A Chrismukkah Carol
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in relation to the O.C. This is my first OC fanfic so I'm pretty nervous. I just started watching the show on DVDs about a month ago and fell in love with it (on season 3 right now).
Timeline: I guess during Season 2? However Lindsay doesn't exist and Julie/Caleb never happened so it's a bit AU.
"Seth is going to kill me if we don't get the decorations up by tonight," Kirsten muttered as she looked helplessly at the piles of paper on her work desk.
"I can't believe your Dad is making you work during the holidays," Ryan stated looking up from the design template he was examining on a laptop.
"Have you met my Dad? Work comes before everything."
"Why are you doing all of this yourself? You must have a bunch of people to your disposal?"
Kirsten sighed. "This is probably our biggest project of the year and my Dad doesn't want anyone else to touch it. He'll probably flipped if he found out I had you helping me."
"Well… it could be our little secret then," Ryan smiled shyly and Kirsten reciprocated a smile before returning back to her computer.
"Kiki! How is the Anderson project coming along?" A thunderous voice boomed as its owner entered the office uninvited.
"Dad!" Kirsten exclaimed surprised, looking at Ryan in a panic. Ryan hastily closed the laptop and opened his physics book; inwardly relieved that Caleb hadn't notice his presence in the room yet.
"Well? How is it going?" Caleb demanded impatiently.
"It's going fine," Kirsten said with a false smile. "But are you sure we can't push the deadline till after Christmas?"
"No can do Kiki. This project is important for the company and I want it done ASAP." Caleb glanced at all the papers and models strewn around the office and frowned when he saw Ryan, whose nose was buried in his physics book.
"What is that juvenile delinquent doing in my building?" he asked angrily.
"Dad! You need to stop calling him that," Kirsten snapped. "Ryan is part of my family and while you might not be able to accept that fact, I expect you to treat him with respect."
Caleb snorted. "Over my dead body. Kiki, does a burnt model home not ring a bell to you?"
"That was an accident!" Kirsten shouted. The sound of a book snapping shut reminded Kirsten that Ryan was still in the room. Kirsten noticed that Ryan's head was bowed down and his face was flushing red. Kirsten knew that despite her reassurances Ryan still felt entirely responsible for the whole model home incident, and her heart ached at his guilt-ridden expression.
"Ryan, honey, can you go down to the cafeteria and grab me a salad and whatever you want? I think we'll be here for a while."
Ryan couldn't bring his eyes up to meet Kirsten's but he nodded silently and left.
"You better hope he's going to the cafeteria and not the accounting room," Caleb said.
"Dad! That's enough. I will not remain in the office any longer if you keep throwing insults at Ryan!"
Noticing the anger in Kirsten's eyes, Caleb decided that the pleasure of insulting that boy wasn't worth Kirsten's wrath.
"Fine, Kiki. So about this project. The Anderson people want to meet on Wednesday to see how everything is going so far."
"Through teleconference or in Seattle?" Kirsten asked suspiciously.
"Seattle." Caleb replied quickly, knowing that Kirsten was catching on and decided not to toy around.
"Dad! That's Christmas Eve! I can't fly up to Seattle. You know Chrismukkah is Seth's favorite holiday!"
"Bah humbug!" Caleb exclaimed. "That's not even a real holiday. And Hanukkah is eight days. I'm sure Seth can spare you for one day."
"No, Dad." Kirsten angrily replied as she started to pack up her stuff. "I have spent enough holidays away from my family because of work. Hell, I was even going to work tonight despite the fact that I have holiday decorations to put up! If you can't push the deadline till after the holidays, then you can be in charge of the project. I'm leaving."
"Kiki! This is the biggest project of the year for the Newport Group! Can you really live with yourself if this project falls through?"
Kirsten sighed. "What I can't live with will be the faces of my boys if I told them I won't be with them during the holidays. I've put my work ahead of my family too many times in the past, Dad. I won't make that mistake again." Gathering her bags and files, she opened her office door almost colliding into Ryan and the coffee cup he was carrying. Ryan looked at the files and bags in her hands and raised his eyebrow.
"Come on Ryan. We're going home."
Ryan nodded and gathered up his stuff on the sofa as well as some of Kirsten's remaining papers and models. Ryan couldn't help but sneak a glance at Caleb, whose face was glowing red with anger.
"Kiki-," Caleb started.
"Don't even," Kirsten interrupted angrily. "Happy Chrismukkah Dad," Kirsten said softly as she shut the door behind her leaving Caleb alone in her office.
"Bah humbug!" Caleb exclaimed angrily, giving one final disgusted look at the empty office before storming off. He hated the holidays.
TBC….