Written in 75 minutes. Had to go over, of course, since this is the end and that last Liason needed to be perfect. Be sure to let me know what you think if you’ve stuck with me this long!

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Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Webber House: Living Room

Aiden hopped the last step from the landing to the first floor, and the ornaments inside the cardboard box rattled slightly, making his mother wince. “It’s nothing breakable, Mom,” he told her, slightly out of breath from the mad dash to the storage closet on the third floor. “We already put all that stuff up.”

“Still—” Elizabeth retrieved the box, then turned when the front door opened and Jason came in, followed by Danny who seemed a little subdued. Not that she’d expected any less considering what their plans had been that morning. “Hey, how did it go?”

“Good.” Jason took Danny’s coat, hung it up, then crossed over to Elizabeth, brushing a kiss against her temple. “Tracy didn’t even argue.”

“Hard to disappoint a seven-year-old,” Danny added, joining them by the half-decorated tree. “Scout turned on the charm, and Aunt Tracy can’t resist her. Plus, Grandma Monica made it seem like her idea.”

“What did you bring?” Jake wanted to know. “Which ornaments?”

“Uh—” Danny slid off the top of the shoebox in his hands, looked down. “Scout made me take the stuff I made in school when I was a kid.” He made a face, lifting a misshapen star made out of clay and clumsly painted green with glitter flaking off. “But we don’t have to use any of it—”

“Nah, it can go in the back with Aiden’s kindegarten angel,” Cameron said, taking it from him. “That’s where we put the ugly stuff.”

Aiden rolled his eyes, ignoring his brother’s jab. “We saved some empty space for you,” he told Danny.

“Thanks. Um, Scout wanted the topper. It’s a star that lights up, and—” Danny looked down at his box. “Mom used to lift her up to put it on the tree. Until last year, I think. Scout was too big so, uh, Dante did it for her.”

Elizabeth rubbed his shoulder, and he looked at her, smiled faintly, then looked back down. “That’s okay, we have ours, don’t we, Cam?”

“Yep.” Cam knelt down with the rest of the Christmas boxes. “Mom’s had this thing forever,” he said, lifting a tissue wrapped object when he got to his feet. “Like a century.”

Elizabeth snatched it from him with a glare. “I’ve had it since I was eighteen—”

“Like I said, a century.”

“Eighteen?” Jason echoed, raising his brows. “Is it the—”

“From my very first tree the year I moved out of Gram’s. Your dad and I decorated that tree together,” she told Jake, unwrapping the angel. She smoothed down the fabric. “It’s a little worn, but every time I look at her, I think of being on my own for the first time.” She looked at Jake. “You know, your dad picked this one. I gave him some choices.”

“After I spent the entire afternoon pasting together a paper chain,” Jason remembered, and she grinned. “You don’t have any of that in the box—”

“Actually—” Elizabeth nodded at one of the still covered boxes. “I don’t have as much of it, but for a few years, Cam and I took pieces as they fell off, and decorated them with paint, glitter—” She handed the angel to Jake. “Do you want to put it on top? You’re still the tallest.”

“Yeah, okay. How come you picked the angel?” Jake wanted to know, then grunted slightly as he set the angel on the top branch. “Stars make more sense. They’re actually real.”

Jason rubbed the corner of his eyebrow. “Uh, I think I said something about angels like to watch over things,” he said, then looked at Elizabeth who flushed, and looked down.

“Oh, ew, gross,” Jake said with a shudder. “Never mind. Sorry I asked.” He was rewarded with a flick from his oldest brother. “Can we just light this thing so we can get on with it?”

Apartment: Living Room

“That is a sorry excuse for a tree,” Rocco said, grimacing at the table top tree, half-heartedly decorated with a few ornaments — mostly the red and green balls Dante had found at the dollar store the day before.

“Sorry,” Dante said, with a sigh. He sat down on the sofa to pull on his shoes. “It was the best we could do this year. Next year, we’ll be back in a house with enough space for a real tree. Something worth dragging our stuff out of storage.”

“Had a real house,” Rocco muttered, folding his arms. “Could have stayed with the Qs—” Had a chef, too, and a maid. Man, he was going to miss Sasha.

“You and me, we needed to be on our own little,” Dante told him, getting to his feet. “Figure out how we’re going to make this work.”

“I guess.” Rocco cleared his throat. “Um…Danny, you know, he’s coming back to school when we go back. He’s not seeing that doctor as much.”

“Jason said that was going good. And I’m glad you and Danny are doing better. You’ll see him tomorrow when they come to the Qs for dinner.”

“I was thinking…” he looked at his father quickly, then looked back at the tree. “Maybe I could talk to him. That doctor. Or…someone like him. About…Mom.” He didn’t look at his father. Couldn’t.

“I think,” Dante said, coming up behind Rocco, putting a hand on his shoulder. “That’s a good idea. I’ll make some calls.”

“Thanks.”

They watched the tree for another moment, and one of the ornament fell off the branch, rolled off the table, hit the floor, and kept rolling until it disappeared beneath the sofa.

“It really is a terrible tree,” Dante said with a sigh.

Davis House: Living Room

The fire was crackling in the hearth, emitting warmth and a hazy light. Snow was falling outside — lightly, just enough to coat the steps and driveways. Maybe another inch to lay on the four that had fallen a few days earlier.

And Alexis was alone, staring at the flames, her arms wrapped tightly around her torso. A year ago, the room had been full of sounds. All three of her girls, Dante and TJ, and of course, the grandbabies. Molly and TJ full of happiness and excitement for the future with the surrogate they’d planned, her girls still a team.

How different life would have been if that surrogacy had been successful. Kristina never would have been involved, Molly and TJ would have their precious Irene…

And Sam would be with her kids, alive and whole. Not buried miles away in a grave near the dead babies who’d gone before her.

There was a light knock at her door, and Alexis sighed, turned to answer it. She wasn’t particularly in the mood to talk to anyone, but if it was Diane trying to cheer her up, Alexis might have to let her.

Instead it was Molly and TJ on the other side. TJ had a brown grocery bag in his hands, and Molly had a large tote bag slung over her shoulder with wrapping paper sticking out.

“Hey, Mom.” Molly forced herself to smile. “I thought maybe we could have some dinner and wrap a few gifts for the kids tomorrow.”

“I’d like that.” Alexis pressed a fist to her chest. “I’d like that very much.”

Jamesville Correctional Facility: Cell

They forced everyone into their cells at eight, and lights went out at ten. No changes were made for the holiday season. Not that it mattered.

Kristina laid on the cot, staring at the concrete ceiling above her. It wasn’t entirely silent on her block — there were the whispers, and the rustlings.

She had no cell mates — which she’d enjoyed at first, but then, when she’d realized it was because the government didn’t want anyone her father could use — because they wanted her to be isolated and alone. Desperate and lonely.

They’d offered her a deal already. Tell them what she knew about her father’s business, and maybe she’d get some perks. Moved to a cushier federal prison. One where she might have more freedom. More comforts.

She’d told them no the first time, and the second and third time the lawyer had offered. But the fourth time — she’d had to tell them the truth. There was nothing Kristina could offer. She didn’t know anything. They’d just smirked, told her to think harder.

It should be her father in here, Kristina thought. If she couldn’t get Jason into this damn cell where he belonged for bringing John Cates down on all of them, then it should be her father — it had all started with him. Cates had been using her against her father, and had Sonny done anything to stop it? No. Selfish bastard.

The Feds were right. She just had to think a bit harder.  And then she’d find a way to get herself out of here.

Webber House: Living Room

“Do you really think they’re asleep?” Jason asked, handing Elizabeth a mug of hot chocolate. “It’s too quiet.”

“They know if they mess with me on Christmas Eve, there’s hell to pay.” But her eyes sparkled when she said it. “But they also know it’s my favorite holiday, so I like to think they pretend to still be into the magic even now.” She set the mug on the coffee table. “Come on. We have to put out the rest of the presents.”

“The rest?” Jason followed her to the downstairs storage closet. He peered over his shoulder at the tree, with brightly wrapped gifts arranged around the base. “Where are you going to fit it?”

“I did go a little overboard this year—” Elizabeth handed him a bag with gifts wrapped in completely different paper. “But some of that is going to your mother’s tomorrow. For Amelia and Wiley. And Scout. I picked up a few things for Rocco, and, well you know, shopping for Danny was agonizing. I just—” She sighed. “I just don’t want him to ever think I’m trying to replace his mother. I don’t want Scout to think that.”

“He doesn’t.” Jason kissed her forehead, then lingered for a moment. “He’s doing okay most of the time. Scout…she cried when they pulled out the star.” They returned to the living room and he set the bag on the sofa. “Drew helped her put on the tree, and she was upset. It wasn’t the same.”

“She’s so young. I keep thinking — what do I remember before I was seven?” she said to him. “What do I really remember? And it’s not much. When we finish redecorating the room for her, we should try to put a lot of pictures. Danny could help with that right, so that everywhere Scout looks, she’ll see memories?” Elizabeth bit her lip, her brow furrowed in thought. “Should we try to make it like her room at the penthouse? Or completely different? What do you think will help? Maybe we should tell her tomorrow and make decorating it another gift from us? So she could choose? Or maybe that’s—you’re laughing at me.”

“I’m not. I’m not.” Jason crossed to her, took the bag she held, and set it on the ground so that he could take her hands, bring them to his lips. “I don’t know how you always find more to give. More love, more understanding—”

“You act like it’s so difficult,” Elizabeth said, “but she’s just a little girl, and she didn’t ask for any of this. Drew deciding to leave her for months at a time when she’s already lost so much—that’s his daughter, and they’ve already missed so much time—” She shook her head. “But then I think—well, selfishly, this is better for Danny. Because I know it’s hard on him when Cam’s home and the boys are   all together. All he can think is the picture’s not complete with my little sister—” She stopped, sighed. “You’re thinking about Sam, aren’t you? Because if it were different — if it were up to Sam to open her home to Jake or any of my boys—”

“She wouldn’t have done it.”

“Well, that would have been her loss.” Elizabeth shook her head. “And I don’t want you to think I’m doing this just for you, okay? I’ve told you from the beginning — Danny is Jake’s brother. Scout is his cousin. That’s family. I spent years trying to get my parents and siblings to give a damn about me, and when I realized that was never going to happen, I decided to make sure that I would build my own family. One that would never leave. One that you could depend on. Trust to be there.”

“You did that. And then some. Your boys don’t just rely on each other, Elizabeth. They love each other,” Jason told her, and she looked away, her eyes shimmering. “Cameron was ready to give up his entire future to be with them. To make sure they were okay. And they refused to let him. And they let other people in. Watching them these last few months, getting to be part of it, part of this family—” He slid a finger under her chin, gently guided until she was looking at him. “You pulled out that angel and I remember that first Christmas. I was—it was one of the worst times of my life. And you gave me something to hold on to. I fell in love you, you know. Making those paper chains. Decorating that ridiculous tree.”

She laughed, bit her lip and shook her head. “It was a great tree. I loved it. I loved every minute of it. And I fell in love with you, too, you know. Because you went along with it. I wanted to be silly and happy, and feel the magic — and you didn’t just smile and nod. You cut and paste.” She covered the hand on her face, brought his fingers to her lips. “Then let me decorate you, wrapping those silly chains around you until we got them on the tree.”

“I wasn’t ready to be in love with you, or anyone then. And I know we kept missing each other. Kept missing our chance—” When she opened her mouth to protest, he pressed a finger to her lips. “We both made mistakes. And we won’t go over them again, I promise. We’ve put it away. Forgiven each other. But I don’t want you to think that when I tell you I love you, I’m still talking about before. About when we were younger. Decorating that tree. Out on my bike. In that safehouse, stealing time. I don’t want you to think that it’s just — we were both here and available, and that we settled. I never stopped loving you the way I did that day, choosing that angel for our first tree. But I fell in love with you again now. Here. Facing what you went through with so much courage. Loving my son and opening your home to him when he needed it. When I needed it,” he added. “I fell in love with you all over again, Elizabeth. You just should know that.”

“I—” She inhaled shakily, tears sliding down her cheek. “I fell in love with you then, and now. You stood by me through this, did nothing even though I know how hard that was. You guided my boys through this when I couldn’t, loving them like they were all yours, not just Jake. Danny’s a part of you, a part of Jake. How could I love him less? I fell in love you again. I never stopped, but I—” Her eyes grew wide when he reached into his pocket for a box. “What is that?”

“Something I’ve been carrying around for a week,” Jason admitted, a little surprised when his fingers weren’t quite steady as he opened it. “I know I’ve asked you this a few times. But I’m hoping if I ask you just one more time—”

“It’s…” Elizabeth lifted her eyes to him. “Emerald and ruby? That’s—”

“I asked for the birthstones in May and July. For the boys. I thought—”

“It’s perfect. There—just—” She let out a breath. “But you didn’t ask me. Ask me.”

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she said almost as soon as he finished asking, very nearly in the same breath. “Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes.”

He plucked the ring from the box, slid it onto her fingers, then pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair. “It’ll be different this time,” he promised her. “I won’t let anything stop us. I won’t take it back.”

“I won’t let you.” She pulled back, framed his face with her hands, her thumb brushing gently at a tear that had slid down his cheek. “It’s forever this time. You and me.”

He kissed, pouring everything he’d ever felt for her into it, all the passion, longing, and even some of the regret. They’d missed so much of each other’s lives, he wasn’t going to miss one more day.

“We need to, um,—” She pulled away, letting her forehead rest against his, slightly out of breath. “We need to finish the gifts. They—they can’t stay in the bags.”

“Okay. Okay.” He kissed her hand, then lifted the first one out, looking to see which pile it should go in. To Jake from Santa. He looked at her. “From Santa?”

“Oh—” Elizabeth swiped at her  eyes. “Well, Amelia and Wiley and Scout — they all still believe, so this way, the boys can honestly say they got gifts from Santa, and it’ll be part of the magic, you know? I want to keep it alive for them as long as we can.”

“I don’t think you’ll have any problem with that,” Jason told her, and she smiled at him, brilliantly with all the sparkle she’d had that first Christmas when she’d asked him to hold her paper chains, and he’d have done anything, even pull down the moon if she’d asked. “You never do.”

THE END

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