Well...this is it guys! My story is finished!
I just wanna thank you all for reading and sticking by it!
This chapter is quite long, and a little mushy, as all conclusions generally are, but I hope this doesn't disappoint.
Sundown xx
And so Happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
The doors to her old, familiar life smoothly glided open as she, packed with about two years worth of luggage (rather that the 5 months she was actually away for) slowly made her way through them and into the airport. She felt herself begin to choke up as she walked through familiar, recognizable turf. Grace tiredly began to scan the heads and signs of the airport for whichever chauffer Karen had organised for her.
Dear God…Please let him be stunningly handsome, and please let him be the man that I am supposed to spend the rest of my adult life with. I promise I will stop eating chocolate for one week of every month. Please?
She glanced at all the signs held by suited men, none reading her name until she spotted a man that was covering his sign accidentally with his arm while talking on his cell phone.
Oh is that him God? You are too good to me…I am going to stop eating chocolate all together!
She raced her tongue along her teeth to locate any form of food that may be stuck there before grinning and attempting to strut up to the desirable man in a sophisticated manner.
As she was about to reach him, he hung up his cell and held his sign up properly so that it could be read. B.Hoffman.
What? No! Who is this 'B.Hoffman' and why the hell is she being driven home by my husband?
As she paused in her tracks, she felt a tap on her shoulder, and, reflexively she spun around, almost colliding with Leo. He held a sign in his hand that contained Karen's scratchy handwriting: Jew Adler.
Good one God, got me there! You are the best comedian I have ever encountered! She thought bitterly.
"Hey, sorry I'm late, Grace…here, give us your luggage. Do you want to eat anything before we leave?"
Grace looked up to the roof, imagining that God was there. "Yeah. Chocolate."
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
Karen shuffled a little to gain comfortable seating in the back of her limo. There was a strange, very rarely felt string tugging at her heart, trying to drag it down to her stomach. She sipped her morning martini to try to remove the feeling from her body, but was pitifully unsuccessful.
Karen Walker, what is wrong with you? Now is no time to be weak, Stanley is gonna want his 'Christmas treat' and you need a strong stomach for that!
When they paused at a stop light, she stared out of the window and giggled at a child that had tripped over. The child's mother then picked the child up and placed it on its feet, ready to walk again.
Karen rolled her eyes.
Oh Geez! Would you want your sign to me to be any more obvious! This whole 'realizing things' thing would be so much easier if you could just tell Rosario so she could pass it on to me!
"Driver, hit a left, we have to go somewhere before we go to visit 'Two Gays, Bad Curls and a Piece of a Place."
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
"Well, I figured, since you always tease and mock my presents about being as boring as my love life, I thought that I would actually try to give you something that you would love…"
Will mentioned, as he handed the beautifully decorated box over to his lover. Jack's eyes widened as his mind received a series of exciting flashes of what could possibly be inside the box.
"…But since I couldn't get N'sync to reunite, I thought 'meh, forget it…I'll just give him a typical Will Truman gift.''"
Jacks face dropped a little and he shook his head with predictability. Much in the manner of a child, he dropped down and sat cross legged on the floor of his boyfriend's apartment while eagerly tearing open the gift that was now resting on his lap.
The shoe box presented no label or brand, thus causing the gift to appear suspicious. Jack looked up at Will with intrigue and searched his face for any form of clue.
"If this is anything like that crap that you bought your mother, Truman, then we are more over than that disturbingly vomit-like scarf you bought for two bucks from the crazy lady that looks eerily like an older Grace because you think that it looks vintage!"
"Does it hurt?" Will questioned, "To be forever trying to fit about fifteen words too many into the one sentence?"
Jack pondered this for a moment. There was something that I was doi…
"Hey! Open the present!" Snapped Will
Oh that's it! In a moment of pure suspense, Jack slowly ran his hand over the box before his fingers found the crease of the lid. Both men breathed in silently as Jack threw the lid off the box, screwed up his nose and angled his head upwards to face Will.
"What the hell is this? Bits of paper? What, so my fireplace will never go empty? Or I can make a better present out of Paper-Mache?" Jack sneered as he crossed his arms, much in the same conduct as a child throwing a tantrum.
Will grinned at the fact that Jack had just produced the exact reaction that he was expecting. He kneeled down next to his love and gently pried the box out of his hands.
"If you took a moment outside that erratic mess that you oh-so-loosely call your mind for just one second and actually read what is on these pieces of paper, then maybe you will think a little differently about that Paper-Mache penis you were going to make." Will muttered soothingly.
Jack looked at him. "I wasn't gonna make a pe…"
Will raised his eyebrows.
"…Ok I was gonna make a penis." Jack giggled, before sighing. "Ok, so let's have a look at the present that has a lower budget than late-night TV commercials."
He picked up one of the top pieces of paper, realizing quickly that it was a movie ticket stub.
"Yeah? This is that crappy movie we saw a few months ago! You know the one where those twelve year olds were making out in front of us? So what?"
"Keep digging, Miss Cynical U.S.A…"
Jack obeyed. "Hey! The flier I grabbed from the Green Peace guy who I told off, but didn't blame, for checking me out while I was with my boyfriend!"
Will kissed Jack on the cheek.
"Ok, explanation time now…what's with the box of junk?"
"That box of junk, Jack, contains every ticket stub, every restaurant bill, every bit of paper from anywhere that we've ever been as…a couple."
The younger man couldn't control his confused facial expression. "Good God! Why?"
Will sighed."Because each one contains a memory."
Jack gave his boyfriend a sideways glance as the minutest of smiles began to alter the frown he had tried so hard to maintain.
"In your sappy sentimentality…there is in fact one piece of paper that you forgot, Will."
"I don't think so." Will responded as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a familiar piece of paper: The lipstick contract that Jack had written to break up with him so many months ago. He handed the piece of paper over to Jack, who re-read it. Then, to Will's surprise, his boyfriend tore the contract into pieces and allowed them to fall into the box.
Jack assessed the moment. "This is getting a little too teen-romance flick for me now."
"There's another part to your present…besides the fact that I have once again paid for your gym membership."
Jack watched as Will pulled out a tiny box from his pocket. He felt a familiar tightening in his chest that is only caused by intense fear. What are you doing? Oh no no no no no no!
Will flipped the box open, collecting all of Jack's fears in the form of a ring. Jack leaned away from the box, subconsciously thinking that the action might make the box go away.
"Will, ple…"
"This isn't a proposal, Jack. So you can quit giving me the face that Karen pulls when she sees coins. This ring is just an expensive reminder, that no matter how whiney, frustrating, screechy, girly…"
Jack glared at Will icily. "On with it."
"…ditzy or aggravating you are, that I will still be… well, stuck…here for you, every day…all year round."
A moment of silence swept through the apartment as Will anticipated Jack's reaction. The younger man pulled the ring out of the box and flipped it between his fingers, before deciding which one to place it on.
He then felt compelled to spontaneously wrap his arms around the neck of his love as they remained seated on the floor in their comforting embrace.
"I…you know…lo..love you." Jack whispered. "And P.S: You're getting your present later today."
Will nodded. "Sweetie, no one actually says 'P.S' anymore... it died out with the word 'radical'" He quipped before planting a series of tiny kisses onto the lips of his partner.
"Of all the sights I saw in London, it's really quite funny to think that all I had to do was stay right here to witness the slowest Taxi driver in the world."
"Grace, relax, you'll get there." Leo reassured. "Also, it's perhaps not considered a good idea to insult the guy who currently holds the steering wheel…and our lives in his sweaty hands."
"Well its not my fault this guy actually sticks to the recommended speed limit!"
"Grace!" Leo whispered, indicating towards the front with his head and eyes.
"I don't think he understands English…he hasn't reacted to anything I've said."
"Just because he has an accent, doesn't mean he can't understand English!"
"You know what Leo? You ju…"
"Can we…not…argue? For once?"
Grace caught a glimpse of her ex husband's genuine pleading facial expression.
I can't back down! Never!
"Ok, but in order for that to happen, one of us needs to be either dead or asleep. So I'm going to sleep. Catch you in about three hours when this guy finally decides to get us into our street!" Came Grace's smug reply. Almost victoriously, she turned so that her back was facing Leo and that her head was resting on the door of the taxi. Leo shook his head and watched the lives continuing on outside his window.
Ok…Turkey is cooking…desserts are nearly ready…peas need to be done…roast vegetables need, well, roasting…
"Will!" snapped Jack. "Are you even listening to me?"
A muffled groan of annoyance was stifled within Will's throat as he took a deep breath in, before switching his attention from his mental dinner checklist to his high-maintenance partner.
"Sorry, I couldn't really hear much over that high-pitched buzzing sound coming coincidently from right where you're standing."
"It's Christmas, Will, and there is always one sad old woman sitting alone with three bottles of wine and a self-help book on how to land the perfect hygienic non-dead man. Don't be that woman."
"What do you want Jack? I'm really busy, I honestly swear that I don't wear an apron and oven mitts for kicks."
"This is really hard!"
Will rolled his eyes and turned his head to the ceiling. "Karma, right? For impulsively buying that Russian pillow? I get it!"
"I don't know where everything goes!" Jack complained. Will had assigned him the grueling task of setting the table…for three whole people.
Taking of his mitts and slamming them on the bench, he stalked over to where Jack was holding up a fork and inspecting it. Will snatched the fork out of the unsuspecting hand of his lover.
"Just let me do it ok? You need to go and…and…you have clothes to change, and time to walk around in a circle, and don't think that your hair will blow dry itself!"
"I'm just trying to help you make this dinner great."
Will placed the fork down on the table and took Jack's hands into his own.
"I know, darling…and that's the problem."
Jack yanked his hands away from Will's grasp and hit him. As Will tried to block the forthcoming attack, the apartment door swung open and Karen glided through.
"Ok Christmas fruitcakes, quit jingling each other's bells and serve us some gin. I am trying to get in the Christmas spirit, but I feel kind of light headed."
Jack rushed over to her. "Oh Kare, what's wrong? Open your blouse niiice and wide for me, that a girl. Now say aah!"
"aaaaand you two are now leaving. Go go go go go." Will bantered, ushering the two giggling adults out of the door.
"Well Karen, I think Scrooge wants us to leave now…we know when we are not wanted." Came Jack's melodramatic reaction.
"I could barely handle the ghost of Brain Cells Past, but now I have to deal with the ghost of Liver Failure Future? There is no way that is gonna happen if you two want to eat tonight." Confirmed Will as he put one hand each on the backs of his friends and pushed them out of his door.
Grace's eyes snapped open only to discover that she had slid across the seat and had now employed Leo's arm as a comforting pillow.
She instantly sat upright and looked over to Leo who was fast asleep. She violently shook him awake.
"Leo! You are so not sleeping…please tell me you haven't been sleeping!"
Leo rubbed his eyes. "No, I was just wondering what New York would look like through closed eyes." He answered groggily.
Grace eagerly analyzed her surroundings. "Oh My God! Taxi! Pull over! We are more than half an hour past my street! Why didn't you stop, driver?"
The driver did as requested. "I don't know Miss…I guess I was just too slow to realize that was your street."
In a split second, Grace had undone her seat belt and pounced forward just as Leo instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist in order to restrain her. He forced her out of the Taxi while he slipped the driver the fee and dragged Grace away.
"Can you please hail another cab? I wanna call Will."
Leo nodded as Grace dialed the usual number on her cell.
"Hello?"
Hearing Will's voice brought a natural smile to her face. I miss my own bed.
"Will! What are you doing?"
"Uh…playing solitaire."
Grace coughed with disgust. "I wish you wouldn't tell me things like that…It's been forever since I…you know…pla…"
"Grace!" Will cut in. "I mean the actual game solitaire…you know…on the computer?"
"Oh."
"You know, somewhere a gutter is over filling with the mush that's in your mind."
"Merry Christmas, Will."
"Merry Christmas, Grace…I'll see you in a month. I miss you.
Grace smiled. He knows nothing! "I miss you too. Bye."
Will sat, staring at the screen of his laptop, considering which cards to select for further play. The height of boredom: Playing solitaire on Christmas day because the dinner is all ready. He briefly considered going to visit Karen and Jack across the hall, but firmly decided against it when he heard their high pitched giggles through the door. Suddenly his phone rang again.
"Hello?"
"William!"
"Yes, Jack?"
"I was just inquiring about the formal time that dinner is to begin."
"Uh…when your nail polish dries?"
"Hey Kare! Will just made a joke!"
"Barf!" Came the distant reply, before she added "Hey Jackie, where do you keep the liquor in this shoebox of a place?"
"Anyway, Will, I was also inquiring about the dress code of tonight's event"
"Dress code? Jack its just at my apartment! Just pick something and get over here."
"Tell me what to wear!"
"Just not your tiny shorts."
"Dammit! Hey…I hear clicking...what are you doing?"
Will shut his lap top, feeling as if he should be doing something more constructive. "I was playing solitaire."
"Ugh! Will that is gross! You should have told me you were feeling lonely!"
"Not that. Wow…Society really is losing its innocence!"
.
As much as she fought it, Josie couldn't swipe the grin from her face. Did Karen really do that? Her mind replayed the moment that occurred hours earlier.
"Mom, I think that's the last of the packing." Josie said to her non-biological mother.
She washed the dust from the boxes off her hands when she heard the doorbell ring.
"Josie, love, can you run and get the door?" Came the yell from the laundry.
Obeying her mother, Josie ran to open the door, only to be shocked when she realized that Karen was standing on the other side of it.
"Karen?"
"Hey hey hey! No need for chit chat, we both know my name. I pulled some strings and…I guess you're stuck here."
Josie screwed up her nose. "Huh?"
"Gosh, I really have to make things simple for the little people don't I? Well ok, I just came to tell you that you never have to worry about your rent or your college fees ever again."
The young girl's eyes widened, her face remaining suspended in pure surprise.
"I don't know what to say besides…thankyou."
Karen gave a sympathetic smile before turning on her heels to leave, only to be pulled into a hug from her daughter.
And so Happy Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
Although surrounded by both his lover, and one of the closest, but craziest friends he will ever have, Will couldn't shake noticing that there was still a missing piece to the composition. Get a grip of yourself man! First Christmas without the hag!
"Will, you look heavily sedated, what are you taking these days honey?" Karen asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm listening now."
Jack reached over the table and fixed Will's shirt. "Then smile, frown lines only make you look older. Actually…don't smile cause that makes you look old too…just look neutral babe."
Karen slapped Jack's hand. "Hey! Don't practice that unnatural love in here. If you're gonna do anything, do it all the way! Now tear each others clothes off and get into the Christmas spirit!"
"Ok, sure Karen, want us to wait for you to get a camera? You can be the E-bay queen!" Will replied sarcastically.
Jack choked on his mouthful of potato.
Will held up his wine glass. "Merry Christmas!"
"Not yet, Will."
"Why not, Jack?"
As if on cue, the door to the apartment opened and Leo stood at the door.
Karen and Jack turned to each other. Where the hell is Grace?
The two jumped up and ran to Leo. "Yay! Grace is home! England made her look like Leo!" They cheered, hugging him.
Will looked on in amazement. "Leo? Uh, let me fix you another place."
"Can you please fix two placings then?"
"Why? Did you bring a date?" Will spat out bitterly.
"You could say that."
Will shook his head as he stood up. "Look I think there's a bit of a situation here, and its…GRACE!" He pushed past Leo and wrapped his arms around his best friend, slightly picking her up off her feet as he did so.
"Funny how I'm the girlfriend, yet I don't find this over-affection bizarre." Jack observed. "It feels a little 'Angelina Jolie and her brother'…you know its wrong, but they just seem so perfect for each other."
"She's scamming in on your man, Jackie."
"Technically I'm the mistress though. They were married long before our affair."
Grace broke her embrace with Will, giving Karen just enough time to smother her with a tight, bone-crushing hug.
"That red-head is your present." Jack said off-handedly to Will. "Enjoy her."
Will laughed and put an arm around Jack. "Thanks." He then addressed his friends. "Shall we continue dinner?"
Everyone followed Will to the table as he set two more placings for the extra guests.
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
"I have the funniest story about this shop in London." Grace uttered in the gaps her laughing provided.
"Tomorrow." Came the unison reply from the four other members.
"Can I do it now, Jack?"
Jack nodded as Will lifted his glass…again. "Merry Christmas!"
The atmosphere was bright, everyone filled with energy as they clinked glasses. It felt as if Grace had never left them.
"So Grace…what's going on with you and doctor?" questioned Jack.
Grace was shocked. "As if you ask me that while he is sitting next to me!"
"So…are you together?"
"No! well…I dunno."
Leo nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey, Will, can I please use your bathroom to avoid an excruciatingly awkward moment?"
"Sure."
As Leo stood up to move, Grace grabbed his arm to pull him back down. "Let's not talk about us now."
"Thank Prada!" Karen said. "I was seriously contemplating digging my way out of here with my fork and perfect teeth."
As they talked, Will sat, his hand comfortably resting in Jack's. This Christmas was dramatically better than the previous year, and also incredibly, unimaginably different. The friends themselves had not changed much at all, but their lives had all taken twists of large significance. Jack and Karen still rained constant mocking banter down onto Will and Grace, and in return, the pair played on the stupidity of the other two. The dinner was natural, and seemed to pick up exactly where Grace and her luggage left off.
"So, tell me ladies" Jack brought up as he sipped his third glass of wine. "What's happening for new years?"
Well Thats All, folks!
Hope you enjoyed it...I'll be starting a new, shorter story very soon.
Thank you to all who have reviewed this
and thanks to those who reviewed the previous chapter:
B-Elanna: Thanks! I'm glad that you like the other threads besides Will and Jack, because I was trying to make this story not just Will/Jack focused. Thanks for your review! xx
GracieAdler: Yeah I'm sorry this update took forever, but I just never had the time to finish this! Thank you so so so so so so so much for your sweet words and thanks for sticking with this story! xx
rlturner79: Finally, I give you...the ending! Thanks for the review love. xx
all4Christ04398: Thank you times 100 for your lovely review! hehe I'm kinda happy that its over, now i can start new stuff! thanks again! xx
Goldenshadows: THANK YOU! Thanks for reviewing xx
Sherlockian slytherin: That means heaps to me that you think i'm writing in character! thank you! xx
TaintedWolf: One sitting? geez that must have taken a while! Well...sorta in time for xmas. Thanks for the hot chocolate...and the review, and God Bless you too!
Take Care Everyone!
Sundown xx