"Sweetheart, are you coming?" called Larry. She didn't even notice that he had already taken the box and went to the bedroom. She made her way there thinking about this man she was about to start a life with. And to think that only a week ago, she was afraid he wouldn't come back from Detroit. But now, she knew he loved her and that he would never hurt her. Not Jamie, nor anyone or anything would ever keep them apart.

Ally wondered if things were going to be different, now that they would spend much more time together. Living together meant waking up together, eating together, cooking together, sleeping in the same bed every night. He made her feel so safe and warm. But what about what Larry said when she thought he was a therapist. How he said that Brian hadn't asked her to marry him, that instead he asked her to move in with him because he was scared. Was Larry scared?

She got to the bedroom and could hardly recognize it, with all the boxes of clothes and souvenirs. Larry was facing the window, looking at the snow slowly falling on Boston. It was mid March and still no sign of summer. He heard Ally walk in and turned around. He found her to be so beautiful, he could hardly keep himself from walking up to her and kissing her. It seems she must have read his mind because she walked up to him and kissed him passionately. He was pleasantly surprised when she brought him over to the bed. The boxes can always wait!

The next morning, after Larry left for work, Ally had a discussion with Renee. "Do you think Larry and I are meant to be?" asked Ally. She had been wondering all night why Larry hadn't asked her to marry him.

"Why are you asking me this?" responded Renee. "You love Larry! And you see the way he looks at you. He adores you! What's the matter?"

"It's just..." Ally paused to rephrase. "When I first met Larry in Tracy's office, he told me that Brian didn't ask me to marry him because he was afraid. That instead, he asked me to move in with him. Is Larry afraid? Maybe he just doesn't want to marry me!"

"I can't believe you are telling me this! Larry LOVES you!" said Renee. She calmed herself down and spoke in a calmer tone. "Relax! I'm sure it'll happen. You are two of a kind!"

All day at her office, Ally was somewhere else. She couldn't concentrate on her case. All she could think was, Does Larry love me? Why doesn't he want to spend the rest of his life with me? Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Larry.

"Hi honey!" he said. "I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, sweetheart," said Ally.

"Listen," he said. "I'm coming to pick you up for lunch. I have something important to ask you. I'll pick you up at 11:30, all right."

"All right." she answered.

"I'll be waiting! I love you!"

"I love you too, Ally," he said, before hanging up.

For the next hour, Ally couldn't concentrate on her work. What was so important that Larry couldn't ask her over the phone? Was it marriage? Ally was hoping it was. She had been afraid of commitment before, but Larry made her want to settle down, maybe even have kids. Finally, Larry arrived. He knocked on the door and she looked up. He was looking at her.

"I missed you," she said.

He smiled a smile that made her heart melt. "I missed you too," he answered. She got up and got her coat. He took her by the waist and kissed her. They went outside and walked to the restaurant in the falling snow.

They sat at their table and ordered some wine. "What was it that you wanted to ask me Larry?" asked Ally, impatient.

"You don't have to agree to this if you don't want to," said Larry. "I'll understand. I would like to have Sam over next weekend and I wanted to know if it was okay with you before offering him this."

Ally was stunned, to say the least. She was deceived and couldn't reprimand herself enough for hoping for a proposal. After all, they only had been together 6 months. Who was she to think he was ready for marriage.

"Well, Ally. Can he?" asked Larry.

"Sure. It'll be great." Ally was speaking in a voice that didn't lie. She had expected something bigger than a visit from Sam.

Their meal arrived and Larry was worried. Ally had spoken so little since she agreed to Sam coming. Was she angry at him? He was afraid she didn't want to see Sam. Finally he broke the silence.

"What's wrong? You seem more interested in your veal than in me. Did I say something wrong. Please Ally, tell me."

Ally took a deep breath. It was so hard to pretend she wasn't deceived. "Larry, I'm not angry at you. And I love Sam. He is such a sweet kid and I am glad he's coming over next weekend, it'll be fun."

Larry was relived but still concerned. "Then, Ally, please tell me why you look so sad. I hate to see you this way."

Ally sighed. "I was hoping you would ask me to marry you, Larry. Damn it! I was hoping that would be the important thing you needed to ask me." Ally stormed out of the restaurant. Larry could do nothing but feel sad. He had loved Ally so much, but he was scared to ask her to marry him. He was scared she wouldn't want to spend her life with him.

That night, Larry didn't come home. Ally decided to go sleep in Ren�e's room. She needed comforting. She knocked on her door.

"Ally, what's wrong?" asked Renee.

"Larry didn't come back," said Ally. She sat down next to Ren�e "I made a scene today at lunch because the big news he wanted to announce me had nothing to do with marriage. He wanted for Sam to spend the weekend here next week. Of course I accepted, but it hurt so much! I was so sure he was going to ask me to marry him, so when he asked me why I was sad, I snapped. I stormed out of there. Renee, I made such a mistake! I love him but now he's gone!"

Ally sobbed. Renee held her. She had never seen Ally so out of herself.

"Listen, Ally, he WILL come back," she said. "It might not be tonight, but he will come back. He loves you. And all his clean clothes are here."

After this talk with Renee, Ally felt a little better, but she was still afraid that she and Larry were over. She went to work early that morning to catch up on the work she had missed the day before. Nice day, isn't it?" he said, turning around, to catch a glimpse of Ally. "Where were you? Larry I was so worried!" rushed Ally. Larry's voice was trembling. His eyes were red from crying and Ally felt awful for making him so miserable.

"I was at John's place. I figured he could help me. He knows you so well. I spoke to him of your reaction yesterday and he laughed. He thought it was funny. He told me not to worry, that you still loved me. I was still scared." He took a deep breath and continued. "Ally. You have given me everything a man could ever want and I am very thankful for this. You gave me your love and understanding. You were there when I missed my son. You even let me go off to Detroit for 6 weeks and you still loved me when I came back. You stayed, even after I kissed Jamie."

Ally's eyes were filling up with tears. Larry approached her and kept talking. "Yesterday, when you told me you wanted to marry me, I didn't know what to say. Of course, I was happy! What kind of man wouldn't be happy. But it made me miserable to think that I might have lost you because I was scared to ask you."

Larry reaches out and takes Ally's left hand. He reaches to his pocket and takes out the most simple yet beautiful engagement ring. Ally's face lights up with a smile. He smiles back and get down on bent knee.

"I cant promise we'll never go through rough times, but I promise I will always be by your side, no matter what. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He slips the ring on her finger. Their eyes fill up with tears. "Ally McBeal, will you marry me?"

"I certainly will, Mr. Larry," she says in between two sobs. Larry gets up, takes her by the waist and kisses her passionately. They break away from their kiss. She leaned her forehead against his and said, "Don't you think we should let them in?" She giggles. Larry walks over to the door and opens it. The whole office staff falls through. Larry rushes back to Ally and kisses her, as if they were the only people in the world. And in a way, they are.