Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed.

Tales of December

a story by Ryeloza

Darryl: December 12, 1988

Darryl was quite sure that he was experiencing what would be the worst hour…two hours…surely not more!...of his life. This morning he'd simply thought he was doing his parents a favor; they both worked, surely going to pick up his grandparents from the airport after school was the least he could do. He'd been positive that small talk about school, basketball, his girlfriend Talia plus whatever tales of retirement his grandparents had would surely last them from the airport to his house. Then, having done his duty, he could leave his grandparents to his parents to entertain and go meet Talia for pizza. Or to make out. Whichever.

But now…now… For the fifth time Darryl groaned internally, resisting the urge to punch through the windshield. Fifteen minutes away from the airport and they were in bumper-to-bumper, horrific traffic, complete with too many eighteen-wheelers to count. At the rate they were inching along, he'd be lucky to get his grandparents home in time for dinner.

Not to mention that they'd run out of small talk about thirty minutes ago. That left him with the grandparents he usually tried to avoid.

"Oh, Darryl, you drive so well," said his grandmother. "George, doesn't he drive well?"

"He drives like an ass! You need to be more aggressive, Darryl! Fight the traffic, it's the only way!"

"Oh don't you listen to him, sweetie. He couldn't drive with his eyes closed."

"Why would I drive with my eyes closed, you crazy old bat?"

"George! Watch your language in front of Darryl. He's just a child!"

Yes, another hour of this and Darryl was positive he'd punch through glass to escape.

A/n: Inspired by my own hellish drive through Akron tonight on my way to pick up my sister from school. A three hour drive turned into a five hour drive; thank you rush hour. That's also why this chapter is barely making the cut of Dec. 12--luckily I was home by 11pm.

Thank you to all of you for such lovely feedback. I'm glad you're enjoying this story.

-Katie