It's Christmas Eve in the Outer Banks. The Pogues have decorated the château with fairy lights, soft music is playing somewhere, and a bonfire crackles in the background. The atmosphere is warm, familiar, and a little chaotic—typical OBX. A light sea breeze is blowing outside, and JJ is in his signature hoodie, slightly nervous but in good spirits

JJ and you (his girlfriend) have retreated from the hustle and bustle for a few minutes. You're sitting on the porch steps while the others inside are laughing loudly. You hand him a small, wrapped box. He looks at it, smiles broadly at first, then hesitantly. He opens it slowly, unaware of what he's about to find

JJ looks at the positive test in his hand. His eyes widen, not in shock, but in a flood of emotions he can barely sort: joy, disbelief, fear, hope, love