Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Disclaimer: See chapters 1 or 2.
Author's Note: I realize it isn't nearly as exciting when I keep posting chapters, one after the other, but the reviews are just addicting. And you know, if Linds doesn't have a headache, there's no reason she can't keep writing, too. So it's all pretty selfish at this point. Anyhow, thanks to the readers, you'll never know how much these reviews are appreciated! Pam, Linds, and the anonymous reviewer…I love you all!
Chapter 3
"Liv?" Mason asked.
"Yeah?" Olivia replied, breathless. She placed another box of ornaments atop the pile that was nearly taller than Mason.
"What should we get Karen for Christmas?" Mason questioned, idly organizing the pile of boxes.
"I don't know, Mason, she already has everything," Olivia said.
"Not everything," Mason said quietly.
"What do you mean? She's got diamonds, furs, jewels, money, clothes that haven't even been released to the public yet. What doesn't she have?" Olivia asked her brother.
"I don't know. I heard her talking to Rosie the other day. She was saying that the one thing she wanted this year for Christmas, she couldn't have," Mason explained. "Then she walked away and I think she started crying."
Olivia looked at her brother. "What do you think it could be?"
Mason shrugged. "I don't know. But maybe…maybe we can figure it out, and then get it for her!"
"We should!" Olivia agreed, eyes sparkling at the idea of embarking on a new adventure. "Let's take these upstairs and then go talk to Rosie, I'm sure she can help us."
Mason nodded eagerly. He picked up several boxes and carefully made his way back to the service elevator.
Olivia and Mason approached the servant's quarters hesitantly, unsure of where Rosario actually was. But as soon as they heard the hiss of the iron and the dulcet tones of Rosario's El Salvadoran tunes, they were confident that they'd found their way.
"Rosario?" Olivia asked carefully, not wanting to startle their favorite housekeeper.
"Oh, niños! To what do I owe this pleasure?" Rosario asked, delighted that the children had come to visit her.
"Rosie, we have a question," Olivia said.
Rosario set down the iron and turned to face the children fully. "Yes?"
"Well, Mason and I were talking and we realized that we don't know what to get Karen for Christmas," Olivia explained. "We figured that since she talks to you so much, you might know what she'd want."
Rosario smiled at the two children. "Oh, hijos, I don't think Miss Karen expects you two to get her anything."
"But we want to, Rosie," Mason said. "She took us out today to get a tree and she's going to help us decorate it later." Rosario's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't heard anything about this.
"Yeah, she's being really nice about Christmas," Olivia said. "So we want to get her something nice. Something she really, really wants." Olivia didn't want to bring up the conversation Mason had overheard. She didn't want Rosario to think she was being too nosy.
"I'm sure Miss Karen will like whatever you get her," Rosario assured them.
"No, Rosie, we really don't know what to get her," Olivia urged. "She's already got so much, but we want her to really like our gift."
Rosario sighed. "I'm sure Miss Karen wouldn't want you children to spend money on her."
"Money isn't an issue, Rosie," Olivia said impatiently. "I think it's pretty clear that our family isn't short on funds."
Rosario smiled. Olivia was quickly turning into a tiny version of Karen. It scared the hell out of her. "Well, I'm sorry, children, but I can't think of anything. Maybe you could call Jack or Grace for ideas?"
Olivia, too, sighed. It seemed that it was also clear that Rosario wasn't going to spill on what Karen really wanted this year. Maybe Jack or Grace or even Will would have an idea. "That sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Rosie!" Olivia grabbed onto Mason's hand and took him back into the foyer.
Mason wrenched his hand away from his sister's. "Olivia, what are you doing? Rosario knows what Karen wants, why didn't you ask you?"
"She obviously didn't want to tell us!" Olivia said. "And we can't go poking around too much, we don't want Karen to know what we're doing."
"Oh, right," Mason said, nodding. Then he paused. "Why?"
Olivia sighed. It was so difficult being the wise child. "Because we don't want Karen to know we're getting her anything! We want to surprise her! And we don't want anyone to know you've been spying on them. If we're figured out, we won't be able to do it anymore, and I've got a feeling that's the only way we're going to figure out what Karen wants."
After Rosario announced over the intercom that lunch was ready, Karen was the first to reach the dining area.
"Afternoon, Rosiola," Karen greeted. Before Rosario could return the greeting, Karen continued, "Hey, listen. I'm in a bit of pickle. I don't know what to get Mason for Christmas."
Rosario paused. First Mason and Olivia wanted to get Karen a gift; now Karen wanted to get Mason a gift? This was not the typical New York society family, that's for sure. "You know there's two, Miss Karen. Mason and Olivia."
Karen laughed. "Oh, Rosie, you're a prize. I mean, sure, you're a prize from one of the twenty-five cent vending machines in a sleazy bar, but a prize nonetheless!"
"The only reason they're sleazy bars is because you're there, you drunken hussy. Otherwise they'd just be regular bars," Rosario returned. Ok, so it wasn't her best; Karen had really thrown her off with her request for Christmas present suggestions.
Karen smiled. "That was a little weak, Rosie. Anyhow, of course I know there are two! I've already ordered Olivia's present. I don't know what to get Mason."
"You remembered their names and you want to get them presents?" Rosario said incredulously. "Did you take two bottles of pills this morning instead of your usual one?"
Karen sighed. "Ro-Ro, I'm cutting it short on time. Would you just tell me what he'd like for Christmas?"
"I'm not sure what to tell you, Miss Karen," Rosario responded.
"The kids already have everything," Karen said. "There isn't a new game that isn't coming out for a couple of months that I could get him, is there?"
Rosario shook her head. "I don't think so, Miss Karen."
"Well, I don't know what to do," Karen said, flopping into a chair.
Rosario was spared from further interrogation by Mason and Olivia entering the room. As she placed the lunch plates in front of each of them, she sadly ruminated that what each of them truly needed this year was something they couldn't receive.
"Mason, I have an idea," Olivia declared, entering Mason's bedroom. Mason set the game controller aside and looked at his big sister.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Well, the tree isn't here yet," Olivia said. "It probably won't be here for a while, so that'll give us time to go visit Grace and Will. We could ask them what Karen would want."
"How are we supposed to get there? I don't have enough money to pay for a taxi."
Olivia looked at her brother. "We're the Walker children. We're going to take the limo!"
"Do you think Driver would let us leave without telling Karen where we're going?" Mason asked.
"You think too much," Olivia decided.
"That's funny. You tell me I'm a moron all the other times," Mason told her.
"You're an over-thinking moron," Olivia clarified. "That's the worst kind."
"Shut up, Liv," Mason said. "Come on, let's go to Will and Grace's before the tree gets here and everybody realizes what we're doing."
Mason and Olivia crept down the hall, hurried down the stairs, and snuck out of the foyer before anybody noticed. They took the elevator down to the lobby and greeted Driver, asking that he take them to Will and Grace's apartment. He gave them a strange look before agreeing, opening the back door and letting them in.
Due to holiday traffic, they didn't arrive at Will and Grace's for another half hour. Olivia asked Driver to wait, as they would only be a few minutes, while Mason rang the security buzzer.
"Who is it?" Will's voice asked confusedly.
"It's Mason and Olivia," Mason replied. "Walker," he added.
"Oh! Well…come on up, then!" Will said. The doorman opened the door and nodded as the children entered the lobby. They rode the elevator up to the ninth floor and walked to Will's apartment. The door was already open and they stepped inside.
"Hi, Will, hi, Grace," Olivia greeted, waving at each in turn.
"Mason! Olivia! What…what are you doing here?" Grace asked, obviously thinking she was effectively masking her surprise.
Olivia smiled. "We were wondering if you could help us. We don't know what to get Karen for Christmas."
Will and Grace stared at the children, mouths open.
"You…you want to get Karen something for Christmas?" Will asked.
Olivia sighed. She was getting a little sick of everybody being so shocked. "Yes! Karen's our stepmother and we care about her and we want to get her something nice for Christmas!"
"Well, of course you do!" Grace said, sensing the child's impatient distress. She sat on the couch and motioned for Olivia and Mason to do the same. "Well, do you have any idea of what Karen would like?"
Mason shook his head. "She has everything."
"True," Grace granted. "But I'm sure there's a nice sweater at Barney's she'd like."
"That's what someone who doesn't know her very well would get her," Olivia said. "That's the kind of gift you give someone when you don't really want to get them anything but you know you have to. So you buy them a sweater."
"Of course," Will said with a strained smile. He grabbed Grace's gift from under their tiny Christmas tree and chucked it into his bedroom. "You're completely right."
Meanwhile, Grace bit her lip, reminding herself to get something else for Will. "Yeah, you're better off not getting Karen clothes for Christmas. Have you considered jewelry?"
"She only likes the jewelry my dad buys for her," Olivia pointed out.
The thought of Stan lit a light bulb in Grace's head. "You know, I think the only thing Karen wants is-"
Will knew where she was going with this; as Mason and Olivia looked interestedly at Grace, Will shook his head vigorously and signaled for her to not say anything else. The kids didn't need to be reminded of their father's absence.
"-to be with you kids on Christmas," Grace finished lamely.
Mason and Olivia deflated.
"You know, Christmas can be a very materialistic time of year," Will continued with Grace's stream of thought. "The real things that matter are often overlooked. Christmas is about love and family and togetherness. I'm sure Karen would be happy to just spend some time with you."
Grace looked at Will with tear-filled eyes. "That was beautiful."
Olivia shook her head. "That's true, Will, but a good present can also show someone how much they mean to you. We want to do that for Karen."
Will nodded. "I understand, Olivia, and I'm sorry we can't think of anything. I wish we could help."
"Well, what did you guys get for her?" Olivia asked.
"A bottle of-" Will cut himself off. "Ah, perfume. A bottle of perfume."
Olivia looked at him knowingly. "Well, I don't think Mason and I could pick out the right bottle of perfume for Karen."
Will smiled.
"Perfume? Will, I thought you got Karen some-" Grace began. Will gestured wildly at Mason and Olivia. "Oh. Perfume. Right. Karen loves that perfume."
Olivia sighed dejectedly. She didn't think they'd ever discover what Karen really wanted this year. She had a feeling that Grace knew and had been about to tell her, just as Rosario had.
"Well, thanks," Olivia said, standing up. "We'd better get back home. Our Christmas tree should be arriving soon."
"Christmas tree?" Grace echoed. "Karen Walker purchased a Christmas tree?"
Mason nodded with a smile.
"Maybe Scrooge was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past last night," Will suggested.
"Maybe," Grace agreed. They walked Olivia and Mason to the elevator, giving each a hug before they departed.