Ok so this was not the planned next chapter but I was stuck on the original one so here is this one instead.

As always:

Crying Potential: Moderately low with a chance of happy tears (not sad)

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Luke paced back and forth in the studio. Tonight was the night. 

"Chill, you're doing the Alex runway thing dude." Reggie placed his hands on each of Luke's shoulders stilling him.

"But what if something goes wrong? What if she says no? What if the food is tainted and we die!?"

"Luke, calm down, if it makes you feel better propose before dinner."

"No, the plan is to propose after dinner, when we are sitting in the living room. Not before dinner."

"Breath with me Luke, you are freaking out, and of course she is going to say yes! Don't worry about that."

"What if I mess up on the song?"

"Luke, calm down. Normally I would go get Julie, but that won't work this time so instead you are getting a hug." Reggie informed Luke before wrapping his arms around one of his best friends.

"You're right," Luke breathed out as Alex flashed into the studio.

"Everything is ready to go after dinner. Your guitar is sitting in the living room, our backing recording is ready to play, and Ray is excited. Dinner is almost done, and Flynn is about to bring Julie here after keeping her busy for the past few hours." Alex reported.

"But-"

"Yes I made sure the track plays."

"and-"

"Yes there is room in the living room for us to flash our instruments in if the recording messes up."

"What about-"

"Luke, everything is covered. As long as you have the ring we are all good."

"Right here." Luke said pulling the ring out of his pocket to show it to his best friends.

"She's going to love it."

"I hope so."

----

After a dozen more reassurances they made their way into the house to find Ray nearly done with dinner, cheese ravioli with marinara and bread with an oil dip, he was merely putting the bread and oil dip on the plates to put on the table.

"You ready Luke?" Ray asked with a smile.

"As I'll ever be."

"Do you wanna go over the plan one more time to make yourself feel better?" Reggie asked, Luke nodded wanting this to go absolutely perfect.

"So, Julie will get here with Flynn and we will have dinner, once we finish dinner Alex and I will take the plates and offer to do the dishes. Ray will follow saying he will help put up the leftovers. Flynn will get suggest getting a movie ready and you and Julie will go with her to 'pick a movie'. I've already hidden the remotes so Flynn will start 'looking' for the remote and go by the stereo and press play on the back track then sneakily leave. When she presses play there is an entire minute of empty track so you can do whatever lead in you want and grab your guitar. Meanwhile Ray will be starting the recording with Alex and I on standby for if there is an issue with the track, which there won't be, then you do your thing! She says yes! Ta Da!" Reggie explained.

"Yep, sounds like a plan." Luke breathed out, his fist patting out a beat on his leg as he tried to focus.

"Luke, can I talk to you for a minute?" Ray asked before adding, "Privately?"

Luke nodded and followed him into the hall.

"Luke, I want you to know, I am so happy about this. I know I was hesitant about your relationship at first, but I've gotten to know you over these past few years. I truly believe you are the person for my daughter. I never thought I would meet someone I deemed worthy for her, but you have proved it. You have been there for every high and low, helped her find music again after Rose passed, helped her become herself again, you brought out this whole new person she hid inside of herself for years, you've remained loyal to her and helped her achieve her dreams and achieved yours too. The way you look at her... it's a look no one can fake. I've watched the two of you sing together and write together, and it is truly magical the connection between the two of you. I cannot imagine anyone else marrying my Julie."

"Thanks Ray, it means a lot, but she's helped me a lot too. I don't feel complete without her. She is my other half, my heart."

"I know, and that's how I know she will say yes." Ray smiled down at his future son-in-law before he heard the front door open. "Let's get the ball rolling shall we?"

Luke smiled as they went back into the kitchen where Reggie and Alex had finished getting dinner ready to be served as Julie and Flynn walked in.

"Hey guys!" Julie greeted.

There was a small chorus of hellos greeting her back as well as Flynn.

"Hey Jules," Luke greeted walking up to his hopefully future fiance, wrapped an arm around her before kissing her forehead. "Did you and Flynn have fun?"

"Yeah, we even saw a few fans while we were out and about. It's still so weird even after all these years when I get recognized."

"Well, we have sold out stadiums all around the world."

"Doesn't make it any less weird."

"So, you ready for dinner?"

"Yep, Flynn made sure I worked up an appetite. I swear she tried to fit a weeks worth of activities into a day."

"Well, then we better get you fed."

Julie smiled at her boyfriend leaning into his chest affectionately for a few seconds before pulling away to get her food. Luke followed grabbing his own plate and drink before heading to the dinner table taking his seat next to Julie.

Throughout the whole dinner all he could think about was what came next. He kept having to reach over and grab Julie's knee to ground himself.

Julie knew something was up, Luke only grabbed her knee this much when he was either upset or anxious and needed some reassurance that she was near. So after a few times she eventually moved her hand to hold his. Hoping to ease whatever panic was simmering within him. Instantly Luke was more at ease, just feeling her grip on his hand had sent calming waves throughout his whole body.

The conversation continued around the table until everyone was done eating and had been for a few minutes.

"I'll take care of the dishes." Reggie offered standing up grabbing his plate as Alex did too.

"I'll help." Alex added as the plan continued to unfold.

Julie thought nothing of their offer, they all took turns randomly offering to do the dishes each dinner, and Julie really wanted to get Luke alone for a few minutes to find out what was bothering him.

"I'll go put the leftovers up while they do that then. Why don't you guys go pick a movie?" Ray said standing up heading to the kitchen.

"Sounds good, any requests?" Flynn asked standing up from the table.

Ray shook his head.

Flynn, Luke, Julie all ventured into the living room. Luke and Julie sitting in their usual spots on the love seat, Luke's guitar sitting on the table.

"Why's your guitar here?" Julie asked curiously.

"Oh, I got here a little early and was messing around with a song."

"Guys, I can't find the remote anywhere, I'll go see if one of the guys knows where it went." Flynn interjected as Luke watched her walk off from the speaker.

Julie nodded before starting to look around to see if she saw the missing remote.

"Well, if Flynn is having to ask where it's at then we both know they will get distracted in there. Want me to play what I have of the song? I need some feedback."

"Sure, I love hearing your music."

Julie smiled as he grabbed his guitar and strummed the opening a few times over as he waited on the back track to start. Then he began to sing despite his racing heart.

That first night we were standing at your door
Fumbling for your keys, then I kissed you
Ask me if I want to come inside
'Cause we didn't want to end the night
Then you took my hand, and I followed you

Luke remembered their first date, they stood outside her front door, and it was cold outside so Julie could not manage to get a grip on her keys. Luke was laughing softly at her before taking the keys and unlocking the door.

"I had fun tonight Luke." Julie smiled up at him.

"So did I," Luke smiled down at her, "What if we didn't end it now? We could go write some more?"

"Yeah, let's do that." Julie smiled before grabbing his hand and pulling him towards to studio softly laughing from the joy filled night.

https://youtu.be/gKD49UCQKGM

Yeah, I see us in black and white
Crystal clear on a starlit night
In all your gorgeous colors
I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life
See you standing in your dress
Swear in front of all our friends
There'll never be another
I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life

Luke began to imagine their wedding, Julie wanted a late afternoon wedding in the winter, so they could dance under the stars, just like they did on so many dates. He saw her in her gorgeous white wedding dress walking down the aisle towards him in his black suit, her eyes filled with the colors of their future playing through them. Infinite possibilities. Walking down the aisle towards him, Alex and Reggie standing by his side, Flynn standing on the other side of the arch, Ray at Julie's side, his parents on front row. Julie standing in-front of him saying 'I do', as they promise themselves to each other forever.

Now, we're sitting here in your living room
Telling stories while we share a drink or two

Julie smiled next to Luke as he played the song for her, she started to interpret the lyrics. Her heart began to beat faster, was this leading to what she thought it was? 

And there's a vision I've been holding in my mind
We're 65 and you ask
"When did I first know?" I always knew

Luke smiled at Julie as she began to realize what was going on, but all he could think about what the image he had of them at 65, sitting in their living room with their grandchildren sitting on the floor, having just been playing music with them. One had asked to hear about how they had fallen in love, and they began to tell the story together with bright smiles upon their face, when Julie interrupted the story to ask when he first knew she was the one, only for him to give her a nostalgic smile and tell her that he always knew. Because Luke did always know, even if it took him a bit to admit it to himself, he always knew.

Yeah, I see us in black and white
Crystal clear on a star lit night
In all your gorgeous colors
I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life
See you standing in your dress
Swear in front of all our friends
There'll never be another
I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life
I want the world to witness
When we finally say I do
It's the way you love
I gotta give it back to you
I can't promise picket fences
Or sunny afternoons
But, at night when I close my eyes I see us in black and white

He didn't know what the world would bring, or when their tainted hot dog would come around, but he knew he wanted her forever. However long that was. He knew the days would never be perfect, but all he needed was her. She was his other half, picket fences and bright days, they didn't matter, they were just bonuses. They were the sprinkles on the ice cream, they may have added flavor and color, but they only enhanced what was beneath it. All he need was her. Them. Together. Forever. Standing together in-front of everyone who mattered, in black and white, two opposite colors yet they couldn't exist without the other. His other half. The melody to his beat. The lyrics to his song. The strings to his guitar. The yin to his yang. She was his everything. His balance. His love.

Crystal clear on a star lit night
There'll never be another
I promise that I'll love yaI see us in black and white
Crystal clear on a star lit night
In all your gorgeous colors
I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life
See you standing in your dress
Swear in front of all our friends
There'll never be another
I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life
There'll never be another
I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life

Luke paused for a moment as the sounds faded from his final strum on his guitar, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a black velvet box.

"Julie Molina, Jules, the love of my life, the melody to my beat, will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Luke asked, his heart racing and his head filled with the sound of it's rapid beating. He slowly opened the box which housed the engagement ring.

Julie gasped her brain trying to keep up with her surroundings as everything seemed to slow.

After what felt like years, but was really only a few seconds Julie's face broke out into a smile.

"Yes, Luke, yes!" Julie threw her arms around his neck and held him tight, tears of joy forming in her eyes. She whispered softly into his ear, "I promise that I will love you for the rest of my life."

Luke pulled away slightly and smiled at her, his smile becoming larger than he thought physically possible, before leaning forward again to capture her lips with his.

He pulled away again and took her left hand and began to put the ring on her finger, where he hoped it would stay forever.

Julie smiled down at it admiring the silver band, a small set of sheet music was engraved into it with a blue/purple stone set in the middle.

"One side is the piano sheet music to the lyrics "You and me together is more than chemistry, love me as I am, I'll hold your music here inside my hands" from  Perfect harmony, and the other side is the guitar sheet music for the same part." Luke explained with a small smile.

"Luke..." Julie trailed off smiled as tears streamed down her face.

"Told you you had nothing to worry about buddy." Reggie said making his presence known.

"You guys all knew about this?" Julie asked seeing the guys, Flynn and her dad all file in.

"We did mija, and we even recorded it." Ray said holding up the camera.

"Thanks you guys."

"Don't thank us, somehow Luke over there managed to come up with this whole plan." Alex pointed out.

"But he couldn't have executed it without us." Flynn quickly added.

The room was filled with congratulations and pictures surrounded in laughs and smiles.

----

Later that night Julie was leaned up against Luke on the couch back at their own house watching Tangled. A past time of theirs. They felt it was appropriate for the night.

"I love you." Julie said looking up at Luke.

"Well, I would hope so, you did say yes." Luke teased, "What is your dream wedding?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it seems all girls have this wedding that they have pictured in their heads forever, so what's yours?"

"Well, I never really thought about it too hard, I was always more focused on who would be waiting for me at the end of the aisle."

"Come on, you atleast have to have some vague ideas. Certain details like the colors or the time of year." Luke pushed a little bit.

"Fine, well I guess I've always wanted a winter wedding."

"See was that so hard?"

Julie rolled her eyes at her boyfr- fiance. She liked that word more.

"So how does it feel to know you are now officially the future Mrs. Patterson?"

"How does it feel to know that I will be Mrs. Patterson?"

"Like I am the luckiest man ever." Luke said before kissing her softly.

They held each other tight as they continued to watch their movie.

As they began their own, happily ever after...

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I hope you guys enjoyed!!! I know it's been several days and the longest gap between updates! As always I have to ask, who cried?

ALSO STORY,

So, Saturday I went and toured the college I am basically certain I am going to, and while I was there I had a song stuck in my head, and honestly I am going with the song being a sign like the Dahlias. I hadn't listened to the song in days so it wasn't from just having heard a clip, but the song, Home is Where my Horse is, kept playing through my head. Clearly that college is meant to be home.

Hopefully I can update again soon!!! Until then please leave comments and requests!! I will do them as I can!