A/N: I'm home sick. -_- At least I can write. Sorry if it's a little screwy, my mind's all over the place. :P I think this is the quickest I've ever updated, though! Yay!

"No, nuh-uh." Lizzie shook her head vigorously.

"Why not?" Gordo sighed. He was getting tired of all these games.

"I think you're right, it's probably just a prank," she sounded like she was trying to convince herself rather than Gordo.

"Lizzie, whoever this guy is, he's obviously serious! He grabbed you. You don't find that serious?" He touched her cheek gingerly. "I love you with all my heart, Liz, but what if I'm not around when something happens? He could decide to do more than steal 10 bucks. I want to know that you're safe."

"I can take care of myself."

"Not in a situation like this."

"I am a very independent person, Gordo."

"So am I, but I would get help in this situation. Everyone needs help sometime."

"Listen…let's compromise. If this guy tries something one more time, we'll talk to my parents, okay?"

Gordo wasn't happy with this plan but knew it was better than nothing. "Okay."

"Good. Now, it's my birthday tomorrow. I want to spend it with you."

"What time should I be at your house?"

She reached up and kissed him. "Anytime."

"Okay. I have some errands to run, so…" he gestured to his car.

"Oh, okay." She kissed him again, longer and more passionately this time. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Happy early birthday, sweetheart," Gordo replied, getting in his car.

LM LM LM LM LM

"May I see that one?" Gordo asked, gesturing to something inside the shiny display case.

"Yes, sir." The attendant reached for the piece of jewelry and placed it on a sheet of velvet to keep it from scratching the glass.

Gordo picked up the ring, turning it over and over in his hands. "It's perfect. I'll take it," he said, handing it back over to the attendant.

LM LM LM LM LM

The next day at about noon, Gordo found himself going over to Lizzie's house with the ring box jingling in his pocket.

"Happy birthday!" He exclaimed once she had opened the door.

"Thank you," she said, walking into his open arms and kissing him. "You just wanna hang out and watch some movies for a while?"

"Sure, but we have to leave at 5:30."

"Why?"

"I made some dinner reservations."

"Really? Oh, that's so sweet!"

"Only the best on your birthday."

As the two curled up on the family room couch, Gordo felt nervousness building. What had he been thinking buying that ring? Lizzie's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Gordo?"

"Yeah, honey?"

"Why do you always forgive me, no matter what I do?"

The answer was simple. "Because I love you."

"I love you, too, but I don't think I could forgive you for anything."

Gordo thought about that. "If you love me as much as you say you do, I think you would forgive me for anything. I've tried to not forgive you before, but I can't fight away that feeling of love for you. So I just keep hoping you'll never hurt me again."

"You make me sound like a terrible person."

"No, a great person. No one's perfect, but if you can make someone love you no matter what, you have some talent, McGuire."

She laughed, "I'm happy you feel that way. Gordo, do you think we'll ever get married someday?" She could feel his body tense up next to her, but thought nothing of it.

"Yeah, yeah…of course. Now, sssh, we're missing the movie."

LM LM LM LM LM

She looked gorgeous. Her red dress showed off her curves perfectly…in fact, everything looked perfect right then. Her hair was perfectly curled, her makeup was perfectly applied, and she had a perfect smile on her face. Gordo, on the contrary, was wearing a collared shirt with slacks…and tennis shoes. No matter, though, they both looked perfect to each other. And they were off.

LM LM LM LM LM

The corner booth at Lizzie's favorite Italian restaurant was perfect, too. Everything had been perfect, and Gordo sure hoped he wouldn't screw it up. After dinner, they went for a walk in the park. The park where Gordo and Lizzie had gone on their first date. It had been a picnic. And it had been perfect, too.

Lizzie shivered against Gordo and he rubbed her arms in a feeble attempt to keep her warm. "Gordo, you've been acting weird all night. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Good."

"Liz, can we stop here for a minute?" He gestured to a bench.

"Sure," she took his hand and pulled him over to the bench.

"There's no easy way to say this, so…I guess I'll just say it."

"Okay."

He opened his mouth to say one thing, but his brain had a different idea. "I got accepted to NYU." What the hell was that? Gordo mentally slapped himself in the face. No, he thought, you were supposed to propose, you idiot!

"Really? Gordo, that's great! I'm so happy for you, sweetheart!" She threw her arms around his neck and tried her best to sound happy. Which was the exact opposite of how she felt.

"I'm not going."

"What? Gordo, you have to go! They have such a great film department!"

"I know. But maybe that's not what I want anymore." Perfect time to propose…do it! Gordo told himself.

"What do you want?"

"You." PROPOSE!

She smiled warmly. "Well, I can send an application to them if you want. They might accept me."

"No, I'd rather just stay here and go to UCLA with you."

"I don't want you to give up your dream for me."

"Well, UCLA has a pretty good film department, too."

"But you won't settle for 'pretty good,' Gordo. You never have."

They were silent for a while. "Liz?"

"Yes?"

"Can we go? I'm getting kind of cold."

"Sure. I have to be home in an hour, anyway."

LM LM LM LM LM

As they kissed goodnight and Lizzie got out of the car, Gordo felt tears sting his eyes. "Don't cry," he told himself as he drove away, "it won't make anything better."

All that Gordo knew was that he had chickened out. She would have probably said 'yes,' but he had to go and let his nerves get the best of him. Chicken.

Little did he know that something big was happening right then. Something that would change their lives forever. Lizzie was opening another note.

A/N: Okay, I know that was short and just a bunch of really quick scenes, but I knew where I was going with this chapter and couldn't think of any better way to get there. I AM POSTING A SONGFIC. I know I said that a while ago and then never posted anything, (in fact, I never actually finished writing it) but this time I'm serious! I'm going to go write it right now! It's called "My Wish." Please R&R it!