The dogs were on the porch, looking bored and expecting. After all, Shane had left an hour or two ago so the excitement of his visit had worn off. There was a note on the door, on fresh linen paper hanging there innocently enough. On the outside it was addressed to her. It said Pinky.

It wasn't long before the pink haired woman found herself making her way up the steps in something Shane made for her. Pausing in her heels, she ignored the dogs barking and jumping around her feet. "What's this kids??" She tilted her head to the side and plucked at the note.

Shane's note was written well for him. Even though he had done a bit of writing it tended to look hard to read at times. Tonight, there was special care, it was entirely clear and legible. Meet me at the place we first met.

Both her brows furrowed at the note, a bit of confusion on her face before she knelt down to ruffle the dog's ears. Skritching at the puppies lasted for a few moments before she spoke. "Alright, guard the house you hounds, I'll be back with Dad after I figure out what he's up to." Brushing off her skirt, she turned and made her way down the steps with a small hum at her lips. After a bit of a walk she paused before the glittering neon sign of the Stars End bar. Using her shoulder she nudged open the door while she fixed her ruffled shirt in the reflection of the store-front window. Slowly, Skulls stepped inside and turned her eyes over the silence and emptiness that was the place Shane and her met in.

He wasn't there, but the bartender was. When he looked up and saw her it was clear he was expecting her, or someone like her. The man smiled nervously and reached under the bar, pulling out a back, "You're Squeaker, right? Mr. Michael left this here for you, he said you'd be coming by tonight." He set the bag atop the bar for her and stepped away so he could finished sweeping up the floor behind the bar.

There was a slight eye twitch to being called Squeaker, but she shrugged it off when he presented the bag. Once again her brow lifted and she nodded to the bar tender. "Thank you." Stepping to the bag she opened it, slowly peeking inside as her curiosity grew. "What are you up to Shane?"

There was a note and a box. Upon opening the note it only stated with large letters Happy Birthday. Inside the box was a necklace, it was one that Chase and Brandon had helped him select. Well, it was mostly Chase should the truth be told. Under the necklace however, was another note for her. This one said, Go to where I take Gauge to play fetch.

A gasp left her and her hand cupped over her lips. Holding up the necklace her fingers traced over the pink with a smile growing on her lips. Eventually she locked it around her neck and twiddled it in her finger. Snatching up the bag she turned to the tender. 'Thanks!" Then made a break for it, running out of the bar's front door and for the park, her excitement building.

Twilight Island, the sand is always clean and the water rolls in like it should. The park area is where he was sitting on the bench. Looking to where the sunset was. It took almost an hour for the sun to set on this island. It felt like time was slower here, like it was giving him pause to think and then he heard a sound and well... there she was. He was dressed the same way he had been for the spring summer sale. It was an all black suit set off with a bright green, emerald tie. He smiled broadly when he saw her, dimples dug deep and he stood up.

Spotting him in the suit she paused, looking down at her outfit then back up at his suit. She was poorly under dressed for something special, or at least that's how she suddenly felt as she closed the distance towards him. She bit her lip, fidgeting at her skirt as her head tilted to the side with her curiosity. Golden eyes squinted slightly and she finally murmured. "Shane? Is everything alright?"

"Yea...yea...everything is good. Look!" he turned and reached behind the bench and drew up two champagne glasses that were filled with well, whiskey sours. He smiled at her and handed her one of the glasses, "I just... wanted to make your birthday special," but his eyes said that there was something else.

"Oh Shane." She smirked to the glasses filled with whiskey sour and took the one he offered. Looking in his eyes as he spoke, her head tilted to the side. "Having you makes it special Shane. You know that." She took a sip of the sour and smiled. "Thank you for the necklace."

"No problem, Chase helped me with that a bit you know." He said with a smile, the tap of his glass against her's making a clear ring, "But I had another motive behind asking her, you know."

She took another drink after the tap, to assure his silent toast was honored. When he spoke she let her brows raise for the third time in the evening, her curiosity growing by the moment thanks to his crafty surprises. "What was that?"

"You know you've been a lot of things to me," he said, taking a swallow of his drink, "When I met you, you were a cute friend of Chase's that was a blast to flirt with. Then you became this supportive...friend-creature I also dated."

She giggled softly at 'friend-creature' and beamed to him. "That's because I love you Shane. That's what you're supposed to do when you love someone, be supportive." She took a sip, eyes soft as she studied his suit. He was quite the charming man.

"Yes but... sometimes when you date someone they aren't supportive. They only want you to do what they like or be good at things that they approve of. Or I dunno... but you just were, you know, supportive." And then he cleared his throat, "And I'm not perfect. I screwed up with you a couple times and you could have left but you didn't."

"Shane..." She shook her head and swallowed. "It didn't feel right to leave when I knew it was where I belonged. Since I met you I knew there was something about you that would be wrong to walk away from. You're a good man, with a good heart and a stunning smile." She brushed her fingers over his tie for a moment when she reached out and murmured," I don't plan on leaving you till you tell me to."

"Yea but you know... I can be shitty and you well... you're patient enough when I'm not great and you shine when I need you. You don't control me, you like socializing like me and it's you know... fun with you. Life is fun with you." He stopped to set his wine glass of whiskey sour on the bench and then kneeled in front of her, reaching in his pocket, "Which is why I want to keep you, let you know that I've never been more happy." The box opens. Princess cut diamond with a halo, set in white gold for her, "So what do you say to forever?" *

As Shane kneeled Skull's cheeks went pink and her golden orbs went wide. She found herself looking down at him as he professed he wanted to keep her. All that bright pink hair matched with her face as he opened the box and asked her to stay forever. Her hand clapped over her lips as eyes boiled over with tears. "Oh Shane!" Sure she was startled, but the reaction was priceless as she fell to her knees and lunged in, embracing him and showering him in kisses. Suppose that's a yes?

He almost toppled over to the ground. His ground was solid, arms around her as he smiled. He liked the way her hair smelled. The way she fell into him. But mostly, he thought she was the only woman of any species that could handle him, "I love you, You're there for me in so many ways and you make life fun. I like that I feel I can do anything with you instead of feeling I dunno... more restricted. You give me more options, more support... more freedom than I would have if I were by myself."

Both her hands slid over his cheeks while she kissed at his lips tenderly and lovingly. "When I'm with you I feel warm and free, happy as I've ever been. When I'm with you I have no fears or worries because I know in the end you'll be with me through it all. I love you Shane, so very much and I'll stay forever. I'll stay for well beyond forever so long as you let me love you."

"I can do that." He said with a smile as he looked at her, arching one brow, "But you better propose with a helluva a diamond or I'll find myself another sugar momma," His smile reappeared and he kept one arm wrapped around her, "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

She laughed and smiled broadly to him. "I'll get right to diamond hunting just for you." One hand cupped his face and she murmured to him, love laced in every word. "I've never been more sure in my life. Are you sure you're okay with it?"

"I proposed, didn't I?" He chuckled and rose to his feet, taking her hands with his to give her the little help to her feet. Eyebrows arched upward and he smiled, "So, I haven't figured out what day or anything... I just got as far as proposing. Figured that I shouldn't plan the rest incase you said no."

Her smile continued to grow as he continued to speak of what he planned and didn't plan. She squeezed his hands and leaned in on her toes, kissing his lips. "We'll just go one day at a time, right dear?" She beamed to him softly, squeezed his hand again and whispered. "We're gonna get married, think you can design the dress?"

"I think I can but... any special requests?" He smiled at her, tilting his head to the side, "I'd like to it be special for you, beyond just that I created it?" *

"Make it so that your jaw drops when you see it on me." She asked as she beamed to him. "And and and, surprise me. Make it as beautiful as I know you will."

"I think I can do that," he chuckled and his arm around her gave her a squeeze, "Thank you... so much for... loving me in five different ways that became this one. I'm glad I found you. I like coming home and finding you there. Like I said... you make me feel free."

Her forehead pressed to his own as she smiled from ear to ear, giving him a squeeze. "Thank you for loving me Shane, for wanting me around and cherishing me. You'll always be free with me, promise."