"You look like you're going to be sick," Benji commented, brushing his hand across Luxx's cheek.

She shrugged and laid her head against the cold glass of the car window. "I'm just nervous." Luxx smoothed out her skirt, she really did want to look nice and make an impression on her soon-to-be mother-in-law.

"It won't be as bad as you think it'll be," Joel said from the front seat as he looked in his rearview mirror at Luxx. He had offered to come with the couple back to the town of Annapolis where Mrs. Madden lived. Today was the day they were going to make their engagement known to the one person they were most worried wouldn't accept it.

"She won't suck you'll soul out through your eyes and eat it, or anything. I swear!" Benji joked, trying to lighten Luxx's downtrodden mood. She turned her head a little and gave a weak smile. Benji unbuckled his seat belt and scooted towards her, wrapping his arms around his waist and nuzzling her neck. "Just relax; we've still got a bit of a drive before we get there. It'll be alright, Luxx, I promise."

"That's disgusting. Don't do that." Joel stated plainly from the front seat.

"Shut up and drive."

"Don't make me pull this car over, Benjamin!"

Luxx smiled a little more at the twins' banter. "Is this what I'm marrying into?" She asked with a bit of a laugh behind her nervous voice.

"Yeah, isn't it great?"

"It's wonderful, Joel."

"Your sarcasm stings me, Luxx. I'm hurt."

"Will you just drive and shut up?" Benji asked after getting tired of his twin's comments.

Joel mumbled something back to his brother that was inaudible, and turned the radio up a bit.

He tightened his grip around Luxx and kissed her neck. She moaned softly at the feeling of his piercings and his touch. "I love you, Luxx," he whispered quietly in her ear. "I don't care what anyone else thinks, I love you."

"I love you, too, Benji." She sighed and laid her head in between his cheek and his shoulder. "But I do care what your mom thinks of me."

"She'll come around."

"I hope." She said and felt his hand run up and down her back, occasionally running under her shirt. Slowly closing her eyes, she let sleep carry her away from the car.

Benji felt the rise and fall of her back and the breath on his neck steady out. He leaned back so his head was resting on the window, still holding Luxx, and let her settle a little more so she could sleep for the rest of the car ride.

He watched the familiar sights drift by the window. Benji had made the drive from Manhattan to Annapolis a million times before. Waldorf and Annapolis were the two towns he called home, even though he hadn't lived there for two years. He hadn't really lived anywhere except for a tour bus for the past five years.

He smiled to himself as Luxx moved her head against his skin softly. He was glad that he was finally going to have a steady place to live and a family to stand by him. It was something he hadn't had for awhile, since high school.

Benji let his thoughts carry him away from the sights and before he knew it, he was in Annapolis. He felt the car stop in the driveway of a nice house; it was his mother's place.

"You ready?" Joel asked, turning around in his seat to see Luxx curled up sleeping in Benji's arms.

"Give us a minute." Benji mouthed and his brother got out of the car. Joel grabbed his cell phone and leaned on the hood, waiting for Benji and Luxx.

He looked down at Luxx and started to rub her back again. "Luxx…Luxx…you've got to wake up, babe."

He heard his named moaned as she slowly woke up. "Are we there?" Benji nodded. "Oh, God!" She whispered loudly and sat up.

Benji kissed her forehead as she checked her appearance in the mirror. "Calm down, Luxx."

Luxx starred at him wide eyed. "She's going to hate me."

"Don't say that!" He pulled her close to him and held her. "Think positive."

"This sucks."

"Very positive, babe."

She shook her head slowly and opened the car door. She stepped out and Benji followed. Luxx grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "God, I'm so nervous." He turned her around to face him and wrapped his free arm around her shoulders as she buried her face in his chest. "I'm so nervous."

Benji unraveled his hand from her back and walked forward to the front door with Luxx by his side and Joel following as he ended a conversation on his cell phone. He rang the doorbell twice before unlocking the door and walking in.

The house was spotless and well decorated. It looked like hardly anyone lived there, which was almost true. The Madden kids had all moved out, but there were spare bedroom for each when they'd come back home for the holidays. Benji and Joel bought the house for the family after their first big paycheck came in, but they grew up and moved away from home, like the rest of the kids, and ended up getting their own place. They were happy that their mom had a nice place to live, though.

"Mom!" Benji called out as they stood in the foyer. He felt Luxx's hand tighten on his. He looked at her and smiled.

"Benji?" A female voice called from upstairs.

"And Joel!" Joel yelled.

A twenty-something girl came bounding down the stairs. Luxx let her breath out when she saw that it wasn't Mrs. Madden.

She paused at the sight of three people standing at the bottom of the stairs. "And Luxx!" She yelled and finished her descent down the stairs. She hugged Luxx quickly and pulled back. "What are you doing here?" The girl asked Luxx.

"We have to talk to Mom, Sarah, where is she?" Benji asked the girl, his sister, Sarah.

"She ran up to the store. What do you have to talk to her about?" Sarah asked.

"You're nosey." Joel stated.

"I'm not nosey, I'm just curious." Sarah tossed her arm around Luxx's shoulder. "I thought we wouldn't get to hang out again after the way dinner went last time." Sarah took an immediate liking to Luxx when Benji brought her home to meet their mom. Benji was glad that his sister and Luxx got along so well considering that Luxx and his mom didn't. "What's new?"

Luxx looked at Benji who shrugged. "Tell her," he said, letting her hand go.

She raised her hand up and showed Sarah the ring. "We're engaged."

Sarah's jaw dropped. "No way!"

"Way!" Benji mocked Sarah.

"Why didn't I know about this before?" Sarah asked, looking at her brother.

He held his hands up in defense. "I told you that I wanted you to come to New York to hang out, but you said 'no'. I even offered to pay for your ticket, but you said you were busy."

"I would have cancelled my plans if I knew you were going to purpose." Sarah smiled widely. "We're going to be sisters!" She said excitedly and hugged Luxx.

"And…" Benji said, queuing Luxx to tell Sarah the other big news.

Luxx turned to look at her fiancée, who was propping himself up on his twin. "I'm pregnant."

Her eyes grew wide and her arms were still draped around Luxx's shoulders in a lose hug. "What?" Sarah looked over at Benji for confirmation. Benji nodded and smiled. "You're having a baby?"

Joel grunted and said, "No, they're having a goat." The twins laughed and nudged each other.

"Please don't tell me that you guys are only getting married because Luxx is pregnant," Sarah said, her eyes drifting between the two and her smile fading.

Benji shook his head vigorously. "No. I didn't find out until after I purposed."

She resumed her smile and hugged Luxx again. "Mom is going to shit a brick."

Luxx leaned in and laid her head on Sarah's shoulder. "I don't even want to think about that right now."

"Don't worry about what she's going to think, this is a happy time for you guys."

The lock on the kitchen door clicked and the door swung open. The sound echoed in the foyer and Luxx's head shot up at the sound.

Benji moved forward and grabbed Luxx's hand. The four all exchanged glances as Mrs. Madden walked into the foyer.

["I'd walk away with a suitcase full of dreams, my memories on cassette, our window of opportunity remains painted shut as your ghost heads for California. This head is heavy and this weight on my shoulders is more that I can bear."---The June Spirit: "Waiting for Blue"]