"What's that?" she asked.
Dave sighed. "I thought that would be fairly obvious, Em."
She glared at him. "It's a ring."
"Very good."
"Why would you be giving me a ring?"
"I'm offering you the ring, Em. And...offering you the rest of my life, as well." He sighed again, his frustration evident. "Dammit, Emily, I want to marry you."
She stared at him - and the ring - in disbelief. "Why?"
Dave's expression softened, and he reached out to touch her face gently. "Because I love you," he said firmly. "Because I'm sick of you calling some place else home. Because I know we're both too damn stubborn to call it quits when this gets tough..." He trailed off, swallowing hard. "Do you love me, Emily?" he asked softly.
"Yes," she whispered, her own eyes filling with tears as she watched his close in relief. "I just...I didn't..." She shook her head. "I kept waiting for this to end. For you to walk away."
Dave frowned, taking her hand in his. "I'm all in this, Em. I have been from the beginning."
She smiled, moving closer to him on the bed and kissing him softly. "Yes," she whisphered again.
His eyes lit up with hope. "Yes?"
Emily held out her left hand, her grin broadening. "Yes."
Dave slid the ring home and pulled her close.