”So Doreen Angela Nagger, will you marry me?” Upon bearing these words, the smile on her face was replaced by a look of shock. Sure, they had been together for awhile now and deeply loved each other but she didn’t expect this so soon. At least, it seemed soon to her from a man who was a widower. As she took a deep breath, her hand came up to her face and covered her nose and mouth. Her eyes welled up and tears started falling. She looked first at Peter and the box in his hand, then to Ben and finally, Erik. Memories began to flood her.
Trying to find her father, exhale from Rheinland, being left for dead and nine months pregnant in the radiation fields of Omega 41. The prejudice she and Ben faced on Houston and her time medical studies to become a doctor. Thoughts of her family produced more tears as she caught her breath with a large breath. Her hand left her face. Her mouth was moving but no sound came from it as the words weren’t yet there. Her face wet and tears still falling, she knelt before Peter.
“I can’t replace what you have lost nor can I fill her shoes,”her voice wavering a bit as she drew a cross on her heart, “but I promise to you that I will be the best Mom to you and for you that I can be.” Being careful ever of the ring he was holding, she drew him forward and just held him. “It’s my honor to have you for a son.” Finally, she released him and him hold the box for a moment as she then knelt before Ben who had tears of joy of his own through a smile. “I can’t answer for you, Son, but I think I know it.”
“I already call him Dad, Mom,” he softly admitted before looking up at Erik, “You are the only Dad I’ve ever had.” He then turned back to his mother with a light smile through his own tears, “You deserve to be happy. We all do. Please say yes.” She then held him and said gently, “I needed that from you.
She then took the box from Peter with a soft smile and stood before Erik. “Erik Corvin I would be honored to be your wife and a mother to our children.” She then held out her left hand so that he could place the ring on it. Once he did, she looked at it and how her hand now looked. She smiled and hugged him. While she held him, she softly said, “you deserve to be happy too.” She then stood befor him, kissed him and standing with all of them around her, enjoyed the scene of the sun on the calm water.
