Chyler and John set out the Santa Claus gifts. "Pretty baby I put something naughty in your stocking but its at the bottom so just don't pull the last thing out in front of the kids…"
"John what did you do…"
"I'll never tell…its more a gift for me than for you!"
"Lets just hope we put Tatum's bike together right and it doesn't crumble the moment she sets on it…"
"Don't tell any one but I read the directions… and for when times get desperate and you need to de-power all of Holden's new noise making toys I put a phillips screw driver on the mantle for you."
"aw you do love me…"
"always…ok everything looks good we can go to bed…" he tossed her over his shoulder and started up the stairs "what are you doing john?"
"trying to get one of my presents."
The next morning Chyler searched for Becca but couldn't find her.
"She probably went for one of her drives don't worry come on the kids are up and I can't hold them off anymore…" John said. "no Tater I'll carry your brother down stairs!" John told her.
"OK let's go before the natives' revolt…" she told as he grabbed her and led her away from the guest room. "Seriously honey go grab Holden from Tatum"
"Mama I wasn't gonna drop him." "Lets go see what Santa brought!" John distracted Tatum "OK race you daddy…"
Leland's phone rang off the hook. "What?" he barked into the phone.
"Is Becca with you I can't find her anywhere?"
"Yeah, hang on." he handed her the phone "Chyler…sounds mad…" he mumbled
"So you just decided to leave without telling me?"
"Yes Mommy…' Becca replied snidely. Chyler growled "I was worried sick Becca you could have at least left a note.'
"You're to busy playing happy family to care…"
"We are a happy family I'm sorry if the rest of us wont bathe ourselves in misery like you…and lets get one thing straight right now I did not settle for second best that's what you tell yourself so you can live with knowing you have my left overs…and the reason you'll never be forgiven for what you did is because its fucking low and dirty to steal your best friends guy! But then again you are Randy's toss away ho! You are used to low and dirty. So I guess I should've known better than to expect more from you! Merry fucking Christmas" and Chyler hung up "I take it you pushed a button." Leland smirked.
Feeling grinchy this morning Pretty Baby?" she whirled on him "You buddy are nowhere near out of the dog house so watch it". He threw up his hands.
"I come in peace baby don't shoot!" a smile tugged at his lips.
"You needed something?"
"Just to tell you that we have dinner at my parents tonight and our son tried sticking the cat's tail in the light socket…I'll dress our little cat electrocuter…I love you…You look pretty when your mad…" he ran before she could throw something.
Awhile later….
They all met at the front door. Ready to go or so Chyler thought. They where all supposed to match in some way. Chyler wore a scoop necked black and white dress with red accessories. Tatum wore a red dress with black polka dots. John wore a red crew neck sweater black dress pants and Holden was supposed to match him in a red sweater and jeans but instead he wore his I'm kind of a big deal long sleeved shirt.
"Why isn't my baby fully dressed?"
"He screamed when I went to put the sweater on not a normal scream either it was more of an I hate you daddy scream… you look pretty!"
"I don't look like your mother do I?"
"Baby you look perfect I like you hair braided like that…I packed his sweater we can put it on for pictures then take it off besides dad will get a kick out of his fashion rebellion…why Miss Tatum don't you look radiant."
"Thanks daddy but what's radiant?"
"It means you glow…" he offered her his spare hand "May I escort you to the car." she took his hand. "I guess I get to escort myself to the car…" Chyler muttered.
When the entered john parents house Chyler saw Lacy talking to Sean in a corner and knew something was wrong. "There's my boy!" John senior said. "Hi dad don't get your feeling hurt if Bubba high tails for Johnny he's daddy's boy today for some reason." Chyler said handing Holden over.
John tried getting his son to sit down in the high chair. "Sit son!" Holden locked his legs "Please sit…" he tried the polite angle when Sean came over and whispered in his ear "You fucked Lacy?" John looked helplessly toward Chyler. "Didn't say a word." she threw up her hands. "Not in front of my kids please!" John ground out quietly.
"So you did…"
"It was an accident…a one time thing…you guys weren't together yet and believe me I regret It." John remained calm situating Holden's food tray and smiled at him.
"Chyler buys that load of bullshit! She used to be smarter…but then again you've always been able to lie straight to her face and she just sticks with you!" Chyler growled Carol touched her arm in an unspoken command to not respond to Sean's bait.
"What she buys or doesn't buy isn't any of your business…I am very sorry it happened but understand something right now Sean I do not lie to her and you will apologize to MY WIFE for calling her stupid…I get that you love her dude I always knew that but when did jealousy make you so damn bitter?"
"Me bitter you are just like having your cake and eating it you couldn't stand that I had her first! She was mine damn it!"
"We're back to that… seriously Sean I can't help that I loved him and not you!" Chyler interrupted "You think it doesn't hurt me that he slept with my fucking sister? It does! Quite frankly I want to rip them both apart but I have kids with the man…I…I…I have loved him literally my whole life and her we have the same blood running through our veins I am basically stuck OK I'm stuck and what they did was shitty and dirty and mean spirited but don't bring up long buried skeletons it won't help anything!" she stomped off.
"Grandpa I'm confused?" Tatum said "You two finish this else where now!" John senior commanded. Dan got up to go check on Chyler. He found her in the den.
"Hey Heartbreaker…" Dan said using his nickname for Chyler.
"Here to tell me how stupid I am for staying with him too?"
"Nope… because I know my brothers…Sean's mad…and John he really is sorry…I've never seen John the way he was when you left him…it scared him he never thought he could lose you it made him careless but not now. Now he knows what he stands to lose on a very real level. Sean and Lacy are going to be fine … and so will you and John our family is going to see its way out of this." punches could be heard being traded in the kitchen.
"Jesus H. Christ." Chyler muttered.
"So someone will come out of it with a shiner." Dan kidded. They saw Carol dragging the water hose through the sliding glass door into the kitchen. "Mom no John's wearing Prada." Chyler yelled running after her
"Mom that water's half frozen you'll give them pneumonia." Dan finished they heard both men squeal like school girls.
Carol stood at the head of the table "the boys fighting in my kitchen ruined our dinner so guess who's going to go get takeout together and not kill each other… Tatum give your daddy your Mickey D's order." chyler started laughing she couldn't help it the sight of her 6'1 284 lbs husband standing like a little boy being scolded was just to funny add to that he and Sean looked liked drown rats and Lacy began laughing too. "This is not funny!" Danny wife Carly reprimanded the girls. "I'm sorry Carly but it's funny really funny!" Chyler said cracking up again. Causing the rest of the family to start laughing.
Hours later
Sean sat in the floor helping Piper and Tatum remove their dolls from those godforsaken packages…he had a shiner Johnny's aim had always been better…John had cut on his lower lip but other than that and the mess with the food damages seemed minor. John stood in the doorway swaying slightly rubbing the back of a teething Holden. He sang Jesus loves me quietly and other than the occasional whimper or smacking sound as Holden chewed on his frozen teething toy he appeared to be drifting off despite his best efforts not too.
"Aunt Chy?" Piper Dan's Daughter knocked Chyler out of her thoughts
"Yeah babe…"
"Your phone was ringing."
"OK thanks." Chyler saw missed call from Maria. She unfolded her legs from beneath her getting up she passed John in the door brushing her fingertips down his arm. She kissed Holden and mouthed "I'll be outside…"
"Remember your coat its cold…" john advised.
"I know…" she whispered back leaving him.
Chyler put on her long cherry red suede coat stepping outside she hit Maria's number on speed dial closing the door.
"Hey mama! Merry Christmas!" Chyler said brightly
"Hey Chy…" Maria sounded deflated.
"That bad huh?"
"You could say that yeah…so how's your holiday going?"
"Um Johnny and Seany got into a brawl we had take out for dinner and everyone and I do mean absolutely everyone including Becca thinks I'm fucked up in the head for staying with John but other than that its downright Rockwellian how bout you?"
"God don't get me started on Becca! For someone who claims to hate her Leland has trouble keeping his hands or eyes to himself its just sad and well gross…Beth's nearly killed her twice now and I'm keeping my distance because I'm fully capable of killing her myself and if she whines one more damn time about how shitty she feels I may very well harm her…she did it to herself I have no pity. Plus she tried to ruin Duane Lee and me…"
"I don't think she set out to ruin anything honey…she doesn't think before she acts you know that…" Maria sighed "Speaking to him yet Ria?"
"No…" Maria sounded teary.
"Ya gotta even if you do it just for Blake…"
"God Blake he knows something's up…"
"He's a smart kid Ria… you still love him?"
"Uh huh…"
"Then I guess we both have the answers we need don't we?"
"Are we stupid to forgive them…?"
"I don't know maybe…listen girl I gotta go Johnny's bringing Tatum out to build a snowman…she looks like a walking marshmallow…love you merry Christmas bye call me…"
"Ditto sister…" they hung up.
Chyler put her phone in her coat pocket. She hid just as they were coming outside she made a snowball and hit John square in the back of the head. She giggled lightly. He turned slowly "Run woman!" he warned she took off like a shot but wasn't fast enough he caught her round the waist. "Remember you started It." he whispered and tossed her down the snow. He rubbed her face in it "Ahhh, I give you win Uncle… let me up don't you love me?" she whined
He laughed. "Yes I do." the look shared between them was quick almost unnoticeable but they both knew they were on the road back. Tatum stood looking at her parents like they were crazy. "Come On Tater make snow angels with mama!" Chyler said truly happy for the first time in awhile.