Ross could feel the weight of the small box in his pocket. It was strange, how everything had fallen into place once he’d thought about it. He had realized that he wanted to follow Sharon everywhere, and that he never wanted to be apart from her. And they’d been together, even if they’d never strictly admitted it, for a number of months now.

He had never felt as safe or as considered as he did with Sharon. He felt like he had a say in the relationship rather than desperately trying to deal with a whirlwind. And now, with the tabloid story hanging over their heads, what better way to circumvent the gossip and establish that Sharon was truly, permanently in his life than to propose?

All right, so maybe it was a little sudden, and maybe he was rushing it. But it didn’t feel like a rush—not when he’d been in denial about the serious nature of their relationship for a long while. He was practically living with her, for crying out loud. He was in love with Sharon. And he wanted to make it official.

Since they were trying to lay low, he didn’t want to do anything fancy. Certainly nothing public. So he got his mother’s ring reset and spent the next week planning what he was going to say.

He took Sharon out the following Friday. Neither of them had heard from Amanda since last week, but they both knew that the story was coming at some point. It was just a matter of when.

Ross tried not to think about that. Instead, he focused on how beautiful Sharon looked that night, wearing the same dress she’d worn on the night they’d met. It was apt, he thought, if coincidental, that she’d chosen to wear it.

They hadn’t gone to their usual Italian place, unfortunately, since Amanda or someone else might be lying in wait there. Instead they’d driven separately across town to a little Mexican place that they’d heard about from Debbie. “Hey,” he suggested once they got their bill, “Why don’t we go for a walk? I hear there’s a lovely park just down the street.”

Sharon looked up at him. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

“Nobody knows us around here,” Ross reassured her. “I think it’ll be nice.”

Sharon still looked a little nervous, but she nodded.

The park was lovely, which Ross knew because he’d scoped it out earlier that week. It had been Tom who told him about it. Ross had wanted to know if there were any scenic green spaces in the area that wouldn’t be too crowded, and Tom had naturally known the answer.

Ross led the way down a side path that, conveniently, took them right past the art gallery where they’d first met. “Hey, I think it’s open.” he said, grinning as he pointed to the gallery. “Want to stop inside?”

“Sure, why not,” Sharon said, matching his smile with one of her own. “Maybe they’ll have art I actually like this time.”

That sparked a playful argument about art as they made their way into the gallery (Tom and Leticia had pulled some strings to make sure the gallery would be open just for them) and through the first couple of rooms.

“Sharon…” Ross could feel his heart hammering in his chest. He hadn’t been this nervous since his first medical exam. “This is where we met. This is where a new chapter of my life began, even if it took me a long time to realize it.”

Sharon paused, seeming to realize that something serious was happening. Ross did his best to keep his voice steady as he continued.

“I’ve kind of dragged my feet on this, haven’t I? It took me forever to tell you I love you, or even to admit that we were dating. I only realized last week that I’ve moved in with you.”

Sharon laughed at that. “I knew you’d catch on eventually, but I didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong.”

“See, that’s exactly it.” Ross found himself starting to relax. As always, Sharon understood. “I’ve had so many walls up, and you’ve been so good about respecting them. You never took any bullshit from me, but you gave me the space I needed, and I appreciate that. Now I’ve realized that you’re in my life and in my heart, completely.”

He knelt down, carefully pulling the small box out of his pocket. He’d wanted to use his mother’s ring, but he had gotten it reset so that it would be unique to Sharon. The past and the future merging together. “I want to make us official and permanent, because I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Sharon gasped, her hand flying up to her mouth. “But… but the papers. The board. Ross, there’s no hiding this. You could lose your practice.”

“I know. I like to think that my marrying you will help them see that this isn’t just an affair, but I don’t know and I don’t think I care. You’re more important to me.”

“But…” Sharon looked like she might cry. “You’ve worked your whole life for this.”

“My work isn’t who I am. I can find another hospital. I can consult, or I can teach. But I can’t replace you. So…” Ross cleared his throat. “Will you marry me?”

Now Sharon really was starting to cry. “Yes, okay—I mean, if you’re sure, then yes, yes, yes.”

Ross jumped to his feet and reeled her to him. He kissed her deeply—not the easiest task, given that they were both laughing and, in Sharon’s case, still crying a bit.

He slipped the ring onto her finger.

Perfect.