Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Disclaimer: I don't own "Will & Grace." That's quite clear by now. I also don't own the title song, but I'm not really sure who does.
Setting: 4th season, right after "Jingle Balls"
Summary: Karen faces her first Christmas with her stepchildren without Stan.
Author's Note: I know, I actually have chapters! This ended up being a bit too long and while I was going to submit the entire thing at once, a dear friend convinced me otherwise. Linds, this is for you!
Chapter 1
Karen entered the lavish foyer of her manse, her custom heels clacking on the marble floor. She almost wished there were maids she could dismiss; the silence and emptiness was highly disconcerting. Karen sighed and slipped out of her velvet wrap, slinging it over her arm as she ambled up the stairs.
Just as she passed the second landing, she heard a small voice call out, "Karen?" Karen paused, noticing that the sound came from Mason's room. Karen realized that the children needed her more than ever now, what with their father gone, but their conversations were becoming increasingly uncomfortable as they demanded to know when their father was returning.
Karen took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and entered Mason's bedroom. He was lying in his bed with the spaceship comforter pulled up to his chin, the light from the moon making his face look even more angelic.
"You need something, kid?" Karen demanded.
"I…I…krimastee," Mason mumbled.
"What?" Karen asked.
"I was wondering if we were going to have a Christmas tree this year," Mason repeated more clearly. He sat it all in one breath with the air of someone trying to get the worst over with.
Karen softened and stepped closer to his bed. "Oh…oh, sure, honey, we can have a tree this year."
"Will Daddy be able to decorate it with us?" Mason wanted to know.
"I don't think so, honey," Karen answered. "I know he'd like to, but…but I don't think it's possible this year."
Mason nodded. Then, without looking at Karen, he asked, "Will you decorate it with us?"
"Would you want me to?" Karen asked, shocked. Usually she sat in the living room with a martini, watching Stan and the kids decorate a ridiculously large Christmas tree.
Mason nodded again, more eagerly. "Olivia wants you to. She's sad without Daddy."
Karen looked down at her black heels, a sharp contrast to the creamy white of Mason's bedroom carpet. "I think we're all sad without Daddy."
Mason pushed his covers back, reached out, and placed his hand atop Karen's on his mattress. "You shouldn't be sad, too. You're too…you're too pretty to be sad."
Karen smiled, looking over at the young boy. He really did look like Stan, she realized with a start. "You really think I'm pretty, kid?"
"Yeah, I do," Mason replied. "Olivia thinks so, too. Sometimes she takes me into your room and we look at the painting of you and Olivia says she wants one just like yours. But she doesn't think she's pretty enough. I told her she was, but she says she isn't as pretty as you are."
"Well, that's nice of you, Mason. You're a good little brother," Karen told him. "But you should probably get to bed. We can talk about this in the morning."
Mason pulled his covers back up to his chin and shifted a little to get comfortable in his bed. Karen tweaked his nose and turned, walking out of his bedroom. As the door closed, Karen could hear Mason say softly, "I love you, Karen Mommy."
Karen swallowed the lump in her throat and walked up another flight of stairs to her own empty bedroom.