A/N: See intro for standard stuff. Thanks to all who keep finding this story. Keep proding and I'll write when I can. Thank you to all my readers. Let me know what you think.

Tess and Don followed behind the other couple as Stephanie wove her way through the crowd. John even had to hurry to keep up with his fiancée. Don squeezed Tess' hand.

"Ya doin' okay?"

Just fine," Tess replied a little breathlessly. "This is Steph all over. What she lacks in height, she makes up for in speed."

"That's not quite what I meant."

"I know. I'm fine, really. Of course, had Steph listened to me and gotten dinner earlier, we'd be in less of a rush now." The group was stopped by street light. Tess wrapped her arms around Don and tugged him close. "By the way, thanks for not griping too much. I know how much you've been looking forward to this concert." She kissed him softly.

"It's the whole reason I came up here." Tess rolled her eyes and punched Don's arm.

"Adam's good. I mean really good."

"Sure he is. Orchestra stuff just isn't my thing."

Tess lips twitched. "You could check on scores on your phone."

Don's eyes lit up. "Can I?"

Tess shook her head. "Don't even."

Don flashed her a mock pout. "Yer a tease, Sweetheart."

"And you love me anyhow." Tess pulled Don's head down near her ear. "Too bad Adam's got us in separate rooms. I'd show you how much a tease I'm not." The light changed. Tess looped her fingers through Don's and tried to keep Stephanie in sight. "Oops. Back to running again."

"That's so not fair, Tess," groaned Don as she tugged him down the sidewalk.

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Don wrapped his arms around Tess and held her tight against him. Fireworks lit the sky of the dying year. The night had turned out well. Listening to Adam's string ensemble wasn't as bad as Don had thought it would be. So far they had avoided any faux pas around Tess' siblings. Don gave Tess a small squeeze. She turned in his arms and smiled up at him. Don felt himself slipping into her warm chocolate eyes. Tess hugged him a little and laid her cheek on his chest.

"Hey, you two. You're missing the fireworks," chided Stephanie. Tess caught Don's gaze and both grinned as a similar thought flashed between the two of them. "Come on. Break it up." Tess turned her back against Don's body again. She stuck her tongue out at her sister. "Oh, real mature, Tess."

"Killjoy."

"I thought that was my job," commented Adam as he joined them. Christine came up behind him, carrying a tote. Adam pulled glasses out and passed them around. Then he extracted a bottle. "Here is our 'cup of kindness.' Almost Midnight." Adam passed out the glasses. "And Steph, try not to have yours gone before the bell tolls. It's for toasting the New Year. Not getting toasted now." Adam popped the cork and filled their glasses.

"Oh, you are sooo amusing, Big Brother." Just to provoke him, she took a big gulp. "Hey, that's not cheap stuff."

Adam smiled. "And now you understand why you're not supposed to chug it." He shrugged. "We don't often get together. I can splurge. Besides, we have good news all around." Adam waved his glass at his wife. "The ensemble is doing great. We have a new CD coming out. A European tour planned. Thank you, Christine." She just smiled and tilted her glass back at him. Adam turned to Stephanie. "You are engaged. Finally." John squeezes Stephanie's hand to stop her from retorting. Adam turned to Tess and Don. "Now, if we could just convince you, Little Sister."

Tess' eyes widened. "Convince me what?" she asked innocently.

"That you need to get married." Don had guessed what was coming and had Tess firmly in his grip. She still slouched a little.

"Um…" she stammered. Tess took a big gulp of her glass. She started to cough as she choked on the bubbly. Don gave her a couple of thumps and rubbed her back.

"Jeeze, Adam. Be a little more subtle." Stephanie watched as Tess brought herself under control. "Don't let him pressure you, Tessie. You and Don have been dating, what? A couple of months or so?" Tess didn't answer. "I think you have a little time." She frowned as Tess coughed again. The crowd started to chant the countdown to Midnight. The group's attention turned from Tess. Don wrapped his free arm back around her waist. He kissed the top of her head.

"Happy New Year!" Tess carefully turned in Don's arms. He leaned down and kissed her. Tess clung to his lips. They broke the kiss and just looked into each other eyes. Tess bit her lip. There was so much she wanted to say in that moment. Too many people. No, just the wrong people. She trailed her fingers along Don's chin. He rubbed his thumb over her lips.

"Later," he assured her. He gave Tess another quick kiss. "I know. I wish we were anywhere but here too," he whispered into her ear. They broke apart and Tess hugged the rest of her family. Several toasts were made all around. Tess barely touched the glass to her lips and poured it out as soon as she could. Don caught her and pulled her close again. Tess nestled into the crook of his arm.

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Tess lay very still in the dark of Adam's spare room. She swallowed a sigh, not wanting to wake Stephanie. She hadn't gotten a chance to tell Don anything. She ground her teeth in frustration and turned over.

"I'm not asleep either," came Stephanie's voice.

"I'm sorry," whispered Tess.

"For what? You're not keeping me up."

"Good." Tess couldn't hold back the sigh this time.

"Do Mom and Dad know?"

"Know what? That I'm dating Don? Well, yeah."

"Tess. Don't be obtuse. You know that's not what I meant."

"No, I don't," she insisted.

"Fine. Keep playing dumb. I'm guessing not."

Tess sat up. "What are you getting at, Steph?"

"When are you due? It's got to be a while yet." Tess sat silently. "Talk to me, Tessie."

The silence stretched between them. "How did you guess?"

"I've been around quite a few pregnant friends by now." Tess could hear the smile in Stephanie's voice. "And some of it was a guess. You were broadcasting clues all over the place. Better learn subtlety."

"Oh." Tess tugged on her braid. "Please don't tell Adam. Or Mom and Dad."

"I won't, but better sooner than later, Little Sister."

"I know. It's not going to be easy."

"Understatement of the century. Do his folks know?"

"No."

"Well, at least you two are keeping everyone in the dark. Bette knows?"

"Yes. I had to tell her. That and I moved in with Don about a week ago."

"Wow. I'm guessing Adam doesn't know that either?"

"No. And don't go harassing me. You and John were living together for years."

"Yes, but I'm the wild sister. No one blinks when I move in with a guy."

"That's not quite true either and you know it. Trust me. I got an earful."

"Close enough. Really, no one was surprised. You're not married, right? Cuz that would really kill Mom and Dad."

"As opposed to being a 30 year-old unwed mother?"

"That's not what I mean. They're gonna want to be at the wedding."

"Who says I'm getting married?"

"You're not getting married? Do I need talk some sense into that guy of yours?"

"Don wants to get married," Tess answered quietly.

"You're the one dragging your feet?" Stephanie asked incredulously. "You're kidding right?"

"Don't lecture me, Steph. I don't want to hear it."

"Well, I'm gonna say it anyhow."

"Just stop. Okay? I'm not going to get married just because I'm having a baby."

"People have had stupider reasons. Yours is a pretty good one."

"And next year or the year after that, when we wake up resenting being trapped with each other?"

"A little late for that, don't ya think?"

"That's not the point."

"Tess, that's completely the point. Married or not, you're going to be a part of each other's lives from now on. You think it's really going to be easier if you're not married? You're just splitting hairs, Tessie."

"It's just…"

"Everything else is spinning out of control? You'd better get used to that."

"More advice from observing your friends?"

"Well, it's certainly not first hand. At least not about kids. But I do know about being a control freak."

"You a control freak? I wouldn't have guessed."

"Ha. Ha. I almost lost John over it. And that I would have regretted. Don't be stupid like I was. You've got more at stake."

"I am not…"

"Broken record, Tess."

"My business, Steph."

"And I'll let you mind it. For now."

Tess sighed. "Good night, Steph."

"I won't tell Adam. Or Mom and Dad."

"Thanks." Tess lay there, thinking. She heard Stephanie drift off to sleep.

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Don watched Tess yawn again at breakfast. He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. Tess gave him a weak smile. He slid closer to her and leaned in.

"Are ya OK?" Don asked quietly.

"Tired. Girltalk." She yawned again. "Big sister was full of advice."

Don looked a little worried. "Oh," he replied.

Tess nodded. "Exactly."

"And?"

"She called me a control freak."

Don nodded. "I can see that."

"I am not a control freak," protested Tess.

"I've seen worse."

"I should feel better about that?"

Don looked around. No one else was up still. "Tess, I don't want ta fight wit' ya."

"Well, you started…"

"No, you said Stephanie called ya a control freak."

"And you were agreeing with her."

"I don't want ta fight with ya," he repeated.

"Then let's drop it. Okay?"

"Fine. We'll drop it. For now."

"And Steph calls me a control freak."

"I never claimed I wasn't," stated Don.

"Great." Tess shook her head. "What a pair we make.""

"Yes we do." Don kissed her hand. Tess looked down and shook her head slightly. She looked back at Don and smiled. Don grinned back. Tess leaned in and kissed him lightly. Don wrapped his hand around the back of Tess' head and deepened the kiss. He tugged her closer. Tess anchored her fingers in his hair. Don kissed her until they were both breathless. He leaned his forehead against Tess'. "I love you. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

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