Caitlin woke slowly and stretched out under the covers sleepily. It was so good to be back at the cabin, she thought. They'd stayed an extra day at the ranch to help out with the aftermath of the cancelled wedding. Fiona had been caught at the airport and dragged back at the ranch to face the consequences of her actions but the younger woman still seemed oblivious to the amount of trouble she'd caused for Tom, her parents, everyone. The only good thing that had come out of the visit, Caitlin mused as she yawned widely, was that somehow her parents seemed more accepting of Caitlin's relationship with Hawke. Still, it had been a relief to leave and come back home. She smiled. Home. The cabin felt like home to her now…she frowned suddenly realising she was alone and it sounded like Hawke was pottering in the kitchen.

She sighed grumpily and glanced at her watch. She groaned. It was early. Too early for Christmas morning; it was still dark outside for crying out loud. She rubbed her eyes and yawned again. Well, she might as well get up; they had guests arriving for lunch and she'd better make a start on it. So much for the romantic day alone together they had originally planned, she thought regretfully. She staggered out of the bed, dragging on Hawke's shirt and into the en suite bathroom.

Caitlin walked back in a few moments later to find Hawke standing next to the empty bed, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and a perplexed expression. She bit back a smile. He was holding a small breakfast tray complete with a red rose in a vase. She was amazed that he had managed to hide the flower from her; she had no idea where it had come from.

Hawke noticed her at the bathroom doorway and sighed. 'I was planning to surprise you.'

'I'm surprised.' Caitlin smiled and walked over to kiss him. 'Merry Christmas.'

'Yeah.' He said capturing her lips again, the tray still between them. He raised his head. 'You need to get dressed.'

'You sure about that?' She asked reaching for him again.

Hawke stepped back. 'I intended to bribe you out of bed with breakfast so we could watch the sunrise.' He smiled at her confusion. 'I seem to remember you asked for romance and what's more romantic than a sunrise?'

'OK.' Caitlin caved with his obvious eagerness.

They both dressed and headed out to the porch steps. Hawke bundled them under a blanket to keep off the chill and they shared a mug of coffee watching the first rays of light touch the barely rippling silvery lake. The sky turned from deep purple to lilac to blue. An eagle cry rent the morning air. Hawke tucked Caitlin under his arm and gave her the mug to warm her hands around.

'It's so beautiful.' She leaned her head against his shoulder and yawned.

'Yeah.'

Something in his voice raised her head and she smiled when she found him looking at her. She snuggled closer to him. 'You know I don't think I've thanked you.'

'For what?'

'For putting up with my family.' She smiled. 'They can be a bit overwhelming en masse particularly when there's a family crisis.'

'It was fine.' Hawke said.

Caitlin smiled more broadly. 'You hated every minute.'

Hawke felt his own lips twitch. 'Not every minute.' He sobered a little. 'I have to admit it was weird being part of a family again.'

Caitlin heard the longing he couldn't quite keep out of his voice and her heart flipped. 'We'll find him, Hawke.'

He waited a beat before he leaned in to kiss her soundly.

She sighed and took another look at the sunrise. 'I guess I should head in and start lunch.'

'In a minute.' He took hold of her wrist and turned it over to look at the time on her watch.

'You waiting for something?' Caitlin asked amused.

Hawke nodded.

'What?' She asked.

He cocked his head and smiled. 'That.' He pointed at the sky and an old bi-plane zoomed into view. 'Come on.' He pulled her up and over to the landing pier, so she was standing in front of him. He slid his arms around her waist and tugged her so she was leaning back against his chest, her head tilted on his shoulder as she watched the plane's acrobatics.

'Is that Dom?' Caitlin said shielding her eyes.

'Yeah.' Hawke said. 'I'd forgotten how good he was.'

'He's great.' Caitlin smiled. 'I knew you guys were up to something, the way you disappeared off together when we got back.'

'Keep watching,' Hawke said, hugging her. He took a deep breath, marvelling at the nerves crowding in his stomach and catching in his throat. 'There's more.'

The plane started to emit a white stream and began sky-writing; 'will…'

Caitlin froze. Her eyes widened in shock; 'will you…'

Happiness bubbled up and spilled through her; 'will you marry me?'

She spun in Hawke's arms to face him, her blue eyes meeting his and wondering at the nerves she could see there, barely aware of the plane departing, leaving them alone.

Hawke laid a finger on her lips before she could speak. He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a ring. Sunlight glinted from the metal and flashed fire in the depths of the solitaire diamond. He took a deep breath, a frisson of uncertainty tying his stomach in knots despite the smile he could see in her eyes. 'I figured asking you when we'd just climbed out of a plane crash…maybe you thought I didn't mean it but…I did, I do.'

Caitlin nodded; her eyes filled with unexpected tears and it took her a minute to speak. She smiled tremulously. 'My answer hasn't changed.' The tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks.

He framed her wet face in his hands and kissed her. They both smiling as they separated and she held out her hand for him to slide the ring on her finger, the beautifully set stone winked at them in the sunlight.

She smiled happily. 'So which proposal do you want to tell our kids on our wedding anniversary each year?'

Hawke hugged her closer, pleased she'd remembered his father's tradition and warmed by the sentiment that she would want to continue it. The eagle cried overhead as he gently replied; 'Both.'