Chapter 13:

Maxie looked at Jesse stunned; she was shocked and speechless.

"Maxie- did you hear me?" Jesse asked, judging by the look on her face that it was the last thing on her mind.

"Well, yeah I heard you- married?" she laughed "are you serious?"

"Completely"

"Jesse, I don't know, I'm only 19, and I just got all of my memory back- I love you, I really do- but, well can I just think about it for a little but?" said Maxie.

"Um, yeah, I guess that's fine" replied Jesse.

He kissed Maxie on the head, turned over and went to sleep. Maxie stared at the ceiling- thinking about what had just happened. So it wasn't the dream proposal she had always imagined when she was little. There were no rose petals, no waves crashing in the distance as the sunset painted the shy pink and red. Since she was a little girl that had how she had pictured her engagement day- there had never been a specific guy- not even a famous actor. Jesse had been the only guy she daydreamed of being married to- she was confidant that their relationship would last for a very long time. All the doubts she had about whether or not she could allow herself to give her heart away were erased the moment he spoke those three little words. All this time it was never the fear of loving Jesse that had prevented her from telling him how much she cared- it was the panic in his eyes every time she had been in some sort of danger. She had never wanted to tell him how much he meant to her should something happen to her heart- she would never forgive herself for leaving Jesse mourning for her. Maxie looked at Jesse and just watched his chest rise and fall as she listened to his breathing while he slept. This was the place she wanted to be- for however long she was meant to live. Maxie smiled, then closed her eyes and went to sleep. The next morning she woke up to find a note on Jesse's pillow.

Maxie,

Gone to work. Make sure you go home- Mac will be worried. Last night was amazing- can't wait to do it again! Meet me tonight at 6- the docks.

Love,

Jesse

When Maxie finished reading the note she got showered and dressed- packed the rest of her stuff and left to go home.

That morning Jesse was watching Manny at the hospital- hoping to break open this case about Lucky. He was fairly confidant that Manny was working for one of the Port Charles mob factions, and somehow Lucky had gotten information about something illegal. Jesse's theory was that Manny had Lucky somewhere- hopefully alive- he just needed to find out where- and then get evidence to finally nail Manny. Jesse didn't believe for a second that Many had changed- and he was going to prove it if it killed him. Jesse found that when he was struggling with some emotion that he threw himself into his work- if only to get away for a moment. Jesse hated Maxie to see him vulnerable in any way- and last night when she said she needed to "think about it"- it was all Jesse could do to keep himself from crying. The more he thought about it the more he realized it that it was not the most romantic way to ask someone to spend the rest of their life with you, especially when that person was Maxie- one of the biggest romantic's he had ever met. Jesse decided that night to make a better offer- one that she couldn't refuse. While he was thinking about all the details about tonight he saw Manny sneak into a supply closet while he thought no one was around. Jessed discreetly walked over to the closet and stood beside the door trying to listen for anything that Manny might be doing. He heard Manny's voice come from inside- it sounded a little agitated.

"Listen- consider it done- everything is going beautifully- there won't be any more complications" Manny whispered. There was silence for a few moments and then Manny spoke again "I know that's what I said last time- but I took care of the cop the first time- there won't be any more problems- consider the job done tonight- I have to go- I have floors to clean".

Jesse saw the doorknob turn and he quickly ran around the corner. So Manny did have Lucky somewhere he thought. Jesse pulled out his cell phone and walked in the opposite direction of the closet. He called the PCPD and asked for Mac.

"Mac- its Beaudry…….. Listen I have news about Lucky, would you like to hear that or talk about Maxie? Okay, I heard Manny say that he took care of "the cop" and that the job would be finished tonight- we've got him. I know that he doesn't get done with community service until after 8- so it can't be happening until later- if I had to guess I would say sometime around 11……alright, I'm on it" Jesse quickly hung up the phone and got onto the elevator. As the doors shut Manny walked out from behind the corner- having overheard Jesse's conversation. He just smiled and walked towards the ER.

"Wait… so he proposed!" shouted Georgie.

"Georgie, quiet!" whispered Maxie as she jumped off her bed and shut the door.

"Oh, right, sorry, well………"

"Well, what?" asked Maxie.

"C'mon Maxie, what did you say!"

"I had to think about it" smiled Maxie as she fell backwards on her bed and started laughing.

Georgie just watched her sister laugh and laugh "Maxie- you said you had to think about it- and you think ITS FUNNY!"

"No, no, Maxie, I think its funny because I don't know why I said it, I was surprised and we had just slept together for the first time and………"

"YOU SLEPT TOGETHER! Maxie Jones- why was I not called! This is huge! I mean so is getting married, but I mean- this is you and Jesse!" screamed Georgie.

"Call you? How weird would that be- hold on Jesse that was really great, but let me call and spill the details to my 17 year-old sister!" Maxie laughed.

"Oh, well I guess it would be a little weird, but still- you waited to tell me this long- was it good?" asked Georgie.

"GEORGIE! Okay conversation over…. I suppose to be meeting up with Jesse at 6 anyway… don't say a word to Mac, okay?"

"My lips are sealed….. As long as you promise to call me the second you tell him yes" smiled Georgie.

"Okay, okay, I'll call- if he asks again" replied Maxie.

"Oh he will- he will" said Georgie.

Later on as Maxie got closer to the docks she began to hear what she thought was a violin playing somewhere in the distance. She thought it was a bit weird considering the streets of Port Charles weren't the safest- and certainly not the best environment for a struggling musician. As she got closer she noticed the song was Unforgettable by Nat King Cole. Maxie turned the corner and as she walked down the stairs she couldn't believe her eyes. Standing on the dock, waiting for her was Jesse. He was holding out his hand for her to take. The docks were lit with white Christmas lights, and there were rose petals sprinkled along the ground in a pathway that lead from the steps to Jesse. Maxie walked over to Jesse and took his hand as the violinist gently played on in the background.

"Oh Jesse, what is all this about?" whispered Maxie.

Jesse smiled and got down on one knee as tears began to fall from Maxie's eyes. He pulled a small black box from his back pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful 1/2 carat diamond ring with platinum band. Maxie gasped as her eyes fell on the ring and she couldn't help but smile.

"Maxie Jones- I asked you last night if you would marry me- and I can't lie and tell you that it wasn't a blow to my ego when you said you had to think about it. I know I may not be the richest man- I may live in a room above Kelly's- and have a job that is dangerous and doesn't have great pay- I know that I can have quite the temper sometimes- but I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with the one person in this world who has never doubted me for a second. This ring might not be much- but I am going to ask you again Maxie Jones- will you marry me?" said Jesse as he looked up at her with his gorgeous blue eyes and charming smile.

"Well it doesn't look like I have much of a choice" laughed Maxie.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes- that's a yes!"

Maxie held out her hand as Jesse pulled the ring from the box and placed it on her left ring finger. Then he jumped up and grabbed Maxie- he paused for a second to smile and take in her beauty- then he tilted his head and kissed his fiancée first softly and then harder.

Jesse and Maxie were completely absorbed in the moment when they were interrupted by clapping. Jesse grabbed Maxie and turned around and stood in front of him.

"Detective- you're a very lucky man- Maxie is beautiful- it's a shame that you won't be able to make your wedding" grinned Manny Ruiz as he pointed a gun at them.

"Whatever this is about Manny- leave Maxie out of it" said Jesse.

"Oh I would very much like to do that- but you see here is the problem- both of you know a little too much about what I am involved in- and I need no interruptions in order to finish my job and get out of this place" replied Manny.

"Listen Ruiz- this is between you, me, and Lucky- Maxie's got nothing to do with it- she doesn't know anything" shouted Jesse squeezing tight to Maxie's hand.

"When I kill you- she'll be a witness- and then she will know too much" laughed Manny as he caulked the gun and went to pull the trigger.

"Nooooooooo!" Maxie screamed as a shot was fired and Jesse fell on top of her.