Did You Ever Tell? -- November 1979

I took off to the left of the shelves and around the corner. Laughing the whole way I was running. I knew I didn't have a chance to outrun him I was damned going to try. It's not like I can tell him when I was going to take off.

I stood up and started following her, but at a walk. I counted in my head, figuring I'd get to 10 before she tripped over something. But, then again, I did kind of want to get her before she hurt herself, so I picked up the pace to go catch her. A grin was on my face the entire time. This is what I lived for.

I laughed as I heard him following me. Knowing the inevitable was about to happen, I was not giving up right now. Realizing I didn't want to get tickled, " I'm sorry..." I said whilst I was still laughing hysterically. I couldn't help myself.

Igrinned and caught her, but didn't start tickling her right way. "You're sorry?" I asked, laughing a little bit. "You're not even gonna try to put up a fight?"

I grinned, " I said I was sorry....not that I wouldn't fight.." I said whilst I tried to wiggle my way loose. It was hopeless though well maybe not if I can just get that one spot at the bottom of his neck where it met his back. He will let me go for about a second.

"I don't think so," I told her, holding her close while I started tickling her.

" No!" I shouted while laughing, " Plea....pleas......please stop.." I managed to sputter out within all my giggling. I wiggled more and more as the tickling went on.

I was cracking up. I stopped but held on to her just shaking my head still laughing. "you make that too entertaining," I told her

I wriggled myself free from his grasp and glared. " Oh quiet.." I said with a smile on my face.

I couldn't stop laughing and I said, "But... if I be quiet, then you won't get to hear my secret." I figured I'd lead her on.

I stopped, " What secret?" I asked him. Peeking my eyebrows. Interesting, why would he bring up a secret. " Remus....you better not be kidding.." I pouted.

I held up my hands and shrugged. "I don't know... you wanted me to be quiet," I said. "So my lips are sealed from this point on." I made a show of zipping my lips and throwing away the key.

I scowled, " No! ...no quiet you.." I said I hated when he did this. It drove me nuts, so I poked him to tell me.

I kept giving her a hard time, no matter how much she tried to get the information out of me. I knew it was driving her nuts not knowing. I was having a little too much fun with it, if I do say so myself. I still had the ring in my pocket. I really had intended to make a little dinner for us... have a little picnic, watch the sunset, something cute like that. But what better way to propose than doing it right now while we were just being us? This is what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life; this is who I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. We had our own quirky little relationship that was so perfect for us. We understood each other and I really couldn't see my future without Chloe in it. So why not tonight?

I looked at her and smiled. "You know... I had this great big plan in my head and this goes against it," I told her playfully. "But I don't see myself being my whole self with anyone but you. Whether it be my goofy side -- like now -- or my soft side... or, yes, even the animal side. You make those nights more bearable; you make everything so much better. And no, it's no big secret that I love you. But this was the secret," I said, not intentionally making my voice get softer, but it added to the mood. I pulled out the box and opened it. The diamond sparkled as if on cue. "Chloe, will you marry me?"

I couldn't believe what he was saying, " I love you too sweetheart." When he finished I gasped, looking to him I felt my eyes water. " Of course!" I said as I pulled my arms around him and kissed him. I felt so happy knowing this was the secret. I was now crying with happiness, and couldn't stop smiling. I looked at him, this was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. It just seemed to much like a dream.