I do not own the right to any characters. This is simply a Claire, Owen and Maisie fan fic.

Chapter 1: Are nerves a good thing?

There Owen was. Somewhere he never thought he'd be in his life. He had to shake his head because at one point he thought he was in the middle of a dream and was going to wake up any second- what was Owen Grady doing stood in the middle of a jeweller store? Even though this felt so weird for him, it felt right. In fact, it felt like the most right thing that he had ever done in his life, and Owen had done some pretty great things in his life. But out ofall the most amazing things he'd ever done, it was Claireand Maisie. Claire and Maisie were the two things he knew he got right and was most proud of, his family. Thinking back to this time a year ago, himself and Claire were near deaths door with the volcano and the dino's, but it was worth it and he'd do it again to be were he was now.

Looking down through the glass at all the different options of rings he just hoped and prayed he'd pick the right one. As he walked over to the other side of the store, one jumped out at him. It was in its own glass cabinet and the diamond was cushion style and was massive and definitely the most sparkly. That was the one- he'd found the perfect ring. This thought was made completely certain when he noticed his eyes had started to well up. 'Man up Owen' he thought to himself. He called the worker over and asked if he could view this ring outside of the glass. When the lady came back with the box in her hand and opened it up for him, all he could visualise was Claire's face, this most definitely was the ring. Owen made his way over to the checkout and the woman said 'would you like it engraved on the inside for an extra 1,000?' Without hesitation Owen replied 'yeah sure, can you engrave it Claire and Owen' he replied. 'Yes certainly, that brings the total cost to 24,000' Owen took a deep breathe in and handed her his credit card, she's worth the price he thought to himself..

x x x x x x x x x x x

Back at home, Claire was folding the last of the laundry in hers and Owens bedroom and Maisie was sat downstairs on her iPad with her headphones on. Neither of them noticed Owen come through the front door.

'Hellooooo' he shouted entering the hallway

'Up here' Claire replied shouting from the bedroom

Owen placed the groceries down in the kitchen he had been out to buy to cover up were he actually was and made his way upstairs. As he went to walk into the bedroom he just leaned against the doorframe watching Claire, he honestly thought the world of her, how did she even look beautiful folding the laundry? He made his way over to her, her back was to the door. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head down on her head.

'Hey stranger' she replied with a giggle turning round to give him a little kiss hello

'I like the way strangers get treated around here' he winked laughing and making the kiss more deep and passionate.

Owen made his way to the en-suit taking his shirt off and switching on the shower.

'Where's Maisie' he questioned Claire

'She's in the living area on her iPad as usual' she said with a slight sigh 'Somedays I wish we hadn't gone ahead and bought her an iPad, I feel like we barely see her' Claire explained

'I think it'll phase out soon, it's coming on to her having it a week now and I think she won't have her head constantly in it soon, it's just because it's new' he said reassuring Claire

'Hopefully' Claire answered.

x x x x x x x x x x x

After Owen had showered and Claire had put all the laundry away, Claire decided she was going to run the bath for herself. She asked Owen if he would go down and get her a nice glass of red wine to drink in the bath with her book. Owen smiled and gladly accepted. It was a Friday night, everyone's mood was happy because it was the weekend and it seemed rather cozy. This was the perfect night to propose, Owen thought to himself. Just me, Claire and Maisie and I can also get Maisie involved, his thoughts rambled on. Heading downstairs he planned on getting Claire the glass of red wine, getting her a book and then having a conversation with Maisie. After gathering the wine and book he passed them to Claire giving her a kiss on the head and closing the bathroom door and dimming the lights as she had lit candles. He also shut the bedroom door as well as the en suits just so there was no chance of her hearing his next conversation with Maisie.

Entering into the living room he stood there for a second looking at his little girl. His little 9 year old girl nearly falling asleep on the couch...

'Woooahhhh, don't go to sleep yet kiddo we've got a mission to accomplish' Owen said taking a seat next to Maisie and putting his arm around her.

'No! I'm not going back there' Maisie replied with an obvious tone of fear in her voice

'Don't be silly Mais, that's not what I'm talking about. Your never going back to Lockwood estate.. ever. Me and Clai- I mean your Mom love having you here! We'd never send you back there kiddo, alright?' He asked in a serious tone raising a brow.

'Thank you' she said cuddling into him. 'So what's the mission' she asked.

'Well.. I went on my own little mission today to the shops and bought this..' Owen replied reaching into his pocket and pulling out the ring box.

'A box?' Maisie said looking up towards Owen, a confused expression clearly on her face.

'Open it' Owen said laughing

Maisie opened the box whilst it was in Owens hands and when she opened it her eyes went as big as the moon.

'Your going to ask mom to marry you!' She said jumping up and down. 'I can't believe that your going to get married and I get to be a bridesmaid' she exclaimed

'Shhh, shhhh! Keep your voice down your moms in the bath and we don't want her to hear do we' Owen said smiling but also very very serious.

'Whoops sorry.. I'm just so excited' Maisie whispered. 'When are you going to ask her' she questioned

'After she has had her bath. Me and you right now are going to make the living area really cozy and snug by lighting some candles, getting the blankets out and giving the room a little tidy up' Owen answered.

'Am I allowed to watch' Maisie asked hoping he would say yes

' Of course mais, I wouldn't want to do it without you here' he placed a kiss on the top of Maisie's head.

'Okay I'll sit on the chair for when Clai- I mean mom comes down that she can snuggle up by you' Maisie said heading to the chair

Owen giggled to himself at this. He just loved how excited Maisie was. Before he knew it Maisie was completely engrossed in the movie that was on on the TV and seemed like she had completely forgot about what had just happened. 'Kids ey' he thought to himself going to the kitchen to get some candles, the bottle of wine and some snacks.

When Owen got into the kitchen he started to feel nervous. His hands started to clam up and his heart began to pound. 'Nerves are a good thing right? Means you want to do it right?' He mumbled to himself. Heading back into the living room he placed the bottle of wine down onto the coffee table, put the box of chocolates down, placed the candles around the room and lit them and put the fire on top and turned the light off. He slumped back onto the couch and Maisie said 'are you ready dad' with this Owen replied 'ready then I'll ever be kiddo'

x x x x x x x x x x x

Claire seemed to take a lifetime finishing up in the bath. But finally Owen began to hear her opening the drawers meaning that she was getting her pyjamas out. He knew it wasn't hair wash night tonight as she only washed it yesterday and normally washed her hair about 2 times a week, so he knew he didn't have to wait for her to dry it. Finally he heard her shut the bedroom door and make her way across the hall and down the stairs.

'Maisie you left your wet towel on the floor, go and pick it up please' Claire asked entering the sitting room

'I don't want t-' Maisie said after being stopped by Owen giving her the look which meant don't argue just do it. 'Fineee' Maisie grumbled leaving the room

Claire got onto the sofa next to Owen snuggling her head into his shoulder. 'I always forget she's only 9. Sometimes I actually think she's a teenager with her attitude' Claire giggled.

'Tell me about it' Owen responded. 'There's going to be even more of an attitude when I tell her that we're not sitting here on a Friday night watching barbies dream house' he laughed.

'Let's find a movie we haven't seen and watch it' Claire suggested. 'Mais, hurry up we're going to put a movie on' Claire shouted hearing Maisie running down the stairs.

'But I'm watching thi-' once again Maisie was cut off by the look of Owen begging her to go along. 'Fineee' Maisie grumbled again going over to sit on the chair.

'Come here babe' Claire said to Maisie scooching further into Owen so there was also room for Maisie on the same couch. Maisie was starting to feel sleepy so accepted that and cuddled into Claire.

The family finally agreed to watch the film Annie. It was one of Maisie's favourites, Claire loved it and Annie was her nickname growing up as she looked like her and Owen hated it but watched it for the girls. About 20 minutes into the film and after a glass of wine to take the edge of his nerves Owen thought it was time. Claire had nearly finished her second glass of wine and he wanted to do it before she was slightly drunk. He paused the film, 'Owen why have you paused it' Claire asked not moving her head from his shoulder 'I was enjoying that' she also said. Owen sat up which ended up Claire having to sit up to. Owen winked at Maisie and Maisie gave him a thumbs up as to say you've got this.

'What's going on?' Claire asked curiously catching on to Owens wink and Maisie's thumbs up.

Owen was sat on the coffee table that was infront of the sofa facing Claire with both her hands in his.. here goes nothing he thought to himself.

'Claire..' Owen said, why was this all he could get out?

'Owen, what are you doing?' Claire asked looking at him wide eyed.

'Claire, I've never ever loved someone how I love you. Your my world, my everything.. you and Maisie' he said glancing over at Maisie who had the biggest smile on her face. 'I'm never letting you go Claire, we're a team. We need to stick together... for survival' he said with a cheeky wink. Claire let out a little chuckle to this clearly getting emotional. 'Look at how far we've come Claire, we've got a house, we've got Maisie, we've got this love for each other that is so pure and fresh I just can't get enough of it. I never ever want to lose you Claire' Owen said passionately him also getting emotional. 'I love you more than words can even express and if I lost you, I'd be done. I'd have nothing. You and Maisie.. us... together.. your my everything.. oh god, enough said otherwise I'm going to end up a mess.. but Claire Dearing' Owen got the box out of his pocket, Claire let out a screech, tears flooding down her face. Her eyes wouldn't move of Owens face and the box. Maisie had gotten really close to Claire and she had the biggest smile on her face still. 'Claire Grady' Owen repeated again. 'Will you marry me?'

'Of course I will' Claire replied emotionally launching towards Owen to give him the biggest hug ever.

'I love you' Claire told Owen

'I love you more' Owen replied

He slipped the ring onto Claire's finger and it fitted her perfectly. Owen and Claire shared a kiss that was interrupted by Maisie jumping on them both.

'You're getting married' Maisie excitingly shouted cuddling both Claire and Owen. They all enjoyed each other's embrace for a moment until Owen shouted 'Who wants to go back onto the couch because your both on top of me and I'm struggling to get breathe' both the girls laughed at this sitting up and heading back to the sofa. Owen was on the end with Claire cuddled into him and then Maisie cuddled into Claire. Claire had one arm wrapped tightly around Maisie and one arm running through Owens hair. This was perfect, even better than perfect Claire thought.

At the end of the film the family just lay there in silence enjoying each other's company.

'I can't believe we're engaged' Claire finally said looking up at Owen. 'The ring is just gorgeous'

Owen looked down placing a kiss on Claire's forehead 'me neither' Owen said. ' This is like the best feeling in the world' he laughed knowing how pathetic he sounded. Claire laughed also.

'What time is it' Claire asked.

'10:40pm' Owen answered

'Really! How fast has tonight gone. Come on Mais, bedtime sweetheart' Claire yawned.

Maisie didn't reply so Claire peeked down to see Maisie soundly asleep on Claire sucking her thumb (which was a comforting habit Maisie had). She looked so peaceful Claire felt bad moving her.

'Look at her Ow, look at our girl' she said stroking Maisie's hair.

Owen looked over Claire to see Maisie asleep. 'You should have seen how excited she was when I told her I was going to ask you to marry me, it almost felt like she was waiting for it' Owen said his hand now rubbing Claire's hair.

'She deserves it doesn't she, a proper family.' Claire said still looking down and Maisie

'Yeah she deserves it more than anything' Owen replied. 'Come on I'll carry her upstairs'

Owen grabbed Maisie in his arms and Claire watched as she turned the TV off, blew out the candles and turned off the fire. She admirably looked at them. Her family. The people she loved most in the whole world. Owen began walking up the stairs, Claire grabbed the wine and wine glasses to take them upstairs and shut the living area door.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

After snuggling her down and kissing Maisie goodnight, Owen and Claire silently left her room and made there way to their room, their rooms were next door to each other as Maisie liked to be as close as possible to Claire and Owen. When Maisie started living with them, they offered Maisie the second biggest bedroom, but Maisie begged to have the little room next door to Claire and Owen and when questioned about it she explained how she felt safer if she was next to them. Owen and Claire thought this was so sweet and reassured her that she was in fact safe no matter where she was in the house. They then suggested to Maisie about converting the room that was going to be hers into a playroom which Maisie gladly accepted.

Claire taking off her robe and Owen taking off his T-shirt they both pulled the covers back, fixed their pillows so they were sat comfortably up and put a movie on and poured themselves the last of the wine. Owen was a glass behind Claire and he could tell Claire was starting to get drunk. But it's a special occasion so she deserves to. When both their glasses of wine were empty they put them on the bedside stand to take them downstairs to the kitchen in the morning. Claire cuddled right up to Owen who lay kisses on her head. Claire looked up to him hoping he'd kiss her lips, which he did.

'I can't believe we're getting married' Claire said her eyes filling up 'I just feel like it's perfect, our life is going so good, we have Maisie, we're getting married, we've just bought a house. I think for the first time in my life, I feel a sense of completion' Claire emotionally said, some tears dropping out her eyes.

Owen wiping her tears said 'Claire, what's the matter'

'Owen, I've never felt complete. My life has always been consumed by work which I still never felt I was doing a good enough job that's why I work so much because I feel like I need to prove to myself and to others I can do this. Like I said before, I've never felt complete.. not even in work. But you and Maisie- I honestly can't even begin to explain how much happiness and light you've brought me. I've felt more love this past year than I had felt the past 15 years. I just love you so much it hurts and the fact you've asked me to marry you just makes me want to burst.'

Owen giggled to himself internally, he knew this was the wine speaking but he also knew she meant it. Because Claire's drunken mind always speaks a sober truth. 'Claire you've completed me and Maisie. Your the best momma and your the best wife and were so lucky honey. Now come here and give me a kiss mrs Grady' Owen replied with a cheeky grin followed by a wink.

Claire did just that, she rolled ontop of him and began to kiss him. The kiss grew stronger and more passionate until they both had to come up for breathe. And before the couple knew it, they were celebrating their engagement in the most romantic way possible