To A New Beginning (Lina)

[Cyrus Ferrera]

"Much better than my cooking," Cyrus said with a little laugh. "However, I'm not sure if it really compares to yours." That was a hint that he was missing her. He could cook well enough to get by, but he missed the taste of Lina's cooking. He missed coming in from work and her being there.

Dinner was wonderful so far and as Cyrus finished his main meal, he reached across the table to take her hand. "Lina," he said with a serious expression on his face. "I need to tell you something."

He swallowed. "I have been miserable at home. Its been far too quiet and I miss you and Mara. I miss coming home to someone. I know that I've messed up and I shouldn't have made that mistake. Over Christmas whenever I saw mum hold Mara, I knew for sure what I was going to do. After my argument with her just helped me decide too." Cyrus cleared his throat before he continued. "I love you more than anything Lina," he said not bothering to whisper any words said. "I shouldn't have let anything get in the way of that, and from now on I don't plan on anything to get in the way."

Using his other hand to reach in his pocket. Cyrus was ignoring everyone who was watching. He stood slowly and a little nervously. "There was more to this dinner than just going out for New Year's. I want things to be different than they are now because I want things to be like they used to be before the arguing. I want you, me, and Mara to be a family. I want to grow old with you and cry with you whenever Mara is all grown up and goes off to do her own thing." He knelt down in front of her and opened the small box slowly. "Lina Harper, will you marry me?"

[Lina Harper]

"Thanks, Cyrus, but I don't think my dinners are anywhere near this good." It was a lovely, quiet meal, and it was time she missed with Cyrus. She would have been happy just eating muggle pizza at home with him... one day.

When he took her hand, she looked up expectantly. "Of course, Cyrus, what is it?" She asked, thinking something was wrong.

But she was wrong... nothing was wrong at all. At first, she thought he was just asking her to come back home, and she wouldn't do it. Not to get her hopes up and then be strung along for months again. She had to be firm and tell him no.

But then the box came out, and she gasped quietly, lifting a hand to her mouth. She was shocked. She didn't think he was ever going to get the courage to do it. The restaurant awwwed, and Lina blushed, realizing that the whole place had gone quiet, listening to Cyrus, and now they, as well as he, were waiting for her answer.

But she was quiet. He actually did it... he finally made his decision, and it was her. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was important to him again, and it made her so happy.

With her eyes tearing up, she nodded and broke into a smile.

[Cyrus Ferrera]

Naturally, during the entire proposal Cyrus was beyond nervous. He was surprised that he wasn't shaking too badly as he waited for her answer. Time seemed to have slow down because it seemed like it was taking her forever to answer him. Part of him was scared that she would have said no.

When Lina nodded, Cyrus felt like his insides exploded like fireworks and his heart started beating rapidly. He wasn't aware that the restaurant was watching them or that everyone was quiet. A huge smile crossed his face as he pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. He stood up and leaned in to kiss her. Right now, Cyrus thought that he and Lina were probably on Cloud 9.

He pulled away and returned to his seat, taking her hand again while he was still smiling. His smile seemed like it was going to be permanently there. "Lina, I think you've made me the happiest man in the world."

[Lina Harper]

The restaurant erupted into applause when Cyrus kissed her, and Lina blushed, but she didn't look away from him. She didn't think he was ever going to ask again after she'd told him no last time. But even Roland agreed with her... it had been for the wrong reasons. This... this was for the right reason, and she was just as happy as he was.

She squeezed his hand and finally actually looked at the ring. "It's beautiful, Cy," she said and smiled, looking back up at him. There were tears in her eyes.

[Cyrus Ferrera]

"I thought that you would like it," he said still smiling. A soft chatter started back in the restaurant and he squeezed her hand back. "Whenever I saw it in the jeweler's I didn't look at any others because it reminded me of you." He bought the ring whenever he first thought about asking her to marry him.

Now, he didn't care what his mother was going to say because he already asked Lina and she said yes. That made all the difference in the world. He, Lina, and Mara could be a happy family together even if his mother didn't approve. Cyrus did want his mother to like the idea that he was stepping up and doing something he should have awhile back, but if she didn't he did have Lina.