20th of December, 1985
Brooklyn and Janet are 19, Michael is 27

Brooklyn: "Do you have to go?" Janet asked me, and put another sweater in my suitcase.

"Jan, you ask every year, and every year I tell you the same thing. YES. I have to see my grandmother. Plus, I'll see snow again!" I said.

My family and I were flying over to Chicago, to spend Christmas there.

We're originally from Chicago, but after my mother left my dad couldn't stay there. We ended up in Los Angeles because he got a great job offer.

Janet pouted a bit.

"I'll be back by New Year's." I mumbled.

"I know that. But you're taking my brother with you! That's not fair!"

Michael was joining us as well. Dad offered him to come.

"Next year, I'll be here. Promise."

"Oh, you won't have a choice." she barely whispered.

"What?" I asked, confused a bit.

"Nothing, nothing," my best friend said, looking at the clock, "Mike should be here any minute. He said he was coming at six, right?"

I nodded. We have been dating for a year and nearly four months. He's amazing, he really is. I'm so glad I let this happen.

"I think I'm done with packing." I said, closing the suitcase.

We went downstairs, only to find my dad and Michael hugging. That's new.

"When did you get here?" Janet asked her brother.

"Just now." Michael answered, smiling.

~

Michael: "What time is it?" I asked Brandon nervously.

"17:45. We'll be there in five." he answered.

I was bouncing my leg up and down, taking a deep breath.

"Relax, Mike. I'm sure her father will give you his blessing."

"I hope." I mumbled.

The car stopped in front of Brooke's house and Brandon gave me my suitcase.

I went to the door, knocking on it. Joshua answered the door, smiling at me.

"Come in, Michael. The girls are upstairs, should I go and get them?" he asked.

"No, not yet. I- I need to talk to you about a certain thing, Mr. Casey." I stuttered.

"Of course. Please, sit down. Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you."

He sat down on the couch in front of me, and I took the little box out of my pocket.

Joshua was traditional, and I knew this would please him.

I gave it to him, my hand shaking a bit. He opened it.

"I would like to have your permission to marry your daughter." I said.

He was silent for a moment before speaking, "Yes, yes, of course. Oh, wow, this is amazing!"

I grinned, relieved. I honestly loved Brooklyn more than anything; I knew I wanted her with me for the rest of my life.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Casey. You won't regret it."

Joshua gave me back the little box with the ring in it, standing up.

"It's Joshua for you." he said.

He shook my hand, then pulled me into a hug.

"When did you get here?" I heard my sister's voice.

I broke the hug, smiling. "Just now."

Brooke was looking at the both of us, her eyes squinted.

"What?" I asked.

"All of you are very weird today." she said.

I shrugged, coming over to her, giving her a kiss.

"Are you packed, sweetheart?" Joshua asked.

"Yes, daddy. Ready to go."

"Good. I'll go give Chris and Cyn a call."

Cynthia was Chris's girlfriend. By what I've heard from Brooke, they've been dating for less than a year now.

Janet looked at me with questioning eyes. I gave her a thumb's up and she grinned.

I could see the excitement inside her building up.

Now all I have to do is find a way to propose.

~

Brooklyn: I stepped out of the car, feeling the cold air. Little snowflakes were falling all around us.

The front door opened, revealing Mimi, my grandmother's housemaid.

"Hurry, before all of you get sick!" she said with her clear accent.

Michael and Chris took the luggage out of the trunk, quickly running inside.

"Jesus, I forgot how cold it was here." Chris said, taking off his coat.

I rolled my eyes.

I took Michael's hand in mine. It was really hot, and only made me clutch it more.

Mimi led us to the living room, where my grandmother was sitting with a cup of hot tea.

"Mom, how are you?" my dad asked, reaching down to hug her.

"Good, good." she said, hugging him tighter.

"Hey, grandma." Chris smiled at her.

She stood up and they hugged. It was my turn now, and I hugged my grandmother.

"I've missed you, granny."

"Me too, darling." she said, "Who are these?"

Michael and Cynthia both smiled.

"This is my boyfriend, granny. His name is Michael." I said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Casey." Michael told her, shaking her hand.

"Please, call me Clare."

"And this is Cynthia." Chris introduced.

"Is anyone hungry?" Mimi asked, and everybody's heads rose up, including mine.

~

Michael: After dinner Clare divided us into rooms, giving me and Brooklyn a room upstairs.

It was already 2:30 AM, and we all decided to go to sleep.

After putting our pajamas on and brushing our teeth (and I took off the little bit of makeup I put on), Brooke and I lay down on the bed.

She cuddled close to me, sighing.

"So, first Christmas. Are you excited?" she said.

"Very." I smiled. The purpose of this whole trip was, of course, for me to meet Clare, but Brooke wanted me to finally celebrate Christmas. Every year she would get so excited.

Still, she was very aware of the fact that I was still a Jehova's Witness. She respected it, telling me I don't have to come. But I wanted to.

"Good."

I kissed her goodnight, and turned the lights off.

~

"Wake up, sleepyhead." I heard vaguely.

I groaned, turning around. I was being poked on the shoulder.

"Michael." Brooklyn's voice was clear now.

I pulled the blanket over my head. "Five more minutes." I mumbled.

"It's already 12:10 PM, Mike." she said.

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. The blanket was taken off of me, and Brooke was standing above me, smiling.

"Granny says she hates to wake you up, but we're decorating the tree."

I nodded, sitting up and stretching.

"You have twenty minutes!" Brooke yelled as she walked out of the room.

~

Brooklyn: "That's perfect!" Cynthia said after Chris and my dad moved the Christmas tree to where we both wanted it.

"It's about time, Mike!" Chris said when Michael entered the room. He was still wearing his pajamas, but he covered his face with some makeup.

"Sorry, it's just that I haven't slept like that in a long time." Michael said, blushing a bit.

"Don't worry about it, son. It's understood." my dad told him.

'Son'?

My boyfriend smiled greatfully.

"Are you hungry, Michael?" granny asked.

"Uh, yeah." he said.

"Come, come. I made something, you're welcome to eat." Mimi told him, leading him into the kitchen.

"I'll go sit with him." I mumbled as I followed them.

"Thank you, Mimi." Michael said as she put a plate in front of him.

Being a vegetarian, he didn't eat too much. Mimi left, leaving us alone.

"Hey."

"Hi." I smiled and kissed him. I deepened the kiss, not wanting to let go.

Michael broke away, his eyes curious. "Can I eat now?"

I giggled and nodded.

"How were those ten hours of sleep?" I asked.

"Amazing." he answered.

I laughed, but he was dead serious.

"Well, you have a full week to sleep like that." I said.

"I can't wait."