AN: I'm not sure, but I think this might be my quickest update yet. :D This is THE chapter. I know I've probably said that about a lot of chapters in my little series, and this is, by no means, the last of "THE" chapters. There's plenty more.

Enjoy!

The Greatest Joy
Sequel to Ribbons and Bo's

Chapter Four: Biting on Your Nerves

Prosper arrived at a quarter to eight, after having gotten ready in a rush and proceeding to walk the streets. He hadn't wanted to see Caterina before eight, when she was supposed to meet him, didn't want her asking questions about what was going on. He was barely out when she came home, looking quite frustrated. He had wanted to go comfort her, but wouldn't spoil the night.

At seven fifty-eight, Caterina arrived. She looked to have just showered and had thrown her hair up hurriedly. She was dressed simply, casually, which made Prosper look down at his collared shirt and slacks self-consciously. She spotted him and walked over, not smiling. Prosper had known that she might be angry, after he had gone to her hotel and not asked to see her, and then she'd had to come home to an empty apartment.

Prosper stood as she neared and went to pull her chair out. Caterina sat down curtly, avoiding his gaze. She was definitely upset. He went back and sat down. She picked up her menu and began to flip through it, not really looking at the different dishes the restaurant offered.

Prosper cleared his throat. Caterina looked over at him.

"Yes?"

"Caterina, I want to talk to you, about something important."

She looked at him warily. "Alright…"

He cleared his throat again. "Well, we've been together for two years now, and before that, five. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and…" He looked and saw her staring at the menu. "Caterina, are you even listening to me?"

She met his eye for a moment and he could've sworn that they were wet. But then the illusion vanished. "I'm listening," was all she said.

Prosper was a bit doubtful, but he continued on. "Well, as I was saying, we've been together for so long and lately I've been thinking long and hard on some other…alternatives."

Caterina froze. It seemed her worst nightmares were being realized. She briskly flipped the page.

"I think you may have been thinking along some of the same lines that I have. Right?"

She couldn't take it anymore; her hands trembled. If he was going to break her heart, he should just get it over with and say the words that would be her death. No! She hadn't been thinking of ending their relationship. She hadn't been thinking along the same lines as him.

"Caterina? Are you okay?" At least he sounded a tad concerned for her well-being.

She threw the menu down. "No, Prop! I'm not okay! I haven't been thinking along the same lines as you! I know that I hurt you and I probably deserve it, but can you at least make it quick and easy rather than torturing me?!"

Prosper was utterly confused. "Caterina, what do you mean? What on earth are you talking about?"

She was crying now. He came to her side and began to comfort her, soothing the tears that were falling down her cheeks. He kissed one away. This seemed to surprise her.

"Caterina, I want to love you forever."

She was still crying, but she didn't know why anymore.

"Do you want to be with me, love me forever?"

She tried to speak, but her throat was thick with emotion. Instead, she nodded, closing her eyes.

His arms left her. "Then will you marry me?"

Caterina's eyes fluttered open. What? All of a sudden, the tears stopped falling. He wanted to marry her. Prosper wanted to marry her. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to marry her. HE WANTED TO MARRY HER!

She turned to look at him, not trusting her ears to be accurate (who knows? She could be going deaf), but she couldn't also be going blind, could she?

There he was, kneeling down at her side, a little box open in his hands. Inside, between the little cushions, there sat a diamond ring.

"Oh, Prop!" she gasped. She threw her arms around him, absolutely shocked. She began to cry again, but this time she knew they were tears of happiness. "Yes, I will. I will, I will, I will!" She kissed his lips. "Yes, I will marry you!"

Prosper felt as though a large weight had been lifted from his shoulders. She had seemed so upset that he had been afraid she would say no, shut the box, and walk away. But things had gone so smoothly, so perfectly, that he almost believed it to be too good to be true.

Almost.

Caterina pulled herself together as he slipped the ring on her finger. He kissed her once again as she sat back down. Then, she cleared her throat.

"Prop, I have something to tell you. You might want to sit down." He looked at her, confused, but sat back down.

"Well, Prop, you see, some stuff's happening. Some…different stuff." She looked at him, testing the waters. He nodded for her to continue.

"And, uh, it's very different. Very, very different."

Prosper ran his hand through his hair, anxious.

"And, well, this different stuff means something very important, I think."

"What exactly is different?"

"Just some little things now, but soon the changes will be more…noticeable…"

He stared at her, waiting for her to continue. "Go on. Please."

She smiled, wider and wider. "Prosper, we're going to have a baby."

And he didn't know what to say.

AN: Mood swings much?? Heehee. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, but I'll try to finish it soon, 'kay??

REVIEWS are like MONEY. They're worth a lot these days. Plus, I'm nearly broke. Anyone wanna help me??