Avery and Tony met in October of 2023, after Tony moved to Spokane and settled in Avery’s congregation. They quickly became friends and Avery and her family almost immediately started including Tony in their dinners, outings, and get togethers, wanting him to feel welcomed and loved in a new town and new congregation. As time passed, they grew closer, bonding over shared interests, working together in the congregation and the LDC, slowing becoming friends. After about a year, they each made friends with some new ones in the hall and started hanging out more in the new group. As time passed, they found that they were developing feelings for each other, but didn’t act on those feelings as Tony was going through a tough time with his mom being sick and in and out of the hospital. Tony’s mom sadly passed in June of 2025. Each had realized that feelings had become stronger by that point, but Tony didn’t have the capacity to get into a new relationship at the time, so he asked for some time to process his grief and get his feelings in order. In September, Tony felt that he was ready and had room in his mind and his heart for a relationship, so he showed up at Avery’s house one evening with a handwritten scroll asking her on a date! The relationship progressed quickly, with the two of them making time to see each other every single day, even if it was only for a few minutes. They had dates at the renaissance fair, walks in the park, morning coffee dates after Avery got off work, and a lot of cozy nights in with family and friends. After many dates, long talks, and deep conversations, they found that this was the match that neither had ever dreamed they would find in this system. During one of their walks in the park, while talking on their favorite bench where they had many deep discussions and good laughs, Tony slid off the bench onto one knee and asked Avery to marry him.