Why do all these gymnastics when you can use standard, boring old traditional techniques? I know that Lee Lehman is a respected teacher, and she's taught a lot of people who I know, BUT her techniques in this matter are far from universally accepted. We have the Moon applying to Mars and while that is not the house ruler of the 7th, it is well within the bounds of traditional techniques. Lookat Lilly's example of the house he wanted to buy. He ignore the 7th house ruler as the significator of the seller, and instead uses the Sun, A.) because it naturally symbolzes a great man, and 2)It's positioned in the 7th house. Using Mars also corroborates what GeminiGoddess said about having fears about the guy too. Also when she did the question, she descibed him as a friend who she wanted more from, and Mars is in the 11th house of friends and rules the 11th house of friends.

If I had seen this chart months ago, I would have said to forget about the first guy, because another guy, symbolized by Mars was just around the corner. Now it seems as if it's the same guy. I am not sure if anyone would have identified Mars as the same guy who was shown by Saturn. It's too late to settle that issue. The separating aspect between the Moon and Saturn is rather wide, which I would have thought meant that you two were not even close to being involved.

But Mark, that's kind of the point: if you consistently use one technique, you usually get consistent answers.

I've always used the 5th house to signify a love interest, and the 7th for a question about marriage.

Now granted, this man was her friend when she asked the question but the question was whether (or when) they'd become romantically involved, so now that places the question in the 5th house. (At least if you adhere to Lee Lehman's teachings, as well as some other astrologers.)

Because using the "traditional" rulers for the chart, as you said, wouldn't have led you to think that there was even a relationship possible! (At least, I wouldn't think so just looking at the aspects between the Moon and Saturn, or the natural significators of love and romance between men and women, Mars and Venus. (Again, no link at all.) And the moon is in its detriment in Aquarius, so it's not strong. But if you use the techniques that Lee uses, you might well think the answer is that the couple would start dating (if you also believe the MR planets swap degrees, too.)