*Sorry to those of you who experienced the minor technical glitch. I honestly have no idea what happened. I am no Dell Philby when it comes to technology.
"I love all of you who followed the story, left reviews, and favorited. This has been a heck of a long time coming. But it is certainly no the end of Willa and Philby's relationship or all the fics I can write based on it. You all have been so great.

WARNING: you will need tissues for this. Enjoy!

Two and a half years ago Dell Philby sat on the same cold stone bench only moments before his life would change forever. Back then, he would never have imagined how much better his life would get. His life was blindsided. Now, he sat there knowing how much change was headed his way. He would be graduating from university in only a few hours; next to the red-head, sat a pair of caps and gowns. He waited on the bench now for his best friend to meet him.
A lot had happened in the span of a few years. From that moment, he had a girlfriend in the form of Willa Angelo. In that year, he managed to win her affections more than once and eventually, much to the dislike of Willa's mother, the pair had moved into an apartment together in the following winter. A small one room just down the road from the university, that Willa stylishly decorated. Much to Philby's dislike, his collection of Star Wars figurines would have to stay at his parent's house. On New Year's Eve they adopted a kitten together, a cute, orange tabby named Ariel.
That spring they attended their best friends' wedding. Amanda and Finn were married on a cold March morning. The chilly breeze of the ocean made everyone's teeth chatter, including the bride and groom whose vows were nearly impossible to read over the crying and the shivers. The party continued all night, with nearly a hundred guests dancing in a hotel ballroom. Eight months later they found out they were expecting a baby. The news was delivered during Thanksgiving Dinner by a screaming Finn who could not contain the secret anymore.
As for Jess, after being her sister's maid of honor, she transferred into a school in New York to finish her art history studies. She was flying down for the graduation ceremony and staying for the summer to help out with Baby Whitman.
Charlene soon discovered her calling after her and Maybeck began dating. The boy had introduced her to the drama department at school where he had been helping out with stage design. Charlene was cast in a production based off her gymnastic abilities and soon became a stunt double. The pair managed a long distance relationship once Charlene was accepted into a production company and worked around the country. Maybeck stayed in Florida to finish a Business Degree. He would soon be taking over his Aunts Pottery shop. They had managed to successfully open up a second location and were looking into a third.
Willa Angelo approached Philby from behind carrying two cups of hot chocolate. She wore a three-quarter sleeve, deep purple dress with an empire waist band and nude heels. Her hair in a straight a sleek low pony tail that complimented her bangs and would easily not be ruined with the later added accessory of a graduation cap.
"Why do people think hot chocolate is only for the cold months?" she asked as she moved around the edge of the table to sit across from her boyfriend. She set one mug down in front of him and then took a sip of her own. "It is like they purposefully are limiting the intake of chocolate."
Philby let out a breathy chuckle, smiling. "Probably a good idea, I know you have bars of chocolate hiding in the drawer of your bedside table." He took a drink of his beverage.
"You're one to talk, Mr. I Will Hide My Old Comic Books on the Top Shelf of the Closet Where Willa Can't See." Philby's eyes enlarged. He was already nervous and he had found her hiding spot. That's where he put emeverything/em he did not want Willa to see. "Yeah, I know about that secret box. You thought it was hidden behind all that tech stuff."
"How long have you known about that secret box?" He wondered, anxiously twiddling your thumbs against the cup in his hands.
The girl shrugged. "A few months now."
"And you only saw the comic books?"
"Yes, why? Was there something else in there?" she questioned him, uncertainty in her look.
Dell abruptly sat up straight. "Nothing." Did he just spoil the secret? Changing the subject, he continued. "When are your parents meeting us again?"
"Not till after the ceremony." She answered cocking her head to the side. "Now, what was in the box, Dell? Where were my sneaking skills off?"
"It's nothing," Philby waved his hands in front of him. "Don't worry about it."
Willa propped her head in her hands. She pulled out her best smile, the one she knew he could never resist. "C'mon, just tell me."
Dell rubbed his eyes and then proceeded. "Why do you always ruin my surprises?" He smiled.
"Oh, you know I don't like surprises!" she groaned. "Now you have to tell me."
Philby opened his mouth to speak, then shook his head and reached into the coat pocket of his suit pulling out a small, velvet, burgundy jewelry box. He set it down between them smiling. "If only you would have waited until tonight."
An audible intake of air escaped from Willa as she pulled her beverage closer to her chest. "Dell, what it that?" she asked trying not to sound shaky.
"Open it."
Precariously, Willa set her hot chocolate down, biting her lip, and reached out to the box. With delicate fingers, she opened the lid. Nestled inside was a ring, a diamond surrounded by two light blue gems.
"Dell. . ." she whispered, looking up to see her boyfriend grinning shyly.
He stood. "Finn and Amanda thought you would like yellow, but I ignored them and went with blue." Slowly he shuffled around the side of the table to be in front of her before getting down on one knee.
"Oh my God . . ."
"Isabella Lillian Angelo, when we met it was by sheer luck and chance that we both happened to be there. It was one of the best nights of my life meeting you and I hadn't even learned your name." Willa tried to steady her breathing, was this really happening? "Then you left me with only a kiss and I thought I lost you. Over the course of the last few years we have lost sight of each other a few times, but I think that is the thing about fate. When two people are connected, they always will be connected. There is no getting around that fact."
Willa had only seen Dell cry once, when his grandfather had died. To see his eyes mist over again was putting her on edge. She set the ring box down in her lap and reached over to cradle his face with her hands. Willa licked her lips, smiling wider than she thought was possible. "I love you," she whispered.
All the while, Philby continued. "I know it took me a while to say it but I loved you from that first day. I'm not sure a day has gone by when I didn't. . . And I am sure as hell that that will never change. So –So . . ."
Dell grasped her hands, pulling them down from his face and setting them down on her knees where he let go and plucked the ring from its box.
"Please, will you marry me?"
Before the line had finished coming off his lips Willa was heartily nodding. "Mm-hmm."
"Oh, thank you!" He let out a breath as if he had been underwater. Exasperated, Dell closed his eyes and dropped his head into Willa's lap.
Willa laughed, she had never expected this when she woke up this morning but never had she been happier. She ran her fingers through his hair. Bending over, she quickly kissed his neck just at the edge of his hair line. Eagerly, she brought her hands around his neck and nudged. Philby's red-head popped up and quickly planted a kiss on Willa's lips. He could taste the chocolate.
They touched nose to nose, breathing in the same air. "Can I try out my ring now?" Willa asked precariously. A small giggle escaped both their mouths. Allowing as little space as needed, Philby pulled back. He gripped her left hand, languorously sliding the ring up the second finger to the left.