Milestones: Commitment

As the days slowly passed, Michelle thought about finally bringing up the fact that Brian had lied to her when he said he was going to the studio. She tried to watch for any kind of change in his behavior to see if there was more going on than she knew, but either she was incredibly terrible at reading Brian, or there was really nothing else to be found. Maybe it was just that one tiny lie. Michelle had even thought about asking Val or Matt about the issue, but the prospect of Matt turning around and telling Brian that she was suspicious was too great, and she feared it would only cause more problems.

But the longer she let it sit there, the longer it ate away at her conscience--which was weird because Michelle didn't even do anything. And when a week finally passed, Michelle decided she'd just go up to Brian and ask him up front what he was off doing that day he was missing. So when Brian came home Friday afternoon, Michelle stood at the top of the stairs just beyond the front entrance, waiting for him.

"Hey," Brian greeted with a smile as he slowly climbed the steps. Michelle cracked the faintest of grins.

"There's something I need to ask you," she mumbled just before Brian reached her, leaning in to kiss her lips a few times.

"I have something to ask you as well," he said, kissing her once more, and Michelle's brow furrowed.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Do you think you could go get dressed up real nice?"

"Why?"

"Because we haven't really gone out in awhile, and I want to take you somewhere nice," Brian answered with a rather sly grin.

"Okay..." Michelle said, still confused as to why he was asking as she took a step backwards, letting Brian pass. First Brian goes M.I.A. for hours, now he wants to take her out somewhere nice? She just couldn't understand him lately.

"So I suppose this means I have to take a shower," Michelle stated rather than asked, and headed the short distance toward the bathroom. She stopped when she felt arms around her waist.

"Nope," Brian whispered. "It means we have to take a shower."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that evening Michelle was sat across from Brian at a table in a dimly lit restaurant. Brian had taken her to a place that was right alongside the ocean, with a great view of the shore and the pier. They'd shared nothing more than idle chatter, but Michelle appreciated the quiet moments where talking wasn't needed, and Brian knew that. So they sat together, sharing a delicious meal, and enjoyed each other, eyes taking in every detail of the other.

Michelle couldn't help but grin at the fact that Brian had started wearing eyeliner--something the band was doing collectively, it seemed--and had a small amount smudged tastefully around his eyes. He looked very handsome in a black dress shirt and the nicest pair of dark-wash jeans he owned that weren't ripped...yet. Before they'd left Brian had no idea what to do with his hair, but Michelle told him to do it the way he always had it; it was the way she liked best on him.

And Brian had a hard time keeping his eyes--and hands--away from Michelle. She'd worn a black, satiny cocktail dress that stopped just above her knees, paired with glossy black pumps. Her hair had been pulled back in an elegant yet slightly messy up-do, and her makeup was sultry. Brian couldn't help but nearly drool when her smoky eyes would look up at him.

And so dinner came and went, Brian picking up the check as a true gentleman would (though he silently cursed himself when realizing just how much the bottle of white wine had cost him).

As they exited, Michelle turned to head toward the car but stopped when Brian tugged on her wrist. Turning, she sent him a questioning glance.

"I wanna walk first," Brian said, pulling her back to him with a smile. Curling his fingers around Michelle's hand, Brian led her down the street, heading in the direction of the pier.

"It's a lot nicer out tonight than I thought it was going to be," Michelle said, looking around the lighted street. The wind had died down, the night turning calm. Feeling Brian squeeze her hand, she looked up at him.

"Why do you think I picked tonight to go out? I knew it was going to be nice."

"So what are you now, the weatherman?" Michelle asked sarcastically as she and Brian stepped onto the pier.

"No, I'm just awesome is all," he answered, shooting his love a playful smirk. Lightly jostling his shoulder with her own, Michelle just laughed.

Taking deep breaths, Brian watched as the end of the pier drew closer and closer, his stomach turning to knots and almost making him sick. Michelle let go of his hand and stepped to the end rail, leaning against it as she stared out at the ocean. Brian could see the content smile on her face, and that was all he needed. Coming up behind her, he rested his head on her shoulder, his arms wrapping around her.

"Michelle," he whispered.

"Hmm?"

"You know I love you, right? More than anything else in the world, I love you."

"Of course I know that," Michelle chuckled, looking over her shoulder. The serious gaze Brian cast over her calmed her down instantly, causing her to turn in his arms. "Brian?" she asked quietly. "What's wrong?"

"Shh..." he said, holding a finger to her lips. "I know that...ever since we've been together, it seems we've had nothing but hard times. And I don't know about you, but it's made me question a lot of things in our relationship."

"Brian, wha-"

"Let me finish..." he cut Michelle off once more. "Going through all those toroubles has shown me how strong we are, both together and apart. And I know there are going to be a lot more hard times to come but...I don't think there's anyone I'd rather spend them with than you."

Eyes widening, Michelle could feel her heart literally stumble in her chest as Brian let her go, stepping back slightly. Hand shoved in his pocket, Brian pulled something out and slowly descended to one knee.

"Which is why I'm asking you, right now...Michelle Louise DiBenedetto, will you marry me?"

Michelle's nose tingled as her eyes filled with tears, the breath being stolen from her lungs. The ring he'd held up to her was simple--a platinum band with just one glistening diamond perched in the center--but it was beautiful.

"Brian...Oh my God," she whispered when she could finally speak. "Yes! Oh God..." she repeated, fanning herself with her right hand, trying to stay conscious as Brian slipped the band onto her left ring finger and kissed the back of her hand before he stood. He could clearly see the tears slipping down Michelle's cheeks when he was back at her level, and he pulled her tightly into his arms, holding her there.

"I love you...so much," he whispered.

"I love you, too," Michelle answered before pulling back. "But...last week, when you-" she began to say, causing Brian to laugh.

"Yeah, Zack told me about that... You just had to pick that day to show up at the studio, didn't you? I'd gone to your parents to ask their permission, and then finally went and got the ring. Do you like it?" he asked, seeing Michelle look at it closer.

"God, I love it," she gushed. "It's beautiful. Do your parents know?"

"My dad knows, but that's it. No one but your parents, my dad, Zack, and the two of us know," Brian listed off before smiling and cupping Michelle's face in his hands. "Come here."

And he kissed her, lips pressing to hers in a needy way. And finally, in the back of her mind, Michelle knew that things were really going to be better. This was the start of something good.