A/N: So when I originally wrote this chapter, I ended it here. However, I love this story too much to let it go now. So I added a bit more drama that will keep it going for a few more chapters. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I asked Santa if I could somehow magically own The Last 5 Years for Christmas…he said no.
Cathy stood by her loft window, sipping her cup of coffee and watching the snow fall onto the city. Christmas in New York, Cathy thought. I'll never get tired of it. She stared at the snow whipping around in the air, letting her mind wander to Tristan, to Jamie, to the mess that she found herself in. Things had been awkward since the scene at the apartment with Jamie just a few weeks earlier. She had stopped trying to convince Tristan that nothing was wrong, for she was certain that Jamie did still have feelings for her. And as much as she tried to ignore it, she wasn't sure she could deny having the same feelings for him.
Noah sat on the couch, watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" his mouth opening into a huge yawn. It was Christmas Eve, and as a treat, Cathy had let him stay up later than normal. She chuckled to herself as she watched her son force his eyes open at the TV, fighting off sleep.
"Sweetie, are you getting tired?"
"Nooooooo," he said unconvincingly, another yawn coming on.
Cathy grabbed the remote, and turned off the TV. Noah shot a horrified look at her.
"You can finish it tomorrow! Besides," she glanced at her watch, pretending to look shocked at the time. "If you don't go to bed now, Santa is going to skip right over our house!"
Noah folded his arms. "Nuh uh!"
Cathy raised her eyebrows at him, stifling a smile. "Okay, if you want to wake up in the morning with no presents, that's fine…" Noah's eyes widened with concern.
"I guess I could fall asleep," he said shuffling his feet to his room, Cathy following behind. She tucked him in bed, brushing the hair away from his face.
"Merry Christmas, Noah," she said as she kissed him on the forehead.
"Murry Chistmas, Mommy," he murmured, his eyes blinking slowly as he lost the battle with sleep.
Cathy smiled one last time at her sleeping son, before closing the door behind her. She went to the linen closet, taking out the wrapped gifts she had been hiding in there since Thanksgiving. She began to display them around the lit Christmas tree when a soft knock came at the door.
Cathy peered through the peep hole to find Tristan standing there, looking slightly nervous. She opened the door slowly, careful not to make to much noise.
"Tristan!" she whispered. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"
"Everything's great," he said walking in. "Is Noah asleep?"
"I just put him to bed. Why, what's up?"
Tristan grinned. "Remember how you told me that when you were a kid, your family would always let you open one present on Christmas Eve?"
Cathy nodded slowly.
"Well, I thought we could reenstate the tradition."
"Tristan it's a very sweet idea, but I'm exhausted, I have to get things ready for--" she stopped mid-sentence when she saw a small wrapped box sitting on Tristan's palm.
"What's that?" she pointed to the box.
"It's a present."
"I can see that, but what is it?"
"A pair of skis. Come on Cat, just open it." Tristan urged.
Her hands trembled, pulling the ribbon slowly, and unfolding the paper to reveal a velvet black box. Oh God…
Before she could open it, Tristan took it from her, and knelt on one knee. Cathy covered her mouth with her hands.
"Catherine Elaine Hiatt, you have brought me more joy than I ever thought I would ever deserve. And I cannot imagine the rest of my life without you by my side." He opened the box to reveal a beautiful square cut diamond set in platinum, with Celtic markings engraved on the sides.
"Will you marry me?"
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Jamie's alarm clock went off promptly at 7:00 am, Bing Crosby's rendition of "White Christmas" crooning through the radio. He groaned as he slapped his hand down to turn it off, his eyes still closed. The cold air of Christmas morning filtered through the closed windows, sending Jamie's body into a shiver. Though he desperately wanted another hour of sleep, he was due to pick up Noah in two hours. It was their first Christmas together, and he was determined to do it right. He sprang from bed and into the bathroom, where his half-asleep self in the mirror greeted him.
"Merry Christmas," he muttered, splashing his face with hot water. Jamie showered and shaved, trying to mask the fact that he'd gotten little sleep. As dressed, he glanced nervously at the small, white leather box that sat atop his dresser. He had bought it just a few weeks earlier, and had still not been able to decide what the hell to do with it. Just forget it. She's moved on, you have to accept that. And yet, he couldn't forget the moments they had shared since meeting again after five long years. He shook his head, and put the matter aside. The task at hand was making his apartment look decent for his first Christmas with his son.
Jamie arranged stockings on his bookshelf since his apartment lacked a fireplace, and placed a small (and fake) Christmas tree he had purchased at Target. He finally cleared the dirty plates that had been making a home in his sink in the dishwasher, and made some instant hot chocolate for Noah to enjoy later, along with a huge plate of Oreos. He bit into one, surveying the apartment with a satisfied nod. Jamie looked at his watch, which read 8:15. Because of his unusual efficiency, he had loads of time on his hands.
He started towards his office before a knock on the door stopped him in his tracks.
"Who is it?" he called out curiously for he wasn't expecting anyone.
"It's us!" a small voice called.
Us? Jamie opened the door. Cathy stood on the other side, Noah in her arms.
"Hey!" Jamie exclaimed happily. "What are you two doing here?"
"I thought I'd save you a trip and deliver your first Christmas present," Cathy beamed, handing Noah over to him.
Jamie hugged Noah tightly. "Merry Christmas, kiddo. Come on, I have hot cocoa and cookies inside." Noah ran inside while Jamie stayed at the doorway, looking at Cathy. She looked especially beautiful: her cheeks flushed with pink from the cold, her hair styled neatly, chandelier earrings adorning her ears, and vibrant red sweater that brought out the bright blue in her eyes.
"Can I come in? Because if I'm out here much longer, I won't be thawed 'till next Christmas."
"Right, sorry," Jamie laughed, opening the door wider. He moved to the kitchen, where Noah was already helping himself to cookies.
"How about something to wash that down with?" Jamie poured cocoa into three mugs, and as he handed one to Cathy, their hands touched, causing both of them to jump.
"It's hot," Cathy said nervously.
"Very," Jamie muttered, watching her lips curve around the mug.
She caught his eye. "James, it's rude to stare," she said with a wink.
He panicked. "I wasn't," he started to stammer, but then with a sudden burst of confidence thought of a new plan. "And it's rude, Catherine, to leave lipstick on someone else's cup."
She laughed. "My sincerest apologies," she said before chugging the last of her drink. It's so good to hear her laugh, he thought.
Her face suddenly grew serious. "I also came over…because I have to talk to you about something."
"Oh…sure," Jamie nodded, his heart beating rapidly. "Hey Noah, you have stocking on the bookshelf. Santa put some good stuff in there for you."
"He did? How did he know I was coming over?" Noah's face was wide with shock.
"Ummm…well…Santa is also psychic…" Jamie spat out, mentally kicking himself for his slip.
"What's a psychic?" Noah asked.
"Sweetie, just go look through your stocking okay?" Cathy said gently. Noah needed no further convincing and ran into the living room to sort through the stocking.
Jamie sat at the dining room table. "Thank you."
Cathy smiled. "Anytime."
They sat in silence for a few moments. Jamie finally spoke, "You wanted to talk to me?"
Cathy sighed. "Okay…this is hard." She looked at Jamie, stone-faced. "Tristan asked me to marry him."
Jamie feigned astonishment. "Oh…what? That's…wow, I wasn't expecting that."
Cathy smirked. "You're a writer, Jamie, not an actor."
He blushed. "Okay, I knew. Well, congratulations. I'm—really happy for you two," he choked the last words out.
"Thanks. It was a huge surprise…but I think it's for the best you know? For everyone." Jamie noted that it sounded as though she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.
"Well as long as you're happy. You are happy, right Cath?" Jamie asked.
Cathy sighed and awkwardly grinned. "Very."
