A/N: Hey everyone! I'm really sorry ILUVTSOM I was gonna post a reminder as to who Paula Simmions was, but I forgot! Ok, she was the headmistress at the school Maria used to work at and for future reference, Mrs. Phillips is the housekeeper

Disclaimer: Everything is pretty much mine but anything that's not belongs to whoever created it Please don't sue me! I'm a 15 year old girl who's only money is the $60 she got for her birthday!

Summary: Think Something Good that's all I'll say

***please, please, please R/R ***

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Have you ever felt that feeling of complete emptiness? That feeling like there's nothing left in the world? Well that's how I felt when Carl died.

The second the phone call ended, my entire body drained as reality sunk in. I flopped back on my bed, still in too much shock to cry.

What had happened? Was Carl really dead? If so, what did that mean?

It is said that everything happens for a reason, but I could not see the reason in this. At first, I barley remember hearing the words, "He was killed by a drunk driver."

After I lay there for awhile, letting everything play over in my head, I finally felt like crying. Why, was what I kept thinking, as everything sunk deeper into my brain. Sucking in a sharp breath, I let the tears flow.

**************

I believe I cried my self to sleep, as the next time I saw the clock it was much later.

Once again I began to think, and my thoughts soon began to suffocate me, making it hard to breath, hard to think straight. I decided it would be a good idea to get some fresh air, so I headed out to the backyard.

**************

My shoes clicked as I walked outside down the path. The full moon shown bright over head, and caused the trees to cast long shadows over the walkway.

I came across a tiny pond which had a white bench situated next to it. It was just off the path, and I decided to make use of it.

Sitting down, I rested my elbows on knees and my chin in my hands. As I started upon the glassy water, I began to cry once more.

Why had this happened to me? He was one of my only friends, my best friend. Now, I would never hear his laugh again, or get to sit with him on a cold winter night, watching The Sound of Music. I--

"Hello," a voice said, interrupting my thoughts.

I sat up quickly, wiping the tears from me eyes.

"S-sir," I began, trying to calm myself, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming... um, is there something you wanted?"

"Oh no no I just wanted to come and check on you," he said, then gave a quick pause before speaking again, "Um, I heard form Mrs. Phillips about your friend."

I barely listened as he spoke; all I could think of was keeping myself from crying. Why did he have to be so nice as to come and find me? And, what was I supposed to say to his little remark?

I could feel the tears coming on, burning the backs of my eyes. I had no idea how I was going to make it through, talking with him. I really wished he would just go away, but he didn't.

"I know what you're going through," He began speaking once more, this time siting down very close to me on the little bench, "I had to go through something like this too, you know."

This time I did respond, giving a little sniffle as well.

"Yes Sir, I know... I remember hearing something about it."

"Yes, I'm sure you did," he said with the same sympathetic tone he had been using all night, "It was a very hard time for me... and for the children. And, you of all people know, that I made some bad decisions."

His comment shocked me a little, mostly because he had never spoken to me like this before. He had never talked to me about matters that were personal to either of us. Yet, here we were now, the first personal matter to be discussed between us being something we could both relate to.

"Do you have any suggestions for me... on dealing with the situation," I asked him.

There was a moment of silence, though I think he had already prepared a response to my question.

"Don't cut people out of your life," he then gave another quick pause before speaking again, in a very sincere voice, "and remember that everything will work out... it will all be okay."

That was the line, the line where all my emotions spilled over. I could no longer keep from crying I was forced to give in.

As I buried my face in my hands, I suddenly felt him scoot closer to me, placing his warm arm around my shoulders. This startled me, so I looked up at him, my face teary-eyed.

I starred at him, and he starred back at me. I suddenly felt vulnerable, and I didn't know what to do. He was so captivating, and I felt as if I were in a trance.

I felt his hand come to my cheek, brushing away my tears. It was so soft and warm that I couldn't help but lean into it a little. I was surprised to then find the distance between our faces slowly closing. And then we kissed.

My sadness seemed to melt away, as if by magic. He was so soft and warm, and I felt so safe... I felt as if I never wanted that moment to end...

He slowly broke our embrace, and began placing little kisses along my jaw line, up to my ear where he softly whispered, "I love you Maria." Then he found my lips once more, and we began a much more heated embrace. I could feel his fingers at the side of my neck, his thumb slowly stroking my jaw.

A few moments later we broke apart, breathing heavily. As we stared at each other, a small smile crept onto my face and I could see one tugging at his lips as well. I then slowly collapsed into his arms, all of my troubles being brushed away.

************

After Carl's funeral, life went back to normally, except for the fact that the Senator was more then just my boss. Sometimes, we would spend evenings in the garden together, talking, laughing and of course kissing.

Once it got cold, when winter had finally come, the Senator, children and I would huddle together in the one of the upstairs living rooms and build a fire. Then I would read to everyone. This is how we all grew close. I loved these times, everyone was so happy. I really felt like part of the family.

The Senator and I would still sneak off and have some time to ourselves. We would mostly talk, and pretty soon we got to know each other very well.

One evening in early spring... the first warm day of the year, we were walking around the garden. It was around 10:30 at night, and the atmosphere was the same as the night we had first kissed.

"So my love, how was your day," The Senator asked, giving me a quick kiss on my forehead as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"Wonderful darling, the children and I had loads of fun doing our work," at my comment we both laughed, "and what did you do today, Danny?"

It had taken me awhile to bring myself to call him by his first name. After all, he had been and still was my boss, plus he was the Senator of California.

We kept walking until we reached the pond and the little white bench.

"Sit," he said beckoning to the bench, a large smile on his face.

Giving him a strange look, I sat down.

The next thing I knew, he was kneeling on one knee before my, a little red-velvet box in his hand.

"Darling, you have altered my world in more was then one way. You have helped my to realize my faults, and to correct them... something I would have never been able to admit to myself alone. It is because of you that my family and I were pulled from a vicious circle, one where we were spiraling down, away from each other.

My dear, I have fallen in love with you. You are a beautiful, wonderful person and I thank God everyday for putting you in my life. You are a ray of sunshine, someone who can brighten any room just by entering. You are kind to everyone, yet I must say you can be very outspoken," we both laughed at that, even me, though tears were running down my cheeks... and then he continued, "I would be so honored, Maria Augusta, if you would marry me..."

With that, he opened the red-velvet box, and a gorgeous ring sparkled back at me. It was a white gold band, and eight tiny, tiny diamonds were inset in it. Then, in the middle, sat a radiant blue sapphire.

"The eight diamonds represent me and the children, darling. And the ninth, the sapphire, represents you," He gave a quick pause, though he never took his eyes off mine, "I want you to know that I picked a sapphire because it reminds me of you your eyes always sparkle like this beautiful stone."

With that, the Senator broke our gaze, and slowly took my left hand and slipped on the ring. When the job was done, he looked up at me once more, not letting go of my hand.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes Danny Easton, I will marry you," I responded, feeling happier then I had ever though possible.