"Come sit at the table, guys." Nate stood at the bottom of the staircase, herding the rest of the team into the kitchen. Preferred beverages sat at each place setting, and there was a covered box in the middle of the table.
"What's going on?" Parker asked, chewing on a donut. She had been sprawled upside down on the couch, but had righted herself when Nate came downstairs. She looked around for something to wipe her sticky fingers on and eyed the back of the couch.
"Use a towel, Parker." Eliot tossed her one from where he was studying a new recipe in the kitchen.
"I have an announcement," Nate said. "Now get over here, all of you."
Hardison hit the pause button on a video he was watching. "Do you need the screens?"
"Nope. Just the table."
"Where's Sophie?"
"Still upstairs," Nate answered. "She'll be down in a moment. Eliot, can you grab the banana bread and yogurt from the fridge?"
Eliot took the loaf of homemade bread and tub of yogurt from the fridge and handed them to Nate. He sat at his place, designated by a bottle of water- the only one of its kind.
"You haven't started yet?" Sophie asked, descending the stairs in that graceful, goddess-like way she had. "Come on!"
"We were waiting for you," Parker said, her mouth full of cereal. Nate smiled to himself; a few months ago he had added her favorite cereals to his grocery list. She'd never said anything, but he knew she appreciated it. He'd tried sneaking in a few healthy options, but when they'd sat rotting in his refrigerator, he decided to leave that part of feeding Parker to Eliot.
"Okay, well let's get going," Sophie said, her eyes sparkling.
"You're probably wondering why I gathered you all here," Nate said, adopting his "I'm announcing something and you better listen" voice.
"Kind of, yeah." Hardison reached for the orange soda that had been thoughtfully put next to his place and took a swig. He made a face. "It's flat."
Nate ignored him and continued. "Since it's nearing Christmas-"
"Three weeks, four days," Parker interrupted.
"Thank you, Parker. As I was saying, it's Christmas soon, and I thought we could do something as a team to celebrate."
"If you pull out a Santa suit or a book of Christmas carols, I'm not coming back," Eliot grumbled.
"No, no, it's nothing like that," Sophie assured. She reached into the middle of the table and picked up the box. "In this box are slips of paper with everyone's name. We're all going to choose one, and get a gift for whoever you choose."
"So like a Secret Santa?" Hardison asked.
"Exactly," Nate said. "Is everyone on board?"
"Ooh, that sounds fun!" Parker squealed. "Can I choose first?"
Nate glanced at the rest of the team, not really expecting opposition. Finding none, he lifted the lid and held the box over her head. "Go ahead."
Parker shoved her hand into the box, making a show of mixing up the slips of paper before finally settling on one and pulling it out. She immediately covered it with her hands and peeked between her fingers. "Ooh!" she exclaimed.
"Who's next?" Nate asked.
Eliot, who was sitting next to Parker, held his hand out. Nate brought the box to within his reach, and Eliot reached in, grabbing the first paper that touched his fingers. He glanced at the slip, and tucked it in his pocket.
Nate finished up with Hardison and Sophie, and reached in for the last slip.
"Are there any rules?" Hardison asked. He took his spoon and dumped some strawberry yogurt on his banana bread, earning himself a disgusted look from Eliot.
"We can steal them, right?" Parker asked, suddenly looking suspicious.
Sophie looked at her, eyes still glimmering. "Of course you can. And Hardison, I would say please don't get anything that will kill us, or require a tremendous amount of upkeep."
"Nothing alive," Eliot added.
"What about a plant?"
"You can get a plant," Sophie said, and then clarified, "No animals."
"Nothing that's too big to wrap," Nate said. "So no cars, no buildings, no furniture."
Hardison had the audacity to look visibly disappointed, and Eliot took a moment to be thankful Nate had made that rule.
"Everyone good with that?"
Parker nodded and skipped out of the apartment. Guess she was doing her "shopping" right away. Eliot and Hardison followed soon after, muttering something about having "things to do," leaving only Sophie and Nate in the apartment.
"So, who'd you get?" Nate asked, letting the gravel in his voice escape just a bit.
Sophie pulled the slip of paper from her pocket and slid it over to him.
Nate picked it up and looked at her. "Any ideas?"
"Not a clue."
"Me either. I have Parker."
"Lifetime supply of cereal?" Sophie asked.
Nate chuckled. "It has to fit in the apartment, remember?"
Sophie laughed. "Right. Well, good luck." She kissed the top of his head, and sauntered out the door.
Nate leaned back in his chair and sighed lightly. This was going to be interesting.