Author's Note: To answer Mali's question in her review, the next story will again jump forward two years. I'm fudging the ages for dramas sake, (It's my story, I can do whatever I want!) that is, this crew's junior year will also be Bella, Eddie, Gordon Conway and Kevin Reed's freshman. While the story will mainly focus on these kids it'll set up some stuff for those four and eventually Anne, Elisa, Cal and Trina. Dean Norris will be floating around too. Also, I realized as I put up a picture for him, that in my head he's Jerry Ferrara and Patrick is Kevin Connolly, I made Turtle and Eric brothers! I didn't even mean to do that!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 14: Merry Christmas Darling

"What are you doing still sleeping?" Mikey opened one eye carefully and then pulled the covers over his head. "Mike, get up! You promised!" He sighed and pulled the covers down.

"Ellie," he said. "I know I promised, but it's," he looked at the clock, "4:30 in the morning, I'm not taking you skating before the sun comes up." Elisa pouted. "Fine," he groaned. "Come on, we'll make coffee and pancakes for your mom. It's Christmas, she should get the morning off."

"Chocolate Chip pancakes?" Elisa grinned.

"Haha," he laughed, "these are for Julie, not for you." She sighed. "Cinnamon and caramel."

"Fine," Elisa said. "I'll go get Stephie."

"Yeah," he groaned and stretched, "you do that." She bounced out of the room. He walked over to his laptop and checked his computer, he had another new email from Eva.

Now you're just being stubborn! Call me, I need to talk to you! Stop being a baby.

He rolled his eyes and closed it. She couldn't spend Christmas holed up in her bedroom with David and expect him to be OK with it. No one, not even Eva, had that much faith in humanity. He walked downstairs into the kitchen where Elisa was happily taking ingredients out of the fridge while Stephanie sat with her head on the table.

"Stephie didn't want to get up either," Elisa said, matter of factly.

"I see that," Mikey laughed. "You OK there Steph?"

"Don't talk to me," she mumbled. "It's ungodly to be awake this early."

"This is why you couldn't cut it playing hockey," he shook his head. She looked at him.

"Do you want to compare calluses?" She asked.

"I really don't want to look at your disgusting dancer feet," he shook his head. Elisa giggled as he brewed a pot of coffee and then there was knocking at the back door. The three kids looked over and saw Aaron. "That's for you."

"Great," she mumbled and grabbed her jacket and opened the door. "What?" She said.

"It's Christmas so I knew you'd be up because you always are," he said. She nodded. "I brought coffee."

"If I weren't so mad at you I'd say I love you," she said and took it. He smiled. "We're making pancakes."

"Cool," he nodded. "I'm sorry," she looked at him. "I'm so sorry Stephie." She nodded. "I should have told you the truth about what's going on with me."

"You've been getting into fights," she said. He nodded. "And not the average a few punches in the school parking lot variety. Jimmy told me."

"It's not a big deal," he said. "Really. I mean, sometimes I just lose my temper."

"And street fighting is really the best outlet for that?" She crossed her arms. He frowned.

"I knew you wouldn't get it," he shook his head. "That's why I didn't tell you." She looked at him. "Stephie, I love you. I don't know what else to say, I love you and I'm sorry I haven't been talking to you about this stuff, but do you get how hard it is to tell someone like you about any problems?"

"What do you mean?" She said. "Someone like me?"

"You don't have a care in the world!" He said. She gaped at him. "You've always gotten everything you want, Jimmy and Julie don't ever say no. And it's not like anyone can call you out for being spoiled because the only reason you are is because your parents died. You'd be totally normal if they hadn't. It's really frustrating."

"Wow, how long have you been holding on to that one?" She asked.

"A while," he grinned, and shrugged. He could tell by her tone she was starting to forgive him. "So, are you ready to forgive me yet?"

"Aaron," she whispered and he kissed her. She whimpered and dropped the coffee cup in the snow, trying to keep her arms down and not kiss him back, but Aaron just knew so perfectly how to kiss her that she couldn't help it as she ran her hands up around his neck and pulled close, "OK," she whispered, he smiled. "But I'm not having sex with you until I know I can trust you again. Fair?"

"Fair," he nodded. "Can I kiss you again?" She nodded and they kissed.

Sometime in the midafternoon among all of the Christmas day bustle at the big Riley house, the doorbell rang, and Tammy was the first one to get to it. She stopped seeing Tony.

"Um, hi," she said.

"Hi," he said awkwardly, "yeah, this is weird, I just wanted to give Lizzie her Christmas present."

"Oh, right," Tammy nodded. "Sure, come in." She moved out of the doorway. "Merry Christmas." He nodded. "I um," she stopped. "Hold on." She walked into the main room and brought back her purse. "Normally, I give really nice clothes for Christmas, but I don't know your taste, so I just gave you a check." She handed him a card and he opened it.

"Two thousand dollars?" He swallowed. She nodded. "What did you give TJ, a suit?"

"No," Tammy shook her head, "You're only fourteen, you don't get two thousand dollar suits. He got a watch. But I guess you could buy a suit with that if you want. Or an computer or whatever." She handed him another envelope, "this one is for Tina, I made the check out to Dad, because she's only like ten right?"

"Twelve," he said. "And I'll give it to her." She nodded. "Why are you doing this?"

"Personal growth," she shrugged. "Lizzie should be right down." She walked away and he stared at the check again. Lizzie walked downstairs.

"Hey," she smiled and kissed him. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," he said. "I'm a little stunned, Tammy just gave me two grand for Christmas."

"Well, yeah," she laughed, "she gave TJ a Cartier watch and Eva a couture gown from Paris to wear to prom, I'd say two grand is about equivalent."

"I really didn't know she had that much money!" He said. Lizzie laughed. "Anyway, I got you something significantly cheaper than that." He handed her a small package. She smiled and opened it, and then the velvet box. "Like I said, not much."

"No, they're pretty," Lizzie smiled at the simple gold hoop earrings. She liked that he'd noticed she didn't wear jewelry except earrings. "I got yours too, but it's going seem really lame after a check for two thousands bucks." He laughed and they walked into a quiet room. She handed him a larger box than the one he'd given her. He opened it and smiled.

"It's perfect," he said picking up the scarf. She smiled and tied it around his neck. He laughed and then they kissed for a while. "Mm, I love you," he said softly as they seperated. She pulled back.

"What?" She said. He looked at her.

"Um," he said. "Yeah, I'm gonna go." He stood up. "Merry Christmas." She nodded, still stunned.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Merry Christmas." She stopped.

"Lizzie," TJ came in, "come on you'll miss presents." He looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"Tony just said that he loves me," she whispered.

"Whoa," he sat down. "What did you say?"

"What?" She said. He looked at her. "Oh my God, I suck, he's going to break up with me!"

Eva sat looking at her phone. He still hadn't called her back.

"You OK?" David said sitting down next to her. She looked at him. "He still hasn't called."

"Nope," she said. "He's being stubborn." David nodded. "I'm sorry, I just can't do this without,"

"I know," he nodded. "Eva, I get it. You love him. I do too." She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. "Everything is going to be OK. It'll work out."

"I'm going to go," she looked at him. He looked at her. "I talked about it with my parents last night. I'm going to go to Paris. But I don't think I can be with you while I'm there." He nodded. "I mean, I'll want to see you but," she shook her head. "I love him. I'm in love with him."

"OK," he nodded. "I understand. I'll just be glad to have you close again. It's been a while" He kissed her softly. "If you're in Paris all spring what are you going to do with that prom dress Tammy gave you?" She laughed.

"You'll have to take me to the opera or something," she shrugged. He laughed.

"It's a date," he said with a smile.

Keep those reviews coming!