Four.

The tinsel-covered tree in the living room, which had been stacked high with gifts, was empty of all but one present. Wrapping paper was strewn all over the floor, and piles of CDs, videos games, gift vouchers, and many other things surrounded the Cahills. There was even a plasma TV, courtesy of Jonah.

Amy picked up the last present under the tree, knowing whose it was before she even looked at the label. It was Ian's gift from her, and she couldn't help grinning at the thought of what was under all the elf-printed paper.

"Hey, Ian!" she called, and chucked him his present, which he caught with one hand. He immediately ripped open the wrapping and froze when he saw what was inside, his expression conflicted. His gaze slowly rose to meet Amy's, and he gave her a perturbed look.

"Really, Amy?" he asked with a sigh of exasperation. "Cotton shirts?"

She burst out laughing, nodding vigorously.

"You don't expect me to actually wear them, do you?" He made it sound like the idea was absurd, like sticking your hands in the fire for fun.

Amy just nodded again. "Yes. And you will wear it." Then she grinned. "Merry Christmas!"

The room was filled was a round of laughter, and everyone but Ian was clutching their stomachs.

"And why exactly would I do that?" he demanded.

"Because you'll find I'm a very persuasive person," Amy said with a threatening undertone. "And I've recorded you talking in your sleep," she added with a shrug. "Would you like me to share who Mr. Berry is?"

Natalie snorted. "Bravo, Amy. You're starting to sound like a Cahill."

Ian sighed in defeat. "Fine."

He stood, unbuttoning his pressed Armani shirt. He threw it at Amy, who blushed when she saw Ian's bare chest. Then he pulled a light blue t-shirt over his head.

Amy nodded with approval. "Looks good on you. And there's a pair of jeans in there, too, but you can put those on later."

"I feel… violated," Ian complained.

Amy rolled her eyes and threw the Armani shirt back to Ian. "Get over it."

"Who's the peasant now?" Dan laughed.

"It does suit him," Sinead commented.

"Be that as it may, it's certainly embarrassing," Natalie sighed. "I shan't be seen with you in public."

Amy stood and waved Ian towards her. She reached a hand behind his neck and tucked in the label.

"This is from Wal-Mart, by the way," she grinned.

Ian groaned. "What are you trying to do to me, woman?"

"Make you normal."

Hamilton laughed. "Like that's possible."

Ian grumbled something under his breath, then looked up at Amy.

"I applaud you," he said with a slight smirk. "But now it's time for your present."

Amy cocked an eyebrow but said nothing as Ian held both her hands in his.

"At risk of sounding incredibly cheesy and suffering from extreme humiliation because I know Jonah's filming this…"

He took a deep breath and looked Amy squarely in the eye. "Amy, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I've done so many things in my life that I'm certainly not proud of, and I've hurt you and your family countless times, and yet you're able to look me in the eye without a trace of hate. You forgave me after everything I've done, and you've excepted me for who I am, and I can't thank you enough for that."

Amy could feel the tears pool in her eyes, and blinked them back.

"You're everything to me, and I'd be nothing without you," he continued. "It's because of you that I'm here today, trying to do what's right and ignoring the side of me I was raised to be. You really are my whole world. And I promise that I will always love you, that I'll never once stop. I love you so much." His voice cracked at the end, but he smiled and knelt on one knee.

"Amy Cahill, would you do me the incredible honour of marrying me, and make me the happiest man alive?" He asked, pulling a small box from his pocket and flipping open the lid. Inside was an elegant diamond, set on a band of gold that was studded with tiny jewels.

Amy sucked in a breath and stared, open-mouthed, searching for a sign in Ian's face that he was joking, that it was all some sick prank. But there wasn't any there. He was being completely serious.

The room seemed to hold it's breath, waiting for Amy's answer, but she couldn't for the life of her find her voice. She knew what her answer was. She knew it with all her heart. But she was shocked speechless. She most definitely had not expected a proposal. It wasn't that they were too young – they were twenty-one, after all. But it had come as such a surprise to her that she couldn't find her voice.

So instead, she knelt in front of Ian and cupped his face, resting her forehead against his. Their eyes locked, and her breath lingered with his for a short moment that seemed to stretch on forever. Then her lips came down on his, and she didn't hold back. She poured all of her emotions into the kiss, a fierce fire burning in her heart. She could feel the warm tears pooling down her face, but didn't stop to wipe them away. Ian deepened the kiss, pulling her body towards his until there wasn't a wisp of air between them. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, scrunching up his shirt under her grip, and she clung to him, forcing her mouth onto his as hard as she could. She held on until the last of the air left her body, and when she pulled away, she was gasping through her tears, nodding her head like she'd lost control over it.

"Yes," she laughed. "Yes."

Ian held her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger, looking the happiest Amy had ever seen him. Then he pulled her into his arms and hugged her fiercely, pressing kiss after kiss to her hair. Clapping rang in Amy's ears, but she ignored it. Her tears hadn't let up, and she was still laughing, even when Ian began kissing her cheeks to wipe away the tears.

"I love you," he whispered, placing a kiss on her nose.

She smiled widely. "I love you, too."