So, apparently I lied when I said this update would be a few hours. I've been busy volunteering and whatnot for the last couple of days so sorry. Actually, that's a lie too, Boxing Day all I did was watch TV and bed and eat leftovers, but other than that I've been really busy. But, without further ado, the second-final instalment of a Time, Twists and Turns Christmas.
"It looks amazing!" Abby praised, looking at the monitors as she jumped into the back of Lucille after dropping Mikaela and her siblings back at home. "I didn't miss it did I?"
"Nope," Nate replied. "Her mother just arrived and they're opening the door now."
Abby slammed the door shut behind her and settled into the crowded vehicle to watch their Christmas miracle unveiled.
"It was awesome mom!" Luke exclaimed as his mother slid the key into the lock.
"I'm very glad to hear that darling," his mother replied. "And did you thank AJ for taking you."
"Of course mom," Micky replied for her sibling as they pushed the door open. "They were excellently…" her voice trailed off as the light was flicked on and their new apartment was revealed to them. "… behaved," she finished under her breath.
"What the?!" the mother exclaimed as she looked around their living room and kitchen which had now been completely redecorated. New couches sat framed around a new TV, accented by lamps, cushions and other soft furnishings.
Jemima ran into the kitchen and opened up the fridge.
"There's food in the fridge!" she exclaimed, as though it was something she had never seen before.
"And we have stuff to cook with!" Luke added after checking the other cupboards.
"And we have a Christmas tree!" Mikaela stated as she stared at the tall, lavishly decorated tree in awe.
"And presents!" both younger children exclaimed as they ran towards the tree, intent on tearing the paper off of the gifts.
"Nuh-uh," the mother scalded, though partially still in shock. "Not until Christmas morning."
"But…" they, including Mikaela, began.
"No buts," the mother replied. "Now, go get into your pj's." The two younger children did as they were told. "Do you know anything about this Micky?"
"I..I have no idea," the teenager replied as she admired the newly framed pictures on the wall. "They framed our drawings."
"They're parents," her mother stated, knowing that only a parent would think to add such a personal touch.
"Mom! The bedrooms are done too!" the children exclaimed and the five of them continued to explore their new home; the bathroom had new towels and appliances, a divider sat between the two younger children's bed and Mikaela's allowing her the privacy she needed and, upon her bed, sat a new laptop for her to complete her schoolwork on. The mother's room was likewise redecorated and all of the wardrobes had been filled with new clothes and shoes.
Finally, as the family finished their exploration, a note which the team had left on the kitchen bench was discovered; Mikaela picked the card up and, as she read it, smiled.
"What does it say?" Luke asked.
"It says 'We wish you a Merry Christmas and a life and a family filled with joy. Love Santa.'"
Back in Lucille the team smiled contently at their work and at the joy of the family.
"This was nice," Sophie stated sincerely.
"Christmas is going to be hard to top next year," Parker declared. "And Christmas isn't even over yet!"
"So what presents did you get them?" Abby asked.
"Everything they need and everything they asked Santa for," Eliot replied.
"How did you know what they asked Santa for?" she enquired in response.
"We have our ways," Nate grinned.
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Abby sat eagerly in front of her uncle's bedroom door much too early for any teenager on Christmas morning, just as she had done as a child. Her leg was shaking from excitement, a Christmas hat sat on top of her head and Eliot's present sat in her lap as she waited for him to wake. Finally, after she had sat there for half an hour he opened the door and tried to walk out into the hall, his efforts halted as he nearly tripped over the hyped up teenager.
"Geeze Abby!" he swore.
"Merry Christmas!" she exclaimed in response, handing her present to the man and jumping up.
"I thought we agreed we were doing presents at Nate's?" he asked as he inspected the box, shaking it up and down next to his ear.
"It's just something little," she replied. "And besides, I like tradition."
Eliot smiled and thought back to when Abby was a child and she would sit in front of his bedroom door every year without fail with a present she had crafted herself for him to wake and, when he finally did, she would proudly hand him his present and the two, despite being alone, would have a wonderful Christmas.
"Thankyou darling," he said as he opened the box to find a photo frame which Abby had made in the third grade within which sat a picture of Abby as a five year old, her mother and Eliot. "Thankyou darlin'," he said again as he drew her in, hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. "Merry Christmas."
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"Merry Christmas!" Sophie exclaimed as she hugged Abby, welcoming her and Eliot into Nate's Christmas-ified apartment.
"Merry Christmas Sophie!" Abby replied cheerfully, placing down the bags of food they had brought over.
"Merry Christmas Eliot," the grifter said to Eliot holding her arms out for a greeting; he gave her a reluctant kiss on the cheek.
"Eliot," Nate greeted as he walked down the spiral staircase, donned in a fedora and deep wine coloured shirt.
"Nate," the hitter replied simply and Sophie rolled her eyes at their mundane greeting. "Abby can you put the presents under the tree and I'll start on the food."
Abby did as she was told and piled the presents next to the others, eyeing them all eagerly and then proceeded to look up and admire the tree.
"Is that a sapphire?" she enquired.
"Yup," Sophie replied.
"And a diamond necklace?"
"Yup."
"Parker?" she confirmed.
"Yup," Sophie replied once again.
"Speaking of Parker where is she? And Hardison?"
"Hardison is down in the bar gathering bottles of Orange Squeeze and Parker is in the next room wrapping presents," Sophie replied as she began to set the table. Abigail joined her.
TBC- I was going to put this all in one chapter but the present giving ended up being quite long and I'm still writing it so I wanted to give you an instalment.
Should be up soon =)