T/W: Mentions death and mental health meltdowns.

***

Steve

Life is funny. If someone had told me six months ago that I'd lose my older brother but gain someone else special,  I would have thought they were crazy. But that's exactly what happened. Now...life begins anew.

***

"You have everything set up?" My best friend, Dave Torres asks me. I'm sweating buckets.

"Yeah. Oh gosh! What if she says no?"

"Man, stop. You can't ask Lex to marry you if you're having a mental meltdown."

"I know. It's just.."

"She says she loves you, Steve. She'll say yes," Dave assures me.

"She was in this position before," I say. "And look how that turned out."

"This is different," Dave argues. "I got a good feeling about it." I blow my breath out, air hissing through my front teeth.

"I hope you're right, man."

***

Lex immediately senses that I want to ask her something. She doesn't raz me about it, though. She does, however, give me some knowing smiles.

"I suppose I should put us both out of our misery," I say at last, reaching into my pocket for the engagement ring and pulling it out.

"Did you want to ask me a specific question?" Lex teases me and I chuckle.

"Look, I know you've been through this before," I say. "And I don't expect you to give me an answer right away."

"Steve, we've talked it through. I'm ready." I smile, opening up my fist and showing Lex the rung.

"You know I love you and want to marry you," I say softly.

"I love you, too." Lex touches my face.

"Well?" I ask.

"Well, what?" Lex teases.

"You aren't gonna make this easy for me, are you?" I ask. Lex shakes her head.

"Not a chance." I groan mockingly.

"All right! Alexandra Elizabeth Graham, will you marry me?" Lex's whole face lights up.

"Oh hell yeah, Steven Michael Speedle, I will."

***

Lex and I decide to wait to announce our news to everyone. I understand where Lex is coming from and her reservations about spreading the word. I mean, look what happened with my brother.

We do have our own private celebration by taking a long walk down the beach and getting some ice cream cones.

"I know these things take time," Lex says, holding one of my hands. "But I want us to get married as soon as possible."

"If you're in that big of a hurry," I tease. "Let's just go to the courthouse right now." Lex smiles.

"Very funny." She licks her chocolate ice cream cone, a faraway look in her blue eyes. "I want all of our family and friends there with us."

"They will be, baby," I say softly. We stop walking, allowing the waves to wash over our bare feet.

"I don't want to bring up a sore subject," I add. "Did you and Tim have arrangements made?" Lex shakes her head.

"We didn't make it that far." She finishes her ice cream, suddenly turning and pressing her body into mine. I slip an arm around her.

The wind blowing off the ocean whips around us. I feel goosebumps break out on my arms. Lex burrows in further.

"Cold?" I ask.

"A little," Lex replies.

"We can go back home and really get warmed up," I tease. Lex grabs my head, pulling it down greedily kissing me.

"Is that your answer?"

"Yes," Lex says. "But I want a hot shower first." I laugh, kissing her back.

"Let's go."

****

Lex

"We have news," I tell everyone who's gathered at Steve's and I's house for dinner. Everyone includes: Mom, Jack and Lorna, (Steve's parents), Uncle Grant, Jay Hoyer (an old family friend), Eric Delko (an old friend of Speed's and mine), Calleigh Duquesne (another friend of Speed's and mine), Dave Torres and Dustin Thompsen (friends of Steve's), and Horatio Caine (Speed's old boss and my friend.)

Mom is grinning like she already knows what I'm planning on saying. Steve takes my hand, holds it up, showing off my engagement ring.

"This beautiful, amazing woman has agreed to become my wife," Steve says, grinning proudly. There's some loud cheering and some applause. Then everyone is getting up and coming over to Steve and me, hugging and congratulating us.

"Oh, honey," Lorna whispers in my ear as she hugs me. "I'm so happy you'll still be my daughter." Tears fill my eyes.

"So am I."

"You're gonna be stuck with us now!" Dave teases as I hug him. He wraps his arms around me, practically lifting me off the ground. I laugh.

"Sure looks like it," I joke.

"I'm so happy for you both," Calleigh tells me, giving me a hug.

"Thanks. Oh by the way, would you be my maid of honor?" Calleigh grins.

"I'd be honored to."

"This is so freaking awesome!" Dustin tells me. "Congrats."

"Thanks," I say. "We're both very excited."

"I'm gonna be keeping my eye on you, Steve," Jay says, giving Steve a Look. I giggle at Steve's mortified expression.

"Congratulations, Lex," Horatio says. "You deserve a happy ending." I hug him tightly.

"Thanks, H," I whisper in his ear. Horatio and I hit a rough patch after Speed's death. I blamed him for what happened and was upset with him for a long time. Luckily, we're past that now.

"I still get to give you away, right?" Uncle Grant jokes. I cling to my uncle.

"Hell yes," I say. Uncle Grant pretty much helped Mom raise me growing up. My dad left not too long after I was born. He's never come back.

"Let's have a drink!" Steve says, grabbing a couple of bottles of champagne out of the kitchen. We all line up, waiting for Steve to fill everyone's glasses.

"To my beautiful fiancée and our new life together." Steve smiles at me.

"Yes," I say, smiling at Steve. "To us."