It was the sound of the telephone that shook her awake as she scrambled to find the receiver. She reached over, stumbling over a few items. She finally picked up the phone wondering what time it was.
"Hello?" She replied groggily.
"Bonjour mon amie! Buen dia!"
"Huh?" She sat up trying to make out the voice. She knew it was familiar, but could not figure out for her life why.
"I believe you have a package waiting for you at the airport."
"A package?" She tried to remove the hair on her face so she could see the alarm clock. It read 10AM. She'd totally overslept.
"Yes, there's an Wallace Fennel waiting for you in the lobby. Feel free to come get him sometime today."
"WALLACE! I thought you weren't coming until tonight!"
"Well, change of plans. I got a ticket out early. I'm sick of working, and the truth is… I really miss you and Mac." She smiled, enjoying the timber of his tone. She hadn't realized until now just how much she missed him too.
"Which gate are you at? I think everyone here is sleeping."
"Everyone?"
"Well, Mac and Logan are the only ones here so far. We're expecting Dick and Trina today too."
"Uh-oh. Is the house to the Christmas standards?" She laughed, knowing he meant it in the most lovable way possible.
"I don't think it'll receive a failing grade."
"Good, so come on and get me, I'm starved." She nodded, as if he could see her. She stretched, and then began to get up out of bed.
"We'll be there in a few."
She hung up the phone, a fuzzy feeling filling her tummy. What a great day it would be! She opened the door and ran out to the hallway screaming out to her guests.
"OH! The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, since there's no place to go. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." She knocked on Logan's door, and then twirled to Mac's.
"When we finally kiss goodnight, how I'll hate going out in the storm. But if you'll really hold me tight, all the way home I'll be warm!" She sang at the top of her lungs, a bright smile plaguing her features. She heard the stirring begin in the rooms. Finally, a door cracked open slightly to reveal a very messy Mac.
"Will you please not torture us this way… we are your guests." Veronica smiled, and kissed her best friend on the forehead.
"Get ready, we're getting Wallace at the airport in twenty minutes."
She turned around, and was startled to see Logan at his doorway. His body leaning up against the frame, his hands crossed against his chest. He had the makings of day old stubble and his hair was messy from sleep. She couldn't help but smile at how beautiful he still looked.
"I hope this is not your idea of morning wake up calls, because business is going to be bad." She laughed and hit his chest as she ran toward her room to jump into the shower.
Once she was ready, she grabbed her scarf, hat and gloves and headed out her room, ready to face the cold winter day. Mac was talking to Logan in the dining room over coffee. As soon as she walked in they poured her a cup.
"Why aren't you dressed?" Veronica looked at him curiously, then back at Mac.
"I'm not going. I'm going to stay here, wait for Dick and Trina to call."
"Oh come on, they probably won't be here until much later."
"They said about 2 or 3 o'clock. It's already half past ten."
"Good point." She smiled as she took a sip of her coffee and shrugged. "I really wanted you to come."
"I'll be here when you get back." He smiled, and stood up to kiss her forehead. Then he headed to the sink. She blushed and looked down to see Mac staring at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Shut up." She whispered and Mac just laughed. "Alright, well let's go."
***
He headed back upstairs, ready to get in some more snoozing time. He had been up until really late. Then even when he'd gotten into bed, he spent most of the night thinking about what was to come.
Just as he was getting comfortable and pulling the comforter up tightly, he heard the ringing of his cell phone. He scrambled to grab it off the nightstand and smiled as he saw the number.
"Morning Trina."
"Morning little brother, how are things going?"
"Not too bad, can't wait to see you guys."
"Soon, soon. We just left Detroit, Dick took forever to get himself packed and ready… you'd think that he wants to bring his entire wardrobe. Either way, his flight just landed. We're taking the connecting flight to Green Airport. Anyway, we should be there at about 2pm. Be at the airport, I don't want to be standing around like a stranger in a foreign land. See if you can get a truck, I brought gifts."
He smirked at his sister's words, knowing that she meant well, but she was already going crazy with her Christmas activities.
"No problem Trina."
"Logan… is everything alright? You sound a little down. It's Christmas, where's your holiday spirit?"
"I told Veronica." There was a bit of a silence. He could imagine the expression on her face as she thought out the situation.
"And?"
"Well, it didn't go as well as I thought."
"She's probably scared Logan."
"I know… that's what Mac said."
"You have to have faith Logan, faith in yourself, faith in Veronica, and faith in the love that you two share. If you believe in it, nothing can tear you both apart."
"Now that I've said it… I can't imagine not being with her."
"Just keep according to plan. Trust your big sister… you'll get what you want for Christmas." He smirked and breathed out, knowing that she was right.
"Ok Trin, I'll see you in a few hours."
"Ok. Bye Logan."
"Bye Trina." He hung up the phone, and closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to drift into a peaceful sleep.
***
"Is that him?" They both looked over at the crowd excitedly, awaiting the figure of their best friend.
"Mac, it's obviously been a long time since you've seen him." They started laughing as they watched the heavier set man walk past them.
"Yea, huh?" They turned back around, looking through the crowds when they saw him.
"WALLACE! That's him, that's him! WALLACE!" Veronica started jumping up and down. Mac turned around, trying to hide the embarrassment and covering her face.
"Veronica… stop. He can see you." He walked closer and they smiled at him. His hair longer and a bit shaggy, his face covered in a full mustache. He looked like a complete stranger.
"LADIES!" He dropped his bags and opened his arms wide as the two small women ran toward him and smothered him with hugs and kisses.
"You look… barbaric." Mac stated with a smile and reached up to touch the fuzzy hair.
"Don't worry, I'm shaving for Christmas." He winked at Veronica and kissed her forehead. "Look at you. All growed up. You guys look great." He released the women in his grasp. He picked up his bags as they headed to baggage claim.
"I'm so glad you're here Wallace!"
"Me too! I can't wait to see your place. Mac has been raving about it for weeks. It was kinda driving me crazy."
"Excuse me!"
They all laughed as they waited for the big silver machine to start up and spit out everyone's personal belongings.
"So I'm starving… where are we going to eat?"
"Well, actually, Logan is still home…"
"So? We bring him something. Who told him not to come?" Veronica opened her eyes widely as she tilted her head in amusement.
"Wallace!"
"What? Look, I had a LONG flight. I deserve some breakfast."
"I agree… I mean look at him; eating all that far away from home food has made him look… stringy. He needs some good old fashioned American fat." They rolled their eyes and laughed.
"There's a diner down the street from the B&B. We'll stop there. They've got some great omelets." They grabbed his bags, and headed out into the snowy winter morning.
***
Logan was just finishing up wrapping his gifts when he heard the doorbell. He felt his stomach jump excitedly. Who would it be?
"OPEN THE DOOR! It's like a frickin' igloo out here!" He heard the yell from outside the door. He smiled, ready to run down the stairs.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" He thudded down, skipping a few steps along the way and then he gathered himself together before he swung open the door.
"Merry Christmas!" The excited yelp was accompanied by a big hug. He smiled, hugging his sister back.
"Trina… you look beautiful. What did you do to your hair?" She smiled, and turned her head to make her hair swing from side to side.
"I'm glad you noticed! I had it cut into layers, darkened it to a bit of a chestnut brown and added highlights. This moron didn't even know I looked different."
"Hey, don't get all pissy with me, you had it back when I first saw it. Besides, it's not like I care that you've done something with your hair." Dick smirked, and looked over at Logan with a smile.
"Nothing has changed huh?" Logan smiled. He reached out to hug Dick.
"Guess not. This place is pretty sharp."
"Yea, she's done a lot of work. Come in, come in. Look around." He moved over to let them in, and smiled as Trina looked around with a pleased expression.
"She really has the Christmas spirit this year. I like it."
"WOOHOO! She has succeeded in pleasing the Christmas Nazi. I say Veronica deserves a serious prize."
"Shut up Dick." He laughed, loving how it felt to have them all together again.
"So, what did you need a truck for?"
"Gifts, what else? They're all packed up in the car. Trunk and back seat are stuffed."
"I should've known." Logan smiled and rolled his eyes. "Before we go out there, let me show you where you two will be staying." He headed up the stairs as he heard them stepping behind him. He could hear the whispers as they admired the décor on the second floor. He continued up the stairs toward the suites on the third. He looked around and saw the welcome signs hanging on the door knobs. Veronica must've done that today. He smiled, and reached for the first door.
"Trina, this is your suite." He opened the door to reveal a large queen size bed adorned in a large red comforter and gold sheets. The pillows were fluffed, the fireplace was going, and there was a small decorated Christmas tree on the other side of the room. He felt his heart swell, seeing how Veronica had taken such care to make his sister feel at home.
"My God… it's gorgeous." She walked in and sat on the bed, giving it a little bounce and smiling in response. "And, so comfortable."
"There's a bathroom past that door over there, with a Jacuzzi and a separate bath and shower."
"I must say, this is way beyond what I imagined."
"Yea… Roonie is full of surprises." He smiled and left his sister to take Dick next door to his own room. He opened the door and Dick walked in and threw himself on the bed, covered in green and brown sheets.
"Roonica is something."
"Yes, she is."
"You're so hooked, worse than a pathetic fish on a bait hook."
"Thanks Dick."
"Well, it's not like she couldn't take care of you with this swanky place." He sat up and looked around as Logan sat beside him.
"I don't want her to take care of me Dick. I can take care of her just as well. I just want to be with her."
"And do her… until both of your brains explode."
"DICK!" They looked up to see the menacing shadow of Trina Echolls at the door. Logan laughed, feeling like a kid again, for the first time in a long time.
***
"So let me get this straight, amongst the entire opening of the B&B and the hustle and bustle of Christmas, Logan came and declared his love, despite the fact that he's getting married?"
"He said he's engaged… but I think there's more to it. Something he isn't telling me. I mean, he's always told me everything Wallace, and not mentioning that he and Christine were that serious doesn't seem right."
"Geez… I guess that's what happens when you're gone a while."
"Yea… hey Wallace, do you want the rest of your home fries?"
"No, go ahead. So what are you going to do V?"
"I'm not sure."
"How can you not be sure? We all know you love him."
"But, can I drop everything to be with him?"
"Woah, woah." Mac tried chewing the food stuffed in her mouth. She looked over at Veronica sharply. "Why should you have to drop everything? You have a life here V, a great life too. If he loves you, he'll respect that."
"I hate to say it superfly, but I agree. You two should be able to work out a compromise."
"I guess you're right. Come on, it's time to go." They stood up as Mac took one last bite of her food.
"Stop stuffing your face Mac, you're going to get fat."
"WHAT! Wallace, the cold air must have fried your brain child, don't you ever say Mac and fat in the same sentence or I might have to cut you."
Veronica laughed, and sighed as they all stepped into her car. They drove off down the plowed streets as Mac and Wallace argued, and then laughed, and then argued again. They'd obviously missed each other.
She pulled up, and looked at the extra car parked out front. She paused for a moment, wondering what it would be like to be all in the same room again. They stepped out and walked up the front steps as she slowly opened the door.
"Hey!" Trina and Dick both stood up from the couch as Veronica walked in with Wallace and Mac behind her.
"Veronica, it's so great to see you!" She felt the warm arms of her old friends embrace her. She smiled as she hugged back.
"It's so great to see you Trina." She looked over and saw Dick, his hands in his pockets, standing awkwardly beside Trina. "Come here." She pulled him in for an odd hug and laughed when he pushed away. Seems like nothing changed.
She moved over as she watched Logan, still on the couch, a large smile on his face. She knew she mirrored his joy exactly.
"Wallace Fennel, I can't believe it."
"Trina Echolls… look at you. I love what you've done with your hair."
"Thank you!" Veronica laughed as Trina twirled her hair, and then hit Dick, obviously some sort of inside story. "It's so great to see you. I've missed you." She smiled and reached out to hug him tightly. The only two that had never really hooked up, Veronica thought. Wouldn't it be great? On Christmas even?
The room went deathly silent as Dick ended up before Mac, the tension between them thick and visible. They stood in silence for a few moments, looking at each other and taking in the differences of time.
"Dick." Mac broke the silence first. Veronica held her breath, hoping it wouldn't be an all out war. Please, please, please.
"Mac." Dick stated and they continued to stare at each other, their faces softening a bit before them.
"It's great to see you." She stated finally, and smirked. Veronica could see his shoulders losing their tension.
"Yea."
The room seemed to suddenly come alive again as everyone breathed out a sigh of relief, and the voices all proceeded and everyone continued catching up.
Veronica sat on the couch, finally letting herself relax. She looked over at Logan's smiling face and couldn't help smiling in return.
"So?" He asked her, seeing the happiness in her eyes.
"I think this might be my favorite Christmas ever."
She smiled widely, and took in the people and faces in the room. After a whole year pretty much alone, she hadn't realized how much she wanted… no, needed, to be with friends. She felt complete now.
