Remember - This is an AU, so don't be surprised by the appearance of some people who normally wouldn't belong there...
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'Twas the Night before Christmas
Will turned to look into the same direction as Mac and froze. „Wh... What the fuck? You've got to be kidding me! How did they get here? You hopefully don't believe that I invited them here?"
She shook her head and softly squeezed his forearm. „No, of course not. Especially with the way you were talking about this trip. I'm sorry, Billy, I know you planned it differently, but we need to go over there and say hello."
„Do we really have to? Maybe they won't see us..." Will whined.
Mac shook her head at him again, indulgently this time, and stood up. „Come on, Billy, anything else would be just weird and impolite."
Will sighed, but then got up to follow her to the other side of the room, already regretting his decision not to cook in their own kitchen tonight and his mood rapidly dropping by a mile.
Sloan and Don were so engaged in their conversation that they didn't see them approaching, and Sloan startled when Mac put her hand on her shoulder. Quickly looking up Don's face took on a completely stunned expression. „What are you doing here? We thought you are on your way to London?"
„Mac! Will!" Sloan squealed with delight and quickly jumped up to hug her friend. „What a surprise!"
„I know!" Mac returned the hug with a big smile and then inconspicuously elbowed Will in the ribs to say something.
„Surprise indeed..." Will grunted, barely concealing his displeasure. „How do you even know this place?"
Don scratched his head and smirked sheepishly. „Actually... I saw the brochure on your desk quite a while ago. It looked nice, so when we were looking for a place to spent christmas... And as you talked about going to see Mac's parents..."
„Well, we're delighted to see you..."
It was obvious to Don that Will didn't mean these words in the slightest, so the little mean streak inside him caused him to shrug and add nonchalantly. „Then you'll be even more delighted tomorrow – Maggie and Jim are also coming..."
„Of course they are..." Will sighed resignedly, while Mac smiled in surprise. „I assume...?"
„Yeah..." Now Don grinned. „Saw the brochure on your desk a while ago."
While he continued talking Will grumpily glanced over to Mac. and seeing her trying to hide her grin he squeezed her thigh under the table, a tacit promise for some sort of revenge later.
„We each planned this completely on our own, but when we found out we'd all be staying here we decided to just do it instead of drawing straws who would cancel. I mean, it's not that we have to spent our time together, is it?
„Of course we don't." Mac assured him brightly, though Will knew that she was actually talking to him, asking him to be nice. So for her sake he forced himself to smile, quite sure that it didn't look completely natural, and asked if Don and Sloan would mind if they sat with them for a while.
As expected they didn't and Will pulled out a chair for Mac before sitting down himself, motioning to the waiter to bring their drinks to this table instead.
It wasn't that he didn't like the two, he really did. Especially Sloan was like a little sister to him, but he saw them every day at work and really hadn't expected to meet anybody he knew out here. And also you normally didn't bring your sister to a romantic weekend, did you...? But oh well, if Mac wanted to he could hang out with them for a couple hours, as long as he was going to have her for himself for the rest of the time they were up here...
In the end they actually spent a nice evening with Don and Sloan, hardly talking about work at all. After a sumptous meal and a last drink for the road that Don insisted on buying to make up for stealing their holiday idea, they stepped out together. When Don saw Will heading for the snowmobile he snorted and pointed at the row of cabins. „What? Too old to walk these few yards?"
„Ha ha, funny! Our cabin is a little further up the mountain, so if you'll excuse us...? Mac?"
MacKenzie quickly gave her friends a hug and wished them a lovely stay in case they wouldn't see each other again, before putting on her gloves and the hood of her warm winter anorak to get comfortable behind Will again.
Starting the motor he turned to the other couple and waved. „Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas everybody, and to all a good night!"
Snickering Mac slid her arms around his waist again. „Take me home, you doofus...!"
„Your wish is my command... G'Night, guys!" Quickly driving off it only took them a few minutes before they stopped in front of their chalet, and Will let Mac dismount before he parked the vehicle in the shed.
Knocking the snow off their boots on the porch Will looked around. „I think we didn't come back a minute too early, the wind's picking up. The girl at the reception said that they are expecting another snow storm."
„Mmmmh...You, me, hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire and a blizzard outside, that's all I need for christmas..."
„Well, then it's good that I didn't get you any other presents." Will smirked and opened the door to let them in.
Mac followed him and started to take off her outer clothes. „ You know, I would almost believe you if you hadn't acted so mysteriously lately – Odd phone calls you couldn't take with me in the room, closing your laptop as soon as I entered... You'll need to work on your covert skills, James..."
„I will." Will gave her a quick kiss and pointed her into the direction of the kitchen. „Mama Bear is going to make hot chocolate while Papa Bear will start the fire?"
„Definitely. Marshmallows with yours?" When Will nodded she left for the kitchen, and only a short while later they found themselves in front of a crackling fire. Will was nestled in the corner of the comfortable couch while Mac had settled between his stretched out legs, her back against his chest, both of them warming their hands on the hot cups of cocoa and looking into the flames.
Mac sighed. „This is really nice... You were right, we really needed this..."
Will hummed in agreement and placed a kiss on her head. „Yeah... Although I could have gone without having half of the newsroom here... Did you know they were coming?"
„No, of course not or I would have said something when we arrived. But don't overthink it; should we meet them somewhere we'll say 'hello' and talk a little, but we don't have to invite them to dinner, okay? I mean, they also just got together, so they'll probably have other plans than hanging around with us..."
„Mmmh..." Will put his empty cup on the side table behind him and let both arms glide around Mac's upper body, his hands resting on her stomach. „But from now on I'll lock my office."
„Bad idea, then I can't come in anymore either..."
Will could feel her barely suppressed laughter by her stomach muscles rippling underneath his fingers and retaliated by gently nibbling on her earlobe. „Good point, we can't have that, can we...?"
„You're choice..." Now she laughed out loud, her happiness and contentment just bubbling over in enjoyment of the comfortable banter and his touch she had missed for so long, and it seemed that Will's thoughts had travelled into the same direction.
He sighed. „I am so glad that you said 'yes' when I stumbled through my proposal, if you can even call it that..."
„It was lovely, Billy... and special... And not only because it was the only proposal I ever got and ever want to get in my life. And mind you, the only one I would ever accept... Did you really believe for a second that there was a chance I would have said 'no'?"
He tightened his grip a little as he looked back upon that moment a few weeks ago. „I was actually terrified. I thought my firing you might have been the last straw that broke the camel's back... I've put you through so much, I couldn't have blamed you for leaving..."
Now Mac put her mug aside as well and placed her hands on his. „We've talked about this, Billy, and we're fine. I'm here and I do not intend to leave..." She moved up a little and turned to lie on her side so that she could look into Will's eyes to emphasize her next words. „I'm not ever going to leave! I love you, and that is never going to change. You have to stop doubting us!"
Will knew that; she had told and shown him often enough, but everything was still so fresh that sometimes he just needed a little reassurance that this really was his life now. „It sometimes just feels so surreal that we are so happy again... I love you, MacKenzie, I love you so much..."
Leaning forward he captured Mac's lips with his own and tried to show her just how much, putting all his love into it. She let herself fall into the kiss immediately, but after a moment her position became too uncomfortable and she urged him to scoot down a little so that she could lie on top of him. It took him moment before he realized what she wanted, but then he readily obliged and continued kissing her with a satisfied groan when he felt Mac's hands sliding into his hair.
His own hands wandered down to cup her behind, causing her to happily sigh into his mouth. After a short moment though she broke the kiss and sat up on her knees.
Her eyes fixed on his face she pulled her cable-knit sweater over her head and started to unbutton the blouse she was wearing underneath. Will couldn't avert his gaze and and followed every tiny motion of her fingers. When she was done he intended to pull her down again, but she held his hand and moved backwards on the couch, so that he had to follow her into an upright position.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise but before he could ask what this was about she leaned in for another short, promising kiss. „There is one thing I can't stop thinking about since we've arrived..."
Biting her lower lip she picked up the room remote from the table and turned off all lighting before she nodded towards the fireplace that was now the only source of light in the room. „Make love to me in front of the fire, Billy?"
With this she got up, smiling at the suddenly even hungrier expression on Will's face who was frozen in place. He watched her opening the buttons on her jeans while her eyes darted down to his now blatantly obvious arousal.
Mac quickly stepped out of her pants and then moved in front of the fireplace where she lay down on the so cliché (but luckily politically correct, high-end synthetic) polar bear rug. Resting on one ellbow she licked her lips in anticipation but found that she had to be even more direct when Will didn't move. „Are you coming or what?"
These words seemed to wake him from the daze he was in, just staring at her mesmerized, and he immediately got up and shed his clothes while his eyes never left the sight in front of him. Finally he kneeled down next to her and let one finger run down her body, starting at her chin, down her throat and along the valley between her breasts, circling her belly button before reaching her panties...
Afterwards they just lay in each others arms for a long time, no danger of getting cold with the heat radiating from the fireplace. Finally Mac lifted her head from Will's chest to look at him and whispered. „Promise me, Billy, that you will never get tired of me."
Softly tucking some strands of hair behind her ear he smiled at her. „That's a given, MacKenzie, I don't even have a choice in that, even if I wanted..."
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The following days they spent sleeping in, enjoying the sauna and the whirlpool, taking long walks out in the snow which was piling up more with every day, as well as warming up afterwards in front of the fireplace – in different ways – and of course christening almost every room of the chalet.
It was a very relaxing time and when they returned from their walk on Christmas Eve Will told Mac to go change while he would start Christmas Dinner.
She only grinned and went upstairs to get her present for Will to put under the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. It had been put up on Saturday by some lodge staffers after the management had confirmed that they would indeed like to have one in their chalet.
They had decided to give each other only a small gift this year, them being together again and spending the holiday away being enough. In wise foresight Mac had also set a very low price limit, because she knew that Will would argue that diamond earrings or a platinum necklace were indeed small... Now she was definitely looking forward to him opening the little box she had just placed under the tree.
After a delicious dinner they settled on the couch and exchanged their boxes. Will insisted that she opened her present first and inside she found a wonderful antique golden bracelet with a delicate pattern. Mac gasped and looked up . „Billy... It's beautiful! But didn't we say...?"
Will didn't let her finish. „I didn't break the rules, I promise. It was my mother's who got it from her grandmother, so technically it didn't cost me anything..." Will winked at her but then turned serious again . „She wanted me to give it to my wife, and I would love for you to wear it some day - if you like it that is..."
„Oh Billy, of course I do!" Mac wiped away a tear that threatened to fall and then held out her arm. „Put it on, please."
Will did and they both looked at it for a moment before Mac took his hand and squeezed it firmly. „I'll be very proud to wear it, Billy, thank you!"
She looked at him for a moment before laughing a little sheepishly. „Oh god, my present is so inane compared to this...!"
„I'm sure it's not." He slowly unwrapped his gift and then looked at her. „A deck of cards?"
Mac grinned, moved into his lap and put her arms around his neck. „I thought we could use the time and play a little strip poker?"
Immediately Will's eyes turned dark and he tightened his grip on her waist. „Are you sure about that? You know what a damn good player I am..."
Smirking she slowly let her fingers run through his hair. „That's the great thing about this present: In the end we'll both get something out of it..."
With a giggle she leaned in for a promising kiss before climbing off his lap. „Let's get started!"
The first round went to Will, as he had predicted, and Mac made quite a show of removing one of her earrings. Letting his eyes roam over the various pieces of jewellery she was wearing he chuckled. „I'm getting the feeling that I'm slightly underdressed for this game..."
Mac sneered at him. „I need a headstart... I promise you though, I won't take off your ring... Next round."
Will grinned, but dealt out the cards again. „You and sports... It's not exactly a headstart, rather some kind of insurance or safeguard."
They were in the middle of the fourth round and Mac had lost her second earring, her scrunchie as well as her necklace while Will had only given up his left shoe so far, when there was a knock at the door.
„Who the hell...?"
Will quickly put back on his shoe and went to the front door, Mac in his tow. When he opened it he was facing an older man, slim-build with white hair.
„I am so very sorry to be disturbing you, Mr. McAvoy. Ms. McHale." He nodded into her direction before going on. „My name is Hank Tucker, I'm the proprietor of 'Hank's Cabins and Chalets'. With all of the snow that has been coming down one of the power lines to the lodge has been interrupted and now the main building as well as the cabins in its vicinity don't have any electricity. The chalets on the outskirts of the premise, like yours, have their own generators, that's why you haven't been affected by this, but we would like to caution you to save power where possible. We are hoping everything will be fixed tomorrow morning, but we can't make any promises."
Will nodded. „Well, thank you for the information, we'll be fine. And if need be we still have the fireplace in the lounge and the master bedroom. Merry Christmas."
With this he wanted to close the door but Hank quickly raised his hands. „That is exactly the problem. I know it is a lot to ask, but some of our newer cabins that were just added don't have a fireplace yet, so the guests staying there are sitting in the freezing cold. Now there are some folks who say they are friends of yours; would you maybe be willing to offer them a roof for the night?" When he saw Will's face getting dark he quickly added „Of course we will give you a special deal on your stay here and all extras will be on the house!"
Will really felt sorry for the owner and of course the other guests, but this was their christmas and he wouldn't let anybody spoil it. But just when he wanted to politely turn the man down Mac came up to them and put a hand in his back. „I assume you are talking about Ms. Sabbith, Mr. Keefer, Mr. Harper and Ms. Jordan? Of course they can stay with us for the night, we have enough room, don't we, Darling?"
„But Mac..."
„Sweetie, you wouldn't want them to freeze to death, would you? Just think about having to get used to new staffers and learning their names..." She winked at him with a knowing smile. „Send them over, Mr. Tucker, we'll be happy to help them."
Hank's face showed pure relief and he quickly thanked her and walked back to his snowmobile, not wanting to take the risk of Will changing her mind.
Following his fiancée back into the warmth Will took a deep breath. „Mac...!?"
„No time for a discussion, they'll be here shortly, let's clean up a little."
„But Mac! This is supposed to be our holiday!"
Stepping up to him she let her hands rest on his chest and sighed. „It is, Will. This is just one out of 5 nights, it will be fun. Besides, we can't say no. They know we are here, how awkward would it be back at work on Thursday if we don't let them stay with us?"
Before Will could start arguing there was another knock. „What the...? Already? He must have had them wait around the corner, that bloody basta..."
„Will, chill! They are our friends, don't forget that." Pulling him down she gave him a soft kiss. „Please?"
With this Will's resistence crumbled; he knew he couldn't withstand any pleading of hers, so he sighed and grumblingly walked to open the door.
Don, Sloan, Jim and Maggie were standing on the porch, the men carrying small overnight bags and all of them showed a rather wary expression, clearly realizig that they were intruding. Sloan was the first to take a small step forward at the sight of Will.
„Will, thank you so much for taking us in for the night. We've been freezing to death down there!"
Forcing a smile on his face he made room to let the four in. „We can't have that, can we? Come in, make yourselves comfortable."
After wiping their feet they stepped inside where Mac was just heading towards them. „Guys, we heard what happened, are you alright?"
„Yeah, we just need to thaw a little. Fuck, it's cold without heating!" Don had taken off his coat and was now rubbing his hands against each other to warm them up.
„Well, it is winter in the mountains..." Will replied dryly but shut up when he caught Mac's eye.
„Come on in, guys, it's nice and warm inside." Mac waved them to follow her into the living room, where Will couldn't help but notice that the playing cards were back in the box and she had put her jewellery back on.
„Kenz, this house is amazing, it's..." suddenly Sloan squealed and rushed forward. „A fireplace! Somebody else was being cheap and rented a cabin without one..." Sloan grumbled with a side glance towards Don, but Will, who sensed a lover's quarrel he could really do without right now, came to his rescue.
„Somebody else didn't have a choice, because these chalets and cabins are booked in advance for years already. We only got lucky because there was a short term cancellation."
Don gave him a grateful look and stepped up next to Sloan to hold his hands against the fire as well. „You really do have it nice here, Will... Honey, next year you'll have to invite me; with your portfolio you can afford this house." With a grin he put his arm around Sloan's shoulder and pulled her towards him, moving his hand up and down her arm to warm her up. „I thought you liked our cabin down there?"
Sloan sighed. „I do, I'm sorry... I tend to get cranky when I'm hungrry or cold, you should know that by now..." Sloan put her arm around Don's waist and they both fell into a now comfortable silence which was only interrupted when Mac came back. „Coffee?"
Quickly turning around Sloan beamed all over. „You're a lifesaver, Mac, thank you." She deeply inhaled the scent coming from the mug and took a tentative first sip. „Aaah... So good..."
Don looked at her in amusement but also gratefully accepted a cup, just as Jim and Maggie did.
„You guys get comfortable and warm up while Will and I will take you bags to your rooms."
At this Will raised his eyebrows. „You do realize that I'm the one who has a fucked up knee and ellbow?"
„Will?" Mac's tone didn't leave any room for negotiations and with a sigh he followed her. As each of the four had only brought a few things over for the night the bags weren't heavy, so he easily climbed up the stairs behind her.
In the first bedroom she placed Don's and Sloan's bags on the bed and then motioned him to bring Jim's and Maggie's stuff into the other bedroom across the hall. When he had put it down she placed her hand on his arm so that he would look at her. „Honey, you're okay?"
„Why would I? This really puts a little damper on our christmas plans..." Will closed his eyes in frustration and only opened them again when he felt her hand on his cheek.
„It's fine, Billy, it really is. We already had three wonderful days and by tomorrow they'll surely have fixed the problem. We can spend one evening with our friends, can't we?"
„Of course we can, but I don't want to." Will knew that his whining was pathetic and naturally he didn't want their friends to have to sleep in an ice cold cabin with no light, but he had been so much looking forward to it just being the two of them, especially on Christmas, that it was difficult to see these plans evaporate into thin air just like that.
Mac looked at him, exactly knowing what he was feeling, and moved her hand over his chest. „What if I promise to make it up to you as soon as we're alone again?"
Will's eyes darkened at her words. „That sounds... interesting... What do you have in mind?..."
Grinning she stepped closer and moved her hands under his sweater to rake her nails across his back. „How about..." Moving one hand to the front to cup him she continued „...as soon as we're alone again we'll get into the whirlpool and I show you how long I can hold my breath under water...?
Will new exactly what she meant by that and inhaled sharply, his cock already twitching in his pants at the pure thought of it. He groaned. „Mac... Fuck, do you have any idea what you're doing to me?"
Chuckling she moved her hands and stepped back. „I'm not doing anything right now... Later though..." She winked at him. „Do we have a deal?"
„Oh yes, and don't think you can wiggle out of it!" He pulled her in for a long, promising kiss before letting her go again. „Let's play host."
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Once their four overnight guests had warmed up they settled around the fireplace and enjoyed the sandwiches Will had provided. Especially Jim and Maggie seemed to feel a little uncomfortable, but when they started to utter apologies for ruining their vacation it was waved off and they were assured that it was a pleasure to have them over.
„I'm sure you also had other plans for tonight than hanging around with your bosses and colleagues, so let's just make the best of it, okay? How about playing a game?"
„Eh... like charades?" Jim didn't sound too enthusiastic about this possibility, so Mac reassured him.
„We could, but there's also a games room down the hall with lots of board games. How about we start with a game of Ludo and then we'll see?
Everybody agreed so Will was sent to get the game, which Maggie won, though Will was quite sure he had caught Sloan cheating several times which she flat-out denied.
After a few bottles of wine and champagne, the latter having been sent up by Hank as a thank you for their support, the atmosphere loosened up and after a hilarious round of Taboo especially Sloan was more then a bit drunk.
They had settled on playing Trivial pursuit next, and the overall state of intoxication – the women rather more affected then the men – provided for some funny answers.
„Sloan, co... copra... cropastrat... fuck!" Mac, also not her normal self anymore, swore. „Co-pra-sta-sta-phobia is the fear of what?"
Her friend giggled. „Sounds like something that happens to your prostrate."
„I don't have a prostra...prostate!"
„Right... Donny-Baby?"
Don smiled amused. „Yes, Honey, I have one. Do you know the answer?"
Sloan frowned in concentration before suddenly blurting out „Copa...whatever is the fear of delaying things!"
„You mean 'procrastination', Sweetie, and I don't think there is a phobia connected with it..." Don pointed out. „What's the orrect answer, Mac?"
„Hmmm?" Mac was looking up from her hand that was entangled with Will's. „Did you know that Will's hands are awfully soft, Don, even though he plays guitar?"
Maggie snorted while Will blushed heavily. „Mac! I think it's time for some coffee – Who wants one?" He got up and counted the hands that went up, silently adding Mac's as well, who was now fixated on her own fingers, to the list before going to the kitchen. Jim snatched the card from Mac in the meantime to finish off this round. „Coprastastaphobia is the fear of constipation. Wow, didn't wanna know that..."
Mac leaned into Will who had returned while the coffee was running through the machine, and looked at him with wide eyes. „Am I winning, Billy?"
„Just keep playing, Honey, you're doing great." As much as Will adored tipsy Mac he was glad that they had shared a nice meal before the drinking started or she would have probably passed out by now. With a happy smile she snuggled into him. „That is wonderful, I like winning..."
When a short time later Jim handed her a cup of coffee, the scent alone caused her to sit right up again. „Oh, who had that genius idea?"
„It was me, but Jim got it from the kitchen for us. Drink and then I'll take you out on the veranda for a minute, I think you need some fresh air. Anybody care to join us?"
The others, well, the male parts of the couples anyhow, nodded their consent, so a little while later they were all looking at the beautiful landscape in the moonlight, taking deep breath in the crisp air.
After the short break they returned to their game, the men definitely in the lead. „Your turn, Mac, roll the dice."
Getting a four her face took on a slightly desperate look. „Green, I can only go to green... I hate green questions!" At least she remembered that the colour stood for 'Science and Economy'.
Will supportingly squeezed her thigh. „Just wait, maybe it won't be too bad. Jim?"
„Okay..." Jim drew a card and scanned the question. „Oh, this one's easy, Mac: 'Name a type of foreign money'."
Taking her lower lip between her teeth Mac riveled her forehead, concentrating on the task, and then she started beaming. „Monopoly!"
Their four guests started snickering while Will pulled Mac in his arms for comfort. „I think you need another coffee, Love, not even you would get that one wrong when completely sober."
Mac didn't reply but buried her head in his chest, telling Will that she was slowly reaching the end of the talkative part of her tipsiness.
„Okay, my turn." Sloan took the dice and landed on a yellow field while Jim handed the card box to Maggie. Taking the front one she read „Who was Bismarck?"
„I know, I know, I know! A herring!" Sloan looked unreasonable proud of her answer and pouted when the rest of the group – save Mac who was slowly drifting off - burst out laughing. „It is! I've eaten one when I was covering a convention of the International Monetary Fund in Hamburg a few years ago!"
Maggie was busy wiping the tears away that resulted from the hard laughter while Don tried to appease Sloan. „I'm sure you did, Love, but look at the board – You're on yellow, that's history." He bit back his grin. „Try again..."
Sloan rolled her eyes and spoke up with a sudden and final clear thought. „Oh, sometimes you are so dull... Of course Bismarck was chancellor of Prussia who was responsible for the first welfare state in the modern world. Don't forget that I wrote „Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic – The Economics of Post World War One Germany!"
„Of course you did, I know, Pookie, come here." Don also opened his arms for his girlfriend, so that two out of three women were now clearly out of the game, and looked around. „What do you say? We'll finish this tomorrow?"
The others nodded and then Jim suggested „Hey, it's christmas, how about some music?"
Will raised his eyebrows „Did you ever hear Mackenzie sing?"
„Actually I did. You wouldn't believe what people can put up with in the middle of a war zone and even learn to enjoy..." Jim smirked at Mac who indignantly huffed at this remark. „But in the end we didn't ask her to sing anymore because all her songs were about lost love, heartbreak, heartache, that sort of sing. Became kind of depressing after a while..."
„Well, that's past, Jimbo, but thanks for bringing it up..." Mac murmered while looking at Will with a soft smile. „No need for sad love songs anymore. Ever."
Will smiled back and gently squeezed her thigh. „Ever." Before he could get lost in her eyes he then cleared his throat. „So, something upbeat? Let's start with Jingle Bells, okay? Jim, I saw some guitars in the games room, would you go get a couple?"
Jim nodded and quickly got up. When he returned he handed one instrument to Will while Mac sat up to give him space to play. Once they had made sure the guitars were in tune they started the song with the others joining in with their voices.
They made quite a nice choir and when the song was over other cheery songs like Ol' Saint Nicholas, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer and I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus followed, before they switched to quieter carols. Finally they closed with Silent Night, Don and Sloan snuggled against each other and half asleep already.
Finally Will put his guitar aside and moved over to take Mac into his arms again who immediately sank against his chest. Jim looked at Maggie though. „Ready for the grand finale?"
Her eyes turned wide. „Are you serious?"
„Sure, come on, we've done it often enough..."
„I know, but still..." Maggie hesitated, but when Jim played a few chords she sighed and nodded. „Okay... But you..." she looked at the other two couples. „...are not to laugh, understood?"
This caught Don's attention and he scooted up in his seat. „Now I'm curious... We won't laugh, promise."
Maggie stuck out her tongue at him, but when Jim started the melody she joined him in singing Baby, it's cold outside, reminding Mac of the beautiful duet by Doris Day and Bing Crosby. Nervous at first Maggie's voice got stronger while the song moved along and about a third in she was as much at ease as Jim and obviously enjoying herself. When they finished everybody applauded and Don even whistled in appreciation. „That was great, I didn't even know you could sing that well!"
Maggie blushed a little but shrugged and leaned into Jim who had put his guitar down. „You've never asked me to."
Don bowed his head and smiled at her before leaning his head against Sloan's resting on his shoulder and looked into the fire. All of them fell quiet, each couple in its own world but still aware of the others. Finally, it was way past midnight already, Mac yawned and sat up. „I'm beat, we should go to bed, Billy."
Will nodded and the others started to move as well, everybody mumbling something about being dead tired, too. When Maggie started to collect the dirty cups Mac told her to leave them for the next morning and just get to bed, not waiting to see if she would follow her instruction and pulling Will towards the stairs. „Night, you guys."
„Good night, Mac. Will."
„Night, Will. Night, Mac. Sleep well."
„Good night, you two!"
Will, already a couple steps up the stairs, waved and followed his fiancée, mumbling something about being like the Waltons, but Mac could hear him smile.
When they got to their bedroom she closed the door and turned around to hook her arms around his neck. „Well was this so bad?"
„No." Will conceded. „It was actually quite nice..."
A smile lit up Mac's face and she leaned in for a sound kiss. „I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself, Billy... Thank you. And I promise we will finish our poker game and take a dip in the whirlpool once they are gone..."
Will smirked. „Did you really think I'd let you off the hook?"
Her answer was a predatory grin.
„Do you think I would even want you to..? Merry Christmas, Billy..."
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And Merry Christmas to you!
(An M-rated version of this chapter can be found on AO3. But say, is this fandom really dying? Would be a shame!)
