It was the first day of 9th grade and Madison was a new student at the small school these two attended. She wore her sparkly vans and the first thing Marcus ever said to her was "You win, we were comparing new shoes and yours are the coolest". After that, he showed her around the school and the two quickly became friends. Marcus asked Madison out a few times but she was young and continued to say no. Eventually, though she said yes and the two saw Big Hero 6 and then went back to Madi's house, where Marcus snuck away to ask her dad if he could date his daughter. Sitting on a swing set in the backyard of Madi's childhood home, the two made it official.

For years, Madison always said she would know when Marcus was going to propose. Time and time again she said it would be impossible to surprise her. Then on her 23rd birthday, Marcus told her she needed to take the day off work because he had a day planned out. The day started with seeing Jurassic World (Jurassic Park is a sentimental movie to Madi), then the two drove down to Malibu where they ate at a cute café. The whole meal Madi sensed Marcus was a little nervous and asked him why, to which he said "We did plan a little surprise party for you at the house but it's just Rachel, Josh, and Ariana coming down" which explained his nerves. Afterward, Marcus suggested the two go to Madi's favorite beach El Matador. When they got there, the tide was starting to rise and the ocean was full of more dolphins than the two have ever seen. As Marcus kept walking Madi down the beach Madi wasn't sure why they were rushing and not waiting to see the dolphins. But then, they got to the spot Marcus had picked out beforehand with his friend/photographer Luke. Marcus began to tell Madi how he wanted to take care of her the way he promised her dad he would, and that he has always been sure that she was the one. He got down on one knee and Madi burst into tears. After their moment was over, behind the rocks came out Rachel, Ricky, Annicia, Destiny, Lynn, Tony, Joshua, and Luke. When they got back to the house, Marcus had set up a surprise engagement/birthday party with all of their friends and family waiting.

As most of you know Madi’s father passed away and cannot physically attend the wedding with us. But he’s been part of the journey. Marcus was able to ask him for Madi’s hand in marriage the last time the two saw him (unbeknownst to them it would be the last). As Marcus was gaining the courage to ask him Mickey asked him first, in true Mickey fashion, “are you going to ask to marry her” to which Marcus said yes and Mickey said “well you don’t have to ask me but if you did the answers yes”. After he passed away life looked different for Madi and she was in the thick of her grief but almost a year later Mickey came to Marcus in a dream and said “what are you waiting for are you gonna do it” and Marcus woke up that morning and called her best friend Rachel to help him pick out the engagement ring.