A/n: Happy Holidays to all my friends, reviewers and readers! I hope you enjoy this little drabble.
Chapter Two
It was Christmas Eve. In about an hour, they were due at the Hardy family home for dinner and presents. The dark red velvet box had been burning a hole in Joe's pants for the last 48 hours, despite it never actually being in them. He had stashed the bag in the trunk of the car, in the spare tire well( and checked it three times just to make sure it was still there). Joe had rejected no less than a half dozen ways to propose. He had even begged his mother to help, but Laura only said that however he chose to do it would be perfect. (Doesn't help, Mother.)
Somehow, he had managed to keep his nervousness hidden from Halloran, although a few times he caught his brother looking at him oddly. Once Frank even asked him if anything was the matter, and looked skeptic when Joe answered that he was fine. After that, he purposely avoided being alone with either his brother or his father, who also suspected something was up. Of course that only fueled their suspicions and they began to discuss amongst themselves the possibility of Joe being in some sort of trouble. Ultimately, they decided to let it rest, and if Joe wanted to come to them for help, he would.
As they pulled up to the house, both Joe and Halloran were taken aback at the light display. Apparently Fenton had lots of free time this year and had spent it stringing lights everywhere. The traditional icicle lights of blue and white hung from the gutters, and each window facing the street had a wreath with a lit candle in its' center. The long row of hedges under the picture window had been festooned with multicolor net lights, and the path from the door to the mailbox was lined with candy canes. The picture window framed the enormous tree which twinkled merrily with white lights. A jaunty snowman stood guard at the door. Joe just shook his head and said "We have got to get Dad a hobby. Maybe golf."
Halloran just laughed. "Golf only works when there's no snow on the ground."
"Point taken. Bowling, then." He unbuckled and got out, quickly running around the front to open Hall's door for her before grabbing the pile of presents in the back seat, letting Hall take the enormous plate of hand decorated sugar cookies and gingerbread men in hand. They walked up the path, and were met at the door by Fenton who was sporting a Santa hat on his head and the world's ugliest Christmas sweater. "Merry Christmas, Son!" he beamed as he relived Halloran of the cookie plate. She got a quick peck on the cheek as well, while Joe was left to fend for himself. He made his way into the living room to drop off the presents under the tree before removing his jacket and hanging it in the coat closet.
Laura, busy in the kitchen, was far more conservatively dressed in a simple red sweater and black slacks. Her jewelry, however was decidedly festive, with red and green crystals forming wreaths in her ears and around her neck. Joe stooped down from his six foot tall height and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek as he snitched a slice of ham off the carving station. She laughingly slapped his hand, but too late to prevent the theft.
Shortly thereafter, Frank arrived, also laden down with presents. Dinner was a merry affair with Halloran being regaled several times over with funny anecdotes about Joe's misspent youth involving Santa Claus, a tray of cookies, a glass of milk, and the fireplace. One year it also included carrots for the reindeer. The rest of the evening comprised popping corn and stringing it on dental floss after Joe complained that the tree needed a garland. Funny how he spent more time eating than stringing, though. The holiday music playing in the background was often drowned out by laughter, and much mulled cider was consumed throughout the night.
Finally, just before Midnight, Fenton suggested the traditional opening on a single present before retiring for the night. The Parents had long ago ended the normal pair of cute, matching, Christmas themed pajamas cliché and had substituted each Boy's favorite Loony Tune character regalia instead. Joe's collection of Taz sweatshirts and ornaments was impressive indeed; Frank's Marvin the Martian's equally so. In years past, the Boys had often pooled their allowances and bought their mother a nice piece of jewelry( with dad's help of course) and Fenton and Gertrude often ended up stuck with the art class projects of the usual variety. More recently though, things like Gift certificates for massages and fishing poles were the norm.
Halloran had shyly presented her gift to the people who had welcomed her so readily into their son's life, a beautiful leaded crystal picture frame that already held a picture of the entire family. Laura gushed over it, tears in her eyes, and even Fenton seemed emotionally overcome just a tad. Frank got a voucher for a free security upgrade to the software from Infotech and he grinned like a kid when he opened the envelope. Joe's was a little harder to figure out, but she ultimately settled on a pair of VIP tickets to the NYS International Auto Show the following Spring. She also told him he had to find his own date, as she had also made herself and Melody reservations for a Spa day at the same time. Knowing his brother was less enthusiastic about cars than he was, Joe decided to ask Chet Morton instead.
Joe's present to his brother was predictably obnoxious, with all sorts of dating advice self help books and 'accessories' in a large gift bag. But at the bottom of the bag, he had slipped in the latest edition of a well respected computer forensics expert's book. Frank had been eyeing it for several months but had never been able to bring himself to pull the trigger. His gift for Halloran was less obnoxious and more romantic, if a little bland. Joe thought he saw a hint of anticipation in his mother's eyes that turned quickly into artfully hidden disappointment when Halloran opened the small box that contained the new keys and codes for the security system Joe had installed on the house they now shared. However, he did throw his mother a bone by leaning behind Hall's head and winking at the woman whose blond hair and blue eyes he inherited. She seemed mollified by that.
One final round of cocoa later, and the brothers said their good byes, with promises to return before the annual Brunch that fed the entire city of Bayport( or so it seemed some years) was due to begin so that they could help set it up. As Laura and Fenton stood hip to hip in the doorway, waving good bye, Laura sighed deeply before turning back inside.
"What's with the sigh, my love?" Fenton asked as he locked the door and set the alarm. "They'll be back in just a few hours."
"Oh, I know that." Laura responded. "I was just hoping for something to happen tonight is all."
"Pretty sure our youngest child would like to propose in relative privacy, Dear."
"You knew?!" she gasped.
"I suspected. Gertrude's ring missing from the bedroom safe, mysterious phone calls to jewelers, Joe bouncing around like a nervous jackrabbit. Clues, every one." Fenton leaned in for a soft kiss. "Don't be surprised if Halloran is wearing a new bauble tomorrow morning."
"Oh, do you think so?" she enthused.
"I saw the wink, too, dear."
Halloran was dozing in the car but quickly realized that itw as taking longer to get home than it should have. When she opened her eyes and looked around, she was confused. "Joe?" she asked. "Why didn't you turn down Maple?"
"Not going home right away. I have something to do first," was the bland reply.
"At this hour?!"
"Trust me." was all he said.
After about 20 minutes, he pulled off the road in a vaguely familiar place. She'd been here once or twice with him, but always during the day and always in much nicer weather. "What are we doing here?" she asked, curious despite her fatigue.
"Remember me saying how special this place is to me?" he asked as he turned towards her earnestly.
"Yes. You kept saying the sounds of the waves help when you need to think."
"It's more than that, though, Babe. A lot of soul searching has been done on these cliffs. I made some of the most heady life altering decisions of my life here." he turned off the car and exited, grabbing a couple of heavy blankets out from the trunk. He wrapped one around Halloran and tossed the over over his arm before leading her over to the giant rock that was his Thinking Spot. He carefully laid the blanket down in the sheltered side of the rock that was bare of snow. He helped her kneel down before doing the same, facing her. "I am about to hopefully make another one." he leaned back on his heels, and from the depths of his jacket pocket he pulled out another small velvet box. Halloran gasped as he flipped it open allowing the flawless 2 carat pear shaped solitaire ring to catch the full moon's light and sparkle like the very stars.
Over the last several days, Joe had contemplated flowery speeches, witty one liners, even quoting The Princess Bride in his quest to find the perfect way to propose. In the end, he simply said. "Marry me." His voice held an uncharacteristic note of shyness and humbleness to it. "It may sound corny, but within a week of meeting you, I knew that you were the one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. You are brave, and strong, and compassionate and loving and essentially, perfect. Perfect for me at least."
Halloran made no reply. She trembled as she reached out and touched the ring with a delicate hand. Moments before she had been shivering despite the blanket and now, now she was stunned into stillness. She wanted nothing more than to have a family again, having endured so many losses, but was she ready to commit so totally? She raised her eyes to look Joe full in the face and knew there was only one answer to that question. Still silent she leaned forward and gave Joe the gentlest of kisses, delicate as a butterfly wing. She spread the fingers of her left hand and allowed him to slip the antique ring on. She raised it to cup his cheek gently. No words were necessary. Their matching smiles said everything. For the first time since her rescue several weeks ago, Halloran Jacobs was no longer cold.
Two weeks later
"Fraaaaank" Joe whined. "Don't make me do this. That's just cruel and unusual punishment!"
"Would serve you right. Payback for all those times you annoyed me growing up." Frank was unsympathetic to his brother's plight.
"I was never annoying. You on the other hand.. Always waking me up by dumping cold water on my head, or never doing my chemistry homework for me. That was annoying." Joe pouted. "You are my best man, you have to save me from a fate worse than death. Just tell her you need me to do a stake out or something!"
"Oh hell no. You are going to that Bridal show and that is final. You agreed to a formal wedding. Now deal with the consequences. You could have eloped. You chose not to. Sucks to be you."
"Just for that I am sooooo going to make you wear the most hideous looking powder blue tuxedo I can find. With a plaid cummerbund. In Fuchsia."
"You don't even know what color Fuschsia is."
"Do so. It's...ummmm..." Joe was saved by the timely arrival of his fiancée. He loved saying that word. He'd been finding all sorts of ways to work it into the most banal of conversations. It was starting to wear thin.
"Ready, Stud muffin?" Halloran asked brightly, clutching a fist full of brochures for everything from wedding favors to cake flavors. With a last, desperate, look, Joe silently begged his brother to rescue him. When no such salvation was forthcoming Joe's shoulders sagged in resignation before he straightened up, plastering a smile on his face before turning around to face the women he was going to marry.
"Can't wait, Honey Scrunch!" he said through gritted teeth. Turning back to his brother he whispered "I hate you!"
"Have fun you two!" Frank ignored the death glare from his sibling. He at least waited until the door had shut behind them before breaking down and laughing out loud. His glee was short lived however, when his cell phone buzzed with a text message.
Just remember. Melody is the Maid of Honor. You are stuck with her Big Brother! Payback is a bitch.
A/n: I hemmed and hawed over all the different ways Joe could have popped the question, but ultimately I decided he was a creature of habit when it came to major life altering events. When it really matters, he loses the devil may care attitude and simply speaks from the heart. Hope everyone has a chance to truly reflect and enjoy the holiday season. I will see you all after the holidays with my next big story! Caranath