Title: The Catch Your Breath Series (05/??)
Rating: PG
Summary: Sometimes a relationship isn't just about two people.
Type of fic: Vignette series
Disclaimer: All recognisable entities are not mine.
Author's notes: Just a series of short first person POV vignettes that deal with my latest 'shipperdom. It can be a continuation of Untitled 58 and Untitled 59, or it can be read by itself. Think you guys can figure out who each person is? ;) It's not too hard, hopefully. Warning: Fluff!

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A second chance/ Come to pass / Take a leap / If you dare / If you can / Catch your breath

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Part Five

'Mrs McMahon.'

I smile at the shy young man sitting before me. 'Hello, Edge. Please, call me Linda.'

He seems nervous. 'Okay.'

'So, what brings you to my office this beautiful Friday morning?' I ask, curious. A part of me feels as if I already know what his main purpose is, but I wait for him to answer.

'It's something personal,' he replies. He is usually quite a confident man, but today he is very different.

'Alright.' I am unable to help the grin that comes to my face. 'Does this have anything to do with a certain young McMahon?'

He nods slightly as a brief smile touches his lips. 'Yes.'

My daughter is a person of many surprises, and her showing up at my front door early one Sunday morning with a bouquet of … was one of them. There were many mistakes made by the both of us and it wasn't an easy journey to get where we are. But I am closer to her now than I ever have before, and for that I am grateful.

'How can I help you?' I ask.

The blonde Canadian takes a deep breath and is silent for a few moments before looking at me directly in the eye. 'I want to ask for Stephanie's hand in marriage.'

I am stunned, but not exactly surprised. His chivalry touches me, and I know that my daughter is in the best of hands. I can clearly see the adoration this man has for my little girl, and I only wish that it had happened sooner. How different the past few years would have been.

'And you came to me?'

A hint of red touches his cheeks, but he doesn't look away. 'I did. I figured that maybe you would be a little more…open minded about my request.'

I nod, appreciating his honestly. 'Do you love her?'

'Yes,' he answers almost immediately. His voice is firm, resolute. 'I love her beyond question. Before I realised that she is my soulmate, my concept of what real love is and should be was immature. It's not just about hearts and flowers and chocolates, it's about feeling lost when she isn't by my side, or feeling like I'm in paradise when she smiles at me.' He smiles, somewhat bashfully. 'I may not have known her a long time but I have met the real Stephanie. And I fell in love the moment I saw her.'

And I know that everything is going to be all right. Theirs is a future pregnant with possibilities and promise. I see my daughter's feelings for him reflected in his eyes. I am grateful that someone is able to see into the real person that she hides so deftly from the rest of the world, to see the woman who is easy to love. In the years that they had been together, not even her ex-husband had been able to penetrate the many layers she keeps wrapped around herself.

I smile at him. 'I give you my full blessing. May your hopes, wishes, and dreams be all fulfilled in the many years you have ahead of you.'

end part five.