Micheal Calvert returned to the small apartment that he shared with his girlfriend Alice, exhausted from another long day on the docks. He was tired of lifting heavy crates on to ships day in and day out, but coming home to a warm apartment with the love of his life was well worth it, as well as the newly built biceps he was now sporting.

Alice was sewing up a hole in one of his nicer shirts, hoping that he'll be able to wear it that evening for dinner with the Dawsons. The Dawsons weren't fancy people, even though Rose was from the first class, but Alice still liked for her and Micheal to dress as nice as possible.

"I'm home, baby," Micheal smiled, flopping down into a nearby chair. "It's been a busy day at the docks. I don't know what people are buying so much of, but they can keep it up. The more I work, the more money I bring in. Maybe I can get you something special."

"Well I certainly hope they don't. I don't see you enough as it is. Nothing is more special to me than the presence of my man," Alice smiled, not looking up from her work. She was sitting on the couch, a serene smile on her face. Micheal loved her best like this. Alice loved sewing, whether it was one of her creations or just mending a shirt. She always looked so serene and calm. So at peace. Like the problems that haunted them daily simply didn't exist.

"I know, I know...but we can still use the extra money. Maybe we can even save up enough to catch a steamer to France...where we can finally wed..."

Alice paused in her sewing and looked at her husband with wide brown eyes. "What did you say?"

Micheal smiled. He knew that she had resigned herself to the fact that they will never be husband and wife thanks to the stupid laws in this country. But he had figured out a way around that. If they could save up enough money, their days of living in sin would be numbered. At least in the eyes of god anyway. "I said, we can catch a steamer to France. You, me, and maybe even Jack and Rose if you can talk them into boarding a ship again, and get married there, where interracial marriages are allowed. Sure it may not be valid here, but at least it will be there and in the eyes of god and each other, we'll be husband and wife"

"Micheal...that sounds...but what about my family? Momma and Pops would never be able to afford such a trip..."

"I know...and I'm sorry about that. But all I can think about, at this moment is us. You and I and finally being joined in the holy union of marriage...one way or another."

Alice looked down at her work, then back at Matthew, a light twinkling in her eyes. "Well...is this a marriage proposal or just you tossing around ideas? I mean...are you serious with this?"

Micheal stood up from his chair and knelt before her, taking the needle and thread out of her hands and

sitting them aside so he could hold her hands in his. "I am very serious."

"But where is this coming from? You never mentioned wanting to get married before. I thought that we were okay with how things are," Alice stammered, not knowing what to make of this. Not daring to hope that her and Micheal becoming actual husband and wife could really happen.

"I was. I am. But...when I see our friends who are in couples, people like Jack and Rose...to see how being married makes them even closer to each other, I want the same for us. I want us to have that...union. You are a part of me, Al. I want to spend my life with you. I want us to have children together. I want us to be soul mates in every sense of the world. Going to France, we can have that."

"Micheal..."

Micheal sighed and then chuckled, realizing that he wasn't doing this right at all. He should have waited to get a ring and to have a more romantic setting, but it was too late for that now. He was on the diving board and it was time to make the jump. "I know this isn't the way I should be doing this...it's kind of spur of the moment, but it is something that I know that I want. When I wake up next to you, I want you to be my wife. To be Mrs. Calvert. Okay, how about we forget about the idea of France at the moment and just concentrate on what I'm trying to ask ya?"

"Which is?"

"Which is Alice Marjorie Wilson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

To say that Alice was stunned was an understatement. She had not allowed herself to even dream of this moment. She had thought that it would be impossible. But Micheal's plan was plausible. It could happen and just the thought of it sent shivers of excitement through her body. She could actually become Mrs. Micheal Calvert after all. At first her voice seemed stuck in her throat, not wanting to come out and disrupt the moment, but finally the words spilled out, infusing the air with her joy.

"Yes! Yes Micheal, I'll marry you! That is whenever we can make it to France!"

Micheal whooped and shot to his feet, lifting her off the ground, whirling her around in the air in his excitement, neither of them noticing his shirt falling to the floor. After a few moments of twirling her around, he stopped and pulled her into a deep kiss that contained all the love he had for her. He pulled away and smiled. "You won't regret this, baby. We'll start saving straight away and as soon as we can we'll head to Paris."

Alice giggled, feeling drunk on her own giddiness. "Me in Paris. Who would have thought it? Rose is going to freak out when I tell her. Oh, do you think she'll be my maid of honor? I mean...it'll mean her going back on another ship. Do we even dare ask them to board another ship?"

"To be honest, I think we'd be doing them a favor in doing so. Look, it's their decision. I can understand if they refuse. After all they did go through a hallowing experience, but I think we should at least give them the choice. We should definitely share our happy news. I mean, they were there at the beginning. It was because of them that we finally stopped avoiding our attraction and did something about it. They deserve to know," Micheal kissed her nose, touched by her concern for their friends. Frankly, he hoped that Jack and Rose would decide to join them. It'd be great for at least someone they cared about to witness their union, and who better than Jack and Rose?

"I'm so happy Micheal...I have no words. I just wish...well I'm just happy that we thought of a way to take the next step in our relationship," Alice's smile was a little sad as she rested her head against his chest, thinking about her father and how most brides had their fathers give them away and how most likely she wouldn't have that. Not that it mattered really. What mattered was becoming Micheal's wife. But still, it would have been nice to have her daddy walk her down that aisle.

"What is it, sweetie?" Micheal asked, catching the sadness in her voice. "Something's bothering you. I hear it in your voice."

She pulled away, feeling guilty for not being fully, completely happy. If Micheal had been black or if she had been white, this wouldn't be an issue. It angered her that it was. Why was it that they must go to another country to marry? Why couldn't they marry in the United States of America like same raced couples did. It wasn't right. The happiest day of her life couldn't be completely happy because their families wouldn't be able to witness it.

"I just wish my daddy would be able to be there to walk me down the aisle, that's all. I know, it's silly..."

"No it's not. I'm sad too that our parents won't be there. But it can't be helped. It's going to be enough just to get us there," Micheal sighed, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm sorry, baby."

"Why should you be sorry. You didn't make these stupid laws."

"I don't know. Maybe it's because it's my people making and enforcing the laws? I just know that I hate that you can't fully be happy and it's because of something I can't fix."

Alice sighed and looked up into his eyes, her heart melting to see the love and warmth that they contained. She was lucky to have found a love like this. She knew it. The love that she felt for Micheal, it was like the love Rose must feel for Jack, despite the difference in their social standing. She may have to give up some things to be with Micheal, like her father walking her down the aisle, but he was well worth it. "You know what. I am completely happy. I have you. That's all that really matters. Daddy will be there in spirit. I know he will."

"And I have you. My mother will be there in spirit as well. What is important is how we feel for one another, not who will and will not be able to attend our wedding," Micheal leaned down and briefly kissed her. He stroked her soft hair, loving the texture of it, loving everything about this amazing woman in his arms. "I love you more than anything Al. That is all that matters."

"I love you too, Micheal. No amount of laws will change that," Alice lifted her lips so he could claim them in a deep kiss, cementing their feelings for each other once again.

People may throw stones, burn religious symbols, and call them names, but none of it mattered. What mattered was that they loved each other completely and as long as they had each other, they had the world. There was nothing anyone could say or do that could ever tear them apart.

…..

Rose was the one to answer the door as Alice and Micheal arrived for dinner. The twins had been put to bed, but Jake had insisted on staying awake, wanting to see Alice. The minute Alice handed Rose her coat, the little boy came running down the stairs, his blue eyes wide and happy and a picture clutched in his hand. Jack was right behind him, smiling at his son's enthusiasm.

"Auntie Alice!" Jake called out, racing over to her. Laughing, Alice scooped him up into her arms, hugging him tightly.

"Jake!" She laughed, kissing his pink cheeks.

"He refused to go to bed. He wanted to stay up and give you his latest masterpiece," Jack chuckled. His voice was teasing. "Careful Micheal, it looks like my son is trying to woo your girl away. That Dawson charm is a powerful thing."

Micheal just laughed. "Hey, Jake may be cute, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve still."

"I drew this for you, Aunt Alice!" Jake held out a picture. The childish drawing was a picture of a little boy holding the hand of a brown lady, both smiling. It was by no means Jack's level of talent, but just by looking at it, one could see the potential was there. Jake had definitely inherited something from his daddy. "It's you and me going to the park!"

"Oh Jake! This is lovely, sugar! Rose, did you see this?" She walked over to her friend so Rose could see.

"I know. We have another artist here. He's going to do his daddy proud," Rose smiled over at Jack as her delicate hands stroked Jake's hair.

Jack's own smile was full of pride. "That's my boy, of course. I can't wait to see what else he's inherited from me, besides my face and ability to draw."

"Your charm for sure," Rose giggled.

"Ha ha," Jack chuckled, walking over and holding his arms out to his son. "Come on, big man. You've given your gift to Aunt Alice. Time for bed."

Jake frowned and snuggled into Alice's arms. "I don't want to daddy. I want to stay with Aunt Alice!"

"Jake, come on. Don't give daddy a hard time tonight," Jack sighed, his eyes pleading.

"Hey, why don't Alice and I put him to bed this time. I'm sure that you and Rose have your hands full with dinner and all. It's the least we can do," Micheal offered. He loved spending time with the little Dawson boy as well, plus it'd give him a sense of what parenting with Alice would be like.

"Would you like that, Jake?" Rose asked, hoping that Jack would take up the offer. She could use the help at the moment. Not that she didn't know how to cook or set the table, but she felt more sure of herself with Jack nearby.

Jake just nodded his head. "Will you read me a story, Aunt Alice?"

"If it's okay with your daddy and mommy," Alice smiled, touched that she was trusted like this.

"It's alright if you don't mind it," Jack chuckled. He came over and kissed his son's cheek. "You be good for Aunt Alice and Uncle Micheal."

"Yes daddy," Jake happily grinned as Rose too came up and gave him a good night kiss.

"Good night, darling. We'll see you in the morning," Rose sighed. She watched as Micheal and Alice carried the child up to his room. "Feel like helping me in the kitchen Jack?"

"Of course," Jack wrapped an arm around her waist and lead her out of the foyer and into the kitchen where dinner waited to be set on the table.

Fifteen minutes later, Alice and Micheal were back. Jake was sound asleep, having drifted off in middle of Jake's favorite story, Jack and the Beanstalk. The dinner table was now set with Jack and Rose finishing filling the wine glasses with red wine that Jack had brought the night before.

"He wasn't too much trouble, was he?" Rose asked, setting a steaming platter of pork chops on the table.

"Of course not. He was a dream," Alice happily smiled, feeling like she was on cloud nine. As she and Micheal read Jake to sleep, a feeling of family came over her. For a minute, she saw herself and Micheal reading to a little boy of their own, enhancing her happiness, knowing that motherhood could be in her future indeed.

"He certainly was. It gave me a vision of the future. Alice, myself, and our own child," Micheal spoke Alice's thoughts, his eyes meeting hers in a heated gaze.

"Someday it'll happen. When you're in love, children just seem to enhance it," Rose smiled, thinking of the twins. How having Jack's babies in her arms, tangible proof of their union had made her life even better.

"So, what's going on with you two? It feels like ages since we've gotten together and just hanged out?" Jack changed the subject.

"What's going on with us? What's going on with you? How did your painting go? I never did get back over to see the finished product," Alice giggled, not ready to share their happy news just yet.

"Well, judging by my model, who was my beautiful wife, you may find the portrait hanging in the Ronald Dallas's Santa Monica Gallery of Artistry, titled Kimono Rose. Mr. Dallas said that he had never seen such a beautiful portrait of such a beautiful subject before. I promised to bring her on opening night, which will be next Friday," Jack grinned, happy to share the exciting news. He had always dreamed of having his work hanging in a gallery, even though he had thought that the gallery would be somewhere in France at on time, but a Santa Monica gallery was just as good.

"Jack, that's wonderful news, sugar!" Alice happily exclaimed. "I had no doubt in my mind that you would do it! Especially with Rose as the subject. Now all of Santa Monica will know how talented you are."

"He had also paid Jack for his hard work. 200.00 plus the share of profits if the portrait gets sold. He also wants Jack to do some more paintings for him," Rose's pride in her husband was evident in her voice, but what really got Alice was the love shining in her eyes when she looked at Jack and the way she said his name. Alice wondered if she sounded like that when she talked about Micheal. She looked at her fiancee and felt a wave of warmth and affection wash through her.

"Jack, Rose...Micheal and I also have some happy news to share," She took his hand and squeezed it. "Very happy news. He proposed to me today," Alice felt herself blush.

"What? When? You're just telling me now? Oh my god!" Rose was out of her seat and hugging Alice in her excitement. "When's the date? Where is it going to be?"

"Rose, let the woman breathe," Jack laughed, patting Micheal on the back. "Congratulations man!"

"I'm so excited for you guys," Rose squeed, sliding back into her seat. "So what do you two have planned? When is this taking place?"

"Just as soon as we get enough money together to sail to France," Micheal chuckled. "I know for a fact that interracial marriage is allowed over there and it's not in California. In fact, Al and I were hoping to convince you two to brave another trip on a ship to be there to witness it."

"All the way in Paris?" Rose stared.

Alice nodded. "Yes. I mean...you know all the laws they have in this country about our kind of relationship. Sure, our family and most of our friends won't be able to attend, but the important thing is that we'll be together as husband and wife...you know?"

Rose frowned. "I know, but why Paris when you can just get married in New York? Or heck even Wisconsin? There's a handful of states where it's perfectly legal for you two to get married. There's no need to flee to another country."

"What?" Alice stared in shock. She had no idea. If Rose was right...that would change everything. That would mean that her family would get to attend! And it can happen sooner than planned! "Rose...are you sure? How do you know?"

Rose blushed in embarrassment. "Back before Jack, when I was still engaged to Cal, I was reading up on laws, looking for any and everything to get me out of marrying him. I read about miscegenation laws. There are nine states where it's perfectly legal for you two to marry. Believe it or not, Wisconsin is one of them. New York is another..."

"Daddy, Momma, and James are in New York," Alice gasped. "Oh my god! This is perfect! I mean...I'd love to see Paris someday, but this is perfect! I'll get to marry Micheal and my daddy will be able to give me away after all!"

This time it was Alice who was out of her seat hugging her friend tightly. She didn't think that this day could get any happier. She had been wrong. "Oh Rose, thank you! Thank you thank you thank you! I would never have thought to look into this!"

Rose hugged her back, giggling. "Well I'm glad that my mission to not marry Cal was able to be of useto someone."

"See, you two don't have to leave the country after all and Rose and I can remain safely on dry land," Jack chuckled, himself relieved. He was not looking forward to getting on another ship, much less trying to convince Rose to do the same, even if it was to see their friends wed.

"So this means that we have a whole lot of planning to do. You two need to set a date. Find out where it will take place...who you will invite...," Rose began to make a list of things to do.

"Keep at it, girl. You're my maid of honor, so getting a early start is a good thing," Alice winked.

"Oh Alice, I love to!" Rose gasped, again hugging her friend.

"Jack...you're the closest thing I've ever had to a best friend...how about being my best man?"

"I wouldn't dream of saying no," Jack smiled, happy for his friend.

For the rest of the evening, the two couples sat around the table and talked about the coming wedding, making plans and lists.

Looking around the table, Alice felt blessed. She not only had a good man to love, but two best friends to share her happiness with. Never before had she been so grateful.