Me, Emma, Michael and Cameron all stand outside the house, still embracing one another.

Cam is crying still, not hysterically, but rather quietly. I feel so bad for him, everything that's happened. It's quite a lot for any of us to take in, really.

There are people standing outside their houses, trying to see what happened.. even if the ambulance has long gone.

"Nothing to see here, fellas. Nothing to see," Michael calls out, and everyone gradually re-enters their homes.

"Cam, do you want us to stay with you for a while, so you aren't alone?" I ask quietly.

"Tati'll be here soon.. she's been at the police station all day.. she said there was a huge investigation, so she said she'd be most of the evening," Cam replies softly.

"We can stay with you, if you'd like?" Michael asks.

Cam shakes his head. "I wouldn't wanna force you to stay here.. someone died here, and I don't want you to be put off by that."

"It's not a problem, Cam.. in fact, why don't you and Tati stay at our house for the night? Emma, you and Mark could, too. A little sleep-over, take our minds off things for a few hours," I suggest, trying to raise the spirits, not so much that it's inappropriate, but more.. soothing.

"I couldn't ask you for anything more than you've done by staying here this long already," Cam replies.

I shake my head frantically. "It isn't a problem, right, Michael?"

"Of course not," Michael comes closer to me, and whispers in my ear. "But I was kinda hoping we coulda had an early night tonight."

"Why, are you tired?" I ask.

I widen my eyes once I understand what he means. "Oh, oh yeah.. well, we have a friend here that isn't in a great place," I whisper in his ear.

Michael nods. "Not a problem at all, Cam. You, Tati, Emma and Mark can all stay the night, for sure."

"Thanks," Cam says quietly, his voice gradually returning to its original, non-crying state.

"Do you want me to get some clothes for you guys from inside?" Emma asks.

"No, that's ok.. I'll just wear what I'm wearing now," Cam replies.

He takes out his phone, dials a number and places the phone to his ear.

"Hey, Tati.. yeah, I know you're busy but.. please come home, I need you here now.. it's important, very important.. yeah, it is more important than work.. Becky, Michael and Emma are all here with me... why? Cos they are! I need you here now.. yeah.. please.. I need you.." his voice trails off. "I need you here now, baby.. see you in a few.. bye.. I love you too, bye.."

He hangs up the phone, and places it back in his pocket.

"Thank you for doing this," he says.

"That's ok.. we couldn't expect you to spend the night there," I say.

"I'll go back to your house and tell Mark what's going on," Emma says, hugging us all one last time before running off.

Me and the boys sit on the kerb, me in the middle, Michael to the right and Cam to the left.

"Tonight's been hard.." I say lowly.

"It sure has," Cam says. "It's gonna take a lot of work to get over this.."

"You'll never get over it, Cam," Michael tells him. "But it will get easier.. over time."

"No, it won't, Michael. It won't get easier. My sister's gone, and she isn't coming back.. do you know what that's like?"

"Yes!" Michael cries suddenly.

Me and Cam turn our heads his way, shocked at this repsonse.

"Michael.. w-what?" I ask.

Michael sighs, a look of guilt in his eyes. "Yes.. I know what it's like... losing a sibling.. my brother, Marlon, he was originally part of a pair.."

"He was a twin?" I ask.

Michael nods. "Yes, and.. his twin was called Brandon, but he died pretty much as soon as he was born.. that was over a year before I was even born, but it still.. it's hard to think about.."

Tears are filling Michael's eyes, and he wipes them away with his shirt sleeve.

"Michael.." I place my arm around him. "Why didn't you tell me this before? All that.. when I found out I lost Jack, why didn't you say it then?"

"Because.. you were already upset, I didn't wanna make things worse by adding my personal grief onto yours.. that would have been bad of me," Michael explains.

"Well, we all know you ain't bad.." I mutter. "But I'm so sorry, Mikeybear."

We embrace, and I can't help but feel guilty for.. well, all of this. Tears form in my eyes, and Michael's.

"So we all know what it's like to lose someone we love.." Cam says guiltily.

A tear rolls down his face, and he joins our little group hug.

"Looks like it," I say quietly.

Then, Tati arrives in her car and looks out her side window to see us all on the floor crying.

"Cammy? What's happened?" she asks as she gets out of the car.

Cam looks up, a few tears in his eyes. "Tati, I gotta tell you something.."

"What? What's wrong? Cam, please tell me why you're all crying! Please?" Tati begs. I lift my head.

"It's Janine.." I say softly, and Tati's eyes widen.

"If she's got any of you again, I swear I'll--"

"No, Tati.. Janine spoke to us all, and we all understand each other now.. but.." Cam has to stop speaking to swallow. "But.. that wouldn't have happened if she hadn't sent the note.."

"What note, Cammy?"

"It was a note.. saying she'd kill herself.. she said she was gonna hang herself because of everything that's happened.. she felt guilty for it all, Tati," Cam says.

"She killed herself?"

"Well.. she didn't want to.. we'd just talked her out of it.. but she was standing on a stool, with the rope round her neck, she was about to take it off.. but she took a step and fell.. and she hung herself by accident.. Tati, we'd all just learnt to understand each other.. I wanted her dead before any of that! What kind of brother am I..?!"

Tati comes to Cam's side, and embraces him.

"I'm so sorry, Cam.. at least she's in a calm, peaceful place now, she won't be hurt or arrested there."

"I know.. but I only told her I loved her once.. then she was gone.."

"But she knows you love her, and you always will, now! That's gotta be a good thing, right? C'mon, you wanna get up and do something, calm you down a little?" Tati asks.

"Actually.. we're staying over at Becky and Michael's tonight.. Mark and Emma are gonna be there, too. It'll help take my mind off things."

"Yeah, that sounds nice. Thanks, you guys," Tati smiles at me and Michael.

"That's ok, we're here for you, Cam," Michael says.

"But I don't want it all doom and gloom, either. You gotta make me laugh today. I want some positivity, I don't wanna cry again tonight.. please?" Cam pleads.

"Of course. We'll play games, have fun. That'll cheer you up, even if just a little," I say.

We all stand up, and walk back to me and Michael's house.

Once we get there, Mark answers the door with a sympathetic smile on his face. "Hey, Cam. You alright?"

"Yeah, thanks pal. I'm alright," Cam's voice is low, but at least it isn't croaky or cracked from the crying.

They fist bump gently, and we all go inside. I go to see Ryder.

"Hey, little man!" I smile, lifting him up and kissing his cheek gently.

Tati walks over. "I can look after him while you play if you like."

"Sure, thanks," I smile, then, we immediately try to cheer Cam up.

"You wanna play Twister, Cam?" Michael asks.

Cam's obviously looking for something, anything to cheer himself up, so agrees quickly.

We set the board up, and I tell everyone where they have to go once I've spun the spinner.

"You not playing, Tati?" I ask.

"I would, but my skirt's a little short," she chuckles softly.

I see her point. It's above the knees.

"Ok, Michael, left hand, red!" Michael obeys and does just that.

"Emma, right foot on blue!"

"Cam, left hand on green!"

He does that, and he's smiling a little, knowing how silly he looks in this position.

"Alright, Mark, you're right foot to blue!"

Michael takes the spinner, and does my turn.

"Becky, you're left hand to red!"

"Oh, look, how convenient, right next to you!" I chuckle, placing my left hand on the red circle right next to Michael's.

He nuzzles my cheek and kisses it once.

"Oh, you're teasing me now with just a simple cheek kiss?" I ask, making

Michael chuckle. "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not.. you'll never know."

God, is that his new catch phrase?

"Right, Michael, you're left foot to green," I say, and watch Michael stretch his leg over me to reach the green circle.

I hear Emma chuckle, and Michael finally does his turn in success.

"Ha, Emma, you're right foot to yellow," I say.

Now she has to stretch, over Cam, who's gradually starting to smile at the game more and more.

"Cam, you're.. left hand to blue!"

He does this with great ease, but Michael wobbles and we all fall down to the ground, laughing.

We needed that, it's been a rough day.

"Alright.. now Charades!" Michael says.

He's obviously trying to keep everyone active, so we're not sitting around thinking depressing thoughts. That's sweet of him.

"Hmm.. uh.. first word.. spine?" I ask, watching Michael point to his spine.

He groans in frustration, and points to his back.

"Oh, first word.. back!" Cam says.

Michael smiles, indicating Cam got it right. He does the peace sign to indicate he's doing the second word.

"Second word..." I say, watching him think how to perform that word.

An idea comes to his head, and he mimes counting his fingers. He points at his thumb, then his index finger, then the middle finger, then the ring finger, then the little finger.

Then he redoes that, and stops at the index finger.

"Uh.. index?" I suggest unsurely.

He shakes his head and decides to make it more obvious. He does the peace sign again.

Oh, I get it. But Tati beats me to it.

"First word.. back.. second word.. two!" Tati says, understanding that the index finger is the.. second finger.. along.

"Ok, third word," I say, watching Michael hold up three fingers to indicate this.

He thinks of a way to perform his third word. He then puts four fingers up. Obviously changed his mind on which word to do.

"What, fourth word?" Emma asks.

Michael nods, and starts to think of a way to act the fourth word. He runs from the room, then returns with the calendar.

He flicks through to the months later in the year, and points at them.

"Months.. September, November.. May?" Mark's just going through the months now.

Michael groans again, then points at me and his wedding day on the calendar, 30th April this year, when our future begins. Future.. future..

"Oh! Future! Back To The Future!" I say suddenly, realising I'm the only one who got it.

Michael smiles and walks up to me. "Well done, baby."

He kisses my lips once, and joins me on the sofa.

"Hmm, anyone have any other game requests?" Michael asks.

When everyone either says 'no' or shakes their heads, I speak up.

"I think we're all quite tired, Michael. Should we go to sleep for the night, now?" I ask.

Michael looks at all the tired faces around us, and nods slowly. "For sure. C'mon, guys. Bed time."

We all walk upstairs to me and Michael's room, and we get all snuggly and cosy.

"Today's been.. well, a day to remember. But, at least Cam's gradually bringing his mind away from it," I say quietly, so no one else will hear but Michael.

"Yeah, I know.. he was so sad earlier, I'm glad he's perking up a little."

"Yeah.. but I wish you'd told me about your brother sooner."

"I wanted to.. but, I didn't wanna make you sad. You were dealing with your brother's death, I didn't wanna have to force you to deal with mine, too."

"You coulda told me.. no secrets from now on, right?" I ask.

Michael nods. "Yeah, no secrets."

"So how many have you gotta tell me now then?" I ask.

"Why'd you ask that?" Michael asks nervously.

"Cos we kinda just said no secrets.. do you remember any of that?"

"Yeah.. I remember that."

"Well then.. c'mon, spill!"

"There are no secrets I have," Michael assures me.

The way he says it doesn't sound so reassuring though..

"You're lying," I say shortly, a small smirk on my face.

Michael gets all defensive and holds his hands up. "No! No I'm not!"

"Yeah, yeah.." I mutter, snuggling close to him.

We're sharing a sleeping bag, it's more intimate than the bed.. heehee..

"So, Miss Costello, you have any secrets I should know?" he asks me.

Hmm, I don't think I have.

"No," I say. "I don't think I do."

"Yes you do!" Michael retorts playfully. "You didn't tell me what the wedding dress looks like."

"Well, you gotta wait a few days yet. It's not long, you'll have to see!"

"Hmmph, I was really hoping that would work then."

"Wow, you're so stupid!"

"I'm not! And I know you have a secret, Miss Costello."

"Why'd you keep calling me that?" I ask playfully.

"It's just a fun surname to say.. but Jackson's better, and that'll be your surname very soon.."

The words make me shiver. I'm gonna be a Jackson soon, that's crazy!

"Oh, I know.. I can't wait to be a Jackson!"

"Becky Jackson.. hmm, it's such a beautiful name!"

"Rebecca Jackson.." I mutter.

"Rebecca?" Michael asks.

"Oh, please tell me you knew that was my legal name?" I ask.

Michael shakes his head. "Nope, looks like that was a secret."

"Oh shut it, you!" I slap his arm playfully, and then look around the room.

Everyone's asleep but me and Michael. Even Cam and Ryder.

"Everyone else is sleeping, Michael.." I state the obvious, and Michael looks around to make sure I'm not lying.

Trust issues, ha.

"So they are," he brings me closer to him. "I guess we can have our early night, after all."

"Looks like we can.. goodnight, Michael," I smile.

Michael unbuttons his shirt slowly, then embraces me, letting me lean my head on his bare chest. Considering what's happened tonight, we can start to cheer up, even if just a little.

Michael kisses my lips, then nuzzles my cheek, speaking into my skin,

"Oh yes, it will be a good night, baby."

Author's note (cos we all love them, heehee..) soo.. was that chapter alright? It's a little more happy than before.. and the wedding's soon, yay! :D