Getting out of the bed, Josh pulled on his boxers and looked around the room. The coffee pot was on and her purse was still on the chair by the door, so she had to be there somewhere. Finally coming to the balcony door, he saw her standing by the railing in his pajama pants and the button down shirt he had worn at the show last night. The way she held her arms around herself as she looked out on the city below, Josh knew she was in deep thought, biting her lip as she tried to keep from crying.

Opening the door, Josh slipped through and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him.

"Good morning, Beautiful."

Feeling Josh behind her, Raleigh closed her eyes as she melted into his touch. "Good morning."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

Sighing, Raleigh figured she might as well be honest with him.

"It's just...I feel like whenever we work things out so we can be together we have to separate again. I wish we could go back to the way things were. That we could go back home, before everything changed."

Hearing the tone in her voice, Josh knew there was a deeper meaning to her words, but he refused to pressure her into telling him. It would just make her put up all her defenses and pull away. Turning her around, Josh took her hands in his. As he looked into her eyes he forced out his voice.

"Raleigh, I love you, you know I always have. But we can't go back to who we were in high school. We can't pretend that everything that's happened this past year hasn't. It did happen and we're stronger for it. We can't go back, but we can move forward." Still holding her hand, Josh pulled her back into the room with him.

Raleigh watching curiously as he looked around in his bag for something. "What are you doing?" But he didn't respond.

"Where is it? I know I put it in here."

"Josh, what...?" But her question hung in the air when he let out a small cry in triumph.

"A-ha! There you are!"

Standing up, Raleigh noticed how Josh held his hand in a fist as he clutched something. Moving in front of her, Josh looked down for a moment before meeting her lilac eyes once again.

"Ray, do you love me? As much as you always have?"

With tears in her eyes, Raleigh nodded. "Even more." As he looked down and swallowed, Raleigh felt her heart thundering in her chest. What was he doing? Was he about o do what she thought he was? How would she react? Finally meeting her gaze once again, Josh held up the object he'd held so tightly in his hand.

Raleigh let out a gasp as her hands flew to her mouth in surprise.

"Oh my God...Josh..." Her voice was a whisper but he caught every meaning in those few words.

"Raleigh, I'm not asking you to marry me. This is a promise. A promise that when we're out of school and able to be together, we will be."

Not even taking the ring out of his hand, Raleigh threw her arms around his neck, allowing the tears to fall freely.

"I love you so much, Josh."

Finally releasing her, Josh took her hand and slip the expensive ring up her slender finger.

"Josh, its gorgeous." It was a thin silver band with an emerald cut sapphire with three small diamonds on both sides. "I can't believe you'd spend so much on a promise ring." She said in astonishment, looking at the piece of jewelry that would mean so much.

"You're worth every penny." Looking at him in that moment, Raleigh knew. No matter what happens, no matter what they are forced to endure in the years to come, they will be together.

After all, love does conquer all.

Later on, after much love making and tears, Raleigh and Josh found themselves at the airport, unable to believe the past ten days had gone by so fast. Raleigh wrapped her arms around his waist, holding onto him for dear life.

"I don't want you to go."

"I don't either, but I have to. Think I missed enough classes." He let out a small laugh as he ran his hands up and down her arms.

"Call me when you get back?"

"Of course." Leaning down, Josh kissed her lightly, but that wasn't nearly enough. He encircled her waist and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

God how he wanted to sweep her away to where they didn't have to wait to be together. To make love to her again and again until they couldn't breathe. To never let her go ever again. It felt like he had just gotten her back. How could he be expected to say goodbye now?

The final boarding was called and Josh forced himself to pull away.

"I have to go."

"Uh-uh." Raleigh pulled him back to her and kissed him again. "I'm not ready to say goodbye yet."

"You have to." Finally stopping kissing him, Raleigh rested her head on his chest. Trying desperately to will the tears away. She wasn't strong enough to live without him again. She could try all she wanted but she knew temptation would over power her as it had before.

"We'll see each other in three and a half weeks. It's not that far off."

No, but it seemed like an eternity.

"Ok." Finally letting go, Raleigh kissed him one final time. "Bye Josh."

"Bye." With a sad smile and a wave, he was gone, walking onto his plane. Raleigh stayed with her face on the glass window, watching him depart until she could no longer see the airplane. Then at last, she went back to her dormitory.

"Hey you."

"Hi, Autumn."

Autumn knew Raleigh had just said goodbye to Josh but she hadn't expected her to be this upset about it. She couldn't imagine being that into a guy.

"I'm assuming he's on his way back to NYU?"

"Yep."

"Girl, you gotta snap out of this trance! I couldn't imagine being that into a guy like Josh."

Turning on Autumn, Raleigh could feel the fire and rage burning through her. "A guy like Josh? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Look, Ray he's a nice guy and everything, but he's just not..."

"Not what? Effron?"

"Well, yeah."

Nodding her head, Raleigh tried hard not to really speak her mind. "Yes, well that's one of his best qualities. Effron's an asshole."

"He was only that way because he has competition now."

"There is no competition. I am not a prize to be won! I chose Josh long before I knew other boys really existed. He loves me and you better believe I love him." Holding up her hand, Raleigh let the proof sparkle in Autumn's face and her jaw nearly hit the floor. Immediately she grabbed her hand and gawked at it.

"Oh my God...he proposed?"

"Basically." But Autumn hadn't heard, she was too busy inspecting the ring.

"Damn but the boy has good taste. That ring is gorgeous."

"I know." Pulling her hand away, Raleigh played with the ring.

"Ray, I'm sorry. I just don't know what it's like to be so madly in love like that."

Seeing the way autumn looked away, shielding her eyes from her, Raleigh knew she'd felt that love once upon a time. But either it hadn't lasted and he'd hurt her, or something else had torn them apart. Wrapping her arms around her, Raleigh hugged tight until Autumn let go.

"Well, I was going to go hang out with Ember for a while. Wanna come?"

Yeah, Ember, drugs, and alcohol. That should be a good time.

"No, I'm just going to go for a walk or something."

"Ok, I'll see you later." Raleigh waved at Autumn as she left and the first thing Raleigh did was sign online and email Bobbie and Carly. She told them everything that had been going on and about Josh giving her the ring. God how she missed everyone.

Deciding she couldn't sit there without ripping her hair out, Raleigh grabbed her purser and left. Where she was headed she had no clue, but she had to get out, try to clear her mind. After walking around aimlessly for nearly an hour, Raleigh found herself staring at Dan's front door.

How did I get here? Why am I here?

"I shouldn't be here."

Just turn around and leave, you were never here.

She kept telling herself to leave, go back to the dorm or something, anything, but she couldn't move. She didn't know why, but she wanted to see him. Wanted to speak to him.

Finally walking up to the walkway, Raleigh was surprised to see the door swing open before she ever got to the steps.

"Raleigh." Dan said in surprise, slowly descending the stairs.

"Hi, Dan." She said sheepishly.

"What are you doing here?"

I have no freaking clue.

Shrugging, Raleigh stepped a little closer to where Dan stood. "I'm not really sure. I went for a walk and the next thing I know I'm standing here, in front of your house."

"Oh." The silence that followed his short sentence seemed deafening, Raleigh had to say something to break the awkwardness.

"I should go. You were on your way out. Sorry I came. I didn't know what I was doing - well I did know what I was doing, I was walking, but that's not the point -"

"Raleigh?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up." He smiled at her and Raleigh couldn't help but to smile in return. He was just too infectious. "I was just going to pick up some Chinese for dinner. Would you like to join me?"

Everything inside her screamed for her to say no. Just turn around and go back to the dorm and wallow in self-pity. Alone.

"I don't want to be alone."

Did I seriously just say that out loud?

Raleigh felt like covering her face and running away. He'd probably think she was a weak little girl who wanted attention. But that wasn't it at all.

Dan smiled at her once again and reached out to take her hand. "Then you won't be."

Smiling, together they got into his escalade and drove to get a late dinner. She hadn't felt hungry but once they returned and opened the boxes, Raleigh felt her stomach screaming for food. As she ate she tried to control her laughter as she listened to Dan's horrible jokes.

"Ok, did you hear about the three guys who headed out for a good time one night? Two of them walked into a bar."

"Yeah?"

"The third one didn't."

Sitting there for a moment, Raleigh shook her head. "I don't get it."

"He ducked."

They both laughed and Raleigh couldn't help but say, "Oh my God that was bad."

Dan feigned a hurt expression which made Raleigh laugh even harder. "I'll have you know that I happen to like my jokes."

"Well, at least you do." Jumping up from his seat at the island in the kitchen, Dan chased Raleigh around the house until he finally caught her in the living room. Together they fell to the couch and Raleigh gasped for air as he tickled her relentlessly.

"Take it back!"

"Never!"

Getting right up under her shirt, Dan continued the torture until Raleigh was red in the face from laughter.

"Ok, ok! I take it back your jokes are great!" But he hadn't planned on letting her get away so easily. Fortunately for her the telephone began to ring. Muttering an apology, Dan got up and strode over to the phone and picked up the receiver.

"Hello? Yes I accept. Les, what did you do this time?"

Raleigh stood up and straightened out her clothes as she watched how Dan reacted to whomever he was speaking with. He closed his eyes as his hand came up to pinch the bridge of his nose between his gorgeous green eyes.

"Leslie, I can't keep dropping everything to bail your ass out of jail every time you decide you want a drink." He let out an aggravated sigh and rolled his eyes. "Les...Leslie! Stop crying. I will come and get you but understand this, this is the absolute last time. Alright, I'll be there soon. I love you, bye."

Feeling a little awkward having just witnessed that conversation, Raleigh didn't really know what to do with herself.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that."

"Its not your fault."

"I have to go and pick her up, take her home."

"I should probably get going anyway." Raleigh turned around and picked up the pillows that had fallen off the couch.

"Raleigh, you don't have to leave. I can't make you stay but I would like it if you did."

She found herself torn. Should she leave and go back to her dorm where she'd be alone, or where Ember and autumn were, living it up? Or should she stay and wait for him to return from bailing this woman out of trouble? With Dan's big, hopeful green eyes staring at her, Raleigh found it nearly impossibly to say no. Why did he have to be so damned cute?

"I can stay."

"Good, thank you. I'll be back in a half hour, forty-five minutes, tops."

"Well I think I can find something to occupy my time." Raleigh let out a small laugh and Dan kissed her on the forehead.

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Ok." She watched him grab his keys off the rack by the door and he left.

Turning around, Raleigh looked at the room. Normally she and Dan were either in the study, kitchen or upstairs so she hadn't spent any time in the living room. About six feet from the doorway was a large corner couch, facing away with a bunch of large oak cupboards hiding what she assumed was the television. The one side of the couch was against a wall, while a table adorned the back of the other. A doily and a dark wicker basket sat on the stone top table. Looking to her left, Raleigh's jaw dropped to the floor when she set her eyes on the stereo Dan had.

"Hello, my love." Going over to it, she immediately pressed the power button and Boys Like Girls cut the silence and she found herself singing along and dancing around the room. "Tonight will change our lives. It's so good to be by your side. But we'll cry. We won't give up the fight. We'll scream loud at the top of our lungs. And they'll think it's just cause we're young. And we'll feel so alive." Not watching what she was doing, Raleigh tripped over a stool and fell into one of the cabinets on the wall.

"Ow, son of a bitch." Rubbing her head, she suddenly felt very glad nobody could see what she was doing. From the corner of her eye, Raleigh saw that one of the doors had opened and inside, stacked side by side, were hundreds of DVD's. Unable to stop herself, Raleigh opened all the doors and was once again speechless to his movie collection. To the right of the TV stood, Raleigh was pretty sure, every single musical ever made.

"Wow."

She found herself running her fingers over the many titles and she couldn't decide on what she'd like to watch. Then her eyes landed on a certain title and she wasted no time in grabbing the case, opening it and putting in the DVD.

After piling up a few pillows to lean on, Raleigh curled up under the afghan that had been thrown on the back of the couch and hit play.

-----

Fully ready to apologize as soon as he entered the house, Dan was surprised when he didn't see Raleigh. Maybe she had left after all.

No - what was that?

Soft music filled Dan's ears and he immediately knew what Raleigh was doing. She had picked one of his favorite movies of all time to watch.

He knew Raleigh hadn't fallen asleep, but she was so glued to the man and woman on the screen that he was able to walk right up behind her without her even noticing. Crouching down so his mouth was level to her ear, Dan waited until exactly the right moment to say, "Here's lookin' at you, Kid."

Raleigh gave a little start and turned her head to smile up at him. "Will you watch it with me?"

Dan had never heard a more innocent request. How could he refuse? "Of course."

Together they watched Casablanca and eventually drifted off to a sound sleep, the sounds of the love Rick and Ilsa shared drifted softly through the air.