"Will you marry me?" Mike slowly lowered down onto one knee and held up a ring. Miranda stared at it, dumbfounded. One minute, she was snogging Gary, and the next she was stood in the restaurant with Mike in front of her proposing?! In the words of Miranda's mother: it's what I call, a nightmare.

"Uhm, I…" Miranda tried to form a sentence, tried to form the feelings that were running through her mind – but the thing was, she couldn't even figure out how she was feeling. How was she feeling? She loved Gary, she absolutely adored him. But he seemed extremely hesitant to be with her. He seemed almost reluctant to be with her. But she knew he was feeling something for her; but what? What was going on in that complex, chef like mind of his?!

Before Miranda could even register what was going on, she suddenly became aware that Gary was now stood behind her; looking baffled, confused and downright hurt. He felt pretty much the same as Miranda, then.

"Miranda?" he whispered softly to her, looking between Mike and Miranda; and then round the people that were surrounding. Miranda turned a little on her heel, half facing Mike – her love that she never really loved after all – and Gary – the man who she had loved for more years than anyone could remember. She looked between them both, before finally settling her gaze on Gary. "Gary I-" she whispered quietly, her voice trembling a little as she tried to regain bravery – as if she actually had any of that in the first place – attempting to do the right thing and get the outcome that, for once, she would like and be happy with. But, deep down, she feared that Gary wouldn't want anything in the lines of a relationship. Miranda didn't want to be in permanent spinsterhood, but then, she knew it wasn't right saying yes to Mike when really, he wasn't the one she loved.

Right at that very moment, just as Gary sunk down onto one knee, she found herself wishing to curl up unto her duvet. A duvet cocoon, if you will.

"Will you marry me?" Gary spat out quickly, his eyes glimmering with all sorts of emotions; ones that Miranda, in a state of shock and pure confusion, couldn't make sense of. Her jaw dropped slightly, and she stared at him – more dumbfounded than she stared at Mike when he proposed to her first.

"You're just saying that…" Miranda spat out before she could stop herself, and she rolled her eyes, turning to face the camera for a moment. "Well this is going well. Help!" she whispered, gesturing around a little with a little head movement.

It took Gary a little while to reply, perhaps a few minutes, but when he did the words came out a jumbled, almost incoherent mess. "No, Miranda, I'm not just saying it. The truth is, I've loved you ever since I can properly remember. And even though I'm scared and a little apprehensive right now, I'll get over it. Because I love you. I love how you make a fool of yourself in public, I love how you babble. I love how you're a complete and utter numpty, I just love everything about you. Mike, I'm sorry, but I love Miranda more than you ever could, and I know the real Miranda. I know the Miranda that she has been trying so hard to hide from you all this time – and that Miranda is the one I love." He took a pause, and inhaled harshly. "Marry me, Miranda."

In the time that Gary had been speaking, Miranda's jaw had dropped considerably, and her eyes had widened. That was certainly an outcome she wasn't expecting. In the background, both Gary and Mike could hear her mother yelling: "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE, MIRANDA! JUST HURRY UP BEFORE THEY CHANGE THEIR MINDS!" Miranda quickly turned round and shushed her mother, before turning back round to Gary. She remained silent for a few more moments, completely oblivious to everything aside from her and Gary. She was even oblivious to Mike standing up and turning on his heel to depart from the restaurant. Everyone was oblivious, really. They had all waited for them to admit they loved each other, and now the time had arrived, it didn't seem real.

Silence had now fallen in the restaurant, and the entire place was quieter than it had been since its opening. Until…

"Yes, Gary, I'll marry you." Miranda spoke boldly, proudly, happily for once – not hedging around the subject, not babbling words that weren't necessary. For once, it was straight to the point.

"What?" whispered Gary, confused; thinking he had heard wrongly, thinking his mind was playing cruel tricks on him.

"Yes, Gary, I'll marry you. I love you with all of my heart, Gary Preston." She whispered, and before she could even finish her sentence, Gary had leapt up and had taken Miranda into his arms, holding her close, before pulling away slightly to press his lips to hers in a passionate, content kiss, his eyes fluttering closed.

"I love you," they both mumbled together clumsily against each other's lips whilst everyone cheered and clapped them, whilst Stevie shouted "WAY TO GO MIRANDA!"

This was, afterall, what everyone had been waiting for – and no one, particularly Gary and Miranda, could be happier.

AN: Expect another post from this fic coming soon! I have major Miranda x Gary feels. Review please! :D Constructive criticism only please. 3