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"What's up?"
Nat looked up at the sound of Will's voice. The two of them were strolling along the beach Thursday evening, with Godzilla bounding around in front of them.
"What do you mean?" she asked, running a hand through her hair.
"What I mean is what's going on? You've been kind of…well, quiet. All week," Will added, almost as an afterthought.
"Have I?"
Will nodded. "So do you want to talk about it? Or should I just stop acting so paranoid?"
Nat smiled. "You're not acting paranoid. I guess I have been acting a little off." She paused. "I kinda get that way around this time of year."
"Oh." Will understood immediately. "You're missing your family, aren't you? With Christmas coming up and all that."
"Yeah. It's almost impossible to get enough time off work so I can make the trip worthwhile. These past years I've had to make do with going after New Years. But it's just not the same," she sighed. "It wasn't too bad when I was with Kyle- his family was fantastic. But after we split, it got really hard."
"Well, it's going to be different this year." Will smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Really? And how is that?" Nat returned the smile.
"Ok, well first of all you are going to get to go to your first Christmas Eve."
Nat laughed. "Will, I've been experiencing Christmas Eve's for my entire life."
"But you have never experienced Christmas Eve with my friends," Will replied, his voice mysterious.
"You do realize that that has a somewhat ominous sound to it."
Will paused for a second. "Hmm, maybe it did. How about this then? But you've never experienced Christmas Eve with my friends!" he exclaimed with an exaggerated grin on his face.
"Ok, now that is just creepy." Nat said. "But I think I get the gist of the idea. Christmas Eve- great night."
"You got it," Will replied. "And, as for Christmas Day, I know that Amy would love to have you there. That is, if you think that you're up to facing the entire Tippin clan."
"You would want me there with your family on Christmas?"
"Of course I would." Will pressed his lips onto her temple. "Godzilla is welcome to come as well."
"Oh, I think I should leave Godzilla at home," Nat smiled. "But I would love to come."
"Great," Will's face broke into a grin. "Oh, and just a little advice for Saturday night."
"What?"
"If Eric starts going on about initiation processes, ignore him. It's not very often that there's a new addition to Christmas Eve and he likes it when he has a fresh victim."
Nat laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
On the morning of Christmas Eve, Sydney woke up to the sound of loud thumps coming from outside. Hoisting herself out of bed and changing into a pair of trackies and a t-shirt of Vaughn's, she made her way out to the front. There she found Marshall standing outside his house, with what looked to be a large set of blueprints and Vaughn up on a ladder.
"What are you doing?" she asked, walking over.
"Christmas lights," Marshall explained. "Intricately planned for the maximum 'wow' factor. Unfortunately, I have a slight problem with heights…lingering issues from certain incidents on monkey bars…" Marshall shook his head. "So that is where Vaughn comes into the plan."
"Sydney smiled. "Ok, got it. But aren't' you leaving this a little late?"
Marshall waved a finger. "It's all part of my plan."
"Your plan?"
"His plan." Vaughn called out from the ladder.
Marshall nodded. "You see, Kellerman, that buffoon from down the street has been bragging about how his lights are the best on the street. And at this point they are. But tonight, when I reveal 'Marshall's Lighting Extravaganza', his lights are going to look like fading glow sticks."
"Ok then," Sydney said as a car pulled up in Marshall's driveway. Seconds later, a harried looking Carrie jumped out.
"Oh my god. I thought that Christmas was supposed to be the festive season, not the season that turned people into savages." She blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Note to self- avoid supermarket on Christmas Eve at all costs."
Sydney laughed. "Oh no. You didn't?"
"I did," Carrie replied, walking around to the boot. "Another note to self- never agree to host Christmas lunch at last minute again. or perhaps I should rephrase that," she said, looking pointedly at Marshall. "Never let my partner agree to hosting Christmas lunch at the last minute."
Marshall gave a somewhat sheepish grin. "What…it'll be fun. Plus, we can show off our lights."
"Your lights." Carrie said. "Your lights."
"Here," Sydney walked over to Vaughn and yanked a Santa hat on his head. "It looks perfect."
Vaughn rolled his eyes as Weiss cracked up from the couch. "Hey, would you look at that? It's Jolly Saint Mick!" he laughed even harder at his little joke, but suddenly cut off when Ainsley placed an identical hat on his head.
"There you go, Eric. Just like last Chrissy. All we need now is a Santa beard and Rudolph boxer shorts to complete the outfit."
Now it was Vaughn's turn to crack up. "No way," he managed to choke out.
"Yes way," Ainsley grinned as Weiss grabbed her by the arm and yanked her down onto the couch.
"Sweetie," he said in a sickly sweet voice. "Could you please refrain from sharing such moments?"
Ainsley laughed. "Eric, come on. As if you care."
Weiss managed to keep his face straight for a few seconds before breaking into a grin. "I suppose your right. How about we tell them about the—"
"STOP!" Sydney, Vaughn, Will, Francie and Craig all yelled in unison. The rest of the group- Amy, Troy, Carrie, Marshall and Nat all looked incredibly relieved that Weiss had been cut off.
"What?" Weiss asked with an amused expression.
"You were just about to go into over share," Vaughn replied, taking a mouthful of beer.
"How can it be over share when we are among close friends?" Weiss asked.
"When what you are about to say has the ability to imprint itself on the brain and torture you for the rest of your life." Craig said.
After seen Santa on the fire truck, the group began to filter away. Amy and Troy wanted to get home and get Dillon asleep, knowing that they would be up early the next morning. Francie left to go back to the restaurant, and then Carrie had a little difficulty in getting Marshall back home. He had stopped in the front yard and was quite content to simply observe his lighting display, which had succeeded in nearly blinding everyone when turned on.
Ainsley, Weiss, Will, Craig and Nat stayed back for more drinks and a couple of rounds of poker. However, after a few hours, they too had left.
After farewelling Weiss and Ainsley, the last to leave, at the door, Sydney and Vaughn made their way to bed, with Sydney, though reluctant to admit it, especially exhausted.
"Hey Syd." Vaughn said as they climbed beneath the covers.
"Hmm?"
"Do you realize that this time next year we'll be playing Santa for the first time?"
Sydney smiled. "I know," she said softly, placing her head on her pillow.
Vaughn chuckled. "I remember how Christmas Eve used to feel when you are a little kid. When you get older, it never quite feels the same."
"Here we go," Sydney laughed. "You're going to start reliving your childhood through our child."
Vaughn grinned. "Just think, how easy is a session of childhood regression going to be when we've got a kid of our own."
Sydney just rolled her eyes. "I'm going to sleep. Good night, Vaughn."
Sometime during the night, Vaughn was woken up by a kick from Sydney. Looking over at her, he saw that she was still fast asleep, yet fitfully tossing around.
"Sydney," he shook her shoulder gently. "Syd, wake up," he said, shaking her a little harder. "Syd."
Sydney's eyes flew open, her skin covered in a thin layer of sweat. She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly.
"Another dream?" Vaughn asked as he pushed some damp strands of hair off her forehead.
"Yup." Sydney replied, opening her eyes.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Sydney shook her head. "No, not really."
"Well," Vaughn pressed his lips onto her brow. "It's over now."
"No it's not." Sydney replied. "I'm going to keep on having them."
"They're just dreams, Syd. Just stupid, silly dreams that mean absolutely nothing."
"Tell me a joke," Sydney said suddenly.
Vaughn blinked. "What?"
"Cause I could use one."
Vaughn thought for a second. "Ok then. This grasshopper walks into a bar, and the bartender says 'Hey, we have a drink named after you!' And the grasshopper says—"
"You have a drink named Doug?" Sydney interrupted with a smile.
Vaughn grinned back. "Well, I was going to use Phil."
Sydney let out a laugh. "Well, Phil is certainly no funnier than Doug."
Vaughn shrugged. "No, I know. I'm sorry. It's a non- humorous; uh…" he trailed off as Sydney brought a hand up to the side of his face.
"Thank you."
Vaughn lowered his head, kissing her softly on the lips. "You're welcome," he said, settling back down under the covers. "Now, let's get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow."
A/N: Just a note to let you know that there is only ten more chapters to go...