It was seemingly destiny that many long nights of monitor beeps, Code Pinks, and baby snuggles brought us together. Chau was a travel NICU RN that took a contract at Valley Medical Center after a curiosity to explore Washington caught his eye. Shelby was a long time Valley NICU RN who met Chau as the charge nurse on the floor. Chau recounted that his first memory of Shelby was when she gave him a lecture on Buretrol management as he stared into her big green eyes. Shelby on the other hand, as a self-proclaimed "dude" and someone who makes friends with guys more easily than women, was just stoked on having another male around the unit. Over a few months, the two slowly got to know one another as Shelby pushed Chau to finally open up beyond his typical one-word answers to her probing personal questions (she specifically remembers asking him what his hobbies were, and he replied, "stuff"). Shelby knew she was going to have to take the lead on this one, later finding out that Chau was holding back because he wasn’t sure how to approach this woman who had endured so much hurt over the last few years. Shelby asked Chau to hangout as friends and took him to his first Seattle clubbing experience where they danced the night away. She continued to try to get to know him, inviting him out on his first snowshoeing adventure, knowing she would have the upper hand considering Chau was a n00b to all things outdoors. They had a great time, even with Chau falling face first into the snow over and over again. Shelby was getting discouraged that this would blossom into anything more, even though her work besties kept encouraging her, saying they knew he must like her! Shelby left for New Zealand for a few weeks, and that’s when the feelings really came through for her. They talked every day, all day, sharing pictures, stories, laughs, etc., but she still was unsure of his feelings. On the long plane ride home, Shelby asked Chau for a romantic movie suggestion, and when he named ‘You Got Mail,’ he also asked her to wait a minute so he could find it and they could watch it together, from the other side of the world. She knew then that he MUST like her! As soon as she got back state side, Shelby asked Chau to come for a hike, and knowing his fear of heights, she broached the subject cliffside, asking, “do you like me or WHAT?” Chau replied that he liked he so much, but was nervous about making the leap to potentially move here, and was worried about living up to her adventurous lifestyle. Ultimately, the rest was history as the two were connected at the hip from this point on. Chau moved in nearly immediately (or just never left as Shelby would say), and they quickly grew their love on a foundation of trust, adventures, physical challenges, and laughs! They were engaged in less than a year, and now cannot wait to tie the knot: June 24th, 2026.