And have yourself a merry little Christmas now!" Niles sung, it was Christmas eve, Niles was hanging strands of popcorn onto the tree, the kids were putting colored sugar on sugar cookies, and Fran and CC were making more strands of popcorn while sitting on the couch. "If you sing that song one more time, you'll be hanging from that tree!" CC threatened her husband as she walked over to him, even though she love her husbands singing voice, her hormones were just all over the place.
"Alright I won't." Niles said putting his arm around her shoulder, kissed the top of her head and then turned to the kids who were smiling, because they knew their daddy or Uncle Niles was up to something. And they were right because as soon as he pulled away from he began to sing once more, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!" CC glared at him and then stretched over for the strand of popcorn she was working on and stuffed it in her husbands' mouth and then waddled into the kitchen.
Fran laughed, along with the kids, as she got up from the couch and walked over to where the kids were, "So how are Niles' little helpers doing?" she asked. "Good" or "fine." was their response, they were all working very hard on putting the candies or sugar onto their cookies. "Oh don't they look delicious." Fran looked around at the different designs on the cookies, "We're gonna have to send some to Grandma Sylvia." she added. "Ok but not too many." Eve said looking up at her mother.
"Right just about oh two dozen." Fran said and the kids looked at her shocked "That's not a little!" Joey exclaimed "It is for Grandma Sylvia." Fran pointed out, "She'll eat them all in one day, a couple of hours if Yetta's there." she added which made the kids laugh.
Niles smiled as he walked over to where they were and once the kids stopped laughing he told them, "Alright kids how about I put these delicious looking cookies in the oven, while you go get ready for bed, then we'll open one present and then read." "Yay!" they all exclaimed excitedly but didn't get up from their seats. "Well what are you waiting for get going!" Niles told them happily "Ok Uncle Niles." and "Ok daddy." was heard as they got up. Fran watched as her kids and God kids dashed upstairs and quietly sighed but apparently not a quiet as she thought because Both Niles and CC, who had just come in from the kitchen, heard her.
"What's wrong?" Niles asked he wasn't sure if she sighed because Max wasn't here or because of something else but he wouldn't say what he thought was wrong, because that wasn't right then it would only depress her more. Fran flopped down on the couch and looked at the two, "I'm just disappointed Max isn't here for Christmas." she explained Maxwell had told them about him not coming home but it wasn't until now that it really hit her. "Well at least he was here a few weeks ago, for Niles' birthday" CC said as she sat down beside Fran.
Fran looked at CC, "Yeah but he was only here for that day, and then he left." she said. Niles noticed how well his best friend and his wife were getting along so he figured he'd leave and give them some time alone, "Well I'm going to go put these cookies in the oven." he announced as he grabbed two trays and walked into the kitchen.
The two ladies watched him leave and then CC turned to Fran. "Hey Fran, if you need to talk once everything's done down here I'll send Niles to bed and we'll talk." she suggested, Fran thought for awhile she did need someone to talk to, "Ok, thanks." was her answer as she smiled at her, CC smiled back, "No problem," she began, "after all I owe you two so much." Fran was confused she couldn't really think of how both she and Max did to her that she would be so thankful for, "Wha are ya talking about?" she asked
"For my marriage to Niles." CC explained but Fran was still in the dark, "Wha do ya mean?" she asked, she just couldn't figure it out. "Well if Maxwell would have never wanted to marry what's her name, then we wouldn't have gone to Paris. And if you would have come with us then you and Niles would have been together." CC explained and as Fran thought about it CC was right, she and Max had helped with Niles and CC's marriage.
"Hopefully not in the same way as we were though." CC added which made Fran laugh.