--After the show--
The show went great and the guys ran off stage. Gwen greeted AJ with a towel and a bottle of water. He grabbed the water and picked her up and swung her around. Gwen would usually yell "eww!" and make him put her down but she didn't. Nick grabbed his own towel and water and went off to find Ashleigh. He found her waiting in the greenroom. She looked lost in thought.
"A penny for your thoughts," Nick said. She jumped out of her daze and stood up to hug him.
"Hey," she said, gently.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, but he knew the answer.
"Guess," she said. He nodded.
''It's going to take time for them," Nick said, about her parents. ''But no matter what happens, I'm always going to be here." Ashleigh smiled.
"I know. Thanks for being behind me on this," Ashleigh said.
"You're beautiful," Nick said. She was caught off guard.
"Thanks," she blushed. He kissed her forehead.
~~~~~~~~~~
Gwen and AJ were in their hotel room later that night. She was watching TV while AJ was taking a shower. He came out, clean and dressed and sat next to her on their bed.
"Whew...now you don't smell anymore," Gwen joked, plugging her nose.
''That was low baby," AJ laughed, tickling her. Gwen noticed how much at ease AJ was acting and how he wasn't as nervous as before.
"You okay?" Gwen asked.
"I'm wonderful," AJ said, kissing her. ''Remember when we talked about spending the rest of our lives together?" AJ asked.
"Yes.." Gwen said. She loved AJ more than anything...but the rest of their lives? That scared her.
"I just wanted to know what your thoughts are," AJ said.
"About marriage?" Gwen asked.
''Yes," AJ said, kissing her finger with her promise ring on it.
"Even though we've been together for 7 months...I know we were meant for each other," Gwen said. AJ smiled. That was exactly what he wanted to hear.
~~the day before Valentines day~~
Gwen and Ashleigh's parents left, Nick and Ashleigh were becoming a stronger pair, AJ and Gwen hadn't talk anymore about possible marriage and Regan and Howie were starting to date. Love was in the air on their tour bus.
"I dunno what to get Leigh for valentine's day," Brian said to Nick. They were playing on their Play Station while everyone else was eating up in the front of the bus.
''Whoa...I just realized that both of our girls have 'Leigh' in their names. That's freaky, Frick," Nick said.
"Dude, that is. But seriously, what am I gonna get her? We already got everything we could possibly need at the wedding. And what do you get a girl that has everything or will go buy it soon?" Brian asked his best friend.
"I dunno...get her a dog," Nick suggested. It was useless trying to talk to Nick while he played a video game.
"I got her Litty Leigh last year," Brian said, about their dog.
''Well then just get her a nice hotel room with rose pedals everywhere," Nick said. Brian paused the game.
"That's it! She loves that type of stuff," Brian said. Nick un-paused the game and continued to kick Brian's butt.
"What are you getting Ashleigh?" he asked.
"I dunno...I haven't thought about it," Nick said.
"Well, you have less than 24 hours," Brian said.
"I'll figure out something," Nick said. "But it's AJ who you should be asking this too."
"Why? He isn't gonna ask her tomorrow is he?" Brian asked. The guys had knew AJ was up to something but they all thought he could never pull it off.
"I think so...but don't say anything. Gwen doesn't have a clue," Nick said.
--Valentine's day--
"Nick, this is so third grade!" Ashleigh whined. Nick laughed. Nick had blind-folded Ashleigh and they were in a cab going somewhere.
"Fine then...if you don't want your gift.." Nick said.
"No! That's okay. I'll shut up," Ashleigh said, smiling. "But will you tell me where we are going?" Ashleigh begged.
"No way," Nick said. It was mid-afternoon and Nick decided to give Ashleigh her gift before their show tonight. The cab pulled up to its destination and Nick put on a hat and sunglasses. He helped Ashleigh out of the cab and they walked hand in hand to where Nick was leading her.
"Are we in an elevator?" Ashleigh asked, feeling the gravity pulling upward.
"You'll see.." Nick whispered in her ear. Ashleigh was excited and anxious to see where he was taking her.
"Can I just take a peak?" Ashleigh asked.
"No!" Nick demanded. Ashleigh laughed and gave up.
~~meanwhile~~
AJ was bouncing off the wall today being very nervous. Gwen was making some touch ups on their wardrobe while AJ was keeping her company.
"Why are you acting like a 5 year old today?" Gwen asked, laughing at AJ's facial expressions he was making at her.
"No reason," AJ said.
"So, what are we gonna do for today?" Gwen asked. AJ looked confused.
"What's today?" he asked, pretending he forgot about valentines day.
"AJ! Did you forget today is valentines day?" Gwen asked, sighing. AJ smacked his forehead.
"Oh shit..." he swore under his breath. "No baby, I didn't forget," AJ tried to cover. Gwen threw down the shirt she was sewing.
"Yes you did. AJ, I can't believe you," she said. She sounded hurt and AJ tried to hide his excitement.
''Baby, I'm sorry...it's just on tour I forget everything but don't worry, I'll come up with something," AJ said, wrapping his arms around her.
"Nick took Ashleigh out on this romantic surprise and you forgot!" Gwen said, disappointed.
"Baby, have I ever failed at an attempt to sweep you off your feet?" AJ asked. Gwen couldn't help but smile. "Besides, Valentines day works two ways ya know...what did you get me?"
"Nothing!" Gwen joked.
"Look Babe, we'll go out to eat after the show...okay?" AJ asked. Gwen nodded. "This is going to be perfect," AJ thought. His plan to make Gwen think he forgot about valentines day was going perfect.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Nick, where are we?!" Ashleigh asked. Nick had his arms wrapped around her waist and she could feel the wind blow against her.
"Okay..." he said, taking the blindfold off, "Open." Ashleigh opened her eyes and gasped. They were at the top of the Empire State Building over looking New York. The view was beautiful.
''Oh Nick," Ashleigh said, as he kissed her cheek.
"That's not all," Nick said. He turned Ashleigh's head over to the next building where she saw a huge sign that said "Happy Valentines Day Ashleigh" hanging down from the roof. Ashleigh screamed.
"Oh my gosh!" she said. She jumped into Nick's arms and he kissed her.
"Thank you," she said.
"Happy Valentines day," Nick whispered, kissing her again.
~~~~~~~~~
"Thank you NEW YORK and Happy Valentines Day!!!!" AJ screamed, running off stage. The guys did a great show, singing more ballads than usual for the special occasion. Ever since Ashleigh and Nick got back, Ashleigh was glowing. AJ came off stage and ran to Gwen.
"Hey baby," he said. They hugged and Brian came up to them.
"Hey Bone, Scott told me they are low on help tonight and they need us to help take down the set," Brian said.
"Okay, I'll be right there," AJ said as he winked at Brian without Gwen noticing.
"AJ," Gwen sighed, "I thought we were going out."
"Don't worry baby, it won't take long," AJ said. ''Tell ya what, go wait in my dressing room while I do this and I'll come get you when I'm done," he said. She nodded and walked off. When she was out of sight, Brian came running up to him.
"Did she buy it?" he asked.
"Yep! Go get the video camera," AJ said. Brian obeyed and ran off.
Gwen walked to AJ's dressing room and opened the door. She gasped as she saw 10 dozen bouquets of red roses on AJ's dresser and all over his room. She saw the card in the middle of them that read "My Beautiful Gwen". She picked up the card and felt tears swell up in her eyes. She opened the card and read AJ's hand writing.
"I will love you until the last rose dies," she got confused and felt the roses. They were real and she got worried. Then she noticed a beautiful white rose in the middle of all the red ones. She picked it up and realized it was a felt flower. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she turned around to see AJ at the doorway.
''Did you honestly think I forgot?" AJ asked, as he wiped her tears away. Something inside the rose caught Gwen's eye and she looked inside the silk petals to see a beautiful huge diamond ring. She gasped. AJ picked up the ring and held it in front of her. Tears streamed down her cheeks as AJ bent down on one knee.
"Gwendal Marie Matthews...I love you more than anything. You have completely changed me and made me realize I can't live my life without you by my side. I want to wake up every morning of my life with you next to me. Gwen, will you marry me?" AJ asked with all his heart. Gwen felt like she couldn't breathe and searched for her voice. She looked deep in his eyes and couldn't say anything but:
"Yes!" she screamed. He slid the ring on her finger and she jumped into his arms. They heard screaming and clapping from the hall and everyone came into their room. Brian got the whole thing on tape and Gwen sobbed into AJ's shoulder.
"I love you. Happy valentines day," AJ whispered in his fiancees ear.
"I love you too," she whispered back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
