<Skyler's POV>

Christmas Eve

I started the chemo in late November and the radiation is making my hair fall out slowly. It started slow at least then it started to get faster. With the help of Chris I cut my long black hair that had reached past the middle of my back for as long as I can remember. Now it is just above my shoulders. I'm pregnant still,  but that doesn't mean I don't worry everyday that the baby, rather babies will be hurt or unhealthy and die. I've been pregnant with the newfound twins for three months along with Chris and her little boy. My twins are a boy and a girl. My determination to have the twins live is at its highest. I lost Tibby's twin, I am not loosing these two.

Dallas and I are actually doing okay despite the circumstances. We are even having the gang come to our house for Christmas Eve dinner tonight. I've been attempting to make a big dinner all day. I'm not a great cook but I'm trying my best. Tibby has been in her high chair watching me as I cook. After I finish preparing some thing I will play with her for a bit then go back to cooking. Dallas found a job as a bartender at the Dingo and it's not to bad. He always says at least he is in the presence of alcohol from 4:00-9:00 on weekdays. He gets off early tonight since it's Christmas. In fact he should be home in about twenty five minutes.

I grab a giggling Tibby from her high chair and bring her to the bathroom. "We need a bath don't we Tibby!" I say happily. She giggles more as I take off her onesie. I set her down on the toilet as I undress myself. I grab Tibby again and turn on the shower. "Mama's going to let down her hair, ready?" Tibby smiles in response and I take the hair tie from my short hair. A few strands come off with it but I brush away the thought.

Stepping into the stream of warm water from the shower hose calms me down from the stress of cooking. I place Tibby on the bath mat in the shower and wash myself as she splashes in the left over soapy water. When I finish I pick her up and wash her head with the baby soap and lather her tiny body in it. A pour forms on her puffy lips. Tibby isn't a fan of showering but she needs to be clean for our small party tonight. We will be with the gang tonight, everyone will go home and then we will get together at the Curtis's for a Christmas Day brunch and dinner. I step out of the shower with Tibby in my arms and dry us off. I notice the bump that enlarges a bit more each month has gotten even bigger as I dry over it with the towel. "Your little siblings are growing," I tell Tibby. She giggles and I scrunch my nose at her.

I walk into my room and dress the both of us. When I walk back into the living room with a clean Tibby, Dallas is walking through the door. He smiles at the two of us. "Hey baby girl," he says kissing Tibby's forehead. Dallas rubs her scalp then kisses my lips softly. "And last but not least, hello little children," he says as he squats down in front of my abdomen. He rubs the small bump and kisses it through my shirt. I smile. This is exactly where I want to be. Here with my baby and two soon to be children, and my husb- boyfriend. Dallas stands back up and kisses me again. "How are you feeling?"

"Clean," I say putting on a happy face. Dallas raises an eyebrow. I let out a breath. "Tired," I say.

"Alright then, when is everyone getting here?" Dallas asks. Just as he asks this Two-Bit barges through the door in what could be considered a ghetto Santa Claus costume. Kieth has dressed himself in oversized red pants, Darry's red jacket with a pillow shoved in it, a black belt that I think belongs to Chris, Dallas's black boots, my red beanie that he has a white ball glued to, and a beard made of pillow stuffing.

"HO HO HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS WINSTONS!" He shouts with his hands in the air.

"How did you manage to get my hat?"

"And my boots?"

The Curtis's walk in right after Two-Bit, escaping the white wonderland outside. "We asked him the same question," Christina says with a smile on her face, her husbands hand in hers, and her baby boy resting on her belly. I smile and go over and hug my friend.

"Well aren't you going to ask me what's in my sack?" Two-Bit asks.

"What about Kieth's sack?" Steve asks, walking in with Lena on his arm. I burst out laughing and greet my other friends.

"No really I have a big sack, but this one has toys for the kids in it," Two-Bit clears up. Chris and I set the two kids down on the couch and Two squats in from of them with his toy bag. Darry gets out his camera and starts snapping pictures. "For the little lady we have a... switch blade case!" Kieth says happily. The side of the black leather covering is imprinted with the words, 'From Uncle Two, fight on'. I groan.

"Two, she's not even a year old, she doesn't have a blade yet," I tell him.

"I know I just want her to have it for when she is older," Kieth explains. Dallas's arm snakes around me.

"Awe come on Skyler Elizabeth, I think it's cute," Dally protests. I sigh.

"Thank you Two-Bit."

"Not a problem now for the little man, we have a... locket! And what's inside you may ask, well it's a picture of all of us with the little bugger," Two-Bit explains. It's true. When Two opens the locket there is a minuscule black and white photo of all of us together. I remember taking that photo. It was maybe two months ago, before I cut my hair. Christina covers her mouth.

"I love it." Josh takes the necklace from Two and starts to gnaw on the chain. We all laugh and Steve takes it from the child and gives Chris the locket for now. He also hands me the blade case to hold onto. I place it on the kitchen counter for now. Chris puts the necklace around her own neck so it is touching the locket that Dallas gave her that belonged to Delilah.

Dallas grabs the remote and turns on the tv. He throws Soda the remote and he catches it swiftly without hesitation. "Find something Christmasy," Dally says. Soda and Steve flick through the channels until it lands on the 1946 black and white film It's A Wonderful Life. I awee and jump up and down. "This one Soda! I love this movie!" I yell giddily. Soda smirks and places the remote on the side table next to the couch.

"Alright ya'll I'm sure Sky here worked real hard on cooking us some appetizers and a meal so let's bring out the starters!" Lena yells. I smile as everyone cheers. Chris and Lena follow me to the kitchen where I have a few trays of stuff like chips, crackers, cheese, fruits, and grapes." Chris and Lena get the plates of food and I go straight for the drinks. I grab a bottle of wine and a Gray Goose, I take a few beers in my arms as well.

After the other two girls have set the food on the table in the center of the living room I come in with the alcohol. "I've got the vino!" I yell. Two-Bit whoops and Dallas smiles to me. I place the beers and the wine on the table. Steve pulls a wine opener from his pocket. Only Steve would carry a bottle opener with him. I take the gray goose and open it in my lap.

"Hey Skyler can I have the Vodka?" Steve asks. I give him a mean look.

"This is for me," I spit. Just as I'm about to chug a bit Dallas snatches the bottle from my hands while tisking at me.

"Eh eh eh, you can't drink remember," he reminds me. I pout and reach for he bottle and Dallas just puts his hand on my face. Tibby laughs at us from the floor.

"Just a sip?"

"Nope," he says popping the p. I accept defeat and then look around. It looks like we're forgetting someone.

"Guys is everyone here?" Dallas's eyes widen.

"Johnny cakes!" He yells while quickly getting up. "Pony keys!" He yells. Pony tosses Dally the keys to Darry's truck and Dallas is out of the door. I frown at myself and rub my forehead.

"Ugh how could we forget John," I groan, "Dallas and I always pick him up," I exclaim. It's true. In the last few months, Dallas has taken Johnny to work with him at least twice a week, I pick him up to come to our house so he can babysit while I work around the house or go out shopping. Johnny walks with us to parties with the gang. He is practically our son.

"Relax Skyler, Dally will be back with him soon," Chris says.

"I just feel bad, we left him with his suckish ass parents, what if the poor boy got beat on Christmas fucking eve!" I shout. Steve covers Tibby's ears and Soda does the same to Josh.

"Watch the profanities girlie," Soda warns playfully. I roll my eyes jokingly at the two.

A few minutes later Dally comes back in with Johnny trailing behind him. We all put on big smiles and yell Merry Christmas over he sound of the movie in the background. Johnny waves and walks with Dally to the living room where we are sitting in chairs, on the couch, and on the floor watching the movie and eating the snacks I made. Johnny sits next to Pony, who is playing with Josh who he took from Soda, on the floor. I now have Tibby in my lap but I put her on the carpet with the two young boys and Josh. She crawls to them slowly and unsteady. Chris comes and sits in my lap on the chair I'm sitting in. I snake my arms around her. "What's up babe?" She smiles and whispers in my ear.

"You're going to have a very enjoyable night tonight." She smirks at me. I look at her confused.

"Oh am I?" She nods. "Why?" Chris pretends to zip her lips shut and I push her off my lap. "To telling me then no sitting on me," I demand. She mocks a pout an then makes her way back to Soda who is on the couch next to Lena and Steve.

Dallas taps on my shoulder and I look up at him. "Up babe." I stand up and he sits down in the chair. I sit on his lap and he pulls me closer to him. His lips kiss my neck lightly.

"Have a sip of wine for me?" Dallas shakes his head.

"Not in the mood sweetie," he says knowingly. I groan.

"Hey John, you wanna stay here tonight?" I ask.

"Nah I'll just go with Pony and leave you two... alone," he says. Why does it seem like everyone knows what's going on except for me? This is maddening.

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After the movie ends we sit at the kitchen table and Chris helps me set the table with all the food. We eat with small talk and some of us- Steve and Two-Bit- drink a little to much. Meanwhile Soda and I are occupied by feeding Tibby and Josh. I think Soda wants to do as much parenting as possible since he missed the pregnancy, the birth, and some of Josh's first months. I don't blame him.

When the plates are completely empty because we have all stuffed our faces, well besides me, I'm not all that hungry anymore, but I downed as much food as I could so that my babies can stay healthy, we don't clean up the plates quite yet. Instead Dallas turns on the music and we dance around in the living room. I watch for a while holding Tibby in my lap. Chris has thrown off her shoes so her just twirls around on her tights with Soda. Steve and Lena and are dancing very fast and happily. Darry is clapping to the beat in the corner watching as he always has. The big brother of not only Pony and Soda, but all of us. Two-Bit is trying desperately to get Pony and Johnny to dance. Pony eases into it but Johnny is a little more difficult to convince.

Dallas comes up to me and reaches out his hand. "May I?" He asks all to formal. I place Tibby in her high chair and take Dallas' hand gracefully.

"I'd be honored." Dallas pulls me out to the floor where everyone else is dancing. For a while Dallas twirls me around and we laugh. The adrenaline pumps in our veins. Of course this can only last so long. Eventually I get dizzy and tired so instead I lean my head on Dallas chest. One of my hands is holding Dallas's and the other is around his neck. Dallas has an arm snaked around my waist pulling me as close as possible to him. I'm not complaining, I like the close proximity. Even with my heels my head only reaches his neck at the most. Pieces of my hair that are over volumized tickle his chin but he doesn't say anything. We rock back and forth to the music for at least four different songs, whether they are slow and calm or face paced. We don't shift positions for the longest time and I could not be more happy. All I ever wanted in my life with Dallas was to be close to him as often as possible. With everything that has been going on I haven't really had a chance to do that. I cherish these few minutes.

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"Okay well we should all go, see you tomorrow around ten thirty right?" Chris confirms. We all nod in response, telling her we are aware we will be at her house at ten thirty tomorrow for Christmas brunch.

Everyone is out the door except for Steve and Lena. They break away from their kiss as they reach the door. Steve steps outside and grabs the door handle with one hand and the other is holding Lena's waist. He smirks knowingly along with Lena, "good luck Winston." Then he closes the door. That was extremely weird. I look to Dallas for an explanation. He just looks at me while biting his lip.

"Well I'm just going to go put Tibby to sleep," Dally says quickly. I mumble an okay and head to the kitchen to put all the dishes in the sink. I'm to lazy to clean them now so I will probably wash them tomorrow when we get back from the Curtis's. It's not like the dishes are going anywhere. I turn around around to go get ready for bed and am greeted with a very shocking sight.

Dallas is on one knee holding a gold ring in his hand, nothing fancy. He has tears forming in his eyes and I can see his breath hitching in his throat. His hands quiver as the music hums from the radio we forgot to turn off. I can hear the song that's playing. Time Has Told Me by Nick Drake. A slow melody that is a contrast to the pace of my beating heart. "Skyler Elizabeth Hills, let me get something straight, this is a proposal. It's a proposal to make you mine, like a life partner. As you know marriage isn't really my thing, but I do want you to be more than just my girlfriend and the mother of my children. So Skyler Elizabeth, words are Pony's thing not mine but I do think this is okay, I have gotten to know you a lot over the last year or two. I don't think there is a single secret between us. I can still remember the day I first met you, I don't mean for it to be dramatic but I'm happy I wasn't a dick and saved you, because if I didn't, I never would of gotten you to tell me your last name at Buck's, I never would've made that deal with you that you would tell me something more about you every time I saw you, I never would of experienced real love, I never would've showed who I really am, I never would have had a beautiful baby girl and two more beautiful children on the way. I cannot thank you enough for everything you've done for me and with me. It's all so clear that without you I would've been reckless forever and that wouldn't be good for me or my sister. I've fallen in love with your reflective black hair and steel grey eyes, and every part of you on the inside. So here I am babbling like a complete idiot in front of you asking, will you be my life partner?" At the beginning of the speech I had already covered my mouth with my hands. My heart had sped up and then stopped completely. Tears had begun to drip down my face and the memories flew through my mind.

Two years ago I never would've let someone fall in love with me in fear it would hurt both of us emotionally. I can prove it to because that's what I did with Dallas. Like the day Dallas have me a tour of Tulsa and we ended up watching the sunset.

"Skyler Elizabeth?"

"Yes Dallas?" I answer annoyed.

"This is really hard for me to say, but um Skyler Elizabeth I don't want a huge commitment, but I do however want to call you mine, so how 'bout it? Will you be my girl?"

My heart stops. No. This can't be happening. I can't break Dally's heart. I promised myself I wouldn't have any relationships. I will only hurt the ones I love. I start to tear up and Dally looks taken aback. "Oh geez emotions," Dally's says confused as to what to do, so he awkwardly wraps his arms around me holding my head to his chest.

"Why Dallas why?" I ask through my tears. Dally just sighs.

"Because Skyler Elizabeth, I like you." I start to cry more. "Oh golly, what did I say wrong."

"Nothing, that's the problem, why are you so nice to me Dallas?"

It makes me happy to know that he had helped me develop as a person and as a lover. Of course there will always be that part of me that is afraid I will hurt Dallas like if the cancer kills me but in this moment I ignore that voice in the back of my head.

I cover my heart with one hands and hold out my left hand. I'm crying to hard to speak so I just nod my head and mumble yes over a thousand times. Dallas slides the metal onto my ring finger and then stands up. I pull him to me and press my lips against his. Our arms lock us together tightly.

But that is an understatement of our bond. Our bond goes deep within us. So deep it defines, whether we are together or apart, who we are.

A/N IM CRYING CAUSE THIS HAS BEEN PLANNED FOR LIKE MONTHS. Ugh I'm so happy I got that down on paper? My phone screen. I don't know, I'm just so overly happy. I love you my spoons and finally after 56 chapters Skyler and Dallas are not married but life partners. I feel like for their relationship with neither of them being really able to commit is was a good decision for them to not be legally wed but together in their own way. If you look back at like the past 15 chapters I've had Skyler and Dally accidentally call each other husband or wife.

Anyways thank you all for your support.

Stay gold💛

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