" Zander says gently, his fingers stilling on her hand. She takes her head off his shoulder to look at him, self-consciously tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I-" Zander starts, his eyes suddenly seeming to want to be anywhere but on hers. "I know, after everything that's happened, this may not be the best time to do this…" he trails off as Stevie frowns, it's a line that has been used in practically every cliché, romantic movie that she's ever watched. She's watched a lot of them, actually, and while before, admitting such a thing would have seemed just about the most stupid thing she could do (her reputation is at stake), after today she figures that she'll have to be more honest. Not just with Zander, but with herself. Even if that meant admitting that she didn't just watch romantic comedy's just so Kasey couldn't shriek when she said she hadn't seen one and then make her watch the movie four times. So, honestly, maybe, she actually enjoyed them (that would explain why she cried in all the sad bits…).

Stevie wipes the frown away and smiles reassuringly at him, Zander looks relieved. He digs in his pocket and comes out holding a box. Stevie's eyes widen as she looks from Zander to the box and back to Zander again. It's fairly clear what this is. A ring box. And a ring meant…

She isn't ready for that.

"You're, um." Stevie swallows thickly and bites her lip, "you're not going to… propose are you?"

Zander smiles. And while Stevie's never wanted to get married in high school, she knows (as her stomach does back flips) that if that's his plan she won't be able to resist saying yes.

Luckily, he shakes his head straight after. "Nah, Stevie-bevie. How silly do you think I am? I listened to all those times you told me how stupid people who do that are. I don't want to feel your wrath over that. But I brought this for a different reason. And I've been carrying it around waiting for the right time to give it to you. Now seems like a pretty good time, I recon."

He holds the box out to her, and for a split second, Stevie doesn't move. The box, at this second, holds what Stevie wants to be her future. Zander. Because if Zander bought her a ring that means that he still loves her, that she hasn't totally screwed things up. Even though he's been going around all day holding onto her as if she might slip through his fingers at any second, she still seems to doubt him.

If she takes this ring, she has Zander. Zander, who loves her despite that, until today, he knew almost nothing about her past. But he's met her brothers, he's met Georgie, he's met parts of her past that she's tried to forget, and yet, he's still here. After all the separation she's tried to incur on her life, (she'd tried to file the 'before Zander' section away so it wouldn't touch what is her present) she didn't expect it all to meet with such a crash that it tipped her off balance. But it has. And she's come out ok. Sure, there are a few more battle scars, and some memories she'll defiantly try to forget, but in the end she has the one thing, the one person that she loves more than anything. The one person who she'll ignore death for.

And so, with shaking fingers, Stevie reaches out and takes the box, looking up at Zander for reassurance. He gives her a warm smile and presses the box into her palms, no sign of uncertainty in his eyes.

The ring is silver. And it fits perfectly onto Stevie's finger as the last rays of sunlight hit the tiny blue and black stones dotted along the top. She looks back up at him, not even trying to hold back the tears as she kisses him firmly.

"It's a promise ring." he says quietly as she pulls back a little. Zander picks up her hand and smiles softly at the ring on her finger. "Not in the traditional sense though. It's a promise that I will always love you. That nothing can change how I feel about you. And I promise that every time we break, we'll try again."

Stevie kissed his cheek, "thanks." She whispers.

"Wait," Zander murmured, "I'm not done. The stones are sapphires and opals, but I liked the idea of them being sort of… separated. I heard a story once of how the Japanese repaired broken things with gold, because they believed that cracks made them more beautiful. So to me, these little stones that are held together with the silver are more beautiful than the huge versions that the other rings had. Every time things get screwed up, remember that the more cracks, the better we can be. Because if there are no cracks then there's nothing to fix, and if there's nothing that's ever been broken then we clearly aren't trying hard enough." He takes a deep breath and takes both her hands in his, clasping them tightly. "Because of what's happened, Stevie, I know you better. And the more I know, the more I love."

The first drops of rain are starting to hit them, but neither of them make any attempt to move. "I don't just love you Stevie. I am in love with you."

The rain has thoroughly soaked them by the time they get back to Zanders truck. Not that Stevie minds. Sure, she literally wrings out her hair before she gets in (though she's not sure if that really helps because it's raining so hard) and she probably looks like a panda, but the moments between the rain starting and running back to the truck would defiantly be something she'll always remember.

If Stevie were to have a bucket list (which she doesn't, because she firmly believes bucket lists are exceedingly lame). Dancing in the rain with Zander would have been item number 1.

His arms had rested tenderly round her waist (or at least they'd started there, somehow, they'd ended up on her back. Almost hugging her to his chest). She grinned giddily as he spun her around.

"What?" Zander teased, "Are you enjoying this?"

Stevie laughed and for a moment while the giggles overtook her, she rested her forehead on Zanders shoulder. Finally, she looked up at him with a grin, "I have a confession."

Zander nodded, "alright."

"I've always wanted to dance in the rain, and do every other romantic, cliché thing that happens in movies."

"Really now?" Zander's voice was even more teasing. "So I should be kissing you in the rain?"

Stevie bit her lip "I wouldn't stop you…"

Zander shook his head in amusement, "you never cease to amaze me, Stevie Baskara."

This kiss was different to the others. Its gentleness was coupled with the need for more. Later, as she thought back over the day, that moment stood out to her as the moment that she let it all go. All the pain and confusion that she had felt over the past few years disappeared at that moment. The only person's approval she needed was Zanders, and he seemed to find the entire thing amusing.

Maybe that's why she suggested they went to 'their spot' behind the abandoned warehouse. It's only a two minute drive, and the way Zander looks at her when they stop at traffic lights is making her feel warm despite her wet clothes. And oh god, she can't think straight.

She gives them both a good two seconds before she turns and practically climbs on top of him. She can feel him laughing against her lips, "eager much, Steves?" he breathes out between kisses.

"Mmm" she nods pulling him down on top of her.

They've both missed this. Making out without feeling like they owed each other something, or without using it as an excuse not to talk.

"Are you cold?" he asks eventually, as she tugs the hair tie out of the remnants of what had started off as a bun.

She shakes her head. "How can I be? You're really warm and currently on top of me, so really, I'm just wet."

He laughs again. If this is a new beginning for Stevie, then she's glad to know that Zander will laugh a lot.

Her hand has somehow ended up on his cheek, and suddenly she knows exactly what she wants, and she is fairly certain he wants it as much as her. She pushes them both up. Her eyes never leaving his as she pulls her shirt over her head. He looks surprised, and for a moment, as she pushes the plaid shirt off his shoulders, he doesn't move. Not that that slows Stevie down.

He helps her with his gray tank top. Leaning in again to kiss her.

When it comes to each other they've never been good with words. There are so many other types of communication that they are better at (like telepathy, as Kasey likes to tease). So it makes perfect sense that the only conformation that this is what she wants, is held in the fierce kisses she places down his chest as he throws their clothes over the seat.

It occurs to Stevie later that at some point that they will have to go home. She's going to have to explain the fresh bandage to her parents, and it's probably better that happens sooner rather than later. But right now as she's drifting off to sleep in Zanders arms, the feeling of completion and the warm buzz still clouding her brain, she decides that explanations can wait.

It makes her laugh, in the days to come, that he bumps his head on the steering wheel as they get up. He shakes his head at her and chuckles a little, wrapping the picnic blanket around her, with a low, "your clothes are wet."

"So are yours." She points out, but he just shrugs.

It shocks her when he pulls up at his house 10 minutes later, "my family's out." Is the only explanation he gives her. She realizes latter that he can't drop her home in a picnic blanket. Which is why she finds herself in his clothes, snuggled up against him on the couch with hot chocolate.

"You know, you're beautiful." His voice breaks the comfortable quiet that has enveloped the room. Leaving only the steady sound of the rain as a measure of time. Aside from the comments about their wet clothes, it's the first thing either of them has said.

She turns so she can look him in the eyes, "so are you." And kisses him on the nose.

Hello my darling readers!

Sorry this took so long, I was involved in planning a camp for little girls (I was Princess Ariel) and planning a camp takes a lot more energy and effort than I expected.

Credit must be given where credit is due, and HTRobsessed has been extremely helpful in the construction of these chapters. So, darling sidekick, thank you, these chapters have happened because of you (I hope you liked your carsex scene). And to my best friend Sheyla who messages me asking for the next chapter all the time and writes the most brilliant sex scenes, thank you :)

So, opinion time. Theres one more chapter left of this. I can write a second that would be set in the future if you all want, otherwise I'll finish the story after this next chapter.

tell me your opinions!

Encantria