Christmas Eve
New York City
People say that Christmas is a magical time of year. No one would agree with that more than Rhys Bristol. To a man who hadn't had any reason to celebrate since he was a boy, Christmas was a dream come true. Snow or no snow, it didn't really matter. And this year, there was even more reason for celebration than ever before - Adam and Gina had just gotten married; Rhys had been reunited with his long lost sister, Rachel; and last, but certainly not least, Natalya was expecting a baby. All of his dreams were finally, at long last, coming true. In the end, he didn't need St. Nicholas to grant his holiday wishes or leave a present in his stocking. Every wish he had ever desired had been fulfilled, and he could not be happier. He and Natalya were spending the holidays in New York with their two closest friends, while Rachel and Zach recuperated in Avalon. What more could any man desire than to be surrounded by family and friends with love and good cheer" It was more than Rhys had ever hoped for.
Laughter filled the little brownstone Adam shared with Gina and Joey - laughter that had been a long time coming. Adam was just as happy as Rhys, though he was practical enough to know there would still be challenges ahead and loose ends that needed tying up. It was Christmas, and though he wasn't terribly religious, there was plenty to celebrate.
Rhys sat back in the chair and patted his stomach, like a proper Santa Claus would, smiling broadly at the little gathering. Adam and Gina had outdone themselves in the kitchen, and if anyone went away hungry from that feast, there was something seriously wrong with them. "Gina, that was awesome. What's for dessert?" he asked, though he was plenty full already, and unaware that it had actually been Adam who'd done most of the cooking.
The little table was definitely covered with the remains of dinner, pretty much every plate empty. Even Joey, who had been less than enthusiastic about a sit down meal, was nodding contentedly over his gravy-stained plate, so full he could barely keep his eyes open. Nat sat beside Rhys, laughing at his Santa Claus pot belly as she reached over to poke gently at it. Her own belly was nowhere near making itself known yet, but at least they had a doctor's confirmation that she was definitively pregnant now, due for a scan at the end of January to get their first look at their baby.
Across from Rhys, Gina laughed, rolling her eyes at her friend. "One, I didn't cook," she pointed out, rubbing her hand up and down Adam's back as she turned her smile over to him. "And two, you were supposed to bring dessert, weren't you?"
Rhys chuckled as he turned his gaze to Adam. "She's turned you into a regular Mr. Mom, hasn't she" Do you wear an apron?" he teased.
Adam rolled his eyes as he poured a little - or a lot, depending on your point of view - Irish Whiskey into three of the four cups of coffee, leaving Nat's as was, seeing as she was preggers and all. "At least I can manage to cook more than scrambled eggs and pancakes," he countered, good-naturedly. "Hey, I can cook more than that,"
Rhys replied. "I used to work in a diner, remember?"
"My point exactly," said Adam.
Rhys turned his attention back to Gina, before turning a quizzical frown at Nat. "Dessert?" He didn't recall being told to bring dessert, which meant it had either slipped his mind or she hadn't told him. "Does that mean we aren't having any?"
Nat raised a brow at her food-drunk husband, her smile warm and wry and infinitely amused. "You are a very lucky man, Rhys Bristol," she informed him. "Because I paid attention to the phone call. It's in the fridge." She moved to help Gina tidy the plates and dishes away from the table to make room for the dessert that was promised, gently easing Joey away from his plate before he nodded off onto it.
Gina chuckled as she smoothed her son's hair from his brow. "Bit of a late night for you, huh, scamp" Want us to save you some dessert so Rhys can tuck you up tight for Santa?"
The little boy groaned at the thought of missing out on any of the conversation, but was sensible enough not to complain too much. "Yeah," he sighed. "M'kinda sleepy."
Rhys arched a brow, a little surprised that he was being called on to do bedtime duty, instead of Adam, but then, if he was going to be a Dad, he probably needed the practice, and Adam probably got more than his fair share of it. He pushed away from the table with a lazy groan and moved slowly to his feet. "C'mon, Tiger. Time for bed. Santa won't stuff his fat belly down the chimney until you're asleep, you know."
"M'nearly asleep now," Joey grumbled, sliding down from his chair to do the rounds. Gina got a kiss and a hug, as did Adam; proper warm, family embraces that proved the kid was more than happy to have his mother married to such a cool guy. Nat, Joey was a little more reserved with - they hadn't had much of a chance to get to know each other so far, but they were becoming friends, slowly. And, well, Rhys got leaned on. Heavily.
"All right, kiddo," Rhys said, leaning over to hoist the boy into his arms, whether he liked it or not, before he pitched over onto the floor, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. "You're getting a ride up the stairs tonight before you pass out." He pushed the wayward bangs away from Joey's sleepy face and started toward the stairs. "No dessert without me! I'll be right back." And he and Joey disappeared around the bend, footsteps heard ascending the stairs.
Gina chuckled as they left the room, sharing a smile with Nat. "No, Nat, you sit down," she shook her head at the other woman. "I've got this. Flirt with my husband for a little bit, see if you can tempt him to go astray. I gotta know what I'm getting into, after all." She grinned teasingly at Adam before turning her attention to scraping the plates and stacking them in the dishwasher.
"Well ....if you are sure ..." Nat frowned, feeling a little awkward as she moved back to the table. She was still a bit of an outsider when it came to gathering with Adam and Gina, and though she knew Gina was being nice, it stung a little bit to be told to sit down and not help.
Adam was ready and willing to help with the dishes and was already on his feet, tossing a look at Gina as if to say, "Are you sure?" He chuckled a little at the challenge issued, knowing Gina had nothing to worry about. Nat was a knock-out, but she belonged to Rhys, and Gina had stole his heart years ago. "You and Rhys are our guests," Adam added, seconding his wife's - he thought he'd never get used to that word - request. "You can return the favor someday."
People say that Christmas is a magical time of year. No one would agree with that more than Rhys Bristol. To a man who hadn't had any reason to celebrate since he was a boy, Christmas was a dream come true. Snow or no snow, it didn't really matter. And this year, there was even more reason for celebration than ever before - Adam and Gina had just gotten married; Rhys had been reunited with his long lost sister, Rachel; and last, but certainly not least, Natalya was expecting a baby. All of his dreams were finally, at long last, coming true. In the end, he didn't need St. Nicholas to grant his holiday wishes or leave a present in his stocking. Every wish he had ever desired had been fulfilled, and he could not be happier. He and Natalya were spending the holidays in New York with their two closest friends, while Rachel and Zach recuperated in Avalon. What more could any man desire than to be surrounded by family and friends with love and good cheer" It was more than Rhys had ever hoped for.
Laughter filled the little brownstone Adam shared with Gina and Joey - laughter that had been a long time coming. Adam was just as happy as Rhys, though he was practical enough to know there would still be challenges ahead and loose ends that needed tying up. It was Christmas, and though he wasn't terribly religious, there was plenty to celebrate.
Rhys sat back in the chair and patted his stomach, like a proper Santa Claus would, smiling broadly at the little gathering. Adam and Gina had outdone themselves in the kitchen, and if anyone went away hungry from that feast, there was something seriously wrong with them. "Gina, that was awesome. What's for dessert?" he asked, though he was plenty full already, and unaware that it had actually been Adam who'd done most of the cooking.
The little table was definitely covered with the remains of dinner, pretty much every plate empty. Even Joey, who had been less than enthusiastic about a sit down meal, was nodding contentedly over his gravy-stained plate, so full he could barely keep his eyes open. Nat sat beside Rhys, laughing at his Santa Claus pot belly as she reached over to poke gently at it. Her own belly was nowhere near making itself known yet, but at least they had a doctor's confirmation that she was definitively pregnant now, due for a scan at the end of January to get their first look at their baby.
Across from Rhys, Gina laughed, rolling her eyes at her friend. "One, I didn't cook," she pointed out, rubbing her hand up and down Adam's back as she turned her smile over to him. "And two, you were supposed to bring dessert, weren't you?"
Rhys chuckled as he turned his gaze to Adam. "She's turned you into a regular Mr. Mom, hasn't she" Do you wear an apron?" he teased.
Adam rolled his eyes as he poured a little - or a lot, depending on your point of view - Irish Whiskey into three of the four cups of coffee, leaving Nat's as was, seeing as she was preggers and all. "At least I can manage to cook more than scrambled eggs and pancakes," he countered, good-naturedly. "Hey, I can cook more than that,"
Rhys replied. "I used to work in a diner, remember?"
"My point exactly," said Adam.
Rhys turned his attention back to Gina, before turning a quizzical frown at Nat. "Dessert?" He didn't recall being told to bring dessert, which meant it had either slipped his mind or she hadn't told him. "Does that mean we aren't having any?"
Nat raised a brow at her food-drunk husband, her smile warm and wry and infinitely amused. "You are a very lucky man, Rhys Bristol," she informed him. "Because I paid attention to the phone call. It's in the fridge." She moved to help Gina tidy the plates and dishes away from the table to make room for the dessert that was promised, gently easing Joey away from his plate before he nodded off onto it.
Gina chuckled as she smoothed her son's hair from his brow. "Bit of a late night for you, huh, scamp" Want us to save you some dessert so Rhys can tuck you up tight for Santa?"
The little boy groaned at the thought of missing out on any of the conversation, but was sensible enough not to complain too much. "Yeah," he sighed. "M'kinda sleepy."
Rhys arched a brow, a little surprised that he was being called on to do bedtime duty, instead of Adam, but then, if he was going to be a Dad, he probably needed the practice, and Adam probably got more than his fair share of it. He pushed away from the table with a lazy groan and moved slowly to his feet. "C'mon, Tiger. Time for bed. Santa won't stuff his fat belly down the chimney until you're asleep, you know."
"M'nearly asleep now," Joey grumbled, sliding down from his chair to do the rounds. Gina got a kiss and a hug, as did Adam; proper warm, family embraces that proved the kid was more than happy to have his mother married to such a cool guy. Nat, Joey was a little more reserved with - they hadn't had much of a chance to get to know each other so far, but they were becoming friends, slowly. And, well, Rhys got leaned on. Heavily.
"All right, kiddo," Rhys said, leaning over to hoist the boy into his arms, whether he liked it or not, before he pitched over onto the floor, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. "You're getting a ride up the stairs tonight before you pass out." He pushed the wayward bangs away from Joey's sleepy face and started toward the stairs. "No dessert without me! I'll be right back." And he and Joey disappeared around the bend, footsteps heard ascending the stairs.
Gina chuckled as they left the room, sharing a smile with Nat. "No, Nat, you sit down," she shook her head at the other woman. "I've got this. Flirt with my husband for a little bit, see if you can tempt him to go astray. I gotta know what I'm getting into, after all." She grinned teasingly at Adam before turning her attention to scraping the plates and stacking them in the dishwasher.
"Well ....if you are sure ..." Nat frowned, feeling a little awkward as she moved back to the table. She was still a bit of an outsider when it came to gathering with Adam and Gina, and though she knew Gina was being nice, it stung a little bit to be told to sit down and not help.
Adam was ready and willing to help with the dishes and was already on his feet, tossing a look at Gina as if to say, "Are you sure?" He chuckled a little at the challenge issued, knowing Gina had nothing to worry about. Nat was a knock-out, but she belonged to Rhys, and Gina had stole his heart years ago. "You and Rhys are our guests," Adam added, seconding his wife's - he thought he'd never get used to that word - request. "You can return the favor someday."