Regina Y. Hicks

Joan joins a support group for people who have relatives serving in Iraq, but is upset when she finds out they are not planning a holiday party due to financial restraints. Joan decides to turn the Christmas party she is throwing for her old firm into a fundraiser to raise money for her support group. Meanwhile, William pushes Christmas traditions on Monica, who isn't big on the holidays, and Maya and Darnell try to keep up with Lynn's extravagant gift giving.

Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross) unexpectedly proposes to Aaron (guest star Richard T. Jones), but when he stumbles on his response, Joan decides the relationship is over and walks away. Meanwhile Maya (Golden Brooks) and Darnell (Khalil Kain) find their dream house, but when Darnell gets a chance to buy the garage, he must decide which purchase to make. Later, Joan runs into her old boyfriend Brock (guest star Malik Yoba), who tells her he made a mistake by letting her go and announces his intention to marry her now. Joan agrees to go away with Brock for a weekend in Catalina, but Maya (Golden Brooks) and Lynn (Persia White) decide it’s time to intervene.

When Aaron (Richard T. Jones), the cute teacher Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross) met in New Orleans arrives back in California, he calls to ask her out. Joan thinks their first few dates are too good to be true, so she begins looking for things to go wrong. Meanwhile, Maya and Darnell discover they have moved into a block of Christmas enthusiasts and find themselves in a struggle to keep up.

Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross) returns to work at the J-Spot only to find that William (Reggie Hayes) has put Monica (Keesha Sharp) in charge of managing the bar to get her out of his hair. When Joan confronts William about Monica’s new position, he reveals that he has made a mistake proposing to Monica but can’t tell her. Meanwhile, Darnell (Khalil Kain) is having a hard time telling Maya (Golden Brooks) that he wants to quit working for the pit crew.