Looking back on the last few years, Maria knew that she would have gotten to the place she was now eventually. She had made her own sort of family support system, and she always could count on her mother's side of the family. It was, after all, why she'd chosen to take a new name not all that long after her father was finally gone. It was something that meant something to her, and gave her a feel of almost starting over. And Blaise had been a very large part of that. True, he got impatient and sometimes he had a hard time understanding where she was coming from or why she would get into certain moods. But he tried, and to her, that meant more than anything else. Blaise took the time to learn, and even if he didn't understand it completely, he had listened. He'd learned when to just let her sit and her piano even if she didn't play anything, or when she just needed a hug and to cry on him for a while. He'd been her rock and it was more than she'd ever really allowed herself to hope for. His sharp wit, his high intelligence were just the surface of why she'd been drawn to him. She also really loved the way that sometimes for as charismatic and charming as he could be, he could also flub and be awkward in his own way. It was charming in it's own way. And really, it reminded her that he was human too, and she loved that about him. Blaise had a heart that gave endlessly when he chose to let someone in. He didn't let everyone in, and he was far from a cold person in her eyes, but when he chose those few people to let in, it always blew her away with how much he was willing to give to those people. And she never stopped feeling lucky that she was one of them.
Maria felt a little bit of heat come to her cheeks as a closed mouth smile came to her face, accepting the observation. It was easier with him to do so, something she'd been working hard on over the last few years. She let her gaze drift from his perfect face and around at the scenery around her. The sights so familiar and comforting. Not quite like coming home, but something close to it. "I'm glad. I love sharing this with you." she'd brought very few people out here, or even offered for those who hadn't yet. And getting to share this with him, and now Desmond, it just felt right. Plus, they always got to go see his parents and she knew that now seeing them was easier, she tended to leap at that chance. For both their sakes. "I always want to see more of the world, but I just keep wanting to come back here." she stated honestly. Here, Portugal, Morocco, she loved this region and yes France was beautiful, and there were so many places she'd like to see, but this...nothing would ever top this for her.
At Blaise's words her gaze turned back to him and looked up beaming. "I love you too, mi luz." her light in the darkness. She tried to convey how much she loved him, and sometimes she didn't think she came close to it, but that'd never stop her from trying. Love, real love, she didn't think was possible for her a few years ago. And then there he was, even with their ups and downs it had made them stronger, and made her fall all the more in love with the brilliant man before her. Just the look on his face, spoke volumes and it almost took her breath away. That smile of his, wide, bright and honest. It made her chest clench a bit and she knew she'd do anything to make sure that smile came back again and again and again. She knew he wasn't big on PDA so she was refraining from getting up on her tip toes to kiss him, but she held his hand a little tighter and a small mischievous smile formed on her already shining face.