Hey guys. Here it is. The final chapter of Joy, Pain, and All Between. I would like to thank angelicsounds sooooo very much for her superb editing skills and helpful comments. And I wanna thank all you guys for reading this sucker. Lol. Thanks for the comments, concerns, ideas, and advice. You guys are absolutely fantabulous.
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"Skyler!" Joel's mother exclaimed loudly, running out of the kitchen to where Skyler was standing. "Oh goodness! I didn't think you were gonna show. Merry Christmas, dear."
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Walker," Skyler said politely.
"So, this is the Skyler I've heard so much about," said Thomas.
Skyler looked at the newcomer for a moment.
Who the hell is this guy?
she thought.
"Skyler, this is Thomas, my boyfriend," Joel's mother chimed in, introducing the two.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Thomas."
Thomas laughed wholeheartedly. "Just call me Thomas, sweetheart. Everyone else does."
"Okay, Thomas." Skyler smiled as they were joined by more of the family.
"Skyler, nice to see you again," James said, hugging her.
"Nice to see you too, Jimbo."
"Ah, I see Joel has rubbed off on you," James joked. "Skyler, this is my girlfriend, Autumn. Autumn, Skyler."
"Nice to finally meet you, Skyler," Autumn said as she leaned in for a hug.
"Nice to meet you too." Skyler had seen her at the party when she'd first met Jimmy, but the two hadn't been introduced.
"Thank you, Skyler!" Savannah screamed. She pranced around in the soft pink, spaghetti-strapped ballerina tutu dress Skyler had bought.
"That's beautiful," Joel's mom commented. "You can wear that to your next recital. You'll be sure to stand out," she stated, toying with the puff of the skirt.
"And this is for you, Mrs. Walker," Skyler said as she handed her a gift bag.
"Skyler, you're too kind. Thank you. Oooh, I should have fun with all of this," she said as she looked into the bag and then brought her head up to wink at Skyler. "Look at this, Thomas."
"Hmm... Oils and lotions. We can find some use for all of this."
After Skyler handed out her presents, she turned to Joel and handed him a festively wrapped box. "Merry Christmas."
"Thanks." He opened it to find a yellow Polo shirt and a G-shock watch. He smiled brightly.
"We're gonna let you two love birds talk. Come on, guys. You two join us in the kitchen when you're done. Thanks for the gift, Skyler," Joel's mom said before she winked and disappeared.
"I didn't think you were gonna show."
Skyler thought Joel looked absolutely yummy in his long-sleeved black thermal shirt that hugged his lean torso.
"Well, here I am," she smiled.
"Yeah, here you are. Skyler, I meant what I said before. I love you very much and I'll do whatever it takes."
"I know, Joel," she replied, stepping closer to him.
Skyler looked up into his eyes as she said, "I've missed you."
"Not as much as I've missed you."
"Nah, probably not." She smiled and he leaned down to kiss her.
"I'm serious, Skyler. Whatever it takes. I'll never do something like that again. I was miserable without you," Joel admitted.
"I know. You fucked up pretty bad. But we all do, and I really, really missed you, my preppy friend. Besides, you can show me just how much you've missed me later. And I'm probably gonna end up kicking your pretty little ass before this is over with. But right now, I'm hungry," she stated, putting her hand on his chest. "Vamanos."
"Swiper, no swiping," he joked. They enjoyed a good laugh and walked into the kitchen to join the others.
The family enjoyed leftovers from Christmas and good conversation. When they were done, Joel pulled her to the side.
"Skyler, I wanna take you somewhere. Here, put this on, Santa's Little Helper," he whispered, putting on his Southpole hoodie and handing Skyler his Aeropostale hoodie.
As good as she looked in her red sweater, tight blue jeans, and boots, it was cold outside and she would surely freeze.
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It was a long, quiet drive to wherever they where going. Skyler was about to ask Joel for the umpteenth time where they were going, but he started slowing down. A graveyard.
He said nothing, but got out of the car and came around to open her door. They slowly walked over to a large, granite headstone. It read 'In Loving Memory of Jonathan Walker. Father. Son. Husband.' A police badge stood on each side of the writing.
"This is beautiful, Joel," Skyler commented, standing back. She wanted to give Joel space.
"Yeah," Joel replied quietly, running his hand over the cool granite.
"Umm...Hey Dad, this is Skyler," he said looking back at her and motioning her over.
She stepped closer to him and he grabbed her hand.
"I think I've finally found that girl..."
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"I've been meaning to ask you about this," Joel said, tracing the outline of the dragonfly tattoo on Skyler's wrist.
"It's just like the one Lace has on her ankle. We got them a few years ago. It symbolizes our free spirits and independence," she said dramatically.
"Nice," Joel laughed, "I think you should get one on your ass next."
"Oh yeah? Of what?"
"My name. It symbolizes that your ass is mine," he joked.
Skyler slapped his hand away from her butt. "I think I'll pass on that."
Joel reached for her hand and started playing with her fingers, running his finger along each one of hers and kissing their tips.
"I'm starting to think you have some sort of finger fetish or something."
Joel took off all of her rings and cupped them in his hands. "Where'd you get this one?" he asked, holding up a silver band with a small purple gem embedded in it.
"My dad bought it for me when I graduated from high school. It's my birthstone."
"Oh," he replied, sliding it back on her finger, "and this one?" He held up a silver one with three hearts on it.
"I bought that one a while ago. I thought it was cute." He slid it back on her finger.
"And this one?" he asked smiling, holding up the thin, obviously fake ring with Ariel from the Little Mermaid's face on it.
"Shut up," Skyler said through her fits of laugher.
"I worked hard for that thing. You know how many cereal box tops I had to collect to get that ring? Lots, buddy!"
"Box tops?" Joel managed through his laughter.
"Whatever. Give me my shit back."
"I'm playing, babe. It's cute. It even has the adjustable back," he said as she punched him on the arm.
"I'm sorry babe. Here let me put it back."
She turned her head in mock anger as he slid the ring back on her finger.
"No...lemme..."Joel said as he messed with her rings again.
He kissed her hand softly. "Okay. There. Forgive me?" He put on his puppy-dog face.
"Never," Skyler joked before playfully bringing her hand up to smack him. As she did, something caught her eye. Something shiny. She looked closely at her hand.
"That wasn't there before," she whispered to no one in particular.
Joel laughed quietly. She could be so blonde at times.
"Joel what's--"
"Nothing really. Just something I picked up. You like it?"
Silence.
"No."
"What? I thought you would like it. Its—its yellow and you like yellow so-- so I thought you might—maybe you'd..." he stammered looking down, brows furrowed as if trying to figure out what he'd done wrong.
"I love it," she stated softly.
