Carmen stared at the ring. And stared some more. And some more. She could barely believe that this was happening. Wait. Was it happening? This could easily be a dream... but then again, defeating VILE had seemed like a dream, even though it was real.

So maybe... this was reality?

A reality in which Gray had just proposed to her?

"I-" She managed to stutter like an idiot. What was she supposed to do with her hands? They currently wanted to slap her own face, hold Gray, and flap around all at the same time.

What was happening?

Gray stood from the ground and took her hand. "Not a great time for this, huh?" He brushed his fingers under her eye, which is when she realized that she was crying-hard.

Finally managing to speak proper English words, Carmen whispered, "No, Gray, I just don't even- I can't think straight..."

"I'm sorry, Carm. Please don't cry." He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly. Shifting to hide the box back in his pocket, he asked, "Something's wrong, yeah?"

She could only nod.

"What's going on in your head right now?" Gray sounded sad.

"I feel so helpless." The words were quiet and strained. 

"We defeated VILE, didn't we?"

Carmen bit back a whimper and clung to him tighter. "Maybe. But that doesn't change anything.

"Change what?"

"There's this-this fear just circling in my head that everything is going to go wrong because VILE always found a way to hurt me, and that they're going to..." She sucked in a breath and seemed to wilt. "I don't want them to hurt you. I can't lose anyone else.

Gray's eyes widened and he rubbed her back slowly. "Carmen, almost everyone from VILE is in jail. Only a few operatives got away. What damage could they do?"

"Everything," She whispered, taking a step back. "You don't understand. They could destroy everything. They could... use one of us against the other.

Gray's face crumbled.

"I'm not ready to settle down like that, Gray. I'm sorry." Carmen knew that she was about to lose it and snap.

But suddenly his face lit back up and he smiled. "Who said anything about settling down?"

"I-what?"

He took her hand and whispered, "What if I told you that I wanted to join your team, Carmen?"

Her eyebrows shot up.

"I'll follow you to the corners of the Earth, if you'll let me." He swallowed, seemingly nervous. "Carmen, I know how you feel about me, but do you know that I want to live the rest of my life with you? Lighting tech was never my thing. That's why I joined VILE in the first place, but you- you are everything to me. You have an amazing crew, too. We can win." He choked on the last words. "I just know it."

The biggest surge of relief hit Carmen, and she blinked back tears to kiss him. "You are the biggest flirt I've ever met."

He winked. "Is it working?"

"You tell me." She reached into his pocket and pulled the tiny black box out, taking the silver band out and placing it in his hand, letting her fingers brush over the white diamond.

Gray smiled, suddenly shy, and gazed at it happily for a second.

"You'll just have to explain to Ivy all of the details." Carmen booped his nose lightly.

He tensed. "I'm telling her and Zack?"

"It's either them or Shadowsan."

Gray gulped. "I'll tell Ivy." He paused. "We're getting married."

Carmen nodded, happiness suddenly bubbling in her gut. "We are indeed."

His face flashed with determination. "You won't regret it."

"Oh, Gray." She whispered, cupping his face. "I've never regretted loving you. It's one of the best choices I've ever made."

He smiled. "You're going to go to bed and cry all night, aren't you?"

"You know me so well."

"But, happy tears this time, right?" Concern flittered across his face.

Carmen nodded again, kissing him deeply. "Happy tears, I promise. For forever and always."