Jimmy walked over to a lonely girl who sat nervously on an unoccupied bench. By the looks of it she was a wreck.

Maybe a little humor to start out will ease the situation. "How's my criminal mastermind?" he teased lovingly.

"Jimmy!" Cindy spun around in a whirl and latched onto Jimmy with a ferocious hug. "Jimmy, I'm so sorry. I didn't know why, I don't know why I could have done something so awful," she confessed, but Jimmy only held her closer. "Why aren't you angry and upset with me?"

"The science fair is over; the time for hostility is passed now. I'm here now as your boyfriend again, not as an enemy." Cindy did cry at this. It would be a lie to say she was too tough for such an activity. There was no possible way she could've held back her tears now. And Jimmy just let them soak right into his plastered t-shirt. Then he looked at her and pushed back any escaping hairs on her head, only to have that disheveled head rest on his shoulder afterwards. He just lent his own head on hers while he rubbed her back and right arm, keeping a forward gaze. After enough of a recuperation time, Cindy had the courage to talk normally again.

"I'm almost afraid to ask but since I've got to be responsible for my actions; what did they want to talk to you about?" she pleaded with hungry eyes.

"Well," he began, not caring to move out of place. "The guy that wanted to talk to me happened to be a representative from NASA. His name was Tim Alcorn and he wanted to offer me a future at NASA."

"Are you serious?"

"Quite serious."

Jimmy definitely noticed the change in Cindy's voice. It was the unmistakable presence of hope. Hope that all was not lost.

"Did you accept? Is that where you're going to go after school in the fall?" she asked very enthused.

"Nope."

"No?"

"Nope," he repeated. Cindy once thrilled expression twisted. She couldn't possibly understand why he would refuse. When she realized he wasn't saying anything as to why, she continued.

"But why?"

"Because. I'm not ready to go yet."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I'm thinking I need to get some collage education in first." Jimmy's hidden excitement began leaking through his serious face. He didn't want to give it all away at once; first he wanted to have some revenge.

"But where? I ruined Harvard for you."

"Well I'm thinking…" he looked back up, the smile fighting its way to be center stage on his face."…University of Texas will do just fine for me." Here it comes. Jimmy prepared himself.

"WHAT!"

Jimmy had to plug his ears to protect them from the excited Cindy, they hadn't quite recovered yet.

"Maybe I should explain?"

"PLEASE!"

Jimmy chuckled. "Alright, I'll tell you all that happened." Jimmy gave Cindy a thorough explanation to everything that went on inside the gym while she was outside pacing frantically. After hearing the news, Cindy was all over him in congratulations and I'm-so-proud-of-you, kisses.

"I couldn't ask for a better ending to my disaster of a day. I'm still sorry I completely wrecked whatever it was you were working on."

"That's alright. I don't miss it. To be honest, I didn't give you a fair contest. I entered in an old invention. My mind was in too many places to think of something new."

"I guess I'll let you get away with it this year," she jokingly punched him on the shoulder.

"Now that we can attend university together, we can enter in their competitions."

Cindy didn't feel she deserved this good of an ending, If it hadn't been for the representative from NASA, things would never have come together as good as they were looking. "Jimmy, I should never have tried to run from my problems. I was hiding my fear by investing myself in a futile attempt to keep you with me. I know now that was a stupid way to go about it. Please, can you forgive me?"

"I already have."

"Then please say so."

"Okay, Cindy Vortex, I forgive you," he squeezed.

"And I should've let you talk to me about what was on your mind. It would have saved me a lot of money." She thought about the toothpaste.

"I forgive you for that too. Wait,-money?"

"Never mind," she grinned.

Jimmy just accepted her vagueness. "Okay," and smiled. He was physically and mentally very content.

"I love you, James Neutron." Cindy closed her eyes shut, with her face still pressed to his chest, never wanting him to let go.

James looked down tenderly. It was the right time.

"So I guess I'm going to be your new Professor, how you feel about the name Neutron to look forward too?"

"What, 'Professor Neutron'? Well, I don't think you'll be my professor. I'm studying different courses than you."

"No, that's not what I meant. Let me rephrase. How do you feel about the name… Cynthia Neutron?"

Not a word.

Not a shift.

Not a breath.

Only her steady heart beating, which was now steadily speeding up.

Cindy forced herself upright. She stared him right in the eyes. "Jimmy? Are you asking me to marry you?" she studied, motionless, in complete disbelieve.

"I am," he confirmed. Jimmy got down off the bench, knelt down on one knee, picked up her soft, delicate hand and placed on it the most beautiful ring she had ever seen and said: "Cynthia Aurora Vortex, will you be my wife? I know now that I never want to be separated from you."

She didn't move.

"Jimmy…James… I will. I definitely will. I will." It was the most certain, passionate declaration she'd ever proclaimed.

"Really?" Jimmy cried, this time his turn to be the disbelieving one.

"Does quantum theory's uncertainty principle state that the movement of single particles can never be accurately measured, because speed and position can not be simultaneously assessed with any degree of assurance?"

"Yes?"

"Then I am accepting your proposal," she beamed brightly.

The newly engaged pair pulled each other in for the tightest embrace they have ever experienced because now it was a new and deeper relationship that could not be matched to anything else they had pervious.

"I love you, Cynthia."

"Right back at you, Nerdtron," she squeezed.

"Nerdtron?" Jimmy pulled away. "I haven't heard that in a long time."

"I was saving it for a special occasion."

Jimmy kissed her passionately on the lips. Cindy was going to love being Mrs. Neutron.

"Jimmy, I know this may sound corny but... why do you love me?"

The unexpected question caught him off guard. Jimmy gazed back at her, after the kiss, as if she asked the most obvious question in the world. "Why?" he asked, perplexed. "I love you because you inspire me to be confident in who I am."

"I do that?"

"Since you first professed you loved me," the teen genius assured.

She smiled warmly. "Jimmy I want you to know that I love you because you challenge me to levels I thought I could never achieve." Trying to act cute, but coming across more as mischievous, she fluttered her eyes and melded her hands together to one side of her lap, in a cute display of affection. Following, she used one hand to cup his chin in place while she sneaked a quick kiss on his cheek. It was the only 'thank you' she could delivered that she felt he would enjoy the most.

It helped and relieved Jimmy to know that he had been doing something good for her. He always felt that she was the one that helped him. "That's good to know," he blushed back, glancing at her wryly and gently holding the cheek she touched. The exciting tingle of her absent lips lingered on his rosy skin.

"By the way, where did you get this ring?" She held out her hand, admiring its beauty which was really the remarkable stone that was the ring's centerpiece. "I've never seen a stone like it."

"That's because it's not a real stone. I made it. It's the work of crystal gases interacting inside that minuscule glass orb, which causes the display of the varying colors. I encased them in the sphere, and then topped it off by mounting it to the slender titanium ring. It took a lot of effort to form and seal the gases. I had to soak certain crystals in liquids to get the desired colors. It's my own concept and design. It was intended as a birthday gift but it fits the occasion. I thought you deserved something more unique then anything I could find for you."

"You're kidding? What a lot of work. It's extremely beautiful, I love it and I love it all the more now that I know you slaved to make it for me," Cindy winked.

"Now if you could only begrudge me an answer to one little burning question that I have."

"Sure," Cindy agreed, without thinking over the consequences.

"Why toothpaste?" Just in case Cindy had forgotten the sticky incident, he plucked his shirt out for her to see as proof.

"Uh, how about I leave that for another day?" Cindy hastily stood up to run.

"Nu huh, I want an explanation." The minty fresh boy insisted, plucking her back by the material of her shirt.

It was now Cindy's turn to come clean and she professed to him all her underhanded deeds she and Libby committed that week.

"You were the notorious gang that people have been pestering me about all week?" Cindy nodded her head, not sure how he was going to react.

"Ahah, ahahahahaha! I don't believe it!" Jimmy wiped a tear from his eye. "That's incredible. I think you mistook the ring I was making for you as my science fair entry."

Now just realizing that the 'orb' thing he mentioned before was the small little gem on her finger, Cindy slapped herself in the head for making such a mistake.

"You know I honestly have to credit you for such a good job on the booby-trap. You had me believing for a little while that I wasn't going to be facing any difficulties from you this year. He rubbed her scheming head like she was his pet. "Glad to see I was wrong." Cindy didn't know if she felt foolish or proud of herself, but their intimacy was soon going to be broken. Carl was heading toward them.

"Hey Jimmy!" finally getting back from Cindy's diversion.

"Hi Carl! Where did you go? I thought you said you going to guard my machine?"

"I was, but Cindy told me my mom was looking for me so she said she'd take my place and guard it for you. By the way I went home only to find that my mom had been there the whole time, Miss Cin-dy Vor-tex." Carl had a mind to chew Cindy out, but something more intriguing caught his eye, "What's that white stuff all over your clothes Jim?"

The two looked at each other and laughed.

"Astronaut food, Carl."

"Hmm, smells like toothpaste to me," *sniff, sniff* "with Sodium fluoride." Carl had a talent to pick up active ingredients in cleaning agents. A trait he picked up from his very neurotic family.

Two other familiar voices then called out to the group. "Jimmy! Cindy!"

"Sheen!" the trio shouted in unison.

"Hi guys. I'm back from Mexico."

"Sorry I had to leave Cindy; I wanted to pick Sheen up at the airport."

"That's alright Libbs."

"Judging by the scene we've seemed to have intruded on, I'd say everything has turned ok?" Libby questioned her girlfriend. Cindy replied with a wink, affirming that it had turned out all ok, slightly tilting her ringed finger for only her to see. Libby gasped but didn't say a word.

Sheen was just noticing the peculiarity of Jimmy and Cindy's attire. "Whoa, did I miss something here?"

"It's a really long story, although I don't think I know the complete ending." She smiled to her blond friend with quizzical eyebrows. "But how about I tell you all about it at the Candy Bar, my treat?"

"Libby I drained you of all your money, remember?"

Libby remembered the unfortunate history. "Oh yah. Sorry Sheen, I had hoped to treat you."

Jimmy raised his eyebrow; "Again with the money thing…" he pondered. "We'll how about on me, everyone? It'll be in honor of Sheen's return and Cindy's… birthday," he smiled affectionately at her. To announce their engagement was for another time.

"That's not until next Saturday."

"Close enough. My treat everyone."

"Thanks Jimmy, I could sure go for a Purple Flurp soda, they don't sell them down In Mexico.

Libby and Sheen began walking "…And I can tell you all about Cindy's crazy escapades," Libby added to the occasion.

Cindy and Jimmy got up too.

"You coming along Carl?" Cindy hoped. Having to come clean for Jimmy made her also want to ease the rest of her conscience by making up to her credulous friend for taking advantage of him.

"Yeah I'll be right there. I accidently dropped Jimmy's jacket over by the gymnasium entrance, I'll just go get it quickly first. Sorry Jimmy, I was in a rush earlier."

"Thanks Carl."

The two waited for Carl to come back. Soon it was off to the ol' Candy bar with them all. The beautiful, evening sunset reflected their carefree spirits. But the most beautiful contented sight of all was the romantic embrace of James Neutron and Cynthia Vortex; as was, walking together arm in arm. Hopefully it would be a happy yet, never dull, future for them both.

"Cindy, hold up a sec. I think I'm going to take a quick detour to the shower first. This stuff is really starting to sting."

Amused, Cindy had to agree. "Yah I think your right Nerdtron." Cindy looked down at herself, noticing her bleached clothing as well. "I think I'll do the same." She and Jimmy shared a hearty laugh.

"Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound

I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away"

-Lyrics credited to Beyonce Knowles

The End.

Authors Note: Thank you for reading my story. I hope it was enjoyable and true to the characters. Regarding the lyrics at the end, I admit I'm really a hypocrite. I always detest song fics' because I feel I can't enjoy the story without having to listen to someone's musical preference. Yet, as I was writing the ending to my story I had discovered the new song 'Halo' by Beyonce Knowles. I couldn't help listening to it over and over again and it may have influenced the tenderness I wrote in at the end. When I was finished my story I realized the lyrics had an uncanny fit to Cindy's actions and feelings. So I decided that at the end of the story it needed to end with the lyrics. Hopefully if you enjoy the song as well, it will add to the story, but just the same it can be read without them. Still, I think it fits to a perfect T.

And another note, I have no idea if there even is a University of Texas. It is a fictional place in my story. If the school really does exist, and it probably does, in my story it's made out to be an excellent school and if you could do no better then UOT, your still doing amazingly great.

Disclaimer: I do not own Jimmy Neutron.