A/N I love all my reviewers. Also special thanks to my new beta. Let me know if it's any better now.

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Chapter 26: Replaced

Martin left Christy after dinner offering for the millionth time to push her home, she explained that she needed the exercise since all she did was sit all day long. He gave her a nice long kiss and waved goodbye. She smiled brightly and inwardly cheered, it was a nice day. After double checking that her shopping bags were securely attached and that they wouldn't get in the way of the wheels, she began the journey back to the factory. Her arms were sore by the time she got there.

She got into the elevator and wheeled herself into her room to unload her bags, as she did her phone vibrated with a text message. She quickly flipped it open and read it three times; her good mood suddenly disappeared.

Willy was in his room wrapping some Christmas presents in shiny purple and green paper making sure every corner was perfect and that everything lined up correctly. He was humming to himself until he heard a scream and a thud from the next room over. He lifted his head up and listened again to hear glass breaking. He grabbed his hat and cane and ran over.

On the kitchen floor he saw broken glass and other things that looked like they must have been thrown. He scanned the room quickly to see some bags on the floor and Christy's wheelchair. It was empty. Willy walked carefully and continued through the room. Between the living area and the bedroom area he found her on the floor holding her knee, her face looked tortured and she was biting her lip.

"Starshine? Are you alright?" He looked over her quickly for any new injuries. She never complained about any of the breaks she got from the fall but he had seen her in her sleep. The knee bothered her the most and he knew from what the Buckets had mentioned from her last check-up that she was almost definitely going to need a few surgeries on it.

Christy turned to look up. "I didn't break my new phone did I?" She looked around a bit and found it unharmed in the living area.

Willy picked it up and checked it and found the text message from Dave. He sent her a message telling her straight out that due to her injuries she was replaced in the band and they wouldn't need her after she had healed. The message began to make Willy angry. These were people she trusted and they didn't even call to talk to her, they just sent a message.

"Let's get you back into your chair and you can tell me all about your little shopping trip. Kay?" Willy slowly forced himself to pick her up and put her back into the chair. He smiled proudly to himself at how much easier it was getting.

She looked feeling embarrassed that someone witnessed her tantrum. She didn't realize that Willy was in his room. "They replaced me." Willy pulled her chair into the living room and sat down on the couch. "I kind of understand, but we needed a fourth member anyway. Why couldn't I have gone back afterwards? And why couldn't they tell me in person or even a normal phone call? They didn't even call once since I told them I was hurt." Willy started to feel bad again about the accident. He already blamed himself and now here was another thing gone wrong because of it.

Christy tried to shake off the bad feelings. Her band made her feel accepted in her new home, even if they weren't really friends she enjoyed the time with them. Now she was just easily cast aside. She was doing so much better with the stage fright too. Where would she sing now? Did the oompa-loompas need an extra member? She giggled at that thought and Willy looked at her strangely.

"What's in the bags?" Willy looked again at the couple of bags on the floor.

"Christmas presents for the Buckets. Almost done shopping, just one more person."

"Who is left?" Willy picked up the bags and started pulling the items out, guessing which one belonged to whom. "It looks like you got everyone."

"No that's not everyone, I ordered a couple fun gift baskets for the oompa-loompas. They should get here by next week and then there is one more man that I have an idea for."

"Eww your new boyfriend." Willy crossed his arms and looked disgusted. Christy's eyes widened. Shit I forgot about Martin. I'll order him some of that cologne he likes.

"Not Martin, although you are right, I didn't even think of him. That would have been an awkward first Christmas for us. Ok then, two men I need to get something for and I have something already in mind for both." Willy looked confused still. Christy rolled her eyes at him. "I thought you were 'oh so smart' like your theme song says. The only other person I have left is you silly."

A gloved finger went up and back down and Willy looked more confused. "What? You don't have to get me anything. I don't need anything."

"I realize that, that's what made today even more exhausting. I'm surprised that Martin didn't strangle me for the amount of times I made him walk around the mall. I have an idea though, hopefully you'll like it."

Willy laughed nervously, "Will you be spending Christmas with your new friend?" He barely spat out the last word and Christy gave him a weird look.

"No, I'll be here for Christmas. He did invite me to a Christmas party he is throwing next weekend and said I could invite some people; so you're invited if you want to come. If not, don't worry about it. I'll invite Mr. and Mrs. Bucket. Do you not like Martin or something? You never minded me spending time with Dave and Craig."

"It's different, you kiss him. You never kissed me." Willy closed his eyes and frowned as he said that last line. Did I really just say that? Did I just admit that I want her to kiss me? Eww, that's disgusting.

Christy smirked at Willy. "Are you jealous? If you want a kiss you can just ask for one you know, but that means I have to get close to you and spread my germs. Do you want my germs?" She laughed at the face Willy was making while she was teasing him.

Willy gave her a disgusted look. "Eww, and I don't want a kiss." Liar. "I just want to make sure that you spend time here. I don't want to train another assistant; it's bad enough training you."

Christy pretended to look insulted. "Hey, I am a damn good assistant. Your company is running quite smoothly. The plants are all healthy and the livestock now gets a lot more attention."

"Yeah but let's see your gesturing skills. I know you have been taking lessons so you can understand the oompa-loompas, but I haven't seen any progress." Willy stopped frowning and was now enjoying teasing her right back.

She pretended to pout and then laughed. "You win, I suck at signing."

"I always win."