"Are you sure 'bout this Maddie?" Dallas asked a bit unsurely, "It seems like a longshot to me."

"Believe it or not, my parents are the ones who suggested it," Madeline answered, "They want to try and get to know you."

"Why would they wanna do that?"

"Cause we already told them that we were gonna get married whether they approved or not, so I guess they figured they had nothin' to lose."

Madeline had met up with Dallas in town like they planned to. She had made sure to bring a newspaper page where she had circled possible jobs that she thought he might be good at or even enjoy doing. While they were out, she figured that she'd bring up her earlier discussion with her parents. After thinking about what her parents had suggested, she'd thought that maybe it was a good idea. They were getting married anyway, so why not try and all act like civilized adults? There was absolutely nothing to lose- so why not?

Dallas seemed hesitant and unsure about having dinner with his fiancé's parents. Sure, he wanted to make Madeline happy and try to act civil with her parents- his future in laws- but he wasn't too sure on how serious they were about this. How would he know how they'd really act when he was sitting at their dinner table, in their house? Sure, they may say that they'd act perfectly civil, but how would they really act when it was happening? Saying something and doing something were two very completely different things, and he wasn't sure if they'd keep their word.

"I'll be there the entire time," Madeline said in attempt to be reassuring.

Dallas scoffed a bit. "I should hope so," he said in an obvious tone, "Don't leave me alone with your parents just yet, Maddie."

She gave a playful and teasing pout. "What? Is the big, bad Dallas Winston scared?"

"Knock it off, Maddie."

"Come on, Dallas, I'm just foolin' around with you. Look, it'll be fine, ok? I'll be with you the whole time, I promise. There's no need to be scared."

"I'm not scared, Maddie. I just don't wanna screw somethin' up for once."

Madeline's eyes filled with sympathy as she moved closer to him, leaning against his arm. "You won't screw it up," she said gently, "You're Dallas Winston- and I thought Dallas Winston always gets what he wants?"

Dallas let out a low chuckle as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Ha- ha," he teased sarcastically.

"You told me that yourself, Dal'. Now act that way, am I clear?" Her tone was serious and demanding, but at the same time, caring and encouraging.

He looked down at her, kissed her forehead and ran his hand up and down her coat covered arm. "Crystal clear, babe."

-/-/-

Exactly a week before Christmas, Dallas walked up the walkway that led to the front door of his fiancé's house. He'd borrowed clothes from Darry that would be more "presentable" in appearance and more "respectable", once thinking about the occasion. He was definitely uncomfortable in the oldest Curtis brother's suit- which he'd now begun to call a "monkey suit"- but he agreed slightly that it might be a better clothing option at the moment than old jeans, a shirt, sweatshirt, and a jacket.

Madeline met Dallas at the door. She hugged her cloak like overcoat around her body as she walked up to him. He had been nervous as he walked up to the house, but now wore a poker face like he did for everything else. He'd felt a bit eased when he saw her walk toward him, clad in a semi-formal outfit and cloak that protected her body from the cold.

"Hey," Madeline greeted and quickly kissed him, "You ready?"

Dallas shrugged a bit. "Sure," he said in a monotone voice.

The two shared a quick and encouraging look before they walked up and into the house.

-/-/-

Soda sat on his bunk, going through a box that had been sent from back home in Oklahoma. Both him and all the guys in his unit had received mail, and also had the opportunity to just take a break and relax in one of the American owned locations. Most of the guys there were all going through their recently received mail- if they had gotten anything- as a time killer, eagerly going through their letters of the small packages from loved ones back home, wherever they were from.

Soda had to do a double-take as he looked through the package. There was a letter with his name and sending address, and in the return address identification: his ex-girlfriend's name and address. He gingerly took the thick, white, neat envelope in his hands. He flipped the envelope back and forth in his hands for a moment, trying to decipher in his mind that she'd written him back, and getting over the initial shock at the sight. The shock had hit him like a truck when he realized that Cherry had actually written back to him for the first time since he'd been drafted.

Once the shock left his body, Soda quickly but gently opened the envelope and slid the papers on the inside out of the envelope. He unfolded the few sheets of papers and straightened them out to be able to read them easier. He held the sheets in both of his hands, the edges now getting slightly wrinkled, and inspected the handwriting on the papers. Once his mind had confirmed that the handwriting belonged to Cherry, he looked down and read the letter.

By the time the Soda had finished reading the letter, he had a smile on his face. He wasn't sure what in or about the letter had made him smile, but he was happy about it. Even though he figured that there probably no chance of him getting back together with her- once he returned home, of course- he still cared about her, the same way she still cared about him. Would it be a nice thing if they ended up getting back together? Of course it would be- but that wasn't a definite. And he had finally been able to understand that.

But either way, he was still thankful that she'd finally written back to him.

-/-/-

Cherry raised her arms behind her head as she tied her hair back into a ponytail. Once done, she ruffled the edges of her hair as she stood in front of the mirror on her wall. She then flattened out her black skirt, then straightened out and readjusted the edges and positioning of her blouse. She then slipped on a cardigan and her boots. Taking one more look at her appearance, she grabbed her winter peacoat, then left the room.

This should be a fun family dinner, she thought as she walked down from the stairs to the first floor of her house.

-/-/-

"Does this look alright?" Madeline asked unsurely.

Madeline and Dallas waited together in the living room of the house. At the moment, they were the only two that were in the living room. She stood in front of him, her cloak off and on the couch, showing her appearance to him. She wore a conservative long brown shirt and a red pullover sweater with a round neckline. She let her hair hang naturally like a drape over her shoulders. The only jewelry she wore was his old ring on her left ring finger, and the watch she'd gotten for her eighteenth birthday a previous year.

"You look great, Madeline," Dallas answered and walked toward her.

Madeline gave a small smile and examined his unusual appearance. "You look good in a suit," she complimented, "Very mature-looking."

"Don't remind me."

"Oh come on, babe- you look great."

"Get a room, you two," Cherry said in a teasing disgusted voice as she entered the room.

The two snapped their heads in her direction in alarm, but calmed down when they saw who it was. A moment later, Mr. and Mrs. Valance entered the room as well. The elder couple looked over the appearance of the three young people present in the room, nodding and giving looks of approval, impressed by their attire.

"Shall we get going?" Mr. Valance asked as he headed towards the front door. The four others nodded and followed him out of the house, shutting off the lights and closing the door behind them.

I apologize for the four week long wait for an update, rather than two week. But I've had a lot of schoolwork these last few weeks, since I just started my senior year. The job I was going to get also feel through, and I didn't start- in fact, I quit my first week, but if you were me and knew all the details, you'd understand why. And it wasn't like I decided on a whim to quit, I got opinions from people who know me well and are very important to me.

Anyway, I don't know if I will update in two weeks or four weeks again. My life is kinda hectic at the moment- good hectic- so I'm a bit overwhelmed at the present time. I'm also trying to finish a few stories and start a new one, and try to write something on Episode Interactive (don't judge me) and try to finish a book I'd been writing to get published, plus I volunteered to make story covers for a website that is for writers. So yeah. Not to mention I'll be applying to colleges soon- plus my 17th birthday is this month (September) so yeah.

Most likely it'll be in another four weeks.

Also, before I finish- Rest in Peace, Gene Wilder. My two favorite roles of yours were as Willy Wonka in the amazing "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and as Dr Frankenstein in the hilarious "Young Frankenstein". You were a comic genius, a genius of your trade, and a true legend. Your death is grieved by people of all ages and generations, creating some of the best films in comic and film history. Thank you for all you've done throughout the years, and thank you for all the laughs. June 11, 1933 to August 29, 2016.

Anyway, hope you liked the chapter, and peace from all the hippies of the world. =^-^=