(I thought, since I promised that we would continue this, but I haven't gotten any letters from my co-writers, MaddieBurr, and merry killjoy, I thought I would just put one last letter here until I knew if they wanted to add in their finishing letters. So, all of you who have waited for this for so long, enjoy!)
Dear Helena,
I think this Christmas, we all want to celebrate everyone surviving our loss of you. We miss you so much still, but remembered all the stuff we went through, and how we almost didn't survive. I remember how Maddie got us up, excitedly that morning.
“We must open presents, NOW!” She yelled, bouncing up and down, excitedly.
“Okay, Okay. Calm down, young one.” Gerard joked. Everyone laughed.
“I think it was Frank who wanted it most.” Ash commented. She and Ray were leaning into each other, their two fros like two puffy pom-poms. I smiled. I was so, so, so, so, so happy Ash was back.
I went and sat down next to my sister, and Mikey sat next to me, with Gerard across from us. Where Frank and Maddie were sitting were empty. They were both trying to distribute presents as fast as their feet could carry them. We all laughed.
“And here to you!” Maddie said, dropping my present in my lap. She gave one to Ray, and then one to Ash, before giving Mikey his. I blushed a little, but turned my head, taking Ash's hand, and trying to hide my face from Mikey, so he didn't know that I wasn't his “Secret Santa”.
“I missed you so much, sister!” I said. Ash was almost teary.
“I missed you too! I'm glad I have my Blue back.” She said. We both laughed.
“Okay! At the count of three, everyone open!” Maddie said, swooping down on her present, and looking like she was getting into position to “attack”. I really hoped Maddie would love my present I got her. I played with the paper a little, as Frank counted off.
“One! Two! Three!” Frank said, and tore at his present.
Now, Helena, I'll break it down, even though all this seemed to have happened at once.
Frank tore his open, and there was a big, black box. He pulled it open, and screamed, jumping five feet away.
“What is it!?!” Gerard yelled.
“S...sp...sp...SPIDER!” Frank shrieked. Mikey's face was almost turning red, trying to hold back the laughter. Gerard pulled out a fake, and very large, tarantula out of the box. He held it only with the tips of his fingers before letting it fall in the box again. Frank whimpered a little, and Gerard closed the box and set it next to him, rolling his eyes.
“IF you can actually touch it, Frank, you have 200 bucks in there, waiting for you!” Mikey laughed. Frank glared at Mikey.
Then Gerard and I opened our presents. I had a beautiful silver heart necklace on a silver chain. It was a simple design, but it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. My fingers traced over it, lightly, almost afraid to hold it.
“Oh....” I breathed.
“You like it?” Maddie asked. Her eyes were shining.
“Oh! Maddie!” I said. I knelt down, and embraced her tightly.
“It's beautiful, just like you. I think, even though we aren't related, you're really the best sister I could ever want.” Maddie said. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Yes.” I answered. We both were hugging when Gerard said, excitedly.
“YOUNG AMERICANS!?! MADDIE! HOW DID YOU FIND IT!?!” Gerard tackled us with a huge hug. We all laughed as we toppled over.
“Whoa! A picture of me...as Luke Skywalker?” Mikey said. Everyone laughed.
“You're welcome, Mikey.” Frank said, smirking. We all laughed some more.
Ash and Ray were next. Ray pulled out some guitar supplies, with a custom-made strap, with lyrics that were Ash's favorite song, which happened to be Ray's also.
Ash pulled out a long chain, made of letters, which happened to be lyrics to Ash's favorite song. They both laughed at the coincidence, and so did we. Gerard gave Mikey a comic book, and I put my beautiful necklace on. Gerard, Frank and Maddie started to make hot cocoa and Ray and Ash were snuggling by the fire on the t.v. Screen.
Mikey took my hand, and led me outside. I looked at him curiously. He pulled out a box from his coat jacket.
“I have one more thing for you, M.J.” He said. My heart started pounding.
He gave me the box, wrapped in silver paper with a red ribbon. I opened it slowly. Inside, there was a whole bunch of red silk, and under it was....a ring. I was beautifully made, with what looked like a Celtic design. I gasped.
“M...M...Mikey....I...I...I...” I stuttered, staring at it, intensely.
“Dont' worry, I'm not proposing. It's more like...a promise. A promise ring. That I will always be there, and that I don't want to be away from you any more. I think that, if you want, you can go with Ash, but you could say, and be our merch-seller. You could have your own bunk, of course. We'll hire someone else to ride the van, and we could be together till we have another break, and then we could spend that together...I want a life with you, M.J. Will you stay with me?” He asked. I had tears come to my eyes.
“Yes! Yes! YES!” I said. “I love you.” I whispered, as we kissed passionately.
Now, I am wrapped in Mikey's arms in the warm bus, as I finish writing this, I'm very tired. We're probably going to sleep the day away, but I don't mind, Helena, I don't mind.
Love,
M.J.
