Chapter 3

"What do you mean its Christmas Eve!" Aaron squealed. She had just woken up a few minutes ago when her best friend decided that she 'forgot' it was Christmas Eve. "Theta!"

A slumped figure entered the room, "What! I was actually getting sleep!"

"Ugh, don't care. Get dressed!"

"Why?"

"Because it's a day before Christmas and you still need to get Rose her present."

"But I don't wanna!" Theta whined in his best ten year old voice.

"Theta..."

"I'm going I'm going!" He said and went back to his room. Aaron sighed and rolled to her room.

"If he gets out before me, tell him to get my truck from the garage!" Aaron yelled from her bedroom.

"Sure thing!"

Aaron shook her head. How could Rachel be so active at this time of morning. She was woken up at seven to, much a surprise, breakfast in bed, courtesy of Jack, minus him.

"Hey Rach?"

"Yea?"

"Have you seen Jack?"

"Nope, haven't seen him!" Aaron smiled. It was just like him to go wonder off. When she finally managed to get to garage, Theta was already waiting for her.

"Took you long enough."

"I'm sorry. Mr. I-Have-No-Patience-For-The-Crippled." Theta opened his mouth, but quickly shut it with a snap, and hopped into the truck. 'Hah! I win.'

"Where are we going?"

"To a jewelers across town, he's been holding something for me."


Jack leaned over the counter in his kitchen, balancing precariously on the barstool. Sometime while Aaron and Theta were gone, he came back, with a neatly wrapped gift, and set it in the corner with the rest of the piled presents. He was watching Aaron pull a cookie sheet out of the oven giving him an excellent view of her rather nicely shaped behind. He rubbed his hand over his face trying to sway those thoughts aside.

Aaron laid the cookie sheet on the counter top and began putting the cookies on the cooling rack. She turned towards the refrigerator and pulled the bowls of colored icing out.

"Can I lick the bowl?" Jack asked.

She glanced up smiling and shook her head. "I had to promise that to Rose she could."

"Hey I have sugar cravings too!" Jack defended himself as he reached his hand towards the closest bowl, swiping a dollop of icing on his finger earning him a glare from her.

"But you did want to keep your hand right?" Aaron moved the bowl further from his hand.

Jack winced and managed to swipe more icing before she took the bowl out of his reach. "Ahh good point."

Aaron began filling the icing dispenser and put some cookies on a plate. "I will let you decorate the cookies though. And if you're good at it, I may let you have what's left in the dispenser."

"Sweet!" Jack grabbed the icing tube from her and the plate of cookies. He ducked his head as he went to work. He looked up briefly to grab the candy sprinkles when he saw her watching him intently. She had a look on her face he hadn't seen in so long he wasn't sure he'd ever seen it before. "What?"

"Nothing. I'm gonna go see how the girls are coming with the popcorn and cranberry garland. I'm hoping they didn't eat more than they strung." She walked to the doorway and turned at his voice.

"What if I mess up with the icing?" Is that all I can come up with? Geez Jack!

"Then you can eat it." At the sudden gleam in his eyes accompanied by the grin that melted her insides, she went on. "That doesn't mean you can 'mess up' on every one."

His chuckle followed her out of the room, leaving him alone with lots and lots of icing. He smiled wickedly. Nah, I won't do that to her. He went back to icing the Snowman and candy cane shaped cookies.

He finally achieved one perfect cookie when he heard Aaron's voice behind him. "Well the girls managed to use at least half of what they started with on the garland. Unfortunately the other half 'mysteriously' disappeared. Rose's words, not mine."


Everyone sat around living room basking in the warmth that the fireplace offered, listening to the soft sounds of Christmas music emanating from the stereo.

Theta and Rose were ensconced together under a throw blanket on the sofa cuddling. Jack was sitting on the love couch, almost asleep, and Rachel was sitting on the second couch. Aaron had managed to make a bed and was now fast asleep in front of the fire.

Rose yawned and stretched, and got up. "I'm going to go to bed, I'm tired and so is the tot."

"Me too." Theta said and got up too. They all mumbled a good night and the couple headed off to bed. The rest fell asleep soon afterwards.


what did Jack get?
what was the present the jewler was holding for Aaron?
what will happen next?

what do you think? like it, love it, hate it? please review!