A/N: I decided that this will be the last chapter of this story. You see, I really really love this story. I love this universe and I have so many ideas for it that I decided it is going to be a series. So, do not fear there will be more! This is the first installment of the series. :) Thank you for all of your reviews! My next story will be up tonight!
Christmas Day...
Sharon stood in the kitchen finishing her famous pumpkin pie, before placing it in the oven. Seeing her husband walk into the kitchen with the knife she smiled big, "I have to say Jack, I still can't believe Casey hasn't come clean yet."
"I know what you mean, Sharon. They probably didn't want to ruin the holidays." Jack replied putting the knife into the knife block.
"Yeah, I suppose." As she answered she placed the pie into the oven. Hearing the doorbell, she grinned a wicked grin, "That has to be them."
Watching his wife head to the front door, he called out, "Remember, they are only children!"
Waving off her husband, Sharon opened the door, "Merry Christmas girls. Come in..."
Kissing her mother's cheek, Casey said, "Merry Christmas, Mom."
"Merry Christmas, Sharon," Alex said hugging the older redhead. She was so terrified of her mother-in-law it was laughable.
"Oh Alex, there is no need to call me Sharon, I think Mother Dearest would do perfectly." Sharon said with the creepiest smile.
"Excuse me?" Alex gaped.
"Mom, have you been powering down the mimosas this morning?" Casey asked wide eyed.
"Excuse me?" Alex repeated frozen to her spot on the floor.
"I guess that's a no?" Sharon asked looking rather hurt, "I thought it was a nice name. Oh well." Turning on her heel, she headed back to the kitchen.
"What the hell was that?" Casey asked her wife.
"She knows Casey!" Alex exclaimed in a terrified whisper.
"How could she know Alex?"
"I am telling you she knows! And she wants me to call her Mother Dearest?! What the hell! I told you we should have gone to my father's house or Timbuktu!"
Pulling her slightly trembling wife into her arms, Casey laughed, "Babe, you have got to settle down. Let's get you a drink okay?"
Nodded to her wife, the two started to head into the living room to the bar when the door chimed again. Parting from Alex, Casey opened the door to come face to face with Andrew. "Andrew! What are you doing here?"
"Casey, sweetheart, I came for Christmas. My old friend Jackie boy invited me! You know the old shrew wouldn't have me anywhere but 6 feet under if she had a vote!"
"Dad!" Alex exclaimed. Today was beginning to turn more sour as the minutes passed.
"Jack!" Andrew exclaimed, seeing the man come out of the kitchen.
"Andrew my man, come on in. Merry Christmas." Jack replied patting Andrew on the back.
"Andrew..." Sharon said coolly from the doorway, "I thought you had plans with Satan for the holiday?"
"Shrew, it's good to see you too. Merry Christmas...not." Andrew snipped back.
"Mom! Dad!" Casey and Alex exclaimed simultaneously as Daniel and Claire entered the room.
"Awesome, repeat of Thanksgiving," Claire mumbled.
"I can't wait to see how this one ends." Daniel laughed receiving a death glare from Casey that quickly shut him up.
"I can't have a repeat of Thanksgiving. It was too much. Are you two going to behave?" Casey asked.
"Yes." Sharon grumbled.
"If she does," Andrew sighed.
"Daddy please," Alex exclaimed catching everyone's attention. "Now you didn't have to come here. Casey and I were coming to your house afterwards. You chose to come to Sharon and Jack's so behave."
"If I must. How about that drink Jacko?" Andrew replied.
"Right this way," the elder Raydor said smiling at his wife. Everything was going perfectly.
After some tension filled mingling, Sharon said, "I bet my pumpkin pie is done!"
"Did you poison this one too?" Andrew snipped.
"Only your side this time." She replied with a smirk.
"Mother," Casey groaned rolling her eyes.
"Okay," Jack interrupted, "The beef tenderloin should be ready. I am going to carve it, would you like to help Andrew?"
"Sure, as long as Captain Killer doesn't try to poison me."
"Dad, cut it out." Alex snapped.
Andrew Cabot quickly spun around to face his daughter, "Really Alexandra, I love Casey, and Jack, Claire and Daniel, but she," he said pointing a forceful finger towards Sharon, "Is a psycho! She tried to poison me!"
"No, I didn't," Sharon yelled back. "You were the heartless spoiled brat. You abandoned me!"
"No, I didn't. You left me!"
Daniel walked closer with Claire hot on his heels to get a better view of the drama, as it moved towards the kitchen. Leaning into Casey, he whispered, "You always know how to stir the pot." He quickly silenced himself as his sister threw an elbow to his gut.
Sharon turned and headed into the kitchen, Andrew fast in pursuit with everyone else following. "You just can't handle that I didn't want you!" He yelled.
Pulling the pie from the oven, Sharon replied, "You can't handle that I still don't want you!"
Suddenly Andrew closed the space between him and Sharon, "I wouldn't have you if you were the last woman on earth. You were far to clingy and dramatic and never could decide what you wanted to eat. It was too high maintenance. Your husband is a angel to take it." He turned to walk away, but quickly turned back to face her, "You know what, I never got that ring back, do you still have it?"
"You bastard," Sharon yelled as she yanked the knife free from the block and jumped on Andrew with it.
The whole room erupted in screams, as Sharon and Andrew collided to the floor. Suddenly Alex and Casey rounded the island to find Sharon and Andrew laughing hysterically. As panic left them they caught Jack cracking up as well behind Daniel and Claire who were only just realizing it was a joke.
"What the hell!" Casey exclaimed.
"Rubber knife darling." Sharon laughed wiggling it in the air.
Standing Andrew helped Sharon up and looked at his daughter and daughter-in-law, "That will teach you two to keep secrets."
"What?" Alex gaped. "Oh my God! You did see the ring!"
"Sure did Alex." Sharon smirked.
"So, this was all a rouse?" Claire asked.
"Sure was, planned by your mother, myself and Andrew." Jack replied hugging his youngest.
"That was awesome." Daniel laughed.
"That was so mean!" Alex cried hugging her father. "So mean."
"And so was getting married and not telling your childish parents." He scolded.
"We planned to today." Casey admitted. The panic and shock was fading in her mind and she was starting to find the whole thing funny.
"Why don't you all tell us all about it over dinner?" Sharon asked.
Dinner passed smoothly, filled with the story of how Casey surprised Alex with the wedding at the Empire State Building, and Alex assuring everyone that they'd captured the moment on film and would be happy to share it. Then they all shared their favorite past Christmas moments. Daniel, of course, took the spotlight by saying his favorite was an hour ago when he thought his mother had killed Andrew. Sharon and Andrew shared past funny stories, along with Andrew sharing stories of him and his wife, and Jack and Sharon sharing their own stories. It was a warm family dinner filled with love.
After cleaning up, everyone headed into the living room to unwrap presents. Passing everyone's out, Alex handed her dad a special box, while Casey handed Sharon and Jack a similar one. Both sets of parents smiled, opening those gifts first to discover a silver picture frame with their wedding date engraved on it and the picture Celia had taken of Alex and Casey on the Empire State Building. Andrew teared up, while Jack muttered, "It's wonderful girls," and Sharon grabbed Casey and Alex into a hug.
"We have something for you two." Sharon said motioning to Andrew and Jack. The two men quickly jumped to retrieving the two hidden boxes.
Walking over to Alex, Andrew kissed his daughters head and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Alexandra and Casey."
Jack and Sharon handed Casey her box, Sharon whispered, "Merry Christmas, Casey and Alex."
The couple looked at each other before unwrapping each of their boxes, in the box from Jack and Sharon they discovered multiple hotel reservations for different cities throughout Europe, and in the box from Andrew they found coordinating plane and train tickets to each destination. Both Alex and Casey looked up at their parents in disbelief.
"Mom," Casey spoke, this had to cost you a fortune.
"Well your father and I had money set aside for your wedding, and Andrew evidently had done the same, so we decided to spend it on your honeymoon instead. You leave in three days, it should give you time to pack!" Sharon beamed.
"We thought it was a nice gesture to show you how incredibly sorry we are for being immature asses, and making you feel like you had to elope." Andrew smiled.
Alex jumped from her seat and hugged her father tight thanking him over and over, while Casey shook her head at her mother, saying, "A simple sorry would have done, Mom," before pulling her into a tight embrace.
Claire laughed in Jack's ear, "So does the same apply to me, Daddy?"
He laughed, "Not a chance, I am going to walk at least one of my girls down the aisle."
"Doesn't apply to sons?" Daniel asked.
"Nope," Sharon teased still hugging Casey. Finally letting go, she continued, "And you two don't have to work, I took care of everything. You have the month, so enjoy."
"I can't believe this thank you all." Alex said again. Before excitedly flipping through everything with Casey.
As the gift giving and opening continued, Sharon sat back in her chair. Life sure had a way of giving you the unexpected. If anyone had told her 30 years ago this is where she'd end up she would have laughed in their face, but life had truly blessed her. Watching her family laughing and enjoying the day together, she couldn't imagine having another life, this one seemed so perfect.
She had an amazing husband, three beautiful and happy children, a brilliant and sweet daughter in law, and her best friend back. She could only look to the future with happiness. She couldn't wait to see what was in store for them, if the present was any indication it would be a happy one.
A/N: Once again, thank you for reading! Keep an eye out for the sequel, I might get around to it eventually! ;)