A Chain Gang Christmas Carol
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the idea for the story.
Summary: Auto shop owner John Cena has been disillusioned with Christmas ever since his girlfriend left him on Christmas Eve. Can visits from five spirits and a surprising discovery get him to change his views on the holiday season?
Pairings: Maria / Cena
Chapter One: Semi-Scrooge
John Cena didn't exactly hate Christmas...he just looked forward to it about as much as a Death Row inmate would an impending appointment with the electric chair. It hadn't always been this way, mind you...when John was a kid, he'd run down the stairs with his brothers every year to see what was under the tree. But for the past three years, ever since Marissa had up and left, he'd distanced himself more and more from the holiday season.
This had all stemmed from the fact his girlfriend - whom he'd wanted to marry - had left him on Christmas Eve. How nice...he'd had it all planned out; they would've gone to spend Christmas morning at his Dad's, and he would've popped the question in front of the tree after all the presents had been opened. However, he'd gotten home Christmas Eve night to find Marissa's stuff gone and only a note saying she'd met up with her college sweetheart and decided to run off with him on a whim rather than stay and be happy with John.
Now, sitting behind his desk in the owner's office of Chain Gang Customizing & Body Works in West Newbury, Massachusetts, John could still remember sentences from the letter that had all but destroyed his life:
...I know this must be a shock to you, John, but the heart wants what the heart wants. You're a great guy, so I'm sure you'll understand eventually...
Yeah, right, John thought darkly to himself. Oh well...just get through Christmas and you can drink it away come New Year's Eve.
He was jarred from his thoughts by his new secretary coming into the room with the day's mail, placing it on his desk and gracing him with a friendly smile before heading out of the room. John had hired Maria Kanellis only two months ago, and already the place seemed livelier. One thing was for sure: with the holiday season now in full swing, a customer could tell just by walking in that Maria was definitely one who loved Christmas. The entire waiting area was decked out in Christmas decorations, and a small tree stood in the corner, colored lights twinkling.
She'd of course asked before doing any decorating, and John's insides had turned to mush at the smile she'd given him when he told her he didn't care if she made the anteroom into a facsimile of Santa's Workshop, as long as his personal office was left alone.
About a month ago, Maria had started doing little things that made her boss sit up and somewhat take notice. Every so often, he'd come into work in the morning and find breakfast from McDonald's on his desk, or as soon as he came in the door she was handing him a cup of freshly-brewed coffee. He had no idea what it was she was up to, but he knew something was up.
Of course, the fact she was drop-dead, able-to-stop-traffic gorgeous had in no way influenced his decision to hire her...honest.
The sound of hammering made John get up and walk to the doorway of his office. He was greeted by the very pleasing sight of his secretary standing on a stepladder, hammering a nail over the door leading out to the shop. He took a moment to admire Maria's attributes in tight lowrider jeans before speaking.
"Um, what're you doing?"
His secretary glanced down at him and smiled. "I'm hanging mistletoe!" she replied happily.
"Great!" John replied with false brightness before disappearing back into his office, Maria's giggles at his reaction trailing behind him, and sending shivers up and down his spine. Maybe she wants a raise, he thought, as he took his seat behind his desk again.
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As a major snowstorm was forecast to blow in that evening, John let everyone go at 2 PM. His two employees, Matt and Jeff Hardy, didn't argue at all; Matt had planned to fly the two of them and their girlfriends, Candice and Ashley, down to Cameron, North Carolina as soon as they got off work. The fact they'd been let off early meant they had an even better chance of beating the storm...that is, if Jeff and Candice ever decided to cease partaking in the mistletoe Maria had hung. Finally Matt had had enough; he walked over, grabbed Jeff's ear, and dragged him out to the car while Candice and Ashley followed behind, giggling.
John politely bid Maria a Merry Christmas and saw her off before closing up the shop and heading for his father's for the annual Christmas Eve get-together. He went through the usual festivities with a smile pasted on his face, while secretly wishing he was someplace else. Not that he hated being around his family - on the contrary, he, his Dad, and his brothers were all very close - but, again, his discomfort with the holidays kept him from fully enjoying the occasion.
The get-together ended about 8 PM, and John was surprised to find the forecasted storm had yet to begin. Not wanting to be caught in it when it finally started, he got in his black Porsche and headed back to his large, two-story, four-bedroom three-and-a-half bath home. Once inside, he lit a fire in the fireplace in his den and stretched out on the couch with a Miller longneck and the remote control. About thirty minutes later, he was sound asleep. Therefore, he had absolutely no idea his life was about to be turned upside down by the strangest series of events he'd ever experienced...
Up Next: The WWE version of Jacob Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Present.
R&R!