Chapter 3
The fluorescent light grew brighter and the subtle hum of an empty building began to dissipate with the added cacophony of people returning to work. The screeching of metal grates indicated the opening of stores and kiosks, while the drone of vacuums drowned out the murmur of voices. The airport was slowly coming back to life, despite the lingering darkness outside.
Lucas groaned, his eyes still closed. As expected, he'd had very little sleep and it did not take much to wake him. He knew almost instantaneously that the airport was slowly preparing for a day of last-minute travelers desperate to get home for Christmas. He slowly unfolded his lanky body from the confines of the small, plastic chair, and stretched out his legs before standing. A quick glance at his watch revealed what he already knew. It was early. Damn early. His flight wasn't going to board until around 5:30 am, which gave him an hour to kill. Lucas rubbed his eyes, willing himself to become a little more alert. Already he could feel his stomach growling; responding to the smell of food permeating the air and protesting the lack of "real" food the night before. Lucas rolled his shoulders before grabbing his duffle bag. First, he'd clean up and brush his teeth. By the time he was done, hopefully the food court would be open and he'd be able to appease his stomach before boarding.
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"Tony!"
Tony jolted upright, flailing in the sheets that had somehow become wrapped around his body. "Wha-at?'" The sound of Aunt Rose's voice was enough to wake the dead, and in Tony's case, wake a man who'd spent the better half of the night drinking and hanging out with his old buddies.
"Anthony Piccolo! Get your butt out of bed!"
"I'm up! I'm up!" He turned over, extricating himself from the bedding and, as a result, rolling off the makeshift bed on the couch. Tony squinted at the digital clock on the vid screen. "Aunt Rose, it's only 10 am!"
"Come on, Tony. Get up and get dressed. Your friend Lucas called. You're going to pick him up from the airport."
"Wait…what?" Tony scrubbed his eyes attempting to clear his vision.
"Now. Up. And take Dagwood with you."
Tony stared at the Dagger who was sitting alertly on an adjacent armchair. He was still processing what his aunt had just shouted down to him. "Did she just say Lucas called?"
"Uh huh. We have to get Lucas from the airport, Tony." Dagwood nodded.
"Yeah. Ok. Gimme a minute to find my pants." Tony pulled the blankets away and started moving things around until he found what he was looking for. As he pulled on his jeans from the night before, Dagwood held out his missing shirt. "Thanks, Dag."
"Welcome."
Tony could feel his short hair sticking up on his head, but just shrugged it off. Who cares? They were on vacation. If he wanted to wear dirty clothes and leave his hair a mess, no one could make him. At least, no one but Aunt Rose…
"Any chance you know where my shoes are, Big Guy?" Tony started tossing pillows and blankets aside.
"You left them upstairs last night, Tony."
"Oh yeah. Now I remember." Tony grinned at his large friend. "Let's see if Uncle Pauly will let us borrow the car."
Tony and Dagwood headed upstairs to the first floor where the rest of the Moretti family was currently sitting in the living room detangling Christmas lights.
"Bout time you got your fat ass out of bed, Tony," Angie called from her spot on the sofa.
"Angela Marie Moretti, watch your language."
"Sorry Ma." She responded, and immediately followed up by sticking her tongue out at her cousin.
"Any chance I can borrow the car, Uncle Pauly?" Tony asked.
Pauly reached into his pocket and tossed a set of keys to Tony. "Just bring it back in one piece. And come straight back after the airport. I want your help with puttin' up the outside lights. Don't know where that son of mine disappeared off to, but you I'm going to put to work."
"Sure. No problem. To the airport and back. Got it."
"Hey Tone," Rose called out as Tony and Dagwood opened the door to step outside. "Lucas said he'll be outside in the pick up area. Just pull up there."
"Thanks, Aunt Rose." Tony closed the door behind him. Dagwood was already waiting in the driveway. "Hop in, Dag. Whad'ya say we swing by the drive through and pick up some breakfast on the way out?
"Um, Tony?"
"Yeah Dag?"
"Uncle Pauly said to go to the airport and then come back." The GELF looked slightly concerned.
"Nah, it's fine. Don't worry about it. We'll get somethin' for Luke too." Tony grinned as he pressed the ignition button. "Hold on tight, big buddy. It's been a while since I last got behind the wheel."
"Mm, okay." Dagwood reached out to grab the armrest as Tony slipped the car into reverse.
Tony was being honest when told Dag that it had been a while since he'd driven a car. Even on the occasional shore leave with crew, Lucas or Miguel had always managed to weasel their way into the driver's seat. Tony didn't mind. It made sense for Lucas to drive. The kid was the only one underage and it allowed the rest of them to indulge in a beer or two without worrying how they were going to get back to the boat. And to be honest, none of them could drive a car as well as they could pilot a small transporter sub.
Even though his uncle's car was a piece of crap on wheels, it was liberating to roll down the windows and smell the fresh ocean air as they cruised towards the airport. True to his word, they swung through the nearest fast food restaurant, ordering enough breakfast burritos to satisfy even Dagwood. That guy could really put them away. Their slight detour only cost a few extra minutes, and it's not as though it would make much of a difference any way. Lucas had probably been waiting at the airport since he called Aunt Rose earlier that morning.
The arrivals pick-up line was excruciatingly long. Apparently, throngs of people were heading to Florida for Christmas. As they crawled along, Tony caught a glimpse of a mop of blonde hair that could only belong to Lucas. He blared the horn and waved out the window. Lucas lifted his head, grinning at the sight of his friend, and grabbed his bag.
"About time you showed up," Lucas laughed as he opened the back door and slid in. "Hey, Dag."
"Hi, Lucas."
"Yeah, well it's not like I was expecting you, Wolenczak." Tony barely waited long enough for the rear passenger door to close before he pulled into the first available opening in traffic.
"Thanks. I wasn't sure if the offer still stood, but your Aunt was really nice when I called." Lucas sniffed. "Hey, is that breakfast?"
Tony grabbed the paper back containing the last two burritos and tossed it back towards his friend. "Don't mess in the car."
"I won't," Lucas replied – mouth full with his first bite.
"Tony said to hold on," Dagwood informed Lucas, nodding at his own hands gripping their handle."
Lucas smiled at Dagwood's literal response to Tony's warning.
"Tony, do you even have a driver's license?" Lucas joked.
"Ha, ha. Very funny." Tony glanced at Lucas through the rearview mirror. "At least I passed my driving test on the first try."
"Hey, some of us were undersea for months at a time when we were sixteen. There wasn't much time to get behind the wheel and practice."
Lucas crumpled his breakfast wrappers and shoved them back in the bag. "I'm glad to be out of there. I hope I never have to sleep on another airport chair again."
"Don't think you're gonna get anything too much better at my Aunt's house. Dag and I are crashing in the basement family room. You can squeeze in there with us."
"I really appreciate it, Tony. Anything is better than last night."
Tony took an exit off the highway, heading back towards his family's home.
"Why haven't you asked me why I'm back here?"
"Tony shrugged, glancing quickly back at Lucas. "I figured you'd tell me when you were ready. Obviously things didn't go as planned with your old man. Anyway, I said ya could come hang with me an' Dag if things didn't work out."
"Yeah. Thanks." Lucas paused and looked out the window. "Turns out my dad thought that going to meet some donors was more important than hanging out with his kid for Christmas. It doesn't matter. I should be used to this by now."
"Nah. You shouldn't have to get used to it." Tony frowned. "Why'd you wait until morning to call?"
"I, um, flew all the way to Buffalo before I found out he wasn't there. He didn't even bother telling me himself. His assistant supposedly left a message on seaQuest, but I didn't get it. "
"So you had to fly back? On your birthday? That sucks."
Lucas nodded. "I took the first flight out this morning. I figured I'd find a place to stay in New Cape Quest, or get a ride back onto the boat, if I couldn't stay with you guys for the next few days."
"It's gonna be awesome. Crazy, but awesome." Tony grinned. "My family usually shows up for Christmas Eve dinner, so you'll get to meet all my aunts and uncles, cousins and my nana. My folks are in Jersey this year, so they won't be there. It's usually a madhouse. Lots of food, music, and yelling."
"Sound great. The exact opposite of my family holidays." Lucas laughed.
"Welcome home!" Tony pulled the car into the driveway of his family's house. Before opening the door, he turned back towards Lucas. "Oh, I forgot. Angie still has a HUGE crush on you, so watch out."
"I think I can handle a fourteen year old, Tony."
"Yeah. You say that now, but you haven't spent enough time with the Piccolo-Moretti family. You think I'm stubborn –"
"If it means a homemade dinner and company for Christmas, I'll take my chances."
"Oh, you'll have company, alright." Tony grinned as he slammed the driver's side door. "You'll wish you had someplace to hide once my Nana sees your little baby face."
"I do not have a baby face," Lucas grumbled.
The three men traipsed up the sidewalk towards the house. Before they even had a chance to reach for the doorknob, the front door swung open.
"Come here, you," Aunt Rose reached out to Lucas and pulled him into a hug.
Lucas blushed as he hugged her back. "Thanks for letting me stay."
"We wouldn't have it any other way." She let go of her nephew's friend and pointed a finger at Tony. "Now get inside and show Lucas where to put his things."
"Yes, Ma'am," Tony saluted and grinned at his red-faced friend.
"Yes, Ma'am," Dagwood followed suit.
Tony gave his friend a brief tour as he led them down to the basement. "Kitchen is in there, living room – I see you, Angie –"
"Whatever," piped a voice from within the house, and a head poked out from around a wall.
"- bedrooms are upstairs, and we are goin' down to the basement," Tony pointed to a narrow stairwell.
"Hi, Angie," Lucas called out as he followed his roommate down the stairs.
"Home, sweet home," Tony stared at the messy space. Dagwood could not be blamed for the clothes and bedding spread over the furniture and floor. The dagger had barely brought enough personal items to fill a small bag. No, the mess was purely the result of Tony enjoying the freedom not allowed in seaQuest quarters.
Tony watched as Lucas scanned the room quickly, looking for any space to put his own belongings. It didn't take him long to just shove a pile of somewhat clean looking clothes out of a corner and dump his duffle bag on the floor.
"I'll move stuff later, you know, before the rest of the family arrives for dinner." Tony pointed at Lucas. "You want to change? Uncle Pauly wants us to help put the lights up outside, and you're still dressed for winter in New York."
"Yeah." Lucas pulled off his flannel over shirt and tossed it onto his bag. "I didn't exactly pack for warm weather."
"That's okay. You can borrow some of my stuff if you need to."
"Mine too, Lucas." Dagwood nodded in earnest.
"Uh, thanks Dag."
"Let's go boys," a loud booming voice came from upstairs. "These lights aren't going to hang themselves."
"Welcome to the family, Luke," Tony joked.
They spent the rest of the afternoon following Uncle Pauly's instructions on how and where to hang the Christmas lights. Apparently, he had an annual competition going with the neighbors – whether they knew it or not – and took the job very seriously. A few times, Pauly had made them take down strings and redo them to his specifications. At the rate they were going, they would barely have time to finish before the extended family was expected to descend upon the house for their traditional Italian-American Christmas Eve dinner.
Lucas stood back, wiping the sweat from his brow. Tony was attaching the last few feet of lights to the top of the roof, while Dagwood fought to keep an inflatable Santa from falling over. From what he could tell, Uncle Pauly could give the Griswalds a run for their money. Glancing quickly at the surrounding homes, Lucas could tell without a doubt, that the Moretti house would out-Christmas anyone on the block.
"Quit daydreaming and bring me that reindeer!" Tony yelled from above.
Lucas looked to see where his friend was pointing. He laughed at the sight of the plastic Rudolph. It had seen better days, but lit up in the dark, it would definitely complete the "vision" Uncle Pauly had. The older man was already up on the roof with Tony, trying to place the other reindeer with the sleigh. He shouldered the plastic animal and slowly climbed the rusty old ladder. Tony was there to take the ornament and wrestle it into place.
Lucas smiled. The view from the roof was not spectacular. It couldn't compare with the beautiful vistas he'd seen underwater, or those from the coast. As far as he could see, the Moretti's lived in a normal subdivision in the suburbs of New Cape Quest. The houses all looked as though they were built in the same year and there was very little that could set them apart from each other. But, he wouldn't give this up for anything. This was "normal." This was how families should spend the holidays; putting up tacky ornaments and cooking up a storm for all the family members who would be together to celebrate.