"You're getting way too good at sneaking away with me." Echo said as they walked along some more private gardens. She was sure he was going to drag her to the dance floor like he had at the engagement party, but instead, he'd led her away from the crowd with a simple smile. 

"It's hard to resist. I feel like we've haven't had a moment alone." He said, watching her as the moonlight reflected on her skin. 

"Why do I feel like we've spent too much time alone lately?" She teased. It was strange, this feeling she had as they walked. Something suspiciously like contentment- she was calm... so completely at ease. 

Echo was startled by the realization. She was more at ease around Luke in this moment than she had been around anyone else... in maybe even her entire life. 

"If I had it my way, you and I would not have to be sneaking around for stolen moments." He said with a grin. 

Echo chuckled, turning to face him. 

"And what would you have us do?" She asked, enjoying this new feeling... this peace. 

"I'd have you and I, enjoying many breakfasts in bed, spending lazy evenings in the tub with a book, or just curled up as we argue over something ridiculous." He said, making her laugh. 

"That all sounds lovely." She said.

"We could do that, you know." He replied. 

"Like get away for the weekend?" She asked, raising her brow but he shook his head.

"I don't think that a weekend would ever be enough for me, Echo." He said with a sigh. 

Echo didn't respond, she didn't know what to respond. There was a couple of garden tables with chairs surrounding them, the party just barely visible from where they were now taking a seat.

"Echo, you're always asking me why I picked you." He said. 

"It's incredible to me." She said, "You're so... impressive, overwhelming... I don't understand what you see in me."

"Everything." He replied, tilting her chin up to his. "It's everything. In the beginning, I couldn't explain what it was that drew me to you. I think a part of me just knew instinctively that you were special. I don't know if it's the ridiculous jeans, or the way you just argued with me over everything from day one."

"I don't argue with you over everything. I've conceded on a lot without even putting up a fight..." Echo began to say but he laughed. 

"See what I mean?" He said. 

"I let you put a couple of strange men to follow me around." She said.

"Because you are smart, and practical, and your funny and strange mind just knew it was the logical thing to do." He said. 

"I'm having trouble deciding if these are compliments or not." She said. 

"You're not afraid of me." He said and Echo shook her head. 

"I'm terrified." She replied. "But no, not of you. Even if you seem a little scary, It's not really you that scares me."

"You see? You just say whatever you're thinking, just say it to me. You don't give in just because I am who I am, you pull me down to reality and I really enjoy the reality I share with you." Luke said, trying to piece his thoughts together without sounding like a complete idiot. 

"Whatever it is, I'm grateful for it, Luke. I'm just grateful to get to spend time with you." She finally admitted out loud. 

"Echo... I want you for me, I want to dance with you at a wedding and not care who sees us. I want to pick you up at your home when I take you out and I want people to know that you're mine." He said, "And in exchange, I'll be yours."

Echo didn't say anything, she was just letting herself process it.

"I want to take care of you." he said, taking something out of his pocket and holding it out to her. She froze, staring at it, staring and feeling like she would have a heart attack.

"You know the rules, know they can't change but I'll treat you like a queen." He said, still holding it out.

"Are you sure you want me? There's so many others." She said, staring wide eyed.

"I want you." He said, "You just have to say yes."

He took a step towards her, taking his hand in hers and making her shiver.

"Say it, Echo. Say yes. Say yes and we can have the wonderful life together that I know we're going to have." He replied.

"If I say yes, what happens next?" She asked.

"First, I kiss you until I snatch that composure from you." He said, making her turn red. He smiled, loving how she blushed. "Then I take your hand, we dance all night and we tell your parents."

"not tonight, it's George's wedding." She said with a shake of the head.

"So you'll invite me over for dinner and we tell them then." He said. "After that, we plan a beautiful party like this one and then I spend the rest of my life making you blush just like you're blushing now."

"And what do I get?" She asked, "I mean, in exchange for the rules... your world is... different."

"You get a home, protection, anything you want." He said. "We get to wake up every morning next to each other and I get to make love to you any time I want."

He was being the devil she always thought he would be, even when he was being romantic. 

"Do you love me?" She asked. Luke stiffened.

"I care about you deeply, more than any other woman. I know you want me like I want you. I'm willing to commit to you, only you. I've never felt that before. In my own way, I do love you. Does that matter?" He asked.

Echo stared, it did. It mattered because she already loved him. She realized it only minutes before. That contentment, that ease he gave her... the way he could put her soul to rest without having to do anything but be at her side and just as easily provoke more passion than she could handle... that was it. That was her loving him. Could she hope that he'd love her someday?

"Okay." She heard herself say. "Yes."

She watched as a smile spread onto his face as he reached out and kissed her exactly the way he said he would.

---

"Shh... shhhh."

Echo shook her head- This must be what people meant when they said they had deja vu. She slowed down as she neared the kitchen, looking down at her hand. There it was, glittering on her finger. Proof that last night really happened.

"I can't believe this thing." Echo said when Luke finally let her breathe. He was holding her tightly against him, nibbling at her neck and cheek. She'd been so caught up in the way he kissed her that she hadn't even noticed when she'd ended up on his lap, her arms around his neck. Everything else had ceased to exist- the floor had dropped beneath her. The only reason she was staring at the ring at that moment was because Luke had stopped kissing her to slip it on. He chuckled.

"It's so... big." She said, still completely shocked by how it shone on her hand.

"Is it too big?" Luke said, pulling away and looking at her. "You can have anything you want. We can get you another if you don't like it."

"No." She said, resting her hand on his shoulder and looking at him. "It's beautiful."

Her eyes went back to the ring and then flashed back at Luke... and then darted back to the ring.

"I'm glad you like it but if you keep ignoring me for it, I swear I'll take it back." He said with a smile, putting his hand under her chin and turning her face to his. Echo smiled.

"There's no way I could ever ignore you." She said, "I'm in shock."

He leaned in and kissed her, another one of those kisses that left her dazed and utterly oblivious to the world.

"Then I'll just keep kissing you until you forget about all of it completely." He said with a grin.

"No..." Echo said. "I don't want to forget and besides... we have to get back."

"Do we?" He asked with a smile.

"Yeah, they'll notice we're gone." Echo said.

"You're right and I promised to dance with you all night." He said, standing and making her stumble for a second, thinking she would fall but he caught her waist, pulling her close.

He did exactly that. They spent the rest of the night dancing, laughing almost the entire time. She'd completely forgotten about everyone else.

Of course, they'd been seen. Of course, eventually even her mother and father, and even Ben, were watching. Of course, of course... of course.

When the night was over, she rode home with her sisters in silence, staring down at her hand with a big grin on her face. She'd almost taken it off at one point but Luke had insisted, she should never take it off. So she'd made her peace with it- if they saw, they saw it.

But now, as she looked down at it, she tucked her hand into her pocket. She was just going to go in there and explain it one step at a time. 

"Good Morning." Echo said, moving to her chair.

"Good Morning." Alice said, pouring herself some coffee.

"So... fun party huh?" Maru said, squirming around in her chair. 

"Yes, It was." Echo replied, prompting everyone to turn to her.

"Well, might as well just be out with it." Michael said, taking off his reading glasses and putting them down on the table. He sat back and crossed him arms. "I'm waiting."

"I think, we should go have our coffee outside." Vera said, standing and glancing around at her sisters.

"But I..." Maru began but Alice interrupted.

"I think that's a great idea. We'll join you girls later." Alice said. Romy glanced at Echo, a smirk on her face as she stood.

"Well, come on. Let's leave them to it." Romy said, following Vera onto the terrace.

Maru and Lena stood, passing right by Echo as they moved, glancing at her with good luck wishes in their eyes.

"So?" Alice asked when they were alone.

"I bet you have questions." Echo asked.

"I don't even know what questions to ask." Alice said.

"I do- what's going on between you and Luke Farina?" Michael asked.

"We've been seeing each other." Echo said.

"Seeing each other?" Her mother asked. "What does that mean exactly?"

"What do you think it means?" Echo asked.

"It means that men like Luke, they're known for their attitudes about women." Alice said, glancing at her husband who was trying to stay calm.

"It means that Luke and I have been dating." Echo said, correcting her.

"Dating?" Her father asked. 

"Yes." Echo said.

"And you didn't think to tell us?" Alice said.

"I didn't know where it was going." Echo said, "What would have been the point of telling you unless it was going somewhere?"

"You can imagine how surprised we were to see you together last night... all night. People will talk." Michael said.

"That's okay." Echo said with a nod. 

"How serious is this?" Alice asked after a minute.

"Very." Echo said. "In fact, he wanted us to talk to you two last night but I didn't think George's wedding was the right moment."

"Okay, so he plans to talk to us." Michael repeated, "When?"

"Whenever you guys will have him over." Echo said, finally taking her hand out of her pocket.

Michael and Alice stared dumbly.

"I know this is all a huge shock but..." Echo said firmly. "Please understand that I want to be him and he wants me too. There's something special about him- I'm just a better me."

They didn't say anything, they just stared.

"Please, mom... dad." Echo said, moving around the table towards Michael. "Please, please. I'm happy, please be happy with me. He's a good guy."

Michael looked at Alice, who's gaze had softened considerably and then he looked back to Echo.

"I don't like that you two were hiding this from me but bring him home. We're doing this the right way." He said and Echo smiled brightly.

"Oh daddy!" She exclaimed wrapping her arms around his neck.

Michael hugged her tightly before reaching a hand out towards Alice, who gave it a gentle squeeze.

"My baby." Alice said as Echo went by to hug her. Then, just as swiftly, Echo ran out onto the terrace.

"What happened?" Vera asked.

"Everything." Echo said, holding out her hand as her sister's jaws practically hit the floor.

"Holy... look at rock." Maru said.

"It's a Harry Winston." Romy said from where she sat, looking cool as a cucumber. "Well done."

"Wait, you're engaged?" Vera asked. 

"I mean... it's huge." Maru continued, holding Echo's hand up and admiring the ring.

"Congratulations, Echo." Lena said with a sad smile.

"Are you okay?" Echo asked.

"Yes, I'm just a little under the weather." Lena replied.

"Echo... I'm just... wow." Vera said, wrapping her arms around her.

"Thank you." Echo said as they continued to fuss over her.

"Alright, bring it here... let's see." Romy commanded from where she still sat lazily. Echo walked over and held her hand out, the ring shimmering in the morning sun. 

"Wow."