Where the Heart Lies

Chapter Twelve: Holidays and Happiness

Author's Note-Last chapter, so it's going to be a bit shorter. The next story will deal with the wedding, I promise. I hope you've enjoyed my first attempt at a multi chapter Willard fan fiction.

The inside of the cabin was even nicer than the outside. A large stone fireplace took up one wall, and placed directly in front of it was a large couch. A small dining table stood in an alcove directly across from the couch, and the kitchen was directly across from the alcove. There was a small hallway leading to an open door through which Willard could see a glimpse of a bed. A large window in the dining alcove opened up onto a breathtaking view of the mountains. Willard had never seen any place more perfect.

"Abbie, this is beautiful."

Abbie smiled. "Yeah, but wait until we decorate it for Christmas. It's going to look amazing."

Willard looked at her, confused. "I'm sure it would, but we have nothing to decorate. No tree, nothing." Abbie merely smiled mysteriously, and Willard frowned at her. "Okay, Abbie, what are you not telling me?"

She grinned. "Go take a look at what's on the back porch."

Puzzled, Willard complied-and his eyes widened in shock and joy. Propped up against the wall of the cabin was the biggest spruce he had ever laid his eyes on, and boxes were piled high on the porch. He goggled at the sight, and then looked at Abbie, completely mystified. "How?"

"The ornaments and such are from my apartment and from here as well. I've had them for a long time, and it's been a while since I've been able to afford a tree so I could use them. But now that I can, I dug them out of storage and sent them up here. The tree I got at a farm in town. Now that you've heard the explanations, help me haul it inside so we can set it up and start decorating this place for Christmas!"

Willard grinned widely. "Yes Ma'am! Uhhh…we do have a stand, right?" Abbie nodded. "Good. I'll carry the tree inside, you grab the stand."

They found the perfect spot for the tree-right in front of one of the large windows, and together they set it in the stand. Once it was straight, Willard tightened the screws so it wouldn't tip over.

Plato peeked her head out of Willard's pocket and sniffed at the tree, body quivering with curiosity. Willard gently scolded her. "No climbing this tree, Plato." Plato chittered in understanding, and Willard laughed. "You are just as bright as your brother."

"Are you going to talk to your rat or are you going to help me with these boxes?"

Willard smiled guiltily at Abbie. "Sorry. Of course I'll help you." He set Plato down on the mantel then went out to the porch and started hauling in boxes, piling them neatly in front of the tree. "Is this all going on the tree?"

Abbie nodded. "A lot of it is, but there's also some stuff for decorating the cabin, and I think there's a crèche in one of the boxes. We'll put that on the mantel. However, our first priority is finding the Christmas lights. I think they're in that box by your feet."

Willard looked down then at her, eyebrows raised. "You want to be more specific, babe? There are about seven boxes at my feet."

Abbie giggled. "Umm…try the third box from the left. See what's in that one." Willard opened the box, and sighed. "Only thing in here is a layer of dust. Hold on." He blew the dust out of the box, sneezed, and then peered in again. "No lights, but there's some garland. You want me to get it out?"

"Of course! Set it on the table for now." Abbie knelt down and began opening boxes, peering into their dusty depths. "Ornaments, ornaments, my stocking, more garland, icicles, AHA! Christmas lights!"

She pulled out a carefully wrapped set of miniature Christmas lights, grinning. "Found 'em. Now to make sure they actually work." She plugged them in and beamed when the string lit up. "Perfect. Willard, string the lights please. You can reach higher than I can."

Willard took the lights from her and hung them on the tree, then stepped back to admire his handiwork. "I can't remember the last time I decorated a tree. I think it was when my father was still alive, and even then it was more of an…" he paused, unable to think of the right word. Abbie smiled at him in sympathy.

"Obligation?"

Willard nodded. "That's the word. It was Christmas, and I was the one that decorated the tree. Mother would never do it, and Father was too busy dealing with the business to worry about the tree. He'd buy it, but beyond that, he just didn't give a damn."

"Did you have any favorite ornaments?"

"I did, but unfortunately they were broken. One was a panda bear wearing a Santa Claus hat, and another was a glass globe painted blue and red. I used to hold the globe up to the window, and watch the patterns the sunlight would make. I always made sure to hang that one near a light, so it would shine."

Abbie smiled, then handed him the garland. "Here. Red garland on a green tree always looks so pretty."

Willard nodded. "The colors of Christmas. Where's the start of this tangle?" Abbie showed him, and he smiled in slight embarrassment. "Thanks, love." He wrapped the garland around the tree, and then stepped back to admire his handiwork. "It looks beautiful already."

Abbie nodded. "It does, but just wait until we've got it all decorated. It'll be breathtaking." She reached in one of the boxes and handed him an ornament-a puppy dog with a Frisbee in its mouth. "Here. You can hang up the first ornament."

Willard gave a boyish grin and carefully hung the ornament on a branch, then looked over at Abbie for approval. She grinned and clapped her hands. "Well done, love."

He bowed slightly, grinning. "Why thank you my darling. I don't suppose we have any Christmas music to listen to while we decorate?"

"As a matter of fact, we do. Hold on a second, I'll be right back." Abbie disappeared into the bedroom, emerging a few minutes later with a CD player and CDs. "My collection of Christmas music." She set the player down on the table and handed Willard the CDs. "Here, you get first choice."

He rifled through them. "No, no, no, Yes. Here." He handed her a CD of the Nutcracker. "Perfect Christmas music."

Abbie smiled. "It certainly is. Excellent choice, babe." She started the CD, and smiled as the first strains of the beautiful ballet drifted around the small cabin. "I always loved this music. My parents would take me to see a performance of it every year."

Willard sighed. "My parents didn't really do anything for Christmas except throw really elaborate parties that I was expressly forbidden to attend. I would sneak out of my room and watch from upstairs, though."

Abbie smiled at him in sympathy. "We would go to the Christmas parties on whichever base my Dad was assigned to, and they varied. Some were rather boring, but the best one was the party at Hammonds Barracks in Mannheim. The townsfolk went all out, and we had a real feast. Borscht, Goulash, Wursts, fish, poultry, German chocolate, strudel, candy canes of every flavor, and more pastries and cakes than I'd ever seen in my life. But the best bit was when the CO of the Base dressed up as Santa Claus and gave out presents. I got a small teddy bear and a coloring book."

Willard chuckled. "What of?"

"Horses. I was going through a real horse craze at the time, so I was thrilled, especially since I had a brand new box of crayons as well."

"How old were you?"

"Nine. I wanted a horse of my own, but my parents said no. I did learn to ride, though."

Willard smiled, and then looked at the tree in admiration. "We're really doing a good job. One box is almost empty."

Abbie's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Just one box? We'd better hurry. There are still the cookies to make."

Willard's eyes widened in delight. "Cookies? I haven't had Christmas cookies since I was a kid. I'll have to sample the dough, make sure it's up to par. There's nothing worse than cookies made with subpar dough."

Abbie laughed. "I agree completely, and you may sample the dough. Just make sure you leave enough for actual cookie making, okay?" Willard nodded, and Abbie chuckled, shaking her head at his boyish antics. "You're very silly, you know."

He grinned and pulled her into his arms, giving her a quick kiss. "I know, but I'm also very happy. Can you guess why?"

Abbie pursed her lips in mock thought. "Hmmm…because you aren't in Bellevue anymore?"

He gazed seriously at her. "That's a minor part of it. I'm happy because I'm finally getting the chance to have a good life with a woman that I am hopelessly, completely, and madly in love with-a woman that is going to be my wife and didn't abandon me when things turned ugly. I'm happy because I'm finally free of the abuse and vitriol that I had to endure at the hands of my former boss and to some extent, my mother as well. I'm happy because my life has taken a turn for the better."

Abbie smiled, and then pulled him down into a deep kiss. "I love you too, Willard."

He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. "I know. Now, what say we go make some Christmas cookies?"

Abbie giggled. "A wonderful idea. The dough's on the counter in a bowl. You'll have to fetch the flour down, though."

Willard saluted. "Point me to it, my love!"

"Third cupboard on your left. The cookie cutters should be in there too. Get those down."

"Yessum." He pulled down the flour, placing it carefully on the counter, and then swiped a bit of dough, popping it into his mouth before Abbie could do or say anything. "Delicious!"

Abbie glared at him, hands on hips. "Get the cutters down, please." She giggled as she heard a small chittering by her feet. Plato had come to investigate. Abbie picked her up and took a small bit of dough, holding it out to her. "You want to try some of this?" Plato nibbled a little bit of the dough, then wriggled happily and devoured the rest. Abbie laughed. "I'm glad you like it."

Willard placed the bag holding the cutters on the table and gave Abbie a mock glare. "So I snitch dough and you scold me, but you give Plato some on your own?"

Abbie giggled, stroking Plato between her ears. "Well, she is cuter." Willard pouted, then sighed.

"I can't argue with that. Plato is rather cute."

"She is. Now, shall we make the cookies?"

Willard nodded eagerly. "Yes please. I want to use the bell shaped cookie cutter first."

Abbie laughed and handed it to him. "There you go all yours. Just let me put some flour on the counter so the dough doesn't stick, and we can get started."

The cookie making was a huge success, although it did stop for a few moments when Abbie and Willard got into a flour fight and ended up looking like two Christmas spirits. But eventually all the dough was gone, having been made into cookies or simply eaten by the occupants of the kitchen.

Abbie spread the cookies out on a sheet. There were cookies shaped like bells, teddy bears, Santa, Christmas trees, stars, and even a few shaped like a crown. "These look wonderful. All that's left now is to pop them in the oven and wait for them to cook."

"Abbie, look out the window." Willard's voice was full of awe, and Abbie turned to look, gasping in delight at the snow that was steadily falling down.

"I think we might have a white Christmas."

Willard walked over and stood in front of the window, his eyes wide as he watched the snow. "It's beautiful." Abbie walked over to him, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her in front of him, and kissed her throat, swaying in time to the Waltz of the Flowers. "Thank you, my gorgeous girl."

"For what?"

"Everything."

Together they watched the snow fall, and Willard reflected on how incredibly lucky he was.

His heart had led him to a truly wonderful life.

THE END.