Several months later, after Apollo and Aphrodite's seventeenth birthday, Apollo and Vincent had been talking of proposing to their girlfriends. They did all of their planning together and even went ring shopping together. Apollo picked out a ring for Vincent that he knew Aphrodite would like and Vincent did the same for Apollo's ring for Alice.

   "Do you think she'll accept?" Apollo asked.

   "Of course. She's crazy about you," Vincent assured. "Do you think Aphrodite will accept?"

   "I am entirely confident that she will."

   Vincent breathed a sigh of relieve, as did Apollo. The two purchased their chosen rings and departed from the jewelry store. The two boys returned to the catacombs.
   Alice had been spending time with Aphrodite while the boys were out shopping. The girls started asking the boys questions as to where they went as soon as they reached the main room.

   "We went and had coffee," Apollo replied.

   "You sat an drank coffee for three hours?" Alice questioned.

   "It was a coffee tasting," Vincent said in a tone that made both girls suspicious.

   Aphrodite shrugged. "Fine. I'll buy it," she said. She began to walk away, but then suddenly stopped and added, "Work on your lying skills. It's getting a little pathetic."

   "You two have to stay out of my room and that area. Better yet, avoid the hallway all together," Apollo said quickly.

   "What? Why?" Alice asked confused.

   "Apollo and I have important business to attend to. It's a secret, and we can't tell you guys quite yet what it is," Vincent explained.

   "Okay. Come, Alice. Let's go corset shopping," Aphrodite urged.

   Alice followed her friend through the catacombs and to the store, leaving Apollo and Vincent alone.

   "Who is proposing first?" Apollo asked.

   "You should," Vincent decided.

   "Alright, then. I will propose first. Now, how will we propose?"

   "Dinner at Béret Framboise."

   "Oui. Allons-y!" Apollo agreed, which means when translated, "Yes. Let's go there."

   It was decided that they would take their girlfriends to the restaurant the next day at seven, and Vincent would propose to Aphrodite right after Apollo proposed to Alice.
  
   "You do know that you'll have to change your last name to Destler, don't you?" Apollo asked.

   "Very funny," Vincent replied with a laugh.

   "I'm not kidding. You will have to change your last name to Destler. There will not be an Aphrodite Gaston, there will be a Vincent Destler."

   "It's a small price to pay to spend the rest of my life with the woman I love."

   "Now, we only have one thing left to do. We have to ask for my parents' blessing."

   "Right you are. Let's ask now, before the girls return."

   The two boys immediately went to Erik and Christine. Vincent explained how much he loved Aphrodite and how he wished to marry her. He concluded by saying that he would change his last name instead of their daughter changing hers.
   Erik and Christine discussed the prospect of their daughter marrying Monsieur Gaston. After a moment, they consented.
   Next, Apollo asked for his parent's blessing to ask Alice to marry him. They also gave their consent for this request.
   The boys walked back to Apollo's room confidently, as if they had just won some battle. Now, all was in motion for their proposals.