*Christmas Eve, 1988*

A day til Christmas Day. I know my brother's coming tomorrow, the last blood relative I have left.

I hope it isn't awkward when we meet. I still can't believe Rachel killed Jack.

Drug overdose.

I wanna know how he met her. How? How?

Me and Michael are putting the party decorations up in the house. The Christmas tree went up in November, just to be a bit early.

We've put up the lights and the hanging decorations, but now we're putting up stuff like mistletoe.

Mistletoe *raises eyebrows*

"This Christmas is going to be ok, isn't it, Michael?" I ask.

My happiness is kinda drained today. Finding out Jack is dead has got to me.

And I still don't know about Emma and Mark. Rachel said they told her where we were in Paris. Was that true? Ugh, I don't know.

"Yeah, baby. It's gonna be hard, but it's gonna be good, too," Michael says. I shrug and sigh.

"It's the last Christmas without Ryder, too," I say.

I begin to climb a ladder to put a piece of mistletoe up on the roof. Michael places his hand over my stomach to stop me climbing any further.

"Stop. You can't go climbing ladders when you're pregnant," he says. I sigh.

"Michael, you managed to get me up the Eiffel Tower in Paris," I retort playfully.

"That's when I knew you wouldn't fall. This is a ladder. It's different."

I quit protesting. He won't give in. I climb off the ladder and hand him the mistletoe. He hangs it above us.

"Oh, look. Mistletoe," he chuckles, before leaning in and kissing my lips.

I chuckle when the kiss is over.

"You planned that, didn't you?" I ask.

Michael smirks. "Maybe."

We hear the doorbell.

"I'll go," I say, walking to the front door.

I open the door slowly and see a man.

"Hi, can I help you?" I ask. The man chuckles.

"God, you haven't changed much, have you?"

"Uh.. am I missing something?"

"Becky? Y'know, you're my sister? I'm Ryan."

My heart stops. Ryan? God, I didn't recognise him!

"Ryan? You.. you look so different! I'm sorry, I thought.. you're a day early," I say.

Ryan rubs the back of his neck with his fingers and sighs.

"I wanted to see you. I couldn't think of anything else last night but you. I've missed you, I didn't realise I did, but, you're my last blood relative. I didn't wanna go through life without seeing you again," he says.

"So.. come inside," I say, ushering him through the door.

He steps inside. Michael is hanging the mistletoe up.. still.

"Michael.. this is my brother, Ryan. Ryan, this is my boyfriend, Michael," I say, introducing the pair.

They shake hands, but pull away when they are face to face.

"Wait.. I've seen you before," Ryan says. Michael gives a confused look.

"Oh god, how could I not realise sooner?" Michael asks in shock.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Becky, I think I better go," Ryan says awkwardly.

I stop him before he walks off.

"No! Tell me what this is," I demand.

Ryan plays about with his shirt, before walking back into the room fully.

"Ryan used to date my sister, Janet. Then, he went and broke her heart by leaving her when they were 16. She hasn't heard from him since," Michael explains with a hiss in his voice.

I've never seen Michael so evil-eyed before. He looks so angry.

"16? I was young! I was young, Michael!" Ryan protests.

I don't know what the hell to do now!

"And you still didn't tell me or her why you left her! Oh, and it was only two years ago!" Michael growls. Ryan swallows.

"No, wait! You never let me explain! Cos you don't listen! You decide you hate someone, then all of a sudden, BOOM! You don't speak to them ever again! That's your problem, Michael. I know I hurt your sister, but if you hurt mine, I'll make sure to hurt you!" Ryan threatens. I look to Ryan.

"Look, Ryan, he won't hurt me. He used to, but he doesn't anymore. It was an act! He was in The--"

"The Jax, I know! He was in the same gang as Rachel!" he says. I widen my eyes.

"Yeah, you never told me how you knew her," I say. Ryan looks down.

"I left Janet for Rachel. But then she left my school about two years ago.. to go to live in Gary. She went to Montclair--"

"Prep and Community College, I know. That's how I met her, I say. Ryan widens his eyes.

"She went to your school? Is that how you met her?" he asks. I nod.

"Yes. We went to Oxford University in California together. For this year long trip thing. That's how I finally became close with Michael. We finally worked each other out at Oxford," I say. Ryan smiles.

"Well, isn't that nice. Why Michael, though? Why not Daniel Waters, or Miles Hathaway--"

"You know them, too?" I ask. Ryan nods.

"Yeah. They're good guys," Ryan says.

"Daniel's dead. He got shot a few months back," I explain. Ryan widens his eyes again.

"I was close with him back.. a few years ago," he says.

"So, wait, you dated Rachel Scarlettson? How? Why?" I ask.

I look over to Michael, who is watching intently.

"Yeah, I left Michael's sister for Rachel. She was a few years older than me, so it was technically illegal. But, we didn't really tell anyone that would bust us. Then, when I was 17, she went and said she was leaving me for a new school, a new life. She dumped my ass, and didn't even say bye to me. I didn't hear from her for years, until about five months ago. She told me everything, saying "I'm sorry I dumped you, but I'm having a good life here. I love someone else, I'm a bad girl now," I told her I still loved Janet, and that I had moved on from her, too, but she never told me who she loved, and she never explained any further," Ryan tells me.

"That boy was Daniel," I say.

"Waters?"

"Yes. I was forced to date Daniel at one point, to keep me and Michael from getting hurt. But that backfired, and me and Michael ended up risking our lives when Daniel pulled out a gun. It was the most horrible experience of my life.." I say, starting to feel tears forming in my eyes.

Ryan comes to comfort me. Michael is staying in the background, still watching everything unfold.

"So you left Janet when you were 16?" I ask. Ryan nods.

"And Michael never let me forget it," he says. Michael launches forward.

"Cos you're a little player! You hurt my sister!" he growls, almost choking Ryan as he tugs on his collar.

Ryan coughs a little and steps back. I pull Michael away.

"Look, calm down! I'm sure there was a valuable reason why he left her!" I cry.

"Because he's a player!" Michael asserts.

I take a moment to think. 16?

"Wait.. when Ryan was 16 years old, our grandmother died. That was when me and you got together, Michael. That's the reason! Ryan must have been upset about losing our grandmother, he must--"

"Yes. I never told you, Michael. I left Janet when my grandmother died. I was all over the place. I didn't know what to do. I only dated Rachel because she looked after me. Janet didn't comfort me at all. That's why.." Ryan explains.

All of the anger in Michael's eyes vanishes. He looks at Ryan.

"That's when your grandmother died?" he asks. I nod.

"Yeah. Don't you remember? I told you, when I was 22, just before we got together," I say. Michael looks at Ryan.

"So, you didn't leave her for Rachel? You left Janet because of personal reasons?" he asks. Ryan nods.

"Yes. And if I could ever see Janet again, I would fix things again, and maybe get her back, if she wanted," he says sadly.

Michael's face looks guilty.

"I-I'm sorry, Ryan. I didn't mean to over-react. I should've listened to you, when you left Janet. That's my problem. I don't wait. I just jump to conclusions. I'm over-protective, and I guess.. I just.. I'm sorry, ok? Can you forgive me?" he asks. Ryan takes a moment.

"Hmm-kay. It's ok. I'm sorry I left her in the first place. I would love to see her again," Ryan says. Michael smiles faintly.

"We're having a party today. I can re-introduce you both, if you want. But I'll explain to her, about everything beforehand. She can get violent when it comes to exes," he says. Ryan looks down awkwardly.

"So, that's everything solved. Apart from one thing; why did Rachel kill Jack?" I ask, a few tears in my eyes. Ryan looks up.

"I.. when she found out that me and Jack were brothers, she called me. She said she was friends with Jack. They met somewhere, I don't know where.. but then she said, "Oh, I realised I love you again. Take me back?" and I said no. Because I didn't love her. I loved Janet. She got mad, and said she would get revenge. Of course, I thought she would do something to me. But I was wrong. It was done to Jack. I still don't understand why he believed those drugs were normal tablets. I wish I'd have known," he says. Michael comes to my side.

"Rachel was such a troubled woman. She needed help. But now she's gone, we'll never figure out what went on in her head now," he says. I nod in agreement.

"Yeah," I say, a few tears in my eyes. "But, c'mon, we need to get ready for the party."

I take a piece of mistletoe from the side and hang it on a door handle.

There have been so many deaths lately. I need to have some time alone. I'm lost right now. Mum, dad, Jack, grandmother, Rachel, Daniel.. all of them, gone.

I walk from the room and go to me and Michael's bedroom. I'm all over the place right now. I need time to think.

I sit on the bed and bury my head into the pillows. I cry into them, leaving stains on them.

I hear the door open, and a soft touch on either side of my shoulders.

"It'll be ok, Becky. We're gonna get through this together," I hear Michael say.

"Yeah, I need you, and you need me," Ryan says. The doorbell goes.

"I'll get it," Michael says.

He leaves the room, and I lift my head from out the pillows. I look up to see Ryan.

"Why is life so hard?" I ask sadly.

Ryan sits on the bed by me.

"I don't know," he says.

He strokes my shoulder. He looks down at my stomach.

"How did I not notice that before?" he asks.

I look down and remember my bump.

"Oh, yeah. We're having a baby boy, it's due in May," I say. Ryan smiles.

"Congratulations," he says.

He kisses his hand and places it on my stomach.

"He'll be beautiful just like you," he says.

I hug Ryan. I needed that hug.

"Becky, there's someone here who wants to see you," Michael says.

He steps to the side to reveal Emma. The other person I need answers from.

"Emma," I say weakly.

She walks towards the bed and sits down by me.

"I'm sorry I haven't seen you in such a long time," she apologises.

"Try 6 months, that'll be more accurate," I say.

She looks into my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I've been doing a lot recently. I.. me and Mark are back together. He told me everything, that Daniel was killed, that Rachel was the one who shot you. I've missed a lot," she says.

"I haven't seen you in six months, Emma. Why have you only just come back?"

"Because.. I.. I didn't know if you still wanted to talk to me. You seemed to ignore me a little, I thought you wanted time away from me," she says.

"I ignored you because I happened to be dying in hospital."

I over-exaggerate my point a little, to make her feel bad.

"I'm sorry.. has anything happened since I've last talked to you?" she asks.

"Actually, yes. I'm pregnant--"

"Oh god! I'm so happy for you!" Emma grins.

She tries to hug me, but I try to deflect it.

"Me and Michael went to Paris, we got back yesterday. It was my birthday two days ago, just in case you forgot about that," I say sarcastically. Emma frowns.

"I know it was. I'm sorry. But I didn't know you were in Paris," she says.

Huh?

"Yes you did know, you told Rachel," I say. Emma widens her eyes.

"What, no! Where did you get that from?"

"Rachel," I say shortly.

"Well, she's a liar."

"Was.. a liar."

"Was?"

"She shot herself in Paris about five days ago," Michael interrupts. Emma's eyes widen.

"Really?" she asks.

"Yeah. She said you told her where we were," I say.

"How would I know where you were?" Emma asks. I shrug.

"I don't know--"

"Look, I'm sorry about everything. I'll be a better friend to you in future. I promise," Emma says. I smile faintly.

"It's ok," I say.

Emma goes to hug me, and I let her this time.

"Who's this?" she asks, looking in Ryan's direction.

"My brother," I say.

"I never knew you had a brother," she says.

"I know I never told you. But he only came today, too," I say. She nods in understanding.

"He's cute," she says.

"And also 6 years younger than you," I chuckle.

"Oh, ok," she gives up.

"I'll tell Mark about this, if he still wants to know me," I joke. Emma smiles.

"Of course. College will be just like old times," she says.

"I'm not going back to college. Ever," I say.

"Oh.. I'm quitting soon anyway. I'm gonna get a job in my father's work place," Emma says.

"Awesome. When can I see Mark and the Jax boys again?" I ask.

"You can see Mark later. He's coming here for the party," Emma explains.

"How'd you know about it?" I turn to Michael and he's smirking.

"You invited them?" I ask. Michael nods.

"Sure did, baby," he smiles.

He sits on the bed by me and hugs me.

"And the Jax boys?" I ask. Michael nods.

"It'll be just like the old good times," he says.

I smile for the first time in a couple days.

After months, the people I love are starting to come back, they're returning little by little.