"Tim?" Allie called walking into the bay at the station, an apple cobbler and a pint of ice cream in her hands. The lights were dimmed and there was a trail of white rose petals leading to the stairs. She followed the trail and slowly climbed the stairs, her heart pounding a bit.

She actually had a date, a boyfriend, for Valentine's Day. And he wasn't just anyone. He was the person she was going to marry one day.

"Tim?" she said, peeking around the doorway at the top of the stairs.

"Hi, babe," he said, stepping from the shadows into the light, a white rose in his hand, dressed in his navy uniform.

"Hi. You are so sexy in that uniform," she told him, walking into his arms.

"Look at you. This dress, those heels. Gorgeous."

She kissed him softly. "Happy Valentine's, Tim."

"You too."

He gave her the rose and led her by the hand to the kitchen.

"I made us dessert," she said, putting the ice cream in the freezer. "This does not feel like the same kitchen."

He smiled. It was amazing what low lights, candles and soft music could do.

"Thank you for doing this, Tim."

He took her hands and looked in her eyes. "I wanted to be with you tonight. If I hadn't had to work I would have taken you out."

"I believe you."

"Lawson, what's going on?" a co-worker she didn't know said walking in the kitchen.

"Pratt, it's Valentine's Day. What do you think is going on?"

"Did you make enough for the rest of us?" he asked, taking the lid off a pot.

"There's a casserole from Fiona in the freezer."

Allie walked over to Pratt and held out her hand to shake. "I'm Allie Grant."

"Jackson Pratt," he said, shaking her hand. "Dude, why is a girl like Miss Grant here with you?"

Allie figured he was trying to tease but she saw Tim tense up so she took Tim's hand and laced their fingers together.

"I love Tim," she said proudly. "He's kind and makes me feel important and he's so smart. I'm lucky to have him."

"Thanks, babe," he whispered, kissing her hand. "I'm the lucky one."

"Let's eat while the food is hot."

He nodded and pulled out a chair for her to sit on and then finished dishing out their food. He was not going to let Pratt ruin this night. He'd just ignore him.

…..

University of Colorado dorms

Ivy tried to eat the food Jared had brought for them but she wasn't hungry. She hadn't been for months.

"Ivy? Are you feeling okay?"

She smiled, or tried to. "I'm fine. Thank you for dinner."

"We could watch a movie."

"Sure."

He missed the old, sweet, happy Ivy. He knew she was struggling with grief, perhaps guilt. He himself was grieving, knowing he'd never know his first child.

He put his arm around her as she chose a movie. Once she found a Hallmark love story, she leaned her head against his shoulder and quietly watched.

"Ivy?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad we're together tonight."

"Only as friends," she reminded him. "Its not a date."

"I know. You are my best friend and I am fine with that." He didn't want her to feel pressured at all. He'd be patient.

Ivy closed her eyes but stayed awake. Not only was her appetite basically non-existent, so was her sleeping. As a result, her grades were slipping. Marley tried to help but she had her own studies to worry about.

"I think I need to go home," Ivy told him after about thirty minutes of silence.

"Right now?"

"Yes. I'm drowning here. I can't eat or sleep. I can't concentrate on school. I'm lost, Jared. I need my mom." And maybe therapy.

"I'll take you but will you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Eat something. Ivy, you've lost weight and I'm worried about you."

She had lost fifteen pounds. Her clothes were essentially falling off her. She took a small bite of her burger and a few fries because he asked not because her stomach agreed.

About an hour later, she had packed her bags and laptop, hugged Marley and she and Jared were on their way toward Denver.

…..

Lucas and Elizabeth left his house after changing into their warm, non-formal clothes for part two of their date.

He headed to Coolers to get their dessert. Mint chip shakes to be exact.

"Oh! Lucas, are we getting shakes?"

He grinned at her and kissed her knuckles. "Yes we are."

"And are we going to The Bluff?"

"Yep."

"That's great. It's like it's our spot, you know?"

"I do."

"Crap!" He exclaimed, carefully pulling into a driveway and heading back to his house. "I can't believe I forgot it."

"Forgot what?"

"Your gift." She watched him shake his head.

"Honey, whatever it is, you can give it to me later."

"I don't want to wait."

"Okay. Just slow down a bit, alright? I don't have a curfew and Coolers is open late."

He took his foot off the gas and they slowed. "Sorry, Beth."

She laced their fingers together and squeezed. "There is nothing to apologize for."

He knew that. He just wanted the night to be perfect. He had planned everything.

"Lucas, it will be fine."

He nodded. "I love you, Beth. So much."

"I love you too."

He ran into his house, grabbed the ring box, stuffing it in his pocket and ran back to his truck.

She looked at him funny and then just smiled. She didn't see a gift but she wouldn't question. He was obviously concerned about details so she'd stay quiet.

"Can we get two mint chip shakes, please?" Lucas ordered, keeping Elizabeth tucked securely under his arm.

"Of course," said the teenager behind the counter. "Happy Valentine's," she told them, handing their shakes a moment later.

"Thank you."

When they arrived at The Bluff it had started snowing lightly, creating a nice atmosphere for drinking shakes in the back of his truck.

He put down a thick blanket on his tailgate and grabbed a second blanket to wrap around themselves. She sat down and waited, contentedly sipping her shake as he turned on music and then joined her.

"Make You Feel My Love" by Adele started playing, making her smile.

"This is the song we first danced to the night we kissed," she remembered.

"It is," he confirmed, kissing her chilly lips. "Mm. Minty."

He put the blanket around their shoulders and tried not to fidget. Apparently he didn't fool Beth.

"Its just me, Luke. You don't need to be nervous."

He sighed and got down, standing in front of her. "You're my best friend, Beth. Every single day I find myself falling more and more in love with you. Your heart. Your beauty, inside and out. How wonderful you are to your girls. To my daughter."

"Aw, honey. I love you too." She leaned forward and slipped her arms around his neck to give him a kiss.

"I know that you and I belong together. Forever. I want to be your companion, your lover, the one you can depend on." He kissed her again, lingering as his emotions bubbled up.

He pulled back and pulled the ring out of his pocket. "Will you be my wife, Beth?"

"Of course I will." He slipped her diamond band on her ring finger. Perfect fit. "Its beautiful."

"You're beautiful. I love you so much."

He moved forward in the space created between her knees and wrapped his arms around her, his lips finding her neck, giving her goosebumps.

"Okay, Lucas, when is our wedding and where is our honeymoon?"

"I'm not saying where our honeymoon is but our wedding is June 10th, after school lets out, we will leave June 11th and we will be gone for three weeks."

"Three weeks? Are you sure your guys will be able to handle you being gone for that long?" she teased. "You're a pretty important guy."

"I'm not worried."

"You make me so happy, Luke. I'm so glad I have you."

"I feel the same way."

…..

Just as Allie and Tim were finishing a movie they had started after dinner, the fire alarm went off so everyone had to go.

Allie drove home, expecting no one to be there but instead finding a car she didn't recognize.

She looked at her phone for the first time all night. There was a message from Ivy.

"U home? Can I sleep in your room please? I need to come home."

Allie hurried in the house. "Ivy?"

"Al?" Ivy called from the living room.

"You must be Jared," Allie said to the owner of the car.

"Yes."

Allie hugged Ivy and held on until she was ready to let go.

"I'm not going to ask how you are because that's obvious. I missed you."

She started crying again and held tight to Allie.

"Let's sit down." They sat on the couch, Ivy's head on Allie's shoulder, Jared watching from the easy chair a few feet away.

"Tell me what's going on, little sister. What's on your heart?"

Ivy looked up at Allie and smiled. "Dad used to say that."

"He did."

"I'm just so sad. I feel like maybe it's my fault my baby died. Maybe I didn't take care of myself?"

Allie stroked her hair and shook her head. "Its not your fault. I promise you. You did nothing wrong. I read that sometimes a baby doesn't survive because there was a genetic problem or it just wasn't healthy enough. Other times, there just isn't a reason."

"You read about it?"

"Of course I did. You were going through something horrible and I figured if I knew more, maybe I could help you."

"I named him Oliver. I thought that it would help me heal if he had a name. Now I'm not so sure."

"Oliver is a wonderful name." She kissed Ivy's forehead. "You would be a wonderful mother, Ive."

"I can't do it. I can't lose another child."

"I don't mean now. When you're ready. With the man you love."

"No. I won't take that chance."

Jared watched them. She seemed to have forgotten he was there. Telling her sister/cousin that she wouldn't have babies. There went his future.

It wasn't as if they were anywhere near that point but…if he wanted children in the future, Ivy Grant was out of the picture now.

He stood and leaned over her, kissing her forehead. "I think you're in good hands now. Can I text you?"

"Okay. Thank you, Jared."

He nodded and then left.

Lucas as and Elizabeth pulled up out front as Jared was walking out the front door.

"Who's that?" Lucas asked.

"I don't know. A friend of Allie?"

"Maybe…"

"Oh, I wonder if that's Jared."

"Ivy's boyfriend?"

"Yes, which means, she's here instead of at school."

Elizabeth got out of Lucas's truck and hurried inside. She could feel in her gut that something was wrong. "Ivy? Baby, are you here?"

"Mom?" Ivy saw her mom and immediately broke down. Again. "Mom, I need help."