Crash Chapter 22

"Rapunzel"

A/N: … …. … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Those dots up there, that's the space I'd be using if I had a good excuse for being gone for so long. I don't. I just got lazy and neglected my stories. But *crosses fingers* I'm back now.

Anyways, I'm going to skip ahead in this chapter, actually by a few of months. I'll let the chapter explain the rest.

-Yours truly, Randy "No, I Didn't Fall Off the Face of the Earth" Taylor

Randy's POV

I keep turning the ring over in the palm of my hand. The band is gold, with a fairly good sized diamond centered on it. I've been staring at it for over an hour now. I keep thinking about the last time I held this ring in my hand. Last November, before the bombings and everything. It's been five months since then, but it seems like forever ago.

The truth is, lately, I've been thinking about breaking it out again. I keep seeing Lauren get more and more pregnant, and I keep feeling like I should be a bigger part of her life.

'I'll do it tonight' I whisper after a few more minutes of debate and consideration.

That Night

Randy's POV

It's a great southern Michigan spring evening. It's not too warm or too cold outside. (Which is where Lauren, her parents, mom, dad, and I are dining). As the sun starts to set and everyone is finishing their meal, I get up to take the dishes inside. After I do so, I come back outside to set with the others.

'It's evenings like these that make all the winter we get here in Michigan worth it' Lauren's dad says after a long sip of lemonade.

'Oh, tell me about it Tom. There's nothing more satisfying than the simple things in life. Like this sunset, for example, or having a family to come home to at the end of a day like this' dad says.

'You're comparing us to a sunset?' I ask dad, smiling.

'You know what I mean' he says.

'Actually, yes, I do know what you mean' I say, losing the smile.

'Here, on this beautiful night, everything just seems so right. It'd be nice if life included a pause button, to freeze all of time in place, so I could enjoy this night with the ones I love. Most especially with the one I love. Unfortunately, life isn't some VCR made by RCA, so I can't quite do that. Ever since…November, it seems like everything has been going ultra fast. Now, God knows I've tried to slow things down. I've even tried that machine Wilson has down in his basement, but it only made me groggy and unable to drive or operate heavy machinery for a couple of days.' I stop to laugh at that last remark. 'Anyways, I may not be able to do all this other stuff, and I may not be able to spend the rest of my life on this one night.' Now I stand up and pace in front of the fence for a few moments. 'However, I would like to spend the rest of my life with you, Lauren. That is, if you'll let me.' Lauren looks shocked, even though we've been through this once before.

'Are you asking what I think you're asking Randy?' Lauren asks.

'Yes. Lauren Johnson, last time I tried to ask you this, it had less than stellar results. So, if you think there's any way that there could be similar effects this time, then stop me right now.' She doesn't. 'Good. Then Lauren Johnson, will you marry me?'

A/N: Two chapters.

Please R&R! Thanks

-Yours truly, Randy Taylor