Christmas Eve. They all arrived at the hospital Christmas party. Tension had been high between their girls. Because of that, they had been avoiding doing or saying anything that would add to the tension by fighting themselves. Alexis knew her daughters and knew they'd be tempted to take sides. That was the last thing they needed. Kristen was a fierce defender of her father and it would only add to the stress. Alexis still hadn't told him about agreeing to represent Morgan and she knew that was going to be a blow to any progress they may have seemingly achieved.
"I see Cam. I'll be right back." Addison said to her parents as they stepped off the elevator and went over towards him.
"Owen wasn't wrong about this, was he?" Kristen asked as Owen shook his head indicating that no, he wasn't wrong. Their sister definitely saw Cam as someone she wanted to be more than a friend.
"Please, don't make it a thing, Krissy. If she wants to talk about it, she will." Alexis said not wanting Kristen to add to the tension. She couldn't take watching them ignore each other any longer and hoped maybe they'd be able to move on if her older daughter rose above it.
"I'm going to…uh, head over there. " Owen said looking at his father who nodded understanding as their son walked towards Emily and Monica.
"I was only asking. She's not speaking to me, remember?" Kristen responded to her mother.
"I'd really love it if you could find a way to mend your relationship with your sister. It's the only thing I want for Christmas."
"She needs to accept I wasn't the one who did something wrong that day." Kristen replied adamantly.
"Talk to her please. She's channeling you right now." Alexis said to Ned, frustrated, as she spotted Nikolas and went over towards him.
"Dad, seriously? What is her problem? That was ridiculous."
"That wasn't about you Kristen. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. But I wasn't wrong, so how do you expect me to make this right if Addison isn't mature enough to see that?"
"I agree, you did the right thing. But, she's your sister and I also don't like to see you both like this, so find a way. Mend fences." Ned stated as he watched Addison and Cam standing over by the vending machines. She lit up when she was around him.
"She really likes him, doesn't she?" Kristen asked, noting her dad watching Addison out of the corner of his eye.
"She does and they've been spending a lot of time together. Just try and be supportive. She's been through a lot this year."
"Got it." Kristen said, feeling like there was more going on that her parents had kept her in the dark about as her and her dad walked over towards her grandmother and the rest of the Quartermaines.
Across the room by the vending machines, Addison approached Cam. She felt slightly self-conscious in the costume, but tradition was tradition and it was her turn for this right of passage.
"You're an Elf." Cam said, smiling as she approached.
"I look ridiculous. But I couldn't get out of it." Addison said, smiling. "Believe me I tried."
"I don't know. I think you look kind of cute. Very festive." Cam replied.
"Really?" She was skeptical.
"Really." He assured her.
"Want to do something over break? Go skating or something?" She asked. It would be nice to just hang out and not have to accomplish any school work.
"Sure. Sounds fun."
"Ok, we can figure out the details later. Should we invite Sophie?" She didn't want it to seem like a date or anything. Sophie was right; there was a vibe and she wasn't quite sure if they were ready for that. It was one of the reasons she invited Sophie to watch a movie with them the other night..
"We can." He said. He didn't want Sophie there, but he didn't want to admit that just yet.
"You don't want to?" She questioned. Maybe he did want it to be a date?
"Let's see, maybe it's a few of us, maybe it's just us. Who knows what people have planned." He wasn't ready to actually admit he wanted to ask her out.
"Ok, that works." She agreed, relieved.
Joss watched Addison and Cam from the other side of the nurses station. They were clearly flirting and under no circumstances was she going to let this continue. Cam deserved someone who could at least socialize like a normal person. He was too good for Addison. She needed to come up with a plan.
"Addison, we need you over here to help with the kids." Elizabeth called out, sorry to interrupt her conversation with her son. As she watched him with her it was clear that they were more than just platonic friends. Something was definitely happening between them.
"Coming!" She yelled. "We'll talk later."
"Absolutely. Go do the Elf thing."
"First, I have something for you." She said, smiling.
"More peanut butter cookies I hope?"
"Sorry, just this. Merry Christmas, Cam." She said as she handed him a candy cane and he took it and smiled at her and then hugged her quickly.
Joss rolled her eyes at them as she watched him hug Addison quickly for a stupid candy cane and Addison went over to where Elizabeth and Bobbie were organizing the kids from the pediatric ward. She walked over to Addison. She wanted to know why if she insisted her and Cam weren't a thing, was she so obviously flirting with him.
Addison saw Joss approaching. "We're supposed to stay away from each other." She was direct and to the point.
"At school. We're at a Christmas party. Our parents are here, neither of us are that stupid."
"What do you want, Joss?" Addison asked, annoyed.
"I thought you said you and Cam weren't a thing? Did that change?"
"We aren't. We're just really close friends." She lied. She knew there was something building between them; she just wasn't sure what yet and Joss was the last person she'd admit that to.
"Then why were you throwing yourself at him?" Joss interrogated.
"You're insane." Addison replied.
"No, I saw the two of you just now." Joss insisted.
"So, what are you jealous that Cam and I are close? Because if he was interested in you I'm sure he'd try to talk to you and he very obviously hasn't approached you once since this entire party started. Do you even actually like him or are you just hell bent on making my life miserable." Addison pushed her buttons. She knew she shouldn't, but it was too easy and she wasn't just going to roll over. Joss needed to know she couldn't push her around.
"I told you I liked him. So back off, he deserves better than a socially inept bookworm. Cam is popular at PC High. You'd ruin him."
"He deserves better than a jealous self-centered bitch who thinks the world revolves around her. Excuse me. I said I'd go get the gifts for after the Christmas story." Addison said as she walked away.
Sophie watched the entire exchange and followed Addison. "Hey you ok? I'm sorry my sister just can't let things go."
"I'm fine. I can handle Joss." She said walking into the conference room and grabbing a box of gifts. "Hey can you take this one and I'll grab the bag on that chair over there?"
"Sure." Sophie said, taking the box and then heading back out to the party.
As Sophie exited Joss saw Cam standing under the overhang where the mistletoe was, completely unaware. It was perfect and if she timed it just right, Addison would see the entire thing. She saw Addison approaching and pulled Cam towards her. She threw her arms around him and kissed him. He was taken totally off guard.
Addison walked across the room and picked up the red bag of gifts and headed back towards the party. When she got to the doorway she froze. Joss and Cam. Kissing. She tried to focus. It couldn't be, but it was. Cam was kissing Josslyn under the mistletoe. She backed into the room and sat on the closest chair and tried not to cry. Of course she was wrong. Cam didn't like her. Who would like her over Josslyn? She had misread the signals and now all she wanted to do was go home, but to do that she'd need to go back out into the mob of friends, and family, and then likely face Cam. She said they'd talk later that night.
Out by the nurse's station Cam pushed Jossyln off of him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"We were under the mistletoe." Joss said as if it made sense.
"You don't just walk up to people and kiss them like that, Joss." Cam said appalled.
"Well maybe I just wanted you to know that I noticed you." Joss replied.
"I doubt that's all it was. Excuse me." He walked away and approached Sophie. "Have you seen Adds?"
"She was supposed to be right behind me. Sorry Cam. She'll turn up. Hard to miss the Elf costume."
He laughed. "So true."
"Hey Soph, your sister…."
"Oh god, what did she do now?"
"She just kissed me. Why would she think that's ok?"
"Cam, she's jealous. She thinks you like Addie."
"Jealous? I'm not even really friends with her anymore. We haven't really seen each other since middle school, and I do like Addie. A lot, Soph."
"Thought so." She smiled. She wouldn't tell him Addie liked him as well. She wouldn't betray her friend like that.
Addison took a deep breath and peered out into the Christmas party. Cam was distracted, talking with Sophie and now Owen, who had approached them. She spotted her mother still talking with Nikolas. This was her chance. She walked around the nurses station to her mom.
Alexis noticed Addison walking towards them and she smiled at her daughter. "Elf duty finished?" She asked as she approached.
"Can we go now?" Addison asked her mother. Ignoring her question.
"Addie what's wrong? What happened?" Her daughter was clearly upset.
"I just want to go home. Can we go?" Addison asked as Nikolas looked on concerned.
"Alan hasn't even read the Christmas story, yet." Alexis stated, knowing that was her daughter's favorite part of the entire event. Ever since she was a little girl, she loved sitting and listening to the Christmas story.
"Please Mom, I just need to get out of here." She pleaded.
"I guess I could take you home and your dad, Owen, and Krissy could meet us there later." Alexis replied with concern as she watched her daughter become antsy, more anxious than she'd seen her since the night of her panic attack.
"Thank you." She said relieved. "I'll meet you by the elevator." She said wanting to get out of there quickly, unnoticed.
"Nikolas, I'll talk more with you later. Merry Christmas." She said as she hugged her nephew and then walked over to Ned, who had been talking with Chloe and Jax. She touched his shoulder and he turned towards her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Hey, Addison wants to go home. I told her I'd take her."
"Everything ok? Alan hasn't even-" Ned asked, confused.
She interrupted, "I know. I'm not sure what's going on, but she's upset. I'll see you back at the house in a couple hours. "
"Of course. Take her home." He said as he spotted Addison fidgeting nervously over by the elevator, pressing the button more than once.
"Chloe, Jax, I'm sorry I didn't get to talk with you. Merry Christmas." She said as she went to kiss Ned quickly goodbye and Chloe and Jax returned the holiday greetings. She walked over to the elevator and put her arm around Addison as the doors opened and they stepped inside to head home.
Addison was silent the whole ride home. As soon as they entered the house she immediately went upstairs, ignoring her mother's question of concern. She entered her bedroom and tore off the stupid Elf costume and put on her favorite hoodie and leggings before throwing herself on her bed. She didn't understand it. Just the other day Cam had said she was pretty. There was this moment and she thought he liked her. And there was a similar moment at the start of the party. How could she be such an idiot not to see it. He was being nice. He was being her friend, but he didn't like her that way. Not the way she liked him.
A few minutes later Alexis walked into her daughter's room. Addison was curled in a ball and staring at the wall. She was concerned about what could possibly be upsetting her this much. Christmas was her favorite holiday. She loved the hospital party, she loved everything about Christmas Eve and it fascinated her that one of her kids could love this holiday so much. "Baby, what's wrong?" She said as she sat on her daughter's bed and put her hand on her back. Addison turned to face her mother, letting the tears that had been threatening to fall, finally stream down her cheeks as her mother pulled her into her arms. "Oh, Addie, just talk to me. It can't be that bad."
"But it is. I'm such an idiot."
"Why would you say that? What happened tonight, sweetheart?" Alexis asked as Addison pulled away.
"Cam kissed Joss."
"Oh, Addison." Her heart broke for her daughter as she hugged her again.
"I thought he liked me, Mom. I thought he liked me. Just the other day he said he thought I was pretty and there was this moment… and now I'm an idiot."
"He told you you're pretty?" Alexis asked, surprised, sympathetic.
"Yes." She said through her tears trying to steady her voice, "and he's my best friend and he gets me and now it's just going to be awkward and weird and–"
"Maybe it's not what you think." She had to believe there was a misunderstanding. She saw them together when they arrived at GH. It was clear they liked each other.
"It was under the mistletoe!" She explained through her tears.
"Again, for that very reason, maybe it's not what you think." She tried to help her daughter take a step back, not jump to conclusions.
"I may be an anxious mess, but I know what I saw."
"What can I do?" She wanted to help, but she wasn't sure what her daughter needed to make this not hurt as much.
"Nothing. Just don't tell anyone. If Dad asks, tell him I had a headache or something."
"Sure. You'll be ok and so will your friendship with Cam. I believe that." Alexis said as she hugged her daughter tightly.
"Glad someone does." Addison replied as she hugged her mother.
"Do you want to watch a Christmas movie with me? We can make popcorn and wait for everyone else to get back." She hated those sappy Christmas specials, but her daughter loved them and she wanted to try and help distract her.
"I guess. But we're not talking about it. Got that?"
"About what? Come on, let's go downstairs."
She sat on the couch with her mom, sharing a blanket, eating popcorn, trying to forget about what she saw when her phone buzzed. She reached into the pocket of her hoodie and sat up to read the message. It was Cam. She had bailed without even a conversation.
Cam- Where'd you go?
Addison- Home. headache. Sorry.
Cam- Sucks. Feel better.
"Who was that?" Alexis asked.
"Noone. Let's just watch the movie." She put her phone on silent and placed it back into her pocket before leaning back up against her mom who had put her arm around her.
Later that evening after the GH Christmas party and their own family traditions. Ned and Alexis lay in bed on their sides, faces inches apart. Christmas may not be their favorite holiday, but it was the anniversary of the day they first met and they took time to acknowledge that. "Christmas Eve 1996 changed the trajectory of my life." Alexis said quietly.
"1996. It seems like a lifetime ago." He whispered, pushing her hair behind her ear.
"It does. You think if we hadn't met that night. If we had met because of Monica's trial we'd be here?" She asked him. She always wondered if it was fate that brought them together that night.
"Absolutely. We bonded over our dislike of Christmas that night, but we got to know each other, fell in love, because of the time we were spending together." He was certain.
"I don't know. I feel like that night I was so intrigued by the idea of you that it was because of that night I was open to letting myself get to know you as more than just the family of someone I was defending."
"Either way, fate had us cross paths for a reason. We were meant to fall in love. Build a life together."
Her forehead met his and she kissed him. "I love you, Ned Ashton," she whispered as she touched his cheek.
He responded and returned the kiss. "You're the love of my life, Alexis Davis-Ashton." He whispered and pulled her closer. He was grateful for her. When he had met her his marriage to Lois was dissolving and he never thought he'd ever find love again. Little did he know that she'd come into his life and show him that someone could love him exactly the way he is.