So I took another hiatus mainly because I wanted a little break from writing but I felt anxious to return and I'm finally back! So anyways, I'm back, I'll be writing chapters again, and I hope you'll enjoy this little breather before we return to the action!

Hours Later

It was around nighttime in Hillwood. While the day was filled with laughter, joy, loads of smiles, and romance between a future married couple, Arnold and Spinelli couldn't have asked for a better life, or anything else.

About an hour before Arnold and Spinelli's date, Spinelli was on the couch eating M&Ms while watching football live. Bandit was on the ground with a chew toy in his mouth, while Diesel was mostly lying on the ground, not wanting to do anything in the meantime.

As for Arnold, he was in the dining room with Pep, mainly goofing around with her. As for Phoebe… She was called away to MedStar for a tanker vs train accident.

"OH COME ON!" Spinelli stood up as her team threw an interception (a turnover). She sat back down and exhaled.

Arnold and Pep walked into the living room.

"What's going on here?" Pep sat beside her while drinking a cold soda.

"What does it look like? This team sucks ASS!" Spinelli exclaimed. Arnold rolled his eyes and bent over, placing his hands around her shoulders and neck area.

"There, there, sweetheart. Just relax, hun, just relax." Arnold started giving her a comforting massage. "I know this team can be bad at times, but at least we're seven-time champs. Now just relax, and breathe. I'm here, sweetie." Arnold's soothing voice comforted Spinelli.

While Spinelli felt a little more relaxed, she was still pouting.

"And speaking of turnovers, the defense got it back!" Pep pointed out.

"Aw yes!" Spinelli felt at ease. Arnold smiled as he went to sit beside her.

He briefly petted Bandit's head before sitting down.

Spinelli kicked her feet up on the coffee table while Arnold wrapped an arm over her, while Pep crossed her legs.

"Don't you guys think you're missing someone?" Pep smirked. Arnold and Spinelli looked at each other.

"I'll try and keep Andy out of Spinelli's range when it comes to sports." Arnold smirked as he got up to go get Andy.

After a minute, Arnold came back with Andy on his arm. "That's my little girl! High five?" Andy eventually learned how to do a high five. "That's my girl!" Arnold smiled and soon sat down beside Spinelli. He then kissed Andy's cheek.

"So, when is your date, guys?" Pep asked.

"Not until an hour." Arnold replied. "And we're glad we finally found someone we can trust Andy with. Not that we didn't trust our parents or something, it would be a big hassle, you know?" He added.

"Oh, I'm completely fine with taking care of her while you guys are out enjoying yourselves!" She chirpily replied.

Arnold smiled while Spinelli kept watching the tv. "We're so glad you moved in with us."

"I couldn't see myself passing up this opportunity. I'm eternally grateful for what you two have done for me. From the bottom of my heart." Pep smiled wholeheartedly.

Arnold then looked at Spinelli. He only smiled wholeheartedly and kissed her cheek, making her partially smile and look at him.

Forty Minutes Later

The TV suddenly turned off.

Spinelli yelped. "Hey! What gives!" She looked behind to see Arnold had a remote in hand with a smirk. "Ahem?" He pointed at his digital smartwatch.

Spinelli scoffed. "Can't I watch while-" Arnold raised an eyebrow despite the smirk. "Ugh! Fine…" Spinelli crossed her arms and pouted.

"Come on, Spin, this is a date to celebrate your award for the Medal of Valor! You can't pass something like that up!" Arnold walked over to the couch and bent over.

Arnold lightly frowned. "If you're expecting a bribe, it's not happening. Now go get dressed and stop acting like a little girl."

Spinelli let out a small laugh. "Me? A little girl? Man, I'm not the one with 'Shortman' as his last name-" She immediately covered her mouth.

Arnold had an offended but frowning look. He only cleared his throat. "Just go get dressed…" He started to walk away, shaking his head.

"Sheesh, did I say something?" Spinelli looked over at Pep.

She mostly gave an unsure look with a shrug. "I mean… His last name is starting to become a historic name. His Mom is the first woman Battalion Chief, and quite frankly the only one in the Department HISTORY! And now, he's slowly climbing the ranks in hopes of one day becoming Battalion Chief himself, or Fire Chief."

Spinelli blinked twice in confusion. "And how do you know that?…"

"He told me?…" Pep replied, unsure of Spinelli's reaction.

"He told you his last name is becoming history but not me?!" Spinelli slumped over on the couch. "What is what anymore…" She weakly let her arms fall onto the couch.

"You can't be completely mad at him, I mean, it is true." Pep shrugged. "Aren't you happy for them, at least?" She asked.

"Well, I guess but… I'm not sure about it completely. I'll just need to talk to him." Spinelli replied. "Say uh, Pep? How good are you a- at makeup? I practically have zero clue about it except lipgloss tubes…"

Pep lowered her eyelids. "Yeah, don't bother asking."

"I was kind of expecting that response despite you looking like a doll." Spinelli rolled her eyes.

"Don't you have a friend that does your makeup?" Pep asked. "I do, but she's out of town." Spinelli replied.

Pep briefly exhaled. "Then, I don't know what to say-" Their doorbell rang. They looked over to see Arnold and Diesel heading over.

Arnold opened the door to reveal a smiling Ashley Q.

"Hey Arnold!" She chirpily greeted him with a hug.

"Ashley! It's been too long since we've seen you!" Arnold hugged her back.

"But I think I finally found someone else…" Spinelli quietly said.

Ashley Q, Arnold, and Diesel walked to the living room.

"Hey, Spinelli!" She greeted with a wave. Spinelli waved back with a small smile. Arnold bent over to the couch.

He cupped her face and said, "I'll come see you when you're ready?" Spinelli finally smiled. She only nodded. "Great." Arnold smiled and kissed her soft lips.

Soon, Arnold walked to their bedroom with Diesel behind him, while Spinelli and Ashley Q would head upstairs. Pep would only shrug and decide to follow along.

16 Minutes Later

It didn't take long before Spinelli was already in her black dress, all she needed was her makeup done by Ashley Q. And what about Pep? Well, she was mainly there for company.

"Come on! Hold still! Hold still so I can get your cheeks done!" Ashley Q told Spinelli. She only exhaled and did as told.

"Are you going to look like that at the Firefighters Ball?" Pep asked while lying on her back on a bed.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Spinelli looked back. Ashley Q merely rolled her eyes.

"I mean it as a question! Not as an insult!" Pep immediately replied. Spinelli faced back at her mirror. "Now will you please hold still?" Ashley Q asked. Spinelli would only nod.

"Well, to answer your question-" The red-semi-orange-haired woman immediately cut off her sentence. "Wait, did you say 'Firefighters Ball?'" Ashley Q asked. Pep only nodded at her.

"Wait, what is that exactly?" She asked Spinelli.

"It's a big reunion of firefighters. And apparently, we're supposed to be dressed formally instead of our Class A's…" Spinelli scoffed.

"Is it SPECIFICALLY for you guys or can others come along?" Ashley asked.

"If you want to tag along with us just say it…" Spinelli lowered her eyelids.

"Oh, please? I'm extremely eager to see what you guys do at those conventions!" Ashley Q replied with a smile. "I think you should be able to though." Spinelli replied.

"Perfect!" Ashley Q replied while applying makeup to Spinelli's cheeks.

Five Minutes Later

Ashley Q had her tongue out from her mouth as she finished. "Ok. Now take your pick." She reached for two tubes. One of lipstick, one of lipgloss.

Spinelli smirked. "Yeah, I think you and I both know what my choice will be." She said while grabbing the red lipstick tube.

"I'll let him know you'll be down in a minute." Ashley winked and soon started to walk out.

After she walked out, Spinelli put her earrings in her ears, and then applied her lipstick.

"I'd have to bet you're gonna hate having to apply makeup again for the Firefighters Ball." Pep looked over and soon sat up on the bed.

Spinelli merely shrugged. "Can't say I hate dolling myself up for when it comes to my dates with Arnold, but when I have to doll myself up for those events, it mainly makes me feel…"

"Out of place?"

"No."

"Weirded out?"

"Bingo!" Spinelli snapped her fingers. "It makes me feel weirded out. I obviously don't have to worry about people hitting on me, but that's something I'm more or less afraid of… I know Arnold will be by my side, but still…" Spinelli finished applying her lipstick and hung her head for a moment.

Pep walked over and crouched, with a hand on both her bare shoulders. "We'll both make sure nothing happens, alright?" Spinelli only smiled. "Thanks." She replied.

Pep patted her shoulder. "I'll see you downstairs?" Spinelli only nodded and looked over herself in the mirror. Pep soon walked out and to the stairs.

While Spinelli took a deep breath to calm herself, Arnold, downstairs, was in his tuxedo with a fancy wristwatch and with a cologne that could attract any woman.

Arnold saw Pep coming down the stairs. "How's Spinelli?" He asked.

"She'll be down in a minute." She then saw something in his hands." Is that what I'm seeing?" She smirked.

Arnold was holding a custom-made necklace. A heart with a small skull in the middle. "Oh, this? It's just a little something I managed to get for her." He shrugged with a smile.

"I'd say she's one lucky woman." Ashley Q giggled and smelled his cologne.

"Oh, trust me, she's extremely lucky."

Soon, Spinelli came walking down the stairs slowly.

"If it isn't my future wife." Arnold walked over to her and smiled, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You look so beautiful, Spinelli." Arnold kissed her forehead.

"Aw, thanks." Spinelli gave a kiss to his lips. The two soon looked over to their friends, while Bandit and Diesel walked over and briefly sat down.

Arnold crouched to his two pets, while Pep spoke up. "Enjoy your night out, I'll take care of things here. I promise."

Spinelli would only smile. "Thanks."

"You two better be good, ok? There'll be treats for good behavior." Arnold smirked at his two dogs. Bandit and Diesel wagged their tails.

"We'll be back." Arnold pet both their heads and stood back up.

"Ready?" Arnold offered his arm. Spinelli blushed but took his arm anyhow.

They shared one more kiss on their lips before heading out.

Later

As a black Ford was seen stopping at a red light…

"A Medal of freaking Valor. Who would've thought honestly." Arnold smiled while holding her hand.

"It's just part of our job." Spinelli shrugged.

Arnold rolled his eyes while smiling. "You did more than your job, you solidified something. You're an accomplished Ashley, but the fighting spirit of a Spinelli, and you'll always be my Spinelli." Arnold leaned over to kiss her lips.

"Come on, Arnold! At least save it for when we arrive." She giggled.

Arnold would only smile and hold her hand.

The traffic light turned green, and his black Ford would soon drive off.

Later At The Fancy Restaurant

Arnold and Spinelli were leaning across the table for another kiss on their lips.

"I love you." Arnold smiled while holding her hands. He then rubbed her ring finger, specifically what was on her ring finger. "That engagement ring looks so beautiful on your finger." Arnold then kissed her hand.

Spinelli giggled. "It came from the best. From you." She smiled.

Arnold then held his glass of wine. "I just want you to know that ever since I proposed to you, I've been feeling more and more attached to you, I'm in love with you, and I wouldn't change anything about our love, our life, or anything. I love you so much, Spinelli." Arnold smiled.m wholeheartedly.

"I love you. Now get over here!" Spinelli yanked on Arnold's tux and straight into a joyful and passionate kiss.

After they separated, Arnold warmly chuckled. "I just now thought of something."

"What's that?" Spinelli asked.

"When it comes to the day of our wedding, it'll be a kiss we'll both remember for the rest of our lives." Arnold smiled while holding her hand.

Spinelli rolled her eyes with a smirk. "How about instead of thinking about future kisses, we kiss now?" Spinelli pulled his tuxedo regardless and started kissing Arnold on his lips passionately.