Disclaimer: I don't even own any tapes of these two anymore, let alone the rights to them!
A/N: so there were going to be many, many chapters between the previous one and this one, including the birth, stuff about Jonesy and Tess talking over names and Jonesy looking after Tess while she's sick!. But, alas, they're just not happening and I don't wanna leave you people hanging. Plus, I'm kinda over this whole storyline at the moment. It's too hard to remember what was happening two years ago!
CSIcrazy: Well, me feel warm and fuzzy now! Newest chap of Forgive is being worked on...
maggielovespj: More it is! Soon it isn't!
Jakc: genevra is someone who give me really good reviews over at Forgive. If I don't have this, I can write more Tess returns fics!
Brindabella: GRIN. I know, thats why is skipped...
A Few Months Later:
Ben grabbed the closest piece of cutlery (a teaspoon) and tapped it on the side of his glass of OJ.
"Quiet please guys and gals." This last part was aimed at Jo, who just grinned then stuck her tongue out at him. He just shot a grin back at her. "Please raise your glasses in a toast to a very special girl, my Goddaughter Sophia. May you have a long, happy life my darling."
There was a chorus of "Sophia's". Ben held up his hand and a silence fell around the room once more.
"Her parents seem to want to say something. So if you will bear with us for a moment, or so longer, before returning to your drinks."
Jonesy headed towards the bar; with Tess following not to far behind, pausing to hand her precious bundle to Chris.
"We'd like to thank you all for coming today." Tess had never been very good at making speeches, and being teary for this one didn't really help. "It means a lot to us that you came, even those of you who don't quite agree with how we're planning on doing this." The last bit was aimed mainly at the Commander.
She started to move away from the bar, but was stopped by Ben's hand on her arm.
Jonesy cleared his throat and waited for a moment; mainly making sure he had all of Tess' attention, but also for effect and because he suddenly had a very large... something... in his throat.
"I love you Tess." A silence fell through the room at his words. "You and Sophia are by far the best things that have ever happened to me."
There he paused, partially for effect, but mainly to think. "I have been thinking about this for some time, waiting for the perfect moment, so you wouldn't have another blundering moment to remember." A slight smile came over her face, and some of those in the crowd who were 'in the know' as they realised what was coming.
"But I have realised that there is never going to be a better time than now, when you, and all the people we care about, are here, to ask you a question I have been wanting to ask again for a long time."
With that, he knelt before her, the one he loved and had for sometime, in front of their friends and family, the very precious bundle of his daughter in her Godmother's arms, and uttered some of the oldest, or at least most precious words ever said by man.
"Will you marry me Tess?"
With tears streaming down her face, she leaned down towards him and accepted the ring in his hand.
All she could say was a simple "Yes" but he'd never heard anything more wonderful.
A/N: Give me a couple of reviews... (even one would be good!) and I'll give you the epilogue! It's been written for about a year!