"Will you marry me?"

Gary wasn't planning on proposing when he went to the kitchen to grab some champagne. He had been trying to sort out his thoughts on the newest objection Miranda had to their relationship. I wish she understood what she means to me. Gary had a million thoughts running through his head as he tried to adjust to this overwhelming change that had finally happened not an hour prior.

He was rehearsing what he would say to Miranda to convince her to not give up before she gave him a chance. 'I love you' just didn't feel like enough, right now. Gary had never told a woman he loved them. He wasn't even sure if he'd ever said it to his uptight father or withholding mother. Love wasn't something Gary understood well, but he knew that what he felt for Miranda was bigger, lighter, heavier, brighter and more terrifying than anything he had ever experienced. He had been so ecstatically happy just a few moments before, planning out how to sneak Miranda out of the party that was going to invade their secret bubble any moment. He hadn't had her properly to himself long enough yet to be put under the microscope, he just wasn't ready for Penny and Tilly's sure to be invasive interrogations, or for Stevie pulling Miranda away for a celebration.

I'll just explain to her that all I want to do is be alone with her, just for tonight, maybe the weekend, before our privacy is irrevocably destroyed by our pushy friends.

He grabbed the bottle on his way out to find that the party had already arrived.

Too late.

He quickly looked for a path to Miranda, to see Mike kneeling before her and proposing. He placed the bottle on the mantle, as he expected Miranda to turn him down immediately, but instead she turned to him.

He felt the situation start to spiral out of control and didn't know how to stop it. Here she is, the one person I can't live without. The one who has always lived in his heart, who had forever claimed it as her own, and someone else was trying to take her away.

"Well, what do you say?"

"What do you say?" She just turned his words back on him, and Gary's mind went blank. He searched for the answer in her eyes, trying to read in them what she needed from him right now. When they were alone, she needed to hear words of love, and he had failed spectacularly in providing them. He didn't think words alone would be what she wanted now, she deserved romance.

"Miranda?" Michael's voice got Miranda's attention and she turned her head. Gary wasn't ready for this, he wasn't sure if Miranda even wanted it, but he could think of no way to express to Miranda how ready he was for this relationship to be his last. He was more afraid of losing Miranda than geese, power drills and mice.

As he dropped to his knee, he felt every last hesitation melt away, finding all his fears washed aside by the love gripping his heart. He felt the words soar out of his soul, "Miranda, will you marry me?"

The slight shake of her head, and Gary's confidence started to waiver. "You're just saying-"

"Just say YES!" Penny's outburst reminded Gary that he and Miranda were not alone.

"To who?"

Gary's heart sank, suddenly unsure he had done the right thing.

"It doesn't matter!" Penny's words lit a fire under Gary. Michael tried to get her attention and he followed suit, before he saw the tell-tale signs of Miranda's flight response. She took a step back from him, and Gary stood.

Taking Miranda's hand in his, he put himself between Penny and her daughter, causing Penny to take a step back, as Miranda froze to the spot.

"Penny, back off." Gary felt Miranda's hands grip tighten before she moved to stand behind him. "It does matter, but she'll chose in her own time. Now, if you'll excuse us just a minute, I need to speak to Miranda in private." Turning to Miranda, he caught her gaze. "Okay?" She nodded once and let Gary pull her towards the door.

The ladies gathered for Penny's party blocked the exit to the restaurant, so Gary detoured to the kitchen, thankfully finding it empty. He brought Miranda to the center before turning to give her all of his attention.

"Gary," Miranda sounded like she was ready to start another fight, but he needed her to hear what he had to say.

"Miranda, wait, please, listen to me before you get upset."

Miranda took a step back and crossed her arms, "Oh, and why would I be upset, Gary?"

"Because you were right." Miranda's face began to flush, as she sputtered, and Gary started speaking faster than he knew he was capable. "I was just saying that, Miranda, but not for the reasons you think. I know we talked about marriage before and how you're not interested. I don't want to marry you, Miranda, not because I don't want to marry you, but because marriage is not what you want. I love you," Gary's thoughts were interrupted by Miranda's sudden kiss. As she pulled him closer, Gary pushed her off.

"Please let me finish," Gary stepped back, and took Miranda's hands in his. "I love you, I want to be with you every day. I want to make you breakfast, I want to make you laugh, I want to sleep with you every night. I want you, Miranda, I love you, and I need you. And if you want to get married, I want you to marry me." Gary took Miranda's shocked face in his hands, and kissed her, showing with his lips, his breath and his soul all that he could not find the words to express. Miranda wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer. Gary used their momentum to lead her to the closest table.

As they knocked into the table, a large bowl and tongs went crashing to the floor, and they jumped apart, looking around guiltily. Finding themselves alone, they reached for another kiss when the door opened and Stevie came barging in.

"Oh, Miranda, you have to come back out here, your mother is already calling around for venues, and Tilly is keeping Mike busy, but you have to deal with this." Stevie's stern lecturing halted as she took in the scene before her. She began to squeal and clap, hopping up and down. Miranda's answering squeal and clap slammed into Gary's chest. He began to laugh as his heart overflowed.

"Wait, stop, what about Mike?" Stevie, as always, was the first back to business.

"Oh, my poor Marple," Miranda sighed, and let her head drop to her chest, and Gary felt a punch to the gut. "Gary, what am I going to do? I don't want to hurt him. I hate to say but I forgot about him, we never did have a proper break-up." Miranda looked at him with pleading, and Gary was at a loss. "No, I need to do this on my own. Stevie, can you go get Mike?"

Stevie nodded solemnly and left the kitchen. Miranda stepped back from Gary, and took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation to come.

"Is there anything I can do?" Gary felt adrift, Miranda looked a little heartbroken, and it really bothered him. He wanted to slag off Mike, but knew that it would only hurt Miranda.

"Tell me again, that would help."

Gary simply replied, "I love you."

"I love you, too. Now go wait for me in the bar, I'll be out in a little while." Gary took one last sweet kiss before obeying her wishes.

Gary poured himself a healthy dram of his favorite scotch, before perching on an empty bar stool. After delivering Michael to the kitchen, Stevie wedged herself between Gary and the next patron, invading his personal space. "So, Gary, what's new?"

Gary was glad for Stevie right then. His heart was beating a thousand miles an hour, and it was all he could do to march right back into that kitchen, and... he didn't know what. He just knew that Miranda was hurting, and he wanted to make that stop. Stevie had been talking since she arrived, but he wasn't listening. He interrupted her tirade with a hug.

Shocked, Stevie stopped talking and gave Gary a small hug back.

"Thank you," Gary whispered in her ear. "Thank you Stevie."

Stevie began to rub Gary's back as she could feel him starting to shake.

"I almost lost her," Gary pulled Stevie in for a crushing hug before releasing her. "You're a life-saver."

"I'm just glad you caught her," Stevie's grin reminded Gary of all the times she had nudged him in the past, "in every sense, phwoar." Gary rolled his eyes before laughing along with her. Stevie's manic energy was contagious.

Gary finished his drink, excused himself and got off the stool to pace behind the bar. What's taking them so long? He grabbed a rag and started washing the glass he'd been using. Finishing that one, he quickly worked through the rest of the dishes in the sink. He needed to keep his hands busy. Staying out here with Miranda in the other room was killing him. He knew going through those doors would be a disaster, and he didn't want to be the cause of any more disasters today. When he found himself polishing a plastic spoon, he threw the rag in the sink. He turned away to resume pacing, when the kitchen door opened. Turning back, he saw Mike's head disappear through the exit.

He was rooted to the spot. Should he go in and find out what happened or allow Miranda to come out in her own time? He didn't want to get this wrong. He waited one minute, two. His decision to wait for her crumbled before his concern. Rather than barging into the kitchen, he gently opened the door, "Miranda?" He scanned the room from the doorway and couldn't find her. Stepping fully into the kitchen, he spotted her sitting on the floor, head in hands. He quickly crossed the room, sat down next to her and bundled her into his arms. Saying nothing he began rubbing her back and her arms, giving her what comfort he could.

Miranda curled into his chest, hiding her face in his shirt, shaking slightly. Gary felt a brief hitch in her breathing and held her closer. She grabbed his shirt, hold on tight before taking several deep, calming breaths. Lifting her head slowly, she finally met his eye.

"That was really hard." A single tear fell, and with it, Gary could see Miranda letting go of the tension in her shoulders. He gathered her close and brushed her lips with his own, which Miranda returned with an urgency that surprised him. Hands began to roam and find purchase, and a soft moan escaped from Gary when there was a sudden rapping at the kitchen door.

"That's Stevie. The party! Your mum! Can we just run out the back?" Gary stood and helped Miranda off the floor, unable to resist kissing her again. Miranda fell into the kiss for a moment before giving him a gentle shove.

"I wish, but you know how they are. Lets just make it out of here as soon as we can and we'll meet back at my flat?"

"Your flat isn't safe. We'll go to mine, but what are we going to tell them?"

A wicked gleam sparkled in Miranda's eye, and laughter filled her voice, "I'm sure we'll think of something."

Gary let Miranda pull him across the kitchen, but before she reached the door, he pulled her close, looked deeply into her eyes, "I love you" passed his lips now as easy as breathing. Miranda whispered "I love you too" and they shared a brief kiss before heading out the door.

The entire room stopped chattering and turned to watch the new couple emerge. Miranda stepped out first, with a regal wave. Gary stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her belly. Miranda intertwined her fingers with his and addressed the crowd.

"I have made a decision! I am going to become a nun! My only vows will be to God!" Penny's gasp was the only sound.

"Yes, I tried to change her mind, but you know how she is!" Gary chuckled as he felt an elbow to his side.

"I insist Gary take me to a nunnery, right this moment!" Miranda marched to the door, shocked guests quickly making a path.

"Whatever you say, sister!"

Taking her hand, they turned to the door, ignoring Penny's shouts. Miranda tripped over the coat rack, and Gary caught it as it fell. He looked at Miranda, and they both shouted "RUN", and Gary dropped the coat rack to the ground, took Miranda's hand and ran with her across the street to his car.

"Keys! Keys! Keys!"

"Yes, Miranda, I've got them!"

"Door! Door! Door!"

"Here we are."

"Go! Go! Go!"

The car lurched into motion as an entire restaurant of people came spilling out, lead by Penny "DOES THIS MEAN YOU'RE NOT GETTING MARRIED?"

Stevie popped out behind Penny and yelled "GO MIRANDA!", the rest of the shouts lost as the car was filled with laughter.