The standard disclaimer applies: All characters are property of Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. Not mine, not making money.

"One Week"

Saturday, June 14

When it happened, Mike and Connie were on the couch in Connie's apartment, watching TV and eating takeout Chinese. He'd insisted on watching the Yankees game, much to her chagrin – she was a Mets fan. But he'd also promised that they'd watch whatever she wanted later, or perhaps even go out to a movie, so she let him have his baseball game.

During a break in the seventh inning, the camera panned to a guy in the stands. He wore blue and white face paint, and carried a sign that read "Julie, will you marry me?"

"Awww," Connie said, taking a bite of her Kung Pao chicken. "How sweet."

Mike looked at her. "We should do it," he blurted.

He didn't mean for it to come out at that moment – he'd been considering proposing to her for a long time, but always expected it to happen in a nicer setting, like a fancy dinner. Greasy Chinese wasn't what he'd call fancy, and he didn't even have a ring.

"Do what?" Connie asked, seemingly oblivious.

"You know," Mike said shyly. "Get married."

She stared at him in shock, and he supposed that she hadn't been expecting this kind of proposal either. He hoped that she wasn't insulted.

"My God," she said, putting her chopsticks down. "You're serious."

"Yeah," Mike replied, swallowing hard. "So, what do you say?"

Mike adored Connie, and wanted her to be his wife more than anything – he'd been a bachelor long enough. He looked into her eyes, trying to imagine what her response would be. His fear was palpable – it was like anticipating a verdict, except a thousand times scarier. If she rejected him, he didn't know what he would do.

She suddenly smiled, then began to laugh. For Mike, the situation became even tenser – was she laughing at him? Perhaps he did just come off like a complete loser.

"Yes, Mike," she said. "I'll marry you."

Now it was Mike's turn to be shocked.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes, really," Connie replied, still laughing. "I love you."

It seemed like a silly response to thank her – but just how does a man respond to finding out that the woman of his dreams had just agreed to marry him?

And what words did come out, came at the speed of bullets.

"You won't regret this, Connie. I'll be a good husband to you, and I'm so sorry I don't have a ring – I don't know what the hell I was thinking, proposing without a ring –"

"Calm down," she said, pressing her lips to his. "It'll be all right."

Mike had completely forgotten about the game, which had been the center of his attention up until a few minutes ago. In fact, he'd forgotten about everything except the fact that he was a newly engaged man.

He'd never been happier.