(A/N So, this very randomly popped into my head. Blame Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations! Anyway, I apologize if it's a bit disjointed as the years go on, but I hope you enjoy it!)
On the morning of November first, Georgiana raced down the hall with William chasing after her. At eight years old she knew he could catch her if he really wanted to, but she taunted him anyway, grabbing the banister at the bottom of the stairs to make a U-turn towards the kitchen without slowing down. She knew he was right on her tail because there was not a single room in the house that you could not hear him thundering down the stairs.
Dashing to the kitchen counter she fumbled for her case and had it opened and her prize placed before he'd passed the threshold. Poised and ready she threw him a taunting smile and he held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Gigi…" It was said half as a warning and half as a plea.
She pressed play and laughed aloud as his head fell back and he groaned at the ceiling while "Walking Around the Christmas Tree" started playing. No Frank Sinatra or Elvis today! His CD sat neglected on the counter.
Mom came over and ruffled his hair. "Next week," she quipped before kissing his cheek.
"It's not even Thanksgiving yet!" he pointed out.
"You never complain about that when you win!" Gigi argued.
"Kids, if you can't play nice I will pick the music."
They shared a look and agreed that Dad should never have that privilege. They would be stuck with kids' songs all month. Not even stylishly done kids' songs. No! He would find the most childish playlist available and have it on repeat until Thanksgiving.
Will grumbled a bit more, but got his breakfast with no more complaints, while Gigi sang along with every song-loudly. Mom laughed at their antics and reminded William that, "Everyone knows Christmas starts in November."
.
Christmas Eve was the best day of the year. They made cookies all morning, ate lunch with the Williams, spent the afternoon at Pemberley distributing cookies to all the 'essential workers,' and traded books in the evening.
Gigi still didn't know what essential workers were; Dad said they had to keep the place from burning down, but she knew he was exaggerating. Her nine years had taught her a lot, but she still didn't understand why someone had to be in the building at all times. What was a time zone?
In any case, the employees were always super nice.
But she would be practically vibrating with excitement for the "Christmas Book Flood." Mom had told her the actual name of the tradition, as it was from...another country-not England, but she could not remember the odd word. It was still her favorite time though.
All four of them sat by the fire and devoured their own books and hot cocoa. It was so peaceful and contenting. They were together, but they didn't need words or extra activity. It simply provided a sense of being whole.
She was usually the first, or sometimes second, asleep.
.
They did not shop on Black Friday. It was not allowed. Black Friday was set aside for Christmas decorating, and that was sacred.
This year, Gigi got to put the angel on the tree because she was finally ten years old! She almost squealed every time she thought of it. In fact, she did squeal-more than once.
Fitz kept teasing her about how old she was, while William would comment about how she was likely to fall and knock down the whole tree. "I hope the bell doesn't break. That's my favorite ornament." She scowled and stuck out her tongue. Even George teased her some, but at least he wasn't teaming up on her.
.
"Wi-William?" They hadn't done anything for Halloween, and she was surprised to hear the attic floor creaking to wake her up in the middle of the night.
"Gigi! You're supposed to be sleeping."
"I was, and then some creep in the attic woke me up." He chuckled softly.
"Why don't you head back down. I'll make you some tea if you're still awake when I come down."
"What's wrong?"
"What?"
"Your voice sounds...off."
"Gigi," he sighed.
"What's wrong?" she pressed. He didn't tell her anything. Ever. Their parents had died and he was only nineteen, but he refused to share any burden. Just like now. He was shifting back and forth but wouldn't answer her. "I'm eleven. I know I'm still a kid, I get that, but you have to let me in eventually."
"I can't find them?" he said in a strangled voice. "I can't find them. They're not here. I don't know where else they would be. But I need to find them." Every sentence was said in more of a rush than the last and it took her a moment to understand all the words. Now she needed to decipher the meaning.
"Can't find what, William?"
He sobbed in response. She ran up the last few steps and threw her arms around him. She didn't know what was wrong, but he'd held her so much in the past few months that she was almost grateful for his breakdown so that she could return the favor.
"They need to be here," he said hoarsely.
"I'll help you. Just tell me what we're looking for."
"The CDs."
She stilled. The CDs. The CDs that were always 'magically' on the counter when Gigi and William woke up on November first. The CDs that kicked off the start to Christmas. The CDs that they danced to while decorating for Thanksgiving and wrapping for Christmas.
The CDs that Mom always put out for them.
She began crying too, and all they could do was hold one another as the tears fell.
.
Thanksgiving was with the Williams. Usually they only visited the family, but this year...was different. It was all different. Fitz drove them home and spent the night.
In the morning the boys brought down all three boxes of Christmas decorations to the kitchen. They stared at them. Gigi opened one and found a bunch of garland. There were different lengths for the windows and railings, but she couldn't tell them apart. She searched the guys' faces, but they were just as lost.
She replaced what she'd gotten out and let the silent tears fall from her eyes as she filled the tea kettle with water.
The three sat forlornly watching the boxes as they drank their tea in deafening silence.
.
The smoke detector went off four times on Christmas Eve morning and Will informed Gigi that you were not to throw water on an oven fire and she watched as he used their extinguisher. The cookies were not salvageable.
The Williams tried really hard to lift the siblings' spirits. But every item of news and reminiscent anecdote left them thinking about their parents.
They got store bought cookies for the employees and received pitying looks in return.
Their books were forgotten on the coffee table as they held each other and cried themselves to sleep by the fire.
.
Georgiana walked down the hall in a bit of a stupor on November first. She was trying to figure out just how to avoid last year's...pain. Existing was hard enough, but add in two months that centered around everything that they used to do as a family…
She knew William had it worse than her, too, and that was saying something. She was twelve now, and had determined she wanted to go to public school to get away from some of the bullies from her old school. She was an orphan and the elitists decided that meant she was beneath them and prime game for ridicule.
Descending the steps she counted the problems in William's life. It was easier to focus on someone else; even though she felt like most of his problems were caused by her.
-He, a 20 year old, was fighting a constant battle to keep custody of her.
-He was completing both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the same time.
-He was just barely withstanding Pemberley's board of directors' criticisms about his age and incomplete education.
-He was creating a proposed business plan to switch Pemberley from hardware to software.
-He was not coping with Mom and Dad's death.
-He was trying to ensure she was coping with Mom and Dad's death.
-He was being attentive of her extracurriculars.
-He was being used by several of his peers.
She reached the bottom of the steps and hoped the bottom of the list as well. He didn't tell her everything; in fact, he didn't tell her most things and she had to eavesdrop and snoop to learn most of what she did know.
Entering the kitchen she found a very...perky William, two plates of pancakes on the counter, and two packed bags on the table.
"Will?"
"Eat. We've got a long trip ahead of us."
"Trip?"
"Yes. Right now, it'll only be for the week. But I'll arrange for us to return once we hit a point where it is reasonable for you to miss the last bit of class before break. I've already cleared my leave with the board and my classes are online anyway, so we have nine days, seven if you discount travel, and I intend to make the most of it."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
"William!"
"No."
.
For the next eight years they spent much of December in the Sierras. It was never spoken, but they agreed that avoiding the 'family holidays' was best. Books were still read on Christmas Eve, but they agreed on what book beforehand and spent the night commentating and discussing it as they progressed.
Things were different, but that was okay. That was less painful. They were still family and would survive.
.
"So, Christmas dinner is at 6:00. I mean we do Christmas pretty much all day, but I know you guys probably have your usual plans. Anyway, it would mean the world to Mom if you made it," Lizzie said with a bright smile before adding a bit shyly, "I'd be pretty happy too."
Gigi stood stock still trying to process what she'd just heard.
Christmas dinner.
With her family.
She turned and walked away quickly, but Lizzie saw the tears that had already sprung to her eyes and chased after her.
"Whoa! Gigi! I'm so sorry. I know it's just you and Will and I don't want to intrude on your usual plans, that's why I wanted to run by the timing with you first. It's okay. You don't have to feel obligated to come. We just… Well, we think of you as family. Butit'sokay! I won't even mention it to Will, I promise."
"What?" She spun to face her and they nearly ran into one another. "No! You can't not ask William!"
"But-"
"No! I just- It's been- Ugh!" She took a deep breath and dried her tears, considering December as a whole. "Do you shop on Black Friday?"
"It...depends. We used to decorate that day, but as us girls got older…" she shrugged, "we made other plans."
"Can we...could we help you decorate that day? And maybe you could come bake cookies with us and on Christmas Eve we'll-" She cut herself off mid ramble.
"Gigi?"
"I'm being a bit irrational…"
"Where's this...coming from?"
"We started skiing after our parents…. Well, before that we…"
Lizzie was there. With a hug Gigi finally felt that sense of whole again. She told her sister, because that's how she saw Lizzie, everything. And they made plans for the family holidays. Her and William had survived, but it was time to live again.
.
"Hey! GGD!" Fitz greeted enthusiastically as she walked into Pemberley Digital, as he hung up his phone.
"Who was that?"
"Some dork." They laughed a bit, as she assumed he was talking about William.
They heard the overhead speaker kick on as a building-wide announcement was about to be made. She couldn't remember anything particular happening this week, but she hadn't been an active part of Pemberley for some time.
"Pemberley," William spoke. "We've grown a lot over the years but every now and then I feel the need to remember, and remind everyone, that we are a family business. Today, I thought I'd share a tradition from mine and my sister's youth." Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to figure out what he was talking about. "You may hate me for the day, but she will hate me for the week." Sinatra started singing White Christmas and Gigi just stared in shock as Fitz cracked up beside her, showing her the date on his phone. November first. "So, happy holidays, because 'Everyone knows, Christmas starts in November.'"