The couple parks at the Price's house. It's Christmas day and they decided to spend that in Arcadia Bay. As they walk in they can already hear Joyce sighing.

'Aren't you two early?'

'Are we?' the punk smiles 'Okay, let me help you' she takes her way to the kitchen but the brunette grabs her hand.

'I want to. Please. Just sit down. I'll do it'

'What's with you, Caulfield?'

'You did all the work during the year. It's my turn. At least once a year. Please?'

'If you insist' she shrugs and takes her way to the living room.

'Wait! Stop right there!'

'What is it again?' she turns around.

'Mistletoe' she smiles and walks up to the tattooist.

'Nice trick, Mom' she smiles as she kisses the photographer long.

'It really is good to see you two are still madly in love with each other.'

'We're getting married as soon as possible and gonna bring up the best kid in the world!' the bluenette grins.

'You sound exactly like your father' she laughs 'Come on, cut that, don't hold Max back! Sit down and let her help me!'

'Sure, Mom, sure' she walks up to David and they shake hands 'Hello, David. I hope things go okay.'

'If you have a minute…' he points at the backdoor with his thumb.

The bluenette shrugs and heads to the backyard. She lights a cigarette and looks up to the sky. She sighs quietly.

'How's it going?' the man looks at her.

'Actually great. I'm living the dream' she smiles softly.

'You two don't fight, are you?'

'No, not really. We had a fight some weeks ago, but we're good.'

'What about her parents?'

'Her mother refused to talk to her' she sighs 'Ryan calls her pretty often. He keeps fighting Vanessa for Max. He really is sweet.'

'Poor girl'

'She has to go through all this shit because of me' she brushes off her face.

'Now, you can say that you should be grateful for your mother and me' he grins.

'I never said I'm not grateful. Of course I am' she looks at the man 'I'm just terrible at feelings and words…'

'Just like me.'

'Are you two okay?' the punk raises and eyebrow.

'Better than ever'

'Now that the troublemaker's out of the house' she grins.

'Don't say that. Sometimes it's awfully quiet without you'

'Jeez, you miss me!' she points a finger.

'Of course.'

'You know, sometimes I miss living here, too. Sometimes I start believing I'm gonna break under the pressure of responsibility' she sighs.

'Welcome to adulthood'

'You wanna ask me something?'

'How did you know?' his eyes widen.

'I work with people, you know.'

'I just…' he sighs 'You know your mother always wanted to travel to Paris but in the end she couldn't afford it'

'I guess I like the way it's going…'

'I think we could get married again.'

'That would be awesome. You two deserve to take a rest'

'There's a little problem'

'How much?' she shoves her hands into her pockets.

'How'd you know?'

'I told you. I work with people.'

'I don't really know. I tried to save money but I'm still short'

'Call me when we get back to Portland. We're gonna figure it out'

'I'll pay it back'

'You don't have to' she smiles softly 'Just make my mother happy. That's what you do. You don't have to pay anything back.'

'Can you afford it?'

'My designs are hot. People love it. I could make a fortune out of them. I can. Don't worry.'

The door opens behind them. The photographer breathes sharp.

'It's freezing out here. Come in! Dinner's ready!'

'Hold on for a second!' she takes her hand as David walks in.

'What?' she sighs.

'The sky is so beautiful tonight' she smiles.

'Chloe, I'm freezing!'

'There!' she puts her coat on her 'Three minutes'

'Mushy…'

'Let me love you, hippie!' she laughs then kisses her on the cheek.

'Soon enough. You have to love me even during the exam-period'

'I will. I always will' she closes her eyes as their foreheads meet.

'You promised there's no gifting this Christmas'

'I know.'

'You didn't buy anything, right?'

'I didn't'

'I'm serious'

'Baby, I didn't buy you anything'

'I'll kill you if you did!'

'I'm gonna come back and haunt you then!' she laughs.

'Did you buy something?'

'Max, I didn't. Did you?'

'No. That's why I'm asking.'

'We're cool then.' she kisses her gently 'Let's head back before my mom blows a fuse' she smiles.

The tattooist opens the door and lets the brunette before her. As the punk sits down she licks her bottom lip.

'Great, I'm starving! I couldn't wait to taste your dish!' she looks at Joyce.

'You cook kinda great, Chloe'

'Because I learnt from the best' she grabs a steak 'Plus, my sous-chef always does her best' she kisses her on the cheek.

'Yeah. She really is helpful.' she giggles.

'Let's not forget about that she keeps me alive'

'Stop it!' the photographer blushes.

'You're so cute!' the bluenette laughs.

'So how long will you stay?' David asks.

'We can go right after dinner' the punk grins.

'Don't be childish, Chloe!' Joyce rolls her eyes.

'We're going tomorrow. We have to get ready for the end of the year party'

'Where are you going?'

'To the parlor. Matt and Darren wants the crew to get together.'

'Are you okay with this?' Joyce looks at Max.

'Sure. Her friends are my friends as well. We spend time together.'

'Not that she doesn't have friends from college' the bluenette adds 'But she loves my friends' she grins.

'My friends are so different from yours, that's all. Who wants to talk about art on New Year's Eve? I want to let all the problems go on the last day of the year'

'Chloe's affecting you' David smirks 'Maybe next time we see you your hair'd be green, you'd be full of piercings and tattoos and every third word you'd use will be "hella"'.

'She spoils me' she laughs 'We balance each other, I guess' she shrugs 'I'm not full of tattoos. Yet' she adds.

'But the piercings are from me' the bluenette smirks then brushes off her face 'One piercing…'

'We already know that Max got her nipple pierced last March, Chloe' the mother rolls her eyes 'You're young, it's your time to live' she continues as the punk opens her mouth 'But no need to break rules all the time and going too far.'

'That's why I'm here' Max nods 'To fix her'

'She's much calmer since you're back. She used to be such a hell raiser. Now, she's a young, working woman'

'Who's a great girlfriend' the brunette adds 'She's finally learned some responsibility.'

'Stop it already!' the tattooist blushes.

'Aren't you sweet?' the photographer laughs.

'Everyone finished? Good. I can wash the dishes then' she stands up.

'No, you came to have a rest. We're gonna wash the dishes. And right after that we can play something.'

'Hella yes! Let's play charades!'

'If you insist'

'I hella am! I love that and haven't played it since… since I was a little kid!' she smiles as she takes on her coat.

The brunette takes her hand.

'What? Wanna come out with me?' she smiles as Max nods.

The punk lights a cigarette in the backyard and slowly exhales. She looks up to the sky. The photographer hugs her from behind. The bluenette gently caresses her arms until she finishes smoking. Then she faces her girlfriend and kisses her softly and hugs her tight.

'The stars really are beautiful tonight' the brunette whispers.

'You know what's even more beautiful?'

'Me'

'You're becoming sassy and I love it' she kisses her smiling.

'So, will you tell me?'

'What?' her eyes widen.

'What's in your pocket?' she raises an eyebrow.

'Cigs'

'And? What else?'

'Nothing else.'

'You're almost as bad at lying as I am. What's in your pocket?'

'Nothing' she smiles.

'Chloe…'

'Okay, fine…' she sighs 'But first of all, it wasn't for Christmas. I just bought it and I keep it in my pocket ever since then'

'Not for Christmas? Are you sure?'

'Yeah. So if you'd close your eyes…'

'I don't like this at all…'

'Please…'

'Fine…' she closes her eyes 'I hope I don't have to kill you'

'Like you could do that' she laughs as she kneels and tucks into her pocket 'Okay, Caulfield. Here comes nothing. Open your eyes'

'What the… Chloe?'

'Just open it. It's not as bad as you think'

'Is this…'

'No' she takes the photographer's hand 'It's illegal in Oregon, right? It's actually a promise ring. I promise you that I'm gonna marry you as soon as possible. If you agree, of course.'

'Are you serious?'

'I'm hella serious. Max, I… I don't even know what I'd do without you. You brought light back into my life. You make me whole. You make me feel like life worth living. I love you and I wanna marry you as soon as possible and raise wonderful kids with you'

'Chloe…' she brushes off her face.

'Do you hate me?' she stands up and cups her face 'Please don't hate me. You can say no. Max, say something, please!'

'You fucking bastard!' she sobs quietly.

'What?'

'Tell me already. I still don't get it. Why do you love me?'

'I just told you. You keep me alive. You hella saved my life so many times before. You're beautiful and talented and you're always there for me'

'I bitch about life a lot when all I should do is studying'

'It's okay, baby. School's stressing. But you're on scholarship and I'm hella proud of you'

'I know I'm in deep debt but you'll get everything back once I finished college I swear'

'The fuck? Max, you don't have to. Just let me love you. And love me. That's all.'

'You make me so happy. So happy…'

'Is it a yes?'

'Yes.' she nods as she wraps her arms around the punk's neck.

'You're gonna be the best wifey in the world' she kisses her softly.

'Do you really want this?' she closes her eyes as their foreheads meet.

'That's all I need. I have everything else. I'm almost complete.'

'Then make it official'

'Maxine Caulfield, with this ring I promise you I'm going to marry you as soon as possible and I'm going to raise wonderful children with you and I'm going to take care of you and make you happy until the day I die'

'Max, never Maxine' she laughs as the tattooist puts the ring on her finger 'How many times do I have to tell you?'

'You're mine, I don't care what your name is' she kisses her.

'I'm forever yours. Let's get in' she shivers 'I'm freezing'

The couple literally freezes when they face Joyce and David standing on the other side of the door. The punk lets a "fuck it" under her breath as she opens the door.

'You were not kidding when you said you're getting married as soon as possible' her mother laughs quietly.

'That's still illegal in Oregon. That's not an engagement ring' she blushes 'That's actually a promise ring'

'Let's drink for that'

'But Mom, it's not a big deal, it's just… Help me out' she whispers to Max.

'So it's not a big deal?' she grins 'I can still say no'

'Don't you dare!' she points a finger.

'I love it when you're blushing' she kisses her on the cheek.

'Okay, kids' Joyce sighs 'But congrats to you. You're growing up at last'

'Oh, please, Mom, don't even start it…'

'Okay, sure, Miss I'm Trying To Hide My Sensitivity.'

'Mom!'

'Let's just play, shall we?' she shakes her head smiling.

They play the night away. They all feel something they didn't for a long time: calmness.