"The weather is blisteringly cold out there, Jim. I've heard they're already canceling flights to and from the city..."
"That they are, Amanda, the last fight to come in was from Los Angeles and the airport literally shut down. People are now scrambling to get to their destinations one way or another. Stay tuned as the ongoing coverage of-"
Andy Flynn shakes his head, reaching over and turning off the radio. The large white van continues to roll down the highway, "I don't know if that's a good or bad thing."
"Good thing. This is the best place to be if you're going to be stuck anywhere for Christmas." Sharon Flynn grins, "At my parents' timeshare, I mean. Fourteen bedrooms, numerous fireplaces, skiing slopes just down the way. What isn't there to love?"
"I love Gram and Grandpa, but I just don't understand why you canceled the car I had reserved. Here, I looked like an idiot arguing with the guy, and you canceled it." Eve Raydor folds her arms, leaning back in her seat, "You didn't cancel Chad's though...didn't cancel your sweet baby boy's-"
Rusty smirks, glancing to Mac in the third backseat, laughing softly as his gaze turns to look through the window next to him.
"Because Chad is bringing his girlfriend and I'm sure the two of them are more than capable-"
"I'm capable of driving myself!" Eve gives her mother a look.
"You're also capable of disappearing for hours at a time to drive into town and go shopping."
"What's wrong with shopping?"
"We searched for seven hours for you last year!" The older woman leans over her seat rest, "Seven hours, Eve. I was ready to call the National Guard."
"Seven hours." Katherine Flynn repeats from the back seat, swinging her legs.
Mac begins to giggle, handing her cell phone to her baby sister as to occupy the toddler.
"I didn't know you had powers over the Salt Lake City National Guard!" Eve adjusts her crossed legs.
"National Guards are national. It's like...right there in the name." Rusty shrugs, teasing her.
"Shut up."
"Jesus Christ, would the both of you shut the hell up? I'd like for this to be a nice holiday for a change instead of constant fighting and looking for Eve in town." Andy looks glances to the rear view mirror at the crew in the car, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal." Mac nods.
"Crystal." Kate repeats.
"Katie, are you excited to see Gram and Grandpa?" Sharon grins to the small girl.
The auburn-brunette haired little girl glances over to her mother, "Juice there?"
"I brought plenty of juice with us for you, yes."
"Excited then." She nods, looking back down to the phone.
"Our daughter is excited about juice." Sharon holds her husband's hand when he reaches for her's.
"Our daughter also gets excited for a cartoon puppy named Blue and a giant purple dinosaur, but I don't ask any questions." Andy smirks, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing the knuckle, "It will be nice to have everyone have their own room and to possibly have some peace and quiet. Your parents are pretty good about that."
She nods, "We're it this year. My brother and sisters are going to their partner's families places this year and since...well, since we don't really have that option, we are the only ones there."
He nods slowly, "There's a lot of us, so it should be alright."
Sharon grins, glancing back again, "Mac, have you ever met my parents?"
Picking her head up to look to the woman, she nods, "In passing a long time ago, but nothing that they'd probably remember me by."
"My mother forgets everything, but my father never forgets a face." She nods, "I'm sure they remember you just fine."
Eve swings her knee over to hit Rusty's, garnering his attention, "So, how has college life been treating you?"
"Um." Rusty shrugs, "Fine, I guess. I'm just doing my basics right now, trying to figure out a major."
"Are you leaning toward anything?"
"I think I want to work in law enforcement, but nothing where I have to actually chase people. I think I'd like to investigate a crime scene...or maybe pathology, I'm not sure yet."
"You're considering medicine?"
He nods a little, "Either way, I'll get to do some hardcore science stuff, which is what I really like."
"I never knew you liked science so much." She smirks.
"Yeah."
"Gotta be smart for that." Eve teases, "You have it in you?"
"More than you do."
She giggles, "Yeah?" Her eyes widen, messing with him, she smirks.
"I feel bad for those kids you teach."
Eve leans over, playfully hitting his arm.
The large white van rolls up the iced road, the trees hanging over the path, icicles forming on the limbs. The lit path shines ever so slightly through the snow covering the lights beneath, the large house seems to grow even larger as they near it. Lights strung beautifully over the outside, decorated elegantly. An older couple rush outside and he notices the smile grow across his wife's face, "Here we go." Andy mumbles, announcing to the rest of the vehicle as he shifts the gear into park.
Sharon nearly jumps from the car, rushing over to her parents, "Mother, Daddy!" She yells, smiling as she wraps her arms around the both of them.
Evelyn Rooney wraps her arms around her daughter, "Sharon, you look fantastic." She swings her daughter back and forth in her hug, "And Andy, come here, give me a hug too." She waves her hand to him, hugging the tall man closely, "Evey, I thought you said you weren't going to be able to make it."
"Plans fell through, Gram." She nods, picking up Kate when she's unbuckled from her seat and walking to their grandmother, "Plus, I'd hate not seeing you."
"Katherine, I believe you've grown about six inches since I've seen you last." Evelyn reaches her hands out, taking the girl.
John Rooney shakes his head, "Inside everyone. You'll catch your death out here." He chuckles to the group, "Mac, I'm glad you've joined us."
Mac smiles nervously, nodding to the man, "If it's okay, Sir."
"You're family. You're always welcome to stay with us." He wraps his arm around the teenager, "Same goes for Rusty."
Rusty pauses, smiling to the man, "Is there anything I need to show you how to use this year?" It had been a running gag that every year Sharon's father would ask the young man to help him adjust some electronic that he just didn't understand. His nickname around the house had been Repair Boy.
"I'm good this year so far. How has UCLA been?"
He shrugs, "Just fine, Mister-"
"Don't we go through this every year?" John raises an eyebrow, "Grandpa...same with you, Mac, if you feel like it. No one calls me Sir or Mister anything around the holidays. It's uncomfortable not to mention dumb as hell when we're all family."
Mac leans her nose to the air, "Smells great in here."
"Yeah, my wife is making pierogies in the kitchen. Go on and have some." He motions.
The girl shrugs to Rusty, walking past them as she goes toward the kitchen.
"Chaddy is already here, Sharon." Evelyn calls out, "He and his girlfriend are upstairs, arranging their room."
"You didn't let Charlie and I sleep in the same room until after we were married!" Sharon gives her a look, smirking.
"I'm not thrilled about that one, but it's fine. They know the rules. If I hear them doing things they shouldn't-"
"Fine, fine." Sharon nods, smiling at the large Christmas tree. "It's always so beautiful in here, Mother, and this year is no exception."
"That tree is huge." Andy looks up as it arches up toward the high ceilings, "Gorgeous."
"Helps when there is a decorator involved." Evelyn smirks, walking off toward the kitchen.
Andy wraps an arm around his wife as they stare at the tree, "Well, everything seems to be going well so far." He looks over as Kate follows Kate to the kitchen, Rusty is speaking to his father-in-law, and the fireplace is burning bright. This was out of some sort of cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie. Feeling her arms wrap around him, he pulls his wife tighter to him, happy to see her relaxed for a change.