Janelle was sound asleep when David and Leesha arrived home with Ethan. The mansion was silent and David led his wife and son into the den. Leesha was breathing hard and shallow, her face flushing pink and hot.

"Sit down, son. We need to talk," David said, sitting on the orange and white sofa. Leesha kneeled between his legs and laid her head against him.

Ethan sat next to them, eyeing his mom with concern. "Is she okay?"

David nodded as he stroked her hair. "Jon pushed her too far. She's having a violent anxiety attack. You've never seen one in your 17 years, and I was praying you never would."

Leesha sobbed and whimpered into David's jeans, his knees tightening to stop her from rocking back and forth. Ethan watched as David took his mom's hands, entwining their fingers slowly then placing her hands under his shirt. "What's she doing?" Ethan asked.

"Grounding. She's reorienting herself into the present, instead of worrying over past and future, the what if's and the would be's." David and Leesha smiled at each other. "Just as I told you she helps me control myself, I do the same for her."

Ethan reclined back on the sofa, fingers tapping on his phone. "Why'd you let me go to her?"

"Because you're not the first one who's done crazy stupid shit for love," David replied with a chuckle.

Leesha sat back after a few minutes, her face slightly pale. "I...I'll be right back!" She clambered to her feet and ran towards the guest bathroom, slamming the door shut.

David took a moment to go over and knock on the door. "Babygirl, you okay?" He heard his wife give a short 'yeah' and rejoined Ethan. "Don't worry, kid, she'll be fine. Probably the stress," David shrugged.

Ethan felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and pulled it out to check. A smile lit his face when he saw who the message was from. He quickly shot back a reply and stared stupidly at the screen for a while.

"Scooby?" David asked, laying back into the soft pillows.

"Yeah, she's got her phone back," Ethan said, "She said Uncle Jon is sleeping in the office and Auntie J just left her room."

"Son, look...I am very angry about you two using our bedroom and car to...you know...whatever you two did," David stammered, "But that aside, what are your feelings towards Arielle? And don't think with your dick on this. I want your honest feelings about her."

"Oh, dad...she makes me feel...I dunno, alive," Ethan sighed happily, "Yeah she's always been there and until recently I've only ever thought of her as sister material. But...something changed." He stopped to think for a moment before continuing, "She gets me; she gets...this," he looked around the room at all the memorabilia, "All the other girls just felt like they wanted to be with me for your name and money."

David nodded and digested his son's words. "You know Jon and Julie won't want this to continue..."

"I know...I..ah, I have a plan," Ethan said, twisting his fingers around each other.

"Do I need to get more alcohol to hear this plan?" David chuckled.

"No...I'd rather have you sober, Dad. I've given Ari my ring. I...we wanna get married," Ethan stuttered, "I'd like to have your blessings, but I'll understand if you won't. We're gonna do it anyway."

They both looked up when Leesha reappeared in the den, holding her stomach and gently sitting in David's lap. "Feeling any better, babygirl?" He asked, snuggling Leesha close to him.

"Still queasy but I'll live," she replied, kissing David's cheek. "What's going on? Did I miss anything important?"

The couple stared at each other for a full minute before David said, "I asked Ethan about his feelings about Ari and apparently he proposed to her. He just asked for our blessing."

Leesha blinked rapidly between the two, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Uh...what? Shouldn't you have asked before popping that kinda question?" She asked Ethan, her fingers clutching David's shirt.

"Maybe, but it felt so right," Ethan tried to explain, "You guys were all angry and missing the whole point. I'll concede that maybe sending the pictures were wrong, but we love each other. We're going to get married, whether we have your blessings or not."

"David? You already know where I stand..."

David nodded and let his head drop back. He could either refuse to accept it and risk losing his son or accept it and risk losing his best friend. "Much as they'll hate us, we'll always stand behind you and Ellie."

"Can we do anything to help?" Leesha asked. "We want you to be happy, but the lying and stealing and sneaking out has to stop. Right here, right now."

"Babe, technically we'll be lying to Jon and Julie," David pointed out. "And sneaking them out..."

Leesha smacked the back of her husband's head with a curt, "Shush, you."

Ethan let out a whoop of joy and launched himself at his parents, the three of them ending up in a heap of limbs and hugs. "You know that means you getting a job, right?" David mumbled to Ethan.

"Absolutely! Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it," Ethan grinned and sat back into the pillows.

"Go and pack a bag so that you're ready. Text Ari and tell her to do the same. Let her know you're working on a plan." David reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, scrolling through the numbers and holding it up to his ear. "Hey, I hope it's not too late. I gotta ask you a favor..."

*~*One Week Later*~*

The next week was full of phone calls and text messages, Arielle being careful not to give anything away. She tried to act natural and spent most of her time with Sammy or by the pool, her phone always close to her. They didn't stop with the photos. On the contrary, they were getting even more risque.

Jennifer and Brandon even joined in the conspiracy against Jon and Julie, helping Ari get to Ethan under the pretense of going to the mall. Just the girls. She always came back with a shopping bag, so neither questioned it. Or perhaps they were too tired to question it.

Their flight to California was confirmed by Tuesday and as Friday night crawled in, a firm knock came at Ethan's door. He stopped tossing his soccer ball above his head and said, "Come in..."

David poked his head in, smiling as his son, already fully dressed with shoes. "You ready?" Ethan nodded and jumped up from the bed, grabbing his bag and following David down the staircase. Leesha was waiting for them and kissed her eldest.

"Call us soon as you land, okay?" She said, straightening Ethan's hair.

"I will, Mom," he replied and hugged her tight. Ethan loaded his suitcase into his Dad's Mercedes and they were crossing the town border back into Red Bank. "Scooby said she's ready," he said excitedly, his heart racing.

"So the jet will take you into Santa Monica and Mookie will have a car pick you two up from there," David explained. "No calls to Jon or Julie until everything is said and done."

"What about you and Mom? Won't they come over or call to see if you know anything?"

David smiled at his son. "Story will be your mom and I are heading out of the country with Janelle when I get back. We'll probably go stay in Bay Head for a couple weeks."

"Ugh...why can't Uncle Jon and Auntie J be as cool as you guys are being?"

David parked across the street from Jon's home and killed the engine. "Because it's their daughter. Things are just different with girls. Trust me, if the roles were reversed, I'd be doing the same damn thing as Jon is. Let her know we're out here."

Ethan looked to Ari's window and saw the light flicker three times as agreed before it went out for good and he climbed into the backseat. "Here she comes," he whispered. She opened the window and made her way down the short drop to the roofline underneath.

It was a trip they'd both done a thousand times as kids just because they could. Ari collected her backpack from the ground and ran across the lawn and through a secret hole in the hedge and jumped into the backseat of the car and into Ethan's waiting arms.

She then wrapped her arms around her uncle from behind and kissed his cheek, "Thank you so much, Uncle Lema. You're the best, I love you!"

"More than Mookie?" David asked playfully, turning over the engine and made a U-Turn towards the highway.

"Oooh at this point in time? YES!" she squealed. Ari curled up in Ethan's arms and kissed him soundly. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the cool breeze caressing her face in the convertible. "So Uncle Lema, obviously my parents don't know about this. What's your plan as far as they go?

David cruised down the Garden State Highway towards the Newark airport and sighed at Ari's question. Truthfully he wasn't completely sure how to deal with Jon after their fight. "First off, don't contact either of them until the deed is done. Richie will contact your mom first. By that time, there's nothing they can do about it," David answered.

"Dad's gonna be pissed," Ari noted, "I didn't want it to end up like this."

"I didn't either, sweetheart," Ethan whispered, nuzzling his nose in her hair.

"My attorney is getting the legal paperwork together. You're both under 18 so a court order and parental consent is required. It'll be delivered to Richie's home tomorrow along with the marriage license," David said in a very business-like tone. "Along with a prenup you're to both sign."

"Why do we need that? We don't have any money," Ethan asked.

David glanced at his son in the rearview mirror and sighed. "You both do...you just don't have access to it yet. But you will at 18. This way Jon won't get his panties twisted about you trying to get Ari's inheritance. Little does he realize, your own inheritance, college fund, and bonds are...more than substantial."

"I'll sign anything Uncle Lema," Ari said happily, "What else?" She wanted to get to the good stuff, not the boring legal stuff.

"A private jet will fly you out west. Mookie will have a car to meet you at the airport. All calls to arrange everything are being made as we speak," David explained to them, merging the car over into the rightmost lane.

The three sat in silence for a while, Ethan twisting his fingers with Ari's and smiling down at her. "Hey, Dad?" He asked finally.

"Yeah, son?"

"Thank you...for everything..." The father and son smiled at each other in the mirror, David reaching his arm into the backseat and grasped his Ethan's free hand.

David grinned and wiped a tear from his eye. "Love ya, kid...even though you've given me gray hair over the years, that won't ever change." He jumped a little when his phone rang and answered it through the car's Bluetooth system. "Talk to me, darlin'..."

"Hey Hunny, could you pick me up some ginger ale and pickles on your way home?" Leesha's voice came through the speaker. "I can't shake this nausea."

"Not a problem. There should be pickles in the fridge though," David replied.

"I kinda already ate those with the rest of the peanut butter."

David raised an eyebrow at the last part. "You got some strange cravings, woman. Haven't heard that combo since...since...oh..." He blinked rapidly, staring blankly at the road ahead.

"What's wrong? What did I say?" Leesha asked, her voice a little nervous at her husband's hesitance.

"We'll talk when I get back, babygirl..."

"You feeling okay, mom?" Ethan called out and his eyes widened when Leesha yelped.

She quickly gave an 'I love you' and the line went dead. David threw his head against the seat and groaned. "Not again, not now...how?" he asked himself out loud.

"What's wrong, Uncle Lema?" Ari asked.

David ignored the question and pulled onto the private tarmac of the airport. He stopped in front of the private jet and got out to speak with the pilot and flight attendant. Ethan and Ari looked at each other curiously and shared a kiss between stepping out into the night, grabbing their bags from the trunk.

"I can't express to you both my gratitude with you doing this on such short notice," David said, handing them both their payment.

The pilot smiled and hugged David. "Anything for the man that saved my ass a time or two," he replied.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, please follow me and I'll show you two aboard," the flight attendant, whose name tag read Natalie, said sweetly.

Ethan and Ari started to climb the stairs when Ari stopped and turned back and ran to her uncle. She threw her arms around his neck like she did as a child.

"Thank you, Uncle Lema," Ari whispered in his ear as she crushed him in a hug, "Please help Daddy understand. Don't be mad with him."

"Anything for you, Ladybug," David replied, "Welcome to our family." Ari kissed his cheek and rushed up the stairs after Ethan.

They watched out the windows as David waved and climbed back into his car, the Mercedes speeding off into the darkness. "You know there's no turning back, right?" Ethan asked, hugging her from behind.

"I know. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but with you, Shaggy." Natalie helped to stow their bags and explained the typical airline safety. Slowly the jet started off down the runway, lifting off and they climbed higher and higher above New Jersey.

After a light meal of chicken caesar wraps and fresh fruit, the seatbelt sign was turned off. Ari and Ethan retreated to the plush couches that had been turned down to form a king bed and snuggled up. Natalie came by to clear off the table and offered a larger blanket to the young couple.

They accepted it with a thank you and the lights were dimmed. Ari quickly asked Natalie before she left if she could use her phone to send a quick text. "Now that we're airborne you can," Natalie replied with a smile. Natalie disappeared into the front part of the plane and closed off the cabin for privacy.

Ari pulled her phone from her backpack and typed out a quick message, "Going to sleep now...forgive me, mama...I love you both. Tell Sammy that Prince Charming does exist. She'll know." She sent it then turned it off, shoving it down deep in amongst her clothes before curling up into Ethan's arms with a sigh.

"Do you ever get the feeling we were supposed to end up here? Together?" Ethan asked, rubbing Ari's back soothingly as her head rested on his chest. Ari leaned in and kissed him hungrily.

"Yeah...it just feels...right," Ari whispered with a sweet smile.

"So you're ready to inherit my insane Jewish and French family?" Ethan played with the straps of Ari's dress, tracing down the neckline and making her shiver in delight.

"About as much as you are with my Sicilian and Australian family," Ari replied with a deep breath, pushing Ethan's t-shirt off.

Ethan smiled and sang quietly to Ari, their noses touching softly: "I know they have a hard time and your Daddy don't approve. But I don't need your Daddy. Telling us what we should do. Now there's a million questions I could ask about our lives. But I only need one answer to get me through the night."

"You have a lovely voice, Shaggy," Ari said, her fingers grazing his jaw and down his stomach, splaying her fingers and pushing up his shirt off. "Too much fabric for my liking." Their kissing became deeper as his hands trail under her dress, fingers exploring and stroking in time with their heavy breathing.

"I love you, Arielle Bongiovi," Ethan whispered. "Soon to be Arielle Bryan. Has a beautiful ring to it, don't you think?"

"I do believe you're right and I love you too, Ethan Bryan," Ari replied. She squirmed under the blanket and slid over into Ethan's lap, freeing her soon-to-be husband of his jeans and boxers.

Ethan smirked as Ari straightened up and pulled off her dress, his eyes drinking her in. "What are you doing, my beautiful bride?"

"Showing you how happy I am to be here with you," she whispered, tracing her fingers over his abs.

Ethan licked his lips and wrapped his arms around Ari's waist. "Better be quiet then."

*~*Back in Colts Neck*~*

David walked into a 24 hour CVS and smiled at the clerk. He picked up a couple bottles of ginger ale and coke, working his way along the aisles of merchandise for anything else that was needed.

He scanned the shelves for Leesha's favorite brand of pickles, placing two jars in his basket. He'd just passed the painkillers and female supply aisles and stopped, his head spinning with thoughts of the conversation earlier.

Slowly David backed up and looked to his left. His breathing quickened and heart pounded as he picked up a pink and white box. He sighed and dropped it in with his other purchases.

"Find everything you needed?" The young clerk behind the counter asked as David unloaded his basket.

"The name of a good fertility doctor and a bag of frozen peas," David quipped. The clerk just looked at him like he had been struck dumb. David shook his head and swiped his credit card. "Don't mind me..." He picked up the box. "...number 6...possibly..."

The clerk nodded and grabbed a small bottle of whiskey from the shelf behind him. "On the house. You'll need it." David thanked him and left, sitting in his car for a long time and staring at the bag. He sent a quick text to Leesha and started off home.