It had been a few weeks since Michael's proposal at the restaurant. Several jobs had been completed and Michael was adjusting to life outside of the CIA. At first they would make awkward small talk. The past few days Madeline was not talking to Michael or returning his calls. Finally Michael had to see Maddie to have her sign papers regarding a legal issue that surrounded Nate.

"Are you sure you don't want me or Sam to go with you? Why don't you just drop them off and we'll get them tomorrow or something." Fiona said, knowing that visits with Maddie often resulted in Michael becoming withdrawn for days at a time.

"I'll be fine. I want to get these signed and to the lawyer today. She doesn't want to talk to me, so I'm just going to tell her to sign the documents and I'll leave." Michael said.

Michael said good-bye, giving Fiona a kiss on the cheek. Since she had been released from prison, he always gave her a kiss before he left.

Michael arrived at Madeline's house a few minutes later. He walked in and nearly choked from the cigarette smoke in the house. Without looking his mother directly in the eyes, he placed the papers on the table she needed to sign. "Mom, I need you to sign these papers and I'll drop them off at the lawyers today. He flagged where you have to sign."

Maddie walked up to the dining room table and started to sign the documents. Michael looked around and noticed that all his pictures had been removed from the walls. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from saying something to Maddie. No matter what he said, or how many times he apologized, Maddie always shut him out. Today he simply took the papers when she was done and headed towards the kitchen door.

"So that's it Michael? You are just going to take the papers and go?" Maddie shouted.

Michael turned around to face his mother. "I have apologized countless times for not keeping Nate safe. I have tried to explain everything to you but you are not listening. I can't do this anymore. I've said all I can say. I'm tired of talking."

Maddie pointed her finger at Michael. "Well, I have a few things to say. You should have stayed away Michael. You ruined my whole life. Everyone who meant something to me was killed because you were targeted by Anson. Your father, even though he was a terrible man, didn't deserve to be killed because of you. Benny died because he was connected to Anson. Your little baby brother who looked up to you, he's dead because he just wanted to help his big brother. So you go home to your nice little life that you have now. I just hope Fiona doesn't end up dead because of you."

Michael was going to speak, to try to defend himself, but Maddie cut him off before he could say a word. "Nate was a good man. He had his faults but he had a good heart. Your heart is black Michael. I have no love for you and I want you to get out of my house. You do not come back here again."

Michael, trying hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from his eyes, tried to talk to his mother. He wanted to convince her that he was a good man and that he never meant for any of this to happen. Again Maddie cut him off saying "I wish it was you that died."

Michael turned around and walked out the door. As he got in the car, he heard Maddie still yelling at him, but he tuned out whatever she was saying.

He drove back to the loft. Michael walked up the stairs and into the loft, and shutting the heavy metal door behind him. Fiona immediately ran to greet him, taking him in her arms. "You were gone for so long, that I was worried."

He pulled away from Fiona, running his hands up and down her arms. "You were worried about me?"

Without hesitation Fiona said "Of course Michael. I always worry about you. I love you."

Three simple words caused Michael Westen to fall to pieces. Fiona tried to keep Michael on his feet but he collapsed so quickly they both crashed to the floor. Michael held onto Fiona so tight that it felt like she was being crushed. She managed to position herself so her back was against the workbench. Michael curled up against Fiona's body, burying his face against her chest. Fiona planted kisses in Michael's hair, while promising not to let go of him.

Eventually Michael's breathing evened out and Fiona felt his grasp loosen on her. Both their phones rang several times, but she wasn't moving in fear of waking Michael. She had no idea of the time, until Sam came into the loft. Seeing them both on the floor, Michael curled up in Fiona's arms and Fiona cradling him, he gave Fiona a sad smile.

"Need anything?" Sam asked.

"Water would be good." She watched Sam walk to the fridge and open the door. "He went to see Maddie and he was gone for a while. He came back and I said I was worried and that I loved him. He just lost it. We ended up on the floor and we've been here ever since."

"You need me to stay? I'll just stand by in case you need me."

Fiona shook her head. "We'll be ok. You know him. He won't talk about it and we'll just move on."

Sam nodded and handed Fi her phone. "You call me if you need me. I'm serious. Sometimes he's a kitten but then sometimes he's a lion." Sam opened the loft door. "Let me know how he is."

Fiona nodded and kissed Michael's head again as Sam left. "Oh Michael, what did Maddie do to you?" She pulled him closer as she shut her eyes, resting her head on his.

When Michael opened his eyes, it was dark outside. He realized that he was still on the floor, still in Fiona's arms. He wrapped his arms around Fiona again, this time gently shaking her awake. "Fi...wake up."

Fiona opened her eyes and looked at Michael. "What time is it?"

Michael sat up but kept his body as close to Fiona's as he possibly could. He took her hand in his, holding it tightly. She reached over and put her free hand on his cheek. Leaning into it, he sighed and shut his eyes.

"I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but did something happen at your mother's house?"

Michael nodded. A frown came to his face and he looked down at Fiona's hand in his. "She doesn't love me Fi. She blames me for my Dad, Benny and now Nate dying. She said she wished I never came to Florida. She wishes that I was the one who died. She said I have a black heart and she never wants to see me again."

Fiona gasped, shocked at hearing what Maddie said. "Nothing she said is true. She does love you Michael. You are her son. She's angry and grieving but she does love you."

Michael shook his head slowly. "She doesn't. Dad was abusive to us. She barely protected us from him. I protected Nate from him, I even protected her. I constantly got beaten and she never stopped him. I was never safe. I sent money home to support her when I was overseas. The only thing I want right now is support and love because I lost my brother. I can't get it and it hurts."

"Michael, I've supported you an loved you ever since I met you in Ireland. How can you sit there and tell me you haven't gotten that from me? Even after getting you through the funeral, you tell me you don't feel love and support?" Fiona said with tears in her green eyes.

Michael realized that Fiona took his words the wrong way. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lump you in there with my mother. Since the day I first met you in Ireland, you've given me nothing but love and safety in your arms. As I got to know you, I learned how to love and care for someone because you showed me everyday by loving me."

Pausing for a moment, Michael took a deep breath. "I know you think that because I left you in Ireland without saying good-bye meant I didn't love you, but you are wrong. I left you because I loved you and wanted you to be safe. If I hadn't left Ireland, we would have been killed. I wanted to take you with me. I begged Card to let you come with me, but he kept telling me that if I took you they would kill us. I tried to convince him to let me stay, but he said if I did stay, we'd both be dead. The only choice was to leave you. I tried to write you a note but I couldn't. I didn't have the words or strength to tell you that even though you meant everything to me, I failed you and had to leave. I never wanted to leave."

"Card told me. We had a fight and it came out that he had to come for you." Fiona said. "I had no idea."

"He did. He was so mad at me for not leaving when he told me. I told him that I loved you more than anything in this world and I couldn't leave."

"Michael. .."

Michael leaned forward and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. "I was so cold before we met and I never loved anyone. Then I met this insane little Irish woman who could kick the asses of the toughest Irish criminals but at the same time be the most loving person I've ever met. You took me in, showed me love that was unconditional and taught me how to love unconditionally in return. I left Ireland a changed man. Even when you came to Miami and we were trying to figure out everything, you still stuck around. I owe you the world for making me the man I am today."

Fiona didn't know what to say. Finally she found her words. "When I met you, you could be so romantic in one breath but as cold as ice in the next. My mother thought you were cruel and every time you made me cry Sean wanted to kill you. They never understood why I stayed with you. No one saw the man that I knew you were or could be even. I had to chip away at so many walls just to get inside. I did though. Do you know what I found?"

Michael shook his head.

"I found a man who thinks he's the toughest guy around, but deep down he's scared and needs someone to love him. I love you Michael and contrary to what your mother says, your heart isn't black. Its glass and fragile. She had no right to be so mean to you. You weren't the only one who lost Nate."

Michael got up and went into drawer of the workbench. He sat down on the floor again, sitting directly across from Fiona. He handed opened the ring box and held it out in his hand. "Fi, you have no idea how much I love you and I need to make this permanent with you. You are the only person who I know who loves me no matter what. Even when we fight, I never doubt for an second that you don't love me. I've lost so many loved ones in my life, I don't want to lose you."

Michael looked at Fiona. She was staring at him. "Don't you have something to ask me?" she questioned.

He laughed and took the ring from the box. She held out her hand so he could put the ring on. "Fiona Glenanne, will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

"Yes!" Fiona shouted. She smiled at him and said "I thought you'd never ask!"

She grabbed her phone and called Elsa. "Elsa? Is Sam with you? We're engaged! You know what they say...the third time's a charm!"

Michael watched his best friend, his lover, and now his fiancee chatting with Elsa about wedding preparations. There was no place else he'd rather be. She was him home and he was never leaving her.