Ezekiel was having trouble but when she started talking the change almost immediately stopped occurring. He had thought she hated him and now she was returning.

"Why?" he asked. "Two seconds ago you were treating me like a failure and just walking away. What am I doing wrong?"

It hadn't completely gotten through his head that it was just the fact he didn't want to be in the same room as her when she changed. It was such a petty issue that he couldn't see how it could cause her to want to leave so much.

"Just please don't leave."

He would most definitely be bugged for this later.

Pulling Ezekiel into her arms, she held him to her chest tightly, since he was a bit taller than she was.

Indeed, this was just a petty issue. But to Verona, everything had a subliminal meaning to it.
Thus, since he didn't want to even see her in a bra and underwear, it made her think back to the previous night.. When he'd granted her request. Did he not care anything about it? Was he just sort of, there..?

"Ezekiel Singston, I love you with everything in my body, and soul. I do.. But.."

There it was, the big but..

Ezekiel had managed to stop crying after a bit. He was nervous at the moment and the 'but' that she'd added onto the end of her proclamation bothered him so much. He almost didn't want to hear the rest of what she was going to say.

"I'll change," he promised. "For you."

He meant it too. He'd break every promise he'd ever made if it was just to keep her. he cringed slightly when he thought about how much he'd get yelled at since he knew Veronica would be demanding the answers from Verona.

"Ezekiel, there is nothing wrong with you. There is nothing you need to change!"

Wiping some of the tears from his face now, she stared at the dirt.
Was she always this selfish..? All of this, after all, was her fault. If she hadn't forced Ezekiel to sleep with her, then she wouldn't even be worried about how he felt.

"I... I need a break. I'm too selfish, and I hurt the people I care about, that's obvious.."

And now, if things couldn't get any worse, Verona was crying.

"I'm so tired of hurting you Ezekiel... I don't deserve you in the least bit.."

He ended up embracing her at that point, not willing to let go really. He didn't want her to go and he knew he couldn't take it if she left. He had a feeling that the changing thing was stupid at this point.

"I'm really sorry," he said. "I'm the one that doesn't deserve you. Remember I'm the drunk who can manage his own emotions. If we don't go back to the city together you'll never see me again... I'll never see you again. I can't take that."

Ezekiel was talking her out of leaving him. But everything he was saying, was true. If they didn't leave together, Ezekiel was liable to be killed. If Verona went by herself, the same thing was possible..

"Ezekiel, I just... I'm tired of causing you so much pain.."

And she was. In most ways, she felt like a burden to him. Somehow, that was all she could think about being: his "beautiful" burden.
Things seemed to be so much harder for him when she was around.. And she hated it, she really did.

"I love you, but I'm killing you Ezekiel!"

"You're not killing me," Ezekiel contradicted. "Once I got to know you and actually care for you I could actually feel the emotions that I felt when I was a child. If anything you're making me live. I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose you."

He was entirely sincere in how he spoke and his stern expression contained that. He knew he would have completely fallen apart if she wasn't here and he would be dead now, he was sure of it. He could not live with knowing the fact that it could be his fault his father died.

There was no fighting it now really. Ezekiel was winning by a mile, where as Verona only had a few feet.

"I won't go anywhere... But you still need to stop being so weird!"

Embracing him fully, Verona closed her eyes, a small smile gracing her lips.
She wouldn't leave, no. Although she had been quite set on it! But maybe, things could get easier when they went back to the city, back home.
Things wouldn't be so strained, would they?

"I'm sorry.." She told him.

And she was sorry, very very sorry, for putting him into some sort of frenzy.

Ezekiel held onto her feeling a bit more relieved but the panic was still in his system in the form of adrenaline. He could hear Sebastian and Helen calling them and he slowly rose after they let go of each other.

"I think we need to go to the city," he said with a sigh. "I want to give my mother some news but first I have to ask you a question." He helped her stand so he could look her in the face now.

Wiping her face now as she stood, Verona even primped her hair, which by now, was probably a disaster.

Disoriented as she was, Verona smiled slightly up at him.
She really was selfish to an extent... And he was better than he gave himself credit for.
He was a kind, young gentleman. Well, you get the point..

"Yes..? What is it you want to ask me..?"

Ezekiel was unsure what to do suddenly. He got down on one knee and took both of her hands in his. He looked up at her, studying her expression and he knew at that point that this was the right thing to do.

"Verona Byres," he said. "Will you marry me?"

Oh god it sound cheesier than he thought it would and probably seemed that way too. He was blushing slightly trying not to think of what would happen if she said no.

Her jaw dropped slightly as he asked her. She had indeed been clueless.
"Ez-Ezekiel.."
It wasn't like she hadn't thought of him asking her. However, she hadn't expected it to be so soon. And especially since they had pretty much just fought, about something so dumb..
It was a bit, overwhelming..

New tears flustered her eyes now, as she pulled her hands from his, and cupped them over her mouth.
This time, she was happy. Or overjoyed, more appropriately.

"Of course I will!" She screamed at him slightly, bouncing a bit, wiping her eyes.

"I'll let you pick out the ring as soon as we can," he said.

He was very happy since he'd been sure that there was a chance she'd said no. Her response was well put and pleased him. He stood up then and wrapped his arms around her so that she'd stop bouncing up and down for a while.

"What will your friend think?" he asked.

He was smirking slightly as if he was proud of something, most likely the fact that he had actually popped the question rather than chickening out and frustrating her.

Ugh, Mayhen... Really, Verona hadn't even thought about him since she'd left for this place.
But there was no doubt in her body, that he would have something to say, if not do.
And it wouldn't be pleasant.. Mayhen didn't know the meaning of pleasant."

She shrugged slightly, responding to him. "I can't wait!" Of course, the ring..
Gripping to Ezekiel tightly, she couldn't help but to bounce more. She was just so excited!
This was really happening too! They were going to get married!

Ezekiel was just as excited as she was and he nearly forced her to run on the way back to the house. Helen was standing there for some reason with a strange box in her hands. He leaned slightly towards Verona.

"I swear she can tell the future," he whispered in her ear.

"Oh yes I can tell the future," Helen said. "In fact the crew that you are supposed to help is running a little late and I knew you would propose to her at some point so I picked out a few rings for you two to choose from."

Ezekiel looked humiliated since he thought about what they had done yesterday. Maybe she even saw that in the future. He blushed slightly and tried to hide it by laughing uncomfortably.

Looking up towards Ezekiel now, she noticed the slight blush, and popped him a kiss on the cheek.
She had no idea why he was, but had just kissed him anyway.
Quickly looking back to Helen, Verona grinned widely.

"Helen, you are the best," Verona squealed. "I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me!"

Pulling the elderly woman into a brief hug, Verona smiled, and then pulled away. She took the boxy into her hands gently, and opened it.
Immediately, she saw it. The ring that she knew she had to have on her finger.
But surprisingly, it wasn't something fancy. It was one of the more simple rings, holding one, very simple, and round diamond on its top.
She wanted to wait though.. Ezekiel should pick first.

Ezekiel wasn't surprised by the kiss but he approached Helen with her. He looked down in the box at the rings. There were only a few for guys since they didn't really require decoration. He looked over that the rings that were meant for Verona and cringed at some of them.

The larger diamonds just did not seem to fit Verona's personality. The ring that seemed to be the right one had a smaller diamond but he wasn't sure. He picked up his own ring and studied it.

"Which one do you like?" he asked her, in a bit of a teasing tone but it seemed loving.

Grinning again, Verona immediately pulled her ring of choice from the box.
She held it up to the light, as if expecting it to explode or something. Instead, she found the most pleasant glimmers, circling the ground.

"This one," she told him. She did quite like this one. And hey! For once, she didn't look, or feel so selfish.
"I love this one.."

Looking up to Ezekiel now, she waited for the o.k., the approval. Although she knew she didn't need it, she wanted it. It was their decision now.. Well, soon, things would be.

Oh she couldn't wait! She was finally getting the marriage she'd always dreamed of. A wonderful man.. That was all it needed, and she got one.

He smiled, actually grinned, due to the fact that he'd spotted that one also and seeing it on her put butterflies in his stomach. He kissed the top of her head as Helen closed the box. She was looking off into the distance as she was walking away.

"Well Verona, my fiancee, my love," he said. "How does it feel to be engaged to one of the most foolish sons ever. I am foolish if you hadn't noticed, I tend to change into an animal on occasion and still expect people to see me as fully human. Well you will soon become Verona Singston."

Giggling, Verona found herself blushing a bit. But not from his words, just by how many he was actually saying. Never did he talk this much. And if he did, it was very, very rare.

"Misses Verona Singston," she announced. And she loved the sound! It flowed so well, and she was just so giddy now, that it made it even better.
"I am certainly looking forward to that part, it's my favorite.."
Heh, she already had favorites.

Sighing slightly, she played with the ring around her finger now.. So beautiful..
"I love you Ezekiel," she told him.

Ezekiel was just smiling dumbly at this point and he hugged her. He ruffled her hair gently as he looked down at her knowing that there was no way (at least in his mind) that she would either leave him or someone could take him.

"What do you think our parents will say?" he asked. "I know my mother and sister will be delighted to here good rather than bad news. What of your parents?"

Oh God.
"Eric!" She gasped suddenly. After all, her parents loved him. He was soooooo polite, and so perfect.

"Ezekiel, he wanted to marry me... And my parents... They were all for it.... They don't like you very much.."

There was no doubt, that Eric had told them that she'd run off with Ezekiel, or that he'd kidnapped her or something.
Scum was all he'd ever be..

Sebastian walked out at that point in a bit more of appropriate clothing for his actual last name. He smiled slightly at Ezekiel and caught the drift of the conversation.

"Trust me," Sebastian said. "After all that Eric has done to me I think that we could easily reveal him for what he really is. I'm sorry to bring this topic up again but I'm pretty sure that Eric killed your father or planned his death and also is attempting to kill your mother."

There was a silence that followed and Ezekiel was shocked back into remembering that Ezekiel was his cousin. Veronica would be so pleased to see her brother that he didn't even know if he could handle the joy that would emit itself from her at the precise moment of seeing him again.

"Oh and Miss Verona," Sebastian said with a slight bow. "I'm not sure if I told you that I am Veronica's older brother and your fiancee's cousin."

Well, it was a bit too much information, in a small amount of time wasn't it?
And Verona couldn't help feel a bit nervous as Sebastian spoke more about Eric, and how he could have easily committed murder...
But when he mentioned being Ezekiel's cousin, Verona grinned widely.

"So that means I'll be related to you, yay!" Throwing herself onto Sebastian, she hugged her soon-to-be in law, and then jumped back onto Ezekiel, who she'd been glued to until then.

She tried not to think about Eric, and the negatives... Being married to Ezekiel, meant she got Eric too.. She could deal with it.
But what if he did something to her, or Ezekiel. Or worse, what had he been doing upon their absence, other than killing people.

The ball was such a fond, and far off memory now... And she could remember meeting Ezekiel's father. He was kind to her. And then the lunch she's had with them.
It was so.. terrible... That someone who was living literally weeks ago, was dead.

Sebastian was a bit surprised by Verona's outcry but he relaxed a bit and hugged her back. After all he would essentially be related to her. He was watching her now as she was almost literally attached to Ezekiel.

"Well," Ezekiel said "I can't wait to see Veronica's face when she sees you. I'm pretty sure she'll recognize you."

"She won't," Sebastian said after a moment. "I've snuck into town before to see her and she's seen me but not recognized me."

"Not necessarily," Ezekiel contradicted. "I've heard her speak of seeing something that reminded her of her brother and she misses you a lot... but then again she thinks you're dead right now since that's what our parents told us."

"Eric's idea..." Sebastian confirmed.

Ezekiel was running his fingers through Verona's hair the moment, studying the soft texture. He was amazed by how it had stayed clean like this for so long.