N: one more chapter and it will probably be all fluff and what not! so read on and enjoy this mess!

Graduation Day –

"You look like you're either going to vomit on the floor or you're going to run out of the room."

Tamsin's voice appearing out of nowhere to land right beside me, scared the hell out of me. I swung my head to glare at her. She smirked back, plopping in the seat next to me with a giant bag of popcorn in her hands. I frowned at the woman. She was fifteen minutes late and in full street uniform. "You told me you had time to change."

She shrugged, shoving a handful of popcorn in her mouth, "I did, then we got a weird fucking traffic stop at the last minute. Freddy took the paperwork so I could code my ass down to this fancy fucking graduation ceremony." She looked over me, grinning as she slugged my shoulder. "Looking good, looking good. It's a shame I feel nothing for you and you're not valedictorian. You're one smoking hot bish in that dress."

I hissed at her to shut up and fiddled with the edge of the pale blue skirt of the simple elegant dress I picked out for the simple fact it was a color easily spotted in a crowd. Giving Bo a visual point to lock on and relax, "Can you be quiet, my parents are right over there." I waved at my mom and dad sitting with Bo's parents. "I'm nervous enough as it is. You're not supposed to be eating in here."

Tamsin gave me one of her traditional weird faces, "Who the fuck is going to tell a cop to step away from the popcorn bag, no one. And why the fuck would you be nervous? You graduated right after Christmas and this whole shitshow of sitting in the front is because of your girlfriend being the top law dork of the year." She clawed up another handful of popcorn, "Why the nerves, perve?"

I grimaced, closing my eyes, "Bad memories. Another graduation day and those memories of what happened." I sucked in a slow breath to calm my own rising dark thoughts.

"Ain't shit going to happen. Not on my watch." Tamsin looked around the auditorium, "I'm only catching bad looks from the ushers who are probably super fucking jealous of my snacks." She then grabbed my hand squeezing it and looking in my eyes, "I got you. Bo's got you and the parental hit squad is over there. You're good, Lauren." She then studied my face a little harder, "Wait, you're not intending to pop the question today?"

I shook my head quickly, "Oh no, no. Not today. Bo has been losing her shit since she opened the mail and saw she was valedictorian of her graduating law class."

I swallowed slowly, smiling at the look on her face when she read the letter over and over. Confused as to how I wasn't the top student and giving up the inspirational speech of the year. She didn't believe me when I showed her that I had graduated in technically the prior year and Bo had truly, and honestly, worked her ass off and won the highest GPA for the longest of all of her classmates. Bo had done this on her own, with a little help from Laurel and her study groups, but other than that, Bo had proof she wasn't dumb and could tell her demons to fuck off whenever they started to whisper.

I sighed, looking up at Tamsin, "I was thinking maybe next month when we take that trip to your dad's lake house for Bo's birthday. Her mom and I planned something that should work well." I looked down at my hands. "I'm nervous because Bo is nervous and later tonight I'm going to tell her about the academy."

"Still haven't told Boobs about that?" Tamsin shook her head, waving at my parents from across the aisle, "You're planning to marry her and have her fucking fancy engagement ring shoved in my sweat pants drawer for safe keeping. Why are you waiting?" She looked back at me with that shitty questioning look I often wanted to slap off.

I shrugged, "Because. Bo isn't ready for that stress. She's been so weird lately about finals and getting the internship ready, she's kind of grown distant." I frowned. "She's acting the same way she did back in high school and it scares me." I ran my hands down my thighs nervously. "Bo has also been doing weird things in the spare bedroom. She keeps looking at something and smiling then when I come around the corner, she hides it in a locked drawer and distracts me when I ask her what's up."

I looked at my best friend, "Do you think…"

"You need to shut the fuck up and stop worrying? Hell yes I do." Tamsin shoved the bag of popcorn in my face, "Eat some of this buttery goodness and stop being a weirdo. That girl," She leaned half on top of me to point at the curtain where Bo was standing and pacing nervously with note cards in her hand. "Loves you. There isn't a chance she's going to do anything but grin at you like an idiot and stare at you while she inspires people with a droll speech about success and shit." Tamsin leaned back, brushing crumbs off the top of her uniform shirt. "For fuck's sake, it's not like she's going to propose to you on the spot in the middle of the speech. That would just be stupid. Stupid and hilarious, but she knows you hate surprises. Carl still won't talk to me after you called him a dumb fuck for parking his hippie juice Prius in your parking spot." Tamsin dove in the popcorn again, "It would make me piss my pants in laughter if you lost your shit on Bo and called her a dumb fuck out of a spontaneous reaction to her proposing in the middle of a hundred people on graduation day."

I started laughing, shaking my head. I was being foolish and Tamsin was right. Bo knew me well enough to know that surprises were not my favorite and we had spoken in length about carefully planning the future. "You're right." I looked over at my mom, grinning at me in a weird way, "My mom would have me removed from the country if I did anything like that." I nudged Tamsin in the shoulder, "You always talk sense into me."

Tamsin grinned with a mouthful of popcorn, "I know, but I'm still calling dibs of being your best maid of honor when the time comes. Freddy even suggested I get one of the certificates online and become a ordained minister of love from the church of alien laser light. That way I could marry you two idiots."

I rolled my eyes, "No. Just No to that, but yes to you being my best man." I smiled and felt the last strings of nerves release as the dean of the school stepped out onto the stage to begin the ceremony.

I shushed Tamsin and snatched the popcorn bag away and shoved it under the chair, receiving a childish frown from the overgrown child. After a few introductions and speeches, Bo was called upon the stage and I couldn't help but grin at how beautiful she looked in her cap and gown. Biting her bottom lip like she always did when she was super nervous and shy. I threw her a small wave when she caught me sitting in the front row across from the group of graduating students.

Tamsin sniffled, "Look how beautiful our girl is, Lauren. All grown up and getting her fancy degree. So proud."

I looked at her, intending to scold her but when I saw the real tear slip down her cheek, I couldn't help but nod and pat Tamsin's hand. "Yes she has."

Bo took a deep breath and looked around the audience before finding her voice. "Today is graduation day. A day we've all been looking forward to for the last couple of years and now that it's here, it feels freeing." She paused, shuffling her notecards for a moment before looking up and squinting in the direction of the corner closest to where I sat. She suddenly grinned and waved, before letting out another breath and continuing on.

I grew curious and turned to look in the corner Bo had looked, wondering who it could be that made Bo even more relaxed. Our families were all here, including Tamsin's dad. Laurel was sitting six seats away from me fidgeting in her seat next to Michaela. Everyone of importance was here, so I was confused and determined to know.

Scanning the crowd, my eyes roamed over familiar faces of professors and other faculty. Then near the back I landed on a pair of eyes settled in a very gruff looking face, worn down by spending most of his days out on the ocean and in the ocean wind. I felt my eyes widen and my heart race when he looked back at me and winked. I kept my eyes on him, reaching for Tamsin, I whispered, "Why is Hank here?" I was staring at the man who saved me. I had not heard from him in almost three years. He and I had a few drinks on his boat right before Tamsin and I moved to Boston and start our life here. I promised I'd write to him, but he told me not to worry, that he'd show up when it mattered and when I needed him.

Tamsin covered my hand, pulling me back to look at the stage as she leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Your girlfriend asked me to bring him out here. She wanted the man who saved you to witness this." She pointed at Bo, "Pay attention for fuck's sake."

I scowled at her and turned to Bo, staring at me like she had just seen a ghost. "About ten years ago, I had another graduation day. My high school graduation day, and it was going to be the greatest day of my life. I had made new friends and found the love of my life along the way." She shifted on her feet, "But life sometimes has a funny way of throwing curveballs at you when you're young and very ignorant to how the world works and that if you want something, you never let anyone stand in the way. I let someone stand in my way that day and I lost the love of my life and my direction, opting to chase a curveball."

Bo dipped her head down, blowing out a slow breath and when she spoke her voice trembled. "Now today is my graduation day from law school. Two years of the most difficult of my life. There was the coursework, the endless nights of studying and surviving the path to becoming a lawyer. And along the way, I was reconnected to the one person who believed in me from the first moment I looked in her eyes when she almost plowed me over like an overburdened turtle carrying the school library on her back." Bo grinned as the crowd chuckled with her, "I was resistant to change when our reconnection happened, feeling the curveball was how my life was going to go forever. But then she changed all of that, she grabbed the ball and took it out of the orbit I was living in. She changed my life for the second time, stole my heart for the second time and never let my heart out of her sight. Fighting with me and for me, and ultimately saving my life and my future legal career."

Bo looked up at me with teary eyes, "First, I must ask for everyone's forgiveness for what I'm about to do. " She grinned and walked to the edge of the stage and hopped down to walk towards me. I glared at Tamsin, who was sniffling and grinning like an idiot.

Bo reached out for my hand, "Will you stand up?"

I gave her a curious look, my stomach rolling with confusion. "Bo, everyone is watching us." I glanced at Hank, "Why is he here?"

Bo grinned, "Lauren Lewis, you're the love of my life. I fell in love with you when our eyes met in the hallway of Mapleview High. I fell in love with you all over again when you stood outside my door in the rain, professing you're undying love for me and undying bravery in fighting with me." She paused and looked at Tamsin, "Do you have it?"

Tamsin hopped to her feet and dug in her side pants pocket, pulling out a small red velvet bag. She handed it over to Bo and stepped away the second it was in her palm.

That's when the realization hit me, and I started to shake my head. "Bo…" I felt my entire body warm up, my heart pound as my nerves and every other damn emotion spiraled up.

Bo opened the bag and removed a simple band with a diamond set in the middle. I gasped as I saw it and bit my bottom lip.

"I love you and will every second of every hour in every day I am with you." Bo looked up at me with teary eyes, "I loved you when we were apart, knowing that there would never be anyone but you to hold my heart as carefully and as passionately as you do. You're my everything and more." She then moved to one knee and held up the ring, grinning, "Lauren Lewis, will you make me even happier than you have and be my wife?"

I knew I was staring at Bo, feeling her hand tremble as it held onto mine, squeezing nervously when I took a minute too long. I closed my eyes and whispered, "I fudging hate surprises." I opened my eyes to see the panicked look on her face, so I bent down and kissed her hard, whispering against her lips, "Yes. God yes I will marry you, Bo." The tears rolled freely down my face as I was overwhelmed by so many things. Including that Bo was the one to ask first, showing me and her demons, that there was no stopping her. She had found her place and her strength.

Bo closed her eyes, "For a second there, I thought you were going to say no and call me a dumb fuck." She stood up, looking at Tamsin who suddenly shouted, "SHE SAID YES! BITCHES ARE GETTING MARRIED MOTHER FUCKERS!"

I pulled Bo closer as she slid the ring on my finger, kissing my cheek as I looked at the unique ring of rose gold and platinum. I then blushed as the thunderous applause filled the room, "Bo, you should probably finish your speech so everyone else can have their moment of glory."

Bo kissed my cheek, "They all knew. I came up here and asked if it was okay while you went to grab my makeup bag from the car." She giggled when I gave her a dirty look, "Don't be angry, I made the decision an hour ago, that's why Tamsin was late. I had her stop and get the ring out of my desk drawer."

I shook my head pulling Bo to sit down next to me now that Tamsin had moved to sit next to her father. "You know I hate surprises, and this is a big one." I looked around the room, "All these people…."

"Will not be at the wedding." Bo chuckled as the dean returned to the stage and started calling off names to hand out the degrees. She looked over her shoulder at Hank, "I hope you're not mad I found him. I just felt it was important that he was here, he's a big reason why we're here at this point."

I shook my head, picking up Bo's hand, "I'm not. He is a big reason why I stopped blaming myself and realized how young I was when everything went wrong. He taught me that it was never my fault, but to listen when others cast blame my way. For the only reason to give them the same opportunity to heal." I sighed, glancing at her parents who were beaming. "I love you, Bo." I kissed the side of her head, "But don't ever surprise me like this again. I hate crying in front of people."

Bo just grinned at me and stared at the ring on my finger, running hers over the intricate twisting of metal. A symbol of us, we had twisted and turned and ultimately found our back. Becoming the diamond in the center, an unbreakable stone.

XxXxX

The backyard was full of people and I had just finished talking with one of Lauren's aunts about graduation and the surprise engagement. As I headed up the stairs of the deck I spotted Lauren standing with one of my dad's brothers and they were looking at her ring. I chuckled to myself as I continued to make my way inside. I just needed some space away from everyone.

The last few hours had been a little overwhelming but it was my fault. When I had picked up the ring I knew I had to propose soon because not only was I terrible at keeping secrets from Lauren but that ring was too beautiful to keep from her. Lauren had yet to ask me how I paid for it but I'm sure she would then we both could be mad at my dad for paying for the ring. He told me to think of it as an early thank you gift for giving him grandchildren. Lauren would probably flip if I told her that one but my dad would love to see her freak out.

I headed inside then snuck upstairs to mine and Lauren's room. I walked over to the window that looked out into the backyard and I smiled as I watched everyone. I had proposed to the love of my life and I couldn't have been happier. When I had gone up to the lectern to make my speech my knees started to shake. Talking in front of my entire graduating class was nerve wrecking enough but adding on a proposal and well, I was surprised I didn't throw up. I had been planning the proposal for the last couple weeks. I had first mentioned it to Dr. Greenbaum at my final therapy session and she had encouraged me to do it. Telling me that I was doing it for all the right reasons so there was no reason for me to wait. Then I told Tamsin what I was up to and she was beyond ready to help me. After that I just had to speak to a few people a school to get the go ahead to deviate from the norm. I even made sure that Tamsin tracked Hank down because I owed him for a lot and I thought he would want to be there to witness how happy Lauren was and how his crotchety old man personality had instilled some resiliency in her.

I looked around the backyard hoping to see Lauren where I had last seen her but she wasn't back there. I assumed she had gone inside for something. I sighed as I thought about the coming months. I was going to start my internship and I was curious what Lauren was going to do because she hadn't said much in regards to internships or finding a job or anything. Now that I thought about it she had been spending a lot more time at the cop shop with Tamsin. Before I had time to dwell on that I heard a gruff voice say, "Sorry. I thought this was the head."

I turned to see the hardened face of the man that had been Lauren's salvation. I gave him a smile and told him, "It's okay." I pointed to the master bathroom. "You can use the toilet in there or the second door on the left is the guest bath."

He chuckled a little then said, "I'll make my way down the hall." Hank turned to leave then he turned back to look at me as he scratched the back of his head. "I can't leave in good faith knowing that you're okay. This shindig is for you and Lo but you're up here by your lonesome."

I let out a small laugh then told him, "Yeah I'm okay Hank. I just…." I trailed off as I tried to explain why I needed to get away. I sighed. "I needed some space. Some time to think."

"Ah you one of them types that likes to process things internally," he said taking a step further into the room.

I nodded. "Yeah." I chuckled then remarked, "I never used to be that way, like when I was younger. But then shit happened and I began to keep things to myself. Granted it was for the worse then but now it's more of a happy internal process."

"By shit you mean…."

I sighed then told him, "Lauren left." I got a smile on my face. "But then I got her back and I owe that to you."

Hank scoffed then remarked, "You don't owe me shit." He rubbed his hand over his head. "She was just a lost girl who needed a kick in the ass to get her back on track."

"I know but if you hadn't done that then we wouldn't have found each other again and who knows where either of us would be." I took a deep breath then said, "Thank you Hank. For everything. It means more than you'll never know."

Hank looked away and muttered, "Now don't go getting all emotional girlie." His eyes met mine. "She was too damn bright for her to throw it away like that."

I nodded and smiled. "She was but you stopped it. Helped her find the strength that eventually helped me. So again, thank you Hank. I will forever be in your debt."

Hank rolled his eyes. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "How she doing by the way? I check in with Tamsin every now and then but I didn't want to encroach on you two."

I chuckled then told him, "You can call her Hank. I think she'll appreciate it. She has Tamsin and her parents but I think you give her the unbiased perspective that she needs." I looked out the window and smiled. "She's doing great. We worked through everything and we're happy. She may not have a job lined up but I think the time off from school and work will help her figure out what she really needs to do."

Hank chuckled and asked, "Time off? Are you sure you're talking about the same Lauren."

"I know, I know. It's weird to say but I hope she does." I grinned. "I'll tell her that the X-Files is coming back and she'll spend the rest of the summer waiting catching up on it." I laughed. "She would hate me for that."

Hank laughed with me then said, "I don't think you want to start off your life together like that."

I nodded then said, "This is true."

"Bo?" I heard Lauren call up the stairs.

"I'm in our room Lauren."

Lauren came into the room and she saw Hank. He smiled at her then gave her a hug. As he hugged her he whispered something to her. When he let go he pointed over his shoulder and said, "Well I'm going to go hit the can and give you two some space."

Hank left out of the room and when I knew he was out of earshot I asked, "What he say?"

Lauren walked over to me and smiled. "He said that he's proud of me and glad that I got to find the missing part of me." She wrapped her arms around my waist. "You okay?"

I smiled as I looked into her concerned eyes. "Yeah I am. I just needed to think a bit." I chuckled a little. "Its been a whirlwind of a day."

Lauren hummed then she placed a brief kiss on my lips and as she pulled back she said, "Well this is what happens when you propose in the middle of a graduation."

I grinned. "It seemed like the best idea. Besides I had to do it right away or I was going to propose to you while we were making dinner one night. That ring was burning a hole in my pocket."

"I bet it was." She held up her hand and looked at it. "It is a beautiful ring though Bo."

I smiled and told her, "But it's not as beautiful as you are though."

Lauren chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Ever the romantic." She leaned in to give me another kiss this one was slow and filled with so much love and appreciation. Lauren broke the kiss and she looked into my eyes. "No more surprises though Bo. Even if they are romantic. No more."

I grimaced. "I can't promise that Lauren."

She scowled at me. "See if I give you sex again."

I laughed then told her, "Okay that's fine. I enjoy celibacy thank you very much."

"Hey you two pervs stop doing the horizontal mambo and get your asses down here." Tamsin shouted up the stairs.

I narrowed my eyes at Lauren. "I don't like her sometimes."

Lauren grinned and said, "You love Tamsin."

I rolled my eyes then moved so that I could take hold of her hand. "I love you but that doesn't mean I have to love your best friend all the time."

Lauren laughed and as we walked out of the room she said, "It's okay. I don't love Tamsin all of the time either."

I laughed and the two of us went back downstairs to the party that celebrated us moving on to the next phases of our life.

XXXX

The day had been filled with excitement and family. Bo graduating was a huge deal, bigger than her proposing to me and it felt amazing to watch her from the side. It looked to be that she had chased most of her demons to sit in the back and stay there.

I was happy, incredibly happy as I sat in the chair by the window. Bo was in the bed still, sleeping with a smile on her face. We had just consummated our engagement and she passed out a few minutes later. The excitement and crazy positive energy had worn us all out.

I ran my finger over the beautiful and intricate engagement ring, grinning in the moonlight. I had never ever thought this day would come. I had thought that Bo and I would always just be on the edge of making our love honest and true. I was so focused on her getting through the last few months that I was afraid to push or even think about planning my own proposal. But then Bo surprised me again, showing me and the world that she was ready. She was much more than the dumb cheerleader who fell down a rabbit hole.

She had proven to us and her demons that she was the strongest woman I knew and I would always love her.

I glanced over at the sleeping brunette, tucked up in my pillow and snoring softly. She was beautiful and I loved her more than I did when I woke up to her rushing around the room in a frantic state, trying to find her graduation gown and notecards. I felt my grin falter, I still had to tell her about my plans for the academy. Hank was the one who basically demanded that I tell Bo tonight or tomorrow. He adored Bo and fell into protective mode when I mentioned I was hesitant to tell her.

"Girlie, you have to tell her. She's your sun, moon and stars. Don't treat her like yesterday's catch and try to keep her floundering about with evasive tactics. Tell her. Tell her you want to be a street cop. Save kittens and babies and all that shit." He looked over at Bo standing with Tamsin, "Plus you got the blonde beast. She'll keep you safe." He chuckled out a gruff laugh, "Tell her while she's on the high of popping the question. She loves you and whatever darkness you fear is going swallow you up, it won't." He reached out and patted my back. "Trust me."

I wanted to agree with Hank but I stopped short. I was leery that telling Bo I was thinking of being a cop would set her back. I wouldn't be home as much or around when she had bad days. She would worry about me and it would make me worry that she was worrying too much. I sighed, tucking my knees up to my chest and stared out the open window. The cool night breeze doing very little to calm my over anxious nerves.

After a few minutes of watching the newspaper delivery truck weave through the neighborhood, I sucked in a breath and got up from the chair. Glancing at the clock, it was a quarter to six in the morning. Tamsin would be home from her overtime shift in two hours and demanded we went out for an engagement breakfast buffet.

I walked over to my desk and pulled out the old beat up X-files lunch box and opened it. I picked up the fake alien test tube I had hidden Bo's ring and dug out the simple titanium band with two diamonds sunk into the metal. I had been hiding the rings since that lunch with her mom and would look at them every night, hoping tomorrow would be the day I would ask Bo to marry me.

Then she went and beat me to it.

I suddenly grinned. Bo beat me to it.

That was an incredible feeling to know Bo was the one who asked me to marry her first and I would tell my kids, my grandkids and the entire neighborhood how it happened.

"Lauren?" Bo sat up in the bed, "Why are you playing with that weird alien toy I got at the mall for you when we were kids?" She yawned, "Come back to bed, and why are you clothed? "

I blushed, remembering exactly when Bo got me the alien. She spent at least three dollars in quarters trying to get it out of those tiny little vending machines outside of Suncoast. "That alien has been keeping a secret for a few months. He's been my co-conspirator." I opted to ignore the playful pout my future wife gave me for throwing on a shirt and underwear.

Bo gave me a sleepy confused look, "I knew telling you and Tamsin about the rumors of the X-files coming back would spark the nerds in you two back up." She held out her hand, "Come here fiancée, I want snuggles." She grinned at the word fiancée.

I crawled on the bed to sit next to her, smoothing out the worn NASA shirt I put on when I woke up when Bo grabbed at it. "Bo, I have to tell you something, but first, I want you to have this." I opened my palm and held up the ring. "I was going to ask you to marry me in the fall. After the dust was settled with school, internship and Tamsin's weird summer trip she booked for us." I picked up Bo's left hand, "But you beat me to it and surprised me in a glorious way."

I looked up at teary brown eyes, Bo was biting her bottom lip as I spoke, "I love you, Bo. You know that because I literally tell you a thousand times a day." I picked up the ring and began to slide it on her left finger. "Titanium is one of the strongest metals out there, and I know black is an odd color for a engagement ring, but I wanted it to represent our love. We've been through so much and will go through so much more as our lives merge, and no matter what, I will always only love you Bo." I pressed the ring to the base of her knuckle, "Will you marry me?" I grinned sheepishly, whispering it out, "I mean I kind of figure it's a yes, but I wanted to at least ask."

Bo sniffled and grabbed my face, pulling me into a deep strong kiss. She whispered against my lips, "Yes. I will marry you."

I sighed and pressed my forehead against hers, "I'm going to the police academy in September. That's why I've been going to the station with Tamsin all the time. It's why I graduated early and haven't setup internships." I rushed the words out in one breath and looked up at Bo, "Are you mad?"

She sighed softly and pulled me into her arms, "I am, but you've thrown me off with this ring and all I want to think about is how I can't wait to be your wife." She kissed my cheek, "But I am going to kill Tamsin over bacon."

I squeezed her tighter, "I love you, Bo, and I promise I'm never going anywhere."

Bo kissed my neck, "Good, now get rid of that shirt. We have something else to celebrate now." She leaned back, smirking as agile hands removed my shirt like a magician with a table cloth.