<p>First off, if she really is as great a friend as you say she is, and if she wasn’t interested in pursuing a relationahip in that regard, then I’m sure she would not make a horrible deal over it. At that point you would just have to move past it. On the other hand though, she might say yes, which, as many others have said, would make the both of you very happy. I know what you are going through, and if it weren’t for some other eternally significant factors, I would take the jump myself.<br>
Go for it!</p>