Zane and Grace met first through Penelope - Zane's friend from college and Grace's roommate. They’d each heard of each other and even spoken a few times, but had never spent any real time together. They were finally brought together by their friend; actually, by Two Friends. Two Friends had a concert in DC in February 2022, and Zane and Grace were there, enjoying the music, dancing, and celebrating Penelope’s birthday. It was truly a night to remember - too bad neither of them do. Their relationship grew quickly from there; Zane found a reason to visit Richmond from Arlington every weekend the following month. On March 7th, he finally worked up the courage…for Grace to ask him out on their first date. They went to The Mantu the next night, and the next chapter of their lives began. Since that first date, Zane and Grace have been inseparable. The early days were full of 2-hour drives to each other, nights out in Richmond, and long, LONG phone calls. They fell in love fast, and by July they had met each other’s families and gone on their first international trip. Most importantly, Grace's discerning cat, Steve, showed his approval of Zane. When the distance became too frustrating, Zane did the logical thing and bought a house in Richmond. Over the next year, as Grace finished her degree, and Zane worked on his house (and, sometimes, his job), they enjoyed countless hours of Richmond’s unique culture and beauty, and continued to grow together in the city they now both called home. Grace’s graduation brought on a new chapter for the young couple. Their shared interest in exploring new places - and a job at WVU - took them to Morgantown, WV. While Zane felt at home in the mountains, Grace didn't fully settle in until their family grew with Mister Pitbull (Misty), their second cat. Through all these life changes, Grace and Zane maintained their love of travel. In 2024, they visited Grace’s dad at his Peace Corps assignment in Eswatini, Africa. During their trip, they also explored Cape Town, Krueger, and finally Mozambique. It was there where, after a long series of ruses and misdirection, Zane found a way to surprise Grace with an engagement ring on the beach in Ponta do Ouro on May 3rd!