A week later, New Year's Eve Day dawned clear and bright.
"The last day of the old year," Rossi commented philosophically as they sat at the breakfast table.
"Just think, at this time next year we will have two toddlers on our hands," Emma commented. "That's a scary thought!" She shivered and looked over at Reid who had gone pale.
"T – t – t oddlers?" he stuttered.
"Well, yes," Emma told him. "Most babies are crawling and some are actually walking by 10 months."
Reid buried his face in his hands and began shaking his head. "Oh no!" he moaned despondently. "I am so not ready for this!"
"We need to do something special to commemorate the end of this year, and to welcome in the new one," Garcia declared. "Any suggestions?"
"What have you done in the past, Dave?" Emma asked curiously.
"Well, there have been several New Year's Eves where I just drank until I passed out, and then came to in the new year," Rossi told them.
"I think we will take that off the table," Garcia commented. "Anything else?"
"In Scotland the holiday is called 'Hogmanay' and part of the tradition is first-footing," Reid began. "This practice holds that the first foot to cross a threshold after midnight will predict the next year's fortune. Although the tradition varies, those deemed especially fortunate as 'first footers' are new brides, new mothers, those who are tall and dark or anyone born on January 1. Some cultures exchange gifts, such as the ancient Romans who exchanged gilded nuts or coins to mark the start of the new year. Other cultures – "
"Okay, hold the culture lesson," Rossi interrupted him. "I think we are looking to plan something we can all do together in this country in this century."
"Maybe we can start our own New Year's Eve tradition," Emma suggested.
"I have an idea!" Garcia squealed. "Let me check something first!" She rushed into Rossi's den and turned on his computer.
"I thought so!" she cheered a few minutes later. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show is being shown tonight at several theatres around town. Let's all go to a midnight showing!"
"That film is considered to be the longest running release in film history," Reid remembered. "The studio has never pulled it from its original 1975 release and it is constantly being shown somewhere."
"Do you want to dress up?" Emma asked excitedly. "Although," she added. "That may be a bit of a problem for the three of us." She caressed her ever-increasing baby bump.
"We can probably get a sparkly top hat for you," Garcia suggested. "That should be okay."
Rossi looked at his watch. "If we need to do any shopping, we should get started now. The stores will be closing early today."
And, so, a New Year's Eve tradition was born.
