Christmas in Harlem – Kanye West/Prynce Cy Hi

Year 15.

April watched her husband help their sixteen year old son from across the room. The party was going on without a hitch but this was the fifteenth Christmas party they'd thrown together, so she hoped they had it down by now. She saw that Jackson had pulled Graycin aside to fix his tie but she couldn't hear what they were saying to each other.

"Dad, really?" Graycin groaned at his father, folding his arms across his chest angrily. His face was red and judging by his body language the kid had little to say to him.

Jackson rolled his eyes. "Hey Bud, watch it." He scolded, but it only gained him another bout of attitude. Jackson gave him that look he had mastered over the years, even April knew it. It meant the conversation was over. He didn't use it on her often, if ever, but the kids knew it well.

April watched them interact from a far, noticing that they were the same height, had the same mannerisms and even seemed to be wearing the same watch. She took in the way her family had helped her decorate their home for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. There was a large twelve foot tree in the corner, decorated nearly with warm white lights and carefully matching glass ornaments. The tree in their family room was the smaller one with bright colored lights and homemade ornaments from all of their childhoods. That one was her favorite.

The mantle was decorated with garland and stockings. April's stocking was saved directly from her Grandma Lucille was starting to fall apart but she loved it to pieces so she kept using it. Jackson, Graycin, Erin and Colin all had new stockings or at least newer than hers and they were all different in their own ways. Graycin's was average sized and had the Celtics logo on it. Erin's was a knitted red and white stocking covered in snowflakes. Colin's was just really big because he when he got it he figured Santa would stuff his the fullest. Jackson's was red with the name "Dad" stitched into it across the top.

The garland delicately wrapped the stairway leading upstairs and Christmas cards from their extended friends and family lined the doorway. She could smell the Christmas cookies they baked earlier still strongly filling the house. The wooden cross she received from her confirmation was nailed near the front doorway and all of her children's were beneath it. It was her favorite time of year.

Back across the room Jackson tried to change the subject. He knew Graycin was less than pleased that he had to be at their Christmas party rather than the one his girlfriend's parents were throwing on the same night. But they wanted him home for it since all of their friends and family were in the same place for the only time that year, barring any major disasters.

She could tell there was a verbal lull in the conversation, even though they were evidently arguing in silence. The background was filled with Christmas in Harlem and it was the Kanye West/Prynce Cy Hi version she didn't care for as much but Graycin had offered to help with the playlist before he realized what night the party was on and wanted nothing to do with it.

"I'm sorry for everything Dad." Graycin apologized, staring down at his feet ashamed. He knew he was overboard with attitude lately.

Jackson shrugged. "I get it. I would have wanted to be with my girlfriend too if I were you. But you know your Mother wants you here tonight. You get that, right?"

Graycin nodded. "I get it. It's just… she never thinks about things from my point of view. It's always about what she wants." He knew he was out of line again but he couldn't stop himself.

"Hey. Watch it. Your mother has put you first since before you were even born. She just wants what's best for you and so do I. You can't blame her for wanting you to be at the Christmas party. She has three more years before you can decide not to be here. Until then, you're ours. Got it?"

He rolled his eyes and agreed while he tried to squirm away from a hug from his Father who pulled him into a hug. He knew he was stuck at the party but he didn't have to like it.

In one corner of their living room she saw Richard and Catherine laughing about something only they knew and giving each other the lovey eyes. They'd been married for fifteen years now, were both retired and cuter than ever. They did nothing hospital related anymore and traveled almost exclusively. When they weren't traveling they were stationed back in Seattle to see the grandbabies.

On the other side of the house she caught Owen and Amelia talking to Ben and Bailey and they appeared to be talking medicine even though she made it clear medicine was off-limits for the night. She knew because she saw that all four were completely absorbed in the conversation. It was hard for her to believe that she'd known all of these people for twenty something odd years. Because now they were all her family and she wouldn't have it any other way.

When she looked back at her husband, she saw him making Graycin laugh as he slightly bobbed to the music. He was in that stage of being easily embarrassed and April knew Jackson loved this song just as much as Graycin. Graycin found it on his Dad's iPod. Before long she saw Graycin laugh and lose the attitude. The tense weight of the conversation lifted. She knew it would.

April joined her husband and eldest son. "Don't you two look handsome?"

Jackson sniggered at her comment, knowing Graycin wouldn't be happy. "Manly Mom, we look manly."

She pressed her lips together and whistled as he took off in the other direction. Jackson pulled her into his arms.

"You think I look handsome?" He teased, wrapping his arms around her waist to dance with her.

She looked up at him lovingly, "You always look handsome."

He would never get used to hearing that. She was so sweet to him. Even after all these years.

They swayed to the music, listening to whatever Christmas songs played over the speakers next. It was their favorite time of the year.

Jo and Alex were next to them, dancing as well. Eventually Derek and Meredith, Ben and Bailey, Owen and Amelia and all the other couples joined them too. Richard took Erin's hand and Catherine pulled a grumpy Graycin onto the dance floor with her. Colin finally got the dance from Alex's daughter Catie that he'd been trying to get for all those years, even though a watchful Alex peered in over his shoulder at his daughters first dance.