Thank you for all of your great reviews, reading them really encourages my writing to continue! This mini-fic takes place long after chapter 2- I Surrender (Though future chapters will not all be in order…) and it is about Tony proposing to Michelle, I hope you enjoy, and please review!

Lyrics from a revised "I Know What Love Is" Celine Dion
(and yes, as you can tell, I like Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan songs, I think they are perfect for T/M fics!)

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They sat on the patio, on a gorgeous Los Angeles night, looking at the stars above them, a relaxed, peaceful silence surrounding them. Tony never thought that he would be able to do what he was going to do next, he felt his eyes water as he looked into Michelle's, clear un-expecting ones, he took a deep breath as he began his speech, the one he had spent weeks contemplating, and hours rehearsing. He knew that this was exactly what he wanted to do, he wanted to be with her forever, and Tony hoped he would say yes as he began…

I was forgotten
until you called my name
Lost in the shadows
until you shined your light my way

Tony really had felt lost before Michelle, he had spent too much time punishing himself for what happened with Nina, but then he met Michelle, a new one at CTU, and he hadn't looked at another girl since, instead he admired her from afar, knowing his luck with relationships, not to mention inner-office ones.

Michelle smiled at him as he spoke in a loving, sing-song voice, she obviously not yet realizing that his beautiful speech was more than yet another declaration of his love for her…

Now I believe again
In all my dreams again
I'm wide eyed and innocent
Those doubting days
Are so far away

Michelle had truly given him her life back. Once they had begun dating, just over a week after the day the CTU bomb went off, Tony knew that Michelle was special, and he knew he would try to never let her go.

As he saw Michelle's smile erupt at his telling her how she helped him live again, he bashfully looked down at his lap, afraid that if she looked right at him, he would be blinded by her, and not be able to finish what he had started…

I will fall
I know you will catch me always
Time has taught me this
I will fly,
And you'll be there to guide me
This is my heart's highest wish
I feel you close to me
And I know what love is
Now there's no mountain
Too high for us to climb
No ocean so wide
That we could not reach the other side
Now I believe in me
'Cause you live and breathe in me
And nothing can come between
We are one star
No night can darken


With Michelle by his side, Tony never felt alone or worried that he would fail. With her, he knew that someone always had his back. While speaking to her, Michelle snuggled up to her Tony, her love, and looking over their balcony, into the bright night sky, she lay her head of curls on his shoulder, aware that this was the most comfortable she had ever been in her life. Tony's voice soothed her and simply listening to him say how much he loved and depended on her made her the happiest person alive…

You might fall
I will catch you always
Time has taught me this
You will fly
And I'll be there beside you
Straight up to my heart's highest wish
I feel you close to me
And I know what love is

At this Michelle silently began to cry tears of joy. What he said was true, and exactly what she felt. Michelle knew that with Tony near her, she felt like she could do anything. She was not used to Tony being so romantic. Yes, he bought her presents, and whisked her off to surprise vacations, but it was hard, nobody at work, save Jack knew about their attachment. Michelle thought, that if it was possible, she loved Tony even more this instant, stroking her hair, murmuring his love into the top of her head, clutching her closer as her happy tears seeped into his shirt…

It's an unspoken thing
A quiet opening
There are no words that can go that deep
But I know

At this, Michelle smiled even wider and lifted her head off of Tony's strong shoulder -her anchors- and looked into his eyes, which were rimed with clear water. Suddenly she knew what was going on, what Tony was going to ask her, just as soon as he finished his talking. The realization drained the color from her face, leaving her lips looking a deep red in the dim overhead light of their patio. Tony took a moment to compose himself, wipe his tear-threatened eyes, took a stabilizing deep breath and he continued as he boldly kept eye contact with Michelle…

We might fall
And we will catch each other
Time has taught me this
We will fly
And we'll be there together
Straight up to my heart's highest wish
I feel you close to me
And I know what love is,

He silently leaned in to kiss Michelle as he stealthily pulled the case out of his pocket. As he pulled away from their sweet kiss, Tony slid off the chaise they were sitting on and dropped to one knee on the cold cement in front of Michelle. He opened the black velvet case, and looked at the beautiful, simple ring- just like Michelle he thought-as he picked out himself.

Tony innerly scolded himself for not being able to keep his emotions in check as he felt his eyes welling up again- not like he could help it, he loved and needed Michelle far too much. What a long way I've come, he idly thought. He slowly looked up at Michelle; saw the tears streaming down her face and asked, with as controlled a voice as he could muster:

Michelle Dessler, will you marry me?

Next chapter: Michelle's Response…