Roy laughed. "Yes, I'm happy." He said, then leaned in to whisper to her, "Later, I'll show you just how happy." He pulled away again and smiled. "We have to celebrate. I'll take you all out to dinner, my treat."

Lori blushed harder. "Food sounds great." she grabbed her purse and pulled Gemini away leaving a slightly confused cat in her wake.

"Um what was that about?" Al blinked.

Gemini made an small squeaking sound as she was pulled away. "Miss Lori, wait up! Short legs! Can't keep up!"

Roy shrugged. "Beats me. Let's go before they get too far ahead." He said, starting off after the women without much of a hurry.

Lori slowed down. "Sorry." she smiled at the girl. "So how was Xing?" she asked. "Hot I imagine."

Al strolled along next to Roy. "What are you going to do on your first day in office?" he asked.

Gemini smiled. "Yes, it was pretty warm most of the time, but not unpleasant." She said. "Actually it's beautiful there, and the people are really nice. They've been very helpful and kind to us."

Roy shrugged. "You mean after getting all set up? I'm not sure. There are a lot of plans to make, a lot of things I'd like to get done. And I'm sure Lori will have plenty to say on the matter."

"I miss you though and so does Athena. That grumpy cat never shows me any love...though she loves to mess with Roy. I bet she'll like exploring his new home not that I'm expecting to be able to move it." Lori turned bright pink.

"She sure does seem to have everything under control." Al smiled. "What would you do without her?"

Gemini grinned mischievously. "So you two are pretty close now, huh? Do you think there's a ring in the future?" She teased.

Roy shrugged, smiling. "I really don't know. And I have no plans to find out any time soon, either." He said.

Lori turned pinker. "Honestly I don't know. Maybe. I hope so." she smiled a little. "That would be...amazing."

"Well she's hard to hold down." Al snorted a little.

Gemini's smile widened and she hugged Lori. "That's so sweet!" She squealed. "So you really love him?"

"I'm not trying to hold her down." Roy said. "I'm trying to make her happy. If at some point she realizes that she can do so much better, and decides to leave, I won't stop her."

"Yes I really do love him with all my heart and soul." Lori smiled softly.

Al blinked. "I don't think you have to worry about it. She seems to be stuck on you."

Gemini jumped up and down slightly. "That's wonderful! It's just like a fairy tale, you've found your true love!" She said, taking this development about the same as any teenage girl would.

Roy hadn't realized he lost his smile until it returned. "You think so?" He asked. "That makes me feel better. I hope you're right. I can only hope she's as stuck on me as I am on her." He said.

Lori laughed. "It's no fairy tale. Unlike in fairy tale's you actually have to work at the it and nurture it the best you can."

Al smirked. "Well you could have her stick around more if you asked her to marry you."

"Even better." Gemini said, dancing ahead happily. "Real relationships are so much better than fairy tales. My parents had a great marriage, because they both worked hard at it. Fairy tales are nice, but real life...it's just better."

Roy blushed, a little surprised that he was blushing at all. He stopped a moment and waved Al closer. "Can I trust you with a secret, Al?" He asked.

"Of course I can." Al blinked a little like the answer should have been obvious given that he had spent years as a empty suit of armor.

"Yes is." Lori smiled. "Of course sometimes it can feel like a fairy tail."

Roy glanced around to make sure they weren't being watched, then pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. "I was saving it for this day...I swore that if I got it, I'd ask her. I'm planning on asking at dinner."

Gemini giggled. "Well I think it's great. You two are really good together." She said.

Al grinned. "That's awesome. I know she'll say yes."

Lori blushed. "I think so too."

Roy smiled, putting the box safely back in his pocket. "I really hope you're right."

Gemini was silent for a moment, contemplating something. "Miss Lori? When did you know...how did you know that you were in love?"

"Well." Lori blushed. "At first I wasn't sure. Then as I spent more time around Roy. I realized I was watching what he did, or marveling how good he looked in his suit. Stuff like that and stupid stuff as well." she smiled. "When your in love you just know."

"I hope so too." Al couldn't wait for supper and was glad when the place came into view.

Gemini frowned slightly, not answering. "Huh. So that's it? You just...know? What if you don't know what love feels like? What if you're not sure about what you're feeling because it's like nothing you've ever felt before? Hypothetically, of course."

Though he was nervous and excited, Roy managed to maintain his calm demeanor. He couldn't let on that there was anything different from usual.

Lori laughed. "Let me tell you a secret. No one knows what love really is." she smiled. "But somehow when you feel it you just know what it is. Not at first. At first it feels like a crush or something like that but eventually it hits you that it's more then that. They can drive you crazy, say something hurtful, just be a general idiot but that doesn't matter." she smiled at the waiter who took them to there table.

Gemini thought this over as they were led to their table, and found herself blushing as she sat down next to Al. From what Lori told her, she was starting to become relatively sure she was in love.

Lori sat between Gemini and Roy. Several of the waiters and guest came over to congratulate Roy have heard the early poll numbers which would be released the next day.

Roy, for his part, was surprisingly shy about all the praise. More than once he asked people to keep it quiet, at least until the official announcement. "Alright everyone, order whatever you want. My treat. Don't hold back just to be easy on my wallet."

Lori smiled and ordered a ice tea with steak and fries. She took Roys hand and leaned against him.

Al ordered as well taking Gemini's hand in his.

Gemini ordered and then smiled over at Al, her hand in his.

Roy finished the order and waited for the waiter to leave before he turned back to everyone. "Alright, time for details." He said, looking at Al and Gemini. "You two are obviously pretty close. How have you been? Do you enjoy Xing? Have you kissed?"