Six Months Later

Susan was sitting at her desk and admiring Agent Bradley Fine from afar as usual. She was resting her chin on her hand, looking at Fine looking at himself in the mirror, and sighing happily when Nancy came up behind her.

"What are you doing?" she asked, making Susan jerk backwards and try to find a good place to set her hands. She ended up resting them palms down on the desk, a sheepish expression on her face.

"N-Nothing. Nothing," Susan said with a nervous laugh. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to figure out what to get Bruce for his birthday," Nancy answered. Susan smiled. It had been a slow growing romance between the two of them, but they were so sweet together.

"Well, he likes gadgets," Susan pointed out.

"I know. I was looking through the gadget magazine I stole from downstairs, but I don't know if he'd like anything from it."

"There's a gadget magazine?" Susan asked.

"How else do they order the spy toys?" Nancy countered. "Or get parts to fix broken spy toys?"

"Right," Susan said, still feeling unsure. She changed the subject. "I think Max is going to propose to 99."

"Really?!" Nancy exclaimed, excited. She sat down beside Susan. "What makes you think that?"

"He's asked me my opinion of what a 'spectacular' proposal would be for a woman," Susan answered. "My spidey senses are tingling."

"Ooohh you might be right!" Nancy said, giddy. "Oh, I just love proposals." She sighed and rested her chin in her hand, looking thoughtful and dreamy.

Susan caught sight of Rick Ford just then, and he ignored her as usual. After their teamwork six months ago, it seemed Ford had forgotten who she was again. She was back to being The Lunch Lady. She wondered just how many times Ford had hit his head in his lifetime and if that was a concern for him being an agent in the field.

"Cooper? You there?" Fine asked, jolting Susan back to the present moment.

"Yup. I'm here," she answered. She turned to Nancy. "I gotta get back to work."

"Oh, sure. Are we still doing movie night tonight?" Nancy asked.

"Yea. Come around six."

"Okay!"

Susan turned back to face her monitor, watching Fine running towards his target now. She still dreamed of being an agent. Elaine had been furious at her for going to help Max, but she had calmed down after a while, and Chief's letter had helped considerably. Susan knew it was only a matter of time before she got to go out into the field. She lived for that day.

...

Max was looking at himself in the mirror and adjusting his face. He was trying to find the best smile to go with his proposal. It was stressful. He wanted everything to be perfect. He wanted 99 to love it and be moved enough to say yes. He still had feelings of insecurity that she would say no. Things had been going so well between them, and Max felt it was time for the next step, but that small part of him sometimes felt it was all too good to be true.

"This is happening," he said to himself. "You've got this. You've. Got. This." He made a "grrr" type face at himself and smacked his chest with his fist heartily, only to end up coughing and wincing in pain afterwards. Fang barked at him, making him notice him at his feet.

"I know," he said. "You're opinion in this matter counts too." The dog wagged his tail, tongue lolling happily. Max straightened his jacket and went to put the ring box into his breast pocket. He felt nervous, but he also felt excited. He was meeting 99 at the restaurant in an just over an hour, but he had a stop to make first.

...

"Max?" Susan asked, surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought tonight was the big night?"

"It is," Max answered. "And I'm freaking out."

"Why?!"

"What if I do it wrong?" he asked, coming inside as she moved out of the way to let him in.

"How could you do it wrong?" Susan questioned. In response, Max pulled out the ring box, opened it, got on one knee, and gave her a look that indicated he was trying to pass a kidney stone.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice going high pitched.

"Okay," Susan said. "We have some work to do."

"I have less than an hour before I do this!" Max exclaimed. He was beginning to panic, his hand running over his face.

"And we'll have it sorted out in ten minutes!" she cried back. "Get up." He obeyed and followed her to the living room. He stalled when he saw Nancy sitting there.

"I didn't realize you had company," he said.

"It's fine!" Susan dismissed. "We got this. Nancy is great at giving pointers."

"Oh...okay," Max caved. He was desperate after all.

"Ooohh is that the ring?!" Nancy cried, leaping to her feet. She hurried over to look at it. Max resisted snapping the box shut and shoving it back into his pocket.

"That's the ring," he agreed.

"It's beautiful! Oh! She's gonna love it!" Nancy gushed.

"Max needs some pointers on popping the question," Susan advised, bringing Nancy's attention back to the present moment.

"Okay! Let's see what you've got so far," Nancy said. Max repeated his earlier performance, and Nancy's face stayed twisted in a half smile, half "Oh my God" expression.

"It sucks," Max said, noticing. "I'm horrible at this! Argh!" He got back up and started to pace.

"You've got to think of something that doesn't make your face think you're in pain," Nancy pointed out.

"What?" Max asked. Susan held up her mirror from the table in front of him.

"Do it again," she instructed. He obeyed, and he caught sight of himself.

"Oh, God," he moaned. "I look terrible!"

"Just think of something happy," Nancy insisted.

"I'm proposing! How much happier could I get?!" Max exclaimed. He pressed his hands into his face and started pacing again.

"Okay," Susan said, snapping her fingers. "I got it. Don't think that you're proposing."

"Wha-? I don't even understand what you're saying," Max said, stopping and looking at her.

"Get back on your knee," Susan ordered. "Nancy, you be 99."

"Oh! Okay. Gosh, she's so glamorous. Are you sure I'm the right person to play her part?"

"Nancy..." Susan said, her tone a warning. Nancy closed her mouth and went to stand in front of Max, who was back on one knee again. "Okay, Max, just think of this as you telling 99 how much you love her. That's it."

"I don't understand," Max said, looking at her.

"You thinking of it as being a proposal is making it seem huge, and you're getting anxiety," Susan explained. "If you just think of it as an ordinary conversation where you ask her to marry you at the end, then you'll be okay."

Both Max and Nancy were staring at her now. She huffed in frustration.

"I don't know!" she exclaimed. "You two come up with something, then! At least I'm trying! God."

"Anyway," Max said, turning back to Nancy. "Let's try this again. 99?"

"Yes?" Nancy asked in a fake, high pitched voice. She noticed Max's stare, and she sucked her teeth. "Right. I don't know what she sounds like. I'll just use my own voice then?"

"Good idea," he answered. Then he cleared his throat. "99, I knew from the first time I saw you that we were meant to be together. When you punched me, I knew for sure you liked me too. When you believed that I wasn't a double agent, I knew we could trust each other. I have thought of this moment and how perfect I want it to be, but it doesn't have to be perfect because I love you, and you love me, and that's all that matters. What I want to ask you, though, is...will you marry me and let me spend forever making you happy?"

Susan was wiping at her tears. Nancy was too.

"Yes! Oh, yes!" Nancy cried, flinging her hand out.

"Oh, I'm not actually going to..." Max started.

"We're role playing! Put it on!" she ordered, cutting him off. He sighed but obeyed, and Nancy shrieked and jumped around like an idiot, waving her hand and stamping her feet like a horse excitedly.

"Max, that was beautiful," Susan said to him. "And your voice was normal and everything."

"Well, I kind of used your advice," he said sheepishly. "In a way. I just thought about her and what I want to say to her, and it just came out."

"You should definitely go with that," Susan said as Nancy kept frolicking around behind them. "What time are you meeting her?"

"Oh! Now!" Max exclaimed, looking at his watch. "I can't be late for my own proposal! Gah!" He hurried to the door. "Thank you both! I'll be in touch."

"Good luck!" Susan called out the door behind him before shutting it. She was laughing slightly and wiping the hair out of her eyes. Nancy was still grinning and clapping her hands.

"She's gonna love it," Nancy said. "It's so beautiful." It took Susan a full three seconds to realize what Nancy was looking at on her hand.

"You still have the ring?!" she cried, and then Nancy realized it and looked up at her in horror.

"Oh no! I still have the ring!" she freaked.

"Get it off!"

"It...it's stuck!" Nancy shouted, pulling at it. Susan got involved then, and she yanked to no avail.

"Butter," Susan said, "butter will help." She dragged Nancy to the kitchen and grabbed her butter from the fridge. She put it on Nancy's finger, but it still wouldn't come off.

"Soap?" Nancy suggested. They moved to the sink. They tried regular soap and dish soap; nothing worked.

"Why would he put it on if it was tight?" Susan asked, exasperated.

"He didn't. I shoved it on farther after," Nancy answered.

"What?! Why?!"

"I wanted to know how it felt to be engaged..."

"You weren't even really proposed to! You know what, never mind," Susan said, shaking her head. "We don't have time for this. We have to get him this ring!"

"What if I can't get it off? She's not gonna want a ring that's still attached to my finger," Nancy said, worried. "And I'm rather attached to my finger...I don't want to cut it off."

"Oh my God...you won't have to cut your finger off. If anything, it will be the ring that gets cut off."

"No! That's worse!"

"How is that worse?"

"It's a lovely ring," Nancy answered, petting it fondly. Susan raised a brow but didn't question her friend's logic anymore. Sometimes there were battles you were meant to lose.

"Just...hold your hand up like this," Susan ordered, gesturing. Nancy obeyed. "The blood will drain and you might get it off."

"Okay," Nancy said.

"Come on. We have to get to the restaurant," Susan said, rushing to her car. With her hand still in the air, fingers flopping around, Nancy chased after her.

...

Max smiled at 99 as she sipped her wine.

"What?" she asked, noticing.

"Just you," he answered. She smiled back, and he melted inside. She was beautiful tonight in her little black dress. Max was trying to think of the best time to propose when he saw Susan and Nancy waving frantically at him. He frowned. What did they want?

"What's wrong?" 99 asked him.

"Oh, nothing," Max answered. When she looked down at her plate, he made a face at Susan and a quick gesture under the table that signaled he wanted her to go away. Susan shook her head back at him, grabbed Nancy's hand, and pointed at the ring finger. Max could see the glint from where he was sitting, and he felt his heart stop.

Nancy was still wearing the ring.

"Crap," he said out loud.

"What?" 99 asked.

"I, uh, I have to make a phone call," Max answered, getting up. "I'll be right back."

"It can't wait?"

"No! I mean, no," Max said, dropping his tone from high pitched to low. "I won't be long. Excuse me." He left the table and headed for the door. Susan and Nancy moved out of sight as he approached.

"What is happening?" he demanded.

"It's stuck," Susan answered while Nancy nodded, holding out her hand to show him.

"I didn't put it on all the way..." he said, remembering.

"I did," Nancy said. "I'm so sorry!"

"This can't be happening," Max groaned, pulling at his face with his left hand. "I kind of need it!"

"We've tried everything, man," Susan said. "I don't know what to do."

"Ice," Max said suddenly. "Put your hand in ice."

"Yes! Where?" Nancy asked. Max looked around for a waiter and managed to hail one.

"How can I help?" the waiter asked. He sounded slightly annoyed, his facial expression one that showed he was pretending to care.

"I need this ring to propose to my girlfriend, and we need ice to stick her hand in to get it off," Max told him.

"Oh, I don't think we can..." the waiter started, and that's when Susan took over.

"I know you have ice," Susan said curtly. "Loads of it. What restaurant doesn't have ice?"

"Um...well..."

"This is a very important night for my friend here," Susan went on, "and I won't let some stick man with a goofy looking face tell me that he won't help get a ring off of a lady's finger! You help us get it off, or so help me God, I will kick your ass from here to China and then bury you somewhere you'll never be found!"

The waiter swallowed, clearly not ready for this verbal attack. Max was a bit surprised, but Susan just glared at the waiter.

"All right," he caved. "This way." The three of them trooped into the kitchen behind him, and the waiter went to get a bucket to fill with ice and water. He set it down in front of Nancy, and she put her hand into it.

"Ohhh it's freezing," she groaned.

"Bring us some oil or something," Susan ordered the waiter, who obliged without a word.

"Max?" 99 asked, making all three of them spin around.

"Uhhh," Max said, no words coming to mind that would explain this situation.

"What's going on?" 99 questioned.

"Nothing?" he tried.

"What are you guys doing here?" 99 asked Susan.

"Oh, we just, uh...we...um," Susan said, looking at Nancy.

"I slammed the car door on my hand," Nancy blurted out. "Outside. Just now. They're letting me ice my hand." Max was impressed with her speed and the way she kept her face serious. Maybe she wasn't a complete flake after all.

"Oh, ouch!" 99 said, wincing.

"I saw them when I went to make my phone call," Max added, "and thought I'd say hi, but I think they've got things covered here."

"Yup," Susan said with a nod.

"Well, it was nice to see you again," 99 said, smiling. She gave a small wave as she walked away.

"I'll be right there!" Max called after her. When she was gone, he turned and gestured quickly with his hands for Nancy to pull her hand out. The waiter had returned with the oil, which Susan put on her finger, and the ring slid right off.

"Oh, thank God," Nancy gasped. "Here." She handed it to Max, who took it eagerly. He wiped it off quickly before stuffing it back into the box.

"Go, go, go, go!" Susan urged, and Max practically sprinted back out to his table. He slowed his pace as he came up behind 99, acting all casual and sitting down in his chair before dragging it forward.

"How's Nancy's hand?" 99 asked.

"Better," Max answered. He saw Susan and Nancy craning their necks to see if he'd proposed yet. He felt nervous. He shot them a look, and Susan grabbed Nancy by the scruff of her neck and pulled her out the door. 99 started talking about something cute Fang had done earlier, but Max was barely listening. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears. This was it. This was happening.

"99," he started, and she looked at him.

"Yes, Max?"

"I, uh, I want to say something."

"Okay..."

"I want to get this right," Max said.

"Max..." 99 said, giving him a look that said she was figuring out what was coming. Max plowed forward, not wanting to give her the chance to fully realize it.

"99, I knew from the first time I saw you that you and I were going to have something special. When you punched me in the face, I knew for sure you had a crush on me too, because we pick on the ones we really like the most. When I told you I wasn't a double agent and you believed me, I knew we could trust each other. I wanted this moment to be just perfect, but it doesn't have to be perfect because I love you, and you love me, and that's what matters the most," Max said, getting off the chair and down on one knee at this point. 99 covered her mouth with her hand as he opened the ring box. "What I want to ask you is...will you marry me and let me spend forever making you happy?"

"Oh, Max," 99 said, crying a little. People were watching, but Max didn't care. He'd gotten it right. He hadn't felt anxious. Then he turned his head and saw Susan and Nancy pressed against the window, eyes wide and mouths open in anticipation. He turned back to 99, trying not to laugh.

"Yes," 99 said, nodding vigorously. "Yes, Max, I'll marry you." He put the ring on her finger, and people clapped and whistled. Susan and Nancy grabbed each other and started jumping and swinging around in a circle, waving their hands in the air enthusiastically. 99 pulled Max up and kissed him heartily, and he felt like his heart would burst he was so happy.

...

"Oh, that was so beautiful," Nancy said, wiping her tears as Susan poured her a glass of whiskey back at her place. They'd left before 99 saw them. Neither of them had the heart to leave without seeing if she'd said yes. Susan knew Max had seen them and almost laughed.

"It was," Susan agreed. "Our Maxie is getting married!"

"It will be a gorgeous wedding," Nancy said. "Oh, I hope they have a harp. Couldn't you just see 99 walking down the aisle to a harp playing?"

"I could."

The two women smiled and fantasized about their friend's wedding day. Then Susan lifted her glass and looked at Nancy.

"To Max," she said.

"To Max," Nancy replied. Then they clinked glasses and took a drink.