Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Disclaimer/Setting/Summary: See chapter 1.

Chapter 10

Karen followed Stan up the stairs to the children's floor. Stan's shaking, loose grasp on her hand told Karen that he was more than a little nervous to see his children. Karen was admittedly anxious herself; she didn't know how the children would react.

As they reached the landing, Stan turned to Karen and said in hushed tones, "I don't know what to say."

Karen squeezed his hand and tucked her free hand into the crook of his arm. "Don't be nervous, honey. They'll be happy to see you."

"As happy as you were?" Stan said teasingly, cocking up his eyebrow.

Karen nudged him with her shoulder. "I was happy. After a few minutes."

"See? My point exactly."

She sighed. "Stan, I wasn't angry when I saw you. I was just surprised. I thought you were Santa Claus, you big lump."

Stan chuckled. The fact that Karen had, if momentarily, forgiven his absence gave him confidence that his children eventually would as well. Karen could be just like a child, more so than his own could be sometimes. It was just another thing that endeared his precious wife to him even more.

He felt a small push from Karen and knew that he couldn't put it off any longer. "Who should I greet first?"

"Hmm…" Karen thought for a moment. "They'll probably both be in Olivia's room."

Stan looked confused. "Really?"

Karen nodded. "They've gotten closer over these last few months. And they weren't very happy earlier."

Though Stan was happy that his children had become closer, he couldn't pretend he didn't know why. He looked down. "I'm so sorry, Karen."

"Me, too, honey," Karen replied softly. "But we'll talk later. Go see your children."

Stan nodded and walked down the hall to Olivia's room. The door was closed halfway but Stan knocked anyhow.

"Come in!" Olivia's voice called out half-heartedly.

Stan took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Silence greeted him. His children froze, Olivia atop her bed and Mason sitting at her desk chair. She still had her red dress on, though it was considerably wrinkled after an entire day in it. Mason, too, had his nice attire on, but his once-pressed white shirt was crumpled and his tie was loose around his neck. Karen couldn't help but smile; he looked just like Stan did after a long day at the office.

Olivia looked from Stan to Karen, apparently trying to discern what exactly was happening. Karen smiled encouragingly at Olivia and this was enough assurance for her.

"Daddy?" she asked, her voice soft nonetheless.

"Olivia, I missed you so much," Stan said, holding out his arms tentatively for a hug.

"Daddy!" Olivia exclaimed, hauling herself off of the bed and into Stan's outstretched arms.

Karen saw Stan's eyes mist over as he tightly embraced his daughter. Olivia pulled away from the hug, carefully touching Stan's face as though to assure herself that he was, in fact, there.

"Merry Christmas, Livvy," Stan said, reverently patting Olivia's vibrant curls. He looked up at Mason, who had risen from the chair. He walked slowly over to his father, so slowly that Karen almost made a rather insulting remark. She decided, however, that this was not the time and allowed Mason to make his one-centimeter-per-minute trek over to his father.

When Mason finally reached Stan, he stood there uncertainly. The sometimes shy boy managed a, "Merry Christmas, dad," but not much else.

"Oh, for God's sake, just hug him, already!" Karen exclaimed impatiently. Both father and son weren't sure who she was talking to but heeded her advice anyhow.

"I like your tie," Stan commented. "I have one just like it."

Mason's face lit up. "Thanks, dad."

"Dad, do you like my dress?" Olivia asked, swishing the skirt around for show. "Do you? I like it."

Stan smiled. "You look gorgeous, Olivia."

"Dad, how are you home? I thought you had to…to stay, and that you were in…trouble," Olivia said haltingly. The exact details were still confusing to her.

"Well, Will pulled some strings and I was allowed to leave," Stan said, summarizing the story a great deal. In truth, the proceedings had been taking place for quite some time now and Stan hadn't always been sure he'd be home by Christmas. Will had really come through for him in the end. "And I'm sorry Steve upset you all earlier. We'd had to think of something so I could surprise you."

"So why didn't you have Steve let us know beforehand?" Karen asked.

"Well, I…ah…" Stan cleared his throat. "I hadn't figured on you all visiting me today." He looked meaningfully at Karen and she couldn't help but look away. It was Christmas, and her husband had actually thought she wasn't going to come visit him?

"Well, anyway," Stan said, clapping his hands together, "let's go downstairs, shall we? I think dinner's ready."

"And we still have to give you your presents!" Olivia reminded him. She bounded out of the room, excitedly hyper. Mason followed her more calmly and quietly.

Stan turned to Karen. "Ready?" he asked.

Karen nodded. "Stanley, I…did you really think we weren't going to come visit you today?"

"I figured the kids would get here, one way or another. Olivia would have planned the entire thing, of course," Stan said with a proud smile. "I wasn't entirely sure if you were going to come, though."

Karen blinked and twisted her wedding ring around her finger. "I guess I didn't come visit you all that often."

Stan shook his head. "No, you didn't. But Karen," he stepped forward, running his hand down her arm, "I understand why. It wasn't easy for you-"

"It wasn't just that, Stanley," Karen interrupted.

"-and you were mad at me," Stan finished.

Karen paused, her jaw dropped. Then she closed it abruptly, aware of how silly she'd looked, but she still didn't know what to say.

"Yes, Mrs. Walker, believe it or not, I know you better than you think," Stan said with an amused smile. "I know you were angry that I hadn't let you in on the situation so you could have helped in some way. And knowing you, sweetheart, you were probably angry that I'd gotten caught when all of our 'friends' have done the same things I did."

Almost unconsciously, a smile found its way to her lips. He knew her so well. But Karen quickly wiped the grin off of her face and playfully retorted, "You don't know me."

Quickly and deftly, Stanley grabbed Karen and pulled her against him. The shock startled her and her mouth dropped open again; Stan took advantage of this by kissing her roughly. He felt Karen's breath start to speed up and he pulled away just as her fervor equaled his. "Don't I?"

Stan dropped his arms from her sides and walked out of Olivia's room. He'd barely taken two steps into the hallway, however, when Karen threw herself against him and subsequently pushed him against the wall.

"Why, Mrs. Walker, we have guests," Stan said as Karen made to kiss him.

"Shut up, Stanley," Karen replied teasingly. Stan obliged and allowed her to kiss him.

Olivia tapped her foot impatiently. Where were Karen and her dad? It had been nearly half an hour. "I swear they were right behind us when we left. I want dad to open his presents!"

Grace placed a hand on her stomach. "I want dinner."

"Me too," Mason agreed.

"I'm bored!" Jack exclaimed, stomping his foot and crossing his arms adamantly.

"Go try on your leather pants," Will suggested.

"Ooh, good idea. Then I can show them to you all!" Jack exclaimed, clapping his hands.

"I said try on, Jack, not model," Will replied. Jack, ignoring Will as usual, exited the room clutching his pants. Will glanced at his watch. "Really, where are Karen and Stan? I don't want to miss the Charlie Brown Christmas Special."

Olivia looked questioningly as the ceiling. "What's that?"

"Sounds like a song," Grace remarked. The rest group looked at the ceiling as well and listened to the muffled music.

Tell me something good

Tell me that you love me

Tell me something good

Tell me that you like it

Grace's eyes widened as she recalled a conversation she'd had with Karen a while ago. She couldn't believe Karen and Stan would do that when they were all down here, waiting for them! Then again, Grace surmised, Karen had always been a little…zealous, and she hadn't been with Stan in months.

Grace shared a significant look with Will, whose eyes widened in comprehension and he nodded.

"You know, I think Karen's probably showing your dad the lovely present you got her," Will covered swiftly.

Grace nodded emphatically. "Good! I mean, right, yeah. Presents. Good…present."

Will looked at her strangely. "Can you ever be cool?" he asked her under his breath.

Grace thought for a moment and shook her head.

"So who's listening to music that loudly?" Mason asked.

"Uh…Rosario," Will said. Just then, Rosario herself pushed open the door leading from the kitchen. Will crossed the room in about two steps and pushed Rosario back into the kitchen, hurriedly closing the door. A resounding crash echoed on the other side; Will coughed to cover it up and he walked back to the couch, sitting next to Grace.

Still, Olivia looked perplexed. Then the proverbial light bulb switched on. "Oh!" she exclaimed, drawing out the word.

Mason looked at his sister. "What?"

"Nothing!" Olivia said. She snuck a look at Grace and smiled, who winked at the young girl. Then, further contemplating the situation, her smile turned into a grimace and she shook her head, trying to clear it of further thought.

"Catherine Zeta-Jones, I look good!" Jack entered the room with flourish, turning on his heels to show the room his new pants.

Grace whistled and cat-called from where she sat perched on the couch. "I love them, Jack!" She leaned closer to Will and muttered out of the corner of her mouth, "I can see his Christmas balls."

Will laughed. "They look great. Why don't you go look in the mirror some more?"

"Excellent idea," Jack said. He exited the room.

Olivia giggled. "Did you really like them?"

"For Jack, they are very…fitting," Will said, choosing his words carefully, not realizing the double entendre until Olivia, Mason, and Grace burst into laughter. Will joined in seconds later.

Jack, back in his regular jeans, entered the room and sat on the floor near the coffee table. The group's laughter seemed to swell when Jack entered the room; he began to laugh along with them.

Karen and Stan entered the room, jubilantly swinging their joined hands.

"What's up? What's so funny?" Karen wanted to know. They sat down on the empty loveseat, Stan slipping his hand to rest on the curve of Karen's waist.

Grace noticed Karen's mussed-up hair and smiled happily at her friend. "Nothing, Kare."

"Where were you guys?" Mason asked.

"I was…showing your father the gift you two gave me for Christmas," Karen said. This wasn't entirely a lie; when they had entered their bedroom, Stan had asked what it was.

"You were right, Will," Mason said.

Karen watched the group in front of her, not really paying attention. She felt Stan gently stroke his thumb along the length of her waist and felt shivers run up and down her spine. She looked at her husband, intending to tell him to stop. But then she looked into his eyes and smiled; did she really want him to? No.

This was what she wanted for Christmas.