It had been a few days since they decided to stay with Julie and their stay had been unusually pleasant. In an act of holiday kindness, the Cohens invited Julie over for Christmukah dinner.

As everyone was talking, laughing, and eating Marissa looked over at Alex. The blonde smile sweetly at her. Marissa grinned. Everything seemed perfect. Her mom was getting long with Alex and her family. Alex stopped working all together to focus on school, handing the reigns over to the very capable hands of Kirsten Cohen.

As the sun started to set, Marissa watched Alex make her way silently out the back door. She quietly followed her girlfriend and closed the door behind them.

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" Marissa asked with a smirk as she wrapped her arms around herself.

Alex looked back at Marissa with a smile before turning back to the water.

Marissa walked up behind Alex and slid her arms around Alex's waist, resting her chin on next to a mass of blonde hair. "Is it time?"

"Time for what?" Alex asked leaning back into Marissa.

"For the tide to change."

After a few moments of silence Alex turned around to face Marissa. She folded the taller girl into an embrace.

Marissa buried her face in Alex's shoulder as a cold gust of wind swirled around them. She slowly moved her head up and pressed her lips against Alex's. The blonde parted her lips to deepen the kiss and hold Marissa closer.

The younger of the two felt something slip onto one of the fingers on her left hand. She didn't immediately pull away, but when she finally did she looked down at her hand. She was stunned to see a diamond studded platinum ring.

She knew right off the bat what it was, but looked up to Alex for confirmation. The blonde just smiled and kissed Marissa again.

"Is this a…" Marissa couldn't finish the sentence because of the tears welling up in her eyes.

Alex, who was just as much at a loss for words, nodded.

Marissa wrapped her arms around Alex's neck and held onto her as tight as she could. A muffled, but excited "Yes!" came from Marissa who pulled away and kissed Alex again.

Alex knew she had never been happier in her life and Marissa's answer had just made her even happier. She could taste Marissa's tears in her kiss and when she broke the kiss she gently wiped them away, whispering, "I love you."

"I love you too," Marissa couldn't contain a joyful laugh anymore. She looked at her hand again. Her gaze drifted from her hand to the windows that looked out from the Cohen's kitchen. She saw Summer, Seth, Ryan, Lindsey, Kirsten, Sandy, and Julie all standing at the door smiling from ear to ear. Marissa was surprised at her mother's reaction and when her eyes got to Summer, the shorter girl looking like she was so happy her smile might start to extend beyond her face.

When she looked back at Alex, Marissa smiled. After kissing Alex again Marissa looked out at the ocean, resting her head on Alex's shoulder. The blonde kissed the top of Marissa's head and then laid her cheek on Marissa's head. "Guess what."

"Hmm?" Marissa asked from her blissfully content state.

"The tide just changed."

The End