*23rd December, 1988, Christmas Eve Eve*

Me and Michael are getting married! We're going to be getting married! I'm so excited, he proposed to me in the Eiffel Tower!

That first day, when Michael said "It'll be our last holiday as boyfriend and girlfriend," that was because it was the last holiday we would have without being married!

Now we're back home, after the best birthday ever. We've only been home about an hour, so we're pretty tired and.. jetlaggy.

No one knows we're getting married but us. Gosh, I can't wait to tell everyone, Emma, the Jax boys and Michael's family. I won't bother telling my brothers. They won't care anyway.

"Oh, Michael, when can we tell everyone?" I ask excitedly. Michael chuckles.

"Look, we're gonna tell everyone tomorrow. We're having a Christmas Eve party. We'll tell everyone then. I promise, ok?" Michael replies.

We're sat on the sofa at Michael's house.

"Ok, Michael. Oh, I'm so excited! It's so close to Christmas!" I squeal.
Michael chuckles.

"You're really excited, huh?" he says. I nod and shake his arm.

"Very excited! I love Christmas, it's my favourite holiday of the year," I say.

"I've spent two Christmases with you, and you've never been so excited about it before," Michael says.

"That's because I wasn't pregnant, getting married, and safe of being shot this time last year. A lot has changed," I smile.

Michael places his arm around me.

"This is gonna be a good Christmas. I'm sorry that it won't be as good as your birthday, but, it'll still be cute," he says innocently.

"You don't have to get me anything," I say. "You got me enough for my birthday."

"Oh, baby, of course I'm gonna get you something. It won't be huge, but I'll get you something. I'm normally more organised than this, but, I'll get you something before Christmas Day," Michael assures me.

"You don't have to get me anything. I have everything I want. You, a child on the way, the knowledge that we're getting married.. I just wish I had my parents.. my father won't be able to give me away, and my mother won't be able to see me in my wedding dress. It was always her dream to see my wedding day. She always dreamt of what my dress would look like, how beautiful I'd be. But now, that's never gonna happen.." I frown.

"I'm sorry about your parents.. but you never told me how they passed away.. if you don't mind me asking, what happened?" Michael asks sympathetically.

I sigh and my mind goes back to the day I found out they'd died.

*flashback to 3rd June, 1978*

"We'll be back in a few days," mom says, kissing my cheek.

"I'm gonna miss you, mommy," my 7-year-old brother Ryan cries, holding onto mum's leg tightly and crying a little.

"We'll be back before you know it," dad says, kissing my 12-year-old brother Jack's forehead.

I hug mom, then dad.

"Good luck, in whatever you're doing," I say.

"Oh, it's just a simple business trip. Me and your father won't see each other for the first couple days, we both have to go to different places. But we'll see each other at nights. And, good luck with your grandmother, she'll be looking after you while we're gone," mom explains. I smile faintly.

"Thanks, I think we're gonna need it," I chuckle.

Our grandmother is just short of mental. She's so hyper. She makes me and my brothers look completely normal.

"We'll see you in a few days," dad says.

They walk through the door.

"Love you!" mom and dad say after each other, as the door closes.

Little did we know that'd be the last time we'd hear their voices.

A few minutes later, grandmother comes. She greets us all with hugs and leaps into the living room.

"Should we play a game, watch TV?" she asks excitedly.

I roll my eyes and giggle.

"It's up to you, grandma," I say.

She switches the TV on. Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. My favourite!

"Oh, keep this on!" I squeal, leaping onto the sofa and letting my eyes stick to the TV screen for the next half an hour.

"Becky, sweetheart, would you like to start dinner?" Grandmother asks after the TV is switched off.

"Of course, grandma," I smile, jumping up from the sofa and heading off into the kitchen. I open the fridge.

Hmm, not a lot in there. I check the cupboard. There's a packet of pasta in there. That'll do.

I open the packet and place some of the pasta into some hot water. I place it over the pan, and stand by it, waiting for it to cook.

I hear the phone ring.

"I've got it!" Grandmother says.

"Ok!" I call back.

I carry on staring at the pan, waiting for the pasta to cook.

A few moments later, grandma comes in, with tears in her eyes. She collapses onto a chair, and buries her head in her hands.

"Grandmother, what's wrong?" I ask.

She lifts her head, her face red from tears.

"Get your brothers, dear. I need to talk to you all," she says quietly. I run to the boys' bedroom.

"Jack, Ryan; grandma wants to tell us something," I say.

They jump out of their bunk beds and come down stairs with me, back into the kitchen.

"What is it, grandma?" I ask.

She tries to control her crying.

"Your mom and dad were driving in their car earlier this afternoon. Their car collided with another car, and.. they didn't make it.."

I'm already crying. Jack and Ryan don't understand what grandmother means by "they didn't make it."

"What does that mean?" Ryan asks.

I take Ryan's hand and look him in the eye.

"Mommy and daddy have gone to live with the Angels, ok? We're not gonna see them again," I explain. Ryan's eyes fill with tears.

"Mommy and daddy didn't love us any more?" he asks innocently.

"Oh, no, no! That's not it. They just decided that they.. they.. well.. the car was very clumsy, and it hit another car.. and.. it made mummy and daddy want to live with the Angels," I say.

Ryan hugs me tightly. Jack is just frozen. He has tears in his eyes, he won't move.

"Jack, are you ok?" I ask, trying not to cry too much.

"Uh.. yeah," he cries, waiting for a hug.

I hug him, and grandma soon joins in. We group hug, drowning our sorrows onto each other's shoulders.

"C'mon, let's go make dinner. We need to eat. We've still gotta live, even with your parents gone. Smile, sweethearts, you'll be ok," Grandmother assures us.

But that's it. Our lives are over. Because mum and dad are gone.

*end of flashback*

"I'm so sorry, baby.. what happened after that?" Michael asks. I sigh.

"I had to live with grandma, until I was 16. Then, I started college. I met Emma, and things started to turn out better. You came to our school when I was 21. When I was 22, my grandmother died, too. She was the only family that spoke to me. But then, I made more friends and almost forgot that family mattered. After that, you know what happened," I explain, with tears in my eyes. Michael embraces me gently.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," he repeats, cradling me as I cry into his chest.

"But just know that you've got me, you've got my family, Emma, you've got the Jax boys. And soon, you'll have Ryder. I'll look after you, baby. Every moment of the day, I'll look after you, he comforts me.

"I know.. thank you," I say quietly. "And I'm sorry I never told you sooner."

"Don't be sorry. You had to be ready to tell me. It's a big thing! So, your brothers are called Jack and Ryan? How old will they be now?" Michael asks.

"Uh.. Jack'll be 23, Ryan'll be 18," I reply.

"Aww, so Ryan's only just an adult," Michael smiles.

"Yeah, he was so innocent and young when mum and dad died. I had to dumb everything down for him, so he understood. I haven't spoken to him since I was about 16. It's not that they don't care, unless, I don't think they do, it's more, it'll bring back too much pain," I say.

"So you haven't spoken for 8 years?" Michael asks. I shake my head.

"No. I would like to see them again, Michael. But I don't know if they would want to. I was a young kid when I last saw them, Michael. They'll both be adults now," I say. Michael smiles.

"Invite them over sometime. If they say yes, you're in. If they say no, then at least you know where you stand. You've gotta see you brothers, Becky. They're the only family you have left. At least, for now. Soon, I'll be your family. I know it isn't the same, but at least you'll have someone to love that you share a surname with."

"I know. I just.. I don't know.. what if they don't wanna see me?" I ask.

Michael takes a moment to think.

"Then you'll know before today is over," he says, handing me the phone.

"No, Michael, I can't," I say.

Michael pushes the phone into my hand.

"Look, I found the number in your old phone. When you were in hospital, when Rachel shot you, I went to your home. I found it, and found both Jack and Ryan's numbers. Call them, Becky. Call them," he says. I take the phone.

"Which one first?" I ask.

"Ring Ryan first. He's the youngest," Michael replies.

I take a deep breath and dial the number. I hold the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" a deep voice asks.

Jeesh, he sounds to different.

"Ryan?" I ask.

"Who's this?"

"It's your sister.. Becky."

"Becky?"

"Yes.. I know we haven't spoken in a long time."

"Yeah, no kidding.."

"I wanna see you."

"It's been so long.. but when?"

"Do you wanna come over.. on Christmas Day?"

"It's been so long.. why only now?"

"Because, I decided it's about time we had a catch up. I've not spoken to you for 8 years."

"Ok."

"You will?" I ask hopefully.

"Sure."

"I need to ask Jack, now."

"How do you plan on doing that?"

"By ringing him--"

"You can't. He passed away a month ago."

"What? How?! And why didn't you tell me?"

My eyes are filling with tears.

"He had a friend, who gave him these pills, telling him they would cure the common cold and all that crap if he took them. He overdosed, because this friend said that the more he took, the more benefits he'd get from it, but he went too far and it killed him. Turns out they were Morphine pills," Ryan explains sadly.

"Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?" I ask quietly.

"I'm sorry. I've been all over the place. And I didn't have your number. I'm sorry. I'll come over Christmas Day. Where do you live?"

"Ok.. I live at 77 St. Ivy's Close," I say.

"Ok, thanks."

"And.. what kinda friend was that, killing Jack?" I cry.

My heart is breaking right now.

"She was such a badass, I've not heard from her since it happened.'"

"She? Who was it?"

"Oh. This girl called Rachel Scarlettson."

What?!

"Rachel Scarlettson?" I ask.

"Yeah. Why?"

"She tried to kill me twice. She shot me a few months back, but I lived. I'm lucky to be alive."

"She shot you? How do you know her?"

"She was a member of this gang at my school.. it's a long story."

"If she ever comes near us ever again, I swear I'll kill her."

"You don't need to worry about that. She killed herself. In Paris. In front of me and Michael."

"Who's Michael?"

"Oh, my boyfriend."

"You have a boyfriend?"

"Yeah, haven't you got a girlfriend?"

"Nah, but, wait. Rachel killed herself in front of you?"

"Yeah, because Michael refused to love her instead of me. I'll explain everything on Christmas Day."

"Ok. We need to catch up for real."

"I know.."

"It's been nice talking to you, even if it was so negative."

"Yeah.. I'll see you Christmas Day," I say.

"That you will. Goodbye, Becky."

"Bye, Ryan."

I hang up and look at Michael.

"What'd he say?" he asks.

"Jack's dead. Rachel killed him," I say sadly. Michael embraces me.

"Rachel?" he asks in disbelief.

"Yeah.. but he's coming over Christmas Day," I say.

"At least you know he wants to know you again. You have a chance to see the last connection you have to blood related family."

"Yeah, I know. My last blood relative."