Don couldn't believe how well his relationship with Jess was progressing but he wanted it to go faster. And so that was how he found himself stood at his wife's grave in the summer sun whilst Jess and Hannah were out doing the grocery shopping together. He had said that he was going to the precinct to close a case but he had come to the grave instead. He needed to ask Emily something.

"Hey darling...I brought you flowers...daisies I think...well I asked for them because I knew they were your favourite for some odd reason. You remember the first time when I brought you roses and you hated them? Said they made you sneeze...I had to laugh. I thought ever girl liked roses...but you wasn't live every girl, huh babe?" Don chuckled and he set the bouquet onto the soil in front of the grave as he knelt down and clasped his hands together and allowed his tie to fall from his shirt.

"I don't know why I'm here really...it just felt logical that I should come and tell you first...well ask actually. I didn't do much without your permission" he laughed once and then looked up to the sky "I guess you know about me and Jess then? I figure you can see everything from up there and so maybe you already know where I went this morning and what I plan to do" Don touched his jacket pocket to make sure it was still there and he nodded once when he felt the lump.

"I'm going to do it Emily...I...I didn't think there would be anyone after you and in an odd way there still isn't because you were my first true love and I still do love you. Not one day goes by where I don't think of you and all the time that was taken from us...but there isn't one day which goes by without me thinking of how much Jess means to me and how much I have grown to love her. I don't know what I would do without her now" he admitted "and I know you probably don't want to listen to me declaring my love for someone else because it isn't right but I do love her and I am going to ask her" Don said and he wiped some muck off from his wife's grave which had blown onto it.

"But I just wanted you to be the first to know. Even Hannah doesn't know...but she's doing good Em...she managed to get the grades to go to NY college so she's staying at home...and she's eighteen next week...our baby's growing up but you would be proud of her Em...she's smart...beautiful...she's everything you was...but she has my temper" Don chuckled "you probably know that she has a boyfriend then? Mark is a good boy...he looks after her and that is all I ask"

"Anyway darling...I'm going to go...there are some people who I need to see before I do this...but know that I still love you...and I always will...but I love Jess too...she's special to me Emily and I hope you understand"

...

"You've been gone a while" Hannah checked her watch as unpacked the groceries "Jess had to go...she dropped me off and brought the shopping up before going to the precinct. She said she would see you tonight though"

"Right" Don said and he took a brown bag and began to put food into the fridge

"What's on your mind? I can tell when you're thinking" Hannah asked as he bent down and placed tins away and raised a brow at Don who took a deep breath. Now was a good time to tell her...he thought.

"Hannah...I want to ask you something..." he began

"Okay" she said cautiously "what is it?"

"It's about Jess" he sighed and wiped some sweat from his forehead

"What?" Hannah wondered as a number of possibilities went through her brain.

"I want to ask her to marry me Hannah" Don said and Hannah dropped a tin which she was holding as she continued to stare at the floor in shock at what she just heard her father say.

"Marry her?" Hannah checked as she slowly stood up and blinked several times

"Yes Hannah" Don said and Hannah gulped once but she nodded

"I knew this day might come soon...I could sense you two were serious...I just didn't know when...wow...I mean...wow" Hannah stuttered

"You think it's a bad idea?" he asked her but she shook her head

"No...I don't actually...I don't think it's bad...I think it's brilliant" Hannah said and she kissed her dad on the cheek "I'm just in shock...that's all"

"Well if you're shocked I don't want to see Jess" he joked nervously as Hannah went back to putting groceries away.

"I trust you to do this properly?" Hannah said

"If you mean am going to go and ask her father then yes...I asked your mother's father...if I had to ask your grandma then you might not be here" Don said

"When are you going?"

"After I've helped you and dropped you off at Mark's...Jess is at work so I can do it secretly and then I will ask her tonight..."

"I'll stay over at Mark's tonight if you're going to ask her then" Hannah said and Don nodded. Now he had to go and ask the legend being Cliff Angell.

...

"Don. What a pleasure it is to see you" Cliff said as he allowed the detective into his house.

"Oh Donald. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Sherry asked when she saw Don enter the house

"Well actually...I want to ask...well I want to ask Mr Angell something..." Don said and the couple exchanged knowing glances at each other before Sherry placed her hand over her mouth and nodded once as she blinked a few times and then walked out from the room and into the sitting room.

"What can I do for you Donald?" Cliff asked

"Well sir...I am here...to ask...if it would be possible that is...for me to...ask your permission...if it would be okay if I asked...Jess...to marry me" Don said and Cliff smiled vaguely.

"No need to be so nervous Don" he said and he held his hand out as Don took it and shook it.

"Sorry sir...I just am" Don chuckled

"The answer is a yes Donald. Jess is lucky to have you and you and Hannah are a welcome addition to the family" he said proudly

"Thank you sir" he said and Cliff smiled "now you get out of here before I tell Sherry and then we'll all be defended by her screams"

"Okay...goodbye Mr Angell" he said and then he took a deep breath before leaving for an answer.

...

So I have been thinking about Don asking Jess for a while and now seemed the right time so that the relationship can progress and I have to say Runner043 made my mind up with their review. So please do leave a review to tell me what you think!