Chapter 11: Christmas, Part II

Summary: Dorie Winger continues to host Christmas.

Dinner was a lively affair. Annie wasn't surprised Dorie was an excellent cook. It went along with the whole welcoming atmosphere of her home.

Annie was seated next to Jeff and she told herself it wasn't awkward at all. Whatever happened or was about to happen earlier was just a Stupid Holiday Mistletoe Moment. Abed would probably have something to say about it but other than that it didn't matter.

If she were being honest, she was glad Professor Duncan had interrupted. She didn't need any more messiness in her life right now. And kissing Jeff Winger again would probably invite some sexy messiness. No!

"Annie, are you okay?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry, I just spaced out for a sec."

Jeff eyed her curiously. "Are you sure? You look a little flushed."

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Okay."

Jeff reached over to grab his glass, brushing Annie's hand with his. He froze. Annie blinked.

Ian's eyes gleamed as he observed them. "Jeff, my boy! Why don't you tell us what you're up to lately at the firm?"

"Knock it off, Ian. No one wants to hear shop talk at Christmas dinner. Like no one wants to hear about your psych experiments." Jeff shot Ian a dirty glare. Ian returned it in kind.

Dorie piped up. "Boys! Now, now, let's just have a nice Christmas dinner. If you can't behave you'll have to join the babies and go take a nap."

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"Jeffrey, can I have a word with you for a minute?"

"Yeah, mom, of course. I just have to find someplace to put Sophie…"

Dorie sighed. "Jeffrey, you can hand her to me."

"Uh, no, that's okay. I think she needs to lie down or something. She's falling asleep. And I can't find Annie."

"Annie's with Maybelle, dear. Maybelle's showing her a couple baby outfits next door. They'll be back in a few minutes."

"Okay, but I still need to find place to put her…"

"Jeffrey! You don't just 'put' a baby somewhere. You know I have a crib up in the guestroom, right? I'll show you."

"Thanks, mom."

They went upstairs. Jeff put Sophie down in the crib.

"Yeah, she's out."

"Can you remember where you put her, dear? Her mother might want to know."

Jeff rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Yes, mom. Thanks."

"Jeffrey, speaking of sleeping arrangements, do I need to bring out the air mattress tonight for the den?"

"I thought you had the living room pull out couch? That's more comfortable than the air mattress."

"Yes, dear. Ian will be sleeping on the air mattress in the den if we use it. Or he could go on the couch. It depends on where you want to sleep."

"I thought I just said I preferred the couch, mom. Ian can have the air mattress."

"Oh? So you want to sleep on the couch?"

"Yes, what? How have I not been clear about that? I said it like twice."

"I was just checking dear. You can sleep wherever you want. I don't mind. It's okay."

"Mom!"

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Annie was in the guestroom thinking about getting ready for bed. The lights were turned low. She looked into the crib and gently brushed Sophie's wisps of hair as she slept. "Merry first Christmas, Sophie." She placed a kiss on her head.

There was a soft knock on the door.

Annie went over to open it. "Hi."

"Hey, can I come in for a sec?"

"Sure, Jeff. We just have to keep our voices down. Sophie's out but still…"

He nodded as he glanced around the room. "Not bad. You know, this used to be my room."

Annie smiled. "Really? I was wondering. I counted the bedrooms. There are three. One is Dorie's, then there's this one, and the last is a sewing room."

"You are such a good snoop."

"I know."

"And modest."

"Hey, where are you sleeping?"

"The couch."

"Seriously? Can you even fit on it?"

"It's a pull out bed, Annie. And while it'll be tight I think it'll be okay. I'll sleep diagonally. We giants have tricks."

"I feel bad kicking you out of your room."

"It's not my room anymore, Annie. And it could be worse. I could be on an air mattress."

"You mean…"

"Yes, Ian is currently slumbering in the den. But I know for a fact the guy has slept in worse places. Although usually he's so inebriated he doesn't notice."

"Speaking of the den, Jeff, uh, can we just forget that happened?"

"That what happened?" He smirked.

"Exactly."

"Done."

They stared at each other. It was not awkward at all.

She hesitated. "Jeff, there's something I've been wanting to tell you."

He nodded. "Okay, what is it?"

Annie looked down. "He called me."

"Who?"

"Adam."

Jeff eyes widened. "Really? Annie, are you okay?"

She sighed and looked up. "Yeah, I guess."

"What did he have to say?"

Annie went over to sit on the edge of the bed. Jeff sat down beside her.

She took a deep breath. "Well, I'm not quite sure how to take it all. He told me he hadn't been in touch because his life has been a mess. And from what he told me, it sounds like it really has been."

"I'll bet. He still could've called you before, Annie."

Annie looked down and fidgeted with the bedspread. "Well, no you see he couldn't have…"

Jeff looked at her. "What do you mean?"

Annie sighed. "I changed my number. After he didn't respond to the picture I sent him, I was so angry and disappointed that I got a new phone number. And I was living with Nancy, so anyway, he couldn't find me, Jeff. I even went dark on social media for a few months there. Well, actually I'm still taking a break from all of that. I was trying to start fresh, you know? And I didn't really think he was looking for me."

Jeff's eyes widened. "He was looking for you?"

"Well, yes. I mean, sure he could have tried harder, like hire a private investigator or something, so maybe he wasn't that active about it. But he says he tried to find me. When I sent the picture, he was in rehab. And then he got out and well, he relapsed but then he went again, Jeff, and this time it stuck. He says he's clean now and thinking much more clearly."

Jeff took a good look at Annie. She seemed hopeful. "Annie, what does this mean?"

"Jeff, this is huge. He admitted he was an addict. He wasn't making the best decisions and he messed up. Apparently when I told him I wasn't giving Sophie to Melissa and Jacob he panicked. He said he didn't feel I gave him a choice in the matter, you know, to be a dad. He said he thought it was in her best interests that we give her up. He didn't think we'd make very good parents. He wasn't ready. And then he was so shaken up he decided to get some help."

Jeff gulped. "Wait…what are you saying, Annie?"

"He says he's willing to try now, Jeff. He said he doesn't just want to send us money, he wants to meet Sophie. He says he's clean. And I believe him."

"Really? And where's his girlfriend-fiancé these days?"

"She dumped him."

"That's a surprise."

"Jeff!"

"Well, Annie, from what you told me the guy is a douche. I find it hard to believe he'd just do a complete turn around on this whole thing. I mean are you going to have him meet Sophie?"

"I kind of have to, Jeff. He's her father. And we are working out a child support arrangement. With that comes with the expectation that he will be allowed to at least visit her if he wants to. I can't deny him access. And really, if he's willing to see her, then I don't want to stop it. He deserves a chance. My dad certainly hasn't tried to see me."

"But the complete turn around, Annie?"

"Maybe you haven't dealt with many addicts, Jeff."

"That's not quite true…"

She continued, "We're not always good at tolerating distress in a painful moment. Adam especially has always been looking for a quick way out. The way he was talking to me, well, I think he's beginning to get it now. He's been going through counseling, and I think he's trying to make things right. That's what I've been trying to do with my life, too."

Jeff noticed a dull pain in his chest. "So what does this mean for you and him?"

"What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath. "Annie, the way you're talking about him right now, I have to wonder, are you considering getting back together with him? Because if so, I think that's a terrible idea."

She glared at him. "Not that it's any of your business, Jeff, but no, I'm not going to get back together with him. He hurt me. And while I'm willing to let him know our daughter, I can't go back to being with him. And I don't really think that's what he's looking for either."

"Right, Annie. Sure."

Annie's eyes welled with tears. "Maybe we're both willing to take responsibility for our actions now. And that means making sure Sophie is loved."

Jeff shook his head.

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Annie and Jeff spent two days with Dorie. While Ian was around for the Christmas festivities on the actual holiday, he excused himself the next day and headed back to Greendale. Again, Annie was struck by how polite he was with Dorie and how pleased she seemed to be by his presence. Jeff appeared highly annoyed by the whole thing.

"Dorie, my dear, this has been the most amazing Christmas. You are a wonderful cook, as always. And I couldn't have felt more welcomed."

Dorie swatted at Ian. "Oh, Ian! You flatter me. It was so nice to have you here. I hope you'll be in touch soon."

"Oh, I will be sure to give you a ring in the New Year."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "Gag me."

Annie, Jeff, Dorie and Sophie were sitting around the kitchen table having lunch. Dorie was helping Annie sit Sophie up in a high chair she had somehow procured.

"Mom, why do you have a high chair?"

"I wanted to make sure Sophie was comfortable, dear. Maybelle had this in her house. You know from her grandchildren when they were little."

She paused. "She said I could keep it."

"Mom!"

"Jeff. Knock it off." Annie glared at him.

Dorie looked back and forth between them.

"Is something the matter, dears?"

Jeff stared at the ceiling. Annie frowned. "No, Dorie, everything's fine. Thank you for getting the high chair. I'm sorry Sophie seems to be having difficulty sitting up all the way in it. I told you she's small for her age and her muscles aren't quite there yet."

"It's okay, dear. She'll be fine. Every baby is different."

"Yeah, but sometimes I just don't know. I worry she'll be behind. I had some medical stuff I had to deal with early on in my pregnancy, and sometimes I worry that I messed her up."

Jeff's eyes swooped down to Annie. Were those tears?

"Annie, she's fine. You know she's fine. You take her to the pediatrician all the time. She'd tell you if Sophie wasn't okay, right?" He rubbed her shoulder.

"Yeah, I know. Uh, excuse me." Annie got up and left the room.

Dorie looked at her son. "Jeffrey, what's that poor dear worried about?"

"Look mom, it's nothing. She's just a bit of a hypochondriac is all. She'll be fine."

"Then why do you look so worried?"

"What? I'm not. I just don't like seeing her cry."

"No one likes to see a pretty girl cry, Jeffrey. You should check on her."

"No, that's okay. She's fine."

"Jeffrey! Sometimes I really don't know what to do with you."

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They made the drive back to Greendale mostly in silence. As they neared the town, Jeff broke in, "Hey, so, thanks for coming with me. My mom had a blast. She's quite a fan of yours and Sophie."

Annie smiled. "Yeah, well I told you I think she's great. She really was a lovely host. We felt welcomed. Thanks for letting us come."

"And thank you for talking to Ian a little while. You really took one for the team."

"Ha ha."

"And at least Sophie made out like a bandit. You have to believe me that I had no idea my mom and Maybelle would go all crazy like that. They wanted an excuse to buy baby things."

Annie smiled. "Yes, that was very sweet of them. And totally unnecessary. I mean, I thought we were just doing the White Elephant gift exchange thing?"

"Annie, that doesn't apply to the kids. Sam did quite well for himself there too. Christmas presents are for kids."

"Oh, I see."

"Hey, what are you doing the rest of the break? School doesn't start for a couple more weeks. Don't you have a birthday in there somewhere?"

She looked at him curiously. "Hey, how did you know that?"

He smiled. "You told me you were turning nineteen in December. Since it's the 27th, I'm going to assume this event is happening in the next few days…"

"Oh, no I already had my birthday."

Jeff was stunned. "Wait…what?"

"My birthday was on the 19th. It was my golden birthday, actually. I feel so amazing." She rolled her eyes.

He frowned. "Hey, you mean you had a birthday and you didn't tell me?"

"Um, no. I mean it was no big deal, Jeff." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Annie! You got me a birthday present. Why would you think I wouldn't want to celebrate your birthday?"

"First of all, that present was from Sophie. And it wasn't a big deal, you know that. She couldn't afford much and she's not a very hard worker…"

Jeff laughed.

"And secondly, it's a little awkward to announce, hey it's my birthday. Especially when we're on winter break and I don't see you."

"You could have texted me."

"You were doing some stuff for Ted. I had the impression you were busy."

"Not that busy, Annie. And does this mean you celebrated your birthday alone?"

"No. Nancy, Ryan and I had cake. It was kinda fun, actually. I haven't had a birthday cake in ages. My mom never wanted me to put on extra weight. And well, last year let's just say I was not in a good place. And I was in rehab. There were no birthday cakes in rehab."

"I suppose not."

She sighed. "And I went to see my bubbe later that day. It was the last night of Hanukkah, actually so that made it extra special. I brought Sophie with me, you know, so she could meet her."

Jeff raised his eyebrows. "Bubbe is grandma, right?"

"Yeah, she's my mom's mom."

He paused. "Wow, Annie. You've never mentioned her. That's great. Did you just tell her about Sophie or has she known all along?"

Annie sighed. "No, I hadn't told her about Sophie until I brought her to see her."

"Yikes. This is huge, Annie. How did it go?"

"Oh, it was fine, Jeff. She really perked up. Sophia Edelstein really enjoyed meeting Sophie Edison."

Jeff smiled. "Wow, so Sophie's named after your bubbe? You must really like her."

"I love my bubbe, Jeff. She's actually a good person. Unfortunately, she's in a nursing home now and has some sort of dementia. So she's in and out of it. But I caught her on a good day. Of course she called me by my mom's name and thought Sophie was me, but still…."

"I'm sorry, Annie."

"Yeah, well, at least I've had some family time this month. First my bubbe, and now I got to spend the holiday with your family. It was nice, Jeff, really. I feel less alone. And I think Sophie had a good time."