Ally was leaving her apartment to go to Austin's so they could do the next step when she felt her luck completely run out. Her ex was back again.
"Ally!" She heard him call from the door to the stairs. She dropped her hand to her side with her keys jingling in it as she heard him walk up to her. She spun around and plastered a really fake smile on her face, which dropped a little when she saw the big bouquet of red pointsettas in his hands.
"Chandler!" She said, her voice going light and high with fake enthusiasm. "What, uh, what are you doing here?" She said, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. Chandler just smiled at her.
"I brought you flowers, I know they're your favorite around this time." He said, holding them out to her. She didn't point out that they were almost everyone's favorite around this time. She looked at the flowers and then at him. "I'm sorry, Chandler, but I can't except these." Ally said, making the boy's smile drop a little. His dark blue eyes still stayed wide with adoration though.
"Why not?" He asked innocently, and Ally almost felt bad for him. She felt bad about the fact he still hadn't gotten over her. Its not like he was a bad guy or not good looking, because he was with his combonation of jet black hair and blue eyes. It's just that they had been dating since junior year of college and by the summer they had graduated, Ally felt like she was stuck in Groundhog Day along with Bill Murray. It was like the same old day with the same guy and she didn't want her life to be reptitive. It felt like an endless cycle that she was stuck on that she wasn't happy with.
"Because, we broke up a year and a half ago, Chandler. I mean I appreciate the gesture, I do. And they're beautiful." She said, touching one of the red petals. "But, we broke up, and I don't think I should be excepting gifts from you." She said. He still had a bright look on his face as she walked past him.
"I was thinking maybe we could go out for hot chocolate or something? Start over?" He said from behind her, making her stop. She turned around slowly. He looked like he had gotten a big burden off of his chest. She opened her mouth to say something, when a voice came from behind her and gave her relief.
"Hey, Alls, what's taking you so long?" Austin said, her head snapped around when she heard Alls, and so did Chandler's. "Alls?" The dark haired boy said, looking from Austin to Ally. Austin walked up next to Ally and she looked up at him.
"Oh, sorry Austin. I was just talking to an old friend of mine." Ally said, going up on her tiptoes and giving the blonde a hug. "Help me." She whispered in his ear, before she pulled back. Austin kept his hand around her waist, which Chandler noticed.
"Ally, who's this?" Chandler asked, a slight edge to his voice. Ally put a suprised look on her face. "Oh, sorry, how rude of me. Austin this is my ex Chandler Lians. Chandler this is—"
"The current boyfriend, Austin Moon." The blonde said, leaning forward to shake Chandler's hand. Chandler shook it reluctantly. "You guys heading somewhere?" Chandler asked politely. Ally nodded.
"Yeah, we're going to the chrildren's center for the Santa and the gift giving. You know how I help out there every year." Ally said, and Chandler nodded. "Yeah, we used to do that." He said, like he was laying down territory he didn't have.
"Well, you guys have fun. Nice to meet you Austin, nice, uh, nice talking to you Ally." Chandler said, walking off down the hallway. Austin and Ally didn't relax until they heard the door of the stairs slam.
Ally let out a sigh of relief, letting her head fall on Austin's shoulder. Austin just laughed at her. "It's ok, you got through it Alls." He said. Ally looked up at him.
"Thank you for pretending to be my boyfriend." She said, smiling. Austin smiled down at her too. "Any time." He said, truthfully. They were still holding onto each other, though Chandler was long gone and they didn't have to pretnd for anyone anymore. They let go of each other reluctantly, and started walking towards the elevator.
"So we're going to the children's center? What's this lesson?" Austin said. Ally just smiled as they stepped into the elevator. "You'll see."
"Ally! You're here!" Someone said, the moment they walked through the door. A tall old lady came up wearing a bonnet and a red Mrs. Claus outfit with a white apron. She didn't have to wear a wig, her hair was curly and white as it is.
"I told you I was coming tonight Rose. I brought a friend if that's alright." Ally said, taking off her gloves and gesturing to Austin, who was looking around at the walls covered in children drawings and lights. Along with the big Christmas tree in the corner that had a big plush red chair next to it with gold trim and arm rest.
"Yeah that's great. But we have a big problem." Rose said, making Ally look up.
"What's wrong? And why hasn't Chris started with the kids yet, its almost eight." Ally turned to Austin. "Chris is the Santa every year. He doesn't even need to wear the fat suit and he's great with the kids." Ally said smiling. Rose shook her head.
"Not this year, Chris got the flu this morning. He's sick and we couldn't get a Santa in time." Rose said. Ally gasped. "No, what are we going to do?" Ally said, looking at the kids playing around the Christmas tree. Then, a thought hit her.
"Austin!" She said, catching his attention. "You can be Santa!" Ally said. Austin laughed shortly. "Are you serious Ally? I can't be—"
"Yes you can!" Rose said excitedly. "You'll have to wear the fat suit, but it'll be fine." Rose said, writing something down on her clipboard before telling Ally to show him where the dressing rooms were. Ally pulled him with her towards the doors behind the Santa chair.
Ally went to the closet in the spacious room, pulling out a big bag and a slightly smaller bag. She handed the big bag to Austin, who looked at it unappreciatively. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Austin said, unzipping the bag. Ally nodded with a smile on her face, folding her bag over her arm.
"Yeah, its all clean." Ally said. Austin laughed, and shook his head. Ally put her hand on his arm. "Austin, all you have to do is let them sit on your lap and listen to what they want for Christmas. Say, 'ho ho ho have a Merry Christmas' every once in awhile and you'll be good. And hope they don't pee on you." She said, mumbling the last part. Austin started to protest, but Ally walked into the bathroom with a smile on her face so she could change into her costume. Austin sighed, pulling the costume out.
He put on the fat suit, making his body big enough so he looked like Santa. He pulled on the red pants, and shrugged on the red coat, looping the belt through his pants. He was buckling the boots when Ally emerged from the bathroom. Austin looked up, and stopped buckling. Ally laughed. "What? Do I look that goofy?" She said, spinning around in her elf costume.
She had a red tutu on, with a green vest with red trim. The vest was over a tight fitting long sleeved red shirt. She had pointy elf ears sticking out of her curly hair, and her tights had a red and green ringed pattern on them that matched her hat, which had a white poof on the end. Her elf shoes had curled toes, with bells on the end. And to tie it off, her lips were cherry red, and her cheeks had an extra blush to them.
"You look adorable." Austin said, finally managing to buckle his boot. He straightened up. Ally laughed walking toward him, and digging the white beard out the bag along with the hat. Austin looked at them as she held them up. "I have to don't I?" He said, and Ally smiled, tugging the hat over his blonde hair. "Yeah, but you look cute, so don't worry." She said, while Austin pulled on the beard.
"Ok, so I'm going to go out and introduce you to the kids, and then your going to come out and be all Santa-y, and then they'll start coming up to tell you what they want for Christmas." Ally said, straitening his jacket.
"One question." Austin asked. Ally looked up at him.
"Was this part of your step?" Austin said, and Ally laughed, stepping back and making sure everything on him was straight. "Kind of. I was going to make you dress up like an elf with me, to embody the true spirit of Christmas. But you being Santa is way better." She said smiling while Austin rolled his eyes. Ally patted him on the tummy as reassurance before she walked out, grabbing a small red velvet bag off a table before she went out the door. Austin followed, waiting behind the door until Ally said something that sounded like a cue.
"Hey guys!" Ally said, in an elf like voice. Austin laughed in his arm.
"Santa and I flew all the way from the North Pole to come and see you guys. Have you all been good this year?" She said in her high falsetto, earning a cheer from the kids in the crowd. Ally put her hands on her hips and smiled. "Well then I guess you can all see Santa this year! Don't you think Santa?" She said, and Austin took this as his cue to exit.
He stepped out of the room, and when all the kids caught sight of him they cheered. "Yes, I think so Elf Ally. These kids all seem to be very good." Austin said in a deep voice. Ally laughed and clapped her hands. Austin went to sit in the chair while the kids made a line behind the velvet red rope.
For the next hour, kids sat on Austin's lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas. It got repititve towards the end. A doll, a pony, a doll house, a phone, a remote control car, a DS, an XBox. But the last little girl who came up, climbed on Austin's lap and said something completely different from anyone else.
"What's your name? No, wait don't tell me," Austin said, and Ally mouthed 'Analise'.
"Analise." He said, and the little girl brightened up, her copper hair bouncing. She adjusted the purple glasses on her face, and looked up at Austin.
"Analise, what would you like for Christmas?" Austin asked, and Analise blinked up at him. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose again, the freckkes around her nose becoming clearer.
"I don't want any toys for Christmas." She said, in a soft, light voice. "I just want my parents to stop fighting and be happy like they were when I was little." She said seriously, her big green eyes blinking up at him. Austin was speechless for a minute, because he didn't know what to say. He looked at Ally, but she raised her hands, because she didn't know what to say either.
Austin looked back at the little girl, and smiled. "No problem Analise." Austin said, and Analise smiled and gave him a big hug. "Thank you Santa." She said. She hopped off his lap, accepting the candy cane Ally handed her, running off to her Mom standing at the stairs.
Austin and Ally said goodbye to the kids, going back into the room to change.
It didn't take them long, and when Ally came out of the bathroom, Austin was pulling on his sweater. Ally looked at him as he zipped up the Santa costume in the bag.
"Why'd you say that? If you don't mind me asking." Ally said, taking the bag from him. Austin looked up at her and tilted his head with a smile on his face.
"You mean when I said you'll shoot your eye out to that kid who asked for a Nerf gun? Oh, I couldn't resist." Austin said, watching her put the bags in the closet. Ally laughed.
"That actually was pretty funny. He looked at you like you were nuts." She said closing the closet door gently. She turned to him. "But, no that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about what you said to Analise." Ally said. Austin's smile dropped. He sat down on the bench under him, and Ally leaned on the counter across from him.
"I just, understood what she was asking for." Austin said quietly, putting on the boots that he wore here. Ally tilted her head to the side, watching the blonde's movements carefully. She didn't ask anymore questions, because she could see it was something more than understanding behind what he had said to the little girl. So she just waited.
Austin stopoed and looked up at the ceiling, where a snowflake happned to be hanging. "When I was little," He started, "My parents owned a big company. I think they loved it more than they loved each other, more than they loved me." He said, giving a short noncommital laugh.
"They would fight, constantly. I mean I would come home and they were fighting, or I'd be trying to go to bed and they'd be fighting. It would be about the stupidest things too, stuff that didn't even really matter. Like, who was going do the laundry or who was going to make dinner. I never understood why.
"But, every year at Christmas, the fighting would stop. They'd be happy and nice, for me. I think its because they didn't want to ruin it for me. They wanted it merry and happy for just that short period of time. But, as I got older they stopped caring. I think its cause they thought I didn't believe anymore so they could stop pertending to be happy, unless god forbid our family saw us unhappy." He said, his voice cracking slightly. Ally didn't dare say a word.
"But, when I turned twelve it stopped. Because my dad left. And he didn't just leave on some random day of the year, he left on Christmas." He said, staring at a fixed point in front of him. "He left on Christmas. He left a present for me under the tree, with a note telling me that I could always find him if I needed too. And he left my mom divorce papers already signed by him." Austin said, finally looking up at Ally.
"I figured if my dad could leave on the one day out of the year that everyone was supposed to be together, that was supposed to make evryone happy, what was the point in believing something like that?" He finished. He waited for Ally to apologise for something that wasn't her fault, but she didn't.
"Well, I think that's a pretty good enough reason not to believe in Christmas." Ally said. Austin raised his eyebrows. "Your not going to say sorry or anything?" He questioned. Ally raised her eyebrows.
"Do you want me to say that?" Ally said, walking forward and holding out her hand. Austin shook his head, looking at her with a newfound respect. She smiled.
"I didn't think so." She said. Austin reached up and took Ally's hand. Their skin touched, which they weren't accostomed too. Everytime they had touched hands or dragged each other somewhere, they weren't touching skin. And, now that they had, it felt like a tingling sensation that went all the way down to the toes.
Rose pushed open the door, pulling them out of the haze they had entered. They looked up at her, unlocking their hands. Rose looked frantic again, like the way she did when they first walked in.
"What's the matter?" Austin and Ally chorused at the same time. Rose scribbled on her clipboard again.
"The performers, who were supposed to sing for the kids. They're stuck in the snow. There is no way they're going to make it on time." Rose said. Ally dragged her hand down her face. "Next year, I am organizing everything in July, Rose." Ally said, and Rose nodded.
"Fine, Ally, but right now we don't have a performer for the—"
"We'll do it." Austin said, and now it was Ally's turn to look at him like he was nuts.
"You two are lifesavers, really." She said. And before Ally could protest, she walked out the room. Austin walked over to the closet and started rumaging through it.
"Austin."
Austin pulled out two outfits, one for Ally and one for him. "These will work don't you think?"
"I can't do this." She said. And Austin looked at her.
"Ally, you'll be fine." Austin said, pushing the bag of clothes into her hands. Ally looked up at him, looking for an excuse. "We don't even have a song to sing." Ally whispered. Austin rolled his eyes. "We are both musicians. We'll figure something out." Austin said. He pushed her into the bathroom, against her protest.
"Ally? You've been in there for twenty minutes." Austin said, playing with the red suit he had found in the closet.
"Austin, I don't think I can do this." Ally said from behind the bathroom door. Austin pushed open the door and saw Ally standing in a flowy red dress that reached her knees. She had a sparkly gold jacket over the dress, with reindeer antlers on her head.
"Why can't you do this?" Austin asked, putting his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him. "I haven't played music or sang for anyone since my mom died when I was seventeen, Austin. I don't know if I can anymore." Ally said looking down.
"Hey, look at me." Austin said, putting his finger under her chin and lifting it so se was looking straight at him, her red lips a few inches from his. He didn't take his eyes off of hers.
"I'm going to be right here, I'm not going anywhere ok? Just look at me." He said. Ally nodded, not moving her eyes. Rose knocked on the door, letting them know it was time.
"Come on, let's go give those kids the best Christmas they've ever had." Austin said, and Ally smiled, following him out of the room. They sat down at the piano that had replaced the red chair. Ally stared at the keys, before she rested her hands on them, and started to play a song her dad and her mom had sang to her every year.
Didn't know what to get you
Ordinary just wouldn't do
But I just found the perfect gift for you
Austin smiled, watching her sing. He laid his hands on the keys, playing notes so that the song sounded more complex than it actually was.
I hear church bells a ringing
Carolers are singing harmony with me now
Austin joined her on this line, they're voices mingling perfectly. Austin sang the next two lines while Ally played the keys.
You are looking so lovely
Oh, even if the lights go out
We've got mistletoe and fire light
On this cold December night
The snow outside will set the mood
As I sing my song
They looked up at each other, Ally's hands playing the notes by heart. She didn't take her eyes off if the blonde, and he didn't move his eyes either.
We've got mistletoe and fire light
On this cold December night
The snow outside will set the mood
As I sing my song for you
Sing my song
Sing my song for you.
They looked at each other once the song was finished, not even hearing the applause they were getting from the kids and parents. They finally got up, and bowed before jumping from the platform to hand out the presents.
They got seperated as the parents swarmed to tell them how beautiful their voices sounded, while the kids swarmed to get their presents. They didn't find each other until they bumped together from behind by the front door, where they had been pushed by the crowd of people. They turned around and looked at each other.
"You did great up there." Austin said, smiling at the small brunette, making her cheeks flush.
"You too." She said softly, looking up at him. Austin's eyes rolled up in his head, looking above them. "You know, I think that's mistletoe." He said pointing to a sprig of Holly above them.
"I think its Holly." Ally said. Austin shook his head.
"Well, I'm going to pretend that its mistletoe and kiss you anyway." He said, looking down at her and putting his hand on her cheek. Ally bit her lip and smiled. "Sounds good to me." Ally whispered as she leaned up to meet him halfway. Their lips collided in a soft and passionate kiss, warming Ally all the way to the ends of her hair. Austin pulled back after a minute, not just because they both needed air, but because he had a question.
"What was the last step, just out of curiosity?" He said. Ally laughed.
"The last step, was that you believed in yourself enough, to believe in Christmas." She said softly, and Austin just smiled.
"Well, Miss Dawson, mission accomplished." He said, leaning down to kiss her again.
Don't forget to review! Merry Christmas! (Last chapter will be up tomorrow. Sorry if it wasn't as good as you expected it to be.)