"Do... do you think that maybe--not now, but someday!--I could... I don't know... ask for her hand?" I blush, and her father looks at me with shock, but it's not the bad kind. It's the kind that says, "You never cease to amaze me, Officer Hopkins." The one that, when coming from the right person, fills your heart with love, hope, and joy. That kind of surprise.  The kind I wanted to receive from the love of my life. The one I know Angel can give me.

"You know what?" her father says, and I shoot up straight as can be in my chair, hoping for the answer I know will come out of his mouth. Instead, he decides to torture me with a simple, "We'll see."

My smile falls, all possible glee from that moment fading away. To my shock (no, not the Officer Hopkins kind), her father laughs. I thought it was evil to do such a thing after everything I'd said, but he does. Then he grins.

"Relax, I was kidding! I'd love for you to be my son, son."

I sigh heavily, and start to laugh hysterically. He looks at me like I have three heads. I wish!

"You really had me there, that's all. I'm sorry, I..." I pause, thinking it's cheesy to phrase it this way. Wait, but I actually LIKE cheese! I think, and say, "I think Angelica might just be the love of my life, and you thinking that you were going to take that away so quickly..."

He smirks. "Straightforward. I like it. It's exactly who Angelica needs to be hanging around." He says, winking, and I blush an unattractive terracotta.

Just then, Angelica wakes up. Immediately I rush to her side. "Are you okay?" I ask, examining her every move. Her eyes look fine, I think. She should be up and walking by tomorrow, if the doctors get back with the medicine in time...

It must be God's blessing, because the doctors then come pounding up the stairs with the penicillin I asked for. I give her the required amount quickly, staying by her side through it all.

It's time, I decide, she needs to know how I feel. I turn to her father, who nods approvingly.

"A-Angelica?" I say, my voice breaking.

"Yes?" she asks, gulping down the water she took the meds with.

"I..." I pause. I can't do it, I can't do it. "I think I'm in love with you." I say, my eyes closed in fear of rejection. I squint one eye open, and see her beaming. "I love you too! She says, gesturing for me to come closer.

And finally, the moment I've been waiting for comes, and...

She kisses me.

...on the cheek.

I think I misunderstood, but then I realize. "Thanks," I say. She didn't want me getting sick, so she kissed me on the cheek instead.

She scoots over, laying down again in her bed. I don't understand.

She pats the bed, and suddenly, I do.

I scooch in under the covers, laying next to her. Her dad looks at me with hate in his eyes. It's a look I haven't seen since the first day we met, and I hold my hands up in defense. The action screams, I'm innocent! Don't kill me!

Angel moves up so her head rests on my upper arm,  and I smile, kissing her on the forehead.

"I love you." I tell her.

"I love you, too."