Logan swept in to his hotel suite with his arms full of packages and bags. He was smiling widely despite holding his mail in his teeth.
His message light was blinking on the phone and he settled his bags on the counter and picked up the phone.
"Logan Echolls." He told the operator downstairs.
"Yes, Mr. Echolls. We have a message for you… Trina sends her apologies but she wont be making it for your appointment."
The smile paled from his face and he ran his free hand through his hair. "W-what?"
"Trina will be unable to make your appointment sir." The voice intoned. "That's the whole message."
Logan swallowed. "T-thank you." He said softly and he hung up.
"Our appointment." He laughed slightly. "Our appointment, Trina?" He asked out loud. Then his eyes fell to the counter and it's mass of gifts and food and he deflated a bit. "It's Christmas… Trina… Not just… An appointment."
"Jumpers, all our jumpers, over here please!" Lynn called out and slowly but surely six nervous figures surrounded her.
She smiled warmly. "I know you think I cast you in these rolls, Aaron – especially you. But I didn't. God did the casting when our proposal was approved – which, again for Aaron – is why I didn't let you fight for creative control."
"Gotcha." Aaron said, dropping his head nervously amid the random chuckles.
"Anyway," Lynn continued "Here are the rules. Only your assigned person will be able to see and hear you. Animals as well…" She eyed the clipboard. "Oh, and if you happen in to the person who killed you for those of us who were murdered, your killer can see you too. In which case you're allowed to haunt them only so long as it's in the best interest of your mission."
A few spirits groaned reluctantly.
"Now, we've got a very tight schedule once we get moving so I want everyone to stay together with your team and stay close to the monitors so we can start the very moment everyone on Earth is in place."
Everyone murmured in alert agreement.
"I don't have to tell you what's at stake here. And I don't have to tell you that… I know you're the perfect people to get it done." She smiled demurely. "But I am a little jealous. Earth for Christmas… It's the theme of the season somehow, isn't it?"
Everyone nodded slightly and some people cleared their throats in agreement.
"And I know it won't be easy for some of you." She met their eyes and they knew whom she meant. "So I just wanted to say that… I am proud that each and every one of you agreed to do your part tonight. I am so proud… Of all of you."
"Even Me?" Aaron asked.
"Almost." Lynn replied causing a stir of laughter and playful mockery of the actor as Lynn slipped off.
Aaron stopped and caught Gustavio Tombs by the arm. "Hey, do you know what Lynn was talking about? About Lilly?"
"Yeah, I know what happened to Lilly." The Reaper smiled at him. "You killed her."
And another round of laughter at Aaron's expense seemed to surround him. "I meant after that. Now. Where is she? I can't believe she'd skip something like this…"
Gus just shrugged. "Lynn's got the 411 on all that. All I really know is she's missing…" he looked thoughtful. "Unless…"
"Unless what?" Aaron prodded.
"'Chu didn't kill her again, did you?" He asked with all seriousness, causing another series of whoops and hollers at Aaron's expense.
Meg took pity on Aaron and pulled him aside. "You have heard the rumors, haven't you? About Lilly?"
"No." Aaron shook his head. "What rumors?"
Meg bit her lip and thought for a moment. "Well, the last time anyone saw her is a good place to start, if you really want to think about it." She swallowed slightly and backed away, apearantly having said her peace.
Aaron stepped back and rubbed his chin for a moment then he turned to the monitors and quietly spoke. "Please display the last Eathly appearance of Lilly Kane."
The monitor flashed away to reveal Veronica Mars standing before a school bus.
"Lilly?" She asked, following a blur only to find Weevil.
This is the day of the bus crash… Aaron realized. She kept Veronica off the bus…
Keith Mars stood at the rail, staring out over the Grand Canyon, his coat fluttering slightly about his knees.
A slight smile played about his lips and he held the phone gently to his ear.
"You've reached Veronica. You know what to do. Beep!"
"Hey honey. I just got your message. But don't worry. I caught McClain this morning so I'll be back in plenty of time for Christmas. See you soon." He closed his phone and smiled. Who wouldn't love a job that takes you to the edge of the world and back again just in time for Christmas?
He smiled again, watching the morning sun dance over the myriad colors of the canyon.
It was moments like this that Keith Mars lived for. It was the rarest kind in his opinion… The kind where a man couldn't help but notice that he was the king of his own personal universe.
Roughly two hours later he was twenty minutes away and still stuck in traffic.
It was at that precise moment in time that he realized he should have stayed at the Grand Canyon for as long as the feeling lasted, because in the end of all things… He'd traded his kingdom for a horse.