Author's Note: Two chapters left! Sorry that this is a little short :( I hope you like it anyway! <3

"Why are there so many people?"

Mary smiles as Ember takes her hand and walks a little closer to her, "Because a lot of families like to come here for the holidays, even if it's cold out."

She doesn't really understand why all of these people want to ride roller coasters in cold air, but she does understand the want to see the light show. Every year the park does a Christmas light show and they even bring people in to sing and dance.

Ember loves being her for the light show, even though it happens later in the day and her cheeks feel numb from the temperature. Her mother hasn't brought her to see the show since she was four though. It probably had to do with her father because he never liked to do things with them and that's around the time she started to hear her mother crying.

They walk a little further and she spots the tallest roller coaster in the park, "Are you going to ride that one, mom?"

Mary laughs and shakes her head, "I don't think so. I'm sure that dad will go on with you, if you want. He seems to like these things as much as you do."

Harry stops talking to Claire for a moment to add, "I most certainly will."

Ember smiles as she shakes her head, "I'm not tall enough to ride. I want you to go on with mom and tell me how it is!"

Mary hates roller coasters. She's never liked them at all. Claire dragged her on one when they were teenagers and she nearly had a heart attack. The height isn't the problem, it's the speed and the loops and the way that her stomach drops that are the problem.

But she loves her daughter and she's gone on a good number of rides that scare her half to death just to make sure that she's happy.

She's silent for a little too long and Ember's worried that the plan might not work.

"Alright, I'll go on it with dad. But only if you promise to be good for Aunt Claire."

Claire laughs and Ember puts on her best smile, "Yes, ma'am!"

The lines aren't incredibly long, but they aren't incredibly short either. Mary convinces Ember to take Harry and Claire on a few before she rides the tallest one with Harry. She's absolutely terrified and she's stalling for time as much as she can.

Four roller coaster's later and she's still not ready. Ember's getting thirsty, so they stop at one of the vendors to buy her one of those collectible cups that she can refill all day for a dollar instead of paying nine something for a drink.

Harry's caught on to the pattern now and he grins as he bumps Mary's shoulder and leans closer so that Ember won't hear him. "You're afraid of roller coasters, aren't you?"

Mary shrinks away with slightly wide eyes, "Not afraid, I just don't exactly...like them is all."

He takes her hand and entwines their fingers, "You'll be fine, just hold my hand and keep your eyes open."

She wants to yell and ask him why the hell she would want to keep her eyes open, but Ember and Claire are right there and she really doesn't make a scene. Instead, she settles with a rather loud whisper, "Keep my eyes open!? Why on earth would I want to do that!?"

A soft laugh, "To see the sights from a different view! It's beautiful up there! Plus, I've heard that people tend to feel sick when they close their eyes on rides like that."

Mary mumbles and he almost doesn't hear her over the sound of a passing roller coaster.

"Do I get out of it if I get sick now?"

Claire catches her discomfort and laughs, "Mary, just tell her and spare yourself the heart attack."

Ember's not paying attention to the, she's far too interested in the booths that they pass and the stuffed animals that they have on display. She's wondering if maybe Harry will win her one later and which one she'd want if he did.

"And crush her spirit? Absolutely not!"

Harry and Claire get a good laugh at her before they reassure her that it will be fine. She still doesn't want to do it.

The closer that they get to the massive metal structure, the more that her stomach twists and her heart rate increases. She really doesn't want to do this, but Ember's so excited about it and she'll do almost anything to keep her daughter happy.

What she doesn't know is that Harry and Ember are in cahoots again and the roller coaster is just a part of a much bigger plan. Claire knows it too, but she's promised not to say a word and she's playing her part just like everyone else is.

Mary can see the sign that has the wait time posted and she wants to run because it's only a twenty-minute wait. Harry smiles as he squeezes her hand, "You'll be fine, Marigold. Relax."

She responds by releasing the breath that she's been holding since they saw the wait sign, "Will you hold my hand? I know that it'll be a little difficult, but-"

Harry cuts her off with a gentle laugh, "Mary, you don't have to explain. Yes, if you want me to, I will hold your hand."

Ember giggles because now she knows that her mother really doesn't like roller coasters at all. She's not going to point it out though because then her mother won't go on and the plan really won't work.

Harry cheerily says goodbye to Claire and Ember and practically drags Mary into the line. Practically is a bit of an understatement once they make it inside where Claire and Ember can't see them.

Mary slows their pace and even digs her heels in every now and again because she definitely does not want to do this. Harry thinks that it's funny, but he keeps his laughter to himself and tries to get her to relax in any way that he can.

She never really relaxes.

He eventually resorts to talking to her about anything that comes to mind while they wait. That helps a little because it distracts her, but every time that she hears the cars head down the track, she tenses and squeezes his hand.

Twenty minutes ends up being fifteen and they're at the front of the line a lot quicker than Mary wanted to be. She's freaking out internally, but it shows on her face as soon as the line moves forward and they're in the next car.

Harry has her turn so that she's looking at him and not at the actual ride. He takes both of her hands in his and makes sure that she's looking at his eyes before he speaks.

"Marigold...you're freaking yourself out more than you have to. It only goes as fast as we drove on the way to get here and it's perfectly safe or they wouldn't be running it. Relax and take a deep breath. I'll be right next to you and I'll even hold your hand the entire time." Mary's pouting slightly and he adds, "And I promise that I won't laugh at you if you scream."

The last comment gets her to laugh and to actually relax for a moment. And she actually stays like that when the car pulls up and the gate opens for them to step into their seats. It doesn't last for long though. As soon as she sits down she goes rigid and starts holding her breath.

The seats lock and the workers make sure that they're securely buckled in. There's no way out of this now.

Mary reaches for his hand. Harry smiles and reminds her to keep her eyes open. The ride starts. Mary screams.

She didn't expect it to start off so fast and her heart feels like it's going to burst out of her chest. Harry's trying his best not to laugh, but his smile says it all.

A few other people are screaming and some are laughing, but Mary's scream seems louder than all of that and her grip on his hand is almost bone crushing.

The flash goes off signaling that the picture's been taken and Harry starts to gather the courage to ask the question that brought them to the park in the first place.

Mary's still screaming and clutching his hand as they crest another hill and he decides that it's now or never.

"Mary me!"

Her screams stop abruptly, but her eyes are still wide as she turns her head as much as she can to look at him.

She thinks that she's hallucinating. That maybe she hasn't had enough water to drink and that her fear is just making her hear things over all of the noise.

There's no way that he just asked her to marry him on a roller coaster.

Mary's silent for a long moment before she yells back, "What!?"

Harry laughs vibrantly and let's his head fall back into the headrest. "You heard me! Marry me!"

She screams again as they round another loop, but her scream turns into laughter a moment later. Tears are flying from her eyes because of the speed and because of how happy she is.

"Yes!"

Someone says 'aw' and Harry messes with her just for the fun of it. "What!?"

Mary pinches his hand and yells back, "You heard me! I said yes!"

The ride slows to a stop and she's laughing as tears drip from the corners of her eyes, "Yes, I'll marry you!"

Now everyone can hear what's going on and there are a good number of people who gush upon hearing that she said yes.

Harry's grinning from ear to ear, "See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

Mary shoves his arm and rolls her eyes, "Yeah, after I almost peed my pants. I can't believe you made me go on this just to ask me to marry you! You couldn't just ask like a normal person!?"

"Where's the fun in that!?"

A minute passes before the car rolls up to the gates and they step off to head back to Claire and Ember. They're both grinning from ear to ear as they walk over. Ember looks at Harry curiously and he nods slightly.

Ember lights up like the sky on the fourth of July and she asks Claire for something. Mary watches as Claire hands her a box and her eyes widen. "They were in on it the entire time!?"

Harry shrugs his shoulders as Ember starts to run over, "I had to ask permission. I asked everyone actually. First I asked Ember because she's your daughter and she has to approve of me. She helped me come up with the plan, if I'm being honest. Then I asked your mother because she still doesn't like me and I thought that it would make her hate me less. For the record, it did. Then I asked your father and then I asked Claire. So, basically, everyone knew about it except you."

Mary's expression softens and she gently bites her lower lip for a second, "You asked my entire family if you could marry me?"

He shrugs a little again and a faint blush creeps to his cheeks, "Well, yeah. I can't just ask for your hand in marriage without permission. And I thought that I needed permission from all of them to make sure that everyone is happy with us getting married. Your mom was also still mad at me and now she isn't so, I guess asking you to marry me was all that it took to get her forgiveness."

Ember makes it over and Harry leans down to kiss her cheek as she hands him the ring, "Thank you, Emmy."

She grins as she looks between him and her mother, "You're welcome!"

Now he drops down to one knee to ask her the proper way, just because he can.

"So, now that you're not terrified and screaming, will you continue to make me the happiest man alive for the rest of my life?"

Mary laughs and gives him her hand, "Yes! But ask me again and I'm just going to tell you no for the fun of it."

Harry playfully rolls his eyes as he slides the ring on her finger, "That's the last time, I promise."

He stands up and pulls her in for a kiss only to add, "The last time you'll get married, too."

Ember yells 'ew' after a few moments and Claire laughs, "You'll get kissed like that someday too."

She makes a face and mumbles 'gross' and Claire only laughs louder. Harry finally pulls away and Mary's sure that her heart might just explode today. "Sorry Ember. It won't happen again."

Not in front of her, anyway.

Ember decides to go on a few rides with Claire, which gives Mary some time to really look at the engagement ring that he bought for her and ask him how he figured out her ring size if she never told him.

It's a beautiful ring that makes the one that Alec got her look like costume jewelry. Leaves make up the band and the cut on the diamond is so pretty. Mary's absolutely in love with her ring and, if it's even possible, she's far more in love with the man that gave it to her.

Her eyes are practically sparkling when she returns her attention to him, "How did you manage to find such a perfect ring?"

"Perfect?" A bright smile graces his lips, "I knew that you'd like it. It took me quite a few days to find, actually. I had another one picked out, but it was a lot simpler and you're the artistic type so I didn't think that it would suit you quite as well."

Mary's about to ask how much he spent, but he already anticipated that and continues talking, "And no, you are not going to know how much I spent on it. Ever. Well, maybe when Ember's older and asks about it, but otherwise, never. You told me to spend my savings on something like this and I did, so don't worry about it, sweetheart."

She smiles and rests her head on his shoulder as they wait for Ember and Claire to get off of the ride, "I still can't believe that you planned this with Ember. And that you asked me while I was screaming at the top of my lungs."

Harry laughs, "I didn't want to be incredibly cliché and it was mostly Ember's idea. Although, now that I see how much she loves this place, I think she was a little biased."

"A little?"

"Okay, a lot. But it was a good idea and I don't mind letting her have a good time."

They sit in silence for a while and just enjoy each others company before Mary finds herself asking, "Have you told your family yet?"

Harry grins, "I told them first. Bought the ring with my sister's help. She's really good at that stuff, I was almost afraid to give her any specifications while she was helping me look."

"Well, now I can thank her at Christmas dinner! Are you sure that your parent's are alright with having that many people, and that many children, in their house?"

He gives her a look that makes her feel a little silly for asking the question again. She just wants to make sure that they won't drive his family crazy with their added presence.

"Marigold, they're the ones that suggested we spend Christmas with them. I am one hundred percent positive that they're alright with having so many people in their house. It will be a little cramped, but the more the merrier."

Mary laughs, "You say that now, but not when Ember kicks you out of the bed and forces you to sleep on the floor."

"I'm fine with that too. Just means that I have a higher chance of getting a back massage from my lovely fiancée."

Mary quirks an eyebrow at him, "Just a back massage?"

His lips tilt precariously to the left as he grins, "Of course, what else could I possibly want?"

She playfully shoves his arm just as Ember and Claire round the corner. They've been in the park for a while now and the sun's started to set a lot faster than either of them anticipated. Ember's ecstatic because the light show will start soon and she practically drags them into a restaurant for dinner. Apparently, it's the best possible spot to eat and to watch the show.

And she's right even though the food is still ridiculously overpriced and the place is pretty much packed. The moment that the lights come on, her eyes sparkle and her smile takes a hold of her features.

Harry and Mary love it when she's happy like this and Harry comes up with an idea that will keep that happiness alive. While they're watching the light show, he gets close enough to Ember to ask her a very important question.

"Would you like to come back and see this every year? We can't take your mother on roller coaster because she'll freak out, but we can go on them and then we can all watch the light show together."

She spins around so fast that he hardly has time to react as she throws her arms around him. "You mean it!?"

He glances over at Mary and smiles, "I mean it."