Chapter Twelve

"I can't believe it's a week before Christmas and I haven't done anything!" I exclaimed, pulling on my jacket as Jimmy held it out for me.

"You're not the only one, between all the practices Herb's been throwing at us, I'm not surprised the whole team's panic buying now," Jimmy informed me as he tugged on his own coat.

"Where are we supposed to be meeting them again?" I asked as I grabbed my keys and shoved them into my bag.

Jimmy was already holding open the door for me as I slipped past him.

"The coffee shop in the mall," he told me as I pulled my long dark hair out of my jacket.

"I'm not even sure what the hell to get Herb." I worried as we stepped into the courtyard.

Jimmy paused for a moment, I stopped too confused. Jimmy reached out and placed his hands upon both of my shoulders. His eyes met mine, I could see a lot in those eyes.

"Stop panicking, it will be fine," Jimmy said firmly.

I let out a deep breath as we began walking again, both with our hands shoved in our pockets against the cold.

"I haven't been this disorganized since…" I trailed off, remembering the last time I had been this disorganized around Christmas.

"Since your parents died right?" Jimmy finished for me.

I bowed my head, staring at my boots as I walked.

"Yeah sorry, I didn't mean to bring up anything…"

Jimmy interrupted me. "I gotta get used to it sometime; you never really talk about your parents. What happened to them if you don't mind me asking?"

We were walking even slower now, trying to prolong the moment.

"I used to do a few skating competitions when I was a kid, I've always been good at skating. My dad used to take me out on the ice, and I just became hooked on it. Anyway my coach used to take me to the competitions so we could get a practise in before hand. Mom and dad were driving on their way to the competition when they hit a patch of black ice on the road and ploughed straight into a tree. They pretty much died on the spot." I was looking down at my hands as I spoke.

I feet Jimmy's fingers touch my hand gently before he took hold of it. It was comforting and warm. I found the strength to continue.

"My coach told me after I came back from doing my piece for the competition. I won that competition and I didn't even care because I felt responsible for their deaths." I hesitated.

Jimmy squeezed my hand.

"None of my family in New York would take me; I had lots of Aunt's and Uncles over there, my dad's sisters but they thought I'd be too disruptive, my dad's mom was in a nursing home so she could take me in. I was only around ten years old. Doc and Grandma are my mom's parents, they came down to New York as soon as they heard and instantly adopted me. It wasn't easy for them. I had a few problems when I first moved to Minnesota, nightmares and the usual but they helped me through it. Eventually I carried on the skating and went to med school, and here I am now," I finished.

Jimmy and I had stopped walking and were gazing at each other. I reached out with my free hand and took his unused hand.

"I know how hard it is to go through something like losing your mom," I said softly. "But I know you have a whole family to look after, if you ever need help…"

He cut me off, his eyes on both of our hands.

"Atlanta was trying to sign me before I came here. The money's good, hell the money's really good but I couldn't leave them. Playing for a team and going professional is one of my dreams but with them to look after I felt like I didn't have a choice, I told them to wait. My family was starting to go south, my dad used to just sit in a chair all day and knit. My brothers started to ditch school. My sisters were crying all the time, one of them Mary-Ann, she got herself into some trouble, she ran away to the city and it took us days to find her. I had to step in and become the authority figure there and try and pull the whole family back together." Jimmy paused before breaking eye contact and looking distantly sown the street.

"You did it though," I pointed out.

Jimmy's gaze shifting back to me, as a small smile crossed his lips.

"Yea I did, and I'm sure I'm a better person for it. I thought I'd lost my chance to play professional when I asked Atlanta to wait but when this came up, my dad knew how much this meant to me and my mom. He made me go and try out and now I'm in the Olympic team. I'm just glad everything turned out ok, you know?"

I felt a smile creep across my face as I glanced down at our linked hands.

"Yeah I know," I replied.

Both of us pulled away form each other, shoving our hands in our own pockets. The moment had passed between us now, leaving that awkwardness, because we both weren't sure how to proceed.

"Hey you guys, hurry up we want to get a picture," Johnson was walking towards us from the entrance of the mall.

"A picture?" I echoed as we followed him inside.

"Yeah, we've been waiting for ages. What took you two so long?" Johnson asked as he let us towards a huge Christmas themed monstrosity.

"I had to check Jimmy's shoulder," I began.

"It's just a little bruised from that puck you hit at me," Jimmy ended.

I turned to him surprised for a second, Jimmy shrugged. It was a little too weird for me that we were finishing each other's sentences.

"Why are we at the grotto?" I asked gazing up at the huge ginger bread looking house in front of me.

Johnson rolled his eyes.

"Christmas team picture," he said as if that explained it all.

I turned my head to Jimmy.

"Did you know about this?" I could see by the smirk on his face that this was a yes.

As we moved closer I could see the whole team was congregated around Santa.

"Finally their here!" Rizzo called as he saw us weaving through candy canes towards him.

"We're getting a picture with Santa!" I exclaimed, mortified.

"And guess who gets to sit on Santa's knee," Jimmy whispered.

"Oh, you are kidding me," I returned, starring at the old bearded man.

"You gotta take one for the team at some point Kitty Kat," O.C. shouted as they all gestured for us to climb onto the platform that held Santa's throne.

"Come sit on my lap little girl…" came the cheerful voice of Santa.

Jimmy moved to stand on the back row as the guys started to assemble some sort of photographic order. I stared at Santa as he patted his knee, before throwing my hands up in the air in a "what the hell…" gesture. I slipped onto Santa's lap, finding myself grinning despite myself.

"You all ready?" the blond dressed as an elf called.

There was a resounding yes at her statement. She moved behind the camera and pressed a few buttons, before there was a blinding flash and a cheer. I managed to slide off Santa's knee gracefully.

"I'll come pick this up later," Rizzo told the elf as O.C. wrapped an arm round my shoulders.

"See wasn't that fun!"

"Oh dear God, you are like a kid at Christmas," I remarked ducking out form under his arm.

"You'll get into the spirit Kitty Kat," Rizzo grinned holding out a candy cane.

I took it before slipping it into my bag for later.

"I have to go panic buy, so I'll catch you guys later," I told them before rushing of top do some shopping before the mall closed.

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Christmas at Doc's house was the best part of the whole season. We were all crowded around the table, the banter playing back and forth as we ate and drank through the night.

"It's present time!" There was a loud bellow that rushed through the house as Jimmy stepped forward clad in a full Santa suit, the beard pulled down under his chin.

A belly protruded from underneath the outfit making me wonder what exactly he had up there. There was a burst of laughter around the table as Jimmy strode towards us handing out gifts left right and centre.

"And for the woman who has everything," he winked.

There was silence around the table as all eyes were on me as I tugged the ribbon off the present and tore open the wrapping.

"Wow…" I uttered as I stared at the picture in the silver frame.

It was the one we'd taken a few days ago at the mall, with the whole team crowded around Santa, me sitting on his lap.

"I don't know what to say," I fumbled for the right words as I glanced at each one of them.

"We thought you should have it," Rizzo grinned, as Grandma leaned over my shoulder.

"That's a lovely picture of you all," she said softly a proud smile spreading across her face.

"Say thank you Kat," she whispered as I stared at them all sincerely touched by their thoughtful gift.

"Thank you boys, I love it." I was beaming and I couldn't stop it.

"I think it's time for the last two gifts boys," Jimmy called out as he handed his final two gifts to Craig and Herb.

"That's beautiful boys." Craig chuckled as he read the name tag, before tearing the gift open.

"You're gonna love this," he told Herb as he pulled out the toy whistle and blew it.

"Again!" came the chorus of voices.

"Herb, it's your turn." Jimmy gestured towards the parcel Herb had clenched in his hands.

Herb pulled apart the paper and grinned pulling out the bull whip.

"The gift that keeps on giving." He laughed as the rest of us did.

After a few minutes he rose to his feet, and tugged on his jacket.

"Thanks for having me, dinner was wonderful," he shouted to Grandma who was being regaled with stories form the boys of their ice skating escapades.

After Herb had left the boys dragged me outside for a snowball fight in which I'd gotten absolutely plummeted in. By the time I moved back into the house I was shivering and my hands were ice cold despite the gloves I had on. The boys weren't long behind me. I left the door to my room open as I traipsed in shaking, my hands trying to work at the zipper of my coat. There was a gentle rapping at my door.

"Kat?" Jimmy's voice called through the door.

"Come in," I said as I cursed out loud.

Jimmy stepped into the room, taking in his surroundings, and closing the door a little way behind him.

"I can't get my zipper down because my hands won't work," I groaned.

Jimmy's face lit up in a playful smile.

"Here, let me help." We were standing inches apart in close proximity.

I looked down, watching Jimmy's hand as he guided the zipper of my jacket down. I shivered at the thought of his hands on me. I lifted my gaze to find his gorgeous blue eyes watching me. His lips were literally centimetres from mine and for a second all we did was stare into each other's eyes. His hand reached out, caressing my cheek before his lips met mine.

The fire between us ignited as I ran my hands through his hair. His hands were pushing my jacket off my shoulders. I melted against his body. The pillow underneath his suit was between us. I reached up and pulled it out, throwing it to the floor. I pushed myself against Jimmy trying to get closer to him. The layer of clothes between us was too much; I ran my hands underneath his shirt.

Jimmy pulled away suddenly, his forehead resting against mine. We were both breathless. I leaned against him, scared my knees may give way. His fingers stroked my jaw line before he pulled away completely, his skin flushing red.

"I'm sorry Kat I can't do this," he muttered.

I swallowed hard, we were inches apart; I bit my lip and took a step back.

"Ok…" I whispered trying to get myself under control.

Jimmy turned away from me, moving towards the door.

"I know why…I know why you can't right now... and its ok. This is the closest you've felt to someone since your mom died and its freaking you out," I called softly after him.

Jimmy clenched his jaw tightly before reaching for the door handle.

"Jimmy…" He hesitated for a second, still focused on holding the door open.

"Really it's ok…This doesn't change anything between us. I'm still here if you need anything. I'm still your friend."

"I gotta go." And with that he vanished into the night, leaving me to drop down onto the bed alone, wondering if I'd just screwed up.

If this as me I'd of way been jumping Jimmy's bones. Anyway what do you think of the chapter? Did I do good or bad?

Rejazzz: if you hadn't guessed the pairing by now it's just been revealed. Lol I would too, I wanna just hug them all. Lol Sometimes it isn't about choices.

Bluehavan4220: I have no idea where that scene came from but I was glad that I wrote it, it shows the strength of their relationship. Lol It's gets bigger in regards to Jimmy's family. I love Donald Craig so much I just wanna hug him!