Christmas Day in Salem Andi threw the blankets off and crept to her window seat. The night sky was blue-black and quiet. New snow had blanketed the tracks she and Adam had made when he walked her to the door.
He had been so sweet to her. Even after she took him away from the party all he could think of was making sure she was okay. He didn't seem to mind a bit, not even when she knocked him off his feet in the park. He simply laughed with her until she could get back up.
When they reached her door, he took her hand and said.
"I don't know what's going on in your head right now. I don't know what bothering you. But I do know I hate to see you so unhappy. If you ever need someone to talk to or just hang out with, I know you have the girls, but think about calling me. I got the big ol' Brady ears, I'm a good listener."
"Thanks, Adam," she said, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight."
"Merry Christmas," he said as she went through the door.
"Merry Christmas, Adam."
This was a strange turn of events for Andi, who only a month ago was completely enamoured of Ben. She rarely fell in love. In fact, she wasn't sure she ever had. But she knew she had never fallen out of love in less than a month. What was it she really felt for Ben?
She pressed her forehead to the cold glass. Maybe she'd never know. Maybe she'd never want to.
Adam lay in bed, replaying the walk home in his head over and over. The way Andi looked, her cheeks red with cold and her eyes still bright with crying. They way he felt when he made her laugh.
He'd probably see her tomorrow at the Kiriakis family Christmas. He fell asleep comforted by that.
Faith and Sean D. finally got home around 2 a.m. It had been a great party.
"See you in the morning, Fab," Sean D. said. "Do you want me to come roaring in at 5 a.m. and jump up and down on your bed like I used to every Christmas morning?"
"No, really, that's okay," Faith grinned. "I can live without it, just this once."
"Theo said he'd be coming by tomorrow by the way," he said.
"Really?"
"Just thought you'd want to know," with that Sean shut the door.
"HEY!" Faith hissed. "What's THAT supposed to mean? SEAN D.!"
8 a.m.
Phillip knocked on Andi's door. Whe she didn't respond he pounded harder.
"Andi? Mom says to get up, it's Christmas and she wants to start."
Andi opened the door. She kissed her brother's cheek. "Merry Christmas Phil."
He grinned. Things had been getting gradually better since th kidnapping. He seemed to resent her just a little less.
"Let the Bachanaal begin," she mumbled. Kate was famous for filling one half of the room with Andi's presents and the other with Phillip's. It was nice when they were kids, but as they got older, the giant teddy bears were a little more embarassing.
David had spent the night in Austin and Sarah's guest room so he could spend Christmas morning with his new family.
Around 9 a.m., he shuffled towards the kitchen and the coffee. It had been a long and interesting evening. He had kissed Stephanie Johnson under the mistletoe and she didn't seem to be opposed to the idea.
What did that mean? he wondered. He liked Stephanie, she was always so considerate of her Brady cousins. Making sure they were safe and sound, and patched up. She was funny and smart, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.
"You look like you had an interesting evening," Sarah mused, interupting his thoughts.
"Huh?" David shook his head. "Um, yeah, the party was great. I think I met every Salemite under 30."
"Merry Christmas, David," she kissed his cheek. "Want to help me make the coffee cake? Austin and Riley usually don't get up for another hour."
"Sure," David got the milk and eggs out of the fridge.
"David, I know Riley hasn't exactly made you feel welcome here, but I want to know that not everyone shares her sentiment. I really like having you here. I know I could never replace your mother, but I hope one day you feel comfortable enough to come to me if you have a problem."
"Thanks, Sarah," David said. "I really like it here."
"Morning, you two," Austin said.
"Merry Christmas, sweetie," Sarah kissed him. "You're up earlier than usual."
"Well, I wanted to show David his Christmas present."
"Oh, of course," Sarah took the eggs from David's hands. They led him to the kitchen door that led to the garage and the storage room above it.
"Open it," Austin said.
"Okay," David opened the door and saw bright red bow tied across the stairs that led to the storage room. He looked at them, confused.
"Go on up!" Sarah laughed. "We didn't get you stairs."
He entered the storage room and turned out the light. Austin and Sarah had installed carpet and repainted the walls a soft yellow. They had converted the room into a bedroom for David.
"If you comfortable, you can live with us now, but you'll still have some privacy," Austin said. "I don't want to rush you, son, and I know we're kind of going at this backwards, a 30-year-old just now moving in with his parents, but I really want you to come live with us."
"What do you say?" Sarah asked.
David wasn't saying much of anything, just wandering around the space they had made for him. The space they had made ... for him. They really wanted him there, they weren't just being polite, they really wanted him there. To be part of them, their family. He wrapped his arms around his dad.
"Okay."
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