Another Chance
As soon as Jesse got the message, he asked for Michael to text him her number. When he got it, he called her and they immediately started talking and catching up. An hour later and all caught up over every last detail that's happen over the past three long agonizing months, Jesse tried to apologize but Dani wouldn't hear it. She simply said "It was my decision to help and you needed it. Plus you helped me find Jay's killer and kept me from ripping his head off, or worse, have a huge breakdown in front of him and blow our cover so it was the least I could do". After hearing her tell him that he kept her from doing those things, he finally had the nerve to act casual and ask her out for lunch. "Of course" she said a little too quickly, but thankfully Jesse was too excited about the idea of seeing her again to notice. They hung up and both thought to themselves they hoped each other had meant lunch to be more than two friends meeting, yet didn't know if the other felt the same way.
Jesse headed over to the loft after Sam called with a job needing his mind to be distracted from the next day. When he got there, Michael, Sam, and Fi were discussing how easy the job was to the point where it only took two hours to finish. When they got back to the loft, Fi had a meeting to go to with a new supplier while Sam went to go see Elsa (it seemed like they're getting serious, Jesse thought…). That left Michael and Jesse alone and, sure enough, as soon as the door closed Michael looked at Jesse and said "I'm going to say this once. You and Pearce have what Fi and I have. Just don't be like me and wait years to admit you love her. I came close to losing Fi a lot and you lost Dani for 3 months, but luckily you have another chance". Jesse knew it was hard for Michael to talk about the many times he almost lost Fi. He had heard Mike came close to losing her twice in Ireland, she was caught in a house fire and he actually thought he lost her, another time due to the fact that he was obsessed with finding who burned him and wanting to get back in so she left him to go to Ireland and he ended up saving her, she had that one boyfriend but that was for like two weeks, she was willing to die with him because Vaughn and his minions were after them, and the whole Anson and prison thing. Jesse just hoped it wouldn't take all that for him and Dani to be happy and together. "It took a lot for you two to go through before you realized you really love her" he said as he grabbed a beer from the fridge. "Yea that's why I'm proposing tonight" he said as he watched with an amused look on his face as Jesse nearly choked on his beer. 'Well congrats I guess" he panted, trying to catch his breath "Yea, thanks".
Later that night Michael took Fi out to her favorite restaurant and suggested a walk on the beach. "What's the occasion?" she asked skeptically. "Well Fi you know us, nothing we do is normal, but this will be." he said as he got down on one knee and pulled out the little box and opened it to reveal an Asher-cut diamond engagement ring she had once said she'd want rather than the one they had when they went undercover as a married couple. "I love you, Fiona Glenanne. It took me years to be able to speak it so freely and I want to be the only man who ever gets to say it, so will you marry me?" She had one of those genuine smiles that lit up her whole face as she made him stand up to hug him and say "You know I might just do that."
Later that night at the loft as he held her tightly in his arms, his hand resting on hers touching the ring that was now hers, he knew that as long as he did this, they would both sleep nightmare free. And they did just that.
The next day around eleven, they went to Madeline's house to give her the good news. She was thrilled as she saw her son walk through the door with his now fiancé, thanks to the ring resting delicately on Fiona's finger. "I'm so happy for the two of you!" she said excitedly "Of course I've always considered you as part of the family, but now it will be official!" she said as she hugged Fi. "You had better take good care of her or God is my witness I will smother you with a pillow!" "I got it ma, believe me I will."
Dani met Jesse at a cute little restaurant around the corner of her office. "You look beautiful." He said without thinking. "Thank you" she said blushing. They got a table and ate lunch with him telling her stories that made her constantly laugh. She told him stories of ops where, in the end, everyone went home laughing. When they finished, they paid and went outside where Jesse said "We should do that more often". She quickly agreed saying "Definitely" so he got up the nerve to ask "How about dinner Friday night?" "Okay" "I'll pick you up at eight" "great" wondering if he was going to do what she was thinking he was going to do. Sure enough, after taking all of lunch thinking of whether or not to, he leaned in and lightly kissed her. Without thinking, she responded immediately to kiss him back. They broke the kiss and said goodbye, both dazed. Had he really just done that or had it been her imagination? She really hoped it was the first thought…then smiled realizing it was.