A merry little Christmas ch.2
Thanks so much for the support. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Next day dawned bright and cold… and crisp and even. For three of Denver's citizens, however, it dawned too bright too cold and decidedly wobbly.
Ezra was tempted to take two Tylenol and curl up under his extra thick duvet; to forget his morning appointment agreed upon whilst not of sound mind. But he at least owed the others to refuse him to his face whilst sober. 'And maybe they will still say yes… that they want to come for Christmas' a little voice inside his thumping head whispered. He snorted and dismissed the thought. He was after all a realist. He was also true to his word and so soon found himself in the shower waiting for the steam and the Tylenol (extra strength) to burn away the last of the hangover that he so richly deserved. It was seldom that he allowed himself to over indulge. What he couldn't figure out was why with such a good memory he never remembered just how bad the morning after tended to be.
Indeed by the time Ezra and Vin had made their separate ways to Nathan's house everyone's hangovers had diminished to manageable proportions. Vin, however, was convinced that he was still drunk as he looked disbelievingly on the breakfast set before him. Scrambled eggs, Ham, fried potatoes and tomatoes with toast, butter… real butter! And a plate of pastries on the side. He could forgive the healthy pitcher of fruit juice. He could more than forgive it when he tasted the tropical burst of flavours on his tongue instead of the usual processed orange he bought for himself.
"Mr. Jackson, did last nights' alcohol consumption leave you with some kind of nutritional epiphany?"
Nathan shook his head at the reactions. Anyone would think he was a health food freak. He might encourage healthy eating but he also knew when a little comfort food was needed… no need to tell Vin that it was all cooked as healthily as possible.
"No Ezra. There's a time and a place for all kinds of foods and this is balanced to provide all the nutrients that last nights' indulging robbed us of."
Vin looked pointedly at the plate of pastries… prepared to make a grab for them if Nate changed his mind! He could see that his sweet-toothed partner was having the same idea… in that case it was every southerner for himself!
"No harm in the occasional treat, especially at Christmas." Nathan almost seemed to be embarrassed so the other two tucked in with gusto, letting their appetites do the thanking. Nathan couldn't help think that it was like watching a horde of locusts attack.
X*M*A*S
"So, um, Ah suppose we should discuss certain matters which arose last night."
Ezra kept his eyes firmly on the moist tissue that he was using to clean the sticky pastry residue from his fingers. It was a good excuse not to have to look at the discomfort on the others faces as they decided how easiest to let him down.
Vin, who was of the opinion that licking his fingers got the job done fine kept his eyes on Ezra… man was more highly strung than his damn horse!
"Think the only things we need to discuss is what you usually do at Christmas… cause you have to know that it's a mystery on the same level as a Dan Brown novel… and then how we fit our own doings into yours."
Ezra shut his eyes to hold back the tears of relief. He hadn't regretted his invitation but rejection, no matter how well meant, still hurt. He desperately needed to say something that wasn't mushy… he was a Standish after all. Suddenly his head shot up.
"You read Dan Brown Mr Tanner?" Although the comment was designed to distract from the emotion of the moment Ezra was genuinely surprised. Vin's dyslexia was well known and he knew that the sharpshooter found reading somewhat of a frustrating experience. From the raised eyebrows that met his own Nathan was of a similar opinion.
Vin shrugged. He wasn't embarrassed by his difficulties anymore. In fact he liked it that his friends could talk about it as though it were a natural part of being him, which it was, and not a dark secret like some teachers and foster parents had. The team had shown him that in the overcoming of his condition his true intelligence was revealed… well Ezra had said something like that but the words were longer and part of what he said was in latin. The thought had been there though.
"Nah, saw the movie. Would've liked to have read it but it's just too long and involved."
"Indeed." Ezra was pleased that Vin had gone along with the diversion. He also had something to add to one of his lists. However it was true that if they were going to do this thing they needed to plan. The first part was easy. They just had to do exactly what Chris had forbad them from doing.
"How d'ya mean?" queried Vin as Ezra made that thought known.
"Well it seems to me that most of the trouble revolves around our leader declaring a dictatorship. Each of you has places to be and things to do on Christmas morning so I suggest that no matter what we do together in the coming week that time be kept aside for personal projects. Of course that does not preclude any one of us going their own way at any other time. I would chance to request, however, that we endeavour to eat the festive meal together if that is acceptable?"
Vin felt a physical release of tension in his shoulders and back as Ezra spoke. He hadn't truly realised just how much Chris's demands had upset him. To take away the turmoil of having to rebel or give in was a Christmas present in itself.
Both Vin and Nathan immediately agreed before a question popped into both their heads simultaneously. Nathan was the first to voice the concern.
"Sounds great Ezra but where are we gonna find a reservation this late; it's less than a week to the day and I can't imagine any decent restaurant that's open having any vacancies."
"Can't see you tucking into a big mac on Christmas day Ez." Vin added.
Ezra developed a sudden case of rabbit in headlight syndrome.
"Ah, well. You see, I had planned to… that is I was going to…"
"Oooh! You… you sneak! You can cook can't ya?"
"Well I…I…" Ezra's voice died as Nathan realised the truth and leaned menacingly towards him… it was almost impossible NOT to seem menacing when one party was five foot nine and the other six five. Of course Ezra knew that Nate would never actually harm him in any way but there were things he could do 'for your own good' that the southerner would rather avoid, thank you very much!
"Do you mean to say that all this time we've had to put up with Buck's Godawful barbeque burnt offerings? And Josiah's rip your throat out chilli?"
"And Nathan's tofu and green stuff" Vin added and ducked to avoid the dark hand that suddenly came his way.
Both agents glared at their undercover colleague.
"No-one asked."
That stumped them.
"Fair enough" Vin commented "guess we can let you live….what d'you say Nate?"
"Reckon so… at least until he's served dessert."
The warm laughter at Ezra's look of mock indignation made Vin realise that this was what had been missing. True friendship and equality. He began to feel sorry for the others. He was definitely going to get the best deal this year.
"Now gentlemen, I suggest that we deal with the thorny issue of food… I'm presuming that chilli is not on the menu."
The others snorted. "Yeah, I remember when Josiah bought a pot along as a side dish… he was in a sulk for two hours when nobody thought it went with any other dish on the table."
" That must have been something to see. JD couldn't stop teasing our gentle giant for days. Of course he wasn't so gentle when he proceeded to attempt to stuff the boy into santa's sack and padlock it."
"Good job Chris had a set of bolt cutters handy" Nathan added, relaxing as Ezra's comment held no resentment at not being included in their festivities.
They all spent a moment pondering just why their leader kept bolt cutters in his desk… They gave up quickly. Best not to dwell.
Ezra retrieved one of his lists from his pocket and the men settled to plan their menu. It was just another thing that wasn't normally done. Thanksgiving was turkey at Nettie's and Christmas was turkey at Chris's, though still cooked by Nettie… it was hard to barbeque a turkey and the one time Buck had tried had proved that it was something nobody wanted to try again.
"We need to agree on the main. I understand that y'all had turkey at thanksgiving, do we want that again or does anyone have alternate suggestions. Personally while I always prepare a special meal for myself at Christmas the content varies so Ah have no absolute preference. The Christmas repast tended to be whatever was the norm for the family I was with that year."
"Me too" Vin agreed with Ezra quickly to stop a well meaning Nathan putting his foot in it. Vin understood that sort of nomadic upbringing and like Ezra saw it as just the way things were.
"So Nathan, do you have a traditional meal that we can adopt?"
Nathan took Vin's heavy handed hint and kept silent on the issue of Maude and the child care system. "Well we always had beef when I was young. Dad could get it cheaper from an uncle than whole turkey from a store and since mom wasn't the best cook in the world it was a surer bet" he chuckled at the memory, Vin and Ezra exchanged a glance and nodded.
"Beef it is then Mr Jackson."
"What? No, I, I didn't mean to force you to …"
"Beef sounds great to me" Vin assured. "And if Ez is a half decent cook then it'll be nice to taste something that hasn't been cremated.
"Well okay, but we all have to suggest the accompaniments and each of you should say what we're having for dessert and starter."
After much deliberation… and a rumbling stomach for Vin the menu was set.
"So gentlemen, we have mah Grandmother's pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast which Ah will prepare at Vin's so he will have as much time with his charges as possible… and so his completely unreliable transport will have as little chance to get stuck in the snow as possible."
"Well said" Nathan's agreement earned him a share of the glare sent Ezra's way.
"For Christmas lunch we will be having a rib roast of beef, served with Nate's aunt Esther's green bean casserole, Vin's grandfather's old fashioned gravy" (Vin nodded at that, he wasn't keen on the packet stuff) and mashed potatoes with normal accompaniments… that resulted in a grin from Nate and a frown from Vin who was quite aware that 'accompaniments' was another word for veggies. He shuddered.
"Dessert is mah Grandmother, other side of the family's, red velvet cake or" he glanced at Vin and amended his statement "AND apple pie and either ice cream or cream…. That's one or the other Vin."
Vin blushed.
"Anyone decided where we're gonna eat the main meal? Don't think my kitchen can handle much more than pancakes."
Ezra had seen Vin's kitchen, it was true. "I think that since I am cooking it might be best to have dinner at my townhouse… and then perhaps finish the day with supper at yours Nathan. That way we will all hopefully have happy memories of Christmas in our own abodes?"
"Sounds perfect Ezra."
"Great idea Ez."
Ezra relaxed slightly and he could feel the beginnings of seasonal excitement bubbling inside. The other two also felt like the festivities had been arranged just right. Looked like they were all set.
Ezra pulled another list from his pocket and consulted it before looking up with a grin.
"Well now, decorations, the tree, music and entertainment" He shook his head 'honestly did they think that a proper Christmas began and ended with the stomach!' he mused and he hadn't even mentioned gift shopping. He left a moment for the shock to wear off and then added quite offhandedly….
"Oh and have you two worked out just who is going to tell our esteemed leader that you will not be attending his own function?"
He wondered if a moan and a whimper constituted a coherent reply.
TBC
A/N I consulted the Food Network site for things that Americans might eat at Christmas – I'm a Brit and I figured that Christmas pud and custard might be a culture shock too far. So please forgive if I got anything wrong… and can anyone tell me if Americans have roast potatoes? I haven't seen mention of them. Very strange LOL Also anything you want the three to have as their traditions please let me know.