Author's Note: I hope you like this chapter...I put in a lot of thought and effort, and I think it's my longest one yet. I'm proud of it. Please enjoy, R&R (:
"Time for Christmas dinner!" Spencer announced as we all walked down the stairs. He and Mrs. Benson were already sitting at the table. Pete, Carly, Freddie, and I joined them. Jake had already taken off to be home in time for dinner with his family.
"What's for eating?" I asked in anticipation, carrying my box of ribs to the table.
"Some Christmas ham," Spencer replied, with an enthusiastic "yes!" from me under my breath, "Along with some spaghetti tacos!" he continued, beginning to lay the food out on the table. When I reached for some ham, he swatted my hand away.
"Wait!" Spencer yelled, "Dad's not here yet! And we have to say grace anyway."
At that exact moment, the door opened, and Carly ran to it.
"Dad!" she exclaimed, hugging her father with tears of joy in her eyes, "Dad, look!" She held up her hand to show him her ring.
What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing?
Would the song still survive without five golden rings?
Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe?
After the engagement announcement, we all sat back down at the table and joined hands.
"It's time to say grace," Spencer said softly, "Now, I know we're not very religious, but we have reason to pray. We are all so thankful that Carly is still with us; this is priority, because if she weren't here…I don't know where we would all be."
Spencer paused, and I heard a few sobs, some of which were my own.
"We are also thankful that Sam is with us as well; the accident could've killed her, but she is even back on her feet afterwards. We know that you kept them both alive for a reason. We're thankful that Dad can be with us tonight, and we're thankful that we can have each other to lean on. We're thankful for the love that fills our lives, especially the love that has brought us all together tonight…would anyone else like to add?"
"Thanks for the ham," I added immediately, and everyone laughed.
"Amen!" They replied, and we all dug in.
What would happen if God never let it snow?
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie?
Tell me, what would you find?
After dinner, we sat and talked in the living room, and Carly drifted to her piano and began playing Christmas carols that we all joined in singing. Presents were being laid out under the tree Spencer made of noses, his Merry Sniffmas! sculpture, and it was all very festive. But we didn't care about the festivity, we only cared that we were all together.
You'd see that today holds something special,
Something holy, not superficial.
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives.
At eleven, we all started to leave the small party. Carly and Spencer's dad went back to his hotel, Freddie and his mom went back across the hall, and Pete took me back to my house. I slept soundly that night, in anticipation for the coming days when we would all be together.
It's something we all try to ignore,
And put a wreath up on your door.
So here's something you should know that is for sure,
Christmas must be something more.
When I stepped in the house, I heard my mom screaming at the cat again, and Melanie screaming at my mom to stop screaming.
"HEY!" I shouted above everything, "It's Christmas! Stop screaming so I can get some sleep!"
And with that, I trudged to my room and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wished they would always do?
What if happiness came in a cardboard box?
In the morning, I woke up with a smile on my face. I began thinking of Spencer's prayer, and felt genuinely thankful for everything he had mentioned. I could easily be a paraplegic, dependent on others and confined to a wheelchair. Instead, I was blessed enough to be able to walk once again. Carly could easily be six feet under, but instead, she was still alive and well just because I was in the right place at the right time. Perhaps this praying thing should be done more often.
I think there is something we all forgot…
What would happen if presents all went away?
Tell me, what would you find?
I stretched myself out before sitting up and heaving a huge sigh. Was it possible that things were going normally again? Sure, some things would never change, but other than that…you could say that we were pretty much the same kids that we've been for years. It could've been so much worse…it could've been so much different. We had a lot to be thankful for today…everyday.
We get so caught up in all of it,
Business and relationships,
Hundred mile an hour lives.
As I walked out of my room, I didn't hear my mom screaming or Melanie in hysterics or the cat going insane. When I got to the kitchen, Melanie was making breakfast and my mom was sitting at the table, oddly calm.
"Merry Christmas!" Melanie said cheerfully to me, smiling. Weirdly enough, I was in a good enough mood to smile back.
"What's for breakfast?" I asked just as cheerfully. We chatted for a while after she told me she made ham omelets. The love of ham runs in the family.
After breakfast, Pete picked us up, and we went over to Carly's to spend the day with everyone.
And it's this time of year,
And everybody's here,
It seems the last thing on your mind…
There's gotta be more.
"We have presents!" Spencer announced after lunch, breaking up the individual conversations.
"Yeah, presents‼" I cheered, jumping out of my seat. Pete chuckled and took my hand, pulling me back down beside him.
"Alright, who wants to go first?" Spencer asked, and Carly promptly said, "Me!" Carly went around to everyone, handing us boxes and bags of various shapes and sizes.
"Oh, thanks Carls!" I exclaimed, lifting a dainty charm bracelet out of a small box. "It's so pretty," I continued, mesmerized. It was a small silver chain with one charm; a silver angel with a diamond where its heart is.
"I have one, too, just like it," Carly said to me, showing me her wrist, "It's to remind us of the guardian angel that's kept us together, alive and well."
I smiled weakly, feeling tears building up. I blinked them back, and held her tight.
"Baby Sam," I whispered in her ear, knowing that's what she meant. I let her hand out her other presents.
"Oh, Carls," Freddie said when she handed him a box, "Why did you get me a present?"
"It's Christmas," she argued with a smile.
"But, I already have everything I could ever want," he retorted, "I've got you." Carly leaned down and kissed him before urging him to open it anyway.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed, pulling out of the box a brand new PearPod, the best model.
"I thought you would say whoa," Carly announced smugly, kissing him again, and adding, "You're welcome."
Everyone else handed out their presents, and I got either money, food, or self-defense weapons. I couldn't ask for anything better. Freddie handed me my last present.
"Thanks, Fredweird," I said, slightly surprised that he would actually get me something other than a card with money in it. I opened the box, and saw that it contained a brand new pair of custom Nikes, decked out in iCarly.
"Wow," I commented, shocked. This must've cost…a lot. "Why?" I added.
"It's just a thank you for taking care of Carly while I was away," he answered softly enough for just the two of us to hear, "If you weren't there for her, I don't think she would've made it…so, thank you."
I couldn't think of a response to match that. But, I said something anyway.
"We both love her," I said, "So why wouldn't we take care of her?" Then, I stood up and hugged him. "You're a good friend." I added genuinely. Maybe a year ago I would've never admitted to Benson being my friend, but…a lot of things have changed. So, it's not so bad.
"Alright," I started, standing up when everyone else had handed out their presents, "I didn't exactly…buy stuff for you guys, but, um…I still have a present…for all of you."
I dug through my purse, looking for the paper. When I found it, I unfolded it, smoothed it out, and took a deep breath before beginning.
"Well," I started, "It's been…a huge rollercoaster ride. A lot of times I felt like I wasn't gonna make it…but, you guys, you really helped me out. I mean, just six months ago I thought that we would all be friends forever and have great lives and…anyway…I mean, everything happened so fast, like, for a while I thought Carly was a goner, and…I thought a lot. I didn't know what I would ever do without her. Carly, you're my best friend."
I felt the tears coming, but didn't stop them, and continued, "And then, we lost baby Sam, without even knowing that we had her, and…it's still tough for all of us. I found Pete again, and then I thought I went and scared him away by telling him how I feel…so I go and put myself in a coma. I guess now I can sympathize with Carls." I tried to laugh, but choked on it through my tears. The ink on the paper was blurring, but I wasn't even reading it at this point; I was speaking from my heart now.
"Anyway, I thought I was a goner, then…at least I wanted to be. I didn't wanna spend the rest of my life in a stupid chair. I wished I hadn't woken up…I wished that I would've just given up…but, I saw that Carly needed me. She needed me and I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't abandon her like that. And then I saw that Pete needed me, too, and…I started to feel better. I wanted to fight harder. And that's why I'm standing, literally, here now. I never realized how much we needed to lean on each other. But, now I do, and…it's a strong connection." I couldn't continue after that. The tears overcame me and I broke down. It wasn't five seconds after I stopped that six or seven pairs of arms were around me, and that their owners were crying with me. I didn't feel soft anymore…I felt stronger than ever.
A/N: Sorry, I tried not to make this chapter too religiously inclined, just in case someone gets offended. I'm sorry in advance if you are (: Italics was "Christmas Must Be Something More" by Taylor Swift.