"Shannon Lynn?? Shannon, is that you?"

I spin around and come face to face with an older brunette woman. Someone I thought I would never see again. Someone so very familiar from my past. I plaster a smile on my face as I acknowledge her presence.

"Hi, Mrs Matthews...."

She smiles warmly at me. "How many times have I told you dear, please call me Dani."  I smile sheepishly back at her. Softly I respond, "Hi Dani." This is beyond mortifying for me right now.

I go back to checking out the options in front of me. She seems completely oblivious of my discomfort and just keeps prattling on.  "Dear, are you here with your parents?  I haven't seen them in quite some time.  They are such wonderful people.  I always felt poorly about how things ended with you and Jason...."

I find the appropriate vegan cheese, one that will melt properly and place it in my cart.  I turn across the aisle to grab whipped cream, Sebastian's surprise for later, and Jason's mother follows after me.  She starts putting items from the dairy aisle in her own cart and is looking at me expectantly, waiting for an answer to her question.

I sigh softly and turn to face her. "No, I'm not here with my parents. They actually are teaching for a while in London. I only came back for the homecoming game. I live in Ohio now with my cousin."  She just looks at me confused, "Jason didn't tell me that you had moved..."

I just laugh softly, where in the world is Sebastian, he needs to save me from this.  "I know.  Because before last night, Jason and I hadn't talked, at least not civilly, in months." Her face falls as she places a hand on mine. "I'm so sorry dear. I had no idea. We always liked you very much, you were so sweet and a wonderful influence on him."

I smile at her and then turn away mumbling to myself apparently not that good of an influence...

We hear two voices coming from opposite directions that reach us almost simultaneously and I freeze.

"Mom, I couldn't find the cereal you wanted."

"Pretty Girl, is this what you meant??"

This isn't going to end well.

Sebastian materializes first, coming up behind me holding a box of egg free fettuccine noodles.  I nod as he places them in the cart, dropping a sweet kiss in my hair.  He looks from me to Mrs Matthews with a raised eyebrow, just as Jason comes up to his mother's shopping cart.

Instinctively Sebastian wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back against him. I can hear the ice in his voice as he acknowledges the boy standing beside his mother's cart.

"Matthews."

Jason has the good sense to avoid direct eye contact as he nervously responds. "Hi Shannon, Sebastian."

I hear a soft chuckle emerge from Mrs Matthews as she takes in the three of us.  At least she is enjoying this, because I am definitely not.  "And Dear, who is this attractive young man?"

I glance over my shoulder at Sebastian and he looks at me, squeezing a little tighter around my waist. "Um.... This is Sebastian Smythe. Sebastian this is Jason's mom, Mrs. Matthews." She gives me a look and I hurriedly correct myself, "Dani. Sebastian is my..."

He extends his hand to shake her's and finishes my train of thought, answering honestly, his impeccable breeding kicking in. "Fiancé. It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."  I see Jason pale as his mother raises her eyebrow at us.  I'm trying to not blush as Sebastian laces his fingers with mine, kissing my cheek.

I barely hear Jason squeaking out engaged?!  I give a small glare his way, but Sebastian lightly squeezes my hand and my smile returns.  Mrs Matthews is back to looking curiously between the three of us.  "So Sebastian, how long have you known our Dear Shannon?"

Sebastian smiles at me and then turns towards Jason and his mother. "Almost two months. I met her the day after she moved. Her cousin Blaine used to go to school with me, at Dalton Academy, a private all boys school. Your son became acquainted with him and some of my other friends last night."

Try as I might but I can't contain a small giggle as I see Jason flinch.  Sebastian continues with a smile, "I saw Pretty Girl here talking with some of my classmates and her cousin at a coffee shop, and she entranced me immediately. Two days later we had our first date..... She's absolutely amazing." Sebastian's voice goes all dreamy as he explains.

I can't help but smile as he talks about how we met. Mrs Matthews smiles warmly at us and nods slightly. I see Jason looking ill, jealousy does not suit him.  It is almost funny in a sick sort of way.  But I'm starting to fidget, this is getting more and more uncomfortable.

Sebastian senses my discomfort and he turns my face towards his, looking me deeply in the eyes.  I silently plead with him for a way to get out of this situation. He nods slightly and turns back towards the other two. "It was wonderful meeting you Mrs Matthews. But we have guests waiting for us at the house. We really should be getting back because we promised them a nice home cooked meal. Right Love?"

I smile up at him and nod, turning back to address Jason and his mother.  "Unfortunately we must run.  We've been out quite a long time today and if I'm not back soon my cousin is bound to send some of them out as a search party." Mrs Matthews gives me a small smile and comes to my side, wrapping me in a tight hug. She whispers in my ear, "You be good Shannon. I really like Sebastian, he seems sweet. I can tell he loves you very much." I whisper back softly thank you Dani.

Pulling away she goes back to her shopping cart. "Sebastian it was lovely meeting you. Shannon, please keep in touch."  She turns away leaving Jason to follow her.  He looks between me and Sebastian.  "Shann, I'm sorry.  Honestly.  For everything."  He tries to reach out for my hand but Sebastian stops him immediately.

"Dude, if you want to keep that limb, you will refrain from touching her.  I told you last night, and you best believe me when I tell you this again, Shannon is mine.  Today, in front of a crowd of people, I officially asked her to marry me.  She's never coming back to you.  So if you value your life in any way, you will quickly follow your mother."

Jason looks to me and I just shake my head at him.  He quickly nods and spins on his heel, hurrying after his mother.

Before anything else happens, Sebastian and I head towards the checkout.  Quickly paying for the groceries and loading them back into my car.  Once we are settled back in my car, he reaches for my hand and gently presses a kiss to it.  "Well Love, that was interesting."  I just look at him and then start the car.  "Thank goodness you were there.  I don't know what I would have done if I would have had to face them alone."  He laces his fingers with mine, "Pretty Girl, you'll never be alone...."

I smile to myself as I drive us home.  Content with Sebastian by my side and in my corner.  In no time I am parked at the house again, this time I pull into the empty driveway.  Cara's car is no longer here, she and Laura must have gone home.

Quickly we exit the car, grabbing the few bags of groceries that we have.  I open the door to let us in the house, calling out to our friends.

"Children?"

Sebastian follows my lead, but he has to mess with them, because well it's Sebastian.

"The Smythes have returned!!"