Title: Welcoming the Unexpected
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize
Spoilers: None
Summary: It was only a mistake, she never intended on growing attached.
Notes: Thanks to the reviewers! I've tried to respond to each reviewer, but if I didn't, know I got your review and I appreciate it very much.
Pertinent Note: Ignore their real lives for the sake of fiction, okay? I know it's far fetched and asking for a lot but.. Otherwise it wouldn't work.

xoxox

All was quiet in the house, the groups still in their respective spots downstairs. Stacy was still upstairs, the group downstairs guessing she was still on the phone making all necessary arrangements. Of course, the group at the dining room table would admit.. Her help would be appreciated with making their buildings. So far, the five at the table had managed to get Scrooge's office building, the graveyard and the fronts for the school and factory done. They were currently putting the finishing touches on the toystore, leaving the ghetto neighborhood for last. The six in the living room, meanwhile, had managed to complete four of the six necessary scenes with the fifth just being finished by the time someone had the sense to check on the time. That was when they all realized it was well past 12:00 and since they still had holiday shopping to do, paintbrushes and graham crackers were set down.

"Alright," Jeff sat back on his heels, "we still got one more piece of cardboard to paint.. How're y'all doin' over there?"

Tyson glanced up, "We just need to finish the ghetto.. Everything else is done."

The Cameron native nodded, "It's goin' on 1:45 right now, plus we still got that shoppin' to get done."

"What's the plan then, essa?" Eddie rose from his spot on the floor, "I mean, you want me to go shopping with the mamacitas.. I need something to eat."

A stomach growled loudly at the dining room table, "I second that.." Lita pushed the graham crackers to the center of the table. "I say we take a break for lunch.. Or we go get lunch and then do the shopping. We can work on this stuff after we get back or after dinner."

"Speaking of dinner," Chris sent a curious look between Randy and Lita. "What are we having?"

"Uhh.." Randy rubbed the back of his neck in thought, "fajitas and taco salad.. I think."

The redheaded Diva pinched the bridge of her nose, "Chicken chimichangas, refried beans and taco salad.. Dessert is fend for yourself."

Rey glanced between the two, "Who's cooking?"

"I can cook, thanks." Randy rolled his eyes, "I just need to know what I'm doing."

"Like before, we're both cooking.." the redhead paused, as if to say more before she was interrupted.

"Without a food fight?" Tyson sent a pointed look to the pair. "I'd like to eat my dinner, not wear it."

Lita smirked, "Technically.. It wasn't your dinner that you ended up wearing. It was John and Torrie's breakfast."

John snorted, the dark haired wrestler moving from the living room then. "Actually, y'all looked like a fruit salad that had a run in with an ice cream bar."

"Whatever," Randy rolled his shoulders, pushing back from the table then. "So are we going or what?"

Torrie nodded, "We just need to see what Stace is up to.. And if she's not coming with us, someone has to get the money from her."

"Right," Dawn stretched her arms outwards, standing after a moment. "I'll go check on Stace and if need be, I'll get the money from her." The brunette's nose wrinkled slightly, "Why don't you all clean up a bit.. If we're getting presents and stuff today, we'll need some clear space to wrap."

Lita snorted as she pushed back from the table, "That means you aren't going near the wrapping paper.." A look was sent to the self proclaimed Legend Killer. "Remember what happened last time?"

The dark haired wrestler rolled his eyes, "If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have messed up."

"So it's my fault you have to use half a roll of tape?" Lita snickered, "I don't think so. Just face it, you can't gift wrap to save your life."

Randy raised an eyebrow, "Well if you hadn't insisted on sticking all of those stupid bows on me--"

"You started it."

"I started it?" Randy echoed incredulously, "I don't think so, babe. You started it."

"I did not," the redhead crossed her arms over her chest. "You started it by threatening to tape my mouth shut."

Randy snorted, "Yeah? Only after you threatened to pour glitter and glue in my hair."

"Ahh.." Jeff smirked, glancing between the two. "Love is in the air."

Lita and Randy exchanged a look, unknowingly moving towards the archway seperating the living room from the dining room. "Shut up," the two replied in unison before turning their attention back to their 'argument'.

"Children, children.." Tyson held up his hands when he received a glare, "spirit of Christmas, remember?" He pointed to the plastic sprig of mistletoe tacked to the archway. "Pucker up."

In turn, the two glanced between Tyson, the mistletoe in question and each other. All in all, it took another minute of standing there.. Along with one meaningful cough from the Problem Solver before lips met. Albeit, Tyson somewhat regretted pointing out the mistletoe.. Since the two were too 'occupied' to help out with straightening out the downstairs. It wasn't until Dawn returned downstairs with the money in hand that Lita and Randy finally moved from under the plastic sprig. The New Jersey native informed them all that, Stacy was still in the middle of her phone calls but with all luck.. She would have good news by the time they got back from shopping. Of course, it still took a good while for the group to leave the house, but that was because Dawn insisted on making a list. That list, in turn, was broken into three parts.. One group assigned to toy and stocking shopping, another assigned to doll furniture and accesories for the sets while the third group was assigned to looking for tape, scissors, suitable 'costumes' and the like for the hospital visit.

xoxox

Before they split up to go shopping, the group spent some time deciding on where to get lunch. Tyson was quick to point out that they were still on a limited budget, the Problem Solver suggesting a fast food place. Surprisingly, that was agreed upon by everyone, the group then heading towards the nearest McDonalds. Fortunately, it didn't take them too long to eat lunch, the group then splitting up to get the shopping over with. And while Dawn had certainly meant well with her group assignements, sending Jeff, Tyson, Lita and Randy to go toy shopping ended up being a bad idea. It wasn't that the four didn't get all of the items deemed necessary.. Just that their group was the last to meet up after the shopping excursion was finished. Still, they had come back with all of the toys that they thought would be necessary and a little extra just to be on the safe side.

Dawn sent a look to the numerous bags between the four. "What did you four buy?"

Jeff shrugged, "At first, we were just goin' to get stockin' stuffers and what have ya.. But, after some thinkin', we figured we should get toys appropriate by gender then by age group."

Tyson nodded, "Exactly.. I mean, if these are for kids at the hospital.. Who knows what ages they'll be. I doubt a little boy is going to be happy with a Barbie doll."

"Point," the brunette Diva conceeded easily. "We couldn't find any costumes, but we did get some more songbooks for Christmas carols.. Plus, they had this electronic keyboard on clearance and--"

"Why do we need that?" Lita raised an eyebrow then, "the songbooks should be enough, right?"

Dawn shrugged, "Just thinking ahead, that's all.. Who knows, we might need it."

Eddie snorted, "Yeah right, mamacita.. Just like we'll need that karaoke machine."

"Why in the hell did you buy a karaoke machine?" Chris sent the brunette a look, "Dawn.. We don't need one for any of the events we're going to."

"But we might," the New Jersey native persisted. "You never know, Chris.. It just might come in handy."

Rey grimaced, "And it's not like we can return it anyway.. It was on clearance."

Victoria rolled her eyes, "Whatever.. Let's just head back to the house, get all of this stuff wrapped and get those stockings stuffed."

At that, they all nodded, the group splitting up once more to pile into respective vehicles to return to the house.

"Okay.." Torrie surveyed the numerous bags on the living room floor, "Why don't we split up again.. It'll probably save us some time."

Jeff grabbed one of the bags, "I'll decorate stockings.. I got some real cool fabric paint and everything."

"I'll help," Lita offered from her spot on the couch, "And the wrapping paper and stuff is in that closet over there."

Eddie nodded, "I'll wrap presents.. Since it seems Randy has been banned from doing so."

The redhead nodded solemnly, "That's right.. Unless you want one roll of wrapping paper used up to wrap one present."

"Rey and I will help you wrap," Dawn volunteered the cruiserweight, "And John, Torrie.. You can stuff stockings with Chris and Victoria."

Torrie sent a questioning look to Jeff, "Is there anything that doesn't need to be wrapped?"

The Cameron native frowned in thought, "Not really.. But, y'all can make some candy cane reindeer to go along with the stockings."

"Okay.." Victoria swept her hair from her face, "we'll do that then.. Because I'm thinking it might be awhile before any of the presents are wrapped."

Dawn raised an eyebrow, "And why's that?"

"Because," the raven haired Diva made a sweeping gesture to the many bags of toys. "There are a lot of presents that need to be wrapped."

"Then, y'all can do this.." Jeff gestured between the toys and the wrapping paper. "How 'bout Torrie, John, Rey, Eddie, Chris, Dawn and you wrap presents while me, Li, Tyson and Randy decorate stockings.. We'll make the candy cane reindeer too."

Dawn nodded her agreement, "That sounds like a better plan actually.. Just make sure you mark stockings according to age and gender. We'll mark presents accordingly, so that way the right gift goes in the right stocking."

With assignments settled, the group split up again.. one group taking up half of the living room while the other group made use of the coffee table to decorate stockings. First things first, Jeff brought out the fabric paint and stencils for the stockings, along with the necessary items for the candy cane reindeer. Of course, that turned into two seperate projects for the group working on the stockings.. The Cameron native assigning Randy and Lita to reindeer making duty while he and Tyson decorated stockings. In the midst of it all, Stacy came downstairs to let them all know that the plans were set.. As she had anticipated, they would be visiting the children's wing of one of the hospitals in the Baltimore area. For that part, they would need the play, gifts and perhaps some carols. They'd have one day to rest before heading up to the camp for three nights before heading down to New York City for the holiday party. Stacy then let them know that she needed to head to the airport to pick up Molly, the group nodding in unison before resuming work on their respective tasks.