A moth to a flame: Juice and Dita

"No, don't be, I should have told you," he kissed her lips, "When can we go home?"

Dita smiled when he said home, "We should go soon...you have to take me to homecoming."

He smiled, thinking of her dress. "Tomorrow?"

Dita smiled softly, "If you want to...I understand if you want to see your sister though."

"we could di both," he smiled

"Okay, we can do that."

The next day they were booked on an evening flight home. Juice had packed his things and called Maria to let her know they were coming. As they pulled up outside her house, he was suddenly nervous.

"I've never brought a girl to meet my family before."

Dita bit her lip, "What if she hates me?"

He chuckled, "She won't hate you. Maria loves everyone. "

They headed up the walk and Juice knocked on the heavy, wooden door.

Dita watched hesitantly as the big wooden door opened to reveal a beautiful dark haired girl with Juice's smile. She had to be a few years older than him. Her eyes lit up, "Carlos!" She reached out to him, pulling him into a hug.

He blushed at the use of his name, "Maria, this is my girlfriend, Dita."

Dita smiled shyly at Maria, "Hi."

Maria gave her a hug, "So good to finally meet you. Carlos, you said she was pretty, but that is quite an understatement." Dita blushed, making Maria laugh.

"Come on inside! It's cold out here and Charlotte would love to see you."

Dita was pleasantly surprised to see that Charlotte was Maria's three year old daughter. During their visit, Charlotte stayed close to Dee, immediately like her uncle's friend. She crawled up into Dita's lap at rested against her as Juice and Maria talked. Dita felt right at home.

Juice smiled widely at the sight of his niece with his girlfriend. The meeting went well. He was sure Dita now knew and she had a place in his family. when they landed in New York, he was so excited to be home that he could barely stand it. They cab ride home was short and he was thankful for that. When they got to the apartment, he made Dita set down her bags at the threshold and he lifted her effortlessly, carrying her inside.

"Welcome home, baby."

Dita giggled, blushing some, "You are going to hurt yourself carrying me around like this."

He set her down and grabbed the bags, "You really have no concept of how beautiful and amazing you are, do you?"

Dita blushed, looking down, not saying anything. She hated boasting about herself.

He went into their bedroom and fished a small Tiffany's box from his dresser. The plan he'd had to propose had been elaborate and wasn't due to happen for a few weeks yet, but he couldn't wait. After what had just happened he knew he could lose her. He wanted her to know exactly what she meant to him

He went into the kitchen where she was prepping dinner and got down on one knee behind her, gently turning her.

"Dita DeSantis, when I met you, I knew. You are my heart beat, without you I would wither and die. Will you marry me?"

Dita looked at him with surprise; feeling her hands shake as she reached down and lightly touched the ring, "....oh....oh god...."

She paused with what seemed like an eternity. At last, with tears pooling in her eyes, she nodded. "Yes..."

He slid the ring on her finger and stood. Quickly he pulled her to him and swung her in a circle, laughing with the abandon of a child.

"Oh, thank god, I thought you might say no! I love you!"

Dita laughed lightly, "again: you are going to hurt yourself. I love you too."

Her eyes amazed him. Using the back of his hand, he gently caressed her cheek and kissed her hard.

"What are you cooking?"

Dita kissed him back, "I was making Mac and Cheese...homemade."

His stomach growled, "Can I watch? That's my favorite."

Dita nodded, "Sure." She went through making dinner as normal, stopping to look at her engagement ring in awe. She was still surprised he proposed.

After dinner, she did the dishes, took a shower, and began to unpack her things. She was thankful to be home.

Juice left his suitcase packed in a corner, he was ever the procrastinator. When she started unpacking her things, he was already laying in the bed. It was his favorite place to read. He had a lot of studying to do.