~~Christmas Morning~~
"WAAAAKKKEE UPPP!!!!" Gwen heard outside her door. She grumbled and rolled over. She knew any minute her sisters would be barging in and waking her up. As if on cue, her door flew open and Maddy jumped onto her sisters bed.
"GWENNIE! It's Christmas!!" she squealed. Gwen grumbled and rolled out of bed. She joined her family out in the hall. Ashleigh and Whittney were trying to wake up too.
"Okay, everyone is here, so you guys can go down now," Judi told the two younger girls. Olivia and Maddy flew down the stairs with Dave and Judi close behind with the video cameras. The three older girls lugged down the stairs and made their way into the living room. Olivia and Maddy already had the room tore up and were playing with their brand new toys. Ashleigh and Whittney started making piles of everyone's presents when the doorbell rang.
"Oh Gwen will you get it honey? It's Martha," Judi asked Gwen. Their neighbor always made them a fruit cake every Christmas morning. Gwen got up and opened the door expecting Martha but found AJ standing on her porch instead. She let out a small gasp and felt tears swell up in her eyes.
"Merry Christmas," he said.
"Wh..what are you doing here?" she stumbled.
"Gwen, I am so sorry. I got scared and I realized that I made the worst mistake I could ever make. Please, I beg you. I need you and you need me. I am so sorry," AJ pleaded. Gwen felt her heart melt but her natural stubborn side kicked in.
"AJ, just because you came all the way here, doesn't mean I'm going to forgi..." she started to say but was quickly interrupted.
"I know, I know. But I can't live without you and I messed up. I promise I will never ever hurt you again," he said. She looked into his eyes and could see all the pain he was going through. "I love you," AJ said. Gwen was silent. Judi was wondering what was taking her so long and looked in the hall to see AJ. She smiled and went back to the living room.
"I love you too," Gwen whispered. She leaped into his arms and he held her tight. They starred into each others eyes and he kissed her passionately.
"Merry Christmas," she whispered as they kissed again. They separated and walked hand in hand into the living room.
"AJ!!" Olivia and Maddy screamed.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" he called out. AJ and Gwen sat down and watched everyone open presents.
"I have your present with me, but I want to give it to you in private," he whispered into Gwen's ear.
"Okay...actually, I have yours too...just in case," she admitted. He smiled and kissed her nose.
"You know me too well," he smiled.
~~later that night~~
AJ took Gwen outside and they sat on the porch. They were bundled up in coats and scarves and enjoyed privacy. AJ turned Gwen to face him and held out a big box.
"I want to give this to you first because I knew you'd love it," he said. She ripped off the wrapping paper to reveal a black cowboy hat that said 'GWEN' in blue jewels.
"AH!" she exclaimed. "I love it!!"
"I knew you would," AJ said, putting it on her head. She and AJ both loved cowboy hats and he had an identical hat that had 'AJ' in yellow jewels. His expression turned serious and he pulled out a small velvet box. Gwen saw it and held her breath. "Please don't be an engagement ring.. its too early..." she prayed to herself. He saw the look in her eyes and smiled.
"Don't worry, it's not an engagement ring," AJ said. Gwen sighed a sigh of relief to herself as AJ gave her the small box. She slowly opened it to see a beautiful thin band gold ring with two beautiful diamonds. Gwen gasped and looked at it in awe.
"I want you to trust me completely Gwen," AJ said. He took the ring out and held it in front of her. "Read the inscription." She swinted her eyes and looked inside the ring. It read 'So I wait for you'. Gwen felt tears in her eyes as AJ slid the ring onto her finger.
"It's a promise ring," AJ explained, "The two diamonds represent us and then if we end up getting married, your engagement ring will be one diamond because we will be together," he said. She smiled and felt her heart melt.
"Where did you get that one?" she joked, "Did Brian write that for you?"
"No, actually its from a Hallmark card," AJ played along. They laughed and she held up her hand.
"It's beautiful," she said, looking at her ring.
"It's you," he whispered in her ear. She stroked his face and kissed his lips.
"Thank you," she said.
"Oh yeah, there is one more thing," AJ said, after kissing her. "I want you to come to my house for New Years," he said, "I want you to meet my mom and see my crib." She laughed.
"Of course," she said, as she kissed him again.
