AN: Well here they are, the final chapters, I know I said there would be three but I had so much I wanted to fit in it ended up being four. Thank you to everyone who read my story, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Ace stayed at Laura's house for the rest of the afternoon, past dinner until she was ready for bed.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said kissing her goodnight.

"Come over for breakfast?" she asked.

"Sure thing," he said, noticing Caroline wasn't paying attention to them he seized the opportunity to stick his tongue down her throat. "Sweet dreams babe," he said as she walked away. When she had closed her bedroom door he looked over to Caroline who was going through some mail.

"I have to talk to you about something," he said when she looked up.

"What's that?" she asked, surprised.

"It's about Laura's birthday," he said. He explained to her his idea. "So I'm going to build you a fence," he concluded.

"I think it's a great idea," she said. "Do you need anything though, like cost of materials."

"No," he insisted, "I have everything sorted, I'll start on Monday."

"What about power lines and things."

"Already checked."

"Looks like you have thought of everything," she said impressed. What she did not know was Ace's mind had been occupied for most of the evening with their conversation earlier that afternoon.

He walked into his house still thinking about it. Laura as his wife. The idea had taken him over completely. He went to bedroom and reached for the top of his closet feeling around until his finger brushed against it. He closed his hand around it and moved to sit down on his bed rolling it between his fingers. His grandmother's engagement ring.

He had been his father's parents only grandchild and when his grandmother had passed away she bequeathed him her diamond engagement ring. He had thought of pawning it so many times but he had always held onto it anyway. Now he was happy he did.

He imagined what it would be like to come home to a house that wasn't his parents but theirs. How he'd never have to wake up early to leave their house in the early morning, but stay in bed for as long as they wanted to. How her clothes would mix with his in their washing machine and then lay side by side in their closet. They would share every breakfast and dinner. She would make him a home and he would take care of her. He rolled over and set the ring down next to his bed and got ready to go to sleep.

The next day he woke up on the other side of a restful sleep. His mind was resolute. She was going to be his wife. He had a quick shower before getting dressed, slipping the ring, her ring, into his pocket.

When he got to her house he let himself through the front door which was unlocked, somebody was awake. Walking closer to the kitchen he began to smell the breakfast that was cooking on the stove. Laura swept her hair back out of her eyes as she kept a watchful eye on the two fry pans and one pot that she was trying to keep synchronised so everything would be ready at once. She heard a noise behind her and turned around to see Ace watching her.

"I was hoping I'd be finished before you got here," she said apologetically after she had abandoned everything to run over and give him a kiss.

"Do you want me to come back later," he asked, pulling playfully at her nightgown.

"No need it's done," she assured him, turning the gas off. "I should go wake mom up," she said starting to walk away.

"Hang on a minute," he said gathering her up and sitting her on the kitchen bench. "Close your eyes," he said.

"What for?" she asked.

"It's a surprise," he replied, smiling. She closed them obediently and waited. Ace took her left hand out of her lap and reached into his pocket. Laura felt something slide on to her finger and opened her eyes on reflex. She looked down to see a ring glittering on her finger.

"What's this?" she asked, stupefied.

"What does it look like doll," he said, moving to sit next to her on the bench. "I want you to be my wife."

"Really?" she said weakly.

"Yes really," he smirked, putting his arm around her. "Are you happy?"

"Yes," she said smiling up at him. He cupped her cheek with his free hand and kissed her softly.

"So you'll marry me?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied, her eyes shining.

"What's going on?" Caroline called out as she walked towards them.

"John asked me to marry him," Laura said, still dazed.

Caroline was taken aback, this wasn't exactly what she had in mind when she had talked to Ace yesterday afternoon.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she said taking a seat on the couch.

"I'll be back in a sec," he said to Laura kissing her cheek, leaving her to serve breakfast.

"Is this because of what we talked about before?" she asked him lowly, not wanting Laura to hear.

"Yes, I thought about it and I decided what to do," he said casually.

"I didn't mean you should ask her right away," she stammered. Good god, what ideas had she put into his head.

"Why not? I was going to eventually right, why not today?" Caroline went to protest but he interrupted her. "I'm not going to marry her tomorrow," he said smirking at how flustered Caroline was, "I'll wait until she graduates like you asked but I want her to be my wife and I want her to know that. I wasn't trying to upset you."

"I'm not upset, it's just...you're taking my baby away."

"Not just yet," he said leaning back in his seat, "but she's my baby too."

"Is everything okay," Laura asked nervously, afraid her mother was making some sort of protest.

"Everything's fine sweetheart," her mother said turning to face her. "Come sit down with us."

She ran over to the couch and sat between them. "So I'm getting married?" she asked softly.

"Not for a little while," Ace said, "your Ma wants you to graduate first and I have to sort out some other things but as soon as I can I will marry you."

"Show me your ring honey," Caroline said, her voice still slightly shaky. "It suits you nicely," she said approvingly, after studying it for a while.

Then as if on cue the two Stratfords burst into tears.

"Come eat breakfast," Ace said pulling Laura up off the couch, he knew if he didn't stop her now she would be liable to be crying all morning.

"Not just yet," she said as he wiped her face. She put her arms around him and whispered in his ear, "I want to stay like this for a while."