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Summer sat in a chair on her best friend's front porch chatting up the girl as she kept an eye on their sons running around in the front yard; "why is it that those two need to be up on the roof today?"
Marissa laughed as she continued decking the railings surrounding her porch with boughs of holly, "because they did your roof a week ago and they've either been too busy, or it's been too hot for them to be up there and Christmas is now less than a week away." Marissa stopped was she was doing as her eyes glazed over.
"What?" Summer watched as the taller girl continued to have this smirk, "Coop! What's going on?" She asked a little more loudly.
Marissa shook herself out of it, "nothing..." the smirk grew as she looked over to her friend, "nothing at all, I was just thinking I really wouldn't mind seeing Alex coming off the roof all sweaty in her beater and short shorts," she answered with this pervy look in her eyes.
Summer squealed as she threw a grape at her friend, "EW! Coop! EW! I mean, I love you two and I love that you both are all lovie-smoochie... but EW!"
Marissa laughed some more as she turned back around to continue her own decorations, "I know deep down you like it!"
Summer's eyes bulged, "EW! Coop! I love Alex, we've become great friends, and she's an amazing bag carrier, but I do NOT want to see that girl all sweaty and gross!"
Marissa rolled her eyes herself as she replied, "not Alex Sum! Seth!"
"Oh..." Summer let out as she quieted.
Marissa frowned when she didn't hear anything come from her friend; she turned to see her with her own look, "Sum!"
The pregnant girl shook her head as she smiled apologetically, "sorry Coop."
"Don't worry about it, tis the season to be jolly after all," the lanky girl replied as she looked up to see the two boys kicking a ball around, she smiled at the sight.
"Fa la la la la la la la!" Summer exclaimed.
The two stayed quiet for a short while before Summer started speaking once more, "so, what do you think is going to happen his year?"
"Huh?"
"You know, ever since the two of us granted Cohen and Ryan with our presence, there's been a Chrismukkah miracle. What do you think this year will be?"
Marissa shrugged, "honestly don't know," the girl turned around, "we've had a good run with those, they're hard to beat."
"True! OHHH! Remember how the year after we graduated Seth proposed?"
"Sum, that was a miracle, I'm just surprised he didn't propose ages before that," the taller girl went on with a smile.
Summer pouted, "miracle to me... I'd just found out I was preggers with Ben, I'd failed about half my classes and they weren't taking me back."
Marissa turned around so she could face her best friend as she leaned on the railing, "you were failing cause you spent more than half your time trying to save the world, you getting pregnant with Ben was a miracle in itself, look how much closer it brought you and Seth together?"
Summer smiled, "you right," she replied brightly, "fine! Then that whole year was my miracle!"
Marissa laughed, "you just like thinking that, I think the REAL miracle was seeing Alex and Ryan FINALLY getting over themselves and making nice."
Summer smiled happily as she remembered Seth rallying Alex and Ryan to figure out how to propose to her; "true, BUT! They came together because Seth needed their help for me! See! I'm all mighty Coop! I brought together the two mighty fighters of Newport!"
Marissa couldn't help but shake her head once more, she couldn't deny it, Seth asking them both had definitely forced them both to deal with each other and face their problems, which had, thankfully so, been resolved. "Fine, we can put that on you too then Sum."
"Damn right Coop!"
Marissa went to grab some lights she had brought out so she could start putting those around the outside of the house.
"OH! How about the year we found out you were pregnant? How I took you to the clinic because I was like 'Coop you sound like your pregnant!' and you were all like 'no! I can't be, nothing's been working!' And then we were all crying and then I forced you to get checked out and then BAM!" The excited girl was waving her hands around.
"Then on Christmas day Alex was all like 'what the hell!' freaking out about how she got you that gorgeous necklace, you still wear that necklace don't you Coop? I haven't seen it in a while," she then noticed it was shimmering in the light around Marissa's neck under her shirt, "never mind, I see it now, Anywho! It was weird you know?
Seeing Alex freak out about you not getting her anything and then you were all like, 'I'm pregnant,' and she was all like blowing up in your face for like twenty-three seconds before it clicked and then she was crying.
You know, I've never seen that girl cry... except for that time and when she ran out of the delivery room freaking out about how you two were now parents." Summer finished off as Marissa simply stared at her wide eyed, mouth slightly open.
"What?" Am I not seeing something?" Summer tried craning her neck to see around the tall girl.
"No... just... are..." Marissa kept looking around hoping for the answer to be on the tip of her tongue, "did you just take credit for me getting pregnant?" She then asked slightly confused, "cause... last I checked it was sperm donor number 20102512 and Alex's doing..."
Summer scoffed, "pft! As if I could! I'm just taking credit for figuring it out and then giving you YOUR Chrismukkah miracle." She finished off with a big grin.
Marissa didn't know how to answer she simply looked at her life-long friend before replying, "well... thank you for making that possible then Sum."
Another silence fell upon the two as both kept reminiscing about past holiday seasons, they really had had a good run; Marissa couldn't help but wonder what this year would bring.
"You know what we should do Coop?" Summer spoke out all of a sudden causing Marissa to jump slightly. She shook her head as she waited for Summer to continue, "we should totally dress up all gay and then go around singing some carols!"
Marissa turned around, "did you just say 'dress up all gay?'" Summer nodded, "Sum, what the hell does that even mean?"
Summer gave her a 'duh' look as she explained, "you know, like in the song? Jeeze Coop! Way to ruin my play on a sentence!" As Marissa only gave her a confused look she furthered her explanation, "you know? 'Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la la la la la la, troll the ancient yuletide carol, fa la la la la la la la la."
Marissa just stared at the girl dumbfounded, "you've been thinking about this for a while haven't you?" When Summer nodded she only gave the girl a look, "we need to find you a I'm-pregnant-hobby... that's just a little crazy."
Summer's mouth dropped open slightly as she wanted to reply but Marissa turned back around fixing the lights around her windows.
Alex took a few steps back to look at what they'd achieved; she smiled as she saw the fairly decent sized sleigh and reindeers now perfectly set on their roof. She was proud of their work, and she couldn't but smile even more brightly as she thought about how great everything would look when it was done.
The pair had outdone themselves this year, she was happy that they'd set up this semi-tradition over the last few years, the boys seemed to love it, and it definitely kept the Christmas spirit alive. Granted, with Seth in the picture no one could possibly forget the Holiday season.
She suddenly remembered she needed to talk with Seth about a couple of things for her little secret plan, she looked around for him but she couldn't see him, she looked behind slightly but she doubted the boy had gone by un-noticed if he'd gone down the ladder.
As much as he'd gotten better, Seth was still Seth, and his clumsy-ness had yet to go away. She called out his name to see if he'd answer, secretly hoping he hadn't fallen off the ledge again; it was always a pain getting him back up.
She was surprised when she didn't hear him answer; she started walking up a little before out of nowhere she saw her good ol' plastic Santa Claus jump out at her.
"AHHH!" She couldn't help but scream from the shock.
Seth appeared behind the plastic decoration laughing uncontrollably as he grabbed his ribs, "oh... oh... oh my Godddd! Al! You should have seen your face! You were all like, 'AHHH'" he squealed in a voice that was much too naturally girly for him as he imitated the blonde.
"You ASS!" She yelled as she walked the last three steps so she could punch the boy in the arm! "You FREAKING idiot!"
Seth could help but laugh as he tried un-successfully avoiding the hits from the furious blonde. In a split second he lost his footing effectively dropping plastic Santa and falling down on his bottom himself as he rolled off the side of the roof.
"URGH!" Alex grumbled as she watched the boy fly down, "you know, ONE year I'd love to get through this without you being an idiot!" She told him as she moved towards the ledge the curly haired boy had suddenly disappeared off of.
As she leaned down looking to see him she couldn't help but roll her eyes as she saw an upside down Seth still laughing as both of their kids stared at him trying to understand what he was saying.
"And then... she... AHHHAHAHA... she screamed and... and she had... she had this... look AHAHA," the brunette boy shared.
She watched as the two boys looked up to see her, "ignore him kids! You know how Seth get's, he's not right in the head."
"Ma, did you really scream?" Kyle asked his mother.
"Do I look like a screamer?"
"NO!" Both kids yelled back.
She grinned, "there you go!" She watched as Seth tried to look up at her.
"That's not true! You... you SO screamed!"
"Save it Seth, no one's going to believe you!"
"One year Kelly! One year I'll get you to scream louder and they'll all know I was telling the truth all these years!"
Alex laughed, "and the year that happens I'll do both our roofs on my own." She yelled back.
Seth was about to reply when all of a sudden all faces turned to see both wife and girlfriend coming close.
Summer rolled her eyes as Marissa looked up at Alex, "again?" Alex nodded with a big grin, "thank God we bought that roofing gear after the incident back in twenty-ten." Marissa looked down at the kids, "is Seth trying to tell you guys that he scared Alex again and that after her supposed 'I'm so scared,' moment he fell?"
Both kids nodded their heads vigorously as Summer just moved to slap Seth upside the head and Alex just kept her grin in place, "face it Seth, no one has believed you these last four years... we aren't about to." Marissa told the boy, she looked back up at the blonde, "you want our help to bring him back up?"
"Nope! He can stay down there while I get Santa and all his toys down the chimney," Alex replied as she watched Marissa smiling up at her.
"But Ma!" Kyle yelled up, she turned to face him, "you block chimchimmney and Santa can't go down!" He screamed back with a slight fear for Santa.
"Don't worry kid, I'll make sure plastic Santa won't get in human Santa's way," Alex told him with a sweet smile.
The answer seemed to relieve him as he let out a happy sigh. She watched as the two boys ran back to go play and as Summer and Marissa both went back to their business as Seth just hung there mumbling, "all for the little ones Chrismukkah joys."
She shook her head, as she moved back so she could have a better stance; she grabbed the rope that was tied around plastic Santa as she quietly sang to herself; "ho, ho, ho, who wouldn't go? Ho, ho, ho, who wouldn't go? Up on the rooftop click, click, click," the clicks in her song accompanied by the sound of plastic Santa hitting the gutters and then the shingles.
She smiled grateful to see him all in one piece after his Seth-caused-fall. She checked to make sure they really had set the hold for him on the chimney properly, not wanted to block the hole, even though they rarely ever used it.
She shook her head wondering why they had even asked for one, it wasn't like it was ever cold in Newport, she laughed lightly as she untied plastic Santa and placed him in his hold softly continuing to sing; "down through the chimney with good Saint Nick."
Alex took another couple of steps back so she could look at the now finished work, she couldn't help the bright smile on her face as she looked at how perfect everything seemed. She took one last glance before making a move for the ladder, slowly climbed down and unclipped her harness before making her way over to the porch.
She smiled as she saw Marissa's not completed work; she loved how the brunette had to even colour co-ordinate the lights and decorations, she climbed up the steps and quickly moved so she was climbing the railing making her way to the girl.
Marissa spotted her and laughed before lightly slapping her thigh, "get off there before Kyle sees you and decides he wants to be a monkey too."
Alex smiled, "I'm going to let you in on a little something, our son wants to be a monkey already."
Marissa rolled her eyes as she eyed the girl, "let me guess, you took him to the club one day and you were the one who had to climb up the scaffolding to fix the lights?"
Alex's eyes went wide as she stared at her, "you should know by now that Kyle tells me everything," Marissa grinned as she saw the look Alex had.
"I see how it is," Alex replied as she quickly climbed and jumped over the railing, she wanted to walk away, but she couldn't hold in her excitement, "guess what?" She happily asked as she turned around.
"What?" Marissa asked curiously as she moved to wrap her arms around the girl's shoulder as she felt Alex place her own around the taller girls waist.
"Deck the halls babe! He's up on rooftop!" The slightly shorter girl grinned as she saw Marissa smile.
The two got lost into each other's eyes for a few moments Summer's voice broke through; "hey um... not to ruin one of you guys' moment... but um, Alex think you could give Seth a hand? I think we should head on home."
Without ever taking her eyes off Marissa Alex replied with a smile, "sure Summer give me fifteen to get him out of his... predicament," she finished with a smirk before leaning in to kiss her girlfriend, "we'll finish inside when they go away?"
Marissa was about to reply when she was cut off; "EW! I SO don't need to know you guys are going to do the nasty when we leave! Now that I know, don't even think of asking us to take Kyle for the afternoon," Summer squealed out with a grossed out look.
Marissa laughed as she pecked Alex before turning to face her friend, "she meant finish DECORATING inside Sum... nothing nasty."
Alex was about to walk away from the conversation she knew was about to break out between the friends, but as she rounded the corner she casually threw a last comment over her shoulder, "besides... nothing nasty bout what we do."
She laughed to herself as she heard Summer freak out a series of; "ewewewew!" Coming from her.
She finally reached their back porch when she noticed Seth just staring at her, "new record Al... this is the longest you've left me hanging." He looked at her before smiling, "get it?" He asked with a laugh.
Alex shook her head as she moved to help him out, "hey, I got to talk to you about something..."
Seth's brows furrowed, "everything okay? Sounds serious..."
Alex nodded, "yea, everything's great... but I need your help with something," she looked up at him, "but you need to keep this to yourself," she added seriously.
Seth nodded curious to see what it was the blonde had going on in that head of hers.
The two girls were in their living room putting the final decorations around their living room, their tree had been up for a while along with all of its decorations but there were still a few last minute things they wanted to put up.
They'd put up their stocking first; the two mums had watched him as he stood on tippy-toes trying to hang it off the mantel before Alex had finally gone over to give him a hand, quickly scooping him up causing the boy to squeal in surprise.
Once he'd hung it up, Alex had made her way back to Marissa, quickly moving to stand behind her so she could wrap her arms around the taller girl's waist, the two of them watching as their boy kept fiddling with it looking up every so often seeming as if he was praying.
The two knew the he was sending a final silent plea for Santa to fill it well, they'd been telling him stories of kids getting coal and oranges in theirs, when they knew all he wanted in his was an action figure that could speak and shoot thing, one that came with a Kevlar vest and military issued gun.
Marissa leaned back into Alex's hold as they watched him quickly run off once he was done; she smiled to herself truly loving the life she had. She felt Alex pull them backwards until the blonde turned her around before she dropped to the couch.
Marissa smirked as she moved to straddle Alex's thighs, "hi," she spoke quietly.
"Hey yourself," Alex smiled at the girl in front of her.
Marissa sighed as she leaned forward nuzzling Alex's neck as she wrapped her arms around the girls shoulders. She smiled to herself as she felt Alex kiss the top of her head as the blonde wrapped her arms around the taller girls back.
"You okay?"
Marissa nodded, "yea... I'm just tired."
Alex smirked, "long night?"
"You wouldn't believe," the brunette replied with a laugh, "I had this random chick keep me up all night."
Alex laughed, "sounds like a fun night in my books."
"Oh... it was, she wore me out like you would not believe," Marissa replied as she pulled back so she could face the blonde with a big grin.
Alex joined in as she brushed a few strands out of Marissa's face before leaning in to kiss her girl. The two were locked in their embrace for a short while before they finally pulled apart when air become much too great a need.
Marissa leaned her forehead against Alex's, "you'll never guess what Summer suggested today."
Alex looked at her confused as she asked, "what?"
Marissa smiled her crooked smile as she answered, "apparently, we should all dress up in our gay clothes and go around singing old school carols." Alex gave her a look as she was trying to process what had just been said, "I know! That's the look I was giving her, and then she gave me this you're-an-idiot look before she started singing."
Alex kept giving her this blank look, "what the fuck is 'gay clothes?"
Marissa laughed, "no idea babe!" And then her smile grew wide, "maybe we ought to look in your closet."
Alex gave her this faked shocked expression, "what the hell does that mean? Are you saying me clothes scream 'I am a raging homo,' because last I checked, they totally didn't and you by the way LOVE my clothes." Alex then thought that over for a few, "actually, you much prefer me without them SO! Does that mean your closet is filled with gay clothes too?"
Marissa couldn't help but laugh loudly at Alex's semi-rant, when she finally caught her breath she looked down to see a pouting Alex who still seemed to be waiting for an answer; "well..." she made a show of looking the girl up and down.
Alex then followed suit, when she was done checking herself over she looked back up into Marissa's eyes, "okay well... NORMALLY..."
Marissa cut her off, "what? Normally you aren't wearing a 'my girlfriend is hotter than yours,' tank? You're right; you've usually got the whole nice shirt and tie working for you. Even throw in suspenders sometimes. OH! Remember that time you tried pulling off the bow-tie? Oh..."
Alex was the one to cut the brunette off this time though, "okay, fine you win, but the bow-tie was ONCE and that was to piss off your mum... and it worked," Alex finished off with a grin.
Marissa rolled her eyes, "only because she didn't want to explain why her daughter's girlfriend was walking around dressed like all the men at that function. Because, why was it again you were going around like that?" Marissa asked as she tapped her index on her chin.
Alex grinned, "because I told your mother that every business man who shows up at her little shindigs are only there for one thing, and that's publicity. That they can call it whatever they like, but in the end they know that she is the woman to impress if they want the word out on their enterprise.
And that she has a reputation herself, she also goes for publicity, that I'd noticed the first person she always speaks to during those events, is the one that looks the best, because if they look the best, then they make the most, and if they make the most, there's more chance of exposure.
That it becomes a match made in heaven for her and Mr. X, she gets the money man, and he get's free publicity in her magazine." Marissa rolled her eyes as Alex continued, "you have to admit, me showing up there like that was amazing. I not only proved my argument to your mother but I totally freaked her out.
I was smoking that night, and that's why she came to me first, she thought I was the next big thing, she came, introduced herself, TOTALLY tried to flirt with me..."
Marissa shook her head as she cut off the ranting blonde, "okay, okay I get it, you won against my mum, but I SO do not need to relieve seeing her flirt with you."
Alex smiled, "hell yea I did! Come on, even you have to admit that I owned that night!"
Marissa smiled, "yea, you did..." she leaned down and kissed the smiling blonde, "but that just proves one thing."
"What Alex asked happily as she rubbed her hands up and down Marissa's back.
"You totally own gay clothes," Marissa whispered right before she jumped off the girl quickly making a run for it as she heard Alex hot on her heels.
"See the blazing Yule before us,"
Marissa leaned over slightly so she could whisper in Summer's ear as she heard both their sons continuing on with the carol; "I cannot believe you got Alex to talk me into actually coming out here with you."
"Fa la la la la la la la la," it was Summer's turn to lean over, "I didn't make you, you're the one who convinced Seth to talk me into this," "strike the harp and join the chorus..." "you REALLY think I want to be here? I was joking when I brought it up... I'm pregnant; I think my baby is freezing!"
Marissa rolled her eyes at her friend, "yea okay, that's why Alex kept saying that you'd told her you were totally serious about doing this whole, 'bonding thing with me,' and ps. your baby can't freeze," she finished.
"Fa la la la la la la la la," "Coop! I swear I'd been joking... I haven't spoke to Alex since the day Seth fell of the roof."
Marissa turned over fully, "that was like... four days ago..."
Summer rolled her eyes, "and tomorrow's Christmas," Marissa gave her friend a look, "what? I thought we were taking turns stating the obvious."
Marissa just kept looking at her when all of a sudden both girls eyes went wide as they both whispered, "Seth." "Alex." At the same time.
"Follow me in merry measure!" Seth screamed out as the two drove down the highway.
"Seth shut up would you?" Alex asked irritated, she had nothing against Christmas songs but Seth had been singing them non-stop since they'd left and she was starting to get annoyed of his whiney voice.
"Come on Al! Can't drag me out of my house, away from me family, on Christmas Eve and THEN not join me while I sing about the very magical day you are trying to make even better! Fa la la la la la la la la... OUCH!" He screamed as Alex punched his arm.
"Exactly, magical, and right now all you're doing is making it annoying."
Seth looked at the girl with a tilt of the head, "you're awfully grumpy for someone who's trying to make Christmas magic come to life... what's up?" He asked her sincerely.
She looked over at Seth as sighed and tightened her hold on the steering wheel; "sorry... it's just... you singing reminds me of the fact that I'm not home right now. That I'm not sitting in my living room with Marissa leaned back on me and Kyle sleeping in his room while we watch Christmas specials."
"AWW who knew you such a sap Kelly!" Seth exclaimed with a smile, which quickly fell from his face when Alex smacked his arm once more, "okay, okay, I'm sorry, jeeze! You're almost as bad as Summer," he said as he rubbed his arm.
He looked at her once more noticing her dead set stare on the road up ahead, "hey, Al," he spoke quietly as he reached out, "you're doing it for good reason..."
"Yea... I know," she let go of the wheel with one hand as she rubbed her forehead before she continued, "in the nine years Marissa and I have been together we haven't spent ONE Christmas Eve apart, and we've made even more of the twenty-fourth since Kyle was born."
She sighed once again, "I can't believe I'm telling you this..." she looked over at Seth and saw him urge her on, "urgh okay... when I was younger, things were great at home you know? We were all really big on the Holidays, my dad and I, we'd go out to this Christmas tree farm he knew, it was like... over five hours away, but we didn't care, we'd set off and leave like five in the morning, we'd be back by lunch and my mum would make this amazing lunch for us, knowing we'd be hungry."
Seth smiled as she spoke, he'd know her for close to a decade and yet there was still so much of her life before that he knew nothing about. He understood her need to keep it to herself, but it was always great to find out something more.
"So anywho, we'd get home, eat, bring in the tree, we'd always decorate the tree as a family, it was great, it really was. We'd have these awesome family Christmas parties and we'd always be together you know? In the way family is supposed to be like round that time of year.
But then... when um... when I started getting into trouble, well... things changed and it was never happy again... then I got kicked out and I'd speak to them, get a card, but everything stopped. And as sad as it sounds, it hurt you know?" She finished as she looked over at him.
He smiled sadly at her, "it doesn't sound sad. Well... not sad as in pathetic... sad as in sad, because it sucks your family turned like that," it was her turn to smile sadly at him, "but hey, I mean, you can make up for that now! You've got a great family and you're an amazing mum to your boy and I know I've told you this before but I really have never seen Marissa as happy as she is with you."
At the mention of her family her smile turned genuine, "yea well... I'm not going to make the same mistakes they did, and as long as they'll have me, I want to make sure everything's perfect."
Seth grinned at her, "well... I'm sure you'll have to make things perfect forever because I know they'll keep you around that long."
Alex turned to face him properly as she gave him a big smile, "thanks Seth."
He nodded, "and I DEFINITELY think you're outdoing yourself this year Al, this is going to be AMAZING!"
She laughed, "yea, as long as you stay stealth."
He feigned hurt but it quickly changed as he heard the song on the radio, she groaned as he looked at her, "come on Al! Let's sing the joyous song together!"
She shook her head as Seth started singing along, she turned to look at him; "fa la la la la la la la la." The two shared a smile before as they kept on driving home.
After having dropped Seth off at Summer with a promise to see each other soon, she made her way back home, she lightly cursed herself as she stepped foot in the little dimmed house, the only light source coming from the tree in the living room.
She quietly took her shoes off and shed her coat and then slowly made her way into the kitchen to grab a glass of water, she walked to the refrigerator and jumped as the lights went on. "HOLY!"
"Where the hell have you been?" Marissa hissed, "it's Christmas freaking Eve! And YOU lied to me! You tricked me into going carolling with Summer! What the hell were you and Seth up to?" She asked the blonde.
"Uh... hi baby..."
"Don't you 'hi baby' me, it's not going to work! Where the hell were you? Kyle's been asking for you all night!" Marissa continued on annoyed.
"I know, I know and I'm sorry, and I have a good reason..."
"Well! What is it?" The brunette cut her off.
"I can't tell you just yet," Alex replied hesitantly.
"WHAT?"
"Babe..."
"No, no, no, no, no, I had to spend three hours with Summer and the boys carolling, and I know we don't get crazy ass winter weather, but it was cold. And then, I had to tell Kyle that you had something REALLY important to take care of, you didn't have to see his crushed little face when he was told you weren't reading him A Christmas Carol.
I even tried offering to read it to him and you know what he said? He said as much as he loved me, I wasn't you. He was SO sad when he went to bed... and then, I've been up since waiting to hear from you, a phone call, a text, for you to come home period, and nothing, it took you like..." she looked at the clock, "until eleven thirty before you finally made it home."
"I'm sorry," Alex apologized weakly.
Marissa sighed, she looked at the blonde, the girl seemed exhausted and pitiful, she knew Alex had never meant to hurt either her or Kyle, she knew how much this time of year meant to her so she could only imagine whatever it was that had made her run off, was highly important.
Alex watched as Marissa rubbed her forehead, she felt bad for having worried her, but she hoped what she had planned would hopefully make up for it. She slowly started inching her way closer, "I really am sorry babe," she waited as Marissa's eyes met her's.
The brunette let out a soft sigh as she opened her arms and gave her a sad smile, "come here."
Alex quickly complied as she wrapped her arms around the brunette's waist feeling Marissa's arms wrap tightly around her own shoulders, she quickly nuzzled Marissa's neck as she kept apologizing.
Marissa's hands were rubbing up and down Alex's back, "I know..." she sighed, "I guess it's okay, but you owe me one hell of an explanation alright?"
Alex pulled back and nodded vigorously.
"Come on, let's go to bed, this crazy woman I've been in love with for nine years has kept me up all night and worried, and before that, I had our crazy four year old causing chaos. I'm beat."
Alex nodded once more as she went to walk towards the stairs quickly stopping before even having taken four steps.
"What, what's wrong?" Marissa asked.
"Nothing," Alex spun on her heels and quickly scooped up the taller girl who squealed in surprise.
"Wh... what are you doing?"
"Carrying you," Alex replied a sweet smile on her face.
Marissa shook her head, "you're a lost cause."
"But you love me."
"That I do."
Alex was laying next to Marissa, it hadn't taken the brunette girl much time before sleep over came her. Alex had watched her for a little while before glancing over at the clock, seeing it was now one in the morning, she knew it was time and so she quietly got out of bed and slipped into something slightly warmer, she quickly grabbed a sweater as she made her way out of her room.
She went out the back door and quickly finished setting up her surprise, making sure everything was in proper working order before jumping into her car and driving on over to Seth's house.
She took out her phone and quickly called him telling him she was waiting for him outside. She was leaning against her car when she saw him come out wearing a Santa outfit, "ho, ho, ho," he spoke out quietly as he reached her.
She shook her head and smiled at him, "you ready to go?"
"Who wouldn't go?"
She gave him a look, "that makes no sense."
"Ho, ho, ho," he replied with a smirk.
"Let me guess," she spoke, "who wouldn't go?"
"EH! You caught on!"
Alex rolled her eyes, "come on, get in! We've still got plenty to do."
Seth got in her car as he looked at her, "you sooo owe me, next year, you're the one in the suit, this thing itches!"
"Yea, okay!" She replied sarcastically.
It was a quick drive back to the Cooper-Kelly's house, and when they got there Seth couldn't help but be in awe, "Al... this is amazing."
Alex smiled, "yea... I think it'll be great."
Seth gave her a look, "you think? Sweet Moses! Woman, take a look! You did a REALLY amazing job with all of this. You're totally selling yourself short." He turned to face her and watched as she shrugged, "you do realize that now we're coming here right?"
Alex laughed at that, "Seth, you and I BOTH know you were coming here either way."
The boy joined in on the laughter, "true! Okay! Let's get this show on the road."
Alex smiled as she watched the overly excited Seth jump out; she shook her head as she followed him out. The two got the ladder out and carefully made their way up on the rooftop. Alex couldn't help but chuckle at the click, click, click, of the bag Seth was dragging with him as he headed towards the chimney.
He looked down and then looked at her, "you have the rope? Or am I winging this Spider-Man style?"
"I have the rope," she replied as she walked closer to him rope in hand. The two worked to make sure Seth was safely fastened before Alex took a step back. "You know the drill?"
Seth nodded, "yea, I'm pretty sure I've got this," he said as he looked down.
"Alright, I'm going to head in, you head on down, and Seth?" She waited for his attention to be back on her, "thank you again, and be careful alright?"
Seth nodded, "go get him, let's make your boy happy!"
Alex smiled as she headed down the ladder and into the house.
Seth looked down the chimney once again; "down through the chimney with good Saint Nick..." he looked down one last time before climbing up and into the chimney making one last check to his harness before slowly dropping down.
Alex quietly walked into the house and went up the stairs to Kyle's room, she pushed the door opened and smiled as she saw the boy fast asleep arms wrapped around his stuffed monkey. She almost didn't want to wake him, but as she heard the slight thump coming from the living room she knew he'd be ecstatic.
She walked over to his bed and sat on the edge, she lightly shook his shoulder, "Kyle," she whispered. She watched as he seemed to mumble something before going quiet once more, "Kyle," she spoke again as she shook him a little more strongly.
The boy slowly seemed to come to and rubbed his eyes as he looked up to meet his mothers. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing kid, I just, I wanted to say I'm sorry I wasn't home before," she gave him a sad smile as he nodded.
"It's okay... mommy said you had something to take care of."
"I know, but I'm still sorry, you're both the most important things in my life, and nothing should come between that. I want to make sure you know that okay?"
The boy nodded, he was about to say something when the two heard a quiet thump, the boy's eyes went wide as did Alex's. "Ma...you... you think..."
Alex smiled, "let's go see," and with that she picked him up and held him tight as the two made their way down the hall, "whatever happens, you need to be really quiet okay?" Kyle nodded as she continued, "otherwise he might leave."
The two made their way down the stairs and as they reached the landing and turned to head into the living room, Alex stopped short, a quiet, "oh my God," escaping her as her and Kyle stood there watching as 'Santa' moved around their tree placing gifts under the tree.
"Ma... do... do you see that?" The little boy asked quietly in awe.
Alex nodded as she kissed his cheek, "yea, I do..."
The two stood there for a few minutes before Kyle spoke up again, "let's go." Alex looked at him confused, "he could see us Ma..." he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Alex chuckled lightly as she nodded and made their way back upstairs.
She tucked the boy in his bed and watched as he seemed to radiate happiness. "I love you Kyle."
The boy smiled, "love you too."
Alex walked back downstairs and went out the door once she was sure Kyle was back asleep, she made it to the ladder just as Seth came down, he smiled brightly at her, "mission accomplished me friend!"
She gave him a smile and then shocked him as she moved forward and pulled him in for a hug, "thank you so much Seth... that really meant a lot to him."
The two pulled away as he gave her a soft look, "anytime Al."
"Alright, should I drive you home so you can get some beauty sleep before Christmas?"
Seth patted his fake beard covered face, "what? Are you saying I'm not pretty enough?"
The blonde laughed, "come on, let's go."
About twenty minutes later Alex walked back into her house, the exhaustion finally hitting her as she walked up the stairs, she collapsed on the bed and smiled as she felt Marissa quickly curl up around her and couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she heard the brunette mumble, "better be damn good Kelly," before going quiet, Alex quickly following suit as she let sleep over take her, knowing she was going to get up in a few hours.
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la la la la,
Tis the season to be jolly,
Hear the bells of Christmas calling,
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la la la la."