A/N: This is intended to be a light holiday romance and not in continuity with my other fictions. I can only hope that it is well received for this is my one true intention aside from being a reputable fanfiction writer to one of the most brilliant cartoons to grace a television set. Do enjoy.
Winter Had settled quietly in Van Nuys California, though typically there was no snow as was usual.
Dan found himself sitting quietly in the living room just having gotten off the phone with Chris.
Chris and Elise had both agreed that it would be best if Dan didn't join them for the two week holiday visit to the Elise's parents or as Dan referred to them often the 'In-laws from hell' after the Thanksgiving stunt.
Not that he was thrilled to go but even he didn't want to spend the holidays alone. Chris had sympathized with him and was hesitant to go himself if not for his wife's insistence.
Surprisingly Dan wasn't angry, just really dejected.
Looking down at his feline friend, Dan smiled. "At least I have you and that's all that matters." Mr. Mumbles mewled softly rolling on her back for a tummy rub. "I love you too, Mr. Mumbles." Dan cooed at her, taking in her adoring expression.
Getting up he looked out the window and though he tried, he couldn't help but feel lonesome all the same. Almost everyone had someone to spend the holidays with except him. His family wasn't the most congenial either, nearly all of them having disowned him or living too far away to begin with.
He sighed heavily watching as his breath fogged the window somewhat on this somewhat colder than usual winter morning.
At the very least Chris and Elise had promised to spend the holidays with him after their visit, so this was something to look forward to.
Chris couldn't help but find himself getting very anxious as he packed, his father-in-law tried his best to make him miserable by any means just short of murder so it seemed. He couldn't help but feel intimidated despite Elise encouraging him to stand up to him.
"Are you just about ready, hun?" Elise called from the bathroom as Chris zipped the last of his luggage.
"I think so..I hope your dad doesn't try to put me in the hospital this time." He winced, scratching the back of his head.
Elise frowned as she came into the room adjusting her shirt. "Don't worry. I won't let him lay a finger on you." She smiled assuredly, placing a finger on his nose followed by a peck on the cheek.
Chris couldn't help but to smile in return. "Okay..I'll take your word for it. Should we be worried about Dan? I mean he wasn't even ranting when I told him what we'd decided."
Elise furrowed her brow as she thought this over for a moment.
"I think he'll be okay, I mean you did tell him about our plans to spend time with him later. He should be fine."
With this, she hoisted a suitcase under each arm and looked back at Chris. "Just relax. I know you worry about him. Dan's pretty tough though."
That said, she headed out to the car with Chris not far behind.
Meanwhile in another apartment, a young man was busily dusting and dressing the place in holiday décor while holiday music hummed in the background from a tabletop radio. "Hmm..where to put the poinsettias?" He spoke to himself, until it dawned on him as he set them on the windowsill adjacent to the couch.
After a grueling ordeal of arranging sweeping and the like, he collapsed on the turquoise couch. It had only been a few months since he'd gotten out of jail on good behavior. Even so, he'd put all of that behind him. Now he was focused on the festivities, even if he would be alone in celebrating he was determined to have a good time. He'd already donated some money to St. Merideth's Home for Orphaned Children as well as to the local animal shelter and this made him smile.
He'd turned over a new leaf and discarded his life of crime and it was refreshing. Letting his thoughts wander he found himself curious about a certain someone..
"He probably still hates me." He told himself, though he couldn't blame him even if he did after what he'd done.
"Ahh well. I should set up the tree." He reminded himself cheerily as he pushed such concerns from his mind and went about opening the brand new easy assemble holiday tree which lay on the floor.
The drive had proved not only to be exhausting but nerve wracking to Chris the closer they bridged the gap between themselves and the in-laws. He just hoped against hope Don wouldn't be his usually bitter insulting self. Switching on the radio, he found solace in Frosty the Snowman being sang by Bing Crosby.
Humming along quietly and tapping the steering wheel in rhythm, he looked back at his wife who'd opted to take a nap.
She was lucky not to be as nervous as he was about the trip. Then again, her parents thought the world of her. He suddenly thought back to the gifts he'd bought for her. He hoped she would like the teddy bear with the diamond solitaire necklace for her. He knew she would though. She always did love his presents. At least she didn't take after her parents in personality and he thanked the heavens for this regularly.
Feeling himself getting hungry as well as the car needing a fresh tank of gas, he pulled off at a diner, his wife stirring awake. "Huh..are we there?"
"Nah, just at a diner. Would you like to get something to eat?"
Elise stretched, yawning. "Sure, just remember that holiday diet you're on."