“What do you think you’re doing?” AJ grabbed the ring and shoved it back into her palm.

“I...I thought you...that you wouldn’t want to be...engaged anymore.” Sarah stuttered.

“Are you crazy? Why on earth wouldn’t I want to be engaged to you?” AJ asked.

Surprised at AJ’s behavior, Sarah stared at him wide-eye. “You were mad and I didn’t tell you the truth...” Her words were lost when AJ crushed his lips against hers. He kissed her gently and thoroughly, tasting every part of her mouth.

“I was mad at you for not telling me, but not mad as in ‘mad’ to shut you out my life. I understand there are things people don’t want to remember, and it’s okay that you feel you should keep it to yourself. When I read that report, I was shocked, but not enough to lose my senses.” AJ smiled.

“What are you saying?” Sarah asked.

“I’m saying that I don’t care what happened in your past, I didn’t go back in time and fell in love with the Sarah in the past. I fell in love with the Sarah here.” AJ kissed the tip of her nose. “In present.”

“You are not mad?” Sarah questioned; not believing that AJ’s actually saying this.

“A little, but you have to promise me that there will be no more secrets or surprises such as blackmail.”

“Promise, don’t you want to know what happened?”

“I do, in fact the curiosity is killing me, but I can wait till you’re comfortable of telling me.” AJ smiled, he led her into the car and put the ring back on her finger. He planted a soft kiss on the finger.

“But I want to tell you.” Sarah stated then took a deep breath as she began. “It was prom night, and me and my date had this huge fight during dinner so I walked out to cool down. But I was grabbed by two or three men and then they...” Sarah’s voice became lighter and lighter, but AJ knew what she meant. Just the thought of his Sarah being forced made his blood boil! “I told the police, and they caught the men. After they were sentenced into jail I found out I was two months pregnant. But I had to go on with school and I didn’t want that child because I was forced so I had an abortion.” When she finished, her eyes reclaimed that familiar gleam. This time, there was no lies or worries.

“I understand, you’re still my Sarah, the one I loved. It wasn’t your fault.” AJ smoothed her hair. “Let’s go back home.”

Sarah stared at the man next to her, how lucky she was to have him by her side? So understanding and willing to listen to her problems. “I love you.” she whispered.

”Ditto.” AJ smiled as they drove off into the night.

When they got back to Nick’s house, it was almost midnight. Since Brian and the rest were still at Nick’s. All of them figured that they would just crash for the night. AJ and Sarah got the couches, Brian and Kevin got the guestrooms and Howie got the floor.