A/N: Read the intro. I'm only borrowing. Total fluff here. Please R&R. Let me know if I've gone too far.


The sinking sun beat on their backs as Annabel and Horatio slowly trudged up the dune. The grade and the sand made it hard going. Annabel glanced over at Horatio. She could see a bit of strain at the corners of his eyes.

"We don't have to do this."

"I'm fine, Bella."

"No, you're not." Annabel stopped. Horatio stopped beside her. "Don't be stubborn with me. Do I need to remind you that you were shot four weeks ago?"

"No, Annabel, I am very well aware of that. And I think that's already been brought up today."

"Then don't push yourself." Annabel looked up the dune. A patch of darkening blue peered over the still long expanse of sand stretching to the top. "This has been here a good long time. It will be here to climb tomorrow."

Horatio frowned at her. "Don't baby me, Annabel."

Annabel threw up her hands and started walking again without looking back. "Fine. But if you have a heart attack, don't be expecting me to have any sympathy." She climbed quickly, leaving Horatio behind.

Annabel didn't look at Horatio when he finally crested the top and stood next to her. He bent a little at the waist, his sides heaving slightly. Annabel made an annoyed noise. She opened the small backpack she had brought, pulled out a bottle of water and a prescription bottle. She silently handed the water to Horatio, opened the prescription bottle and handed him a pill. Horatio took the pill and downed it with a glug of water.

Annabel shook her head. "Lieutenant Stubborn. It's not an easy climb. I knew at least your shoulder would hurt." She looked over at him and suddenly smiled. "But, boy, is the view worth it." Annabel closed her eyes, tilted her head up, and slowly turned in a circle.

Horatio looked out in the direction they had come up. Farther off than he thought, Lake Michigan stretched out from the state park. A breakwall stretched from a corner of the park matching the one he and Annabel had walked along earlier. Big Red stood sentinel where the channel narrowed. Sailboats and cruisers bobbed in the bright blue, sparkling waters. Wave runners sent plumes up as they raced along closer to shore. Horatio squinted and thought he spotted a freighter on the horizon. He looked up the coast, past the condos that crowded the state park to where the dunes became mostly wild again. He turned around and looked out over Lake Macatawa back towards the city of Holland. He looked down the dune on that side. A couple of teenagers went bounding over the edge and disappeared. Horatio walked a little closer to where they had gone. A sharp swing in the slip face made it impossible to see there the dune ended.

"And you didn't make me climb that side?"

Annabel smiled. She opened her eyes, walked over to him and peered over the edge of the dune. "I was being nice. But that is the side most people come up. We used to sled that side in the winter."

"You're kidding, right?" Horatio looked down the Lake Macatawa side of the dune again.

Annabel laughed. "Not as kids. In college. On borrowed cafeteria trays." Annabel's eyes lost focus as she thought back. "We had to have spotters. After you started, you couldn't see a thing for the snow. The spotters would tell you when to bail. Greg almost clocked himself on a dead tree hanging over the dune." Annabel sighed and shook her head slowly. "We were absolutely crazy. It was a fun ride though."

"If you say so."

Annabel laughed. "I think I have finally found something that spooks you." Annabel spun around. She stopped and smiled up at Horatio. "You should feel the rush you get when you go bounding down the dune. The sand sucking at your feet, almost pitching you over." Some more people went screaming down the steep side. "See. All part of the fun. Hell on the dune though. We're killing Mt. Pisgah." Horatio raised his eyebrows. "Sorry. I wanted to see how tall it was." She grinned. "And steep. It's about 128 feet and 33 degree angle on this side, by the way." Horatio flashed her an odd look. "Did a web search and found some professors over at Calvin in Grand Rapids had done a study. Environmental impact and all that. I read it before we came here." Horatio just shook his head. Annabel turned back toward Lake Michigan. She walked for a bit, dropped her pack and sat down beside it. Horatio sat down beside her and braced his arms out behind. Annabel leaned against him. "You have to admit it is beautiful up here."

"I see why you like it."

Annabel kept studying the lake. "And none of that nasty salt in the water."

"Nothing wrong with the ocean."

"No, just salty." Annabel sat up and looked at Horatio. "We could go swimming tomorrow."

"Isn't it cold?"

"Well, yea, the water is cold. So?" Horatio gave her a look. Annabel gave him a squeeze. "Oh, don't be a wimp, Horatio. Just a short swim. Then you can sit on the beach and get warm." Annabel looked out over the water. "If the waves are good, there's no way you're keeping me out of the water." She looked back at Horatio, her eyes snapping. "And I'm dragging you with me."

Horatio took a drink of his water. "We'll see." They sat there for a bit watching the water, watching other dune climbers. Annabel sat up and braced her arms like Horatio. She closed her eyes, tilted her head back and took a deep breath. Horatio turned and watched her. A small smile played on her lips. She could feel his gaze and her smiled deepened. She dropped fully back to the sand. She looked up at the sky.

"God, I really do love this place." Annabel made it sound like a prayer.

"I see," said Horatio softly. Annabel opened her eyes and looked up at him. She smiled. Horatio smiled back. Annabel squeezed her eyes shut again.

"And I'm here with the person I love most in this world. Not many people get that exact moment."

"No, they don't."

"I keep expecting something to happen, something to spoil this."

"Vacation, remember. No worries, Bella."

"Mmmm." She heard Horatio shuffle around next to her.

"Annabel."

"Hmm?" She had started to doze off.

"Open your eyes, Annabel." She did. Horatio was on one knee next to her, his sunglasses hooked into his collar. Annabel's heart started to beat faster. She scrambled to sit up. She ended up knees bent, sitting on her heels. Annabel shook her head.

"You're kidding me, right?" Her eyes dropped to the box in his one hand. She shook her head harder. "You're not kidding me. Oh my God," Annabel choked. She took a gulping breath. Horatio set the box down, reached over and carefully removed her sunglasses. She noticed his hands shook slightly. Annabel bit back a smile. She chewed on her lip. Horatio picked up the box and slowly flipped it open. Inside was a ring with an oval sapphire set between two diamonds. The sunlight sparkled on the stones. Annabel couldn't stop looking at the ring as Horatio took it out. He picked up her limp hand. Annabel took another gulping breath.

"Annabel," he said quietly. Her eyes flew up to his. She had to bite back a smile again. He looked scared. She tried to lift her hand, touch his face, and reassure him. She got it half way there then dropped it back in her lap. Horatio gripped the hand he held a little tighter. A giggle slipped out. Horatio gave her a funny look.

"Sorry." Annabel bit her lip again.

"Annabel..." Horatio stopped again. Annabel waited. Finally, she took the ring from his fingers and slipped it on hers. She leaned forward and kissed him deeply. Annabel sat back on her heels again. Horatio looked a little bewildered. "I really had something I wanted to say."

Annabel smiled. "Actually, the fact that you couldn't get it out is really touching."

"Really?"

"Yes, Horatio. Really." Annabel touched his cheek. "You always have something to say. The fact that all of your fancy talk fled... Well..." Annabel grinned widely. Horatio grinned back.

"Well."

Annabel stretched out on the sand again and looked out over Lake Michigan. "Yep. Well." She glanced over at Horatio still on one knee. "I won't tell anyone."

"That I proposed to you without actually asking you?"

"That you were rendered speechless. And that I snatched the ring out of your hand. We'll stress the romantic setting." Annabel lay back and held her hand out in front of her to look at the ring. "It's absolutely beautiful."

"Just gilding the lily, Annabel."

Annabel blushed. "There's my wordsmith."

"I love you, Annabel Leigh McGinty."

"I should hope so. Or this is an awfully expensive token of like, Lieutenant." Horatio laughed. They sat there just letting the lake breeze brush over them. Annabel looked over at Horatio. The air ruffled the bangs over his forehead. Annabel reached out and brushed them back a little. Horatio caught her hand and kissed it. She studied his face. Annabel shook her head and gave a short laugh.

"What?"

"Dinner. You knew you were going to do this."

"Yes."

"And you didn't let on."

"I wasn't going to propose to you at the dinner table."

"You didn't actually propose."

"You snatched the ring out of my hand."

"Yes, I did." Annabel looked out over the lake. "You know she's going to bug me about settling down and having kids now."

"I don't expect you to settle down."

Annabel looked over at Horatio and grinned. "Good thing you realize that won't happen." She stood up and brushed the sand off her legs. She held her hand out to Horatio. "Come on. Let's head down."

"I thought you wanted to see the sunset."

"A little cliché at this point, don't you think?" Horatio just grinned and stood up. Annabel reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I love you, Horatio Caine."

He smiled at her. "I'd hate to think you took my ring and didn't love me."

"That would be bad wouldn't it?"

"Yes."

"But I'm one of the good guys, remember?" Horatio just smiled.

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