Nick and Denise met in a spring afternoon in 2019. Denise was a Bartender at a Livermore local restaurant, Sauced. Nick was just getting off work from a logistics shift from Sandia National Labs. Picture this, the bar was dead, Denise had worked all morning, the next bartender was due to arrive within the hour. In walks Nick, right after work, still covered in a hard days work.

Nick sat down, Denise poured him a beer, eager to get back to the cleaning task that would eventually get checked off and allow her to leave for the day. Eventually the all the tasks finished and there was nothing to do but wait. Why not make small talk with the only person at the bar?

After a few minutes they discovered they had a couple things in common. The big one being a recent (or almost) engineering degree. Denise was studying Mechanical at SJSU and Nick, Electrical, and LBSU. The chat was nice, but eventual Nick left for a after work event. As Nick walked out, he gave one last glance back, and Denise was already watching.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Nick come back to the bar, This time in a full American flag suite on the Fourth of July - which turned out to be a great way to skip a packed bar line. Denise recognized him and pulled him right to the front. Denise couldn't remember his name and called him by the wrong one. To which Nick replies, "Well, I remember your name, Denise" tacking on "I remember everything about our conversation"

He didn't. He claimed she went to SDSU and was studying Biomedical Engineering, but he did get her name right. Denise remembers his school and degree but not his name. Eventually Nick mentioned he was going to Iowa for a family reunion the next day. Once again the pair parted ways.

For the next few weeks Nick would come and visit a couple times at work, mostly with friends. Later Denise would find out were totally in on it, and knew exactly why he wanted to keep going back to Sauced.

Then sometime in August the night before Denise was supposed to leave for her own family reunion, she was out for drink in Livermore. Nick and Denise ran into each other, Nick with his friends, Denise with hers. A few awkward glances across a bar and a long walk, Nick came over. He offered to buy her a drink, took her hand and together they walked to the bar.

Eventually the night wound down. Numbers were exchanged. Then Denise left for Montana early the next morning. After a few days, Nick sent her a text hoping Montana was fun. They've talked every day since.

Eventually, Denise and Nick adopted a dog, Mookie. A sweet and gently Siberian Husky. This would be Nicks first pet, and they love him dearly.

They also would go on to buy a house in 2021. The first big purchase together. Family starts wonder when and if they'll wed. There was never a doubt in either of their minds, they were with their person.

In May of 2022 they would announce a planned pregnancy, and then go on to give birth to a healthy, beautiful, baby boy. Marshall Gaul was born in January 2023.

in November of 2023, Nick would propose during Christmas photos. Denise with zero hesitation, would accept.