Calculated Risk

Disclaimer: Not mine. Nope. Nah. Uh uh.

Chapter 7: A Shift in Balance

"Babe!" RJ yelled excitedly as he spotted his girlfriend enter the pizzeria. He was completely unaware of customers watching as he rushed over to the door and all but tackled Fran out of the restaurant.

"Oof," Fran huffed as she received RJ's enthusiastic embrace. "Hi RJ," she giggled. "Did you miss me or something?"

"Or something," RJ replied as he kissed her soundly. He smiled against her lips as he felt her lithe form press against him in her eagerness to return his kiss. He was about to deepen the kiss when the sound of applause, cheers and a couple of whistles had the pair pulling apart in shock. They stared at one another completely bewildered when reality slowly sank in and the source of the noise revealed itself.

RJ slowly turned around, sensing that Fran was peeking from behind him to see all of his customers cheering them on. A healthy flush of scarlet colored his cheeks as he cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice as nonchalant as possible as he spoke. "It appears we have an audience."

"Well," Fran began wryly. "We are in a restaurant which is a public place." She lightly poked her boyfriend in the back. "That you own."

"Indeed I do," RJ agreed as he reached back and entwined his fingers with hers. He gently tugged her along until she was walking beside him. He kept his hand in hers until they reached her stool at the counter, blithely ignoring the lingering looks of a few customers.

"How was Thanksgiving in Briarwood?"

"It was pretty fun!" Fran said as a fond grin crossed her face over the memories of the holiday weekend. She looked up at RJ through her eyelashes. "It would have been even more fun if you were there."

RJ leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I'm still glad for the invitation but it wasn't like I was alone." RJ had a tradition of leaving his restaurant open for those who didn't have families to go to for the holidays or those who couldn't afford a holiday meal.

"You still could have let me help you out with that."

"And deny you the chance to see your family?" He placed a hand against his chest, feigning an aghast expression. "Never."

Fran shook her head before propping it against her hand. "You know they would have happily helped out."

RJ took her free hand and squeezed it lightly. "Tell you what; you and your family can help out for Christmas."

"Promise?"

He nodded. "I promise."

"Okay," Fran said, satisfied. She then gasped in slight surprise as she remembered the significance of the whole day.

Seeing her alarm, RJ became concerned. "What's up, princess?"

"I can't believe I almost forgot!" She reached down and placed a large paper bag on the counter between them. "Happy birthday!"

RJ chuckled. "Thank you." He peered into the bag and smiled, blushing slightly as he started to pull out a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a variety of species in shades of blues and purples. He frowned as he realized that the flowers felt…heavier than they seemed.

"Um…" He slid his hands into the bag to grab what he assumed was a glass vase only to grow even more confused when he touched paper and felt the package give slightly under his touch.

Lifting the package out completely, RJ laughed in delight, seeing that Fran had carefully wedged the bouquet in between four small packages of flour, layers of tape binding everything together. "I see what you did there." Not only did Fran give him a literal pun, something that the young man loved, she had also thoughtfully aided him with his supplies by giving him flour and not just all-purpose. There was a package of whole wheat, gluten free and—

"Is that banana flour?!"

"Mhm," Fran hummed. "It's pretty new to grocery shelves and has only the slightest hint of banana flavor. Otherwise it's just this nutty taste."

RJ gave her a swift kiss. "Thank you."

Fran beamed. "You're welcome. So how does it feel to be twenty-five?"

RJ shrugged. "Other than having a girlfriend; not that much different from being twenty-four."

Said girlfriend giggled at his response. "I'm free tonight if you are."

"I'm free too," RJ said. He then sighed and his entire countenance betrayed his exhaustion. "But any chance we can do something here instead of going out?"

Fran tapped him on the nose as she lightly chided him. "You should've let me stay and help you out." She thought for a moment. "Take out; movie marathon and a blanket fort sound good?"

RJ grinned. "I love that you know me so well, let's do it." He grew quiet, his countenance thoughtful for a moment as he came to a realization. "Actually," he began softly. "I don't just love that you know me so well…I love you."

A small part of him felt terrified by the words that had just come from his mouth. They were such weighted, powerful words. Yet the rest of him felt free. He had done it, said what had been on his mind for so long. He loved Fran, so very much.

Fran beamed. Beamed and grinned, smiling so brilliantly, so beautifully. Her heart flooded with warmth and excitement. "I love you too."

RJ went around the counter and pulled Fran to her feet, taking her into the kitchen. "Didn't want an audience for this." He admitted before pulling her into a sensual, breathtaking kiss.

Moments later when they pulled apart, RJ leaned his forehead against Fran's. He said nothing, merely catching his breath, grinning like mad as he did so. Finally he spoke, "I uh…I should…should probably get ready to…to close up."

"I'll go set up the blanket fort," Fran replied. "Want me to call Shanghai Dragon while I'm up there?"

RJ nodded. "Please."

Reluctant to leave his embrace, Fran backed away slowly. "The usual?"

He squeezed her hands, trying to prolong contact. "Yep."

Fran laughed and fell back into her boyfriend…her love's embrace. She squeezed him as she buried her face into his shoulder. "We're such saps."

"And yet we seem to love each other anyway."

"Yeah," Fran agreed with a happy sigh. "That we do."

An hour and a half later, RJ bounded up the stairs to the loft, bag of take out in his hand. "Okay babe, I got—"

He paused as he took in the blanket fort Fran had created. It was an impressive structure. Four feet from the ground and nearly three feet wide, it was made of various cushions and chairs with blankets draped on top. RJ was intrigued when he noticed that she had even artfully arranged a couple of strings of fairy lights on top. "I see the princess has built herself a castle."

"Only the best for my knight," Fran shot back. She then grew a little sheepish. "I hope you don't mind that I borrowed some of your Christmas lights."

"The only thing I'm thinking is that all blanket forts are required to have lights," RJ said as he came over with the food. "And that you've saved me for having to search for them when I put them up in the restaurant next month."

Glancing around, RJ asked, "Hey, where're Smoky and Gouda? I feel like they would love the blanket fort."

"They did at first," Fran confirmed. "But they didn't appreciate it when I accidentally dropped one of the bigger cushions when I was trying to construct the walls. I think they're taking refuge somewhere near your bed."

"Ah," RJ nodded sagely. "Well, maybe they'll come investigate later now that the blanket fort's complete."

"Maybe."

Fran indicated a row of DVDs with a hand. "Your birthday, your choice," she told him. "What do you want to watch?"

"Ratatouille?"

"There's not a rat hiding under your hat when you cook is there?" Fran teased as she went to put the movie in the DVD player.

RJ's voice was mock chiding. "You've seen me cook without my hat."

"Without your chef's coat too." At her boyfriend's sly smile, Fran looked at him sharply, hands on her hips. "I meant no innuendo, Mister."

A chuckle only escaped him, hands held up innocently. "I didn't say anything."

"No, but it was all over your face."

"My face and I apologize."

Fran rolled her eyes and took her seat next to RJ, accepting the proffered container of steaming moo shu chicken. A small smile made its way onto her face when RJ kissed her cheek as a peace offering. She turned and pecked him on the lips before picking up her chopsticks and started eating.

Halfway through the film, RJ spoke. "You know, I actually kinda prefer Disney movies to some rom coms."

Fran arched a brow at that. "Really?"

He shrugged. "Yeah. Sometimes their stories are just so much easier, y'know?"

"Musical numbers do help speed things along and the animation is gorgeous."

"Exactamundo!"

Two movies later found the couple lying side by side albeit with a snug fit within the blanket fort as Fran perused the movie selection. She was debating between Spider-Man and The Lion King when RJ's laptop chimed from its spot on his work table.

"Mmmn," RJ groaned. He pressed closer to Fran. "I don't wanna get up," he protested as the laptop chimed again. "I'm too comfortable."

"It could be someone wishing you a happy birthday," Fran pointed out.

"My phone works too," RJ said. "Besides, the only one calling me on video chat would be my mom."

Fran waited. There was a beat, then—

"Oh!" RJ shot up and carefully crawled out of the blanket fort. "It's my mom!"

He hastily made his way over to the worktable, apologizing to the pair of sleeping cats that he had to hop over and snatched up his laptop. He was in the process of lifting the lid when he noticed Fran crawling out of the blanket fort. "Bathroom break?"

"Thought I'd head home," she answered with a smile. "To give you all the time you need with your mom."

"Uh-uh! I don't want you to leave."

"I don't mind." Fran glanced at her watch. "Besides, it's almost midnight and I do have class in the morning."

RJ frowned, knowing at eventually Fran would have to go home but he still wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to her. "At least say hi?" He cajoled as the laptop continued to chime.

"Didn't you once say your mom lives in New Hampshire? It's gotta be like, three in the morning there!"

"Eh, she keeps odd hours," RJ said. He became smug as he added, "Plus, I'm sure she'd say I'm worth it."

Fran wavered for a moment before shyly making her way over. "You say hi first."

"Can do." RJ lifted the lid of the laptop completely and accepted the video call. "Hi, Mom!"

Vanessa Scott, formerly James, beamed as her son greeted her. "Happy birthday honey!" She trilled. "How's my boy been?"

"Been doing pretty great," RJ replied. "Actually…" His smile grew and he winked at someone from off camera. "There's someone I want you to meet."

"Oh please tell me it's Fran." The squeak mother and son heard confirmed Vanessa's hopes and she chuckled slightly at the sound. A minute later a brunette shyly appeared by RJ's side, giggling out a hello. "Oh you are cute!"

Fran blushed hard at the praise, straightening her glasses more out of a need to do something than a necessity. "Thank you, ma'am."

"Please, call me Vanessa."

Fran hesitated for a few seconds. "Alright…Vanessa. How have you been? RJ tells me that you're an environmental attorney. That sounds exciting."

"It can be pretty gratifying," Vanessa agreed with a nod. She then smiled wryly. "Dealing with exceptionally stubborn corporate asses who want to build on protected lands? Not so much."

Fran giggled and turned to RJ. "I can see where you get your sass."

"Probably," RJ shrugged.

"It's one of many qualities my son inherited from me," Vanessa said as she winked. "Now Fran, RJ tells me you're studying to become a librarian?"

"That's right," Fran confirmed. "I want to utilize my degree to not simply sit behind a computer and show patrons where to go or what books would best suit them to their needs; I want to engage with children and help spark a love of reading, to help those with struggles like dyslexia or ADHD learn to read. I know I could do this as a teacher, but as a librarian, I would be providing those services to anyone who can't afford to go to school or hire a tutor. The library is a safe haven to so many people and I want to be a part of those who help create it to be a safe space."

"Hmm…" Vanessa mused before shifting her gaze to her son briefly before looking back at Fran. "So you're intelligent, compassionate, have strong values, an amazing cook according to RJ and you're very pretty. I think I can see how you stole my son's heart."

Fran blushed fiercely and giggled helplessly for a minute. "Trust me ma'am," She began when she regained her voice. "It was a mutual theft."

Vanessa was only half serious when she posed her next question for her son. "RJ, why isn't there a ring on this girl's finger?"

RJ spluttered and choked as he turned red. "Mo-om!" He protested loudly. "Fran and I have only been dating for four months! Th-there's plenty of time!"

"He hasn't even met my mom," Fran pointed out, trying to give RJ a minute to recover his wits.

"Yeah," RJ wheezed.

"All in good time, I suppose," Vanessa conceded. "And I suppose I can stop with the motherly teasing. That's all you'd need for your birthday, sweetheart: a heart attack."

"Yeah, I would like to avoid that."

"Speaking of avoiding things," Fran interjected in a slightly awkward tone. "I really should be getting home."

"Right," RJ said then explained to his mother. "She has class in the morning."

"And you're keeping her up?" Vanessa asked. "Robert James, I thought I taught you better than that."

"Oh please don't get upset with him, Vanessa," Fran spoke up. "RJ was just eager for me to have this opportunity to meet you. Besides, I'm often a night owl so if it wasn't for this conversation, I'm sure I would be deep into the pages of a book at home."

RJ shot his mother his most charming smile. "Fran is right about that. All of it."

Vanessa chuckled. "Very well. Fran, does RJ walk you home or have you driven to Jungle Karma?"

"I have my car in the parking lot."

"RJ, walk your girlfriend out and then call me back alright?"

RJ chuckled at being bossed around by his mother. "Yes, Mom."

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Vanessa," Fran said as she started to slip out of view.

"Dear, the pleasure was all mine," Vanessa assured her. She smiled when her son blew her a kiss before disconnecting the video call. Alone in her apartment in New Hampshire, Vanessa said to herself, "Well, if they aren't engaged within the year, I'll be very surprised."

She then leaned back in her office chair, patiently waiting for her son to call her back. She steeled herself as she prepared to bring up a challenging topic to discuss with RJ.

"Oh!" Fran breathed as she looked up at the night sky. "Look at all of the stars!"

RJ grinned as he too, looked up. The heavens above them were littered with a seemingly endless amount of stars that glittered and winked at those who sought them out. "It is pretty great."

Fran pointed to a patch of stars to the northwest. "There's the big dipper!"

"You know that's like the only constellation I can recognize?"

"Same," Fran admitted. "I try to find Orion's belt or Gemini but it's harder than it looks."

"I guess we'd need a proper star chart or something." RJ grinned teasingly and nudged his girlfriend. "I'm surprised you don't have one of those."

"My mom might," Fran mused. "I'll have to dig around my apartment and see."

"Speaking of moms," RJ said. "I'm sorry if my mom embarrassed you back there."

"What? With the teasing about marriage?" Fran giggled and rolled her eyes. "RJ, all moms nag about stuff like that. Your mom is no different. I'd like to claim that my mom would at least be more subtle but that's probably giving her too much credit."

"My mom is right about one thing," RJ said as he stepped closer to Fran. He took her hand in his and placed it over his heart holding it there. "You totally stole this."

Fran grinned widely. "And as I told your mother, it was a mutual theft."

RJ closed the gap between them, kissing her sweetly. He cupped her face before sliding his fingers through her hair, loosening the pigtails her hair was bound in so he had more freedom to tangle the tresses around his fingers. Fran wrapped her arms around his torso, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss as they moved.

"I love you," RJ whispered as they parted.

"I love you too."

They kissed again. "Will you have time to stop by tomorrow?"

Fran nodded. "I have class but I'm free after five."

RJ pressed a soft, lingering kiss on her hand. "See you then, princess."

She giggled. "Parting is such sweet sorrow, dear rogue."

"At least it's guaranteed that you and I will see the morrow."

Fran rolled her eyes and snorted as she finally walked over to her car. "Good night, RJ! Now go call your mom!"

RJ bowed theatrically as he backed toward the restaurant front entrance. "Your wish is my command."

He grinned at Fran's groan.

RJ plopped down into his recliner, laptop in hand as he awaited his video call with his mother to connect. As soon as he locked onto the sea green eyes that he had inherited from her, RJ made his face stern and shook his finger at her. "Bringing up marriage, Mom? Really?"

Vanessa snorted. "RJ, my love, you know that it's practically in the motherhood handbook to start mentioning getting married when her child is in a long term relationship."

"It's been only four months since Fran and I started dating and I just turned twenty-five. She's twenty-three. I'd like to believe that we have time."

"Plenty of time, RJ," Vanessa assured her son. "Just a mother's teasing is all."

"Well ha ha."

"All of this aside, my son. That's not why I asked you to call me back."

Noting her serious expression and slightly sharp tone, RJ sobered. "So what did you want to discuss?"

"How open is your relationship with Fran?"

RJ's eyes narrowed in confusion, his own voice becoming hard. "Meaning?"

"Your past, RJ," Vanessa elaborated. "Your schooling?"

At that, RJ winced. "Well…she knows I went to a boarding school."

"I suppose that's one way of putting it."

"I told Fran that I attended this old, prestigious academy that was…" RJ flailed as he tried to remember the conversation he and Fran had the night of the storm. "Steeped in tradition…and went back hundreds of years."

"All true," Vanessa conceded. "And?"

"And…it's the reason why Dad and I aren't talking anymore?"

Vanessa arched a brow. "Oh? What were the specifics on that?"

RJ lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Just that Dad and I didn't see eye to eye on my life path…"

"Also true. But what about the rest of it?"

"Pai Zhuq? Does Fran really need to know?"

"Darling, I know," Vanessa deadpanned. She then softened. "And at the time, it did my relationship with your father a world of good when he explained everything to me. And that was before you came along. So why not let Fran into your world completely?"

RJ sighed heavily. "Because as awesome as that would be, there's still the underlying concern of Dai Shi somehow busting out of that box he's been trapped in for millennia. I don't want Fran to be caught in the crossfire of anything terrible."

"Fran seems like an intelligent and sensible woman," Vanessa pointed out, her son nodding in agreement. "Just because she has the knowledge of Pai Zhuq and Dai Shi, it doesn't mean that anything horrible will happen to her. Last I remember your father discussing the evil entity with me, omniscient, he was not. I don't think he'll immediately know that Fran knows."

"Or that you know."

"Or that I know."

RJ rubbed a hand across his face as he mulled through his options. "Just because Fran knows, it doesn't mean that she automatically has to join the fight…or will be expected to."

"We're talking hypotheticals in any case," Vanessa said blithely. "You should still tell her."

RJ said nothing, clearly thinking about what his mother was saying and how to eventually tell Fran; if he even did.

"I'll think about it," Was all he offered his mother.

"I suppose I'll take it," Vanessa replied, however her tone told him that she wasn't thrilled with his answer.

He clapped a hand over his mouth as a yawn escaped. "Talk to you on Christmas?"

"Sure thing, honey."

RJ grinned at that. "Night, Mom."

"Goodnight, RJ."

Nearly a month after RJ's birthday found Fran and RJ lugged bags of groceries from RJ's jeep toward Fran's apartment building. The bags were full of ingredients necessary for making Christmas cookies. The holiday was around the corner and the couple decided to prepare by baking in Fran's apartment.

"I barely get to hang out there," RJ had pouted to his girlfriend.

Fran smirked. "I just don't want to part you from your beloved chair is all."

"Your furniture is plenty comfortable." Shifting the bags of groceries into one hand, RJ pointed at her accusingly. "And as if you don't sit in my chair!"

"Only after being afraid to for weeks!"

RJ smiled bashfully. "I suppose I can be a bit…exuberant when it comes to my chair."

"Just a bit."

When the two crossed through the lobby and stopped in front of the elevators, RJ decided to glance around as they waited for the elevator to carry them to Fran's ninth floor apartment. He took in the Christmas tree cheerfully decorated and glowing in one corner and the menorah that was sat not too far away. The shiny candelabra wouldn't be lit until that night, the first night of Hanukkah. Paper snowflakes and colorful lights decorated the lobby's walls.

As RJ continued to silently explore the lobby, he found himself freezing when he came across a small plant hanging inconspicuously above his and Fran's heads.

When he finally found his voice, it was dry as he asked aloud, "Really?"

Fran blinked in surprise at RJ's sudden question. Turning to follow his gaze, she snorted when she saw the mistletoe. "You do realize it's not exactly against the law if we don't follow through, right?"

"Just seems like a societal trap for those who aren't in a relationship," RJ said as he carefully placed his grocery bags on the floor before freeing Fran of hers. He slid his hands onto her waist. "You on the other hand, I don't mind being trapped with."

Fran snorted at that as she wrapped her arms around RJ's neck and pulled him down into a kiss. As she threaded her fingers through his hair, one of RJ's hands smoothed up her back while the other one slid down to her hip, holding her firmly to him as they lost themselves in the moment.

However much like RJ's birthday, the two were abruptly shocked away from each other. This time by the sound of an aggravated and rather pointed clearing of the throat.

"A-hem!"

Pulling away, the couple turned to face another young couple. A young man with vibrant red hair looking rather livid while his counterpart, a young woman with a shock of bubblegum pink hair appeared to be utterly delighted.

Fran, for her part, recognized them immediately. "V!" She squealed as she all but pounced on the young woman. "What're you doing here? I thought you and Chip weren't going to be here until next week!"

V, otherwise known as Vida Rocca, hugged Fran with equal strength. "Meh, you know that winter vacation is long when in college, Frannie," she said. "Chip and I decided to come down early to surprise you." Smirking over Fran's shoulder at RJ, she continued. "Though apparently you have a surprise for us as well."

Blushing, Fran pulled away from her friend. "You know who RJ is, I've told you about him."

"Um…ah," RJ began awkwardly. "Have you mentioned that we're dating? Specifically…have you told your cousin?"

"Oh she's told me," Chip confirmed in a tone that suggested to RJ that he wasn't all that thrilled with the notion.

Fran rolled her eyes as Vida swatted at Chip. "Alright, you two. Before either of you decide to have some sort of 'battle of masculinity', can we at least take it upstairs?"

"Sounds good to me!" RJ chimed in, not caring that he seemed all too eager to escape the awkwardness of the moment as he whipped around and punched the elevator button.

With his back turned to Fran and the newcomers, RJ failed to notice his girlfriend pulling her cousin into a hug and the whispered conversation that followed.

"Must you be the stereotypical overprotective family member?" Fran chided Chip softly.

Chip grinned widely even though Fran was unable to see it. "You should know Frannie, both Nick and Xander were all over doing this bit but weren't able to because of Toby needing the holiday help."

Fran leaned back, eyes wide in surprise. "Okay, Xander doing that, I can see. But Nick?"

Vida playfully ruffled Fran's hair. "Honey, you're as much family to him as the rest of us are, even if he isn't too open in showing it. Clare says you're family too and she misses you."

Fran smiled bashfully at that. "I suppose I can come back to Briarwood at some point in the near future." She walked over to join her boyfriend in the elevator, Vida and Chip following. As she took a couple of grocery bags from RJ, Fran addressed her friends, "How did you two manage to get out of working this close to the holiday? Especially you, V. Doesn't Toby need you for the turntables?"

"I've been teaching Maddie," Vida assured Fran. "As for us getting out of work early, Chip and I had been pulling extra shifts so we could accumulate the time off."

"Not to mention the favor he owed us," Chip put in as the group exited the elevator and walked the short distance to Fran's apartment.

His cousin eyed him in interest as she fit her key into the lock. "Favor?"

Chip grinned. "Toby's going full out Christmas dork and planning on proposing to Nicki on Christmas Day. V and I helped him pick out the ring."

"Aww…" Fran cooed as she opened the door and ushered the others inside. "That's so cute!" She then became thoughtful as she mused. "I wonder if Nicki's going to kill him for being so over the top though."

"Nicki might not," Vida said. "Leelee on the other hand…"

"Leelee?" RJ asked, sensing some tension as the other woman's name was mentioned.

"Nicki's daughter," Vida explained. "But not for getting Toby as a potential stepfather but just for the whole proposal on Christmas bit."

"Which is another reason why the others are still in Briarwood," Chip said, smirking. "Potential damage control."

Fran snorted and shook her head, walking over to the island in her kitchen and dumping the groceries onto it. "I think everything will work out for itself."

"Me too," RJ agreed, placing his own grocery bags onto the island. "Even if I don't know the full story."

"It is quite a page turner," Vida said as she started helping the couple unpack the groceries. She looked at RJ and smirked. "Maybe we'll tell you about it one day."

"I look forward to hearing it."

Fran bustled about her kitchen, putting away groceries that didn't involve baking cookies while putting out the ingredients that were meant for baking cookies. As she plopped down a jar of molasses used for gingerbread, Fran glanced up and saw Chip eyeing RJ with a pensive look on his face. Rolling her own eyes, Fran made her way over to her cousin.

"Go and get it out of your system," She instructed him quietly, rolling her eyes again when Chip looked back at her with an innocent look on his face. "'Interrogate' my boyfriend if you must. But be. Nice."

Chip crossed his heart and grinned before making his way over to RJ. "If I can have a word?" He asked the man quietly, RJ silently put down a bottle of sprinkles and followed him out of the room.

The two men walked into the living room, standing near a pair of bookshelves that were just far away enough from the kitchen that they could talk to one another without the need to whisper. "My intentions with your cousin are to be with her for as long as she wants me to be," RJ stated without preamble. His voice became more passionate as he added, "I love her deeply and I would never even dream of hurting her."

Fran's laughter rang out and the two men looked into the kitchen, seeing that Vida had playfully flung some flour at Fran, the white powder clinging to her hair and cheek. Fran retaliated by tossing powdered sugar at her friend. "She's my world," RJ said quietly.

Seeing the complete adoration in RJ's eyes for his cousin, Chip crossed his arms and pretended to look stern. "You know, you're making it very hard for me not to like you. I had this whole speech planned about what I'd do if you hurt her and I know of at least five others who would back me up, my own girlfriend included."

"You don't need to give that speech," RJ told him. "I would never, ever hurt Fran. Unless I was like, possessed or something," he added after a beat. "But that'll never happen."

Chip merely smiled wryly, saying nothing. Never say never, he thought to himself.

After all, once a Ranger…

Well, one could never be too careful, could they?

Not that RJ needed to know. Not yet in any case.

Chip clapped a hand on RJ's shoulder. "C'mon, we should probably help the girls out."

Nodding, RJ followed the other man back into the kitchen. When they arrived, Fran gleefully held up a small clear bucket that held cookie cutters. "I've got Star Wars cutters!"

Chip gasped theatrically as he all but smothered Fran in a hug. "I always knew you were my favorite cousin!"

Fran snorted and wiggled out of his embrace, passing the cookie cutters to an amused Vida. "You'd say that to any family member that gifts you something that appeals to your interests."

"Like you don't?" Chip shot back.

Fran shrugged. "I tell my mom she's my favorite mom." She stuck her tongue out at her boyfriend as he snickered.

An hour and a small food fight later, the group had a decent amount of prettily decorated cookies. Vida picked up a cookie shaped like Emperor Palpatine and bit the cookie's head off. "The most satisfying decapitation ever," she hummed through her full mouth.

"Think we have time to make a gingerbread house?" Fran asked. She turned to Vida and Chip. "Unless you two need to get going?"

"Nope," Vida replied.

Chip grimaced. "But gingerbread houses are a pain to put together."

His cousin smirked mischievously. "Not unless you cheat."

RJ looked intrigued. "Cheat at making a gingerbread house? How? With a premade gingerbread house?"

"Nope," Fran answered him with a shake of her head. "With a delicious shortcut to how we most likely made gingerbread houses in elementary school. Instead of using a milk carton as a foundation, we'll be using sheet cake cut into quarters and stack them together. Then we'll build the house around that."

"That's genius!" Vida enthused.

"And a bit more time consuming," Fran admitted. "I don't exactly have a sheet cake lying around."

"I don't have a problem with making one," RJ said.

"Me either," Chip offered.

"And while that's in the oven," Vida began in a coy voice that no one else in the room trusted. She whipped out a familiar deck of cards that had everyone groaning. "We can play Uno!"

"You just got here and you're already declaring war?" RJ demanded with a frown.

"Scared to have your ass kicked by a woman?"

"Hardly," he snorted.

"At least it's not monopoly," Fran pointed out and RJ chuckled at a shared memory.

"Stay up too long playing the game?" Chip asked.

"Until…when?" RJ asked Fran. "Super late. Like, two in the morning or something."

"Thank goodness that was at least after finals week." And Chip shook his head in amusement.

"Are we making this gingerbread house or what?" Vida demanded, planting her hands on her hips.

"Because the faster everything's in the oven the faster we can play Uno?" Fran asked.

"Exactly!"

Laughing, the group began gathering ingredients and tools needed to make the gingerbread house with a sheet cake foundation. It wasn't long before they were embroiled in a fierce and intense game of Uno while sat around the table. Chip and Vida had threatened to break up twice while RJ threatened to ban Fran from JKP—though not his loft above it. Fran in return threatened to never bake him any sort of treat again.

He had very nearly thrown the game after that.

Fran yawned hugely as she parked her car in its space within her apartment building's garage. Christmas Day at Jungle Karma had gone off without a hitch. She, RJ and her friends from Briarwood—yes, all five of them—had spent the day catering to those who had no real place to go for the holiday for one reason or another. RJ had been both surprised and delighted to see that the crowd today had been much larger than the one had been at Thanksgiving. To adjust for overflow, the group had wound up building a makeshift lean-to right beside the pizzeria and catered to guests outside. All in all, it had been a very satisfying and gratifying day.

As she stepped out of the car, Fran smiled softly as she reached up and touched a small, golden and glittery pendant that had been one of her gifts from RJ. They had exchanged gifts a few hours before the others were due to arrive. RJ had smiled shyly when she had unwrapped the box that held the pendant and opened it. "I got it because you remind me of sunshine," he had told her.

As if Fran couldn't fall any harder for the man who had already stolen her heart.

Once Fran entered her building, she debated on whether or not she should go to the mail room and see if she had any mail. Yes, it was Christmas which typically meant that the mail wouldn't be delivered, but Fran had been rather neglectful of the task as of late due to the chaos that was finals week and the holiday season.

With a sigh, Fran made up her mind and headed to the mail room. She opened her mailbox and pulled out a couple of bills, several advertisements and holiday cards. She was surprised to see that she had a slip informing her of a package delivery. With the slip in hand, she made her way over to the doorman. After cheerfully wishing him a Merry Christmas, Fran exchanged the package slip for a small box. Glancing down at the box, Fran's heart skipped a beat when she saw that the address label had been written in her mother's handwriting.

"Mama…" Fran whispered as she gently traced the label with one finger.

Quickly thanking her doorman for the package, Fran sped down the length of the lobby to the elevator and jabbed the button. Stepping into the elevator, Fran began picking at the tape that bound the small cardboard box. She knew she should probably wait until she was inside her actual apartment to open it, but her mother often taped packages with several layers and Fran was exhausted. She didn't want to have to fight with the box for long.

Once inside her apartment, Fran succeeded in opening the box. In it was a note from her mother along with a small burlap bag. She picked up the note first. My darling Fran, it read. I miss you very much and I hope you're doing well; not stretching yourself too thin between school and work…? I also hope that your boyfriend (A boyfriend! My baby has a boyfriend!) is doing well and that the relationship you have is healthy. I was walking in a bazaar during a trip to Morocco when I happened upon this gift that I have enclosed for you. It's a bit sparklier than anything you're used to, but just something about it compelled me to buy it for you. I hope you find the answers that I couldn't find. Merry Christmas my love. We'll speak soon. Love, Mom.

Confused, Fran frowned down at her mother's rather strange message. Granted, Claudia Rossi was a fan of mystery and the unknown…but something to have compelled her to buy a mysterious gift for her daughter? And from what it sounded like, send her daughter on what? A quest? Okay…

Dropping the note onto the little table near the door where Fran kept her keys and small books that she could easily slip into her bag on the way out, Fran lifted the burlap bag out of the box and opened it. She felt even more confused as she pulled out a crystal bauble on a silver chain. Indeed, the pendant was sparklier than what Fran's taste called for; it also had an etching on one side of the yin yang symbol.

"Balance…" Fran murmured to herself. She reached out and traced the piece, noting that it wasn't perfectly spherical, rather it had strategic cuts in it as if it were actually a puzzle piece. And of course, Fran had only one part.

Fran sighed and shook her head at the weirdness of it all. Yet, she couldn't find it in herself to merely consign the odd looking piece of jewelry to a box, instead she looped the chain over her head so that it rested next to RJ's pendant.

If it so happened to feel warmer against her skin than the sun pendant, Fran gave no reaction to it.

As Fran pondered over her mother's gift to her, RJ shifted and tossed on his bed as he fell deeper into a well-deserved sleep. A dream began to open up to him and RJ found himself within the misty and mysterious school grounds of the Order of the Claw. I swear, he thought to himself heatedly. If this is Dad's way of trying to contact me, I'm gonna—

"You have done very well for yourself outside of these walls, RJ."

Realizing that the voice behind him didn't actually belong to his father had RJ spinning around in relief. "Master Mao," RJ greeted reverently, bowing deeply to one of his former teachers.

"I have come to you with a great need for your assistance."

Unbidden, the memory of his conversation with his mother on his birthday came back to him. He hid it away with a polite smile that betrayed his curiosity. "Oh?"

"Indeed, young Master," Master Mao said. "For a great battle is on the horizon and it will fall to you to train the warriors needed for the fight."

RJ blinked, incredulous. "Me?"

"You, Robert James. You are the one these students will need to guide them."

"Why not you?"

Master Mao stared beyond RJ, into the misty distance. "I fear I am not much longer for this mortal realm and as such, I will only be present for the event that is the catalyst to this battle."

"I see…" RJ was pensive before asking, even though he knew the obvious answer. He had to hear it from Master Mao. "And what exactly is this great battle?"

Master Mao's gaze was grave as it bored into RJ. "The return of Dai Shi," the elder master said. "It is imminent."

Great.

Wooooo! A lot to unpack here! Fluff, romance and first familial meetings/mentions! Fran's being inadvertently set on a very mysterious path by her mother but worry not! It won't hinder her loved ones in anyway, but not something that'll reveal itself immediately. There's still time.

This chapter's the longest one thus far and as tempted as I was to expand on Christmas at JKP and have RJ interact with Maddie, Nick and Xander, I realized that this chapter was getting long enough without really touching on the main part of the series. But I'll probably either make a chapter of Of Scoops, Slices and Sunsets for it or a standalone one-shot for it. We'll see.

Guys, I am beat. Work is long and hard, but I love it. I just don't love being so tired afterward! That being said, I am hoping to get the next chapter up by Thanksgiving in which yes. RJ will finally tell Fran everything! Yeah! Should be an interesting conversation to say the least!

As always, reviews encourage and inspire me, so please keep them coming!