Angela woke up that morning blissfully by Dwight's side. It wasn't often that she spent the night with him, but on that Friday night she felt the need to be surrounded by strength. And that's what Dwight was to her. He was her tower of strength amongst all the craziness of life, and she knew she could never duplicate what it was she found with him. He wasn't like all of her other coworkers. He was strong and mature and tough and could stand up and fight for what he believed in. He wasn't a hypocrite like the rest of them. Even in her darkest hour he was there to be the beacon of hope that she needed, even though she would never admit that to anyone.

She hated her job. She did it well, but it was her coworkers who drove her crazy, especially Pam and Jim. They thought they were so clever picking on Dwight but thankfully he gave as good as he got, and didn't crumble under pressure. They were just so...cutesy. She needed order and a time and a place for everything. True, she and Dwight had made love at the office, but that was after hours, when no one needed them or missed them or wanted them. She and Dwight were much more than coworkers. She dared even to tell him that she loved him once. He was the only man she ever said those words to. She told her cats every day how much she loved them, but never a man. Not even Andy. At first she respected Andy's drive, but it became a little too much for her. His nonstop talk about Cornell bored her out of her mind. But everything was so fascinating about Dwight. His farm, his drive to be the best he could, his strength, his own interests. Jim and Pam had little interests outside of each other, but not her and Dwight. She had her cats, he had his beets. Together they made interesting conversation, whereas she had no idea what Jim and Pam would talk about outside of the office. Probably the office, she figured. That wasn't how she wanted to live her life.

It was true that Dwight wasn't the most attractive of men, she had to admit to herself. But his confidence gave him an air of respect that she loved about him. She loved a confident man. Andy had appeared to be confident when she first agreed to date him, but the more she got to know him the less respect she had for him. He was angry, and emotionally needy, where she and Dwight could go weeks without talking. There was not much need for communication between the two of them, for they understood each other and their needs so well. When something was wrong with one of her cats, Dwight sensed it, and would be there for her. When Jim humiliated Dwight at work, which was practically every day, Dwight would know that no matter what had happened between them, and felt secure in that knowledge.

This whole mess with Kelly was crazy. It shouldn't have impacted her, but it was. Kelly was Indian- she probably believed in a hundred gods. So why should she care what happened to her? It wasn't as if Kelly were her friend or anything. But what she could relate to was the love for a good man, not that Ryan was a good man. If Angela didn't have Dwight all she would have were her cats, not that there was anything wrong with that. But a little love never hurt anyone. She'd surprised herself by falling for Dwight K. Shrute. She'd always thought that she would never need anyone, but the closer they became the more that she realized that she needed Dwight. With all of his craziness, he could provide the sanity that her job required her to have. Oscar was gay- a sinner. Kevin was an idiot. Michael was an idiot. Phyliss was sanctimonious, and flaunted her marriage in an unfeminine way. The thought of her and Bob together literally made her sick. Toby was a moron and she had no use for him. Erin was alright, but she had taken Andy's affections away from her, so that automatically meant she hated Erin. Yes, she was surrounded by idiots, and Dwight was her safe harbor.

She had honestly thought that she would never be able to love another human being. She had her cats. Yes, her cats were mischeivious and got into trouble, but they never let her down, not the way humans did. Dwight wasn't perfect- he had killed Sprinkles, but soon she was able to forgive him and give herself to him once again. She would do anything Dwight asked of her, and fortunately for her he never asked her to be anything less than what she was.

Dwight was awake and was well aware that Angela was watching him. He understood the appeal. He was a man's man, a provider, and that was him to a tee. He could ensure Angela's safety during any crisis. Why Kelly chose to love Ryan, a weakling, was beyond his understanding. Ryan would never do any woman any good. He hid behind his image and what people thought of him, while Dwight could care less of what most people thought of him. He valued Michael's opinion of him, even though he didn't totally respect Michael most of the time. He wanted his approval, so that he could move on in the paper business. He knew he went out on a limb for Michael time and time again, and was never appreciated, but still, one day, when it counted, Michael would need him, and then they would see who was truly in the driver's seat.

What Dwight did know was that he was a lucky man. Angela loved him, not Andy Bernard, not anyone else. She picked him above any man she could have wanted. It was no wonder. She saw him for who he was, and wasn't juvinile the way Pam and Jim were. Sometimes he admitted to himself that he was a little envious of Jim, for he had a wife who openly displayed her affection for him. But he would rather die than admit that to anyone, especially Jim. Dwight and Angela had their arrangement, and that worked for him for the time being. But there would be a day when Dwight Shrute would need a wife, and he just hoped that Angela would be that woman.

For behind every great man stood a good woman, and he knew without a doubt that Angela was that good woman. He'd had a ring that he'd been hiding in his drawer for months, but could never find the opportunity to ask her to become his wife. It was a simple ring, a band, nothing flashy, but he knew Angela didn't like flash. If she did she never would have picked him. As he turned around to face Angela, he smiled with inspiration.

"Good morning, Angela," he said politely. "I trust that you slept well."

"good morning to you as well, Dwight. Yes, I slept quite soundly, as a matter of fact."

"So what you are saying is that you woke up this morning with a sound mind and sound wit about you," he led her on.

"Yes, you could say that."

"In that case," he stood up and reached in his drawer. "I have a proposition for you."

Angela gasped. This was it? This was the moment she had waited her whole life for? Dwight in his underwear and tee shirt and them lying in bed together?

"Angela, as you are aware, I have a fondness for you that has been growing for some time. In fact, some may call it more than fondness. I am lucky. For in you I have found a woman who needs no labels, who knows me and trusts me. I have decided that right now, right here, is the proper time to ask you this question- Angela, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Angela tried not to tear up, she knew how he hated displays of emotion. But she was finally getting what she wanted- a real engagement to a real man. There was no doubt what her answer would be.

"Dwight I would be honored to become your wife," she grinned in spite of herself, and held out her hand for him to place the band on. It fit perfectly, as Dwight had taken every procaution to make sure that it would.

"Angela, this is a huge undertaking what I am asking of you. It takes a very special woman to become Mrs. Shrute. She needs to be strong and sturdy and made of solid stock. Are you certain you are that woman?"

She nodded.

Then it was so. Dwight and Angela were engaged, while Kelly lay fighting for her life. It bothered neither of them, for they had no pity for her situation. It was her own fault for choosing such an unavailable man, and while they wished no harm to her, they could not let Kelly's unfortunate situation affect their lives. The life which they would now begin together.

As Angela showered she stopped to admire the ring which Dwight had selected for her. It was simple, yet meaningful. He knew her so well. She was so lucky to have him in her life. She knew she was difficult, although she quite often blamed it upon the people around her. He could tolerate her every mood. Even when she was angry with him there was a silent agreement that she would forgive him, in time. She did not need any more duels for a man to prove his love. Dwight loved her and chose her to be his wife. She would be able to retire from the paper company, a fact that she did take in consideration in accepting his proposal. She would no longer be surrounded by fools and idiots and desperate women. She would be in charge of her own life. She would live on a farm where she could have as many cats as she wanted and no one would stop her. She could stop being Angela the bitch and start being Angela, the wife, just the way she wanted it to be.

She didn't care what her coworkers thought. She didn't even care if they found out about the engagement. As she dressed it suddenly occurred to her that they might incur the wrath of their coworkers should they find out about their engagement. So she took her ring and put it through a chain that Dwight had once given her. That should not cause any suspicion, and she could carry her proof of Dwight's love with her everywhere she went. Problem solved.

Once she explained that to Dwight, he was only too happy to go along with it. He did not want the jealousy of his coworkers to interfere with his job duties. He could only imagine what Jim might say, and the last thing he needed was for that buffoon to make a mockery of the most important occasion of his life. Yes, Angela was a wise and steady woman, and for that he would always be thankful.

"Angela Shrute," he called out as he prepared breakfast. She smiled and nodded in response.

"I believe that you we have made ourselves an excellent decision. You are Shrute material, and I shall help you bear the ten Shrute boys it will take to run our farm."

"Our farm?"

"Yes, most certainly once we are married the farm shall be ours. My only concern is that you do not have traditional childbearing hips. Perhaps that will change after the first two or three."

Angela nodded. She knew she was a small woman, but that shouldn't prevent her from bearing children. Just talking about having children with Dwight excited her greatly.

"It will be an honor to bear your children," she smirked.

"And it would be an honor to have you bear my children. Shall we start now?"

"No Dwight. Not until after the wedding. It wouldn't be proper. I don't want a Niagra Falls kind of deal," Angela corrected him, referring to Pam's unplanned pregnancy.

"As you wish. As for the time being, breakfast is ready, and it would be an honor to serve you."

"I accept." And at that moment neither of them could wait for their life together to begin.