Mac wanted everything to be perfect. His houseboat was spotless. He couldn't remember when it was this clean and tidy. He opened the oven door and peered inside. The salmon and vegetables were soon to be roasted to perfection. The aroma of lemon and parmesan was heavenly. The wild rice was simmering on the stovetop. The table was set, with a bouquet of red roses wrapped in white tissue paper lying next to a bottle of sparkling apple cider, waiting for the cork to be popped. MacGyver was wearing a crisp white shirt, black dress pants, and a purple and black striped tie. He couldn't remember when he ever wore a tie voluntarily.

Maria had been down in Rio for almost a month, and she was due to come through Mac's door at any time. He had a lot of time to think about their conversation before she left. He was uncomfortable the way he left it. He hoped he would have a second chance. She had wanted him to make a commitment to their relationship and he made excuses. Then when he was ready to talk about it, Maria took an assignment in Rio and pushed him away. That's what made MacGyver start thinking. What if he was missing out on happiness?

Well, he had decided that he was turning a new leaf…tonight. He was no longer going to be the commitment phobic, loner who spent his time working and indulging in his weekly hockey pick up games or his solitary ski trips. Not that there was never any romance in his life, but it was short lived. When the woman asked for more, a commitment, he bolted. Starting tonight, Mac was going to be the committed partner. Maria would come before his hockey games and hobbies. He was even going to ask Pete if his assignments could be local, no more long weeks to all corners of the globe. He was going to start as a boyfriend and if Maria was in agreement, fiancé. Then husband and the father that he always longed to be.

A knock on the door made MacGyver's palms sweat and left a lump in his throat. This was it. He had been rehearsing what he was going to say. He had to do it before he got cold feet before she even spoke.

Mac opened the door and just stared. Maria was wearing a pink floral print dress with a white long-sleeved cardigan over it and a white belt cinched around her waist. Her long, blonde hair glimmered in the moonlight. She was even more beautiful than MacGyver remembered.

Maria greeted him with a smile and wrapped her arms around his neck even before he could close the door. She stood on her toes and pressed her lips hard against his. Their lips parted and they shared a long, passionate kiss. Mac broke it off, grabbing her arms, pulling her inside, and closing the door.

"What is the matter? Have you not missed me?", Maria asked, looking confused.

"I have missed you and I've been thinking about you and what you wanted before you left for Rio."

"And what did I want?", Maria asked coyly.

"You wanted something from me. Com…", just then the oven timer rang. Saved by the bell.

MacGyver rushed over to the oven, turned it off and pulled out the sheet pan of salmon and vegetables.

"Dinner is ready!"

Maria walked over to him and took his arm.

"Dinner can wait. What did I want before I left for Rio?" Maria put Mac on the spot.

MacGyver's eyes glazed over. Thoughts flashed through his mind of past loves, when he was ready to make a commitment, then disaster struck, and he reverted back to the lonely bachelor. Like Lisa who died in his arms and Deborah who said goodbye in a letter after he gave her all indications that he was going to propose marriage to her.

Would all his efforts to reinvent himself as the committed boyfriend/husband be in vain? What if she changed her mind and wasn't ready? Like with Karen, who was ready, and he left her, only to come back ready to commit and she had found Sam. MacGyver's head was spinning. He came back to earth and knew she deserved an answer to the question.

"A commitment…from me", Mac's voice stuttered.

"Oh. I have always wanted a commitment of mutual love from a man. It has been not until now that I knew who that man was. When I met you, I knew that you were the one. Did you feel that way when you met me?"

MacGyver panicked. He could admit to himself that when he first met Maria, he was physically attracted to her. And after she proved herself to be sincere and devoted to her grandfather, he became emotionally attracted to her. But she came on strong and he got scared. Making excuses, like having to travel for work. Oh, he did travel for work, but he didn't call her the day he got home. He gave it a few days, even a week, before he called her to get together so that he had a chance to catch up on his sleep and go for a long bike ride or play a game of pick-up hockey with the guys. She would even want to go grocery shopping with him! He had no solitude. The solitude that he craved.

He guessed that he hesitated because he was afraid that if he made a commitment with Maria, it would end in disaster. Heartbreak for him or her. After all, he has had happiness in his life without being in a committed relationship with a woman. He has experienced much joy working and volunteering at the Challenger's Club, being a father to troubled youth who never knew their fathers. He has developed a close friendship with Pete Thornton. Even though he is his superior, they had their share of fun vacations. And the beatings he has taken out on the ice were more than made up for with the camaraderie of his teammates.

"I think you're great. Terrific. But, right now, I would rather we just enjoy each other's company", Mac scrunched up his face and raised his right eyebrow, waiting for a response.

Maria's expression went from hopeful to annoyed. She was not going to pursue a man who couldn't commit.

"I'm tired from my flight and I have to catch up with my household chores. Goodbye", she abruptly turned, and the front door closed behind her.

MacGyver observed that Maria said goodbye and not goodnight.

He loosened his tie, as the feeling of freedom began to creep up on him. It felt right. He had no regrets.