Denise decided to wait outside Starbucks for Chris after she spotted two teenage girls taking photos of her. They thought they were being subtle but they were far from it, they were in fact as bad as the paparazzo across the road that she'd just spotted. She cussed under her breath and quickly dropped her head; the tension could be felt in her shoulders. As the flashes continued, she wished she'd brought along her Yankees cap. She never really understood Chris' obsession with caps until she started wearing caps herself, it offered a sense of security- like a safety blanket. Granted, it was a false sense of security- they were often still caught by fans and paparazzi. But nevertheless, it was still a sense of security they craved in uncomfortable situations like the one Denise was currently caught in. She had to admit she was fortunate because it was a paparazzo, not the paparazzi. She realized those freelancers were less invasive when they were alone, they were cowards who needed their crowd before they attacked.

Denise turned her back on the paparazzi then turned again when she spotted the two teenage girls who'd move to sit in the window. She sighed as she glanced at her phone to check the time. She didn't know where Chris' meeting was or how long he was going to take, she didn't know he was just down the road and moments away when a car beeped at her. She turned as Daniel rolled down his window, "do you need a ride somewhere?"

"Chris is coming to pick me up," Denise informed him. Her eyes scanned the proximity. She caught Chris' relentless fans as well as the paparazzo happily snapping photos of her and she felt like throwing up. "But he's not here yet and there are two girls in there and a paparazzo across the road and-" She huffed, knowing the trouble she'd be getting herself into if she got into another man's car. Even if Daniel was her professor, a man who was happily married with a baby; details were unimportant to the public when they wanted drama. "Is it possible for you to drop me off at school?" She asked anyway, unable to stand where she was a second longer. "I'll walk back to my old apartment from there."

"Sure," he nodded and she got into his car. It was like she could hear the rumors already, feel the hatred Chris' fans were going to feel, see the photos they'd taken of her break the internet. As soon as she and Chris got home, they were going to need to call Susan so she could do some damage control. "Text Chris, let him know you're with me before he finds out on Twitter." Denise clicked on her seatbelt, texting Chris as Daniel pulled away from the curb. "Bet you miss the days you could walk around without worrying about whose eyes are on you."

"Dearly," she nodded with a light laugh.

Denise was halfway through typing her text when Daniel beeped his horn and slammed on the brakes. Her body jerked against the belt across her chest and she looked up. She smiled when she saw her fiancé's car taking a park across the street, he got out as Denise did. He waited beside his car watching while she thanked her old professor for the help. Chris recognized Daniel even though he'd never met him in person, he'd just seen him a few times while picking Denise up from school. He waved at Daniel as his car drove off, raising a brow at his approaching fiancée.

"Two of your fans were in Starbucks taking photos of me, then outside there was a paparazzo also taking photos of me." She told him and he sighed. He was both guilty and empathetic towards the uncomfortable situation she was constantly placed in due to her being with him. "Professor Killian happened to be at Starbucks and he offered me a ride. I didn't know how long you were going to be, I'm sorry." He shook his head, assuring her it was a none issue then hugged her. "It didn't go well, Chris." She'd spent so much time trying to construct a story, one that would spare his feelings. But she realized there was no point, he was going to find out eventually. "I didn't even get past reception, they were all so mean." She mumbled into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist to engulf herself in his warmth and comfort.

"I suspected as much, that's why I texted you. I wanted to see if you were okay," he whispered when he kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry, Denise." He looked down at her face. "I should've done some research before I sent you to him, if I'd known he was going to be such an asshole I would've never sent you there."

"It's okay," she assured him with a smile. "You should note that his receptionist is a total bitch too," she told him then laughed when he chuckled, squeezing her face in his hand. "I'm glad you're calm, I was a little afraid you'd get the Avengers to assemble." She joked and his lips quirked in a smile. He was glad to see she wasn't taking the rejection too hard, unbeknownst that she'd already taken it incredibly hard. It was after her talk with her professor, and now she'd seen him that she realized being rejected wasn't that big of a deal anymore. She had a good life, a wonderful fiancé- however brutal the rejection she was going to experience, she was going to survive.

"Oh, I am plotting a revenge," he assured her and she giggled. "Don't think I'm not furious because I'm not storming down there right now. I am fucking livid, I just don't want to tarnish our reputations." Denise sighed with a smile, cupping Chris' face in her hands. His facials were becoming increasingly angry, she wanted to calm him down before he executed the first bad idea that came to mind. Reputation or not, his anger would've egged him on. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything stupid. I can rise above, I'm not an animal. What's that saying your mom always says? Those who whisper are scarier than those who yell," he stated and she nodded. "So screw 'em," he grinned. "It's New Line's lost, you've got a better offer waiting."

"Yeah," her eyes narrowed in confusion, "what do you mean by that? What was your text about? What story?" She relentless questioned him but got nothing but a smile from him. "What is going on?" She asked again, only to have him beckon her into his car with his head. "Why do you have to be so theatrical?" She chuckled as she walked around to her side of his car. "Just tell me what's going on."

"I can't tell you what's going on just yet, but I can tell you where we're going." He said and she prompted a continuation with her facials. "We're going to your old apartment." He informed her as he pulled his car away from the curb. He said while he made a U-Turn, "I texted Seb and Luca to meet us there, I have a feeling you're going to want her around when you hear the great news."

• • • • • • • •

"Oh my God!" Luca laughed excitedly with a hand over her agape mouth. She reacted before Chris could get his whole sentence, 'the head of production at Sony Pictures wants you to turn our love story into a script so they can turn it into a movie,' out. "Denise!" Luca grabbed her by her wrists, squeezing tightly. She was filled with so much excitement for her best friend that she couldn't help but start jumping up and down. "You're going to sell your first script!" Despite Luca affirming what Denise thought Chris meant, she still had trouble processing what Chris had just said.

Chris grinned, knowing how supportive and genuinely happy Luca was for Denise. But that smile faltered when he saw the expression on Denise's face, or rather, lack of expression. It was fairly disconcerting and he started to question everything. Had he been wrong to go behind her back? Was she unhappy with the news? Had she lost interest in writing about their love, could it have been the reason she didn't want to pitch her mini series? Chris was sure it couldn't have been that. She was still writing about their love on Tumblr, and a couple months back, she'd told him in extreme detail how she saw each scene if she were to turn her mini series into a movie. Granted Emilia didn't want to buy that particular series, but she still wanted something similar. Denise should've been flipping out too. Whatever it was that they wanted from her, at least they wanted her. This was an opportunity of a lifetime, why wasn't she happy?

"That is amazing," Sebastian agreed with Luca, grinning. "Congratulations, Nise." He and Luca enfolded her into a tight couple's hug, she hugged them back with eyes narrowed at Chris. She was still confused as to what Chris had done, though 'shocked' was the more appropriate word. The two best friends released Denise from their arms, smiling brightly at her. "This must be a dream-" Denise interrupted before Sebastian could finish.

"Chris, can I speak with you in private?"

"Uh oh," Luca whispered under her breath. "That's not uh- that's um..." Luca pressed her lips together and took Sebastian's hand; his facials were similar to hers. "That's not a tone you want to stay around for, trust me." Chris and Denise heard Luca whisper to Sebastian as she led him down the hall. The second her room door closed, the conversation started with a serve from Chris.

"I don't understand, Denise," Chris looked slightly hurt by Denise's reaction so far. "I thought you'd be happy," he assumed and Denise sighed. She sat down on the couch and patted the empty spot next to her. "I know I went behind your back," he began, sitting down where she'd told him to. "But I did it with good intentions, you didn't believe in your mini series and I-"

"No, stop." She interrupted and he wet his dry lips with his tongue, sighing. "Chris," she began then sighed herself as she took his hands. "I'm not mad." She told him and his tension eased. "I don't need an explanation, I know why you did it. I am very, very grateful, I just-" She sighed again and he cocked his head, brows furrowed with confusion. "I don't want to write about us," she explained. His confusion increased because that was exactly what she'd been doing, even after they officially became a couple- she was happily writing about themselves. "Not with the truth, Chris." It was as though she'd read between the lines of his creased forehead. "It's too personal, I don't want to share the details of our relationship with the public. I don't want-" she corrected herself, "I won't write about us."

It appalled him that it took her to explain why it was a bad idea before it dawned on him that it was. Denise was right. He'd been so excited about the possibility of her achieving her dream, he didn't think about the consequences paired with the decision he'd left her with: sell out their relationship for international success. She was right to decline, she was smart unlike him. If she hadn't and she'd gone ahead to write about their relationship; how they met and fell in-love. The whole world was going to have a literal front row ticket to the 'Chris and Denise' show. They were going to know everything that happened; their entire relationship's intricacies. He didn't want to share that with anyone: how they met, their friendship in the beginning, when they fell in-love, the letter he wrote her, the notebook she wrote him. Those memories that had been created were theirs to keep, not for the whole world to watch, relive, and criticize. It was too special, she was too special.

"I- um..." He withdrew his hands and leaned back against the couch. "Oh my God," he ran his hands over his beard, frustrated with himself. "Why didn't I think of that?" He groaned into his hands. "I am so sorry, Denise," he lowered his hands to his lap and turned to her. She was still sweet enough to smile at him. "I should have never gone behind your back, we should've talked about this before I- I fucked up, I am so sorry."

"No," she placed a hand on his knee, giving it a light squeeze. "You didn't do anything wrong, you were just behind a supportive fiancé." He managed a small smile. "I know you want me to become something big, but I can't use our relationship as a stepping stone. How we got together, our love story? It is a great story, but it's ours." He nodded, playing with her delicate hands. "I knew this would happen, that's why I didn't want to pitch it."

"But then I decided to be a smart-ass, going behind your back." He pursed his lips and she chuckled. "Great, so now you, and our story- you are both on the radar." He said and her eyes narrowed. Her facials prompted an explanation and he sighed. "Emilia wants the story, she thinks it could be an international success." She felt her heart ache; she didn't want to sell out her relationship but international success sounded so good. "She's going to want first grabs but she's very particular when it comes to telling a story right. If you don't like what she has to offer, she's got a few friends over at Warner Brothers and Twentieth Century Fox and- I don't know, just quite a few places she can get to meet with you."

"Would she be willing to see my other pieces?"

"Not without trying to convince you that our story is the story you need to tell first," he answered and she sighed. "Our story is a story every fan girl wants to see unfold in their own lives. Whether or not they're happy for us after they leave the theatre, they're all coming to watch it. It is going to be an international success, if I can see that then so can she. She won't just drop it without a fight." He heard Denise sigh again. "I know you don't want to sell out our relationship but-" He cut himself off, sighing himself, because he was conflicted too.

Chris wanted badly for Denise to find success, he needed her to achieve her dream of becoming a renowned screenwriter so he could achieve his dream of marrying her. But that wasn't the only reason he wanted her to do this, he wanted her to pursue the opportunity because he believed in her ability to create and inspire. Their story was amazing, and if something as unrealistic and perfect as Denise's mini series had the power to touch the hearts of those who'd read it. Wouldn't a more realistic version, a story about a relationship that had flaws like every other relationship in the world- wouldn't it touch more hearts? Wouldn't it teach better lessons, like how one should take a chance, to love outside one's comfort zone, and not settle when it comes to love? Were they being protective, or selfish if they weren't to share those lessons with the world?

"What if we just meet with Emilia and hear what she has to offer?" He suggested and she immediately shook her head. "Denise-" he huffed. "I know, I don't want to let people into our relationship either. But this is a huge opportunity for you, this is a path you've been searching for. Are you telling me that now that we've found it, you're going to choose not to walk it?"

"I'm not going to walk it if it means I have to sell out our relationship, Chris." Both their agitated tones meant that it was starting to become a bit of a fight. "I want success, yes. But I don't want success like this," her eyes started to sting as tears filled them. "I told you already, Chris. I don't need to be a famous screenwriter to be happy." Chris quickly realized it wasn't her morals stopping her from giving it a shot, it was fear. He believed she meant it whenever she told him he was all she needed to be happy, but he was starting to see it as an excuse for her to run away from what she feared. "I have you and-"

"What are you so scared of?" He cut her off. He reached for her face and brushed away the tears rolling down her cheeks. "All we're doing is meeting with her, and in that meeting we can discuss how we want to go about it. As the writer, the creative director- you can change it, you don't have to write our story word for word. She just wants a story like ours, not our story exactly."

"No," she shook her head, sniffling.

"So let me ask again, what are you so scared of?" After two years and four months of knowing, and being with her- he knew he'd been right with his earlier assumption. She was scared, scared of what, however, he couldn't tell as there were too many possibilities. This was more than not wanting to sell out their relationship, because like he said, as the writer she had full control over what she wanted in the story. "Talk to me, Denise," he gently urged. "Let's work it out."

"What if it becomes too much for you and you don't want to be with me anymore?" Her question broke her down, she cried even harder as Chris struggled to not be amused by how ridiculous she was being. He chuckled and hugged her, kissing her hair. "I don't want you to hate me, Chris. This is our relationship I'm going to be writing about, you are an incredibly private person and-" She choked on her tears. "I don't want to lose you," she mumbled as she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Don't be silly, you are not going to lose me," he whispered, kissing her hair again. "Never, ever," he assured her. He drew back and cupped her face in his hands. "Do you hear me? Never ever, not even if it becomes too much because you are the person I need when it becomes too much. See the irony in that?" He joked and she managed to laugh through her tears. "I want this for you, Denise. And I trust you to go about it the right way. You are just as private as I am, so I trust you."

"Chris-"

"This is international success, sweetheart," he reminded her and a small smile played on her lips. "I can't ask you to give that up, what if it becomes your biggest regret and you don't want to be with me anymore?" He teased her concern, dragging her smile wider.

"My biggest regret will be not marrying you as soon as possible," she leaned forward and kissed his lips. He smiled, thumbs brushing her wet cheeks as he kissed her back. In the hallway, Sebastian and Luca high-fived. They'd heard the entire conversation after pretending to enter her bedroom by closing the door loudly. While their high-five was the result of Denise agreeing to see Emilia, they were excited about much more. Her sentence 'my biggest regret will be not marrying you as soon as possible' surely had more behind it than a simple compliment. They waited eagerly to confirm their hypothesis.

"Are we doing this?" Chris slid his phone from his front pocket and held it out for Denise. "Are we going to make the call?" She nodded and he started to pull Emilia's contact up, only to have her stop him. "What?" He narrowed his eyes when she took his phone from him. "I thought you said you wanted to do this? Honestly, Denise, I'm fine with you-"

"No, I'm- It's not that, I'm going to do it," she assured him with a nod. "But not before I marry you." Tears welled in their eyes simultaneously as Sebastian and Luca silent screamed at each other in the hallway. "It's June now, right? And we've always said we wanted a September wedding so..." She trailed off, hoping he'd catch her drift. "I know it's a lot fo work to do in a fe-" His lips were on hers before she could finish. They both fell back onto the couch with smiles so wide that their teeth clicked as they continued to kiss.

"WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!" Sebastian and Luca cheered as they jumped out of the hallway. Chris and Denise withdrew their kisses and turned to them, laughing. "We have so much work to do," Luca told Denise and she nodded with pursed lips. "I am so happy right now, but I am also incredibly overwhelmed as your 'Maid of Honor'. I mean- this is insane, Denise. We have three months." Luca started towards Chris and Denise as they sat up. "How are we going to-" She stopped and turned when Sebastian caught her wrist in his hand. "What are yo- Oh my God," she breathed when Sebastian descended to one knee, pulling a small black box out of his back pocket.

"Oh my God," Denise gasped, feeling her smile reach her eyes.