Sunday, December 13th. 12 days 'till Christmas...

When Odette arrived in the lobby at noon, she was surprised to find Proteus already there. She was even more surprised to find out he drove a pickup truck; which would make getting their trees back to the apartment easier than strapping them to the roof of her car.

When they got to the tree lot, they were promptly greeted by one of the workers who gave them each a cup of hot chocolate. The two of them then started walking through trees.

"How was the gala last night?" Proteus asked.

Odette gently ran her fingers over the branches of one of the trees. "It was very nice. They raised a lot of money for the animal shelter."

"And how was your date?"

Odette laughed. "It was not a date. The whole night, all Derek did was go on about how great we looked together because we're both so good- looking."

Proteus laughed. "Ah, the struggles of beautiful people."

Odette swatted his arm. "Shut up." She laughed in spite of herself. "It was awful. Derek is so full of himself and he only likes me because of my looks. Which, I know sounds conceited; but, I promise I'm not."

"I know you're not. I wouldn't have agreed to this date if I thought you were."

Odette looked at him with raised eyebrows. "This isn't a date."

"Are you sure? Because every Hallmark movie says otherwise."

"You watch Hallmark Christmas movies?"

Proteus shrugged. "I used to spend Christmas with my grandma and she would watch them all the time. Even though I haven't spent Christmas with her since she moved to Florida a few years ago, I still use them as background ambience when I decorate my apartment. They may be predictable, but they're very Christmassy. Moreso than some other movies, anyway."

"I agree with that. I mean, just because a movie takes place at Christmastime, doesn't mean it's a Christmas movie. In order for it be a real Christmas movie, it has to be about Christmas or, at the very least, feel Christmassy," Odette said, checking out a tree. "And Hallmark Christmas movies are usually both."

Proteus' phone dinged and he pulled it out. After reading the text, he put it back in his pocket. "Looks like my sister is gonna be stopping by later today."

"Well, then, you should hurry up and pick out your tree so we can get you home."

"I haven't seen any that I like more than mine."

"You haven't been giving them a fair shot. You've barely looked at them."

A half an hour later, both Odette and Proteus had found trees they loved. A couple of workers loaded the trees into the bed of Proteus' truck while Odette and Proteus took the tags for their trees to the tent where the register was. Inside the tent, they found they were also selling wreaths and mistletoe. After paying for their trees and Odette also picking out a wreath, they got into Proteus' truck and headed back to the apartment.

They brought Odette's tree in first and got it set up in its stand, then went back and got Proteus' tree out of the truck. Odette helped Proteus set up his tree in his living room. They stepped back and admired it.

"You picked out a nice one,"Odette told him. "Thank you for coming with me. Usually I go by myself; going with someone else was a lot more fun."

"Well, thank you for inviting me. I had fun, too."

They smiled at each other for a moment before Odette blushed and lowered her eyes.

"I should go," she told him. "Your sister will be here soon."

"Will you stay and help me decorate it?" Proteus asked. "I'd like for it to be done before she gets here and I don't think I could do it by myself."

Odette didn't know why, but she found herself wanting so to spend more time with Proteus, so she agreed.

OOOOO

Meg was nervous as she stood outside Proteus' door. She was trying to work up the courage to knock, when the door opened. A blonde woman stood on the other side of the door. She looked just as surprised to see Meg as Meg was to see her.

"You must be Proteus' sister," the blonde said. "I'm Odette."

"Meg."

Odette nodded. "Well, I was just leaving. Have a good night." She slipped past Meg and headed down to the elevator.

Meg went into Proteus' apartment, closing the door behind her. She found her brother in the living room. He was holding a mug and looking up at his Christmas tree.

"You got a real tree?" Meg asked, taking off her coat. She draped it over the back of the couch and walked over to Proteus.

Proteus nodded. "What do you think?"

Meg took in the tall, full tree and the colored lights reflecting off of the sparkly silver garland. "It's beautiful. What made you get a real one instead of using your artificial one?"

Proteus looked down at her. "I'm hoping Christmas will be different this year and-"

"Proteus stop." Meg stepped away from him. "I think I should tell you why I'm here before you go any further."

Proteus motioned for her to have a seat on the couch and she sat down. He set his mug on the end table before sitting next to her. "What's going on, Meg?"

Meg wrung her hands together. "You're not going to like it."

Proteus sighed and leaned back. "You're not going to reconcile with Vanessa."

Meg shook her head. "I can't. And it's not fair for you to give up your Christmas because of this. So, I've decided I'm skipping Christmas this year."

Proteus glared at her. "What?"

"I figure this way you won't have to choose between Vanessa and me and you won't have to go back and forth. You and Vanessa can do all of our Christmas traditions together."

"This isn't what I want Meg. What I want is for the three of us to spend Christmas together."

"I can never forgive Vanessa for what happened."

"It wasn't her fault."

"Yes it was!" Meg snapped. Tears stung the back of her eyes and she blinked them back.

Proteus tilted his head back and ran his hands over his face. "So, your solution is to skip Christmas and not do any of our traditions together?"

"Yes."

"And you think that's better than just sucking it up and being civil with Vanessa for one day?"

"It's better than being around her, yes."

"So, that's it? You and I aren't doing anything together for Christmas?"

Meg nodded. "This way we both get a stress- free holiday."

"What about the Christmas concert at the church next Sunday?"

"I'm not going. But, you should take Vanessa this year."

Proteus sighed. "You're right: I don't like this."

"I'm sorry. I just think this is the best option for us."

"For you. It's the best option for you. You don't care about what I want or this family."

"That's not true."

"Of course it is. This grudge you've been holding on to is tearing the three of us apart and you don't care."

Meg started to argue with him, but remembered what Anya told her about not being combative. Meg took a deep breath to calm herself and exhaled. "You know I love you, Proteus. But, you gave me an ultimatum and this is my answer." She stood and picked up her coat.

"You don't have to leave, Meg."

"I think I should."