His sleep was restless that night. He was angry at Mary, but he'd prayed for hours after their talk. He'd finally come to the place where he could forgive her.

She'd hurt him deeply, but he couldn't forget the look on her face. She was totally serious.

"Joseph."

"Behh – what?!"

He woke up right away, blinking at the startling white of the man next to his bed.

"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Joseph was lost for words not for the first time that day. Before he had recovered adequately, the angel was gone. He knew right away what he had to do.

He scrambled out of bed and flipped on the light, unburying his phone from under a stack of papers. He quickly dialed her number by heart and prayed she'd answer.

She did. On the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mary, it's Joseph."

"Joseph, listen, I'm serious. There really was an angel, and I'm not going crazy! I--"

"Yeah, I know. See, uh, an angel just talked to me too."

There was stunned silence for a moment before an ear piercing shriek broke the silence.

"Then you know! I wasn't lying! I told you, Joseph!"

"Yes, yes, I know. I'm sorry," he said, wincing and rubbing his ear. "You were right, I'm so sorry for ever doubting you."

A little more silence, followed by a thick sounding,

"I forgive you, Joseph. We're still getting married, right?" and a loud sniffle.

"Yes, if you want to marry me..."

"Of course I do! I can't blame you for not believing me. It's kinda... far out."

"But I should have believed you."

"It's alright, I forgive you."

"But I shouldn't have done it."

"Joseph..."

"I can't believe I actually thought--"

"JOSEPH! I forgive you! It's fine, I understand. Go back to sleep, it's 4:30 in the morning."

"Are you serious? What are you doing up?"

"I... don't know. I kinda had the feeling you'd call."

Joseph grinned. God was amazing.

"I love you, Mary."

"I love you too, Joseph."

--shrug-- So there 'tis. Hope you liked it. It's not my best work by any means, but it was nice to do something different. (For those of you who don't know, I write Fairy Tales and Redwall fanfic, so this is a tad different) Anyway, I ramble.

Please REVIEW!

Candy canes to reviewers! --waves them temptingly--