Setting: Christmas; this I decided to do for fun- is a kind of sequel fic to After the end; essentially it's in the same universe- a post one shot…. Despite the fact the fic is long from done (though its planned out)
Couple: Trudy/Slade, Mega/Salene
Others: Jay, Lex, Amber, Bray, Java, Ram
Words: Bow, Mistletoe, Sash, Nutcracker
Sentences: "Unwrap me instead...I have a much better present waiting inside."
"I'd rather be run over by the Reindeer."
"Why don't you lead the sleigh tonight...your nose glows brighter than Rudolph's anyway without makeup."
Challenge by: Christina
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'24 hours to the 1st tribal Christmas' a sign read outside the Mall, there were all kinds of these hanging around the city. The Mallrats were reinstating Christmas. Holiday, gifts, and food for all- in the end maybe there was a positive at the end of the struggle. Peace included that though that was further away from perfection.
Inside the Mall was a hectic mess, a true honest go god mess. All over the Mall were Christmas decorations they had collected from trading and looting in the past. Lawn santas on the table, there were stockings on the stove, a mini tree on the shelf, peanuts with wings hanging from the tree. A pair of blue boxers on top of the tree in place of a star, the Christmas star actually sitting in the lap of a giant nutcracker. Piles of mistletoe were on the floor waiting to be hung all over the mall. Christmas bows, streamers, holly, and string were all over the floors and counter tops. Along with, plastic and display reindeers, elves, and other things all over the ground as well.
Around the mall, the kids were running, Brady racing around in a new holiday striped dressed with a red sash, with Lottie in a pink dress giving chase, and Gel chasing after her- for it was Gel's dress.
"This place is a mess," Amber exclaimed in horror looking at the boxes of stuff as she came down from the room as the kids by passed her, "Brady, Lottie, Gel- knock it off," she cried.
"Sorry Amber," Lottie called back as she squeaked and ran up the stairs with Gel giving chase.
Amber sighed, "Madness-…" she reported as looked around at the others.
Salene was setting up the stockings. Trudy was hanging up the holly and streamers. Jay was handling the mistletoe, Darryl was wrapping gifts, and Ellie was baking food.
"Where's the others?" she inquired as she set down baby bray on the ground.
"Jack, and Ram are at the hotel- you know making sure the city is okay. Ruby and May went to go get some more gifts for the kids. Sammy and Lex are outside doing the lights. Ebony is somewhere around here, and Slade… I have no idea," Salene answered.
Just as Salene announced that coming in from the side was Ebony long hair flowing wild with an attitude to match. A scowl clearly written on her face as she examined the mess was the Mall.
"Spring cleaning?" she asked snidely.
"Obviously" Trudy said sarcastically, "Plan to help?"
"Not really. I got better things to do- if I got any gifts which I doubt I did- I'm going to need them now because I'm leaving," she reported coldly.
"Oh really? That's so sad," Trudy said with somewhat aggression.
"Actually you did a get a few things, but where are you going?" Amber asked her.
"I'm leaving the city to see the world or just to get hell away from here," Ebony answered pushing her braids out of her way.
"Well I'll give you everyone's present that has one for you… but the one I got… well you're going to have to unwrap me instead...I have a much better present waiting inside than physically," Darryl said with a smirk looking through a few.
Ebony made a face then took them and then threw one at Darryl's head hitting him hard, "I'd rather be run over by the Reindeer," she said coldly before taking the last one back and walking off.
Trudy and Amber both laughing a bit- neither really liked her but hey Ebony had the right idea truthfully.
"Uh Amber…" a voice said suddenly.
Amber suddenly stopped laughing, "Yea Salene…"
"Bray…" she said slowly.
Amber eyes flickered to the floor there with a piece of mistletoe in his mouth was her baby boy as he tried to shallow it.
"BRAY"
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(That night)
The Mall continued to be a hectic mess the rest of the day but finally things started to lighten up. The Mall was less of a mess- the others getting things in place. Gifts under the tree that was now set up and the lights were on.
The kids went to bed after May told them a story- Jack and Ellie slipped off to bed. Ruby and May went upstairs to spend some time together. Gel and Sammy ran off to play.
Jay, Lex, Trudy, and Slade were talking in the living room, and Amber had snuck off to be by herself near the tree on the second floor spare room.
As she sat down by the tree a drop of tears would drop occasionally as she looked up her mind on the one not there, Bray. Her eyes fixed on the star as if studying it for something. The tree glowing in the dark room- giving off that warm Christmas feel.
"I wish you were here Bray- with me and little Bray. It's not the same without you. You know we are finally having Christmas again- our dreams have been realised- we brought peace to the city. Happiness. Hope. All of it. The dream is no longer a dream, its reality Bray but it's a reality with you. I wish you could see our son- he's so big now, so perfect, he looks like you. You would be so happy- we would be…" she said slowly.
"Can
I talk to you?
Yeah of course I was thinking maybe theirs a way we could undermine the Chosen's power in the city even more
That sounds good how?
Amber:
Well we send out snatch squads to capture groups of the Chosen then
use Trudy to de program them, and then we release them.
"Only you would think of the bit about releasing them," Bray said laughing, "Sounds great, let me guess you'll be leading the squads right?"
'er no I'd like to but I can't
What do you mean?
I mean that 'erm ... because...I don't just have myself to think of now. Bray I'm pregnant."
"But as much as I'd like to say this is all good news, it's not. See the thing is- I'm- I'm- this is hard to say I feel like you're here with me… like I can see you so clearly. But I know you're not. The thing is Bray, Jay asked me to marry him- and I've said yes. I guess I really haven't told you about Jay have I? Well he's very special to me- and he's just as idealistic and brave and strong as you are. He helped us save the city- like you would have. He loves me- and I care for him too- maybe not as much as you but I will someday- I hope you can understand…" she began wiping her tears some.
"Can I have a sip?
What?
Oh, of course
Coco
Comfort food, just like mum used to make. It's sad isn't it? We've come such a long way just to end like this, It offered so much hope you know the Mall, a new life, a safe haven and now it's gonna kill us all.
This
is how we chose to live.
But
not how to die. You must really regret coming back all those times
you went away we were never sure if you would.
I
had plenty of reasons to come back Amber but you, you should have
gone with Sasha you could have been free of all this, somewhere else
away from here.
Forget it Bray it's done.
I
can't forget it I was so incredibly jealous.
Because
everyone liked him so much?
No
because you did, I should have told you a long time a go Amber."
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"Is it really worth that little- pennies are useless in case you haven't heard," she said looking up her eyes still wet despite the clean up.
"I've been told they haven't but when you've spent four of seven years of the virus in la la land, you miss a lot of things like the downfall of money," Ram replied leaning against the doorway looking first at the tree and then down to her on the ground huddled up like some emotional wreck.
"Really?"
"No not really but its habit to use the term anyway," he answered, "So what is it? Lover boy? He already fall for some other woman?"
"No, you only wish he would," Amber told Ram as she did a quick wipe again.
"Yea but that's because it would only be true to that is Jay. But who knows maybe for once his hormones will take a rest. Is it the other one? The famous one?" Ram inquired.
"How'd you guess?"
"You're not the only one that's lost someone"
"It
is kinda meaningful though, this is where I lost you and this is
where I find you.
You know how I really feel about you...
Yeah... You know what my first clue was? You didn't shoot me..."
"Right,- Java…"
"Hmm let me put this way- she's certainly been on mine"
"We're pathetic aren't we, thinking about those that are gone when we have two perfectly set mates right down the hall," Amber said finally after a second of silence.
She had Jay, and she loved him. Ram had Ruby- more recent and not as strong but he still had her nonetheless.
"Nah, you know Jay is thinking about his old girl, Danni- and Ruby- well she has own war stories I'm sure. We all do. It's normal but what it isn't is remaining her to mope and talking to me. So, go find that blonde Barbie doll boy- and go get a room," Ram said honestly.
Amber glared for a second at him for the comment about Jay and the room but then sighed and decided it was easier and safer to just drop it- moving to get up from her positive a rare decent Ram offered her a hand and pulled her up. She briefly dusted herself off and nodded at him, "Night"
"Night"
"Coming?" she asked as she passed him.
Ram shrugged, "Sure"
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(Downstairs)
"Why don't you lead the sleigh tonight...your nose glows brighter than Rudolph's anyway without makeup," Lex replied when he saw Amber enter the kitchen.
"Stuff it Lex," she warned.
Jay turned around to look at Amber noting what Lex was talking about- someone had been crying and it showed times three, "Amber are you okay?"
"Yea, I'm fine now- I was just wonder if you were ready to go to bed yet?" she asked.
"I am actually- I'll see you all tomorrow then," he said getting up and putting his arm hers as they headed towards the steps- him in a black uniform, and her in a green night gown.
"Oh cowboy- I'd like to steal Ruby away from May but in order for that to happen…"
"Yea, I hear you geek- let's go," Lex said jumping up and throwing down the cards as he glared at Slade, "You won anyway- I was bluffing".
"I thought so," Slade replied putting his down as Trudy rolled her eyes.
Lex then followed Ram towards the steps, "So about tomorrow I was thinking of this great get rich quick scheme…"
"He never learns does he?" Slade asked as he turned back to Trudy who was now leaning back on the couch across from him.
"Lex? Nope not really. There's always one more dollar that he can make that makes it worth it," she replied honestly, "Nothing will ever change him especially not a woman".
"I know the feeling- I'm the same way- even Ebony…"
"Yea, do you feel bad, do you miss her?" Trudy asked him.
"She hasn't been gone long enough for me to actually miss her but miss what we had? Yea. A hellcat like that? Impossible to forget and let go… I'd kill for that back," Slade said honestly.
"But?" she asked sensing that there was one.
"She forced me to choose between her and Josh- and I'm never picking a woman over my brother no matter what kind of human being he was or still is for that matter. Ruby expected I wanted to be domesticated- and Ebony expected she'd become my sole reason for life. It doesn't work that way- so they both had to go," he answered after a minute a big of regret seeping into his voice.
Sometimes, he really didn't like being that cold but he was always going to be him. Much like Josh was always going to be Josh. And no one could change or fix that. He had finally accepted that.
"One more question then- when you guys leaving?" Trudy asked.
Slade looked up, "That obvious?"
"You don't want to be anymore then Ebony did- nor does your brother- and Amber I think is finally ready to let go and trust that he won't try and take over the city again. She won't even try to stop you- I'm sure… and I kind of heard you guys talking about it a few days back…" she confessed packing away the cards trying to avoid his eyesight.
Slade laughed a bit- there was always someone around here spying, "Yea, we're aiming for a leave sometime before next week- it just depends on what I get for my bike trade transportation wise and if it needs work. Along with some plan of where to go but you're right that is our plan".
"Well I wish you guys luck all the same," Trudy said after a minute moving to get up.
"You too," he said repeating her movements.
"I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Yea you will- I never did ask by the way- are you over Jay yet?" Slade asked her.
"I think so- thanks to Mega ironically- he opened my eyes and made me come to reason. I know now that I will be," she answered with a small smile.
"Good- well bye"
"Bye"
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(KC's old room)
"So you gonna stay here all night and sulk?" a voice asked from the other room.
Mega turned his figure towards the doorway and saw Salene hanging in it as she stepped in with a sort of hopeful smile on her face.
"It's not sulking- I'm not depressed- I'm just not really a joining in kind of guy," Mega answered shortly.
"Yea, right- but it's not healthy- and Christmas is tomorrow- and everyone else seems to be pretty happy. You shouldn't be either. You come out say hi maybe give your brother five minutes of your time… or me," she said hopefully coming in towards the bed and that he was lying on and reading on.
As she moved to sit down in her pink robe- he by habit pulled the covers down to let her in and moved over.
"I did- this morning- once is enough. He doesn't need to be up my ass every hour of everyday nor me him. After all these months, we could use it. As for you, well you're here aren't you? Why make an effort when I can trust you to come to me?" he inquired smugly.
Salene laughed lightly and then hit him on the shoulder, "You egotistical prick"
"Naturally- but you and Trudy work like clock work- I really can always figure out whose going to show up when and for what reason. You've come because it's night before the first holiday you've had in seven and half years and you can't stop thinking about Pride and need a friend- but you don't want seem pathetic or needy so instead you're coming to me because in some weird way we understand each other. Am I warm or just plain dead on?" Mega asked her.
"Dead on- as usual. You're really too smart for your own good"
"No kidding- that's how I got into mess in the first place- virtual Zoot anyone?"
"So Macbeth then?" Salene asked changing the subject looking over the series of books now on his shelf.
"That works- but you should know something too- sooner or later you and her are both going to need to start relying on each other for this and not me…" he said after a minute as she got up to get it.
"Why?"
"I'm leaving next week"
"What?" Salene asked shocked.
"Slade's- and my idea too. We just- this isn't for us. We all know that- you included- and her. I've been decent so far but I can only take so much of this kind of life. You two make it bearable but a lifetime of Amber, responsibility, Lex, Jay, Ram, and well this entire city- just won't work," Mega said seriously as Salene mindlessly came back to join him.
"But then who will I talk to?"
"Your tribe…" he said like it was most obvious thing in the world, "Like you always have"
"I know that but who else? Sometimes a fresh face and new perspective helps. I mean you can be a lot of fun without meaning to be. I know you don't try to be anything but you pull it off anyway. Just by accident- you have that interesting pull about you- maybe it's the evil genius with a brooding past kind of interest but I'd to think it was more," Salene said after a minute.
"Maybe but it's not for us to find out- besides we enjoy it now in our own little ways and then we move on- it's what the world meant for us to do."
"I guess you're right so… where were we?"
"When
shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"
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The end