Roswell Fanatics

A Year of Holiday Magic

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Roswell. I’m just borrowing the characters for a while. I’ll return them completely unharmed. Please don’t sue me. I also don’t own any of the songs used in this story.

Category: AU/CC
Rating: TEEN
Summary: Like most of my stories, this one just popped in my head and wouldn’t leave me alone. The weird thing is that I don’t celebrate any of the holidays I used! LOL! Anyway, this is just a tale of happenings over a year that seem to have major events around the holidays. There are no aliens in this fic. Liz, Maria, Alex, and Kyle all know each other in the beginning. Michael, Isabel, Tess, and Max all know each other in the beginning. The rest will unfold as we go along ok?

A/N: I kind of got inspired by “Sleepless in Seattle” and am trying to catch that feel although the story is nothing like it. This will probably be a short fic…that’s the way I have it planned anyway. We’ll see how long it actually ends up.

Prologue – Christmas Eve Day, 9:30 am, NY’s La Guardia Airport

I’ll be home for Christmas
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents ‘neath the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

Isabel Evans stood on her tip-toes trying to see the flight information on the screens in front of her over everyone else crowded around them. Why her brother had decided to wait until the last minute to fly into town at the busiest time of the year, she would never understand. She sighed as she found the information she was looking for and realized that the snow had delayed his flight. He wasn’t scheduled to arrive for another hour.

Sighing again, the long-legged blond pulled her purse tighter into her side and decided to get some breakfast. She made her way through the crowds of people to the Starbucks she had passed a little ways back down the concourse and stood in the long line. If Max made her miss the Christmas luncheon she had planned for the Alzheimer’s home patients, she would kill him. She was looking through her purse for her wallet when she someone plowed into her, completely knocking her on her butt and sending the contents of her purse flying.

Taken off guard, the young woman quickly grabbed for the contents of her purse while giving the rude person a piece of her mind. “Oh my god! How rude can you possibly get?” she asked angrily.

“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going, and I’m afraid I’m going to miss my flight home,” a male voice responded.

Isabel glanced up to glare at the man briefly when she realized that he was about her age and he did look like he was stressed out. But who wasn’t stressed this time of year? He was handing her items and kept apologizing profusely. Feeling the holiday spirit take hold of her again, Isabel realized that if this young man missed his flight home, the likelihood of getting another one was slim to none.

“You know what? Don’t worry about it. The line does kind of wind out into the way, and you’re trying to catch your flight home for the holidays. I’m fine; you should go if you don’t want to miss it,” she told the thin, tall man sympathetically.

Handing the last couple of items out to the beautiful woman dressed in red and green, topped with a Santa hat, the dark haired man gave her a confused smile. “Really? You’re sure you’re ok?” he asked again.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine! Now go on…if you miss your flight you’ll never make it home for Christmas and your family will be upset,” Isabel answered. She looked into his face and found herself smiling. “No one should be away from their family during the holidays.”

Standing up fully and helping Isabel up at the same time, he smiled and grabbed the handle on his bag. “Thank you and again, I’m sorry. I’ll watch where I’m going a little better from now on.”

‘Too bad he doesn’t have more time to keep me company while I wait for Max,’ Isabel thought. Aloud, she told him, “Go! And Merry Christmas!”

He smiled as he took off down the corridor, almost running over another person. He apologized to the older man and flashed her a wry grin. Isabel just laughed. “Merry Christmas to you too!” he called. Within seconds he had disappeared into the crowd.

Isabel watched the direction he had gone in until the person behind her in line cleared their throat, and she realized the line had moved forward. She moved back up behind the person in front of her and waited for her turn. Not ten minutes later, just as she had made it to the counter and it was her turn, she heard some grumbling behind her. The young woman behind the counter gave her a tired smile and asked what she could get Isabel. “A non-fat vanilla latte please, and a pumpkin scone,” she answered, looking down to pull out her money.

“I’ve got it, hon,” she heard a voice beside her say. Looking to her side in confusion, she saw the young man who had run her over just minutes ago. He grinned and winked at her. At her confused look, he leaned in and whispered. “My flight got canceled. I figured the least I could do after tackling you was to pay for your coffee.” He nodded to the line behind them. “I thought they might be more understanding of me appearing to jump ahead if they thought I was with you.”

The young woman behind the counter turned to him and smiled. “And for you, sir?” she asked.

Isabel simply stared up at him as he gave her his order. Then his words sunk in and she felt her heart go out to him. “Your flight got canceled? I’m so sorry. I meant what I said that no one should be without their family on Christmas,” she told him quietly.

He simply shrugged and smiled. After paying for their drinks and Isabel’s scone, he handed her the latte and bag, grabbed his own coffee and nodded toward some nearby tables. “How about we sit down? I’ve got no where to be…unless you’re trying to catch your flight?”

She shook her head. “No, actually, I’m waiting to pick up my brother. His flight was delayed.” She followed him to one of the tables that another couple had just vacated and sat down. He wheeled his carry-on beside the seat, lowered the handle and sat down across from her. Holding her hand out to him, she said, “I’m Isabel.”

He took her hand and shook it. “Alex Whitman,” he returned smiling. “You from New York?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Not originally. My father actually moved us here from California when I was thirteen to join his father’s law firm. We actually live upstate. You?”

Alex shook his head. “Nah, my job moved me here two years ago. I’m from Roswell, New Mexico.” Seeing her grin, he rolled his eyes. “Please don’t ask me if I’ve met any aliens,” he laughed.

Isabel liked the way his laugh sounded and she couldn’t help joining in. “Ok, I won’t ask. What do you do?”

Sipping his coffee, he grinned at her. “I bet you could guess just by looking at me.” Seeing her look of protest, he went on. “No, I mean it! Go ahead and guess what I do.”

Looking at him thoughtfully, she decided to joke around a bit. His good humor was contagious. “Well, I don’t see a uniform so I would assume you aren’t a pilot, flight attendant, or in the military.” He laughed at that and sipped his coffee, waiting for her to continue. “Well, the only thing that comes to mind is computers,” she joked.

He smirked at that. “See, I told you that you could guess just by looking at me. I’ve always looked like a nerd.”

Surprised that she was right, she laughed. “You’re kidding! Oh come on…you’re pulling my leg. You are not in computers.”

Reaching inside his coat, he pulled out his wallet and pulled out a business card. He handed it to her and she looked at it. There in bold blue letters was the company name, “All Things Computer” and sure enough the name Alex Whitman was underneath it in black lettering. There was also an address in the bottom left corner and phone and fax numbers in the bottom right. Laughing she started to hand it back to him. “Keep it. You might need my services some day,” he told her. They smiled at each other.

“So what all do you do with computers…without the technical jargon please,” she teased. “I only know enough to get them to do what I want them to and that’s enough. When you start talking about RAM and megabytes and gigabytes my eyes start to glaze over involuntarily.”

Laughing, Alex studied her face for a moment. “You’re really beautiful, especially when you smile,” he blurted out. Seeing her expression go from carefree to uncomfortable, he hurriedly changed the subject back to her question and told her about his job. They continued to chat and he kept her smiling and laughing, mostly because he just loved her laugh and how beautiful she was when she smiled.

“So do you have a last name, Isabel?” he finally asked after a while.

“Evans,” she said. Then she glanced at her watch and jumped up. “Oh my god! I can’t believe how long we’ve been sitting here! Max’s plane probably landed fifteen minutes ago!” She grabbed up her purse and started gathering her trash. Glancing at him, she noticed his disappointed expression and she realized she felt the same way. Stopping her movements to look at him, she asked, “Listen, now that you aren’t going to make it home for Christmas, what are you going to do?”

He shrugged and stood up. “I don’t know. Go home and watch 24 hours of ‘A Christmas Story’ probably. At least this way I don’t have to listen to my nieces and nephews fighting over the presents and screaming due to cutting teeth. Don’t worry about me, you go on and catch up with your brother. I’m sure he’s anxious to see you again. I know I would be,” he told her wistfully before he realized what he was saying.

Isabel shook her head. “Oh no you don’t. No one spends the holidays alone if I can help it. You’re coming with me to the luncheon at the home for Alzheimer’s patients and then you’re spending the rest of the day with me and my family at my parents’ house…along with Christmas dinner,” she told him.

He gave her half a smile. “I appreciate the offer, Isabel, but you don’t really know me, and I’m sure your family would be upset to know that you invited a perfect stranger to their home for Christmas. I’ll be ok…really. If you still think you might want to spend some time together, you can call me after the holidays.”

Throwing their things in the garbage, she took the handle of his bag and gave him a determined look. “You don’t know me either if you think for one minute that I’m letting you spend Christmas alone. My brothers don’t know I know this but they call me ‘the Christmas Nazi’ for a reason. I tend to go nuts around the holidays.”

Giving her a knowing look, he asked, “You honestly can look me in the eyes and say that your parents won’t freak when I show up and you introduce me and tell them we met at the airport this morning when I mowed you over because I wasn’t looking where I was going?”

She got a mischievous gleam in her eyes and grinned at him. “Who said we had to tell them we met just this morning? Maybe we’ve been dating for a month and I haven’t told them about you yet.”

Throwing his head back and laughing, he felt a glowing warmth spread through his body at her words. “Ok, you win. I’ll get my bag and you lead the way,” he told her.

He followed her down the corridor to the gates until she stopped at number 10 and they both looked around. Isabel was trying to find her brother and Alex was trying to find someone that looked like he could be her brother. She had said that they were twins so he looked for someone young. When she started waving and smiling broadly, he turned in the direction she was facing and saw a young man with dark hair in black jeans and a green and red sweater carrying a wool coat over his arm and pulling a rolling carry-on behind him.

“Hey, Is!” the guy said as he walked up and let go of the carry-on to engulf his sister in a bear hug. He picked her up off the ground and she giggled like a school girl. “God I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you too, Max. Now put me down,” she ordered. Seeing that Max realized that someone else was standing there with her, she smiled and swallowed, hoping she knew what she was doing. “Max, I’d like you to meet Alex Whitman…my boyfriend.” As she said those words, she couldn’t help but really like the way they sounded. Isabel knew she shouldn’t be feeling this way so soon after meeting this guy and maybe it was just the holiday spirit, but she couldn’t help but feel that maybe it was holiday magic that had brought them together.

Alex was grinning from ear to ear at Isabel’s words and he knew he looked like an idiot but he couldn’t help it. Those words just sounded so right coming from the beautiful blond he had met only just over an hour before. He held his hand out to a very startled Max Evans. “Nice to meet you, Max. Isabel has told me a lot about you,” he said.

Max took the taller man’s hand and shook it automatically. “I wish I could say the same thing. I don’t remember her mentioning you at all.” Then seeing the frown on his sister’s face that was quickly turning into a glare, he put a smile on his face. “Nice to meet you, though, Alex, and if Isabel thinks you’re special enough to be her boyfriend, then it’ll be my pleasure to get to know you a bit over the holidays.” Seeing Isabel smile and move closer to Alex, Max sighed in relief internally. He didn’t want to start off Christmas with Isabel angry with him. Grinning, he realized the one thing that would keep her upset with someone else no matter what he did over the next couple of weeks. “By the way, Isabel, did mom or dad tell you that Michael’s not going to make it home for Christmas?” he asked.

Isabel stopped suddenly and the two men had walked a couple more steps before they realized that she wasn’t with them. Turning back to look at her, they noticed her face went from mild hurt to pure anger. “What?!” she yelled. Closing her eyes briefly to compose herself, she opened them again and pasted an angry smile on her face. “Did you just say that Michael is not going to be home for Christmas?”

Max gulped visibly and looked at Alex who looked a little scared. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to bring that up just yet. Turning back to his sister he nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I said. He’s not going to make it home for Christmas,” he answered. Pausing briefly, he took a deep breath and then blurted out under his breath, “Or New Year’s either,” and took off running down the concourse with Isabel and Alex close behind him.

Ok, it's really late here but I couldn't stop until I had finished this next part. That means I'll hopefully be able to post a couple more parts tomorrow and be further along than I thought I would be. Yay! Anyway, I want to thank the others who have left fb since my last message just a bit ago. Glad y'all liked the beginning. I'm trying to write something a little lighter and more fun than I usually do. Well, on with the next part. (It's long, I warn you.)

A Year of Holiday Magic

Part 1

Christmas Eve Day, 11:30 am, Alzheimer’s Assisted Living Facility in Upstate NY

Alex and Isabel pulled in the drive of the Alzheimer’s facility in silence. Max had taken Isabel’s car home saying that he desperately needed a nap before all the festivities that afternoon and evening. Alex had helped to transfer some of the last minute presents and other things Isabel had for the older ones in her car to his and had driven them here. Now he glanced over at the woman he had known such a brief time, and he liked the fact that they were here, in his car like this together…except that she was frowning.

“Hey, what’s the matter?” he asked her placing his right hand over hers on her knee. When she slowly pulled away, he apologized. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just one of those huggy, hand-holding kind of guys. I always have been. Please don’t take it the wrong way.”

Isabel smiled at him. “No need to apologize. It was kind of a reflex to pull away like that.” She took a deep breath. “It’s just that I realize that we only just met this morning and while I like you…a lot, I really don’t know you that well.”

He nodded, thinking he followed her line of thinking. “And you’re thinking you were crazy to invite a total stranger into your life, today of all days, and you just wish you had left well enough alone.”

“No, Alex…” she tried to protest but he didn’t seem to hear her.

“It’s no problem, Isabel, really. I’ll just help you out here, drop you off wherever you want to go and be on my way. You can tell Max what really happened and you can both laugh at the silliness of the whole thing,” he said, parking and turning off the car.

Isabel placed a gloved hand on his arm. “Actually, I was just going to say that I wanted to spend as much time as I could over the holidays, while I know you’re in town and not away on business or something, getting to know you better,” she told him suddenly rather shy. She blushed and pulled her hand away.

Alex blinked a couple of times. “Really?” he asked. When she nodded, his idiotic grin returned. “I’d like that too, Isabel. So what was the frown for a few minutes ago?”

She grimaced. “Oh, I was just thinking how much I want to kill Michael for not being here. He knows that my best friend isn’t going to be in town for the holidays because she’s off spending them with her father this year and I really wanted this to be a big family thing.” She smiled at him. “But if he couldn’t be here, I’m glad you could…even though it was because you missed your flight to be with your family.”

He laughed. “It really isn’t that big a deal. I just saw them at Thanksgiving anyways. I’m sorry about your brother not being in town but I’m sure that at least he’ll call,” he told her. They just looked at each other for a moment and then Alex unbuckled his seat belt and opened the door. “I’ll start getting the things out of the trunk.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Evans’ Residence, 5:30 pm

Alex pulled the car into the drive of the enormous house and gulped visibly. “You live here…in this museum?” he asked in disbelief.

Isabel looked up at the house and shrugged. “No, I have an apartment not far from my office. My parents live here.” Seeing that he was getting nervous, she gave his hand a squeeze and flashed a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Alex. This house has been in my family for generations and my grandfather just left it to dad when he died. My parents are really down to earth people. You have nothing to worry about.”

Still not fully convinced, Alex tilted his head and looked into her face. “You sure?”

As she opened the car door, Isabel nodded. “Definitely! You should have seen our house in Malibu; it was really small compared to this. Mom and dad are just as uncomfortable in this big house as you think you’re going to be,” she answered.

Alex almost forgot how to breathe at her words. Their house in Malibu! Maybe he was out of his element here…he knew how much houses were in that part of California. As if on auto pilot, he got out of the car and saw Isabel hugging a generously proportioned woman who was probably 5’5” and looked to be of Hispanic origins. The woman wore a light blue dress, a white apron and her dark hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. He walked over to them and cleared his throat. As the two women turned to him, he held out his hand to her. “Mrs. Evans, it’s a pleasure to meet you, and may I say that your daughter certainly must get her good looks from your side of the family,” he said.

The woman’s eyes gleamed in amusement and Isabel laughed out loud. “Alex, this is Rosa…our housekeeper,” Isabel told him, trying to stifle her laughter. She then turned to the older woman and waved toward Alex. “This is Alex Whitman, Rosa. He’ll be spending Christmas with us.”

Reddening, Alex cleared his throat and forced a chuckle. “Of course she is. I knew that,” he said. When Rosa placed her hand in his, he shook it briefly and smiled at her. “I just didn’t want you to feel left out,” he mumbled uncomfortably.

The older woman gave a quiet laugh and patted his hand. “S’okay, Mr. Whitman,” she said with a wink and a slight accent. “I won’t tell Mrs. Evans and I can get several smiles thinking about the fact that you think I good looking.” Turning to the younger woman, she clucked her tongue. “This is the surprise Mr. Max was talking about? Your father is going to have a stroke, and your mother…you didn’t even mention him,” Rosa accused.

Isabel realized that Rosa was hurt not only for her parents but also because Isabel had kept it from her as well. “Oh, Rosa, it wasn’t personal ok? Did you, mom, dad and Jose get the rest of the decorations up?” she asked trying to change the subject.

“Of course! You think you’re mother would start cooking when she not in the holiday spirit because the house not just right?” Rosa asked, looking at Isabel like she had lost her mind. Then she turned and winked conspiratorially at Alex. “Missy Isabel and Mrs. Evans very much alike when it comes to the holidays. I’m glad you came after everything is just right, otherwise…” she raked her hand under her chin from ear to ear in the gesture that someone would get their throat slit.

“’Scuse me, Missy Isabel,” came a voice from the open trunk of Alex’s car. “Is dis luggage bag to go inside too?” A man who was a little taller than Rosa and about the same age with black hair speckled with grey and a mustache to match poked his head around the top of the trunk and held the bag out for Isabel to see.

“Yes, Jose, it’s Alex’s. I think we’ll put him the green and gold room,” Isabel said. She came over to Alex and nodded toward the older man. “That’s Jose, Rosa’s husband. They have worked for my family since before I was born and live in the gatehouse. They’re more like grandparents than my father’s parents were. My grandmother died two weeks after Max and I were born and then when we came to visit, grandfather really didn’t know what to do with us and he worked a lot. So Rosa and Jose are just like family.” Alex nodded at her and she smiled at him. “Come on, we might as well get this over with,” she said walking up the couple of wide steps up to the front door.

Alex followed her and was glad to get in out of the snow. He stopped in the entrance to look around and he almost turned around and walked back out again. This house was huge! There was an enormous great room to the left with a grand piano and a merry fire burning in the huge fireplace. The entire first floor of his parents’ house could have fit in that one room! Then there was a grand staircase along the right wall just a few feet from the door that led to a dining room with a long table that was set for 8, but there were extra chairs in the corners that matched it so Alex assumed it could seat more. The staircase curved around beautifully, took a sharp turn into the opposite direction over their head and disappeared from view, but Alex could imagine it led to the bedrooms. Everything was beautifully decorated for the holidays with stockings, holly, wreaths, lights, bows, and other ornamental things. Everything looked like a perfect picture for the holiday season.

“Rosa, where’s mom?” Isabel asked as the housekeeper took her coat, gloves and scarf.

“She in the kitchen of course,” Rosa answered, holding out her hands for Alex’s coat, gloves and scarf. “We’ll probably be ready to eat at about 8. Mr. Max is in his room, resting and Mr. Evans is in the den trying to stay inconspicuous so that your mother doesn’t find something else for him to do and yet still catch the football game.”

Alex laughed at that but then realized that she was serious. He followed Isabel past the stairs and he saw that the house went on for a ways. The kitchen was enormous with a curving bar and cabinets everywhere, a giant built in refrigerator, at least two double convection wall ovens, plus a large capacity microwave and it looked like a large butler’s pantry on either side of a fireplace so big you could cook in it. A woman in black slacks and a green sweater that had silver thread woven through it was standing at one of the two cook tops stirring something in a pot and then placing the cover on it.

“Mom?” Isabel said stepping forward as the woman turned around.

“Isabel! Oh, I’m so glad you’re back. I worried about you driving around on a holiday by yourself,” she said as she embraced her daughter. Her words trailed off, however, as she realized there was a young man in her kitchen.

Alex looked at the woman who was obviously Isabel’s mother. She was just shorter than her daughter with the same blond hair, though shorter and pulled back with a scrunchy, and bright hazel eyes. She smiled automatically, but obviously guardedly, at Alex. “And who’s this?” she asked.

Isabel pulled her mother over to him and he met them half-way with his hand outstretched and his most charming smile on his face. “Mom, this is Alex Whitman…my boyfriend,” Isabel introduced, smiling at him warmly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Evans. Your daughter’s beauty obviously runs in the family,” he said. Hearing a snort come from Rosa who had opened the refrigerator, he tried not to frown or look in her direction.

“Diane Evans, a pleasure I’m sure,” Isabel’s mother answered. Then she turned to her daughter with a puzzled look. “Your boyfriend? You’ve never even mentioned him before and you bring him to eat with us on Christmas Eve.” Looking back at Alex and seeing that he was uncomfortable, Diane almost bit her tongue off at her rudeness. “I’m sorry, Mr. Whitman, it’s just that Isabel hasn’t even mentioned that she had a new boyfriend so seeing you is a bit of a shock. You’re certainly welcome here. Dinner won’t be ready for a while…”

“That’s ok, mother, I’m sure Alex would like to rest a bit before then anyway…after he meets daddy of course. I put him in the green and gold room if that’s ok?” Isabel interrupted smoothly.

Diane’s head snapped back in her daughter’s direction. “He’s staying the night?” she asked in surprise. When Isabel nodded and gave her a pointed look, she put that smile back on. “Of course, the green and gold room would be fine.”

After pretty much getting the same reaction from Phillip Evans, only not quite so friendly, Alex was led through several rooms back to the staircase, up the stairs and down the hallway to the left where Isabel opened a door and waved him inside. “Here you go. There’s cable and a bathroom with a shower. If you need anything you don’t see, let me know. I’ll leave you now to rest. I’m sure you’ll need it before you have to deal with my family this evening. My dad is a lawyer after all and never seems to run out of questions,” she joked.

When he had thanked her and she had left, Alex took a couple of minutes to look around the room. There was a small Christmas tree trimmed in white lights and gold beads and bows. There were green plaid curtains and a comforter to match on the bed with gold, green and white touches all over the room for the season. The room was enormous and Alex suddenly felt for the first time all day that this might be a mistake.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Evans’ Residence, Formal Dining Room, 8:45 pm

Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays
‘Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home!

Everything was going pretty well. Alex had prepared for and received a bombardment of questions from Isabel’s family, and Rosa and Jose who had joined them for dinner, and he felt he fielded them pretty well. There were only a couple of times when he looked to Isabel to help him and when she didn’t know what to say, she would simply laugh nervously and tell her father or Max that they were embarrassing her in front of her company and couldn’t they just be polite for Christmas? They would eat in silence for a few minutes or talk about the weather or the food and then one of them would ask another question and Alex would just grin while Isabel rolled her eyes. He was having a wonderful time.

After things started to wind down and they all kind of sat back sipping on their wine, water, or coffee, Alex decided to try to turn the tables and looked at Max. “So, Max, where were you that you had to fly home at the last minute for Christmas with the family?” he asked.

Max looked at him funny and answered slowly. “I was at the school in Culver City. Didn’t Isabel tell you?”

Isabel’s eyes flew open wide and she tried to think of a way to tell Alex what kind of school it was before he could say anything. He beat her to saying something, however, and smiled. A school? How many jobs could this guy have if he worked in a school? “Oh yeah, I just forgot. What subject do you teach again?” he asked pretending he just couldn’t remember.

Jumping in, Isabel laughed a little. “Alex, I think you’ve had a little too much of the holiday spirits, honey. You know that Max was throwing the Christmas party for the kids there. He always goes to one of the different schools for the deaf each year that he works with and throws the kids a big party. Remember? I told you about that.”

Alex looked surprised for a minute but quickly composed himself. Her brother worked with schools for the deaf? Doing what exactly? Clearing his throat, he looked down into his coffee and said, “Yes, of course, I just forgot that she said you were in Culver City this year.”

Trying to cover over his small blunder Isabel turned to her brother and smiled. “Why don’t you explain to Alex more about what you do? I told him a little bit but he might have gotten lost in all the things I told him about the family,” she suggested.

“Yeah, it’s a heck of a lot easier to keep everyone straight when you can put the information and the names with the faces,” Alex said smiling trying to follow her lead. When he saw Isabel wince, he realized that he had made another mistake but he had no idea what it was. He looked around the table and realized that everyone was looking at him with questioning looks.

“Haven’t you seen all the pictures of us Isabel keeps all over her apartment?” Phillip asked him.

Trying to think quickly, Alex shook his head slowly. “No sir, I can honestly say that I’ve never been inside your daughter’s apartment,” he answered carefully, knowing that that at least would be good for her father to hear. Then he brightened as he thought of something else. “You know Isabel and I have only been dating for the past month and with all of her holiday activities, we’ve kept pretty busy doing things for Christmas…what with the Alzheimer’s home and all,” he told them.

That quickly seemed to satisfy them for “oh” and “of course” went around the table as everyone went back to their drinks. Isabel grinned at him and Alex realized that he had said the perfect thing to set them all at ease again. Max just rolled his eyes and muttered, “The Christmas Nazi strikes again.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

Evans’ Residence, Almost midnight

Isabel yawned as she and Alex walked up the stairs and down the hall to the room where he was staying. He caught her eyes and they smiled as he tried to stifle a yawn as well…unsuccessfully. “Well, I guess it was a long day,” Isabel said quietly.

He nodded. “Yeah, I was up early trying to catch that flight this morning, and I’m sure you were up early preparing to pick up your brother and for that luncheon…which was a great thing to do, by the way. Why did you pick the Alzheimer’s home?” he asked.

She smiled sadly as she answered. “That’s what my mother’s father died of.”

“I’m sorry to have brought up painful memories,” he told her, taking her hand.

“Yeah, well it was just hard enough to visit him when he was in the home in California, you know? And then to see all those other patients whose families didn’t come to see them and didn’t seem to care. I just wanted to do something to make others like them feel better when I could,” Isabel said. She looked up at him to see if he thought that was silly…she knew she couldn’t do much.

“I think that’s wonderful! If you can brighten up just a couple of them and make their lives a little better, I say it’s well worth it. You’ve brightened up my life and I’ve only known you for a day,” he told her sincerely.

She smiled at him thankfully and suddenly leaned up on her tip-toes and kissed him. When he realized what was happening and leaned down to kiss her back, she lowered herself flat on her feet again. When they pulled away, they were both slightly out of breath. “Not that I’m complaining, but what brought that on?” he panted out.

“That was to thank you for making this such a great day, even if Michael and Tess couldn’t be here. I really had fun and I know that most of it was due to you’re being around,” she told him. Then her smile turned into a grin and she pointed at something above his head. “And because my mom and Rosa have gone berserk with the mistletoe again this year.”

He looked up and saw that there were little sprigs of the holiday plant above every door in the hallway and laughed. She laughed with him and he opened his door. “Well, thanks again for letting me stay and spend Christmas with you and your family. We should probably get some sleep huh?”

“Yeah, I guess so. Everyone is usually up pretty early on Christmas morning,” she agreed. “Merry Christmas, Alex,” she told him as she walked down the hall. “If you need anything, I’m two doors down and across the hall from you.”

“Merry Christmas, Isabel. Sleep well,” he told her and went inside his room. Today had definitely been the best day and Christmas of his life! Now it was time to get some sleep because he had a couple of annual phone calls to make first thing in the morning.

Hi, everybody! I'm back with a new part. I'll probably be posting another one later tonight. Thanks for all the great fb! I won't mention all of you by name but Gamma Rho Girl, thank you for coming out of lurkdom to leave fb. Someone asked if Isabel's best friend that was out of town was Maria or Tess. It's Tess. If you look at my A/N at the beginning of the story you'll see that Maria and Isabel don't even know each other yet. For everyone, I just wanted to say that the next part will take us away from NY and A/I and will move to the west coast with Maria, Liz, Kyle, Jim, Brody, and Amy. Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy!

A Year of Holiday Magic

Part 2

Evans’ Residence, Christmas Morning, 9:30 am

Alex finished placing the last wrapped present beneath the tree in the great room with the other ones that were scattered around. Smiling at the result of how it all looked, he realized what time it must be and glanced at his watch. Yup, it was that time alright! He grinned evilly and made his way through the kitchen and eating area to the door Isabel had led him through to introduce him to her father. He shuddered briefly at the memory and pulled out his cell phone. Pushing number 3 on his speed dial, he waited for someone to pick up.

* * * * * * * * * *

A Bedroom in a Mansion in Bel Air, California, 6:30 am

Her cell phone was ringing, she could hear it. Trying to ignore it, she pulled the covers over her head and turned over. When she couldn’t tune it out anymore, she groaned and peeked out to look at the clock. 6:30! Who in the world would be calling at this ungodly hour, especially on…Christmas! Now fully awake, Liz Parker sat straight up in bed and started looking around for her cell phone. “Don’t hang up!” she shouted, throwing the blanket and sheet all around looking for the phone. She remembered having it with her when Maria finally allowed her to go to bed.

“Ah ha!” she said as she finally held it up. Hitting the talk button, she placed it to her ear. “Hello!” she said, pushing her tangled hair out of her face.

“There’s my girl! What in the world took so long for you to get to the phone?” questioned a male voice.

Liz rolled her eyes. “I had to find the phone. How are you?” she asked.

“Missing you on Christmas,” was the ready answer. “You?”

She groaned and yawned, pulling the covers up around her. “Same…only I’m not quite awake enough to miss you that much yet. Why do you always have to call so early?” A chuckle was her only answer. “How’s the family? Did they give you a hard time about living so far from them again?”

There was a hesitation on the other end of the line and she frowned in puzzlement. “Well, not exactly. I’m sure they will, though, when I talk to them,” he joked.

“Alex, what are you talking about? Where are you? Aren’t you in Roswell?” she asked confused.

“No, actually I’m not. The short version of the story is that I missed my flight and ended up spending Christmas here in New York. I’ll get into the details later. For now, I know it’s early out there so why don’t you grab the present I sent you…the one that’s marked ‘first’. It’s time for our tradition!” he answered.

“Oh, Alex, you spent Christmas in that big apartment all by yourself?” Liz said, feeling bad for her friend.

“Well, I’m not the only one who didn’t spend Christmas with my family, Liz,” he pointed out. Then he cleared his throat. “Besides, who said I spent it alone in my apartment? Now come on! I don’t have long before my friends come looking for me, and I want to hear what you think about your present.”

Yawning again, Liz looked over at the gifts under the tree in the corner of her enormous room and smiled. She started to walk over and get the gift that Alex was talking about, but she stopped when she realized something. “Wait a minute. If you aren’t home in Roswell, then what about your gift? I mailed the first five to your parents’ house,” she asked.

“They’ll mail them to me and I’ll call you when I get them. Please, Liz, I don’t want to have to explain everything to these people. They already ask me too many questions about myself. I really don’t want to explain this tradition to total strangers just yet,” he pleaded.

She held the phone away momentarily to look at it in confusion. “Alex, what are you talking about? That’s not how the tradition works. Where are you?”

“I’ll call you later tonight and explain everything ok? Now are you going to open the present or not?” he asked, not hearing a door open behind him.

“No, I’m not opening my present because we’re supposed to open them together. That’s the whole point of the tradition, and you can’t call me later because my mom is here for Christmas along with Kyle, Jim, and Amy of course. They didn’t get in until late yesterday so we’re having a big dinner tonight after Maria’s benefit concert. Then we’re doing the gift thing tonight after that.” She sighed and heard an echo of it on the other end of the line. “Look, just get your parents to mail the presents to you and we’ll just push ‘the twelve days of Christmas tradition’ back until we can start it together. The only rule was that we talk to each other first thing Christmas morning and open each other’s presents together no matter where we are. Normally, we do that at the same time but it just didn’t work out that way this year.”

Alex was quiet for a minute. “Are you sure? I’m not going to get a guilt trip for this later from you or Maria?” he asked. “Because you do know that she and I do our ‘twelve day tradition’ before bed at night on Christmas Day right?”

“You promise to tell us everything that’s going on later?” Liz asked. When he promised, she said, “Ok, then I can promise to appease Maria. Now if you’re sure I’m still your girl then I’m going back to bed.”

He laughed quietly at that. “Yes, you’re still my girl. Now go back to sleep and I’ll call you tomorrow. Merry Christmas, Liz.”

Liz wished him the same, clicked the off button and placed the phone on her nightstand. Then she fluffed her pillows and snuggled back under the covers, hoping to get a few hours of sleep before Maria dragged her out of bed.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Evans’ Residence, Right after

Christmas, Christmas time is here
Time for toys and time for cheer.
We’ve been good but we can’t last,
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast.
Want a plane that loops the loop
Me, I want a Hula-Hoop
We can hardly stand the wait,
Please Christmas don’t be late.

Alex hung up the phone and heard the door close behind him. Turning around he was met with Isabel in a red and white striped sweater with silver thread run throughout it, jeans, and a pair of candy cane earrings. He smiled at her and she gave a small smile in return.

“So who’s Liz, your niece?” she asked lightly.

“Huh? Oh, no, Liz is one of my best friends. She and Maria and I have been like the three musketeers since elementary school. They’re closer to me than my sisters,” he said, standing from the chair he was sitting in and facing her with a smile.

“Oh,” Isabel said, this time giving him a full, genuine smile. “Well, that’s nice. I just thought…well, you called her your girl and I knew you said you weren’t married so…”

He chuckled. “Yeah, Liz and I went to our first school dance together because we didn’t want to go with dates. Maria was sick with the flu so we went and our first dance that night was our first dance together ever and we danced to ‘My Girl’ by the Temptations. Ever since, I’ve always called her ‘my girl’. It’s just a memory thing.”

“Aww, that’s sweet! So is she in Roswell?” Isabel asked, now interested because this was a friend of Alex’s.

“No, actually, she’s out in California right now,” he answered.”

“Alex, do you have any idea what time it is out there? It’s not even seven yet! Isn’t that a bit early to be calling her?”

“Now you sound like Maria. Liz and I have a tradition we call ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas tradition’. We give each other twelve gifts, they don’t have to be big items, although the nicest one is usually the twelfth one, and then we make sure that the first person we talk to on Christmas morning is each other and we open our gifts together, a different present on each day. We used to do it in person when we were in high school but then we went to different colleges and weren’t always home at the same times during the holidays so we sometimes have to do it over the phone. I was calling to open our presents together but she mailed my first few presents to my parents’ house because she thought I would be there. So we’ll just have to wait until I get all of them to open them. Sounds kind of silly when you explain it out loud, especially when we’re just friends,” Alex explained, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Not at all. I think it’s sweet, really,” she reassured him. Then she reached up and kissed his cheek. “Come on, Rosa and mom are making a big breakfast and then we’ll open presents.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

Evans’ Residence, Great room, An hour and a half later

Everyone was stuffed with pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, orange juice and coffee and now was gathered in the great room by the fireplace and the tree. “Jose, I think it’s your turn to play Santa this year. You wanna hand out the presents?” Phillip asked.

“Phillip, Alex is our guest…maybe he would like to play Santa,” Diane spoke up looking at her husband.

Shrugging, he looked at Alex. “Alex, I’m going to have to be honest with you. Normally, I let guests have the first say if they want to be Santa or not, but since we didn’t know you were coming, you can understand that we…or at least I don’t have any gift for you. I’m sorry that it ended up that way but if you’d still like to hand out the gifts, I have no objections. I just didn’t want you to feel left out any more than you had to.”

Isabel rolled her eyes. “Still the lawyer,” she groaned. “Dad, maybe Santa left something for Alex under the tree last night anyway. Did you think of that?”

Alex grinned and said, “I really don’t mind not getting anything and I’d love to play Santa. How do you guys usually start?”

“Well, usually, whoever is Santa passes everyone in the room one of their gifts and we open them at the same time until they’re all out,” Diane explained. “Unless there is some special present that the giver wants to give themselves. They’ll tell you if that’s the case.”

Nodding, Alex started pulling out the gifts and passing them around. “Ok, here’s one for Rosa…Jose, here you go…Diane. This one is addressed to Max, from Santa. Phillip…and Isabel.” He made a quick grimace at the name on one of the other packages. “What do I do with presents addressed to Michael? Set them aside or leave them where they are or do you want to put them someplace special?” he asked.

“Just set them aside, Alex. I can’t believe he isn’t here for Christmas!” Diane huffed.

“If we’re feeling especially Christmasy later, we’ll mail them to him,” Isabel added angrily.

Jose, Max and Phillip exchanged a look. Rosa caught Alex’s eye and just winked. He couldn’t help but grin back. There was the sound of paper tearing and boxes being opened. None of the gifts were big and it didn’t take long for everyone to get into them.

“A bottle of perfume,” Rosa exclaimed. She took the top off and smelled it. “Ooh, smells nice. This will make me feel like a real lady when I go out. Thank you, Missy Isabel.”

Isabel smiled at her. “I can’t take credit for that, Rosa. I didn’t get it for you.”

Rosa looked on the wrapping and on the box but there was no name. “Then who is it from?”

“Oh, what a lovely pair of earrings!” Diane squealed, holding up some black pearls. She leaned over and kissed her husband’s cheek. “Thank you, honey.”

“Those aren’t from me. I think you have enough jewelry you don’t wear,” Phillip joked.

“Well, if it wasn’t you then...oh, Max, thank you sweetie.”

“Wasn’t me either, mom,” Max shook his head.

Jose was happy to discover his am/fm/cd walkman. Max ended up with an electronic organizer, and Phillip showed off some nice new driving gloves. Isabel finished opening the small box she had and raved on and on about the diamond tennis bracelet inside. They all tried thanking each other but no one took the credit. Finally, Isabel started to notice the wrapping paper. “Wait a minute. These weren’t under the tree yesterday.”

Max looked over at Alex, who was grinning from ear to ear. “Alex, are these from you?” he asked.

They all looked at the tall computer nerd who looked like such a kid at the moment and he nodded. “Yeah, I put them under the tree this morning.”

While everyone was thanking him, Isabel leaned over and whispered in his ear. “This is really nice, Alex, but I can’t accept this,” she told him. “Where did you get all these presents anyway?”

Alex’s face turned red and he cleared his throat. “Well, they were originally for my brother-in-laws, my mother, my father and my sisters, but I couldn’t not have presents. You guys have really made me feel so welcome and I had to find something to say thank you. You have to keep the bracelet, Isabel. It’ll look better on you than my sister anyway. Please keep it…if only to remember me by,” he told her quietly.

Their eyes met and they found themselves kissing each other. Getting lost in each other, they broke apart embarrassedly when a couple of people cleared their throats. They smiled briefly and Isabel said, “Thank you. I don’t believe you found your present yet though, Alex.” Picking up a small box, she handed it to him. “Merry Christmas.”

He looked at her in disbelief for a minute and then took it from her when she nodded. Both were smiling brightly as he opened it. When he pulled out the contents, he swallowed. “This is really nice, Isabel.” When the others questioned him, he showed them a beautiful antique pocket watch. “Thank you,” he told her softly.

As everyone started opening other presents, he leaned over to her and asked, “Where did you get that? I know you weren’t preparing to give that to me.”

Looking down for a minute, she looked back up when she answered. “One of my favorite patients to visit at the Alzheimer’s home died last week and he left that to me to thank me for coming to visit him. It meant a lot to him and was his grandfather’s. I thought it was appropriate…since I didn’t want you to ever forget me.” She looked back down at her lap and swallowed.

Alex tilted her face up to him and looked into her big beautiful brown eyes. “Thank you but I wouldn’t need anything to remember you by. What do you say that you and I see more of each other when we get back to the city and see if we can’t make a lie turn into a truth?”

She smiled at that. “You mean you’d want to go out with me? I’d really like that,” she told him, placing her hand in his.

Squeezing her hand, he grinned. “Are you kidding? You’re the cheerleader that every nerd in school could only dream about going out with in school. You’re a beautiful, smart, and caring person and I would be honored.”

I'm so sorry that I didn't get this out last night but I was just too tired and it got later and later. But I'm back with it today. I'll try to have another part out within a couple of days but I promise you one by the end of the week.

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A Year of Holiday Magic

Part 3

Maria’s Mansion, Bel Air, California, 4 pm

“I can’t believe Alex didn’t make it home for Christmas! Isn’t there anyone left in Roswell that we know?” Maria DeLuca asked as she threw yet another outfit on the floor while shaking her head. “No, no, no! None of these are right. I need something spectacular that I haven’t been seen in this holiday season yet!”

Liz sighed and tried to keep her patience. “Maria, there aren’t that many outfits out there,” she said, only half joking. “As for Alex, what difference would it make if he’s there or not if we aren’t? As long as he’s not spending it alone, I don’t feel so bad about him not making it back to Roswell.”

“See, that’s another thing. Just who is he spending Christmas with that he can’t keep our twelve day tradition? I mean is he deliberately trying to hurt us? Argh!” Maria tossed another expensive dress over her shoulder and then turned back around to look at her best friend and assistant. “Wait a minute! What happened to those boxes that George brought over last week? You know the ones that he said were ‘one of a kind originals by…’ oh, who did he say they were by?”

Frowning in thought, Liz tried to remember that day. All she could remember clearly was that George had dropped by at one of the worse times ever. Maria had been panicking because she had a sore throat and was afraid she wouldn’t be able to sing at the concert that night. Liz was running frantically from drug store to herbal shop to health food stores as Maria sent her continuously to look for a cure. In the middle of all the preparations for the concert, trips in search for relief for Maria’s throat, and trying to field any other mishaps, George, Maria’s stylist, had shown up with boxes of dresses from some designer that wanted to make it big on the west coast as she was already doing really well in New York.

“Isabel was the name he gave us. The label that I saw on the one dress I had a chance to see was ‘Isabel’s’,” Liz answered as it suddenly came to her. “I think we put the boxes in the room across the hall from me.”

As Maria raced down the hall of her large home, Liz swiftly followed after her, stopping briefly at the top of the staircase to listen to the voices of her mother and Amy and the guys coming from downstairs. As she entered the room, she realized that Maria was speaking about Alex again. “I mean, in one sentence he talks about friends, and in the next he’s saying that he doesn’t want to have to explain talking to you to total strangers. That doesn’t make any sense! Are you sure he didn’t say anything else?”

“Other than what I told you a hundred times already since this morning? No, he didn’t tell me anything else, Maria. He’ll call us tomorrow and explain everything. Now let’s try to concentrate on something for the concert…that you are supposed to be singing at in two hours!” There was silence as the two women looked through all the junk that Maria had thrown in the room for the specific boxes they were looking for. “Here they are!” Liz called to the blond from under a pile of clothes that needed alterations.

Maria rushed over to her side and started tossing clothes this way and that, trying to unbury the boxes. Once they got them out and open, the singer started pulling dresses out of them and holding them up in order to see them. “Ooh, I like this…very Doris Day,” she said of one pink dress. “But totally wrong for tonight.” She tossed it aside and picked up another one.

Liz helped by picking out ones that she thought might work for a holiday benefit concert. All of the clothes were absolutely beautiful and she examined a couple of the outfits longingly. “How about this one, Maria?” she asked, holding up another dress reminiscent of Doris Day’s wardrobe. It was a simple black dress that hung in a kind of A-line style with pieces of the material about 2 inches wide serving as straps to hold the dress up. It flowed well and was the epitome of simple elegance.

Looking at it and smiling, Maria shook her head. “Nope, it won’t work. I love it, but the PR reps from the venue made me and the other singers promise to wear no black or white…something about disappearing into the background. Why don’t you wear it?”

“Maria! You promised me that I could stay her tonight and help mom and Amy with dinner. I really need tonight off,” Liz reminded her. “Besides, I’d like to finish those notes the editor sent with my last revision.”

“I know, Liz, but that was before the dressmaker called about the fact that they ruined my dress. I need you tonight, Lizzie! You know you are the only one who can keep me calm when I get all worked up and this is a big deal because it’s for charity and everything. Please don’t desert me! Nancy and mom have everything here all under control. Besides, Jim and Kyle are here to help,” Maria pleaded back. Seeing that Liz was thinking about it, she put on her puppy dog eyes that always got her friend to say yes.

“Oh, alright. I’ll go but I get a week off after this, Maria, a full week,” Liz agreed. Why had she ever agreed to be Maria’s personal assistant when she got famous? At least they could go out in peace. “Ria”, Maria’s stage name was always made up and hard to spot, while down to earth Maria DeLuca, home town girl, wore little make up and earthy clothes. They sometimes did their own grocery shopping just for the fun of it.

“Yes, yes, yes, a full week off I promise,” Maria waved her off. Suddenly, she screamed and Liz looked around franticly for what had scared her friend. “Oh my god! It’s beautiful! It’s perfect!” Reaching into the box by Liz, Maria pulled out a long hunter green velveteen dress with tiny golden roses scattered here and there, trimmed in faux mink fur around the scoop neck collar that barely stayed on the shoulders, long sleeves, and the hemline. It had an empire waist and flowed out from there.

It took Liz a moment to switch gears and realize that her best friend had just screamed over a dress. When she looked at it, however, she smiled. It was perfect for Maria. She started putting the other dresses back in the boxes with one hand and pulled out her cell phone with the other. A hand covered the one putting dresses away, and she looked up at Maria.

“What are you doing? We have to look for you a dress too. Or did you decide to wear that black one?” she asked the brunette. “And who are you calling?”

Liz laughed. “I was calling the alterations people to make any adjustments you want and to make sure George is going to be on time. I really don’t need anything fancy, Maria. I mean, you’re the star after all. I’m just going to be someone in the background.”

“Lizzie, you are my best friend and therefore are never in the background to me. I look for you everywhere and if Alex is on the other side of the continent and Brody is in another country then I have to have you there to keep me grounded. And if you’re going to be there with all these celebrities you are going to look like one too. Tonight you go as my friend and not as my assistant…right after you help put me together and ready to go on stage. Now what do you think about this pink one?” Maria told her and held up the dress in question.

She looked at it thoughtfully but then shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’s quite right for me.”

Tossing it aside, Maria shrugged. “No problem, all of these dresses and clothes are just beautiful and I’m sure there’s something in here that will do. I’ll have to remember to thank George and tell him to keep this designer close to his phone dialing fingers.” They rummaged through the boxes a few minutes more before the singer screamed again. “This is it! Oh, Lizzie, this is just the dress for you. It just screams Grace Kelly doesn’t it?” she exclaimed holding another one up.

Liz was afraid to touch the dress; it was so beautiful and looked almost fragile. It was a beautiful dove gray/silver satin with a sheer gray scarf to go around the neck. It had a sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps, opera-length gloves of the same color and material to match the fabric of the dress, and was cut in an A-line or princess style. It was absolutely perfect.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Christmas Benefit Concert, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 7:30 pm

Liz looked around at all the gorgeously dressed people and felt for the first time like she fit in with the crowd. That would change as soon as Maria sang the last song of the evening and everyone started “mingling”. This celebrity life was hard for her and she wasn’t even the celebrity. Everyone in LA in the limelight always seemed so artificial…so fake…always performing, always putting on a show. Maria was an exception and she had ordered Liz to help keep her that way. Liz fulfilled this obligation by not allowing Maria to spend more than a few minutes in the company of any one of the fakes. Sure she had to mingle and be pleasant to these people in order for her career to stay afloat, but as long as she was sweet and congenial and kissed butt for only a few minutes at a time, then maybe…just maybe Maria would stay the hometown girl that everyone had fallen in love with in the first place.

The money from the benefit tonight was to go to feed homeless children and to those in foster homes. Ria was not the only famous singer singing tonight and Liz was glad that the evening was almost over, even though she felt like one of those beautiful people with that gorgeous dress and her hair swept up in an elegant style of curls. Looking around for a friendly face, she cursed George for not staying with her as Maria had asked. He had insisted that he wasn’t dressed for the occasion.

As the male singer on the stage finished the final note, Liz clapped with everyone else and waited as the area where he was standing darkened and another area lit up, revealing “Ria” posed with head dropped and microphone in hand. As her head came up, she momentarily looked in Liz’s direction and winked before starting to sing the words to an old Carpenters’ song.

Greeting Cards have all been sent
The Christmas rush is through
But I still have one wish to make
A special one for you

Merry Christmas, darling
We’re apart, that’s true
But I can dream
And in my dreams
I’m Christmasing with you

Holidays are joyful
There’s always something new
But everyday’s a holiday
When I’m near to you

The lights on my tree
I wish you could see
I wish it everyday

The logs on the fire
Fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas (Merry Christmas, darling)
Happy New Year too

I’ve just one wish
On this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you

The logs on the fire
Fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy New Year too

I’ve just one wish
On this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you
I wish I were with you
Merry Christmas, darling

Everyone erupted in thunderous applause and Maria bowed. As the other singers joined her onstage and they said their good-nights, the audience stood up and Liz joined them in the standing ovation. Knowing that the last song was for Maria’s boyfriend Brody who was currently in London with his family, Liz studied her friend’s face for just how sad she was that he wasn’t here. Brody and Maria had been together for almost four years; not as long as Liz and Kyle but that was still a long enough time to know right?

Liz and Kyle had been a couple since high school and everyone expected them to stay together. Lately, however, Liz wasn’t so sure about them. She knew she loved Kyle but she wasn’t sure she was in love with him. She got the feeling that she was staying with him because he was safe. He was a great guy and was pretty responsible and could always be counted on whenever she needed him but…was that enough? Was she just being ungrateful for what she had with him?

A short while later, she found herself standing by a wall in the lobby area of the concert hall, trying to look inconspicuous. She watched everyone talking and laughing, flirting and sipping cocktails, waiting for Maria to finish her interviews and her mingling so that they could go. One particular group to her right caught her attention for a moment. There was a prominent politician and his wife along with a couple of actors and actresses, obviously in a discussion about politics. She watched their mannerisms and facial expressions, trying to decipher if they were agreeing on whatever issue they were discussing or if they were arguing about it.

“I think they’re ok for the moment. They seem to be staying pretty civil. Although, I do believe the senator’s wife has had a bit too much to drink already so that could change any moment,” said a male voice on her left. Liz turned to find a fairly tall man with dark blond hair that just grazed his shoulders and warm hazel eyes. He was wearing a suit, instead of the tuxedos that most of the men were wearing tonight, and a smile.

“I’m sorry?” Liz asked, not sure what he was talking about.

He nodded toward the group she had been watching. “You were wondering if they were agreeing over the politics they were discussing or in a debate over them. I’ve learned quickly how to read people. My father taught me…makes me a monster at poker.”

She laughed. “That was pretty good, but it can’t be that hard in this crowd.”

“Ah but isn’t it? Most people can read the surface…the celebrities are all here to congratulate each other on their accomplishments for the year, wish success for the upcoming one, and talk about who made the biggest contribution to society. That’s the easy stuff. But look over there,” he told her, pointing out an older actor chatting with a fairly new young female singer and a male about her age that Liz didn’t recognize. “What would you say about that group?”

Liz thought about it for a minute. “He’s flirting with the young singer. I think I read somewhere that he and his wife are going through a divorce…something about not being compatible anymore.”

The man looked at her and grinned. “Pretty good. That’s what I would have guessed five years ago. Now I know that he isn’t flirting with the singer…he’s flirting with her male companion.”

Gasping, Liz looked back at him with wide eyes and stifled a giggle with her hand. “Surely you’re joking. You can’t be serious. That actor is known all over the world as a ladies’ man.”

“Oh, he’s a ladies’ man alright. Just not the type you’re thinking…more like a fellow girlfriend. See the way he makes a point to touch the singer’s arm or hand, but he’s standing closer to the male. He’s careful but every once in a while he glances at the male just a little too long. There are other signs too but those are the most obvious ones,” he said.

Liz laughed and then looked back at him. “Ok, so what about me? What do you think you’ve figured out about me?” she asked.

Grinning again, he held a glass of Champaign out to her. “That you aren’t quite as easily read as all these phonies. You’re a lot more guarded about yourself. Even though you are dressed like one of these beautiful people, you can’t stand them and can’t wait to get out of here…just like me.”

Deciding to trust this man, Liz took the glass from him and tilted her head at him, raising her eyebrows. “If you don’t want to be here, then why are you? You don’t strike me as one of these phonies and I don’t recognize your face.”

He laughed at that. “I’m here because my girlfriend slash agent insisted I get my face out in public with the opening of her gallery with my paintings in it coming up next week, and since I’m missing Christmas with my family, I wanted to do something for charity so that my sister and mother don’t completely kill me. A children’s benefic concert is a good start toward forgiveness. I’m Michael,” he said, holding his hand out to her.

You guys are so awesome! I appreciate all your feedback so much and I'm glad you liked how I brought Michael into the picture. Wonder what he's doing at a function with all the celebs? That's in this part along with his girlfriend...not Tess. She will pop up later. Hope this new part lives up to the rest of the story as you all seem to like everything so far. To all you lurkers out there, and I know there are a lot cause this thread got over 1000 hits already, hello and thanks for reading. I hope you're liking the story too! I hope you'll have time before the story is completely finished to drop a line and say howdy. If not...eh that's RL for you! LOL! Anyway, on with the story!

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A Year of Holiday Magic

Part 4

Christmas Benefit Concert, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Immediately after

Liz shook Michael’s outstretched hand. “Elizabeth,” she answered using the name she always gave in these elite social situations. “So you’re a painter? Have I seen any of your work?”

“I highly doubt it since it’s never been on display before. My girlfriend has an eye for art and has a remarkable head for business. She’s the one who convinced me that I had real talent and should try to sell my work,” Michael answered.

Sipping the Champaign, Liz smiled at him. “So you aren’t the only artist she admires?”

He chuckled. “Afraid not. Everything the Appletons touch seems to turn to gold…at least where art is concerned.”

“Appleton? As in ‘Appleton Paintings and Fine Art’ and ‘Appleton’s Art Supplies’?” Those Appletons?” Liz asked impressed.

She was no art connoisseur, but she had visited several of the galleries around the country. “Appleton Paintings and Fine Art” was well renowned as something between a gallery and a museum. Those who were “into” art loved the pieces they collected and sold as much as the common people off the street, and they had art to fit all budgets. Maria had bought several things from them. Many an aspiring artist had either taken lessons through the esteemed family’s businesses or had been discovered by them.

“One and the same. I’m dating David Appleton’s daughter, Serena. She’s opening another one of their galleries here in the LA area and she insisted on displaying my work,” Michael answered with pride but Liz didn’t feel like he was bragging to show his status. He just didn’t seem stuck up. Glancing up, Michael gestured with his hand holding the Champaign glass toward a cute, thin woman with fire red hair pulled up in a French twist and wearing a simple black dress with spaghetti straps coming towards them. “Here comes Serena now.”

“I turn my back on you long enough to go to the ladies’ room and I come back to find you’ve replaced me,” she said with a teasing smile. Holding her hand out to Liz she introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Serena.”

“Elizabeth,” Liz shook her hand, instantly liking the heiress.

“I was only looking for someone real to talk to. You know I’m no good with all of these phonies, Serena,” Michael protested. “Elizabeth here actually seems to have a brain in her head that she uses to think for herself.”

Serena rolled her eyes at him and linked her arm through his elbow. “Those ‘phonies’ will make or break your work, Michael. Just remember that it never hurts to be nice. So Elizabeth, do you like paintings?” she asked, trying to be friendly.

Liz laughed. “Sometimes. I admit I don’t have a membership to any of the high museums, but I do like to visit art exhibits and museums from time to time…and I like many of the things that ‘Appleton Paintings and Fine Art’ displays and sells.”

Serena nodded and asked, “So what do you do?”

That was the question Liz was always uncomfortable answering. She hated to tell the truth about her “day job”…that she was Maria’s personal assistant because people always wanted to pump her for information about her friend. Deciding on her other career as a good answer she smiled. “Actually, I write children’s books. I don’t have many on the shelves, but I do have a couple and another one in the works.”

Her cat green eyes lighting up, Serena disengaged herself from Michael and her smile grew even more. “Really? That’s great! Michael’s illustrated some children’s books. Who illustrates yours?” she asked.

After her conversation with Michael about body language, Liz couldn’t help but notice Serena’s, and she realized that Serena had been just polite up until this point and had linked her arm with Michael’s so that she could pull him away if she decided that Liz wasn’t worth her time. No doubt she met a lot of weirdoes being in the art world. “Oh, my editor takes care of that but I think she told me his name was Guerrin…I can’t remember his first name.” At the grin on Serena’s face and the look of surprise on Michael’s, she looked at them a little suspiciously. “What?” she asked.

“That’s Michael’s last name! Well, the one he uses for his work, that is,” Serena almost squealed.

“You’re kidding right? I mean you’re making all this up. I have illustrated some of your books?” Michael asked almost laughing.

“Well, like I said, I don’t have many in print but yeah…it would seem that way,” Liz said smiling as well. “What a small world huh?”

“Definitely. You’ll have to come to the opening of the gallery. We are inviting a small group of select few on New Year’s Eve if you don’t have any other plans yet, and you could bring a date. Or if you already have plans, you’re welcome to come anytime that week. We’re having a big grand opening celebration all week long,” Serena invited warmly.

“I’d love to, but I’ll have to check my calendar before I can make any promises,” Liz answered. They all sipped on their drinks, and Liz couldn’t help but ask how they enjoyed the concert.

“They all did a fabulous job, but I admit that I’m partial to Ria. I just love her style. Her music and the way she carries herself...she’s just so adorable,” Serena gushed and Liz hid a smile. She knew she liked this woman.

“I’m more of a heavy metal/alternative fan myself, but they all did a great job. Serena has me listening to Ria’s albums, and she’s really grown on me. I think she was my favorite tonight too,” Michael admitted. “What about you? Who was your favorite?”

“I think I’d have to agree with you’re assessments,” Liz told them with a secret smile.

At that moment a man in a loud gold colored jacket came up to their group. “I don’t mean to interrupt but Serena, dahling, I saw you standing over here and I simply had to come over and ask how your family is doing.” Looking over the other two, he seemed to only just realize that they were standing there. “You don’t mind if I steal her away for just a moment do you?” he asked, and without waiting for a response, he started dragging her away with his arm about her shoulders.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Liz smiled at Michael and held out her hand. “Well, Michael Guerrin, it was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to seeing your work at the gallery.”

He took her hand and smiled back. “Leaving so soon? We were just starting to get to know each other. Serena certainly seemed to have liked you; she isn’t normally so warm to someone she just met.”

“Well, you can tell her that the feeling is mutual and I’m afraid that I do have to go. I have other plans for the rest of the evening and don’t want to be late.”

“I hope you’re able to make it to the New Year’s Eve party at Appleton’s but if not, I hope to see you again, Elizabeth,” he told her seeming completely sincere.

* * * * * * * * * *

The Mansion in Bel Air, 8:30 pm

Amy rushed to the front door when she heard it open. “You two are back! Great! Why don’t you both go change into something more comfortable and we’ll be ready to eat soon ok? How was the concert?”

“I think it went pretty well. What do you think, Liz? What was everyone saying out in the lobby area?” Maria asked.

Liz nodded. “Yeah, everyone I talked to really liked it a lot…a couple of people even mentioned that you were their favorite out of all the singers tonight.”

Maria looked at her doubtfully but then she shrugged. “Well, whatever. I’m so hungry right now and ready to open presents that I don’t really care if it was a total catastrophe.” She ran up the stairs with Liz not far behind her and they both went to their rooms to change.

Maria threw on a pair of tan colored pants and a red and tan diagonal striped top with short sleeves and decided that it was her house and she was not wearing shoes anymore tonight. Liz pulled out her most comfortable jeans and put on the Christmas sweater that her dad had given her two years ago. But when the tears started to fill her eyes to the point that she couldn’t see, she tugged it off and threw it in the back of her closet. Rummaging through her other tops and sweaters, she found a short sleeved, mock turtleneck with a green background and snowmen and snowflakes all over it and pulled it on.

When the two girls came down the stairs, Nancy was sitting on the couch in the living room next to Amy. Jim and Kyle Valenti were seated in chairs that faced the couch. When Liz saw Kyle, she kind of got a sinking feeling in her stomach that she couldn’t quite explain. She dismissed it as Kyle stood up with the others and came toward her with a smile. “There’s my little assistant to the stars. Did you have fun?” he asked her, giving her a peck on the lips.

Pulling her hand free from his and pushing her hair behind her ear as an excuse for it, Liz took a small step toward the dining room. “Yeah, it was nice. I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.” She moved to her mom and gave her a hug. “Hi, mom,” she said, almost tiredly.

Nancy hugged her daughter and then looked at what she was wearing. “I would have thought you would wear the sweater your father gave you, Liz.”

Liz almost rolled her eyes at her mother but stopped herself just in time. “Don’t start, mom.”

“I just thought that it would be nice to do that in his memory,” Nancy told her defensively. Ever since Jeff had been killed when he was hit by a drunk driver just over a year and a half ago, Nancy and Liz fought about everything. They had never been close but it almost felt to Liz like the glue that had held them together was gone and without her father, their small family just fell apart.

“Mom, it’s 72 degrees outside! I’m not wearing a sweater!” Liz argued.

Deciding to intervene for peace, Jim spoke up. “Well, I’ve been smelling all those wonderful foods all afternoon and I think it’s high time we ate them.” Everyone agreed and moved to the dining room to eat.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The Mansion, Living room, 10:15 pm

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles will be miles away

Once again in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us
Gather near to us once more

Someday soon we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Everyone was crowded into the living room and gathered around the tree, full from all the delicious foods Amy and Nancy had been preparing all day long. The two mothers had complained that their daughters weren’t eating enough and that they were too skinny, but Kyle and Jim ate more than enough to make up for them. Liz loved her mother, but she was already counting the hours until she would be going back to Roswell with the others. Now, however, it was time for presents.

“Ok, everyone, how do we want to do this? Should we open gifts one at a time or all at once?” Jim asked.

“I’m kind of tired of being such a good girl and I think we’ve waited long enough. I mean, in a couple of hours, Christmas will be over. Let’s just dive in,” Maria answered quickly.

Everyone laughed, and Jim and Kyle started passing around the gifts. Nancy got a knit scar and hat set from Amy who had made them herself, gift certificates from Kyle and Jim, a pair of pearl earrings from Maria, and a cameo brooch that also could be used as a necklace from Liz. Jim had gotten a new wallet from Kyle, a gift certificate for the Crashdown Café from Nancy, a hunting knife from Liz, a fake pistol that had been used in an old western from Maria, and a lot of new fishing equipment he had been wanting from Amy. Kyle’s gifts consisted of a black scarf and hat set knitted by Amy with a little green alien stuck on each of them, a gift certificate for the Café from Nancy, a hunting rifle from his father, a subscription to “Busty Biker Babes” from Maria and a new leather jacket from Liz.

Maria had gotten a full stock of scented oils, herbs and incense from her mother, a photo album with a few old pictures of her, Liz and Alex from Nancy, candles from Kyle and Jim, and an antique hand mirror and brush set from Liz. When she sighed after Jim handed her another box, Liz knew it was from Brody. “Do you miss him terribly, honey?” Amy asked, obviously knowing what was on her daughter’s mind.

Maria nodded. “Yeah, I miss him and Sydney more than I thought I would. I mean, I’m ok but I was just hoping Sydney could spend Christmas here with me and her father instead of all her relatives that she doesn’t really know in London.” She set the box aside. “I’ll wait and open that one when they get back or over the phone.”

Amy’s presents were made up of a gift certificate for the café from Nancy, a gift certificate for Bloomingdales from Maria, candles from Kyle, and a gold chain from Liz. Knowing that a gift was missing, she looked around for something else. “Jim, I didn’t get your gift,” she said.

Holding a small box out to her, Jim said, “Oh, must of gotten pushed aside in all the fuss. Here ya go.” When she opened it and gasped, he grinned. “Amy DeLuca, I’ve had a crush on you since I arrested you during that protest march. Now I love you with all of my heart. Will you marry me?” he asked, getting down on one knee in front of her.

Tears filled Amy’s eyes and she threw her arms around the lawman’s neck. “Yes, definitely,” she answered. Then she drew back and got a mischievous gleam in her eye. “That is if you can make sure you can get off of work that day,” she teased, referring to their first few dates. With Jim being the town Sheriff in Roswell, he had gotten called in to work on them. When Amy refused to go out with him again unless he was sure he would be there for desert, he quickly forgot to turn on his radio or didn’t hear the phone on the nights he was with her. Now, he took the diamond solitaire ring from the box and placed it on her finger.

Liz had opened her gifts and thanked Maria for the garnet earrings, Amy for the scarf, hat and mitten set, Jim for the candles, and her mother for a new journal. When she too realized that a gift was missing, the sinking feeling in her stomach returned. “Kyle, I don’t see a gift from you,” she said carefully, eyeing him suspiciously. When she saw him take a deep breath and pull out another small box, she prayed silently that it was a pair of earrings, and tried to fight off the panicking feeling that was threatening to overwhelm her.

As she opened the box, her fears were confirmed and Kyle was kneeling in front of her. “Liz Parker, we have weathered high school, college, and miles apart together. Would you help me to weather through the rest of my life as my wife?” he asked.

There was dead silence in the room as everyone anticipated her answer. She wouldn’t refuse…she and Kyle had been dating since the summer before their junior year of high school. They had always been together. Swallowing and looking from the ring to Kyle to the ring and back again to Kyle, Liz blurted out the words before she could even think about what she was saying. “Kyle, I want to break up.”

Hello, everyone! I'm so glad that everyone liked that last part. Don't feel bad about laughing at Liz's response, that's the way it was suppose to make you respond so that just shows that I accomplished what I set out to do in that part. I've got part of the next part written and will hopefully finish it and post it tomorrow...I'll have it by Tuesday for sure.

Let me respond to everyone's fb first. I won't always be able to address everyone individually but I have a few extra minutes tonight.

RA Saero611 wrote:

that was a great update...i don't know if its mean or something, but when Liz said she wanted to break up with Kyle i laughed. It was just from the way i read it...

Thanks for writing! can't wait for the next update!

Then you read that part right, or at least the way I intended it to come out. I'm glad you're liking this story and are anxious about the next part. Thanks for reading!

Emz80m wrote:

great part

i cant believe that was Liz's answer!! that was such a crack up

I admit that I laughed when I read it too. LOL!

roswellluver wrote:

Poor Kyle is going to be upset! Thanks for wriitng!

You are such a faithful reader and always leave at least a line on every part. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Oh, and um...you'd be surprised. (Hint for next part.)

xmag wrote:

Does Maria miss Brody or his daughter ? Wouldn't it be ironic if Brody broke up with her, the star ? it would be unusual ! Ok, that's mean, but well, it would be a change.
And Liz is broking up with Kyle ? what brought up this sudden decision ? Monotony of life ? And, god, how embarrassing for Kyle, to be rejected in front of his family.

Good observation there, xmag. Maria did seem to talk more about Sydney than Brody didn't she? Hmmm... I admit that I wrote that a little cruel to Kyle but it'll work out ok. I honestly don't think it's always fair for a guy to propose in front of a bunch of people anyway. What if the woman isn't ready for that step yet? What an awkward position to put her in! I warned my husband when we started dating that if he proposed before a bunch of people and put me under that kind of pressure, I would instantly say no just to see how he liked the tables turned the other way. (I was half joking. I was just trying to tell him that I feel this is a private thing unless you are damn sure that she'll accept.) Does that make me a cruel person? I hope not...not trying to be.

begonia9508 wrote:

Wonderful part!

** Better brake now than after the wedding! **

Kyle is going to be upset but after a while, he will recognize that she was right!

Loved Michael and Liz discovering that he his drowing for her books.....
and that Liz is already friends with Serena!

Why thank you! I completely agree with you about breaking up now rather than later. If you aren't completely sure about someone, put off the wedding or break it off altogether. Liz and Serena certainly seemed to hit it off right from the start didn't they? Glad you liked this part and I hope you'll like future ones just as much.

Since everyone else seems to have written similar things to those people quoted above, let me just say thank you to: Sternbetrachter, rigel, rainbow_watcher, and sox! Hope you'll like the future parts of this story.

-------------------------------------

A Year of Holiday Magic

Part 5

Maria’s Mansion, Poolside, Almost midnight

Liz and Kyle sat on the edge of the pool in silence. Liz let her feet dangle in the warm water, and they looked everywhere but at each other. She had been the one to suggest they come out here to talk after the awkward goodnight’s said by everyone else after all the presents had been opened. They had sat there in silence for almost an hour, and finally, Kyle couldn’t take it anymore.

“So you wanna talk to me or what?” he asked abruptly.

Looking over at him and studying him for a few minutes, Liz sighed a little and felt her fear disappear. This was Kyle…they had been friends for a long time. “Kyle, look, I’m really sorry about what happened in there tonight. I shouldn’t have just blurted that out like that and embarrassed you in front of our friends and your dad,” she apologized looking into his blue eyes.

He let out a soft snort. “But you meant what you said didn’t you?” he asked.

Giving him a sympathetic look and then glancing away for a minute, she nodded. “Yeah,” she answered softly. When he sighed, she rushed to explain. “It’s not you, though, Kyle. I mean, you are a great guy; you’re funny, smart, sensitive, you could be a bit more romantic but you’re better than a lot of other guys, and you’re great looking. You keep in shape…”

Kyle turned his body so that he was facing her better. “So what is it then, Liz? You can tell me you know. I mean it’s me…if nothing else, we’ve always been able to talk and be honest with each other.”

Taking a deep breath, Liz made sure she was looking at his face when she answered him. He deserved that much. “Kyle, we have been together so long and we just don’t have that spark anymore…maybe it was never really there or maybe it was just a teenage romance thing but I’m just…I’m just not in love with you.” She let the words out hesitatingly but strongly and clearly enough so there was no mistaking them. She waited nervously for his reply when he did something completely unexpected…he laughed.

Seeing Liz’s confused expression, Kyle pulled himself together and cleared his throat. “Liz, when I bought the ring, one of the first questions I asked was, ‘What if she says no?’ We’ve been together so long that this just seemed like the next step. When you said you wanted to break up, I hate to admit this, but I was kind of relieved. I love you, Liz, but I’m not sure that I’m in love with you either,” he told her. “Your refusal just made me see that I really don’t want to get married to you…not that you wouldn’t make a great wife, Liz, and I’m sure we could make it work if we had to but that’s just it. We shouldn’t have to.”

Liz was so surprised by his words, she could only come up with one question. “So what did the store say about the ring if I said no?”

He laughed at her question. “They said that I had 30 days to get a full refund and after that they would buy back the stone, but the ring would only be taken back for store credit I could use in the future.”

“Oh,” Liz replied still dazed by everything he had said. She looked at him searchingly. “So you’re really ok? Not that I want you to be hurt, but I did turn down your marriage proposal.”

Pulling her into a hug and kissing her cheek, Kyle nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Not that it doesn’t hurt a little. We’ve been together for a long time, and it’s kind of strange to be suddenly single again. I’m not sure I know quite what to do with myself. Just promise me we’ll stay friends.”

Returning the kiss he had planted on her cheek, she smiled. “Absolutely. I’m just sorry that it took us so long to break this up. I don’t even think I know how to be single.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

Maria’s Mansion, Nancy’s temporary room, Day after Christmas, 9:30 am

Liz handed Nancy the last of the items from the bathroom. “That’s all I saw that wasn’t in there when you arrived…plus some of those nice little soaps that I know you like. Maria always makes sure that there are some for you to take home,” she told her mother.

“Thanks,” Nancy said giving her daughter a smile. They were quiet for the few minutes that she finished stuffing the rest of her things in her suitcase and zipped it up. Then she sighed and looked at Liz. “Liz, I wish you’d come back with me for a few days. I just don’t understand why you won’t.”

Turning from her mother’s face so she wouldn’t see her roll her eyes, Liz tried not to yell in exasperation. She and Nancy were always arguing. “Mom, please don’t start this again. You know that I can’t go back with you right now. I don’t understand why you don’t stay for a few more days. I understand that Jim has to get back to work, and Amy would naturally want to go with him, and since Kyle and I broke up…”

“That’s another thing I don’t understand about you, Liz. Why in the world did you break up with Kyle? He’s a good guy and has always treated you so well. If you aren’t ready for marriage yet, I’m sure he’ll understand but there’s no need to throw everything away just because of that. I mean you’ve been dating him since high school,” Nancy stated really wanting to understand her daughter for once. She never seemed to ever understand anything Liz did anymore.

“Mom, please! Doesn’t Kyle’s reaction tell you anything? If he isn’t upset that I broke up with him, why should you be?” Liz asked loudly, quickly losing her patience. Her mother just didn’t understand anything about her.

“How can you be sure that Kyle isn’t upset? He’s probably just hiding it from you. Liz, I really think that you should come back with us and try to talk to him and work this out. Whatever it is, I’m sure that you’ll be ok when you’re back home in Roswell,” her mother suggested.

“Mother, don’t you get it yet? I don’t want to come home to Roswell. Roswell is not my home anymore! And Kyle and I will not be getting back together. Will you just stop trying to run my life for me and listen to me for once? God, I just wish dad was here right now. He always knew me and understood me and accepted me for who I am,” Liz had gotten on a roll, and suddenly she realized what she had said and how it had sounded. Looking to her mother, she saw that the older woman had gone very still and quiet and was looking down at her hands.

“Well, in that case, I guess there’s no point in either of us trying to spend more time together. I have to get back to the café so I definitely can’t stay and well…you’ve made yourself clear,” Nancy said quietly. She picked up her suitcase and moved toward the door.

Suddenly feeling very ashamed of herself, Liz stepped toward Nancy. “Mom, I…” she began.

“I hope you’ll at least walk me to the car. I’m sure that the others would like to say goodbye as well,” Nancy interrupted, unwilling to talk anymore today.

Since Liz didn’t really have any idea what she should say or why she had said what she had already, she let it go and decided she would call her mother after they both had had some time to calm down. She followed Nancy down the stairs and out to the limo that Maria had waiting to take everyone to the airport. The chauffer took Nancy’s bags from her and Liz and placed them in the trunk. Everyone said their goodbyes.

As Liz and Jim hugged, Jim gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I hope that just because you and Kyle aren’t together anymore that you think I won’t expect to hear from you from time to time. I had expected you for a daughter-in-law you know.”

Liz smiled at the lawman’s words. “Of course you’ll hear from me. Kyle and I have left it very friendly and I’ll call you soon,” she assured him.

Then she turned to Kyle and they smiled at each other. Deciding to make the first move, Liz kissed his cheek and he pulled her in for a hug. “You take care of yourself, Liz Parker, and if you need anything, even if it’s just to talk, you call me. Ok?” he told her, his dimples showing.

Nodding, Liz agreed quickly. Then she turned to her mother who hugged her briefly. “It was nice spending Christmas together. Take care and we’ll talk soon,” Nancy said quickly. Then she studied Liz for a moment and said briefly, “I love you, Liz.” Before Liz could say anything, however, she hopped in the back of the limousine and closed the door.

As Liz watched the car drive off for the airport with a heavy, guilt-filled heart, she felt an arm drape over her shoulders. “You and your mom have another fight?” Maria asked.

Looking down at the ground and kicking a pebble, Liz nodded. “Yeah, we just don’t seem to be able to talk without one anymore. I don’t know why we can’t seem to get along without dad.”

Squeezing her friend a bit, Maria tried to reassure her friend. “You two have just been going through a rough time that’s all. It happens when the child grows up and mom doesn’t want to let go, especially under the circumstances. Don’t worry; you two will work it out.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

Maria’s Mansion, Liz’s room, 7:30 pm

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A partridge in a pear tree…

“No way! You are so making all of this up, Alex,” Liz exclaimed into her cell phone.

“I’m serious, Liz. That is how I spent Christmas…in a huge mansion with a bunch of total strangers,” Alex said in between mouthfuls of “Phish Food” from “Ben and Jerry’s”. He grinned at Liz’s response. If he thought she was surprised, he couldn’t wait to hear Maria’s reaction. “To top it all off, Isabel and I have a date for New Year’s Eve in Times Square to watch the ball drop. I’ve never done that and I admit I can’t wait.”

Liz smiled at the excitement in her friend’s voice. She hadn’t heard him this happy in a long time. “Well, I’m glad you had fun but I don’t know why you say you felt so uncomfortable at being in that big house. You’re over here at Maria’s every chance you get.” She took another bite of her “Chunky Monkey” and smiled at the thought that some traditions are more habits and would never be lost. She, Maria, and Alex always spilled their big life news over “Ben and Jerry’s” flavors.

“Yeah, but I knew Maria before she had money…I mean, I know she’s a down-to-earth kind of girl. Yeah, she likes clothes and the nice stuff but she’s not used to having it. Isabel has had that kind of stuff all her life. I just don’t know if she’ll be able to deal with the fact that I might not be able to provide that kind of lifestyle if we get married, especially in New York. Everything is so expensive here,” Alex told her.

“Whoa! Marriage? You must be serious about this girl, Alex. Just be careful. If she’s as amazing as you say she might have some dark secret. I mean, she might be a serial killer for all you know. You keep describing how wonderful she is and how much you like her. What are her faults?” Liz asked.

Alex sighed loudly. “Do we have to analyze her to death so soon? Can’t I have the dream for a week?” When he got silence for a moment, he sighed again. “Ok, um, one fault…let me see…oh! I got it! She’s a Christmas Nazi!” he blurted out.

“A what?” Liz asked, confused.

“A Christmas Nazi,” he repeated. “She kind of goes crazy this time of year trying to make everyone have a happy holiday.”

“That’s not a fault, Alex.”

“Oh yeah? Well, her brother told me that every year that they lived at home, she sent him with a diagram of the perfect tree that he was supposed to buy…complete with type of tree, thickness of foliage, and a range of acceptable dimensions and shades of green,” he argued amused at the thought.

Liz laughed at that. “Ok, so maybe it can become a fault. That’s ok for now, I guess.”

“What about you? How was Christmas there? How’s Kyle?”

There was silence and then a clearing of throat. “Um…well, Kyle and I broke up.”

“What?! At the risk of sounding a lot like our friend, Maria, you better spill, girlfriend,” Alex ordered. He listened to her story and almost choked on his ice cream. “You broke up with Kyle when he proposed on Christmas?!” He let her talk some more and explain, and finally he nodded in understanding. “I kind of thought something like this would happen eventually. I mean, Kyle’s a nice guy and everything but I think you could do…um, not better per se, just…I don’t know, different. He just never really struck me as right for you and visa versa. Don’t worry about your mom situation, Liz. She’ll be alright in a couple of days and call and bug you like usual.”

Liz sighed. “Yeah, but I still shouldn’t have said what I did. I love her, but sometimes I wonder if we’re really related. Well, are you ready for the first day of Christmas?” she asked.

“Absolutely. Got the gift right in front of me…had mom overnight it to me, paying extra due to the holidays of course,” he answered. “Ok, ready? One, two, three, open them!”

There was the sound of paper tearing on both ends of the line and Alex pulled out a pair of pewter computer monitor and keyboard cufflinks. He chuckled. “They’re perfect, Liz. Thanks!”

Liz pulled out a pair of ladybug stud earrings. She laughed in delight. “Oh, Alex, they’re so cute! Thank you so much! I’ll wear them a lot ok? I’ll even make sure I wear them the next time we get together.”

“And I’ll wear the cufflinks with my suit on New Year’s…if we end up dressing up. If not, I’ll wear them at work,” Alex answered. Then he yawned.

“Well, I know it’s getting late out there and you still have to talk to Maria. You want me to hang up and we’ll talk tomorrow?” she asked.

“That would be great. I love talking to you, but I still have eleven more days to do this and my entire story to retell to Maria. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night,” he groaned. “Have fun being single again, my girl.”

“I’ll tell Maria to call you. It might be a couple of minutes if she’s on the phone with Brody.”

“She better not be! You have any idea what time it is in London? Almost 4 in the morning!” Alex exclaimed.

Liz shrugged. “You know that wouldn’t stop Maria from calling. Merry Christmas, Alex!”

Hello, everyone! I have a three day weekend this weekend so I can honestly say that I'll get you another part to this story out by Monday at the latest! Yay! For now, though, I wanted to thank you for all the feedback and respond to it. Here goes:

xmag wrote:

Well, at least Kyle got over it quickly, he won't be hurt for too long.
Why do i get the feeling that calling Brody at 4 am is a bad idea ? that Maria will get a bad surprise ?
Where is Jeff Parker ? unless i missed a part, where it was explained.

Actually, it was explained very briefly in part 4 that Jeff was killed by a drunk driver a year and a half ago. It was right after Maria and Liz came home from the concert and they had changed clothes and Nancy picked on Liz's not wearing the sweater Jeff had given her two years ago.

begonia9508 wrote:

It's great that they are going to still be friends!... it's better this way!
And Liz having problems with her mother... yeah, relationship with a daughter is difficult! With my daughter (17), it's OK so long I let her do and conduct her life the way she will... and its in order bc she is really wise and reasonable!

Waiting for a new part! EVE

(Sigh) I was one of the very few who's best friend was her mother. I never felt like I hated either of my parents at any time, even as a teen, and often spent lots of time with my mom. We're still really close but she has some problems now and she's not the same person she was when I was a teen. (I admit that I miss my old mom even though she's doing much better.) It's good that your daughter is responsible enough to do the right thing on her own! I was always a good girl for the most part. When I did mess up, however, I knew I could count on my mom. Sounds like you and your daughter are the same way.

And many thanks goes out to RASaero 611, Emz80m, and rigel for your comments. Glad you liked that twist I put on Kyle's reaction. I felt that he could feel that way since they had been together for so long. My husband said his ex-wife and he had gotten married for much the same reason. They had been together for so long that marriage seemed like the next logical step. Notice I said "ex" wife....hmmmm.

Well, I guess that's it for now. I'll be back with the new part soon!

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A Year of Holiday Magic

Part 6

London, England, 3 days before New Year’s Eve, 6 pm

Brody Davis sat on the sofa in his parents’ home, waiting for someone to pick up at Maria’s…not that he was looking forward to this conversation. He really didn’t want to have to tell Maria that he wasn’t going to be there for New Year’s Eve. She was already upset about not being together for Christmas, and he didn’t blame her. He had been rather upset at the situation as well. However, he couldn’t be blamed for the circumstances that had separated them.

He and Sydney had made plans to be at the benefit concert and then spend Christmas dinner with everyone. Two weeks before Christmas, however, his mother had called with the terrible news that his father was dying and was going down hill very quickly. This might be the last Christmas he ever celebrated. So everyone in his family had come from every corner of the globe to help Arthur Davis create some wonderful memories.

Maria had been extremely understanding, especially when Brody had promised to bring Sydney home for New Year’s. How understanding would she be when she found out he had to break that promise? Suddenly, there was a click on the other end of the line. “Hello? Ms. DeLuca’s residence,” said a female voice with a heavy foreign accent.

“Yes, hello, Else; is Maria where she can talk?” he asked the maid.

“Ya, Mr. Davis, let me get her for you,” she answered warmly. She liked Brody and Sydney very much.

Brody took a deep breath while the line was silent. When he heard Maria come on the phone, he blew it out through his mouth. “Brody! How are my two favorite travelers doing?” his girlfriend asked cheerfully.

“We’re doing alright, love. How was Christmas?” he asked, knowing he was delaying the inevitable.

“Pretty good. The concert went well, and my mom, Jim, Kyle, and Nancy made it for a couple of days and we had dinner together after the concert. Nancy and Liz had another fight…big surprise there, but they’ll be ok. Liz and Kyle broke up, and my mom and Jim got engaged,” Maria reported excitedly.

Chuckling, Brody joked, “Well, as long as we didn’t miss much…Listen, Maria-love, I hate to have to say this but it doesn’t look like Syd and I will make it home for New Year’s.”

“Oh no! Why? What’s happened?” She noticed that Brody’s accent had gotten thicker in the short time he had been in London. She loved that accent.

“Dad is doing so much worse that we don’t think that he’ll live much past the end of January…if that long, and he really wants to spend more time with Sydney and I since we don’t get here often. I just can’t deny him that. Can you understand, darling?” he asked.

Maria gave a little sigh. “I’m so sorry about your father, Brody, you know I am. Of course, I understand. I mean, I’ll miss you and I won’t lie…I am a little disappointed but I completely understand. You spend time with your father.”

He smiled. “I knew I could count on you,” he said, feeling guilty that he hadn’t really been so sure. “I’ll miss you too. If you want, I’ll call you at midnight your time and we’ll celebrate together over the phone.”

“I do appreciate the offer, but with a 9 hour time difference, it just wouldn’t be the same. You have fun and make it fun for Sydney on New Year’s. Just thinking about me at midnight would make my year. Is she around where I can say hi?” she asked.

Brody looked around. “Um, actually, I believe she’s out riding with a couple of her cousins and her uncle. I’ll have her call you later if you like.” There was silence on the line for a moment, but he didn’t get the sense that she was mad. “Maria, are you there?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah, I’m here. Um, no don’t worry about it, Brody. If Sydney is having fun just tell her I said hello and I miss her,” she answered seemingly distracted. “Listen, I have to go for now but I’ll call you later on this week, ok? Tell everyone there I said hello and I wish I could have been there with you all for Christmas. I miss you, Brody.”

“I miss you too, love,” he told her. “I love you.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “I love you too. Kisses!”

As he hung up, Brody heard his mother calling to him from the kitchen. He got up and moved to that room of the house. “Yes, mum?” he asked.

“Dear, would you mind adding another two plates to the dinner table for me? A friend of your dad’s and his daughter are coming for dinner,” she informed him.

“Sure, mum. Who’s coming?” he asked, pulling plates down from the cupboard.

“A man that worked with your father for a few years since getting transferred here with the American government through the military. He handled a lot of paperwork, ‘nothing glamorous’ as he used to say, and your father often worked with him on paperwork that was to go to our own government. His name is Edward Harding. I forget his daughter’s name, but she’s visiting here for the holidays. She’s about yours and Maria’s age, I believe,” she told him.

He helped his mother with the rest of the dinner preparations, and when his daughter came in with her cousins and his brother from riding, he sent her upstairs to wash up. Just as Miriam was taking the casserole out of the oven, the doorbell rang. “Brody, would you answer that please? Your father is still napping.”

He quickly moved to the front door and noticed that it was snowing again. When he opened it, he found a balding older man with a bit of a “middle-age spread” about his waist, and a young woman with startling ice blue eyes, blond ringlets that reached past her shoulders, and an enticing figure. “Hello, you must be the Hardings,” Brody said, holding the door open wide. “I’m Brody…Arthur’s son. Please come in.”

The man and woman thanked him and stepped inside. As they moved to take off their coats, Brody assisted the young woman out of hers. “Thank you. My name is Tess and this is my father, Edward, but everyone calls him Ed,” she told him.

Brody shook hands with the man and they smiled at each other. “I’m so terribly sorry to hear about your father, Brody. He’s a good man and I hate to hear we’re going to be losing him. How is he doing today?” he asked, sincerely concerned.

Swallowing before he answered, Brody shrugged. “It’s not easy to answer that question. He’s a dying man who is trying to stay positive for his family if for no other reason. Sometimes he succeeds at it and sometimes he doesn’t. I’m sure seeing a friend will help to keep his spirits up. Thank you for coming.”

Sympathy and concern filled both Ed’s and Tess’s eyes. “It’s the least I can do,” Ed answered.

Brody led them into the parlor and offered them something to drink. There were heavy footsteps coming down the stairs and when they all looked in that direction, they saw Arthur Davis paused in mid-step with a surprised look on his face. “Ed Harding? Is that you? Wow! This is a wonderful surprise. What are you doing here?” he asked, coming forward and shaking the other man’s hand warmly. “I haven’t seen you since I was forced into early retirement.”

“Your lovely Miriam invited us for dinner tonight. I’ve been wanting to see you, and when she promised to make her delicious beef Wellington, I couldn’t refuse the invitation. This is my daughter, Tess. Tess, this is Arthur Davis,” Ed introduced them.

“It’s lovely to finally meet you, Tess. Your father brags about you quite a bit,” Arthur said with a warm smile.

“Thank you, Mr. Davis. I’ve heard quite a lot about what a good friend you are as well. Thank you too for having me over.” Tess liked the older man immensely just from the fact that he was a friend of her father’s and this brief meeting. She tried to hide all traces of sympathy at the apparent frailness of his frame. He was deathly pale and looked as if his skin had been stretched to cover his bones. His blue eyes were somewhat glassy but sharp, and the hand that shook hers was clammy but firm.

Arthur noticed, however, that she was working too hard at ignoring his obvious illness. He winked at her. “I’m not afraid of dying, love; just of making the people around me uncomfortable at the thought. If you have anything you want to ask or say, please make a dyin’ man happy by just coming out with it. I’ve made peace with my sickness, and it would be the least I could do to help others do the same.”

Embarrassed at the fact that he had read through her, she reddened and gave a self-conscious smile. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable in my reaction. I appreciate your trying to put me at ease.”

Brody smiled at her answer to his father. He only hoped that he could be as brave as his father when his time came. Trying to squelch the uncomfortable silence he felt coming, he nodded toward the dining room. “I do believe that mother is ready to serve up dinner if everyone would like to move into the dining room.”

The others agreed, and Ed and Arthur walked to the table side by side, discussing old times. Brody found himself walking next to the young blond. She smiled at him. “I really like your father, Brody. My dad has always talked about him for as long as he’s lived here in London.”

“Yeah, dad’s one of those rare people that seem to get along with everybody but he especially speaks well of Ed. You live in London with your father?” he asked politely, holding out her chair for her.

Surprised at the gesture, it took Tess a moment to realize that he was holding the chair for her. When she did, she thanked him and sat down. “Um, no actually. I live in New York. My best friend and I are roommates and have an apartment just down from where she works. We were friends in California but she moved to New York when we were 13. I went to college at NYU to go to school with her there and loved New York. So when my father was transferred to London, I chose to stay in the states. I had just started school and wanted to try out my independence. How about you? Do you live near your parents?”

“No, my daughter and I live in the Los Angeles area. Like you, I’m visiting the family for the holidays,” Brody answered.

“Your daughter?” Tess asked. “Is she here too?”

He nodded at the kitchen where there was a table surrounded by children all under the age of 12. “Yes, she’s eating with her cousins in the kitchen. Her name is Sydney. She’s the one with dark brown hair, the skinny one.”

Tess looked at the girl he pointed out and smiled. “She’s beautiful. You must be very proud of her. Is her mother here or is she still back in the states?”

Brody got a rather tired look on his face. “I have no idea where she is. Last time I heard from her, she left Sydney with me saying she could not take care of a child. Her parents had suggested adoption but she wanted me to have my chance with Sydney if I wanted it. She mentioned something about going to Paris but that was over 8 years ago…right after Sydney was born. I haven’t heard from her since.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject,” Tess apologized. They were kept from saying anything else by the interruption of the others at the table asking for introductions.

It was several hours later that Brody found himself trying to obtain a few minutes of solitude by escaping outdoors into the cold night air. Taking in a couple of deep breaths, he looked up at the stars and thought about his life. He would miss his father terribly. Even with four siblings, he had never lacked for parental attention from either his father or his mother. This time spent with Arthur had been precious for them both, and for Sydney, and he had only the usual regrets about things his parent would miss.

Arthur would not see Brody’s only daughter grow up or see him get married or have other children. This thought naturally led to thoughts of Maria, and, as often happened when he thought of her, he got a sort of panicky feeling about them when he thought of the future. He loved Maria’s bubbliness, her love of life, her kind heart, her generosity…so many things about her. However, there was a big “but” that he couldn’t ignore. They had been together 4 years and he would have thought they would have made a commitment by now, but at the end of any time he spent with her, he always felt tired. No, “exhausted” would be a better word. It was tiring to try to keep up with her and her way of life. It wasn’t just the fame that was the problem, although that was part of it. It was the fact that she never seemed to slow down. He often called her his little “Energizer bunny” with a chuckle, but it bothered him that they never seemed to be able to spend some quiet time without any plans. It seemed like there was always something going on…always something to do. It also bothered him that he couldn’t seem to ever say anything about it.

“Brody?” a small voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Startled, he whipped around to find Tess standing beside and a little behind him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. If you wanted to be alone, I’ll go back inside. It’s just that your mother was getting a little worried about you out here, and I volunteered to check on you. Are you ok?” She shuffled her feet and hugged herself to try to ward off the cold.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about some things. Trying to sort out the strange thing I call my life,” he told her. Surprising both of them, he found himself continuing. “You heard at dinner that I struck it big in the computer field and about my girlfriend back in California.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Her name is…um, Maria right?”

“Yes, that’s right. She’s a wonderful person and I know she doesn’t care about me for my money, but I’m not sure we’re right for each other. My daughter adores her but she likes a lot of people. I mean, we’ve been together for four years, but I’m just not sure why we are together anymore,” he confessed. Then he looked at her and noticed that she was looking down at the ground with her forehead creased, still shuffling her feet in the snow and hugging her arms around her body. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have unloaded my problems on you.”

“No, it’s ok. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger. Have you tried telling her what you just told me?” Tess asked, looking back up at him.

“I don’t want to hurt her. She’s a wonderful person.”

She nodded again. “Yes, but that’s not the point. See, I went out with a guy that was a good friend for a long while, but then I realized that he didn’t really care about me the way I thought he did. At first, I was hurt but when I did get the courage to break it off with him, it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. In fact, we’ve been good friends ever since, and nothing has really changed between us except for a few physical things. I still talk to him all the time and I still care about him. But he told me once that he was grateful that I had broken up with him because he wasn’t sure he would have done it, and he didn’t want anyone to feel obligated to be with him.”

Brody thought about her words. “So you’re saying I should talk to her and tell her about my feelings…maybe even break up with her.”

She gave him half a smile. “I’m sure she wouldn’t want anyone to be with her because they felt obligated to be. I didn’t want that so I spoke up first. If it’s what’s best for the both of you, yes, I think you should break it off.”

“Thank you, Tess. I will think about what you’ve said. We should get back inside, though, I’m cold and I can tell very well that you are too,” Brody said. “I’m really glad you could make it here tonight. I feel like I’ve made a new friend.”

She smiled warmly at him and linked her arm with his. “I feel the same way. Too bad you live in California and I live in New York. We’ll just have to keep in touch and work on this friendship. I think good friends are too hard to find to let go once you’ve found one.”

Everyone reading this story, I want to say thank you for your patience, feedback, and time. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control and major changes in my life, schedule, and change of priorities, I will be unable to finish this story. If you like my writing style, I would suggest you check out my other fic, Against My Programming (there's a link to it in my signature) as I'm much further along and realize that that is the only story on fanatics I will be able to complete. I hope you can understand and I'm sorry if this disappoints any of you. I decided that I wouldn't even try to string you all along by saying that I'll try to work on it when it is still so new. I'm terribly sorry.