I've got a new computers -though I've got to share it with my older brother- and it runs so fast I barely have time to think hahaha It's awesome.

I'm very ashamed about the delay, there's no excuse for it but I just want you to know that it wasn't intentional.

Enjoy and review.

I woke up warm and comfortable. I rolled over and hugged the pillow. God, I love sleeping... I had the weirdest dream though... We were on tour and-

My eyes flew open and I stood up in a blink, maybe too fast cause everything got dizzy and my head hurt, forcing me to close me eyes. I stumbled with the sheets and fell to the floor, hitting my face against it.

"Oh, God..." I gasped.

I looked around; I was alone.

"Stephanie?" I asked out loud. How stupid, she already wasn't in the room.

I ran out of the bedroom, the ran back in and put on my jeans in a rush.

Oh, Jesus! Did she want me to have a heart attack?

"Steph!" I asked as I ran down the stairs.

Leah and George were in the couch, watching the TV. Their mum had dressed them again so they would match, both of them with red woolen sweaters with shapes of Christmas trees. Our eyes met.

"Hi" I said. They smiled. They are pure evil, even when they look like they are doing nothing... But inside those two little head, master evil plans are being developed.

"Hi" they both said in the childish voices. That's the only thing that makes them a bit innocent, their voices.

"Have you seen Stephanie?" I asked.

They shoke their heads. I just nodded and made my way to the kitchen. Mum was there, cooking today's lunch, humming her favorite song though she doesn't even know its name.

"Hey, mum" I said, trying not to look alert or she would freak out "Have you seen Stephanie?"

"No, not really darling. Why?" she turned around and I could see right there the alarm I woke up inside her "Did she get lost? Did you two have a fight?"

"No, mum, it's just... We're playing hide and seek"

"Then, baby, you can't ask me, that would be cheating!"

I started at her for a moment, not truly believing she actually bought that. Now I see why I am not so smart...

"Right, mum... Thanks anyway, I'll keep looking"

I got desperate and ran up the stairs again. I grabbed my mobile phone from the desk and dialed Steph's number. Her mobile phone started beeping, it was right there laying in the desk.

"Oh, crap" I said. I grabbed her phone and stared at it for a moment, trying to think where the hell she could be, when she just opened the door and came in.

"How many times have I told you that it bothers the hell out of me when you spy on my mobile phone?" she said, racing an eyebrow, her hands on her hips "You should already know I've got nothing to hide"

I put the phone down while I blushed.

"I wasn't spying on your phone, I swear. I was trying to find you. Where were you!"

"Oh, honey" she said, a strange look in her eyes, then she spoke with clear sarcasm "I'm sorry I forgot to ask permission to go the the bathroom"

"Oh..." I blushed even more, feeling so so stupid "No, that's ok. Sorry..."

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone, then put it in her bag.

"I don't like you being like this, Dougie. You're so paranoid here" she said.

I hugged her from behind and sighed.

"I know, I'm sorry... I just hate waking up without you" I said.

"But there's no need to call the army over that, honey"

I giggled "Oh, babe, you'd be worth it"

She tried not to laugh, but I knew her better. I kissed her cheek and Steph smiled. I felt that warm feeling inside my chest I always feel when she smiles in this particular way and knew that asking her to marry me was the right thing to do. I felt kind of weird knowing that the ring, Steph and I were in the same room. I just needed to find the perfect timing... I was thinking about Christmas dinner, that would be a romantic thing to do, but I felt nervous as I picture myself doing it in front of all my crazy relatives. What would they say? I didn't even want to imagine the look on Jazzie's eyes.

"Promise me you'll try to relax, Dougie" Stephanie said as she turned aorund to look at me into my eyes.

"Hum..." I hesitated. I've never broken any promise I've made her "I promise I'll try"

She rolled her eyes again but kissed me once quickly.

"Come on, get dress. I'll be downstairs, I have to study"

"When's the exam?"

"I told you like three times"

"I suck at remembering numbers"

"No kidding..." she smiled a bit "It's the 1st of January"

"They shouldn't be allow to do that. What if somebody arrives drunk? You know, from celebrating"

"Well, they can so I've got to study for it. There's so much I haven't read yet" she sighed and moved her fingers nervously unconciously. I caressed her cheek and smiled.

"Now who's got to relax?"

"Hey, this is a big deal. It's very important that I pass this exam, Dougie"

"You'll do great, you always do"

She smiled with sweetness and I leaned down to kiss her.

Just around thirty seconds passed when grandma opened the door. Perfect timing. I leaned away from Stephanie quickly and blushed. Grandma stared at me for a moment, probably thinking I wasn't wearing enough clothes as she considered appropiate.

"Good morning" Stephanie said both politely and friendly "Did you sleep well?"

"Perfectly, dear." grandma said. Oh, yes, be nice, be nice... "Dougie, your mother says we're eating in about an hour"

"Ok, thanks"

She hesitated a moment "Boy, get some clothes on. Don't let God think you're living in sin"

"Sure" I said. Steph rested her face against my back, probably trying to not laugh "It's not funny!" I said when grandma left.

She smiled from ear to ear "I'll just wait for you downstairs"

Steph grabbed her books from her bag; two thick, old books that only God knows how the hell she's going to manage to learn all for the 1st of January. I'm so gratefull for being in a successful band cause other wise I would never be able to do what she does. I like that from her, that we're different in some things; she's smart, everyone knows I'm not. She's so clever it makes me proud to talk about her with other people.

"Oh, babe" I said before she opened the door and left. She turned her head around "Be careful, ok? The kids are downstairs"

"Ok, I'll meke sure they don't eat me" she rolled her eyes once more before closing the door behind her.

Ten minutes later I was decent to join the rest. Steph was reading in the couch next to aunt Ivy. The kids were sitting in the floor, watching the TV, but I caught them looking up at my girlfriend a few times. That gave me a bad feeling.

"Do you have to read all that?" George asked. Oh, he's showing interest, that can not be good at all. You're only safe from him when he ignores you.

"Yes" Stephanie said as she smiled at him "Big book, isn't it?"

"Huge. You could put an elephant inside it!" Leah said, opening her eyes a lot. Both Ivy and Stephanie giggled.

"No, you can't, silly!" George said.

"George, be nice to your sister" aunt Ivy said without taking her eyes off her book.

"Why do you have to read it?" Leah asked.

"It's for a very important exam" Steph explained.

Leah was about to say something else when we all heard the front door opening and mum greeting someone. I sat down next to Steph and we all waited until aunt Moo and uncle Dean came in, little Daisy in uncle Dean's arms. George and Leah stood up, smiling, when they saw her.

"Daisy!" they shouted in excitement. And now I officialy declare the Apocalypse has started. She smiled at them and Dean put her down.

Moo hugged aunt Ivy while Dean greeted me.

"Dougie, it's been a long time" he said.

"It has indeed" I said.

"How are things? The band?"

"Perfectly" I said. I've always liked uncle Dean, he's a nice guy. He turned to watch Stephanie, who smiled at him shyly.

"And who's this?" he asked friendly.

"My girlfriend, Stephanie" I said.

"Oh, you're the model?" uncle Dean asked.

"No, I'm not" Steph said politely. Doesn't it bother women when people confuse them with other women? It does, doesn't it? Oh, fuck.

"Oh, you're the one studying erotic massage?" uncle Dean asked and winked at me. Oh, God, I'm screw. I bit my lip and didn't even dare meeting Steph's eyes. How the hell can he remember me telling him about that?

"No, still not me" Steph said, not as nicely, but without being rude either.

"Oh, sorry" Dean said "Then you're the orphan, right?" Jesus Christ, doesn't they have any tact at all? Two minutes ago I liked uncle Dean, now he's screwed me up completely. I looked down at Steph, worried, knowing this had to have hurt her feelings. A lot.

"Yes" Steph said, all signs ot politeness gone "That is me"

"Oh, we finally found you" Dean smiled. Doesn't he realize he made a huge mistake?

Steph just nodded and grabbed her books.

"If you excuse me, I'll go upstairs for a moment. I forgot something" she said.

"Sure, we'll talk later" he said and turned away.

Stephanie hurried upstairs and I followed her. She practically ran to our room when everyone else was out of sighed. Just when she was about to close the door behind her, I managed to get in.

"Steph, I-"

"Get out" she said as he thew the books to the bed and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Baby, listen to-

"Get-out-!" she said between her teeth as she turned around, tears in her eyes "Please"

"I'm sorry!"

"Dougie!"

I sighed, feeling like crap, and just nodded, worry spreading through my body.

'Please, God, don't let it be it, don't let us finish like this' I thought as I closed the door behind me.