December 9th 1996

Day three of our last days in Oregon. We found the other boys in adequate conditions so we left them to rest. At least they all got back okay. Angus and I took the day to lounge around the hotel as last night was still a surprise to both of us. Mostly me, but anyway I also wanted to know what Angus had to ask me. Apparently everyone else knew. I thought I'd subtly hint at it with my 'superior hint dropping skills' and he'd tell me. He knows I hate surprises.

"So Angus," I started. "If there's any other surprises, you should tell me." He looked at me.

"Don't you think one is enough?"

"Of course, but if you had any more..." I smiled like an idiot and he only raised an eyebrow at me. I crossed my arms and frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What's wrong?" I gave him a look. "What?"

"You know I hate surprises," I mumbled.

"What surprise?"

"What am I supposed to say yes to?" His eyes widened in realization.

"I don't know," he smiled.

"Oh for crying out loud!" He only shrugged so I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Hey now, don't give me sass or you'll never know," he said pointing a finger at me.

"I'm not giving sass."

"Yes you are."

"You are."

"You mouthing off?"

"I don't know," I shrugged.

"I think so."

"Am not." He put a hand under my chin and pulled me closer.

"Yes you are. Now I'm all for telling you the surprise, but you need to act like a little lady first."

"I'm not a little lady."

"I know," he smiled. I blushed. What's that supposed to mean? "You're damn stubborn, ya' know that?" I know what that means. He let me go and stood up from the couch.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Where?"

"Out." I sighed as he closed the door. Boy, he ain't hiding anything, huh?

Angus walked down the hall to his brother's room. Even hungover he should be able to talk him into the plan. Last night was hard enough as it was.

"You kissed her?!" Malcolm asked brushing his teeth. Angus frowned at the toothpaste fresh on his shirt. "Sorry mate, but-"

"Yeah, I did." Malcolm wiped his mouth.

"So. How did that happen?"

"I didn't expect to, but she said Mitchell kissed her and I-"

"Oh, you got jealous then?" Malcolm smirked.

"Well-"Angus shrugged. "I mean, a little yeah."

"Mmm."

"And she was just standing there so I got carried away and..."

"And...how did she feel about all this?"

"Well-she didn't take it lightly."

"Mad?"

"No. Confused."

"At least she wasn't mad."

"I mean, she said she wasn't mad, but I'd say that to me too."

"So why'd you come here?"

"Nervous."

"Of what?" He pointed to the door. "Of her?"

"No, just-askin' her an' stuff."

"She pester you about it?" Angus smiled.

"Nonstop." The men walked to the kitchen and sat at the breakfast bar. "I left the room before I talked myself out of it."

"Made you that nervous huh?"

"Yeah."

"Jesus Ang, still need your big brother's help asking out a girl."

"I don't see it that way."

"No? Everyone else does."

"Everyone else is wrong."

"Yeah, right. So when is this charade?"

"December 16th, I've got eight days."

"Seven. You don't want to ask the day of."

"Why not? People do it all the time."

"For a small date, not an event like this."

"Oh. I've never heard that."

"Which is why you're asking me for help. Now I'm sure she won't mind how you ask so we've got a bit of freedom there." Both of them sat in thought. "How'd you ask Ellen to marry you?"

"What?" Angus looked at him.

"Like, did you plan a whole elaborate scheme, or did you just make a suggestion or something?"

"I don't know, you probably helped me."

"You don't remember how you proposed? That's sad."

"I think I took her out somewhere, then just asked."

"And after thinking about it for seven months, she agreed. Seriously, you asked quick."

"I know...but proposing is different than this-whatever this is."

"You're right. So you gotta do it right this time."

"But that's just it, what is right?"

"Whatever you think it is Ang. Any way you ask her is right."

"So...what's wrong?"

"Not asking at all." Malcolm stood up and got himself a drink.

"What if she says no?"

"You think she will?"

"No but, she might."

"If she says no, she says no. That's the end of it."

"I get that but, I don't want her to."

"Course you don't, no one likes that. But you've asked her things before, she's never said no. You didn't even ask to put your lips all over her, she still didn't decline."

"Wasn't really able to Mal." They laughed and Malcolm sat down again.

"Well, either way she's coming, we can't just leave her there all day. At the house."

"Right. I wish I knew how long she was staying, so I knew what to do, and when."

"Staying? Oh in 1996?"

"Yeah."

"You know, for 1996, a Christmas party is a little corny."

"It's a Christmas slash welcome back party."

"Yeah. Corny."

"Maybe."

"Here's a thought Angus-"

"That's new."

"Yeah, so how's it gonna be when your wife and you know who are together? Hmm?"

"They're friends."

"Yeah, and? You're not even going with your own wife!"

"Yeah I am, but..."

"But..."

"Hannah's going as a friend."

"Not what you said when you first brought it up."

"I said, 'hey mates, how'd it be if I asked Hannah to that thingy coming up?' After you laughed at my choice of words, you thought it was terrific."

"Never said as a friend."

"I figured that was implied."

"Not with us Ang. We know."

"Okay, I'm gonna head back to my room."

"You gonna ask?"

"We'll see."

"Tell me how it goes."

"Sure thing." They hugged before parting. Angus closed the door after him feeling worse but better at the same time.