After connecting online over our overlapping professional backgrounds (and exchanging many long essays), we decide it’s time to meet. Elizabeth flies to Austin and has her first inkling that Daniel might be “the One” after he gives her one of the most brilliant books she’s ever read.

Dan had a ticket for a cruise with his friends, and Elizabeth joined the cruise crew. We explored Mexico and danced all night at a silent disco. Dan won in the casino, but one of his friends pulled him aside: "Daniel, your real jackpot is this girl!"

Dan starts regular visits to New Haven, Connecticut, despite the challenge of seeing therapy patients remotely from her 467-square-foot apartment. Elizabeth still likes him even though he starts to let out his weirdness more.

We spend the holidays with each other's parents. Dan discovers the Aslinger Christmas tradition of chocolate gravy. Elizabeth discovers the San Diego tradition of Crack Shack.

We absolutely demolish the Wendler family gingerbread house competition! (Granted, our main competition were toddlers, but still!)

After securing a remote position as a computational biologist, Elizabeth moves to Austin and IMMEDIATELY demands to go to a ren faire. (Literally, we went the very next day.)

We also do some less nerdy Austin dates.

Team Aslinger comes to Savannah, Georgia to see Dan and Elizabeth give their "Dating on the Spectrum" talk at an autism conference.

Dan joins the Aslinger’s for a family vacation at a Montreat cabin, where he loses at Splendor a lot.

We go on another cruise, this time catering to Elizabeth’s love for cold weather.

Dan doesn’t even mind the cold!

Kyler approves.

Elizabeth spends some time in California with the Wendler family.

And Dan and Elizabeth spend some time together.

Awww!

Elizabeth still likes Dan even though he takes her to date night at the arcade. Dan realizes he'd better marry this girl quick.

Daniel tells Elizabeth she has to try this little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant in Austin to celebrate the new year!

Dan proposes by sharing a collection of memory boxes with Elizabeth that had old photographs, school papers, and mementos from various chapters of his life. He tells her "You've seen all of my past - now I want my future to be with you." This is very corny but she thankfully still says yes.

...And Dan is still jumping for joy!