Mike woke the next morning before Carolyn, she looked peaceful and beautiful even with her black eye. Moving hair out of her face without waking her, Mike thouught about the night before when they discussed marriage. She was willing to make a life with him after only nine months of dating and a family that hated him. It sounded like a death threat to him but to Carolyn it was love. Getting out of bed, Mike wrote and placed a note on his pillow.

Carolyn

Sweetheart I need to go home, meet me at our spot in Central Park around 1pm. Bundle up, it's Christmas Eve after all.

Love you,

Mike

Leaving for home, Mike went to his apartment and changed, phoning his bank.

"Yes, I need to withdraw up to seven hundred from my secondary closed account and put it into my checking. How long will that take? Four hours, can I go ahead and make a purchase before then? Yes, that's what I wanted to know, thank you. Thank you so much."

Getting off the phone, Mike grabbed his keys and headed for a small shop in the Italian district. Walking in, the shop keeper smiled.

"Mikey, well if it isn't Mike Logan. Gina, guess who's here?"

A woman came from the back, "Who is it Joey, Mikey Logan! Whatcha here for, a case?"

Mike went up to the counter and smiled, "not this time. This time it's for a girl. I want to see your best Joey?"

"You got it Logan, so how long? What does she do?"

"Nine months, cop, former partner." As Joey laid his best engagement rings out before Mike.

"Do I know her parents?"

"Doubt it, she's Polish."

"Really, I know some Polish. What's the name?"

"Barek. How much for this one?" Holding up a ring.

"For you, I'll cut it to twenty-five precent off. That's what, Gina what is it?"

"That's six hundred and forty Mikey."

"I'll take it. Make it special." Nodding to Gina, she went to the back of the store.

"You got it Mikey." Taking the ring, the two centimeter gold band held a beautiful princess cut emerald stone, two smaller ones on each side.

Mike pulled out his check book and wrote a check, handing it to Joey.

"The Bareks, they have two daughters and a son. Carolyn, David and Laura, Carolyn is the youngest, should be around thirty-five or thirty-six. Daniel and Cathleen adored those children. Cathleen owned that Polish bakery, my wife works there, Native Poland Bakery. She's Polish. Polish and Italian, what a mix. So is it Laura or Carolyn?"

"Carolyn, one hell of a cop. As for the ring, I found the woman I want to spend my life with. Atleast what's left of it."

"I'd watch out for the cop uncle of hers. He's protective of the children, and Daniel. You'll have to prove yourself, with your record of being the black shield of the police department, you'd be lucky to come out alive if not with Carolyn."

Gina came out with a green box, red ribbon around it. "There you go Mikey, I hope for the best."

"Thanks Joey, Gina."

"Bring her by sometime." Joey smiled as Mike left the store.

"I'll try, we're cops after all."

Mike left and Joey turned to Gina, "never thought he'd grab a cop, never thought he'd grab someone period!"

Gina just went back to the back, ignoring Joey. Mike went to eighty-sixth street and stopped at Native Poland Bakery. Going in he found Cathleen Barek refiling the baker's rakes.

"Excuse me, Cathleen Barek?" Cathleen looked at him.

"Yes?"

"I'm a friend of Carolyn's she asked me to pick up a few things for her. Two kisiels and two teas, one hot with lemon."

"Well she didn't call me."

"Alright she didn't call me Mrs. Barek, I'm her partner and I wanted to surprise her with a snack, she goes out each day and gets something. It's cold today." Showing her his badge.

"My daughter needs more men like you, wanting to make sure she's well taken care of. I'll throw in two more. Tell her I said we'd be spending Christmas with her this year, I'll be over at six tonight." Handing him a bag and two cups to him.

"Yes ma'am. Merry Christmas to you Mrs. Barek."

"What's your name young man?"

"Mike ma'am."

"I'll ask my daughter about you tonight."

Mike walked out, passing Joe Messker, Carolyn's uncle.

"Logan."

"Captain Messker, Merry Christmas." Passing him and went to his car, climbing in, he left toward Central Park

"Cathleen, why was Logan here?"

"He's Carolyn's partner Joe, very sweet. Came to get Carolyn a snack so she doesn't have to get out in the cold. Must know she loves kisiels and tea with lemon, he ordered them."

"That's the black shield of the department, Mike Logan. He shouldn't be near Carolyn, he'll shatter her career." Sitting at the counter near his sister.

"How can that be Mike Logan? He's so polite, he seems genuine with Carolyn by the way he seems."

"Logan was always able to turn from bad cop to a gentle man. I'll deal with Carolyn tonight before going to her captain over it."

Central Park

Mike walked toward the King Jagielle sculpture to find Carolyn sitting on the bench.

"Hi Sweetheart, have you been waiting long?" Sitting beside her.

"No, what do you have there?" Taking the bag and her tea. "Tea with lemon, thank you."

"I stopped by the bakery, nice place." Carolyn smiled. "I said I was your partner, your mom told me to tell you Christmas was at your house this year."

"Kisiels, Mike thank you. My mom never had a green thumb but she could bake. You got four?"

"Your mom threw two extra in. I saw your uncle on the way out." Sipping his tea.

"Oh God, Mike I'm sorry if he said anything. He'll give me hell tonight."

"Your mean us." Pulling out the green box.

"What's this?" Gently taking the box and undid the ribbon, inside laid a blue velvet box.

"Maybe we're ready." Taking the small blue box and opened it, Carolyn gasped when she saw the ring. "I remember you said yes."

"I did." Undoing her glove and let him slide the ring on. "I love you."

Mike kissed her and smiled, "Let's go home, we have till six, that's when your family will arrive."

Getting up after putting her glove back on, they went to Mike's car since Carolyn took a cab.

Once arriving home, Mike and Carolyn sat down to eat their snack before beginning to clean up. After everything had been cleaned up and moved, Mike went to get a tree while Carolyn pulled out decorations and air beds for the family. When Mike arrived back it was five, they began decorating.

"I grabbed this for you." Handing Carolyn a small box, she opend it to find a small kitten, it meowed. "Merry Christmas Sweetheart."

Cathleen Barek's voice made them turn.

"Hello Mike, hi Honey." Hugging Carolyn

"Hi Mom. Thank you for the kisiels today."

"Carolyn Annabella Barek." Carolyn looked at her fiance when her father and uncle came in the room. "What's the black shield of the Brass doing here?"

"Let me take him." Mike gently took the kitten and box, setting it down by the tree.

"Well that's a good question Uncle Joe and I have an answer."

"Good Lord Carolyn, who put that black eye on you."

Daniel Barek looked at his daughter's face and turned to Mike, "if I find out you did this, I'll make sure you never see the department."

"Sir, Mr. Barek, I could never hurt or lay a hand on your daughter. I respect her."

"I'd hope so as her partner, don't worry, it won't be for long." Joe looked at him, he looked at Carolyn, who smiled.

"Mama, Papa, there's something I need to tell you."

"Good Lord, she's pregnant. What have I said about pregnancy before marriage Carolyn. How could you do this to our name?" Cathleen looked at her daughter, Carolyn shook her head.

"Mama, I'm not pregnant."

"Thank God, alright what's the news."

"I'm engaged." Daniel and Cathleen sat down after hearing the news.

"Who's this guy who's marrying my niece?" Joe looked at Carolyn, she smiled.

"Sir, I understand you think I'm no good for your niece but I love and respect Carolyn. She was a great partner on the job and we worked well together, now I want to work with her in marriage. I asked and she said yes." Mike looked at Joe, he started to advance toward Mike but Carolyn got inbetween them.

"Uncle Joe, you know I can take you on. Don't touch him, I made my choice when I fell in love with him. Mike has never done anything but respect, work with and love me."

"He's no good Carolyn, he is the black shield of the Brass. He'll destroy your career."

"Uncle Joe, he'd loose his own before letting me loose mine." Moving away from them both.

"If I ever find out you lay a finger on her or hurt her, I'll kill you myself and serve the time too."

"My youngest is engaged finally, Holy Mary, mother of God, I have been blessed."

Mike gave Carolyn a look, she just smiled. "Strong Catholic, my parents are."

"Ah, so does anyone want dinner, I can cook." Cathleen and Daniel looked up at Mike.

"I learned how early on."

"No, David and Susan are bringing the food. Laura will be here tomorrow."