TITLE:Nora's Christmas wish
AUTHOR: semisweetsoul
CHARACTERS: The Walkers, the Holdens, the Whedons, the McCallisters, the Harpers and a Wandell.
RATING: T
SUMMARY: Christmas 2007 at the Walkers estate.
SPOILERS: I did my best to respect canon up until 2.09.
DISCLAIMER: None of these fantastic characters were originally created by me. I would be so lucky!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My own little vision of or could have been this Christmas (2007) at the Walkers', out of the frustration of not being granted a Christmas episode this year. A bit late, sorry but I had trouble finishing Chapter 1, which is too bad because the rest was already written. Enjoy!
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CHAPTER TITLE: Chapter 1: When Everyone Makes An Effort.
CHAPTER SUMMARY: Seems like Nora's children are not really enthusiastic about spending Christmas all together.
Chapter 1: When Everyone Makes An Effort.
Tonight. It was tonight, Nora's favorite period of the year, if not her favorite day of the year. It was a tradition, a Holden tradition originally but it had become a Walker since none of her five children ever complained about it. On the contrary, they loved it and would never miss it for the world. As years passed by, she had to use cunning to get what she wanted but in the end she always managed. This year would be different; she would welcome a new member, someone she would never have imagined meeting and even less become attached to.
Nora was there on the pantry, probably her favorite part of the kitchen if not of the entire house, trying to remember all the great ordeals the whole family had undergone during the year. She had learned about her husband's secret life and had welcomed his illegitimate daughter in her house. As she thought about Rebecca, images came rushing back: a son going back to war, the premature birth and death of her grandson, a divorce, a custody battle, a miscarriage, an injured son, an intervention, a painful long distance relationship, a coming out...
She was overwhelmed by grief and about to collapse but she couldn't let herself go, her entire family was about to arrive. She stood up and took a deep breath. She had to find something to do. She switched on the television and was instantly back in reality. The newscaster was talking about Robert McCallister, a year ago she didn't know the man and now he was married to her daughter. "We never know what the future holds" she heard herself say aloud as Mrs. McCallister made her way in the house.
No sooner had Kitty step foot in her mother's spacious kitchen than she found herself under the fire of numerous interrogations.
"Oh, honey! I'm sorry!" Nora started while hugging her daughter, "I hope everything is gonna be alright for you and Robert and I know all you want to do is be together and spend some time together. Oh, I remember my honeymoon, despite everything that's happened it remains an unforgettable memory. Your father and I went to that little inn, not so far away from home I know, but for what we did it didn't really matter..." She continued laughing alone as Kitty tried to chase away the vision of her parents together some forty years ago. Noticing her daughter wasn't listening, Nora went back to a more appropriate subject for a mother-daughter conversation: "What I'm trying to say is: I would have wanted for you and Robert to have a memorable honeymoon rather than having only three days in Hawaii..."
If only she knew, Kitty thought. When her attention focused back on her mother she realized she was still talking about the things newlyweds would do and how life was different after your wedding.
"Don't look at me like that! I know I'm rambling; I'm getting older by the day! Get use to it!" Nora protested as Kitty sighed. "Okay, fine! You obviously don't care about what I'm saying. So tell me, how's the campaign going on? I know what happened. Isaac and I discussed it after the wedding and over the phone the other day and ..."
Kitty desperate tries to cut her mother short were remained unsuccessful, it seemed Nora wouldn't stop; apparently somebody needed to express their opinion on the matter. What else is new? She reckoned. The only way to get her mother to stop was to bring up something she wasn't really comfortable with... like Isaac. Kitty got up from the stool she was sat on near the counter and pointing her finger in the air like she was beating time, snapped at her mother in her most mischievous voice in an attempt to drown out the unstoppable ranting: "Isaac! Oh, I knew something was up! You seemed different! You like him, don't you?"
As Kitty had foreseen Nora broke off, she stared at her with a faint yet revealing smile as she continued, "You know what Mom; I know it's not my business but Robert told me that... well, no, I can't tell you this! I mean..." Seeing her mother's expectant look she couldn't tease her any longer. "Well, I believe Robert told me and I quote here 'It seems Isaac can't stop singing your mother's praises!'''
Nora straightened up grinning from ear to ear, "Oh, really, he did?" Kitty recognized her mother's expression; the same one had enlightened Sarah's face around twenty years ago when the guy she found so smart and cute had invited her to the prom, she could make out pride mixed with excitement and uncertainty.
She came down to earth and spotting Kitty's delighted look resumed to a more Nora-esque attitude: "Nice try darling, but I still want to know what is going on with the campaign, the blackmailer and everything. Will Robert be forced to withdraw his candidature?"
In the meantime, Kevin had come in by the back door that took to the pantry. Overhearing what her mother had just said he couldn't help but enter into the conversation. "Wow! Did Santa managed to make my only dream come true? It's not even Christmas day yet!"
Kitty and Nora both turned to face him; he was welcomed by his mother's aggravated glance and his sister's rolling her eyes like she was thinking neither Kevin nor Robert would ever even try to bury the hatchet.
It didn't take much time to Nora to take advantage of the unusual silence that had filled the room to bring back the issue she was mostly interested in. "So I want to know and don't give me the crap they bring on TV! I want an insider's point of view and since you're an insider you have to tell me everything!"
"The thing is -" Kitty conceded begrudgingly, "if you must know, Mom -" she new that her mother wouldn't let it go until she was given a proper answer or at least something she could rabbit on during dinner. "Travis and Isaac are on it but, but... could we please change the subject? Please, let's leave work where it belongs... at work!"
"I'm afraid that's no more an option for you Kitty, you're married to your work!" Kevin retorted with no particularly disrespectful tone although his sister interpreted his remark as yet another attack against her husband.
"I can and I will and no, I'm not, I'm married to my husband and... and he's my boss... well, okay we work together...and... oh... and you know what... I don't want to do this now, okay!" Kitty stammered angrily.
"Fine by me!" Kevin replied in the most detached voice while opening a bottle of wine from Walker Landing. "The less I see him, the less I talk about him, the better I feel!"
"Okay, fine, I surrender!" Nora agreed laconically. It was December and if she wasn't more relaxed with her children in the holiday season, when would she be? "Will you tell me if I should count on you and your other half for Christmas, when we spoke on the phone you said you didn't have plans so I assumed -"
"Well, you know Mom as you indicated yourself, we have many things going on, the campaign, the scandal and Robert's children being in DC, Jason being in Malaysia, I'm not sure Robert will be in the mood for the most family-oriented holiday that can be."
"That's where you're wrong, honey, there's nothing worse than being alone for Christmas. Let him forget about all his problems and enjoy a good and traditional Christmas meal with his wife's family."
"Okay, well fine, I'll call him, and I can call Isaac too if you want Mom!" Kitty added trying to get some reaction from her mother who feigned she didn't hear her daughter's dig.
As Kitty walked away to call her husband, Nora turned and saw Kevin a disappointed and irritated look on his face.
"What's wrong Kev? Trouble with the boyfriend or... the boyfriends? I'm sorry I was busy with the wedding preparations lately, with all that's been going on with Kitty and Robert; I had less time for you. "
"I'm sorry Mom! I've had enough. There's no way I'll spend Christmas with this guy," Kevin burst out, out of the blue. "Do you realize that I have spent more time with Robert McCallister than I actually did with his brother the minister, remember him? My boyfriend!"
"So you're still with Jason! What about Scotty then?" Nora asked a bit confused.
"No, no, no! I was with Jason ... and now, I'm with Scotty... well, it's kinda complicated Mom." Kevin answered carefully for fear of his mother wanting to know all the details.
"Excuse me but it's hard to keep up with your love life, especially when you don't return my phone calls. Anyway, you can bring Scotty with you for Christmas. The more, the merrier!" Nora answered cheerfully.
"Did you hear what I told you, Mom? I'm sorry, don't take this the wrong way but I'd rather spend Christmas far away from Robert McCallister."
Nora stared at Kevin, she felt this time she would have a hard time trying to convince her son, and although she was still her mother she couldn't force him to do something he didn't want to do. He wasn't a kid anymore.
However, she knew Kevin wouldn't change his mind easily but that eventually he would, it was just a matter of time so she didn't insist. "Okay, well, that's your call. So, has everyone arrived yet?" She asked matter-of-factly.
Kevin was surprised his mother wasn't begging him; it wasn't like her. He felt a little ignored, even though he had made his decision he would have appreciated her making an effort to have him relent knowing how much they would miss him would have been good for his ego.
Kitty and Justin invited themselves in the kitchen at the exact same time. "Well, Mom, I tried all of Robert's numbers, but he didn't answer, I left him a message, so for now I can't give you a response, I'm sorry." Kitty told.
"A McCallister who doesn't answer phone calls? That sounds familiar." Kevin's bitterness couldn't help having the upper hand.
"Can somebody fill me in about what you're talking about?" Justin managed to ask before Kitty could snap something back at Kevin.
"I just want to know who will be there for Christmas. So what about you Justin? Can I at least expect you to come?" Nora probed.
"I'm not sure it's a good idea, you and me together, so soon after we broke up, Mom?" He said teasingly. "Of course, I'll be there. I live here it would be kind of impossible for me to do otherwise." He admitted.
"What about Rebecca? Do you think she'll come, I mean did you ask her? Of course not, how could you ask her since you didn't know you had to ask her!" she added laughingly. "Could you do that for me, Justin, please? Could you invite Rebecca? I would love her to come; she's family now."
"I will Mom but I'm not sure, she might wanna spend the holiday with Holly," Justin pointed out.
"Yes, you're probably right. But that's okay she can come too. I mean it's not like I haven't already shared a dinner or some other things with her," Nora conceded. "Look who's here!" Nora exclaimed all of a sudden as she made out a familiar figure coming towards them. "Rebecca, what are you doing here?" Nora asked surprised to see the twenty-something in her house a Friday night.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude maybe you were discussing an important matter? I just..."
"No, no, no," Nora interrupted her, "you'll always be welcome in my house, you know that. Actually, you've just come at the right moment. Tradition has it that we all get together to decorate the house and the Christmas tree," Nora explained. "So do you want to stay for the decorating party?" she enquired.
"I don't know, I guess I can. One more Walker tradition, I wouldn't miss for the world!" she answered trying to be nice, not to bother Nora.
"Great! Perfect! As soon as Tommy and Sarah arrive we can start!" she replied happily as Kevin, Justin and their youngest sister exchanged a funny look while the housewife went in the pantry to get something.
"So what do you do for Christmas, R?" Justin asked.
"R?" Kevin repeated mechanically, raising an eyebrow failing to understand what is brother meant.
"I thought we quit calling us that!" Rebecca replied.
"Yeah, sounds a good idea, doesn't it K and K?" Justin retorted as both Kevin and Kitty were at loss to get what their younger brother was talking about. "Okay! Never mind! Well, Mom wanted me to invite you to celebrate Christmas with us." Justin said.
"Oh, well, it's not that I don't want to, but my mother and I had planned something, plus this David guy, an old friend of hers came by the other day and she wants to introduce us so...I'm sorry..." Rebecca informed them.
"Well, that's too bad." Nora added, "I should have asked you earlier. What was I thinking? Well, maybe next year! Let me wish you a Merry Christmas in advance." Everyone noticed Nora was disappointed as she gave Rebecca a hug. "That's too bad, really, I was thinking about inviting Lena. I mean she already knows pretty much everyone, Justin and Tommy, you Rebecca and your mother, she won't feel at all out of place surrounded by all these familiar faces," she added unaware of the delicate situation and awkward atmosphere she was just creating.
"Wow, are you serious Mom?" Justin said surprised. "That's really nice of you to offer. I'll call her and ask her."
Justin was enthusiastic about his girlfriend's possible coming over but Kevin and Rebecca thought the exact contrary and felt this was going to leave an indelible stain on the evening. "Justin, I'm not sure that's such a good idea, maybe she has plans for Christmas." Rebecca started carefully.
"Yeah, I concur. Maybe you could spend Christmas, a traditional family event here with Mom, and see Lena for New Year's Eve." Kevin suggested, but it seemed Justin was firmly categorical; he would invite his new girlfriend no matter what.
"Well, I don't see why Justin couldn't invite Lena, really" Nora said. "So far it's the two of us, since you two don't know yet if you're coming or not." Nora reminded Kitty and Kevin. "I have yet to ask Tommy and Sarah and Saul." She clarified.
"Well, that you can do now, Mom!" Tommy exclaimed as he entered the kitchen with Saul.
"Hi, honey. Where are Julia and Lizzie?" She enquired surprised to see Tommy's family wasn't with him.
"Well Lizzie's a little young to be enlisted in any sort of Walker tradition, don't you think?" Tommy observed.
"Yes, you must be right." Nora said reluctantly, a bit disappointed since she was looking forward to seeing her granddaughter.
"So what did you want to ask us?" Tommy inquired.
"Mom wants to know what you're doing for Christmas, Tommy. Just so you know, Mom just suggested inviting Lena." Justin declared looking in his brother's eyes as everyone except Nora and Kitty who hadn't heard about the whole Tommy, Lena, Justin love triangle, was holding their breaths. Tommy froze, his heart started pounding as he realized almost everyone in the room was aware of his affair.
"Well, I'm not sure we will be coming, Julia's parents said they wanted to come for Lizzie's first Christmas, so I'll probably be stuck home with them." He justified although anyone was convinced by his explanation.
"Well, that's unfair. They spend almost two months with Lizzie I have every right to see my granddaughter as much as they do." Nora protested.
"Why don't you tell Mom the truth, Tommy? That you don't want to see Lena?" Justin replied in a voice full of hidden meaning.
"Well, yeah, maybe I don't want to see Lena! Excuse me but I don't make a habit of spending Christmas with my employees, Justin." Tommy countered.
"Yeah, so just so I know: what habit are you in with your employees, Tommy?" Justin snorted.
"Okay, enough. Why don't we go in the living-room and get down to the decorating party as we're all here for?" Kevin suddenly stepped in to settle down his brothers.
Tommy unable to stay calm decided to leave before things get ugly, as he opened the main door he was faced with his older sister. "Hey Tommy, forget something in your car?" Sarah said trying to figure out why her brother seemed to be such in a rush. Tommy's expression had her see right away that something was going on, and she knew what it was; Rebecca had told her after the wedding. "Tommy what's wrong?" she finally asked.
"I'm out of here, there's nothing more to say." Just as Tommy was about to go through the door he felt Sarah's arm holding him.
"Tommy, I think we need to talk." The tone of her voice left no doubt whatsoever about the subject of the imminent conversation.
Turning back, he closed the door and asked: "Who told you?"
"It doesn't matter really." Sarah replied sternly as she dragged him to the living-room couch. "Rebecca told me the other night," she finally admitted.
"She's definitely a Walker, already blabbing about her siblings!" He replied sarcastically.
"Listen to me." Sarah started: "I'm not here to judge you. All I want to say is that lying has never been the basis of a healthy relationship; because once truth is revealed it's hard to deal with the consequences. And trust me I know what I'm talking about."
Tommy listened to Sarah religiously and eventually answered: "I'm tired of this. I screwed up I know! Don't you guys understand how hard it is for me to lie? And I'm sorry if I'm the only one to find even remotely ironic that the one with all the addiction problems is the one lecturing me."
Sarah caressed the face of her little brother then hugged him. Anger had vanished in Tommy's eyes but guilt had now filled his heart and mind and that was the worst part. Their discussion was interrupted by the family members' voices indicating they finally decided to undertake to decorate the house.
"Thanks for coming Sarah. I hope you bring us some good news. Will I have the pleasure to see my grandkids for Christmas?" Nora asked expectantly.
"Well, to tell you the truth Mom, I don't know when I'll have the kids and since I'm not too eager to have the Christmas vs. New Year's Eve Talk!"
"But you should! I mean Christmas is in three days now!" Kevin added, stating the obvious.
"Excuse me but I think that it's your turn to have the kids. I mean: didn't Joe have them for both Halloween and Thanksgiving?" Kitty pointed out naturally taking sides with her sister.
"Yeah, I know but they came to the wedding!" Sarah sighed.
"Yeah, but that's totally different, I mean, it's not a holiday!"
"God forbid it becomes one, or I'll move to the other side of the world!" Kevin retorted.
Nora was disappointed but didn't let it show, so far the holiday was going to be quiet only Justin and her. For a second she considered changing her plans, buying a plane ticket to a random destination or spending Christmas in her house all by herself flipping through photo albums of the past glorious and festive Christmases. When she came to her senses she realized she hadn't asked her brother yet. "Saul! What about you? I hope you won't leave me in the lurch. I can count on you, right?"
Saul looked at his sister and replied "I don't see why you ask me the question, Nora; I've spent all my holidays with you for the last twenty years at least. Why on earth would you want this to change?"
"I don't know, I thought you may have other plans, you know, but since you come why don't you bring someone with you? I'd like to meet your friend...I mean any of your friends." She explained hoping Saul would get her message. And he certainly did and didn't appreciate it.
"Nora, may I have a word?"
While the family was busy decorating the living room they didn't notice Saul and Nora stepping away to the entrance hall where the bare fir tree was standing waiting to be transformed into a magnificent Christmas tree.
"You know what Nora; I'm not so sure I'm coming if it means every time I'm in the room I'm given the third degree!" Saul snapped out visibly embarrassed by the situation. "You know what I'm not in the mood anymore, I'm going home!"
"But Saul, wait, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you!" she protested so vehemently that Saul shut the door in her face. "Sooner or later, we'll have to talk you and me, you know!" she yelled even though the closed door made it quite impossible for him to hear her. However the whole family inside the house had witnessed her little outburst.
Kevin approached her worried: "Mom, where did Saul go? Are you alright?"
"You want to know if I'm alright." Nora started "Well! No, I'm not! I'm disappointed in all of you! I know you're tired of your mother and I can understand that. But it's Christmas! It's a time when people want to be together -"
"Mom, are you gonna bring the Kennedy story again?" Sarah interrupted.
But Nora went on as if she hadn't heard her daughter: "Christmas is a time when we pause for a moment, a breath of fresh air in the midst of the storm of troubles that happened this year, for once we can try to have a day centered on joy and happiness. Something I never thought I would be granted again! But fate, life or whatever it is has given me the possibility to have my five children under the same roof again and they have other things to do than being with their old mother. That's much more than I can take!" Nora retrieved in her kitchen slamming the door behind her which had everyone startle and freeze.
After a moment, Kitty dared to say something. "Did... did she just slam the door? Mom never does that! I think somebody should go talk to her!"
"Of course you do! As long as it's not you who goes in there!" Kevin retorted.
"I don't understand? What's wrong with her?" Tommy asked.
"I think she's sad she won't get to spend Christmas with all of you. I mean when you think about it this year wasn't a piece of cake for your mother," Rebecca pondered, "she spent the whole summer worried sick for her son and with everything that's happened since you came back Justin ... not to mention she had to deal with my existence and all that's came up lately, Sarah's divorce and Kitty's -" Rebecca stopped embarrassed, she didn't mean to stir up painful memories. "You know what I think I'll come for Christmas after all she did for me I think I owe her that. I should go home tell my mother, Bye everyone!" Rebecca finished as she left the house thinking this wasn't her place to stay any longer that night.
"Okay, so now what?" Justin questioned. "Rebecca's right, I didn't realize that was such a difficult year for all of us."
"Yeah, I must admit that she's right, Mom went through a lot recently." Sarah added as Kitty stepped away to answer her cell phone. "I think we should all try to make concessions. We should all try to be there for her, I'll talk to Joe tomorrow."
"Okay, well, I guess I can have my family here for Christmas including the in-laws if they do come." Tommy conceded.
"And I won't invite Lena, there's already enough tension as it is for her to be around, she would probably have denied the invitation, anyhow." Justin decided glad to notice his brother's expression soften.
"Well, I can officially announce the presence of Robert McCallister and his new wife." Kitty added as soon as she had hung up the phone.
"Okay, perfect, things go smoothly when everyone makes an effort." Sarah commented relieved to see this hadn't turned out to be the premises of World War III.
"I'm sorry but I'm still not coming" Kevin said all of a sudden. "I just... I don't think this is a good idea."
"What? Kevin, please! Don't start, okay!" Kitty replied already upset.
"What? What's the problem? If you're all gonna be there, you won't even notice I'm not!"
"Okay, you know what Kevin; you're coming. End of discussion! We're all in this together! Okay, and don't you dare protest" Sarah demanded in her eldest sister domineering way.
"Kevin, I know why you don't want to come and I think that's stupid, you're just acting like a child! So if you want us to respect you as the terrific adult you are, start acting like one!" Kitty pleaded, when Kevin decided it was time for him to leave: "Don't go away I'm not finished! So that's all! Am I talking to Cooper or what? Are you going to make a face and say you hate me and run away, because that's what kids do! I know you don't like my husband but you will have to learn to live with me being married to Robert and you should better start now because a divorce is never gonna happen!"
His sister had made her point crystal clear; he had no other choice but to surrender. Once again, they managed to lead him by the nose.
"Okay, fine, I'll come! But I hope Scotty can make it otherwise this will be the worst Christmas ever and not only for me!" Kevin said resigning and so angry at his siblings for forcing his hand that he left without further ado.
"Thank you, Kevin!" Kitty retorted in a strong voice glad she had found the words to have Kevin change his mind. "Well, now we'll just need to tell mom!"
"Yeah, right! I'll go talk to her; maybe you could decorate that tree, the atmosphere could sure use some Christmas vibe." Sara added before heading to the kitchen as Tommy, Justin and Kitty were left alone there ready to make the house welcoming for all the people expected to come celebrate the holiday in the Walker estate, the witness of another traditional Christmas family reunion.
END CHAPTER 1
Up next: Kevin comes home and invites Scotty to his mother's Christmas party.