The air was frigid and the ground was white. The sun was bright, yet the flakes maintained their form. Driveways throughout the Wyckoff neighborhood were occupied as smoke exited from the chimneys and into the baby blue sky. It was a gorgeous day for the end of December.

The spacious Jonas household, for the most part, was calm. Kevin and Nick were in the basement messing around with a few tunes, Mr. and Mrs.Jonas were socializing in the warm kitchen as a honey ham backed in the oven. Bailey was playing with Frankie upstairs in his bedroom while Joe lounged on the couch in the living room, an X-Box 306 controller in his hands.

"Kill me again, Garbo, and I quit." Joe spoke into his X-Box Live mic. He listened as Garbo laughed in his own headset from a few towns over. "I'm freaking serious."

Within seconds, consistent gunshots from Halo 5 echoed in his ears. Groaning in frustration, Joe snatched off his headset and slammed it into the couch before jolting up and turning the game console off, completely overreacting for his age of 21. Garbo always knew how to get to him, and he seemed to enjoy every moment of it. It was then when Joe heard a pair of feet quickly clomp down the stairs. He knew that sound from anywhere. It was Mommy's little monster.

"Hey Frankie." Joe called out before listening to him run past the opening of the living room. "Wanna play with me?"

"Can't." he exclaimed without hesitation, almost out of his brother's earshot.

"Why not?!" Joe spat in surprise, his mind pondering as to why he had just been rejected by his 10-year-old brother.

"Bailey's taking me sledding." Frankie replied a few moments after receiving his mother's permission from the kitchen.

"-And you'd rather go with her than keep your own flesh and blood company?" he questioned, his tone saddening on queue.

"Yep." Frankie nodded instantly as he hurried back to the stairs. He heard an angry groan from Joe. "-Hey, it's not my fault she's cooler than you." He smirked before finally disappearing.

"Oh yeah!?" he shouted in return, pausing for a moment before snatching up the remote to the TV. He then breathed out, his voice low. "Whatever."

It was then when another set of footsteps were heard; soft, yet, distinct. He could already smell her perfume.

"Hey, Boo." Bailey smiled over at Joe after sinking into the couch at his side. "Garbo t-bag you again?"

"I am not speaking to you." He informed stubbornly, keeping his stare ahead at the television screen and causing Bailey to roll her eyes.

"So, you coming with me and the Tank?" she asked, ignoring his little attitude.

"I do not take part in such childish activities." He turned up his nose before Bailey punched him in the thigh, causing him to laugh and lean his body to the side and into her own. "Just kidding." He cooed, transitioning from his little arrogant act and into his normal, fun-loving self. "-But no, I can't go. I've gotta run out for my mom and pick her up a few things." He informed, remembering that he did have something to do.

"Bummer." She sighed before pushing his shaggy head off her shoulder. "I was looking forward to going out and fooling around, only to come back inside from the freezing cold and cuddling with you while downing a few mugs of hot chocolate." She began, her voice softening with every word that dripped from her tongue. Quickly, she stood from the couch and perked up, killing the cute little atmosphere that her simple words created. "Guess not." Bailey watched as Joe's mind began to turn.

"-Tempting, but. . .Momma wins. She's been on my case for a few days now about it." He reluctantly stated, almost forgetting about his plans and going with her. "Where are you going?" he questioned, sounding a bit hurt as she proceeded to walk away from him.

"To put on my swooshy pants and snow boots, duh." She replied, almost laughing at her self as to how much of a kid she felt like.

"You'd rather go sledding with a smelly 10-year-old than bum it here with me on the warm, fuzzy couch?" Joe asked, his body now turned on the cushion to he could face her in the doorway.

"Hmm." Bailey paused, then put one hand, palm up, at her shoulder level. "Sledding?" Her other hand then flipped palm up at her bellybutton, as if it were an imaginary scale weighing out her choices. "-Or Joe Jonas?" she then shook her hand that was higher in the air. "Sledding wins." She grinned, satisfied with her boyfriend's dropped jaw. "Have fun picking up stuff for you mom!" she commented before leaving Joe on the couch. She made sure to keep her laughter in until she got up to her room.

- - - - -

"You really love her, don't you?" Kevin asked out loud, his eyes watching his younger brother as he stared down into the glistening, glass casing. The glow from the display reflected off Joe's face as he drew his eyes away from the tiny, expensive items below him. His gaze said it all. "Ok." Kevin chuckled, withdrawing his question and making his way to his brother's side.

"Which do you like better?" Joe began pointing to two engagement rings beneath the glass. "The one on the top left, or on the far bottom right?" he glanced up at Kevin as he awaited his opinion.

"Hmm. . .Maybe. . .The bottom right. It's beautiful." He stated, the freshly cut diamond captivating his stare.

"Eh." Joe muttered, re-attracting his attention to the case and gazing down at the angelic object. "It's too bulky. –Bails wouldn't want it to blind someone a mile away. I like the other one better."

"Then why'd you even ask me what I thought?" Kevin laughed in response, causing Joe to give a silent shrug. For once in a long time, he didn't have anything to say. Knowing that this was a huge thing for his brother, he knew not to say anything negative. "It won't matter any way; she'll love whatever you pick out. Hell, it could be a 25 cent ring rrom outside of the Chinese restaurant down the road and she'd love it."

"I could see you giving your girl a ring-pop as an engagement ring." Joe let out a soft laugh, only half of his mind paying attention to reality. He saw Kevin nod in agreement from the corner of his eye. "I don't know, man." He breathed out, thinking over and over again what to get. "This is going to be like, the second biggest thing ever."

"Second?" Kevin questioned, making a weird face. "What's first?" Joe glanced over at his brother, held onto his stare for a moment, then looked away. He had absolutely no intention of explaining it to him. "In the order of big things, all I can think about is that you fall in love, get engaged, get married, then. . ." Kevin trailed off, his eyes falling down to the top of the glass where Joe's hands rested, his purity ring sparkling in the light. He went silent as Joe slowly turned his head. "You didn't." his voice softened to a slight gasp.

"You're quick there, Sherlock." Joe stated, keeping a stern face. As much as he wanted to laugh at how slow his oldest brother was, he couldn't. He was too nerve wrecked to even crack a smile.

"You mean to tell me that you and Bails already did it?" Kevin questioned, his voice low so the other people browsing in the jewelry store wouldn't hear. Joe flickered his eyebrows over at him, not even bothering to confirm. "No way." He hissed in disbelief.

"Dude, do you even know how long it's been?" Joe questioned, surprised at how much Kevin had 'missed'. "-Remember that big thing I did for her 18th birthday?"

"OhmyGod." Kevin exhaled, looking away, feeling a slight bit of embarrassment. "I can't believe you caved before me." Joe cackled at his comment. "I'm assuming mom doesn't know?"

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't be breathing right now if she did."

"All I can say is. . .wow." Kevin chuckled before scratching his forehead. "-In that case, we shouldn't be shopping for a ring. There's a Victoria's Secret down the road."