She gasped - a loud, breath-taking, full-of-complete-and-utter-surprise gasp. Was that-? She shook her head, taking two steps back to where she had a decent view through the window at the jeweler's. Oh my god, she thought with another loud gasp, this time ducking to her knees and peering over the side of the wall beneath the large window, that had white lettering announcing the shop's title: Smith & Kline's. What the bloody hell-? She was quite incapable, at the moment, to finish a full thought. She scooted over to the side of the window, pressing her body against the wall and leaning her head over to peek, once more, inside the store. A ring. She squealed. He was in the jeweler's shop. Buying a ring.

"Ooohh!" Dali squealed again, clapping her hands a few times before clasping her hands over her mouth. No, she told herself sternly. Must. Keep. Quiet. "Oooh!" Can't. Do. It. Can't resist the urge. She lifted the tinted glasses from her eyes, allowing them to perch atop her head. Hands were placed in her pockets as she began to take long, quick strides. Need to get home. Lest I combust. A RING. A bloody ring! "Oooh!" She giggled girlishly, quickening her pace as she made her way back home.

--

"CALEB." She wasn't even inside the flat before she began calling his name. By the time she was inside, Caleb was at the door, eyebrows furrowed and wearing an expression which suggested worry or some similar emotion. "Ohh! Caleb! You'll never guess -"

"Christ, Dal. Don't scream like that. Scared me shitless." She disregarded this with a wave of her hand, throwing down her purse and jacket on the floor in one swift movement.

"No no no no no. You'll never in a million years guess what I saw today! Go on, guess!" She looked up at him, eyes wide with excitement.

"I ... Uh? Well, you see, darling, if it's going to take me a million years to guess then -"

"JUDE WAS IN THE SHOP BUYING A RING."

"- what's the point?"

There was silence, during which Dali was staring at him expectantly and Caleb returned the stare, blinking occasionally and mouth dry. He assumed this was because his jaw fell open at the statement: Jude Aldridge, his best mate and Lera's significant other for years now, was in the Shop buying a ring. A diamond ring? Must be. Must. Otherwise, he reasoned, Dali wouldn't be flipping the hell out.

"A ring? A diamond one? A .... An engagement ring? Were you there? Did he invite you? Why the bloody hell would he invite you, being a loud-mouthed, tell-the-world-we-hadn't-had-sex-in-weeks-because-you're-a-paranoid-idiot-who-doesn't-want-to-be-pregnant, gossiping fool over me?"

Dali narrowed her eyes, giving him a slap over the head. "I don't want children. Rather, I don't want to be pregnant. In fact," by this time Caleb could sense a tangent coming on, "I don't understand why they say 'Oh, pregnant women are so beautiful.' Because, you know what? They aren't. They're fat, spend their time eating pizza and ice cream, sometimes at the same time, and get all emotional. It's not beautiful, it's like a shitting monster. Caleb Whealdon, if you ever impregnate me I'm going medieval on your ass and slitting your throat." He raised an eyebrow. "But, god damn! That's not the point. The point is, I just saw him, you bumbling idiot. He sure as hell didn't invite me." She grinned smugly, crossing her arms over her chest at his look that implied a sort of feeling of being left out. Ha. And he called himself a man. Men aren't supposed to feel that way. She snorted faintly. "And by the looks of you, you weren't exactly let in on the fact he's getting engaged. Or. That he's proposing. Lera's a blubbering idiot who may be spineless by, Christ, she's not the brightest crayon in the box sometimes..." Dali shrugged.

"Which leads me to believe one of two things: You either misinterpreted what you saw. Or that was never Jude in the Shop, but just some... Jude look-a-like."

"Poor, poor soul." She giggled lightly, placing a delicate kiss  on his lips and looping her arms around his neck. "Does my Lebby feel left out?" A few more kisses were scattered here-and-there and she brushed back a strand of his hair from his eyes. "It's okay, darling. No need to tell me that I didn't see what I know I saw." She smiled and pat his head lightly. "Maybe it was an impulse, you see? Maybe he never had intention of getting a ring, and just sort of ... did. Therefore leaving him no time to alert you of his going to propose." She shrugged, placing her arms, now, around his waist and resting her head on his chest.

"Right. Because Jude is the most impulsive person in the world." She laughed, shaking her head.

"Or maybe he knew you're just as spineless as Lera. He knew that you'd come home after being gone a whole day, I'd demand to know where you are. You'd claim you weren't ... anywhere. Or at work. Or shopping for groceries. Or something dumb like that. Anyway, then I'd accuse you of having an affair, throw a temper tantrum, you'd feel the need to sort things out, and instead of doing the logical thing and lying you'd tell the truth and then I'd know and would blab to Lera." Her chin was now propped up against his chest so that she could see his face. "You know it's true, Lebby."

He sighed. "Maybe so. But... You still never know."

"Yes I do. I'm all knowing. Don't doubt my eye."

"Yes, darling." He smiled, and she gave him a kiss.

Dali sighed contentedly, resting her head back against his chest comfortably. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, planting a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"Wouldn't it be so wonderful?" she said lightly, smiling to herself. "Jude and Lera, after years, finally together? And, together-together. Not... just together. But committed to one another and crazy-in-love."

"It would be wonderful." Caleb sat down, now, on the couch, pulling her into his lap. She did so, one arm around his neck while the other rest beside her, fingers entwining with his own.

"I hope they're as happy as we are," she said, shifting so that both arms were around his neck. Placing a kiss on his lips, she said, "I love you."

"No one could possibly be as happy as we are; not even Lera and Jude." He slipped his arms around her waist, smiling at her fondly.

"Oh, please. You just want to get into my pants." He laughed, and she kissed him again.

"Doesn't mean it's not true."

"No. It just means you have ulterior motives." Dali shrugged, smiling softly as she let her head rest beneath his chin.

"Maybe." She laughed. "But it is true. I'm very much happy."

"And?" she asked, lifting her head to look at him, an eyebrow raised and a smile making its way onto her lips.

"And very much in love."

"Oh? With whom?" She smiled wider, and he pulled her closer to him, kissing her tenderly.

"I'm very much in love with you. To the point that it's kind of sickening."

"To whom?"

"What?" Caleb quirked a brow, laughing lightly.

"Who is sickened by how much you love me?"

" ... Myself? Other men? I don't know. It was more of a statement than anything..." He let his voice trail off.

"Huh. Interesting."

Silence. She played with the hem of his collared, button-down shirt. He occasionally planted a light kiss on the top of her head, to which she smiled at. He realized how much he loved her smile; it could make anyone else smile by just seeing it. At least, it could make him smile by seeing it. And he did. Smile, that is.

She began to fiddle with the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one at a time until his chest was bared. She looked up at him, kissing him deeply and sliding the shirt off of him; very much in love.