Merry Christmas, David Reed~
"KAT!" David whined. "Please don't make me go in. Can't I just go back to the Pub and watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' for the thousandth time?"
Kat pulled his arm insistantly towards the entrance of Wings. "Nope, you're going to go into this party with me and have a good Christmas even if I have to smack you around to make you smile."
"Kaaaaa-aaaat," he whined again. "What if Riley's in there? She's bound to make some huge scene and I don't want to be the guy that screwed up your Christmas party."
"Riley wasn't invited." Kat grinned.
"Oh, thank you," David slapped his hand to his forehead. "That's going to make for a very interesting Christmas morning."
"Quit your whining!" she laughed. She opeed the door to Wings when she was pulled into someone's arms and given a big, juicy kiss.
"Sean D," she howled and giggled. "I knew I shouldn't have put that mistletoe there, you miscreant!"
"Sorry, sweetie," he grinned, kissing her again. "I saw you coming up the walk and I didn't want anyone to catch you under the mistletoe but me."
"Hey, watch how you manhandle my sister, fella." David laughed. "I might be forced to defend her honor."
"Believe me," Sean D. said flatly. "She does fine on her own."
David surveyed the party. Almost every young Salemite he knew was there, and some that he didn't. Roman and was giving his sister Kay a spin around the dancefloor, Andi and Stephanie were hanging last minute decorations, a boy Kat had pointed out as Tommy, Abby's little brother, was watching Kay wistfully from a corner booth, Will was next to him, and it looked like he was trying to give him a pep talk about something. David spotted his cousin Jimmy next to them talking to Xander and Jack Kiriakis. Nick was spinning his sister Erica around and around as neither of them could dance all that well, but they were having a good time.
A tall, handsome dark-skinned guy with an infectious smile cut-in on them.
"Brady, you have to be the whitest guy in Salem," Theo grinned. "Erica, would you like someone to teach you how to really dance?"
Erica nodded.
"Come here, baby," he dipped her and began leading her in some complicated steps which she caught onto quickly. Nick shrugged and joined Adam, Jeremy and Mickey Horton at the bar.
"My brother's showing off as usual," Francesca said approaching Kat and David, she pulled Kat into a fierce hug. "Merry Christmas, Kat."
"Merry Christmas, Francesca," Kat laughed, pulling some Francesca's braids from her face. "This is my brother, David Reed."
"Nice to meet you, I've heard about your dramatic entrance into town," Francesca said. "Glad someone finally stirred Riley up."
"I think she was that way before I got here," David said.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Francesca laughed.
"So that's your brother?" David asked.
"Yeah, Theo thinks he's God's gift to the dancefloor."
"Well, I, um, know a step or two if you'd like to give it try." David said, cautiously.
"Absolutely," she pulled him towards to quickly-filling dancefloor. As the tempo of the music changed to a lively swing song, he spun her out and then rolled her back towards him. Her braids fanned out and smacked her brother in the face.
"Woman, I told you about those braids!" Theo said. "Keep 'em out of our dance space."
"Yeah!" Erica giggled.
"Oh, I see, the whole floor belongs to you?" Francesca taunted him.
"In a perfect world, where I'm an only child again, yes." Theo grinned. "Hey man, think I could borrow my sister for a second, it seems we need to settle some family business. Erica, sweetie, you're going to grow into a fine dancer, despite your brother's damage to my teachings."
He spun Erica towards David. David, in turn, twirled Fran towards her brother who dipped her and led into a quick step. As much as they fought, there was a real closeness there, David could see it.
"I'm Erica," his new partner said. "You're David, right? Kat told me about you, I'm her half-sister."
"Well, I guess that almost makes us family, huh?", David grinned.
She nodded.
Andi and Stephanie were watching the scene from the ladder over the kitchen entrance. They were trying to hang a ribbon, but the tape, just wasn't holding.
"I'll see if they have anything stronger in the kitchen," Andi said.
She went through the kitchen door and felt strong arms close around her. She was pulled into a warm embrace. She was going to scream, but someone's mouth closed over hers hungrily.
"Ben!" she whispered as loud as she could. She was so happy to see him, but at the same time she was hurt that he only popped up when it was convenient for him. She was tired of all the secrecy.
"I missed you Andi, I wanted to see you. I didn't want to spend Christmas without seeing you," he whispered.
"Ben, you just can't keep popping up and disappearing from my life, I don't know if I can take it any more."
"I know, honey, and I'm sorry," he said. "But this is the way it has to be right now."
"I know," she said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Baby, don't cry... have a merry Christmas okay? I love you."
She closed her eyes. And he was gone. "Merry Christmas, Ben."
Meanwhile Stephanie was still trying to hang the ribbon on her own. She leaned closer to the doorframe and felt the ladder begin to slip from under her. Before she could react, she was falling into someone's waiting arms.
"Fancy meeting you here," David grinned.
"Thanks," she laughed shakily. "Lucky for me you were here."
Andi wandered out of the kitchen dazed. She walked right past Stephanie and David without a word. She walked through the crowd, not seeing her friends, only thinking of how much she hurt. She bumped into Adam.
"Ooops, sorry, Andi," he said. he saw tear tracks staining her face. "Hey are you alright?"
She shook her head.
"Can I get someone for you? Can I get you anything?"
She shook her head again.
"Can you take me home?" she asked.
"Sure," he said. "I'll go get my keys."
"No, I think I'd like to walk." Andi said, her voice was so hollow, it was beginning to frighten Adam.
He led her to the door and grabbed their coats. Ben watched from across the street as Adam helped her with her coat and led her down the sidewalk.
"Merry Christmas, Andi." he whispered.
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