Michael was at work, he was working for security, which paid more than his job at the crashdown. He was glad to quit there, and he could avoid Maria. Isabel liked his uniform too. He started to close his locker, when he smiled. There were several pictures of babies he had taped inside. He had a picture of a very pregnant woman; he had torn her head off and stuck the body on Isabel. He didn't care how big she got; he just thought she would be more beautiful than she was. He loved her so much.

He was still daydreaming when one of his friends came over, seeing the pictures he smiled. "I did that once." Michael turned to him.

"Did what?"

The older guy pointed to the pictures. "When my wife got pregnant. I did the same thing. That was six kids ago."

"Six?"

"Yeah, a little advice…just ignore her out burst, when she gets mad over nothing, or if she starts the… you don't love me…just hold her and tell her how much you do. At delivery, don't get near her….she's deadly then. She will want to twist something off." Michael turned a bit pale.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, the pain you know. However, it's worth it. Good luck kid."

"Thanks." Michael closed his locker and moved down the corridor. He wanted to hurry and see Isabel. He had a stop to make on the way home.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Isabel had eaten and then went for a walk. She was smiling, and she felt like she could fly. She was having a baby, Michael's baby. She hoped he looked like his father. She'd like a little Michael running around the house…blowing up stuff... I guess I forgot about that, have to teach him not to do that.'

She thought about her and Michael, and she wondered if he would ask her to marry him. She remembered how Rath had proposed, and wondered. This was going to cause many problems for everyone but her and Michael. They would just have to sit on it if they didn't like it. They could always just leave town. She past a baby store and looked into the window. She felt tears in her eyes as she looked at the tiny clothes, and the crib in the window. She just had to have that one. It was brass, and had the blue frill around it.

"Well if it isn't Isabel Evans, how are you my dear?"

Isabel turned and saw the Andrew sisters, the old biddies who she couldn't stand. She tried to smile at them. "Fine, how are you?"

"Doing well. What are you doing? Surely you aren't thinking of babies?" The taller one with the long nose gave her a crafty look.

"No, just wishing I had a baby brother or sister."

"At your age? Why at your age you are the same age I was when I had my David. However, things are different now. People wait longer to get married."

"Yeah sister, though they do have kids early and unmarried." Replied the shorter younger sister. "I hope you aren't going to get involved with that Guerin boy…he's trash, not for your kind."

Isabel's face flushed and her eyes flashed. "Let me tell you something, you old busy bodies! Michael is a great guy, he can be anything he wants, he's smart, talented, and I am proud to know him! So go stick your long sharp noses into someone else's business." Then Isabel walked off, leaving the two old women staring after her. The old ladies heard a chuckle and turned, there stood Michael, as he laughed before walking into the jewelry store.

She had stood up for him. He knew her parents would hear of it. She would be in trouble for her manners. But he was proud of her. His girl was special. He walked over to the counter, and smiled at the girl behind the counter.

"What can I do for you today sir?"

"Well…"

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Max was returning to work after lunch and saw Michael leaving the jewelry store. Looked like he had bought something for Maria. He knew Maria was mad at his friend. He saw Liz coming down the street and he forgot about everything else. He smiled as she came his way.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Later that evening Isabel was sitting with Michael at a candle light supper. He had strung tiny white Christmas lights around, and there was a candle light on the table. Soft music played in the background. She was enjoying this.

"You make me feel so special Michael. You don't know how much this means to me. That you didn't turn your back on me. You could have, most guys would have."

"I am not most guys. Family is very important to me. You are important to me. I would never turn my back on you."

"Even for Maria?"

"No. I care about her, but it was never a lasting thing. I know what true love is. I know what it is to want someone so badly that you feel like you could die from that need."

"I do too Michael. I don't want you to regret this, or later on hate me for trapping you. I can do it alone."

"I'd never hate you. You aren't trapping me. We are young, but we know what we want. We can make it work. Would you serve the desert?"

She looked at the covered dish on the side of the table. She lifted the top, and saw the small black velvet box. She looked over at Michael.

"Michael?"

"Open it." She did, and saw the diamond ring inside the box. A square cut diamond, it was lovely. She turned seeing Michael on his knee beside her.

He took the ring out of the box and took her hand. "Isabel, the lady of my heart, the keeper of my soul and my happiness. Will you make me the happiest man in this world or the other one and marry me?"

Yes!" He put the ring on her finger, and then pulled her to her feet. Pulled her close and his lips found hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as they kissed both thought they saw fireworks going off. As they kissed, they danced.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

A pounding on the door woke Michael from his sleep. 'Who the hell is that at 3 in the morning?' He got out of bed and pulled on his pants. When he reached the door, he opened it. Max stood there, his face tense.

"Do you know where Isabel is? I need you to help me find her." Max walked into the apartment. "Hurry up and get dressed, she could be in trouble."

Michael just ran his hand through his hair, and smiled. "Relax Maxwell she is fine. Safe."

"How do you know?"

"Because she is here." Maxwell looked around, and then his eyes went to the bedroom door. Glancing in he turned with Michael behind him. His fist shot out and landed on Michaels chin. Michael hit the floor, and Isabel sat up, seeing her brother. She pulled on her robe and came out as Michael got to his feet.

"How dare you Michael! That is my sister. She isn't like the kind of girls you would hang out with."

"Shut up Maxwell. You don't know anything about it." Max started to hit him again and found himself hitting the floor. "You aren't hitting me again."

Max sat looking up at Michael and then Isabel. "How could you Isabel?"

"I love him Max. We are going to get married." She flashed her ring at him. "You try to hit him again and I will…"

"Getting married? Since when?"

"Since a few hours ago Max. I proposed earlier. Since we are talking about Isabel and I. You might as well know that we are having a baby too."

"Baby?" Max's mouth was open as he got to his feet, starting at both of them. He was shocked.

"You proposed because you knocked her up?"

"No, that happened in our dreams. If you must know. But we are happy. No one is going to separate us, not even you."

"I don't know what to say." He turned to Isabel. "What about mom and dad?"

"We will tell them about the engagement when they come home."

"Get dressed and come home with me now, Isabel."

"No, I am staying here with Michael. I am going to move in with him."

"No you are not!"

"Yes she is if she wants to. This is our life Max. I love her."

"I'll talk to you both later, I need to think." Max looked at his sister and then headed for the door.

"Well that went well, don't' you think?"

"Yeah, one down and the rest to go Michael. But no matter what we are staying together."

"You are stuck with me, for better or worse."

"There is no worse when it comes to you." He smiled, leaned, and pulled her into his arms. Then he lifted her up and carried her back to bed.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Michael woke up to a hand shaking him. He opened one eye seeing Isabel leaning over him. He opened both and smiled putting his arms around her.

"What is it my love?"

"I'm hungry. I want shrimp and watermelon. Doesn't it sound tasty?"

"Hon it's five am, wouldn't you rather have some breakfast?"

"No." He smiled up at her, pulled her head down and killed her. Then he pulled away, sat up, and began to pull on his pants, socks and shoes.

"All right, I will go get you some. Anything for you."

"You are the greatest." Michael turned around and touched her stomach. Isabel put her hand over his.

"Tell your dad thanks for going out in the dark for us."

Michael felt a tiny kick and smiled. He got up, and grabbed a shirt. "I'll be back as soon as I can. You stay in bed; there are some saltines on the table for you, if you need them. I love you."

"I love you too Michael." She blew him a kiss. He walked out to the living room and grabbed his keys. He was still smiling as he left the apartment.

Isabel got up, looking around the apartment, and decided to decorate. Thinking of her taste and his she decided how to blend the two.

When Michael returned with the bag, he saw first Isabel smiling at him. Then he noticed the apartment. She had changed the whole thing. It was nice; he had to give her that. There were pictures of cars, motorcycles, and desert scenes on the wall as well as flowers and other pictures that interested Isabel. She had blended their taste together. The old sofa was new, and plush, he didn't mind that at all. It had on it pillow that were done up with copies of his artwork. He moved to the kitchen and found all new there as well. Then the bedroom. The landscape he had painted from his dreams, it was on the wall behind their bed. She had copied it there. He turned to see her looking at him…waiting.

He pulled her close and hugged her. "It's nice Isabel. If I had known this, I would have let you do it before now." He was pleased with it.

He led her into the living room, and sat her on the sofa, handed her a magazine he had bought at the store, then turned to the kitchen.

Isabel looked down at the magazine in her lap. She smiled and opened the first page. She began to read the first love story. Just what she was in the mood for. Michael watched her from the counter and smiled. He put the shrimp on to boil and then he turned to cut up the watermelon.

Isabel sat at the table, and glanced up at Michael. Before her sat the rinds of the whole watermelon. She looked guiltily at him. "Did you want some?"

"Nah, I just enjoyed watching you. Did you like the shrimp?"

"Yeah, it was the best." She glanced at his plate seeing that he had eaten his share of them too.

She started to get up and he rose to his feet and moved over to her. "Where are you going?"

"To get dressed, mom and dad will be back soon. Plus I need to go pack up my things. Might be better to do that before they arrive." Michael looked at her, seeing that she was showing. Isabel looked down and ran her hand over her stomach. Then she looked up at Michael, they shared a warm look.

"Okay then, get dressed and we will go get your stuff. We tell your parents together."

"I love you Michael."

"I love you."

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

A few hours later Mister and Misses Evans sat in the living room shocked. Philip turned to Michael.

"Michael you know we love you, like our own. You and Isabel have been like brother and sister. That's why it's so strange. Are you sure? What are your future plans?"

"Yes I am sure Mister Evans. It's good we are also best friends; we don't have any secrets from each other because we did grow up together. I plan to go to college; I will take good care of your daughter."

"I don't doubt that sweetheart. I always hoped you two would get together. What took you so long?" asked Misses Evans.

"I don't know…stupid I guess. But we have now."

"Welcome to the family Michael."

"Thank you sir."

Isabel sat listening, and she was pleased. It had gone well. Though they weren't too happy about her moving out. But their wedding was in two days. A small one, so not much was said. Their secret was still that, their secret for now.

Isabel got up, and reached for her jacket, and Michael grabbed it helping her put it on. Her mother just smiled. "We'll see you later, bye." The young couple walked out, as her parents began to talk. They wanted to do something special for their daughter and Michael.