CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS

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With the addition of Clay, sleeping arrangements had to be rearranged.  Angelo and Clay shared a room and Teresa and Anna shared.  Around 5 am Anna went to the room where the men were sleeping.

"Angelo, wake up." Anna whispered and looked over at Clay sleeping in the other bed.

"I'm up. What is it?" Angelo asked.

"Teresa's not feeling well.  I think she needs you." Anna advised him.

"What's wrong?" Angelo asked sitting up.

"I don't know. Maybe morning sickness?" Anna said.

"Morning sick… she's pregnant?" Angelo said eyes wide open.

"Hey she's your wife I didn't do it." Anna laughed.

"Oh jeez." Angelo said laughing as he got out of bed.

As soon as Angelo left the room Anna went and locked the door. She slid into bed next to Clay.

"Merry Christmas blue blood." Anna said giving him a kiss.

"Mmm, merry Christmas." Clay replied putting his arms around her.  He then suddenly woke up. "Are you nuts?"

"What?" Anna laughed.

"Where's Angelo?" Clay asked looking over at the empty bed.

"Right now he is probably wondering if Teresa is pregnant." Anna laughed.

"What did you do?" Clay asked with a worried tone.

"I told him she had morning sickness to get him out of here. Hee hee" Anna laughed.

"What about your mother?" Clay asked.

"She's told old to get pregnant." Anna replied.

"That's not what I meant." Clay laughed shaking his head.

"What she doesn't know won't hurt any of us." Anna replied and kissed him again.

"Anna this isn't wise." Clay advised.

"Yes it is." Anna said pulling off his shirt.

"You are going to be the death of me." Clay laughed as he tapped her nose.

"I should kill thee with much cherishing. Remember?" Anna said.

"I remember." Clay laughed. 

They made love and around 6:30 went to the living room. Angelo and Teresa were already sitting there getting the gifts ready.  Clay went over and joined Angelo who was putting the final touches on a train set.

"I'm gonna kill you." Teresa said.

"What did I do?" Anna asked batting her eyes.

"You are such a brat." Teresa laughed. "Poor Angelo, it took me until now to convince him I am not pregnant."

"Oops, my mistake." Anna shrugged.

"Pico if Ma ever found out she would kill you." Teresa said.

"If Ma ever found out what?" Lucia asked.

"Nothing." Teresa and Anna both replied innocently.

"Hmm, my girls, always up to something." Lucia said pulling on Anna's ear

"Not me Ma, I wasn't up at all." Teresa said sticking her tongue out and looking at Clay.

"Teresa, shut up." Anna laughed.

"Girls, behave." Lucia admonished in a joking tone. "Now it's almost 7 the servers are coming at 9, parents at 9:30 and everyone else at 2."

"What do you want us to do?" Teresa asked.

"What do you want us to do?" Anna mimicked. "Such a brown nosa."

"Everything is ready.  I have been cooking for two weeks." Lucia replied. "Just get the tables ready and it will be fine."

They went and started getting the house ready.  Little by little the kids all started trickling into the living room.  All asking the same question; "Did Santa come?"  By 9:30 some of the people from the night before showed up and the gift opening began.  Clay and Teresa were away from the group having a private conversation.

"Did you pick it up?" Clay asked. "They didn't have it in the Washington store."

"Yeah, I did. No problem, are you going to give it to her now?" Teresa asked handing him a small box.

"What do you think?" Clay asked. "Christmas has never been this animated for me before."

"Well we're all exchanging gifts now, so why not." Teresa replied and they walked back to disaster central.  There was paper and ribbons all over the place.  Anna and her extended family did a secret Santa each year, and they were trying to guess who gave what to whom. 

Clay went and sat on the arm of the chair that Anna was sitting in.  She leaned into him and smiled.  Casually he placed the small box in her lap.

"For me?" Anna asked sweetly.

"No your sister." Clay said sarcastically.

"Very good Clay, you're learning." Angelo laughed.

"I love these blue boxes." Anna said carefully untying the white silk ribbon.  She lifted the blue pouch out of the box and opened it.  Her mouth dropped open when the necklace slipped out of the pouch.  She looked at Clay.  "How did you know?"

"I have to be honest, Teresa helped me." Clay said. "She told you lost your other one. I know it's not the same one, they didn't have that one."

"What is it Anna?" Lucia asked.

"The platinum and diamond Tiffany cross." Anna replied biting her lip.

"Whoa that must have set you back." Frankie said.

"Frankie, hush." Lucia said.

Anna handed Clay the cross and lifting her hair turned her back to him.  Clay put the cross on her and Anna turned back around and kissed him.

"Ewww." The sentiment came from some of the kids.

"I have something for you." Anna said walking over to the tree with Clay.

"I got my gift about 4 hours ago." Clay whispered teasingly.

"That was just the card." Anna laughed handing him a box.  Clay opened the box and found a pair of diamond cufflinks and gold shirt studs.

"These are beautiful." Clay said kissing her.

"You really like them? I know you have a tux." Anna said.

"I love them." Clay said hugging her.

"Expensive gifts and look at them. This is serious." Lucia whispered to Teresa and Frankie.

"I think it is." Frankie said with a smile.

"And he knows everything." Teresa whispered.

"Everything?" Lucia asked in shocked.

"Everything Ma," Teresa said as she watched her little sister.

Christmas with the Paparini's consisted of a lot of food and a lot of noise. At one point the entire family gathered in the great room and sang Carols.  It was obvious that Anna inherited her mother's cooking talents.  Lucia had prepared everything, and it was exceptional. The only thing she didn't do was the serving.  She hired a complete staff to handle that job for the day.  Clay met the remaining members of Anna's family and was immediately accepted by everyone.  Not only was this a big family but it was a warm and loving one as well. 

The next day came too fast.  Clay had to get back to Washington, everyone hated to see him leave but he explained that work called.  He suggested that Anna stay, and she agreed.  Anna did promise she would be back in Virginia for New Years' Eve.  With a long kiss good bye at the door, and in the elevator and outside the building, Clayton Webb finally got into a cab and started his journey back to Washington.  This was the greatest Christmas he had ever experienced.

NEW YEARS EVE

Anna arrived at Union Station on New Years' Eve.  She had decided to take the train back and Clay was right there to pick her up.  After a warm greeting they went back to his place. 

Clayton Webb was totally out of his element.  He was excited for New Year's Eve.  He had even requested the day off. Something he had never done before.  Anna came over and cooked dinner. He watched her as she moved around his kitchen.  She was so comfortable and at home there. 

Anna cooked them a wonderful meal.  After dinner they sat in front of the fire and relaxed.  He mentioned the young Afghan boy that had endeared himself to Mac and other things that had happened during the week.  As midnight approached they sipped champagne and rang in the New Year.