"What are we even doing?" Cath moaned.

"I can't tell you," Mari shrugged. "Wear the red dress."

"No, I'm saving it for-"

"Wear the red dress!"

"Fine," Cath sighed in defeat.

"Listen, my mother told me this, and I'll tell you. Sometimes people know things you don't, and it's best just to go with the flow."

"And which foster mother was that?"

"Six, I believe."

"Oh, she was a good one," Catherine nodded. "Alright, I'll wear the dress."

"Perfect," Mari nodded in approval. Without any warning, she grabbed Cath by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

Catherine laughed. "What's this for?"

"For remembering," Mari laughed sadly.

—————

"How do I look?" Matt asked nervously.

"Like you in a suit."

"Very helpful," Matt said sarcastically.

"Sorry," Josh chuckled. "You look good."

"You mean that?"

"Gosh, what are you a fourteen-year-old girl?" Josh snorted. "Yes. You're ripped and amazing and half burned. What else do you want me to say?"

"I could do without the attitude."

Josh gave a little smile. "Sorry. I'm just thinking about how that pebble scar on the back of my neck will look in your wedding photos."

"That's what you get for liking Cath," Matt smirked.

"Hey, I never 'liked' her. I flirt to deal with my lack of self confidence, man. You know that," Josh laughed.

"Then how come you could never flirt with Mari?" Matt questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I don't," Josh shrugged. "She's different."

Matt shrugged and took a deep breath. "I think I'm ready. Do you think she'll say yes?"

"How could she not?" Josh grinned. "Now, quickly be Mari and tell me what I should fix."

"Why don't you ask the real Mari?"

"Please?"

"Your hair. Fix your hair."

A text from Mari popped up on Matt's phone. "We're almost there. Get ready."

"I'm gonna throw up," Matt said, turning pale. "This was a lot easier the last time."

"Not on the suit!" Josh yelped as he ran away.

Matt took a deep breath and took one last look in the mirror. "Showtime."

—————

"Mari, what are you doing?" Cathrine laughed, her mind full of questions and hopeful suspicions.

"Oh nothing," Mari shrugged.

"You're being very secretive," Cath sighed.

"Just- just get up there," Mari laughed, pushing her forward.

Catherine opened the door to the theater to see the entire grand entrance filled with hundreds of red roses. "Woah," she said breathlessly.

—————

Matt waited nervously by the rooftop edge, the ring box burning a whole in his pocket.

—————

Catherine followed a path of rose petals down the hallways and up the stairs. She slowly opened the door to the rooftop and stepped out to see what was easily thousands more of roses.

Matt felt his breath leave his chest as Catherine creaked open the door. From the first sight of her fiery red dress, an elysian peace came over him. Every thought put into subjection by the simple formulation of a purpose in his mind.

She was his purpose.

His reason to live.

His savior.

"Hi, Cath."

"Matt," she smiled, "what's going on?"

"I couldn't wait," he laughed with sad eyes, "a single second longer."

Tears began to form in the corners of Catherine's eyes. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Catherine," Matt said softly, his voice cracking with emotion, "from the moment I first saw you, you have been the driving force of my life. Every action, every breath and thought as been yours and yours alone. I'm so far from perfect, so far from what you deserve..but without you, Catherine, I'm nothing."

Cath's heartbeat sped up and she smiled softly, letting him continue.

"I, um-" Matt stammered with a laugh, "I think you should be aware of my faults. Though you already know a few...if you'll hear me out?"

"You'll always be perfect in my eyes," Catherine smiled. "But go ahead."

Matt blushed red and struggled to continue on. "One. I'm selfish because I will never share you with anyone else. Two. I'm loud. I will tell everyone in the world how much I love you. Three. I'm violent. I will fight away every nightmare while you sleep, and every threat when you're awake. I- I-" Matt laughed nervously and took her hand. "Please say yes. I don't know what I'll do if you don't. I might go crazy if I have to wait a second longer. Catherine Daei, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"Of course," Cath laughed through tears, her voice barely audible.

"Yeah?" Matt laughed tearfully as he got down on one knee.

Catherine nodded. "Yeah."

Matt opened the ring box. "Please like it," he chanted silently in his head.

"Matt," Catherine gasped as tears rolled down her cheeks, "it's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you," Matt laughed, helping slip it onto her finger.

"I love you," Catherine smiled, pulling him up and kissing him tenderly.

"I love you too, my Catherine," Matt said softly, pressing his forehead against hers and embracing her tightly.

Author's Note: The picture to follow shows the red dress Catherine wore in the last scene. (Just to refresh your memory on what it looked like.)