They got in the car and drove to the suburbs outside the city. Stopping at a medium size house, Carolyn smiled.

"Are you sure I should come in, I can go home and get a bag for us"

"Later, you'll do that later. Come in and meet my family Mike, they won't kill you."

"Are you sure?"

"Mike, you can take on an ADA, why not my parents?"

"Well, that ADA wasn't my fiancee's parents and family."

"They may not like you but I love you. Now stop being an ass and come in, I'll pull you in if I have too."

He opened his door and got out of the car, Carolyn shook her head. He had left the hospital when her mother came, coming back later. Mike didn't want to cause a problem with her family so he stayed out of the way. In fact, they hadn't known yet, well her uncles probably knew, he hoped not.

Going to the front door, Carolyn unlocked it and they went in.

"I'm here, my fiance's with me."

"Carolyn Mary Barek, I told you to call if you even got a boyfriend." Her mother said coming down the stairs. "Hi, I'm Cathleen, who has claimed my baby."

"Mike Logan."

"Carolyn?"

"Mom, I love him. He proposed not even an hour ago."

"I'll just go." Mike started toward the door but Carolyn pulled him back. "Caro, I'm not that welcome here."

"Mike, I'm marrying you so you're welcome."

"Carolyn." Her sister-in-law came in and stopped when she saw Mike. "The black shield, Mike Logan you aren't welcome here."

"I tried to leave." Starting to go again but Carolyn looked at him.

"Mike, you're staying. Linda can put up with you."

"Hell I'm not."

Mike looked at Carolyn before saying something, "Caro, I'm not welcome. My history won't sit well with your family, the ones in the force. Give up Baby."

"Where will you go?"

"Home, I'll bring you a bag by later." He kissed Carolyn's head and she nodded, "enjoy Christmas."

Mike started to the door and Carolyn looked at Linda, "you should see the tabloid Linda. I have it in the car."

"What tabloid?"

"I'll get it." She went after Mike, getting to the car as he did.

"What is it Baby?"

"Just come back with me for a minute, I want to show Linda the tabloid, it should help."

"For a minute then if she doesn't change her mind..."

They went into the house, Linda was still standing where she was.

"This tabloid." Handing the tabloid to Linda, she read the front.

"Just crap." Handing it back to Carolyn, or tried, Carolyn didn't accept it.

"Read the inside."

Linda opened the inside and read part of the passage.

Detective Carolyn Barek of the Gang Central Squad was placed in the hospital after her ex-boyfriend Chris Keller, FBI, shot her. After hours of being under arrest for the attempted murder of girlfriend and former partner, in which he was wrongfully arrested, Mike Logan is released. Agent Keller is now going to serve a term of twenty-five years with no possiblity for parole. Detective Mike Logan has shown faith in the legal system by not causing harm to the defense or any other legal personnel unlike his attitude toward an years before. Detective Barek is to make a full recovery and be back on the force within a week after the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

"Only difference between that and now, is we're engaged." Pulling her gloves off and her ring showed.

"Oh my God, Logan I'm sorry. Welcome to the family."

"Told ya." Carolyn looked at Mike, he shook his head and kissed her's.

"Baby, I shall never doubt you again."

"Better not!"

"JA wola nie!"

Carolyn smiled, "How much Polish have you learned exactly."

"Just enough."

Christmas Eve with the Bareks was alot more fun then Mike expected, dinner was great.

"What happened to Polish food?" Mike looked at Carolyn.

"We're not that Polish." She smiled and took his hand.

"So is it true you are the black shield of the brass?"

"He was Hellen." Looking at her aunt, Carolyn noticed her uncle shake her head. "What is that again Uncle Joe?"

"I just can't see how you want to marry him."

"I love him and he's the only guy not to leave, hurt or cheat on me."

"I love your niece, I could never hurt Caro, she's a grace from heaven."

"Grace from heaven?"

"What, you're an angel Caro." As he squeezed her hand, Carolyn laughed and shook her head.

"I handle a gun Mike, I doubt it."

Cathleen looked at her husband, David Barek smiled. No one had ever made Carolyn laugh like Mike Logan was doing. He made her a better woman, her appearence was more happy, she was different.

"Mike, welcome to the family." Mike smiled as David made the comment, looking at Carolyn, Mike gave her a look.

"That's a welcome only a future spouse of his children gets. That means we have his blessing."

"Thank you David."

Later when it came time for Christmas Eve gifts, a Barek tradition.

"Carolyn, your Christmas Eve gift." David handed Carolyn a medium size box.

"Explain this gift thing." Mike looked at Carolyn as she sat with her gift in her lap.

"It's a family tradition, the children and grandchildren recieve a gift on Christmas Eve. Once everyone gets theirs, we unwrap them. It is unsure what they are. We buy them from a Polish store. The red are for adults and green for children. They could mean different things. It just depends on what you get."

"Alright, green may go."

The grandchildren unwrapped their boxes, Mike noticed a tear in Carolyn's eye, he knew it was for their lost child.

"C'mere." Placing an arm around Carolyn, she leaned into him. "I know Baby."

"Shh, I don't want anyone to know." She wiped the tear from her eye.

David said it was time and everyone unwrapped their gifts, Carolyn got an apron. The family smiled and Cathleen laughed.

"It's perfect Carolyn, you know what it means don't you?"

"Yes Mom I know, I'll still be a cop after the wedding."

"I read about this, at the wedding the bride gives up her veil and takes an apron. Giving up her former life and becoming a wife and mother."

"Mike, what else did you do to learn about the Polish culture? Go to Poland?"

"No, but I read atleast twenty books, well fifteen actually."

Cathleen looked at the two, perfect. "Carolyn it means it's destiny, you're ready for marriage. Stand up and let's try it on."

"Cathleen you know she can't." Cathleen looked at her husband before Mike piped up.

"It's bad luck if the bride tries it on before the wedding."

"Well then, a while before I have to."

"I prayed to the Virgin Mary for a daughter and I got a beautiful one at that. I can only hope that my grandchildren will be just as beautiful."

Mike knew if Carolyn answered she'd be in tears so he answered instead. "They will be, so much I'll be running background checks regulary. I've decided to give our first child a Polish name. Carolyn has agreed."

"He's obsessed with the Polish culture."

"No I'm not Baby, just proud to have a Polish bride."

Carolyn laughed and leaned her head against his shoulder, "I love you."

"I love you too Caro." He kissed her head.

"Alright, this Christmas only they grandchildren are staying here so..."