Hi! This is a continuation of Kristen3's stories about Mary and Steven. She gave me permission to write the missing part. This goes between her two stories, Love was Always All Around and Special Delivery! You should read those two as well her story called Falling in Love for Real. Those stories along with this one make up Mary's part of what happens between the show and reunion! Hope you all enjoy this story! Please read and review! Thanks Kristen3 for allowing me to write this!

Mary Richards was nervously putting some last minute touches on cleaning her appartment. Her boyfriend, Congressman Steven Cronin, was coming over tonight. He was in Minneappolis for the week, but he was mainly staying at a hotel. Tonight,Mary would be cooking him supper. Actually she had been cooking for hours that day. She had prepared a delicious gourmet spread. Mary didn't know why she was so nervous. He'd come over for supper before. They had been dating for about seven months now and things were getting more and more serious. Mary didn't know for sure if Steven would propose anytime soon but she was very sure that if he did, she knew what her answer would be. Mary had sworn up and down after what happened with the Governor's assistant several years back, she would never date another politician. However, that all went out the window the second she'd met Steven. Steven was like no other man she'd ever met. He was warm, smart,funny, and he treated her like she was a princess. Like she was THE most precious thing in the world. She knew for sure he was practically perfect when she saw how well he got along with her WJM family and her best friend. She had called them all together a couple of months ago, with the exception of Sue-Ann and Phyllis, so they could meet the new man in her life. Suddenly, she was yanked out of her reverie by a knock on the door. She composed herself and headed over to answer the door. She opened in and was immediately met wrapped in a warm embrace and was being kissed till she couldn't see straight.

"Hello,Beautiful.", Steven said after they had come up for air.

"Hello.", Mary practically purred. She took his coat and hung it up, then led him over to the sofa.

"Supper's just about ready. I'm just waiting for the meat to finishing cooking. We're having a roast duck with sweet potatoes and Asperigus tips in hollindais sauce. I made dinner rolls to go with that. There is also a salad we can start with."

"Sounds wonderful. Smells terrific, too!", Steven replied. Mary got up and Steven followed her to the table. He sat down as she brought the food over. after dinner, they were sitting on the sofa watching a movie. They really weren't paying attention to the television,though. Mary had her head on Steven's shoulder and Steven holding her in his arms. After sitting quietly for awhile, Steven spoke up, suddenly.

"Mary, what would you say if I were to ask you to marry me?"

"What?", Mary asked, startled. She'd been falling asleep. Once he made sure she was fully awake, Steven repeated the question.

"What would you say if I were to ask you to marry me?"

"Steven? What do you mean? Are you proposing?",Mary asked, staring at her boyfriend.

"Mmmm, more like proposing a proposal. I want to know if we are on the same page. I love you,Mary. Do you feel the same way?"

"Yes. Yes,of course, Darling. I love you! And if you were to propose, I'd say yes in a heartbeat."

"Good. That's all I wanted to know.",Steven said, as he settled back against the sofa. Mary, for her part, couldn't stop staring at him.

"Steven! You mean to tell me you are just going to throw that out there and then go back to the movie as if nothing happened?!"

"Well, I don't want to just say it here, Mary! I want it to be special! I want you to remember it forever. Mostly, I want it to be a surprise! I AM going to propose, and soon. You won't know when, until it happens. I want to sweep you off your feet! But rest assured, My Dear. It is coming. I want to spend the rest of my life with you!"

"Well, I guess I can wait for a moment like that, then.", Mary responded, then settled back against her future fiancee to finish watching the movie. Eventually, Mary fell asleep. When that happened, Steven gentley moved away from her and walked over to her desk. He looked around until he found her address book. He found a pen and paper and wrote down the number he needed. Then he put the book right back where he found it, and went back over to the couch. When he got back to DC He was going to need to make a very important phone then, though, he was going to enjoy watching the love of his life looking so peaceful while she slept. A week later, Steven picked up the Phone and dialed that number.

"Hello?", said a woman with a New York accent.

"Hello, Rhoda? This is Steven. Congressman Steven Cronin." Rhoda started feeling nervous.

"Oh. Hi, Steven. Is something wrong with Mare?"

"Oh ,no! Nothing's wrong. She's fine. But she IS the reason I'm calling."

"Ok. Shoot."

"Well, I am planning to propose to her very soon.", Steven began, but before he could go any further, Rhoda interupted.

"What?! Steven, that's really terrific! I'm so happy for you both! Oh, but I'm guessing you didn't call to tell me that just so I'd know before the Kid. What do you need me to do?"

"Well, I'm coming to New York for business in a couple of weeks. I was thinking, since you are her best friend and have known her much longer than I have, would you be willing to help me pick out an engagement ring for her?"

"Sure! I'd be glad to! Oh, I wish I could be there to see the look on her face when you pop the question! How are you gonna do it?", Rhoda asked. Steven filled her in on his special plan. Rhoda knew her friend was going to be over the moon with happiness. Steven met Rhoda in the Big Apple a couple of weeks later, and she helped him pick out the perfect ring for Mary. It was made of gold and was flat all the way had a beautiful small diamond right in the middle. About a month after that, Mary came to visit him in DC. It was early spring and the cherry blossems were in full bloom. It was time to put his plan into action. When Mary arrived, Steven immediately pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

"I missed you.",he said.

"I missed you,too.", she whispered back. They stood there for a long time, just enjoying the feel of being in each others arms again. To them it didn't seem nearly long enough before the pulled apart.

"My dear, tonight I am taking you out on the town. I know a spectacular place for dinner. Then I have other plans for us, including a moonlit walk along the Patomic."

"Sounds absolutely sensational.", Mary murmered.

"I hope you packed your prettiest dress.", Steven said.

"I did.", Mary assured him.

"Good. For now, carriage ride through the park to see the cherry blossems."

"Wonderful!", Mary agreed. Then, they went out together to enjoy the day. After they returned, Mary headed to her hotel to get ready for the date. at 7PM, Steven arrived at Mary's hotel room door. She answered it invited him in.

"Hi, Honey. Are you ready?"

"Just let me grab my wrap and purse and we can go. Where are you taking me tonight?"

"It's a surprise.", He said mysteriously. He led her out to the car and they were taken a little bit out of the city. The car let them out in front of a beautiful restaurant called, Mr K's Tollhouse. Steven led Mary inside and they were seated out on the terrace. It had an exquisite view. The waiter came Brought the wine list and took their orders. Steven ordered a bottle of the best they had and it was soon brought to them. Mary and Steven sipped their wine and talked about anything and everything until the food arrived. It was the best that Mary had ever tasted. Remarkabley they both still had room for dessert so he had a big peice of Cheesecake and she had a rich chocolate moose. After dessert, they roamed through the elegant gardens until the car arrived to take them to DC. The Driver let them off by the Potomic and they walked along the river. When they got to a footbridge, Steven stopped and turned to Mary, looking slightly nervous.

"Mary,Honey, I want to ask you something important but first, when I was at your place a few weeks ago, I got a number from your book while you were sleeping.

"Oh?", Mary asked, now getting nervous herself.

"It was the number for your friend,Rhoda. You see, I required her help."

"What did you need her help with?",Mary asked. Steven then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a velvet box.

"This.", he said, opening the box to show Mary. She gasped. Steven got down on one knee in front of her.

"Rhoda helped me pick it out when I was in New York a couple of weeks ago. Mary, I love you. I have never felt this way about anyone before. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you! Mary Richards, will you marry me?" Mary couldn't speak. She began crying and laughing at the same time. She just nodded her head up and down until she found her voice.

"YES! Yes, yes, yes! Yes,Steven! Yes, I'll marry you!", Steven looked relieved and thrilled both at once. He stood just in time to have his new fiancee throw herself into his arms! He laughed out loud with pure joy and he spun her around. She also couldn't stop laughing or crying from the pure joy of it. Afterwords they walked around for another hour or two before Steven took her back to her hotel. They spent another half hour to an hour making out before he finally headed home to his place. By then it was about 3AM. Mary didn't even think about that though. She had to call Rhoda. She knew no matter how late it was, Rhoda would never forgive her if she waited to call. She sat down on the bed and picked up the phone to dial. After three rings, a sleepy voice said,

"Hello?"

"Rhoda!", Mary said excitedly.

"Mare?", Rhoda replied, still groggy.

"Yes. It's me." Mary answered. Suddenly Rhoda was wide awake. She knew there was only one reason that her friend would be calling this late.(Or rather, early.)

"He asked ya,didn't he?!", Rhoda exclaimed.

"Yes! He did! Tonight!"

"AWW, Kid! That's sensational! Tell me everything!" Mary told her friend about the restaurant with the gardens and the wine cellar and terrace, then about the walk along the river.

"Rhoda, he took me onto one of the foot bridges and then he brought out the ring. He told me you had helped him pick it out. Thankyou,by the way. It's perfect." Rhoda brushed it off then said,

"So then what?"

"Then he got down on one knee and told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life showing me how much he loves me. Then he asked me to marry him.", Mary continued, happy tears filling her eyes again as she relayed the wonderful details to her best friend.

"You did say yes, right?", Rhoda quipped.

"Rhoda! Of course I did!", Mary retored. Rhoda chuckled and said,

"Just checking!" Mary had to laugh as well.

"Oh, Rhoda! I've never been so happy!"

"I can tell,Kid. I'm really happy for you!"

"Rhoda. Steven and I were talking. I told him after what happened the first time, I don't want a long engagement. I want us to be married right away. He said he didn't really want to wait too long either. Rhoda, will you help me and my mother plan this wedding? I know you can get things done. You know how to make things happen and fast. Please?"

"Sure,Mare. But you know,right, that Steven isn't Bill? He's not gonna drag his feet. He loves you so much. I can tell. I can see it in his eyes. Plus from what you've told me, he has no problem telling you how much he cares. He's not afraid to say the words. This wedding WILL happen, Mary. And it will last." Mary smiled. Rhoda always seemed to know exactly what Mary needed to hear.

"Thanks,Rhoda. You always say the right thing. And thanks for helping me with the planning."

"Anytime,Kid.", Rhoda replied with a smile. The two friends talked a little bit longer, then they hung up so Mary could get to bed and Rhoda could go back to sleep, if possible. The next few months would be crazy but it would be worth it for Mary to finally be united forever to the love of her life.

Well, there you have it! The magical proposal. Mary is now engaged. Again, All reviews are MUCH appreciated! Please don't forget! Next and final chapter will be posted at the end of the week. It will be the wedding! Thanks for reading!