Chapter 427.

"A day before the big party"

(December 23. Royal Woods Mall.)

The whole place is now done, as shoppers are all done with their last minute shopping for something's they have missed or some things that are finally been on sale and are now affordable.

All the businesses there are closing up and ready for the incoming Holiday that is soon to come.

At Reiningers, Fiona and Miguel finish cleaning the stuff that are no longer needed and also put away some of the beauty items back in their boxes.

Leni clears out the register and places the cash in the lockbox and then she leaves her post and goes to Mrs. Carmichael. "Here you go ma'am, all the cash is in there, though it doesn't seem much since not much folks came here."

"That's alright Leni, we kinda knew not much would come." Mrs. Carmichael then looks around. "We might not have sold much, but at least it was a good start to the end of this year's December and Christmas Sales. I'm proud of all of you."

"We did the best we could and we're so glad it's done. Probably the one thing we all look forward to, is the New Year's sale" said Fiona.

"We better be ready to come back here on the 27th to get all the new stuff loaded and ready" said Miguel.

"Which is why I'll be back here early to wait for the truck carrying the new merchandise" replied Mrs. Carmichael, but I could use some help though."

"I can do it, I'll help out" said Leni. "Also, I might not have anything to do at that point on Sunday. So, what time should I be here on that day?"

"Around 5 in the morning, but chances the truck will be there 30 minutes after 5, so best early to be safe" replied Mrs. Carmichael. "Oh, Leni you have been employee of the month so many times, and again this month too. We know this is the last December sale we'll have with you."

Leni smiles and she knows. "Yeah, I'm a senior and I will make the big leap way from school, and onto what I'm looking for. My life in college, whichever college I pick."

"And even though we won't be close to each other, we can always call or you can sometimes come and visit" said Fiona.

"Even with you not here, we can handle this place" said Miguel. "You started the motivation for the both of us, and heck we're glad you were part of Reiningers, even though it was just two years' of working here, but it was the best we all had."

"And maybe one day, if you do come by from college, you can help out and when the time comes. I might pass on this business to you, you might not have been mu kid, but you sure know how to run a business in both being serious and creative" replied Mrs. Carmichael. "Now come on, let's pack up."

Leni is shocked at what he boss said. 'Me running this place, after she hands it down to me?' This was something she has to think about.

Meanwhile two preteens walk by the store and have bags with what they need. "So, you looking forward to your first ever family Christmas party this year?" asked Allison.

"Y-Yeah, I am" replied Delilah nervously. But Allison can tell there is something else more.

"Delilah, what's bothering you? Does it have something to do with what happened with Sasha?"

Delilah sighs. "No, not that. It's just, this is something we have never done before. Back home, it would just be me and my mom and dad, but today we're gonna do it with another family, for the first time."

Allison is confused. "But, what about the neighbors who knew you back home? Surely they also celebrated Thanksgiving with you guys."

"They did, but when Christmas comes, they take their business with family someplace else and as for me and my mom and dad, we're like the only ones in the neighborhood and now that we're here in Royal Woods, we're gonna be part of something we have never done in a long, long time" replied Delilah.

Both girls walk out of the mall, and head to their bikes. "A long time? When was the last time you had a….? Oh, never mind, I think I get the idea."

Delilah sighs. "Yup, long ago when the grandparents were still kicking it, and that time we had to celebrate with the whole family and it was not a pretty sight, especially when Leslie was involved as well. God, I hated those times when she would act like a little bitchy kid and want what she saw and begged to open gifts early."

"Easy on those words Delilah, someone might hear you" replied Allison.

"Sorry, I just don't like doing that kind of thing again, but I know that things are changing and now I'm…. We're gonna be part of a big family Christmas party, and this company is not so bad, and not so wrong too."

"So, nervous?" asked Allison.

Delilah smirks. "Was, well sorta. But, I think I can manage and after the whole Christmas party, I'm gonna spend a lot of time with my dad, before he has to leave on January 2."

Allison smiles. "Yeah, I know he has to go back to fight the good fight, but the best thing to know, is that he's fighting for his family too, and spending time with him is the best way to do so before he takes off. But, when will he come back though?"

Delilah thinks. "No clue, but I hope he does come back to town before I graduate middle school. I wanna see him there when I take the moment of my step away from Middle School, and another step to High School."

"Surely he will" replied Allison. They both continue to ride off to their houses.

"Now, enough about me. What about you and Laurence? Ready to have another Christmas together?" asked Delilah. The two teen girls ride off and talk about what comes for them tomorrow.

(Ketcham Park.)

Allison and Delilah ride right past the park and at the park there aren't much people. But only a few and that few are; Jordan, Ryan, Gretchen, Hope, Luna and wheeling him around, Lincoln. The kid is still on casts and won't be back on his feet anytime soon.

All eagles are positioned in the park and keeping a keen eye on anyone coming to attack them, along with Hope's Rockruff and Gretchen's Yamper. They are not having a repeat from what happened on Monday.

"So, tomorrow we meet at my place for one big Christmas party and it is gonna be wicked awesome" said Jordan. "You guys stoked for that?"

"Darn right we are little dude" replied Luna.

"You know I'm game for that one, we had it at our place last year and now we're gonna have it at yours" replied Lincoln, he and Jordan then share a small kiss.

"My first ever Christmas party, and with the family I'm part of. This is gonna be so awesome" said Ryan. "We never really had that kinda stuff back when Carly and Jeff were my parents."

Jordan knows what he means. "Let me guess, has something to do with SUSPENSE?"

Ryan nods. "Yeah, those guys. I have to help establish some diabolical scheme to replace all the fruit cakes with, peaches in them. Still don't know how we try to do it, but when we do the machine blows up. Almost like Saint Nick is stopping us."

"Wow. Talk about an evil Christmas blunder" said Luan. "Well, be glad you're not part of that gig anymore dude."

"Yeah, thanks goodness I'm done with them." Ryan then looks to Gretchen and Hope. "What about you girls? Looking forward to tomorrow?"

Gretchen smiles. "Are you kidding? After the Thanksgiving we had together, I am stoked to come and be part of this one! My mom and dad already have something to contribute to the whole party too."

"The more the merrier" said Lincoln. He then looks to Hope. "You okay there Pertland?"

Hope sighs. "Sorry, it's just… For the first time in a year, they're coming. My mom and dad are coming. Jacob and Daisy Pertland, are coming for a Christmas family party. This is….. Wow!"

Luna then asks. "Hold the phone there, they didn't celebrate with you last year? How come?"

Hope sighs. "Leslie is the reason why. She said that we can't bother our parents and to let them do their work and so we speak with them through video chat while we party and enjoy each other's company. Which is something I wasn't too happy about, and all we do is talk and talk about boring gossip that makes little to know sense to me."

Gretchen sighs. "She's not wrong, we never did have much with big family celebrations, but now this year is different. Our parents are coming, to celebrate with all of us. This is so exciting!"

Hope smiles. "I just….. I don't even know what to say when they do come and see me."

Jordan then places a hand onto her shoulder. "Don't panic and don't be nervous, I'm sure you're mom and dad are also going to be nervous about doing this too. They also have the same feeling of what would happen if you see them, trust me, I can tell."

Hope sighs. "I hope you're right. But, I have to chin up and look forward to tomorrow. I'm not gonna be part of the same old Christmas party with the rich girls, and I have Gretchen to be with me as well, and the rest of the family that I can call, friends."

Ryan then realizes. "Quick question, has Hope ever hung out with any of the other Loud sisters? She did chill with Luna here and Sam as well, a moment with Leni, but what about the other louds?"

Gretchen is shocked about this. "Oh jeez. I forgot that Hope hasn't gained the trust from the other loud sister's. I did and they seemed okay with me."

Hope is wide eyed. But then she smiles. "It may sound like an issue, but it's not a concern to me." They all look to her confused. "Guys, it may seem like a complicated thing for me to gain the trust of the loud sisters when I got the trust of two others. But I think I can manage, I can try and show them that I can be trusted and that my path from rich and mean is gone and never, ever coming back, ever!"

They all smile hearing this. Hope has a spark of courage, a courage she has never had or has kept hidden when she joined Leslie and the rich girls, now she has it and she's looking forward to not just the Christmas party, but also to more adventures to come with her new friends and her family.

As they all continue to walk down the snowy path of the park, Gretchen spots two very familiar folks. "Hey look."

The two folks: Jillian Henvers and in her arms is her 6 month old baby, Lucas and both are in winter clothing and enjoying the company of their companion Trubbish and some small Pokémon as well.

"Still nice to see them here, and enjoying this month" said Ryan.

Hope then seems upset about something. 'I was nearly part of taking away her baby when I was with Leslie, but I've changed and I haven't even apologized for nearly being part of it.'

Lincoln then realizes something. 'Jillian and Lucas don't have any other family, I think I need to talk with my parents about something we should do, to make their family Christmas party one they'll never ever forget.'

(Rosato Mansion.)

With the day they have in the park done, Ryan escorts Gretchen to her mansion, and Jordan makes it back home and she opens the door. "I'm home." She then sees Ajax run towards her and is happy. "Easy there buddy, mommy's here now." she then looks around. "Wow! Now this is looking quite festive."

Jordan sees the doorway has been decorated nicely and has Christmas lights connected to sparkle and glow to make it look festive.

There's tinsel and Christmas ornaments and other décor all around the house walls and the stairway. It was almost as wicked as the Loud House, okay much cooler and merrier and a lot of decorations all over the place.

The fireplace is decorated, the dining room looks ready for something early, even though it should wait for tomorrow. She even sees the portraits on the walls have been replaced with pictures of the Rosato family in Christmas clothing and some other portraits of others, such as the louds and all their friends around town.

She then sees it, the Rosato Christmas tree and still in good condition. Having red rose decorations and lovely angels hanging from the branches and at the top of the tree is an ornament of Santa Clause holding a star, the same ornament she has been fascinated for the past 3 years when she first saw it.

'As pretty as the day I first saw it.'

Then her mom and dad arrive. Rick and Jesse Rosato.

"Hey there sweetie, so how does it all look?" asked Jesse.

Jordan smiles. "This is so awesome! I love it, kinda like what we did years ago! This is so incredibly awesome!" The parents smile hearing this and seeing their daughter happy.

"We did the best we could, and we also decorated the hallways and the rooms to look festive and as requested, the game room has some Christmas theme into the game characters statues" replied Rick.

"We also got some help from the Probe and Sentry security, also where is your brother?" asked Jesse.

"He said he was gonna go and help the Warwick's with some decorations they need help with, even though they got some butlers and maids, they wanna help out too" said Jordan.

Rick and Jesse nod. "Then what are we waiting for?" said Rick. They grab their winter coats. "Let's go and help our neighbors."

Jordan smiles and she grabs her coat, they all walk out of the mansion with Ajax and go over to the Warwick Mansion next door to help them with their decorations.

But while this is happening, a limo sees them and it lower its window.

Leslie sighs, she looks to her friends who are all worried for her. "Driver, take us home, now."

The limo drives off. Chastity then speaks. "Leslie, what about…?"

"No!" snapped Leslie. "We're not gonna do it, it's not worth ruining their home's decorations and certainly makes us look even worse to the fact everyone in town hates us. Let's leave them be and….. Enjoy the Christmas party we're gonna have."

They all nod and decide to remain silent as the limo drives off to the mansions of the rich girls. Leslie sighs and looks out the window. 'I might not be planning on doing anything for the next two days, but when the merry days are over, then its game on Rosato! Lincoln will be mine.'

But one thing is on her mind. 'Sure wish our parents were home for this holiday.'

To be continued…..

A/N: We're almost there guys, we're almost there. Wait for tomorrow for that chapter to come, where we get to see the parents of Hope Pertland, and have more families be part of this "Holly-Jolly Christmas" and no my friends, there will be no trouble, but a cameo at the end perhaps, from "Spells and Louds." Leave a review and tell me what you all think.

Date made: 12/5/20.