Thanks for the reviews! If anyone's got any ideas for things to happen before midnight, tell me! :) xxx

Six Thirty

"Oh my..." Lester had appeared in the doorway, holding a tray of plastic mugs of coffee up. He looked as though he was about to drop them.

Everyone around his was laughing and cheering. Jess had tears running down her face, but presumably happy tears; in her hand she clasped a box with a tiny diamond ring inside. She looked like the happiest girl in the world.

"Come in, Lester," Matt suggested drily.

He put the cups down on the floor and sat down on the edge of the bed, straightening his tie, "I was going to ask what I'd missed, but I think the story would take a while..."

"Aren't you going to do it properly, Becker? Like, kneel down and all that?" Connor suggested from his own bed.

Abby gave him an elbow, "Just give them a minute, Connor."

Connor had proposed to Abby last year – their wedding was in summer. Abby knew how she'd needed time to digest it after he'd given her the ring, mainly because of how he'd done it...

Becker shuffled off the bed and knelt in front of her now, though, "Jess... Jessica Parker. Will you make me the happiest man in the world, and be my wife?"

"Suitably cheesey," Lester muttered, but even he was smiling.

"Yes," Jess sniffed, reaching out and hugging him, "Yes!"

He kissed her, then took the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger – it fitted perfectly, "I love you, you know? And I've missed you, so much."

"Me too."

"We could do with something a little stronger than coffee, Lester," Matt smirked.

"Now you come to mention it..." Lester picked up the tray again, "I managed to slip a bit of whisky into them."

"Sneaky," Abby laughed as she took one, and tried it, "Oh my God, Lester! Coffee as well? I think I'm going to be sick."

Connor took a sip, "It's quite nice, actually."

"Thank you, Connor. At least someone appreciates my effort," Lester took a gulp of his own drink. His eyes widened, as though he'd realised it was horrible himself, but didn't want anyone else to see.

Abby tried not to laugh, "It's New Year's Eve! We can drink whatever we want – even whisky and coffee mixed together!"

"Well, now..." Lester abandoned his improvised cocktail and turned towards Matt, "Abby and Connor are getting married, and so are Jess and Hilary, so..."

Matt choked, and liquid flew from his mouth and soaked his shirt. Nobody was sure if it was the drink or the suggestion, but Connor hit him on the back, and he stopped coughing. "I'm tied up."

"With whom?"

"Emily. She couldn't be here tonight – she sends her warmest wishes, by the way – but..." he coughed again, "But I'm perfectly happy with her, thank you, Lester."

"Fine. Can't do anything right today, can I?"

"Oh, chill, Lesty," Connor grinned, opening his new joke book, "Here, let me read you a joke to cheer you up. Errm... What's green and sings?"

"I don't know, Connor: what is green and sings?"

"Elvis Parsley."

"Oh dear..." Becker murmured, still clinging on to Jess. He had a huge smile spread across his face, and his eyes were glittering – Matt looked at his friend now, and thought he'd never seen him happier.

Connor stared at his boss, "Don't you get it, Lester? You know, Elvis Presley? Elvis Parsley? Parsley's green?"

"Yes, Connor, he gets it," Abby smirked.

"Mmm..." he turned a couple of pages, "What's green and runs around your garden?"

"Elvis Parsley?" Matt asked, keeping expression face serious.

"No, Matt. That was the last question. It's a different question now..." Connor rolled his eyes, "Obviously, it's a hedge!"

Everyone in the room burst out laughing. Jess stared down at her ring, holding Becker's hand, smiling brightly, "Don't worry, Connor – they're not very good at jokes."

"And we didn't even have to put up with the millions you must have told Jess whilst you were both here," Abby grinned at Connor affectionately, "I'm surprised you didn't bore her to death."

Jess shrugged, "It was a close call."

"What do you call two bananas? A pair of slippers. That's not funny," Connor continued.

"You said it, mate."

"Ooh, do you remember that programme? The one with the two bananas in pyjamas, and they ran down the stairs? What was that called again?"

"It's kind of obvious," Matt grinned again, "Bananas in Pyjamas."

"Oh, yeah."

XxXxX