You didn't think I'd leave you like that, did you? One more chapter for this one, everybody:)
Epilogue:
Things in Headquarters ran as they always had. Joy, Anger, and Sadness were wary at first, stepping on eggshells around the two, but quickly realized that they hadn't been lying. They really were okay. Fear never prodded her, and Disgust never used how he felt against him. They continued to chat, and bicker, and throw sarcasm at each other every now and then. Occasionally their exchanges could be interpreted as flirtatious, if one would squint (and Joy squinted. She squinted hard.)
In the end though, it fell from their minds. Days turned to weeks, which turned to months, then years…
It all became a distant memory.
III
Riley was twenty four when she spent her first Christmas alone. She curled up on the couch of the home she shared with Meg (she had moved back to Minnesota for school, and they shared a small house—neither of them had ever really gotten around to moving out) and turned on the television, hoping ABC Family had something decent on.
It was no one's fault that she was by herself; her parents couldn't leave San Fransisco because her dad had a major meeting on the twenty sixth, Meg was in New York, and her boyfriend David was still out of the country.
She sighed. It could be worse, she supposed. She'd see her parents and David come New Years Day, and Meg was just gone for two weeks; she'd be back soon enough. Still, there was nothing quite like listening to Christmas music by yourself to dampen your spirits.
III
"Guys, this is terrible!"
Inside Headquarters, Riley's emotions had almost given up on the season. Sadness was languidly driving, Anger had had his turn earlier in the day, Fear was biting his fingertips, and Disgust was sitting on the couch pouting.
Joy was desperate. They had never had a bad Christmas! But what could she—
Joy was suddenly distracted by an upbeat tune coming from the TV.
Hot! Hot!
Oh, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Hey, we got it!
Hot! Hot!
Say, we got it!
Hot chocolate!
…Well, it was as good a plan as any.
"HOT CHOCOLATE!"
Joy's excited voice startled everyone, and all eyes turned to her with varying degrees of confusion, annoyance, and incredulity.
"Come on, guys! You know we've been trying to perfect our recipe! Why not try it again?"
"Because we'll get it wrong again."
"Because she might burn herself."
"Because the last time we tried to make it from scratch it tasted like dirt."
"HOT. CHOCOLATE. Let's go!" And with a few button pushes, Riley was off the couch and heading to the kitchen.
III
Riley found the song to be rather persuasive.
She had always had a, uh…soft spot for hot chocolate (not an incurable sweet tooth; she was a grown woman, darn it) and had, in recent months, decided to attempt to perfect her own recipe for the homemade stuff. She had yet to perfect it by any means, but still! She was trying.
On the way to the kitchen, she passed her little Christmas tree by the window; nothing fancy, but enough to brighten the room. She had looked at it countless times before, of course, but this time, something caught her eye. She spotted a flash of cherry red hidden in the branches, and upon further inspection found it to be a letter. Addressed to her, no less.
Curious, she tore it open. It was Christmas, after all, so she assumed she didn't have to wait any more. She recognized David's penmanship instantly.
Sorry to leave this in your house like a stalker. Don't worry, Meg let me in.
Riley giggled a bit at that. Of course he would worry about weirding her out, they'd only been dating for a year and a half.
I feel terrible that you have to spend the holiday alone, Riley. I hope to make it up to you when I get back. I've picked out the perfect present for you. I want to see your face when you see it though, so I hope you don't mind waiting a few more days.
Going to Italy is a dream come true, and I am so excited, but I can't help but think that maybe, it could've waited a bit longer. I promise, next year, you won't be left alone.
I'll be thinking of you every day that I'm gone. Man, that sounds corny, but it's true. I miss you already.
Merry Christmas, darling.
Yours,
David
Riley felt her face grow pleasantly hot, and suddenly her troubles melted away, leaving her feeling more contented than she had in days. This one single letter, more than any phone call or email she had received, left her feeling warm and happy inside. Cocoa forgotten, she returned to her place on the couch, letter in hand. She was half aware of the film, and absently rubbing her fingers on the corners of the paper, a giddy smile tugging the corners of her lips.
III
The emotions were giddy themselves. They were all very fond of David, and thought him to be a very good match for their girl. It was wonderful when they were given reason to believe the feelings were mutual.
"That was so sweet!" Joy was swooning, as usual, the hopeless romantic she was. "You picked well, Disgust, I've gotta say!"
"You say that all the time!" Anger, while he didn't disagree, never missed the opportunity to point this out.
Disgust, however, was more than happy to take the compliment. Again. "Yeah, I know. I can tell a good one a mile away," she said with a smile. Really, at this point, the line was more in good fun than anything.
The five emotions had re-settled themselves on their own couch, content with watching the movie now that their girl was happy. Eventually though, Sadness spoke up.
"…You know, I sort of want some hot chocolate now."
It was an unassuming statement, but it brought to light the fact that, yes, they had indeed all missed out on the tasty beverage.
Fear took a look around, "Alright, who's in the mood for cocoa?" Four hands raised expectantly, and Fear rose from his seat. "I'll go make it. Won't be too long."
"I'll go with you," Disgust offered. It wasn't abnormal for Fear to volunteer for this kind of thing, nor was it for him to balance precariously whatever it was he was carrying. The guy needed help. "I think you could use an extra set of hands."
Fear nodded his thanks, and the two headed for their own kitchen.
III
As Riley sat thinking, she found herself caring less and less about the TV and focusing more and more inward. She felt…odd. She couldn't place it, not quite, but David…the letter he left her was so him. And she was acting like a blushing school girl over it!
The more she thought about it, though—thought about him…the more a new, exciting possibility entered grew in her heart. Was it possible that she…
III
Disgust walked over to the window in the kitchen, looking out over Long-Term. The mind workers always decorated for Christmas, much like Joy did in Headquarters, and while she was too far away to see any detail, she had always loved seeing the lights; it made the expanse of Riley's mind just that much more beautiful, adding those festive fairy lights to the glowing memories.
After a moment of admiring the view, she turned back to observe Fear. He was always so calm (well, calmer) this time of year. He was cheerful and optimistic. And, he made amazing hot chocolate.
He'd tried to help Riley in this subject, but every time he did she just got scared of messing up again. He was trying to teach Joy. Really, he was.
She watched him as me moved about the kitchen with an almost easy grace he only achieved when he forgot to worry that anyone was watching. He got sucked into processes like this, and she found it amusing, in a way—she herself was a multitasker, and could never quite dedicate her whole focus onto one task at a time. It wasn't fair, she decided. So it was time to distract him.
"What do you think he bought her?"
"Hmm?"
"David. What do you think he got for Riley?"
"Oh. Uh, I don't know…" Fear turned away from the stove for a moment. "Did we ask for anything?"
Disgust shook her head, only half invested in actually solving the mystery. "Nope. Which means it's a surprise. One he's proud of, so it must be good. Do you think he got us a kitten?"
"Why on Earth would he have bought her a kitten?" Fear asked, chuckling a bit.
"Uh, duh, because they're the cutest things ever!" She tried to keep a straight face, she really did.
"Oh, forgive me for my incompetence." He was smiling in earnest now, trying in vain to hide it by turning back to the stove, and it made her beam with accomplishment.
They lapsed back into friendly silence for a few minutes, long enough for Fear to pour the sugary drink into five mugs. Deciding the other three could wait a moment longer, he took two and headed over to Disgust, offering one to her.
"Milady," he mock-bowed, and she giggled at his dorkiness. She did that a lot.
"Why thank you, sir."
"Careful, it's hot."
"You don't say."
He glared playfully for a second before bringing his own mug to his lips. Disgust was about to do the same, but suddenly, her entire being froze.
It wasn't overt; she doubted Fear even noticed she hesitated at all. But something suddenly just…changed inside her. There was no sickness (thank heavens), no pain, no real change at all, but…
It was like floodgates had been opened. She was suddenly complete, even though she didn't know she had been anything less. She felt a warmth, a feeling of peace settle in her soul, deep and subtle enough to be ignore if she chose to. But that was absolutely the last thing she ever wanted to do.
She looked up at Fear, slowly placed her mug on the small table at her back, and without preamble, put into words what she knew to finally be true.
"…Fear?"
"Mhm?"
"I love you."
Fear froze; his body stiffened, his breathing cut out, and it was by some true miracle that he managed to not drop his mug at their feet. He could do nothing but stare at the emotion in front of him. Disgust, in contrast to her confidence a moment before, felt a creeping feeling of self-doubt chilling her heart. It…it had been a long time. It was entirely possible that he didn't…
"Do you…do you still love me?" Her voice was small, and her eyes meekly fluttered to the floor despite her best efforts to keep eye contact. His silence was unnerving; she was about to apologize, play it down.
But, before she could utter another word, Fear found it in himself to react. In one fluid movement, he stepped towards her, placed his cup next to hers, and drew her into him. Disgust found herself tightly wrapped in his arms; she felt his hands trembling marginally, but his hold was surprisingly, pleasantly solid. After the initial shock, she brought her arms up and around him, burying her nose in his sweater and closing her eyes.
She breathed deeply, and felt him do the same. Disgust felt tears spring to her eyes and a shaky smile form on her lips as Fear placed a tender kiss on her hair.
Eleven years. It had been eleven years since that fateful incident; longer still since love even began to form. But the wait had been worth it. Now, in this simple moment, the two emotions were finally, finally, at true peace.
A/n: There's the end:) I hope you all liked this story, and I'd like to thank you all again for the wonderful reviews and all the favorites! Maturation is coming along, if you're wondering; I have to be in a specific state of mind for that one...though I'm not really sure why. Anyway, thanks for reading!
Song lyrics from The Polar Express.