Three months later……

It hadn't taken Michael a lot of persuasion for Liz and Isabel to baby sit tonight so Michael could take Maria out for the best night of her life. He had nervously confided in the two girls about his plan to Propose to Maria, on their five year anniversary. Especially now they had a beautiful daughter he knew that he wanted to share the rest of his life with Maria and wanted to marry her. He only hoped she felt the same way.

"So you don't mind looking after Courtney tonight for us? Because if it's too much trouble I can ask…well I don't know who else would be willing but…"

"Michael really it's fine, I would love to spend some time with my favourite niece anyway, you don't have to worry about asking me you know, anytime you and Maria want some 'alone' time I will always be willing to baby sit for you and I am sure I speak for the both of us here" Liz explained pointing her thumb Isabel's way.

"Thanks you're both life savers you know that? God I am so nervous I hope she says yes tonight!"

"Of course she will, she loves you more than you may think…still I don't know why?" Isabel joked with Michael stopping as she soon saw his face drop and concern wash over him.

"I'm joking Michael, don't worry about it, everything will be fine" Isabel assured him embracing him into her arms.

"Are you ready Michael? We are going to be late for our reservation, hurry up!" Maria shouted waiting in the living room putting the finishing touches on her makeup.

"I'm coming" Michael replied nervously going through the plan of the night in his mind. Checking his pocket for the ring he had chosen, finding what he was looking for, he opened it and admired the beautiful, small, yet dainty diamond engagement ring and carefully placed it back into his jacket pocket.

As he came out of the bedroom and faced Maria in the living room, he found him self speechless at the sight of his beautiful and his hopeful fiancé standing at the door. She was wearing a classic black round neck dress, which finished just before her knees. It complemented her in everyway possible showing all the right curves.

"You look beautiful" Michael strained out still breathless from her beauty.

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself spaceboy" Maria shot back opening the front door. "Shall we?"

"We shall" Michael complemented, linking arms with Maria and leading her down to the car.

As Michael continued to drive, Maria soon realised they were going the wrong way and was becoming very suspicious.

"Michael where are you going? The restaurant is back that way"

"I know, we're not going to the restaurant"

"But you made a reservation? Didn't you?"

"Nope, I am taking you somewhere else, somewhere special"

"Oh yay, I love surprises. Wait it not another alien conspiracy gone aride that we have got to sort out is it?"

"No! I am taking you somewhere special just leave it at that" Michael didn't mean to sound rude, but he was so nervous about asking Maria that he couldn't really concentrate on anything else.

Michael pulled up in a very familiar place to both Maria and himself. He had brought her to the pod chambers.

"I knew it! We are here on some alien quest thingy aren't we? You are unbelievable Michael Guerin; you make me think we are doing something special for our anniversary and…"

"MARIA! Stop I have already told you we are not here on some alien quest OK! But I have brought you here for a reason"

With that Michael walked round to the boot of the car and started pulling out bags of food and a blanket. Once he had gathered everything into his arms, he lead Maria into the Pod Chamber, setting the food and blanket onto the floor he sat down motioning for Maria to do the same.

Still clueless to Michael's evening intentions, Maria helped him unpack the food and enjoyed savouring every moment alone with Michael that she can have.

"I can't believe you planned all of this for me, I am glad to see that you are learning how to pamper your girlfriend just right…thank you" Maria explained still taking in this whole experience.

"Hey you're worth it. I just wish I could do better for you, you deserve more than I can give" Michael replied unable to keep eye contact with Maria in fear of her seeing how scared he was.

"Michael…you don't need to prove yourself to me, you have already one my heart, you're my Spaceboy and that is never going to change whether you like it or not!"

No words could testify to Maria how Michael was feeling, in the intensity of the moment he merely took Maria into his arms and kissed her passionately, melting in the taste of her lips momentarily forgetting all voice of reason, before suddenly remembering why he had brought Maria here in the first place.

Pulling back slightly, feeling the same passion as Maria, knowing she was just as disappointed as he was to pull away, he became immediately nervous and found he couldn't speak anything that made the slightest bit of sense.

Pull yourself together man, you love her and she loves you…you know that…what have you got to worry about? Just relax and ask her for god sake!

Noticing Maria was now looking at him strangely as he battled with his inner voice; he began the speech he had rehearsed over and over in his mind for the last few weeks. Now's your time Michael go for it.

"Maria, I can't believe how much we have been through over the years and most of all I can't quite understand why you have put up for me this long, but I truly am grateful that you have because if you hadn't I couldn't even start to think what my life would be like without you in it. I love you so much Maria and I hope you know that?"

"Of course I do Michael and I love you too, what's all this about?"

Michael stood up and walked towards the Pod he had grown in for six years of his life and crawled out of. "When we first met I never would have imagined us being together, let alone having a daughter. Ever since the three of us came out of the pods, up until a couple of years ago, I had been on some quest to figure out where I belonged. I finally found home. The weird thing is, it's here. It's on Earth. It took me long enough to realise but my home was here, with you Maria. On that night before I was to leave and go back home, that night I truly opened my self up to you and I have never felt so loved in my life. The thought of leaving that behind was unbearable and if I had I wouldn't have been blessed with our little girl and all of what we have accomplished together" Michael took Maria hands and pulled her to her feet, moving her over to his Pod.

"Michael that was beautiful, thank you" Maria replied overwhelmed with emotion.

"Maria this may be where I was born, but it's you that makes my life worth living and I want to spend the rest of my life with you" Michael fumbled around in his pocket and when his fingers found what they were looking for he pulled out the delicate suede box and held in front of Maria.

"And that's why you have to marry to me," he handed her the gift box and saw the confusion and excitement in her eyes. She looked back and forth between him and the box and finally opened the lid. He watched as her eyes lit up and with shaking hands, pulled the ring out of the box.

"Maria Deluca, I won't get down on one knee because that's normal and there ain't nothing normal about this relationship! And I don't care if it takes me all night to convince you, I'm not taking 'no' for an-"

"Yes Michael!" She shouted and jumped into his arms throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh God, yes!"

Michael twisted Maria around in the chamber smoothing her with kisses. As he slowed down and placed Maria back onto the ground, he stopped and just looked into Maria's eyes, truly seeing them brimmed with joy and excitement he had finally replaced all of that pain for Alex with love, for good he now hoped.

"The ring is beautiful Michael; I can't wait to show it off to everyone"

"Maria Guerin I love you from Earth to An'tar and that is never going to change"