Men Of Courage Part 1

By Ossian ([email protected])

"You think she'd like this one?" Alex asked nervously.

Michael looked at it and shrugged. How the hell should he know? It was pretty, he supposed. It was definitely shiny. It cost a small fortune. Other than that, he didn't know jack about diamond rings. He wondered why Alex had dragged him along on this shopping expedition.

"I trust you," Alex said as if reading his thoughts. "I mean, you and Max know her better than anybody." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "You might even know her better than he does. So, I trust you. If you think she'll like it..."

Michael sighed. "She'll love it, Whitman. It's beautiful."

"Then this is the one I'm getting," Alex said decisively and began signaling to the sales clerk. "Do you ever think about it?"

Michael blinked at the unexpected question. "Think about what?"

"Asking Maria to marry you."

"No," he lied automatically. He looked at Alex's open, honest face and was suddenly struck by the realization that if Max and Isabel were the closest things to a family that he had then Alex was the closest thing to a real friend. "Sometimes," he amended sheepishly.

Alex grinned. "Do you actually believe after all these years of waiting for you that she'd really say no?"

He shook his head, somewhat surprised at his own honesty. "That's not what I'm afraid of," he said softly.

Alex stared at him speechlessly. "You're afraid that she'll say yes," he said at last.

Michael looked blindly down at the glass display counter. "What if she said yes and we did get married?" he asked. "Then she finds out that I can't be what she needs me to be?"

"She gave up trying to turn you into Max a long time ago," Alex said with the hint of a smile. "You already are what she needs you to be."

"I wish that was true."

"Do you love her?" Alex asked suddenly. "Don't think, just answer."

"Yes."

"Does she love you?"

"I think so."

"Michael..."

"Yes." A grin threatened to tug the corners of his mouth upward.

"Then ask her. Everything else will work itself out."

"Do you really think it's that easy?"

"Absolutely," Alex nodded emphatically.

"So, you don't have any fears about Isabel?" He regretted the question instantly as the other man's smile flickered.