Mary-Lynette was glad she only had to graduate once. It was finally over. After about three excruciatingly long hours of boring speeches, walking on the stage, posing for photographs, their old, tottering Principal announced that the Graduation Ceremony of Briar Creek High was officially over!

Mary-Lynette cheered and threw her hat in the air with everyone else, immediately engulfed with hugs and kisses from her classmates. She exchanged a few words, goodbyes, and promises to try and keep in touch, and then finally stepped off the stage, searching the room.

She needn't have bothered; Ash's arms were already around her by the time she turned and she clung to him tightly, breathing in his fresh, airy scent…

"Well done," he murmured quietly in her ear as her family made their way through the crowd, trying to reach them. "I'm so proud of you, Mare."

"Thanks," she nuzzled him gently, and then felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned and accepted the hug her father gave her and Mark joined in too, almost smothering them!

"Way to go, Sis!" he yelled happily.

"Thanks, Mark." Mary-Lynette slapped his hand in a high-five when he raised it and then held onto it tightly, squeezing it happily.

"Well, we'll see you at home!" Claudine beamed, squeezing Mary-Lynette's other hand. "You kids go on and celebrate, okay?"

"Really?" Mary-Lynette looked at her father. "Can I?"

"Ash told us this morning that he had something planned for you especially," Mr. Carter explained, smiling. "You go on ahead, hon. We'll see you at home tonight."

"Okay," she nodded glancing over her shoulder at her boyfriend. Ash's face was the picture of innocence. Mary-Lynette frowned. What was he up to…?

"See you later!" Mark called as they left out of the main door. Mary-Lynette waved at him, then turned to Ash with a questioning look on her face.

He merely smiled and took her hand, leading her quietly out into the parking lot where his car was. He squeezed it as he let go, letting her get in. She was ready for him when he got in the other side.

"Ash Redfern," she began suspiciously, turning to face him. "What are you planning?"

Ash raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Mare, I'm surprised at you. Don't you trust me?"

"Not as far as I can throw you," she muttered under her breath. He still caught it and laughed. She blushed, folding her arms across her chest.

"Of course I trust you," she rolled her eyes. "But…when you don't tell me stuff it makes me nervous."

He grinned, taking her hand in his and kissing her knuckles softly. "You'll love it. Trust me."

"What is it?" she demanded.

"Your graduation present from me," he winked, turning the key in the ignition and backing out of the space…

*

"Oh, God!"

"You like it?" Ash asked, his arms about her waist as she stared at the clearing in front of them.

"I love it!" Mary-Lynette turned around and hugged him, kissing his cheek swiftly. Ash had laid out a spread of food on a table under the darkening sky and draped a large banner across two trees which read, in neat precise lettering, "Happy Graduation, Mary-Lynette!"

There was a small pile of presents and cards on the end of the table where Mary-Lynette's precious telescope also stood. She shook her head in disbelief. She had seem it just this morning, by her window as she got dressed for the ceremony…

"When did you do this?" she asked him.

Ash smiled, shrugging. "Vampire, remember?"

Mary-Lynette nodded, and began helping him lay out the blanket on the grass. She looked up at the sky. The stars were just starting to come out now and she sighed in content. This was perfect.

"Ash, thank you," she murmured, snuggling against him as they lay on the blanket together, looking up at the starry sky. "This was the best present ever."

"I love you," he told her, playing with the hair that tickled his cheek as she nuzzled him.

"I love you, too." Mary-Lynette leaned up to kiss him and smiled against his lips as she felt his arms go around her, pulling her to lie on top of him. "But you're so impatient!"

"I am," he agreed, hugging her close. "I can't believe that soon you'll be with me forever."

"Yeah," she shivered and he misinterpreted it as fear. His eyes grew instantly concerned as he stared into her face worriedly.

"Mare," he stroked her face gently, soothingly. "We don't have to do this if you're scared-"

"I'm not." Mary-Lynette interrupted him, smiling sheepishly. "I'm not scared, I'm…excited."

Ash stared at her for a few seconds then snorted in relieved laughter. He held her close again and Mary-Lynette closed her eyes, smiling.

"I do love you," he sighed.

"I know," she nuzzled his neck gently, sighing against it. "Ash-"

She leaned up on her elbows to look at him properly, a determined look in her eyes.

"Ash, I am ready. I'm not scared, not if I'm with you."

And it was true, Mary-Lynette thought, that this might be hard, it might be painful. But the alternative; a life without Ash didn't bear thinking about. She'd had a lot of time to think while he'd been away and now…now she finally knew she was ready.

'I know what I want now,' Mary-Lynette thought as she lowered her lips gently down to his again. 'I'm ready.'

Yes. As long as Ash was with her, she had no reason to fear anyone or anything. She would face any challenge and overcome it…because she would never, ever be alone again…