Wrapped In Your Love For Christmas

A Christmas Rheese story. Sarah and Connor travel to Michigan to visit Reese's family and then return to Chicago for New Year's. Drama and fluff ensues.

New Year's

December 31st was a lazy day, they woke up late and made breakfast with Nate who insisted on wanting his Daddy's famous chocolate chip pancakes, which were an improvement from all the Christmas cookies he'd been eating.

Once they were done having breakfast, they changed and decided the park sounded like a good idea, so they bundled up and with Petey trailing ahead of them, they walked over to Millennium park which was near their apartment. It had not snowed in a few days so it wasn't as cold as it had been in previous years.

Nate ran around with the dog and his Dad until he was tired, Sarah would watch them and smile, picturing how next winter, they'd be having another baby with them. Her life was moving pretty fast for a 27 year old, but she honestly loved it. It was so different yet so similar to her sister's.

There was a feeling though she couldn't shake, the idea of her father dying, sure, the only Dad Sarah had ever truly had was Tommy, she hadn't been around Robert long enough to even get to know the man, and yet, Lilian seemed to be keen on helping the man who'd barely cared for his children in the last 20 years.

Sarah told herself she was doing it for her sister, not to help Robert. "Hey, what's going on in that head of yours? I can hear the wheels turning." Connor said, she'd barely noticed he'd sat down beside her, Nate and Petey were a few yards away.

"Robert. Life, I guess," Sarah admitted, cuddling closer to him as his lips brushed her forehead.

"You know you don't really owe him anything, right?" Connor told her.

"I know, but I keep telling myself it's not about me. It's about Lilian. She asked me too."

"I get it, Gabe and Claire spent more time with Mom than me, my brother says I don't remember stuff he does, which makes sense because I was just 10."

"Yeah, well Lilian was 10 when Robert left." Sarah retorted. "She talked to him and he's flying to Chicago on the 12th. It's like he's coming because help was offered to him but he couldn't bother to be a present parent when we needed him?" Sarah turned away from Connor. "He sent money as if that was going to fix him moving away and barely seeing us."

"Babe, you don't have to tell me okay? You know my Dad was more worried about business than us when my Mom died, I understand."

"Promise me we'll never be like that, I mean if we decide not to be together anymore. Can we be friends? For our kid's sake?" Sarah said after a moment and Connor froze, then leaned in closer and lifted her chin with his finger and kissed her deeply.

"I don't think you'd ever be able to get rid of me that easily Reese." He smirked into her lips as Sarah pulled him even closer.

In truth, she could never picture her life without Connor, she didn't want to.

They went back to the apartment and spent the rest of the day watching movies and just enjoying their time as a family until they had to leave for the party. They were going to an early dinner and then join the adults in welcoming in the New Year. Connor began to tense up as they approached the Estate.

Sarah took his hand and squeezed it while Nate was rambling on showing off his Christmas present, the one he'd been allowed to bring to his cousins. Gabe was married to his high school sweetheart and entrepreneur wife, who had developed an App and was now managing her small company mostly from home. Penelope was nice, she and Sarah got along pretty well.

They had five kids and would soon be welcoming their sixth, they had twins in the first pregnancy almost 11 years before, a boy and a girl and then a little boy, then another girl and then another boy. To say that Gabe was Cornelius's pride and joy was an understatement, he had been the one kid to embrace being a Rhodes and not fought to live away from it.

Claire was also in her father's good graces, although not asmuch as Gabe as she'd fallen in love with someone not as in high regard as Penny, still, Russ had been working with the family since he was 14 and it turned out it worked better for the company to have people who knew how it worked.

Claire and Russ had 3 kids, two girls and little Eli who had being diagnosed on the spectrum just last year at the age of three.

"Master Connor, Happy New Year." One of the driver's opened the door to the van as they all climbed down. "Happy New Year Earl, how's everything?"

"Good sir, missed seeing you around on Christmas though. Miss Sarah happy holidays…" The people who worked for Connor's family were so nice and most of them had been there when all the kids had been little. "And is this Nate? I can't believe it. Show me those muscles kiddo." The little boy giggled as Earl joked around with him until Penny went out to greet them.

"Oh, good you are here." Penny smiled at the small family. "Sarah, I need your expert opinion on something, Nate sweetie, why don't you go to the playroom, your cousins are all there." Connor spotted the giant Christmas tree his Nanny would let them help decorate as kids, it seemed like time hadn't passed in the house.

Sarah and Penny led Nate to the playroom downstairs while Connor got a call regarding one of his patients. "Dr. Rhodes." A voice said behind him as he hung up. Gabe smirked at him, his older brother took after their father the most but he still had a shine to himself that reminded Connor of Elizabeth.

"Hey man." He smiled hugging him. "How are you?"

"Good. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's just, I ask the nurses to keep me in the loop on my patient's."

"Right, so are you going to let me invest in that Hybrid OR thing you are working on?"

"How did…"

"Oh, I hear things, remember that Dad and I are on the board?" Gabe smirked. "Someone told me and I thought I might take a look, that's a genius idea Connor. I mean I know nothing about emergency medicine but…"

"It's just a proposal for now."

"Well, we should talk about it more, maybe you'll convince me." His brother smiled again. "Where's Sarah?"

"Penny."

"Right. Doesn't surprise me. Come on." They walked across the house and into the drawing room. Cornelius stood there, with his latest girlfriend in tow as he chatted with Claire and Russ. "Dad…"

"Connor, how are you son? This is Sonia, Sonia, my son."

"Ah, the doctor, right? You drifted far from the business, didn't you?" The woman said, Gabe eyed his brother carefully.

"Well, there were enough Rhodes's caring for it. Not enough people have someone to take care of them." Connor replied. Cornelius nodded grimly.

Sarah and Penny had finally come back just in time. "Everything okay?" Sarah asked. Connor nodded.

This was going to be a long day.

Connor found himself wondering around the grounds of the house he'd once known like the palm of his hand. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were hiding." A voice said behind him.

"Katie, hi, how did you know I was here?"

"I've known you your entire life, remember? and well Sarah asked if I'd seen you and I figured you'd be here."

"Right, I just needed a breather."

"I understand but eventually, you are going to have to go back, you left Sarah to her own devices and even though I know she can take care of herself just fine…" the older woman took a seat beside him on a bench near Elizabeth's favourite spot. "What's on your mind, sweetheart?"

"Why do I even bother to come? I mean, all Cornelius's going to do is disapprove of everything I do."

"Because you are a good person and even a better son than he deserves." His former Nanny replied. "You sound like Sarah." He huffed.

"Then you know I'm right." Katie smiled, taking his hand. He walked back to find everyone, drinks in hand and engaged in chit chat.

"Katie found you." Sarah smiled at her husband, taking his hand.

"I'm going to go check on the kids, are you okay here?"

"Connor, come here a moment. I'm about to make an announcement." Cornelius said suddenly. Claire sent a nod her brother's way.

"Today is a day for family, to welcome the new year and tocome together and it's because I'm announcing my early retirement."

Everyone froze. "I'm still going to be on the board but all of the decisions will now be Gabriel and Claire's as they make the company theirs."

Claire and Gabe glanced at each other as their father continued. "I do have high hopes for both of you. You are young and have a better view of what it's required for the stores to thrive."

"Did you know?" Claire and Russ asked Gabe.

"No, I had no idea."

"Sarah, Connor I do hope this means you'd be bringing Nate over more often." Cornelius told them as they tried to recover from the news. "We barely see him now and it would be good for him to be around his cousins. Everything alright son?" He asked, noticing the glint of Connor's eyes. Was it worry? Was his father sick? Connor would have never thought of Cornelius retiring.

Not until he was forced to.

"What's the catch?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Connor…"

"What's really going on?" Connor asked again.

"Your brother and sister have worked hard on the business for years. There is no ulterior motive."

"With you, there always is." Connor countered.

"Connor." It was Gabe now and he had a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let's not make today about another argument from the two of you. Let's go take a walk."

Connor moved away, eyeing Sarah as he went.

"It's never going to change between you is it?" Gabe asked as they left the room and went downstairs. "What is it that's so bad about him huh? I know he's never been a good Dad and he's not the easiest person to deal with, but neither are you, little brother. Just so you know."

Claire had come to find them. "So, I figured Sarah's news."

"What?"

"Well she's not drinking and drinking it's always necessary in this house." His sister joked. "Don't worry I'm not going to say anything. I know you don't want to jinx it."

"Congratulations." Gabe smiled. "See if you let me invest on the hybrid OR, you'll have yet another baby."

Connor sighed. "I don't want you to do it because you are my brother. I don't need you to come and save me Gabe."

"I'm not. I'm thinking about all the people you'll help. It's a really good idea Connor."

"How's Eli?" Connor asked, trying to shift the conversation away from him.

"He's good, Sarah gave me a few names of people we can work with." Claire said.

"Good." Her little brother replied with a small smile.

"You think they're okay?" Russ asked Sara as they sipped on their drinks.

"Did you know?"

"Nope. I don't think they did either." Russ admitted.

"I don't hear punching…" Penny said into her own drink making the others smile.

The three siblings came back as they watched their father talking to his new fling in whispers.

"Everyone okay?" Penny asked them with a smirk.

The rest of the evening moved along without much drama. The kids had come out of their playroom for their grandfather's annual New Year egg hunt and just in time Justin and Sophie had arrived.

"So, what did I miss?"

"Apparently Cornelius is retiring." Sarah said joining her brother on the couch, Nate was on her lap sleeping.

"What? You're joking. I thought the man would die working."

"You and the rest of us." Sarah sighed.

"And how's Connor?"

"Grateful he walked away."

"Right. So how have you been feeling?"

"Good. I just wish I was home cuddled in bed you know? I'm a little tired."

Justin smiled. "Sophie is leaving in a few hours because the babysitter is. You could go with her? Take Nate."

"And leave Connor alone here? No. I'm good."

"Of course." Justin laughed. "I forget where we are."

"Justin, hey."

"Hi boss." He smiled. "Happy New Year."

"Same to you." Claire then turned to Sarah. "Do you want to take him upstairs to Eli's room?"

"No, thanks. I'm good." Sarah smiled. "Have you seen Connor anywhere?"

"I think he was upstairs." Claire said. Sarah asked Justin to take Nate and then went in search of her husband.

She found him in his old room. "Hey, there you are."

"Sorry, I just needed to get away."

"Hmmm. I figured this is where you came to escape, didn't you?"

"Yeah." Connor said welcoming her into his arms and kissing her softly.

"You know that it would be a good thing for your father to leave business to Gabe and Claire, right?"

"I know. At least they'd be able to bring the stores into a new light."

"Exactly." Sarah smiled. There was a silence between them for a moment. Sarah noticed him staring at a picture of Claire, Gabe and him with their Mom. His fifteen year old brother stood tall beside him, while 12 year old Claire smiled. Connor had his arms around his Mom.

"I always say, she would have loved you." Connor said, tracing a hand to the picture.

"I'm sure I would have too." Sarah replied into his chest.

Sophie took Nate with her when she left and because the rest of them lived at the house, the little ones were sent to bed, only leaving the twins to ring in the New Year.

Connor stood with Sarah by a railing in the garden as the wind raged on. The rest of the family was gathered in around them.

"Ten…

"Nine..."

Sarah turned around to see Claire nuzzled into Russ while Gabe was whispering something to Penny as the kids loudly called out the rest of the numbers.

"Five, four… three."

"Happy New Year babe." Connor said into her cheek, just in time to capture her lips with his as the countdown ended.

"Happy New Year." She spoke, kissing him again.

They made it home just after midnight. They had decided to leave Nate with Sophie and Justin for the night. "I don't think we'd ever been alone in the apartment in the last 3 years on New Year's Eve." Connor commented, taking off his jacket and helping Sarah with hers.

"Maybe we should make the most of it huh?" Sarah said playfully.

"Maybe we should." He smirked back, leaning into kiss her as she giggled. He picked her up bridal style and took her into the bedroom.

Both, ready to make the most of it and welcome whatever life had in store for them.

Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for all the support as always, let's make 2019 pretty great, huh?