A week and a half before Christmas:

Joannie sticks her head in through the doorway of Tom's study. "Dad--Dr. Max is on the phone. He wants to make sure the football game is still on." "Thanks honey." Tom picks up the phone. "You bet it's still on and be ready to take us all out to dinner afterwards old friend." He tells Greg.

"That's what you think. All the feminine wiles in the world won't help--you're still seriously outmanned."

"Oh really, so does your Brad still have a crush on my Nancy?"

"Of course not," Max says. "It's gone past crush by now."

"Well she is single now so I think you'll be buying us dinner." Tom teases.

"My son won't betray him family for a date," Max insists. "So, that wife of yours playing?" he asks, plotting his strategy.

"Don't be so sure." Tom says. "And yes she's playing, why?"

"Oh, no reason. No reason at all."

"Yeah sure, well whatever your plotting it won't work."

"That's what you say every year. Right before you say, 'check, please!'"

"Well this year it's going to be different."

"You say that every year, too," Max reminds him.

"I'll see you tomorrow Max." Tom says.

"Yeah. I'll be the one ordering the lobster," Max answers.

"Not!!" Tom protests.

"I'll see you tomorrow. And the better family will win--the Maxwells," Max says before he hangs up.

Currently in the kitchen.

"Don't worry you guys I'll handle Brad tomorrow." Nancy grins.

Joannie smiles. "Promise to handle him and he'll give you the ball every play."

"Which will guarantee us winning for a change." Elizabeth adds. "Nancy do your best flirting tomorrow."

"Oh I plan to."

"Max won't want your father playing--he'll claim it's because of the broken ankle," Abby says. "So it'll be up to us to win this game, not David and Tommy. We've got to have a strategy."

"But we do have a strategy." Elizabeth says. "Max has another son who's crazy for me."

"That's two down. But what about the rest of them?"

"They have crushes on Mary, Susan, and Joannie."

"That leaves Max," Abby says. "And no, I do not want to know whom he might have a crush on."

The girls laugh.

"So, you guys usually win this game?" Abby asks.

"Well uh not very often." Nancy admits.

"Tell me those crushes are something new then, please," Abby pleads.

"Well actually, no." Elizabeth says.

"So tell me again why we're actually going to win this year?"

"We have another player." Nancy says.

"Oh, no. Do not count on me to win this game for you," Abby warns.

"Well we can hope can't we? Anyway it doesn't matter if we win as long as we have fun." Nancy says.

Joannie says, "That's what you think. I'm out for blood."

"Don't you hurt Brad."

"But Nancy, if he's in bed for a few weeks after the game--well, think of the opportunities," Joannie smirks.

"Hmm, Nurse Nancy has a nice ring to it." Nancy kids back.

"Try doctor--it's a more interesting fantasy," Abby says.

"Naah, Mary's the one who's going to be a doctor, but it doesn't mean I can't play at it." Nancy smiles while lost in her own thoughts of Brad.

"No, nothing says you can't play it," Abby smiles, thinking about Tom.

Tom enters.

"What are you ladies talking about?" He asks.

Abby gets up from the table and gives Tom a kiss. "Nothing, dear."

"Yeah Dad nothing." Elizabeth says.

Tom looks at all of them. "Er ok."

"Trust us, Dad. You wouldn't want to know," Joannie laughs.

Sam comes up to him and wags his tail. Tom picks him up and heads for the den. "Yeah you're a good boy I know you don't keep things from me."

The women laugh.

"Now, Tom, you know I don't keep anything from you," Abby teases.

"Careful dear your nose is growing." He teases back and turns on the tv and the theme from the Walton's fills the room.

"That's your theme song. Go on and let us women plot." She leans in close and whispers, "And meet me upstairs later and I'll show you I don't keep anything from you."

He kisses her. "You got it lady, looking forward to it."

"That'll be a change," Abby mutters, too low for the kids to hear.

Tom goes to watch tv.

Later on the kids all drift to their rooms to study, or out with friends, or to the living room, and Abby takes over the kitchen table with her books.

Tom looks in sees she's studying and decides not to disturb her so he goes to work on his column.

As the kids start drifting back to the kitchen for late evening snacks, Abby takes her books and goes up to her room. She stops by the study and sees that Tom is working on a column, so she decides not to disturb him.

Tom finishes and goes to check the kitchen. He doesn't find Abby there so he goes upstairs to their bedroom.

While waiting for her husband, Abby has fallen asleep, a text book in her hands.

Tom sighs in frustration but then smiles. He gently takes the book out of her hands, covers her up, and kisses her goodnight. Soon he climbs into bed with her and falls asleep.

In the middle of the night Abby wakes up, hoping that maybe she can distract Tom, but sees that he's asleep next to her. "Oh, well, there's always tomorrow night.." she sighs. ~Which is what I've said every night since we came home from Tahoe...~

Tom also awakens. "Can't sleep?" He asks.

"Not with you stealing the covers."

"I'm sorry." He shares the covers with her. "Is that better?"

"It could be better yet..."

He smiles and moves closer to her.

The telephone rings.

"That's it," Abby groans. "I'm moving to some tropical island that's never heard of Ma Bell."

"I think I'll join you." He answers the phone. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Sorry Dad." David says. "My van has a flat and the jack broke. Can you come and pick me up?"

Tom groans and gets the directions. After they hang up he tells Abby what's going on.

"Hasn't anyone in this family heard of Triple A?" Abby complains. "Go on--I'll wait up for you."

Tom goes to assist David and then comes home and finds Abby asleep again so he goes back to sleep also.

The next morning they are wakened by banging at their door. "Come on, already. We have a football game to play and lots of Maxwells to slaughter!"

Tom groans. "We'll be downstairs soon Joannie!! Make sure your brothers and sisters are up!!"

Abby echoes the groan. "I think my wrist is hurting me."

"In that case I don't want you to play today."

Abby laughs and stops rubbing at her wrist. "Well, you bought it. Think they'll buy it, too, and let me stay in bed with you all day?"

"Abby I'd love to." He smiles. "But I can't miss this game."

"Men..."

"And what's wrong with us men?"

"You just turned down a chance to stay in bed with me in favor of a football game. What's wrong with this picture?"

"Abby you don't understand. This game is tradition."

"So is women getting headaches."

Tom frowns. "But honey there's always after the game."

"We'll see about that," Abby says and gets out of bed. "You'd better hope we win so I'm in a good mood."

"We'll win don't worry."

Currently downstairs Elizabeth coughs and sneezes. Nancy glances over at her. "Somebody should go back to bed."

"No way not over a cough and a sneeze I'm playing today." She coughs again.

Joannie comes in, wearing a jersey and tight jeans. "Think this will distract the Maxwell boys enough?"

"Yeah it achoo will distract them." Elizabeth says.

Nancy feels her forehead. "No fever yet."

"Nancy leave me alone and don't go telling Dad. I'm fine." Elizabeth lies.

"We need her for the game," Joannie says. "We're already out one with Dad on the sidelines."

"Will you still be saying that if it turns into pneumonia?" Nancy frets.

Elizabeth sighs in frustration. "Nancy cut it out you mother hen." She takes some cough medicine.

"Nancy, chill. It's a cold. No one gets pneumonia just before Christmas."

"Joannie, she's a Bradford." Nancy reminds her. "Anything can go wrong."

"Boy, pessimism is just your middle name, isn't it? We'll take along a thermos of tea

for her and a warm sweater."

"Ok," Nancy calms down a bit. "But I'm keeping my eye on you today." She tells Elizabeth.

"No you'll be keeping your eye on Brad today." Elizabeth says.

"Her eyes? More like her hands."

Nancy laughs. "And how is the gutter this morning sis?"

"Warm and pleasant. Gonna join me?"

"Of course."

"Speaking of gutters," Joannie asks, "where is the man who thinks that he's the one who's going to lead us to victory?"

David walks in. "Sorry I'm late I had to catch a ride."

"What happened to your van?"

"It's sick."

"Right. Your newest girlfriend steal your keys?" Joannie teases.

"No it got a flat last night. Dad had to come and get me."

Joannie pinches his cheek. "Aww, isn't that sweet. All independence until you need Daddy."

"Hey everyone needs their dad every now and then."

Abby walks into the kitchen. "Speaking of which..."

"Hey Abby sorry about last night." David says.

"Hey, sometimes a man needs his father, right?"

"Yep."

Elizabeth coughs and sneezes again.

"Elizabeth, are you coming down with something?" Abby worries, and feels Elizabeth's forehead. "No fever."

"I'll be ok Abby, and I can still play today. Probably just a cold." Elizabeth says.

"She should sit out the game." Nancy says.

"Your father doesn't seem to believe in sitting out the game. Maybe we should ask him," Abby suggests.

Tom walks in. "Ask me what?"

"Elizabeth's coming down with something. I'm not sure she should play football today."

Tom feels Elizabeth's forehead. "Well there's no fever. Honey do you feel up to playing?"

"Yeah Dad."

"Ok."

Nancy looks at him like he's grown a second head. "Dad!!"

"What?"

Nancy just shakes her head at him.

"I should have known," Abby sighs. "Is it the football or the Maxwells that's made him lose his mind?" she asks Nancy.

"Both." Nancy says angry at her father.

Abby turns her back on Tom. "Come on, Nancy, we'd better get breakfast ready."

"Yeah." They start breakfast and ignore Tom.

Tom just grumbles and goes to get the morning paper.

"Maybe the headline says 'Man sacrifices family for best friend's football obsession'," Abby mutters.

"If she gets any worse I'm taking her out of the game no matter what he says."

"I just hope he's not obsessed enough to try to play on that ankle."

"Yeah really."

Abby brings the food to the table. "Eat up," she tells the kids, "if your father has his way, this may be your last meal."

"It's only a little cold." Elizabeth says.

"Which could become worse and Dad is too blinded by his ego to see that."

"You know, if our whole strategy is based on distracting the Maxwell boys, you could do that just as well from the sidelines," Abby says.

"Yeah and they won't be expecting it that way." Nancy also tries to convince Elizabeth.

Elizabeth ponders this. "Ok, but if I start feeling better I'm playing."

"Now we just have to talk Ogre over there into this," Abby points towards Tom.

"I agree it's a good strategy, but she'll be alone."

"She can help your father coach from the sidelines. Sitting all bundled up is different from getting all overheated playing," Abby reasons. "Besides, I don't think she'll agree to staying home."

"I'm not going to be on the sidelines I'm playing." Tom says.

Abby appeals to his cut-throat male instincts. "You'll run really quickly on crutches. You trying to make us lose?"

"No."

"Then keep Elizabeth company." David suggests.

"Oh all right." He grumbles.

"If he feels bad now," Abby whispers to Nancy, "wait until you see how he feels when we win for a change since he's not playing."

"I heard that." Tom says.

"Did you now?" Abby challenges.

"Yep." He pretends to be upset but winds up smiling at her.

Abby pretends to glare at Tom but starts to smile, too, so she walks away, muttering, "Men!"

"You love men admit it." He mutters back.

Abby walks back towards Tom, leans over him and whispers in Tom's ear. "Why don't we ask Elliot Randolph which of us likes men..."

"Oh that does it I'm not talking to you for the next two minutes." He says.

"A new Tom Bradford record," Abby smiles.

The children laugh and a little while later they leave for the park.

The Maxwells show up a few minutes later. "Ready to lose--again?" Max asks.

"No, but I sure hope that you are ready to lose."

"Only my appetite when I see how bad your girls play."

"What was that?!" Nancy exclaims.

Brad comes over. "Hi Nancy." He smiles.

"Hi Brad." She returns the smile.

Abby walks up to Max. "Don't be so overconfident. It doesn't look good on you."

"Yeah Max," Tom teases him.

"Oh, and Max," Abby continues. "Try not to fall on anyone this time."

"Especially me I've seen enough of hospitals lately." Nancy says.

"And Elizabeth, Tommy or Nicholas. Your father has a thing for schoolteachers, you know," Abby tells Nancy. "I don't need any competition."

Nancy laughs. "Good one Abby."

"If you're afraid, you can concede the game and we'll just make it lunch you buy us," Max says.

"We're not afraid. Are you afraid?" Nancy taunts him.

"If you're so unafraid, how about a side bet?" Brad asks.

"What are you proposing?"

"If you lose, you go out with me next Friday night."

"And if we win?"

"Then I have to go out with you," Brad smiles.

"I like that bet." Nancy smiles back.

"So, you want to kiss on it?"

"It's bad luck to kiss the opposition before the game." Nancy teases and then goes over to her siblings.

"I see the anti-Brad strategy is working," Abby remarks.

Tom laughs and then the game starts. During the game David goes out for a pass and catches the ball as Tommy throws it to him. Brad tries to intervene but in seconds finds Nancy in front of him smiling and flirting. He can't take it any longer he grabs her and kisses her so long that he leaves her in a happy daze and then he goes after David intent on tackling him.

Later on, Abby catches a pass. Max moves to intercept her and as he begins to tackle her, she cries out. "Watch the wrist!" Max lets go and Abby sails past him.

Brad starts to go after Abby, but Nancy grabs him and kisses him even longer than he kissed her leaving him in a daze this time. All the Bradfords cheer as Abby makes a touchdown.

Max calls his kids into a huddle. "Brad, stop it. Save the kissing for after the game. I don't want to lose our winning streak."

"But Dad I think I love her."

"Love's all fine and good, but this is a football game!"

"Ok Dad, I'll try but if she wants to kiss me I will not push her away."

"Save it for after the game."

He pouts. "All right."

"And none of you pay any attention to Abby moaning about her wrist. If it breaks, I'll set it. I want to win this game."

"Ok Dad," they say.

"Good. Now let's go out there and massacre them."

They cheer loudly and prepare themselves to win. Brad tries to avoid Nancy's eye.

"Nancy, you're going to have to work harder on him," Abby whispers. "And the rest of you girls--keep the pressure up."

"Don't worry Abby I have a plan. Now no matter what happens don't panic and keep playing you guys. Trust me." She says.

The game starts again. Susan is going out for a pass and Brad almost tackles her when Nancy pretends to fall, grabs her knee, and fake screams in pain. Brad is at her side in an instant.

"Nancy are you all right?" Susan makes a touchdown. Nancy kisses Brad and gets to her feet. "I'm fine, thanks." She goes to congratulate Susan.

Max grabs Brad by the scruff of his neck and shakes him.

Daisy comes over, frees her son, and glares at her husband.

"Daisy, go back to sitting next to Tom and let e handle the coaching," Max says, grabbing Brad back.

"Let him go now!!" She says sternly.

Max reluctantly lets his son go. "We lose, you're paying for dinner," he tells Daisy.

She just glares at him and then returns to Tom.

"How about letting me have the ball once in a while," Joannie whispers to David.

"Do you think you can handle it?" David whispers back.

Joannie points to one of the Maxwell boys. "Forget the ball. I think I can handle him."

"Now that's the sister I know and love." David grins.

"Why aren't you on the other team so I could tackle you?" Joannie grumbles.

David laughs and the game continues.

At half time, Abby sits down next to Tom. "So, how are we doing?"

"I'm doing ok but I wish I could play. How's your wrist?"

"It's fine, no matter what I may tell Max. You know, I think we may actually win this game," Abby says. "I guess who you don't have playing is as important as who you do."

"Ouch." Tom says. "You really know how to hurt a guy."

Abby smiles. "That's OK. I know how to make you feel better, too."

Tom grins and kisses her.

Meanwhile at another picnic table.

"How are you feeling kid?" Nancy asks Elizabeth.

"I can no longer talk." Elizabeth says in a squeaky little voice.

Nancy feels her forehead. "She's running a fever. It's a good thing you're not playing today." She gets Liz some soup from one of the thermoses and has her drink and eat it.

Then she grabs a sandwich and a soda.

Joannie goes to sit with Mary and Susan.

Max walks over to Tom and Abby. "Some game you're missing," he tells Tom.

"You were a little rough on Brad." Tom comments.

"You don't mind that he and Nancy were making out on the football field?" Max answers.

"Max they were only kissing." Tom teases him.

"Nothing wrong with kissing," Abby adds.

"Hmph. As long as we're sitting here, why don't I look at your wrist, Abby?" Max says.

"No, it's ok now."

"I'll bet it is. It's halftime, after all."

"Will you look at Elizabeth, she's been coughing and sneezing all morning and now she's running a fever and losing her voice." Tom says. ~Maybe she can cough on him and he won't be able to play.~

"Of course. I'll send you the bill in the morning," Max gets up. "Abby, I hope your wrist stays fine the rest of the game." He walks away, toward Elizabeth.

Nancy whispers in Liz's ear. "Now don't forget to cough on him."

"Nancy." Elizabeth laughs and shakes her head.

Max sits down next to Elizabeth. "Your father says you're not feeling well. That why you're not flirting with any of my sons?"

"Well I tried but I almost sneezed on him." She squeeks.

"Stick out your tongue. Let's have a look at your throat." Max raises his voice. "Daisy, could you bring my bag from the trunk?"

Daisy brings the bag and Elizabeth does as told.

Max shakes his head. "How did your father let you out of the house like this?"

"She's a lot worse than she was this morning, but he was going to let her play til Abby and I talked her out of it."

"She should be home, in bed," Max insists.

"Why what's wrong with her?" Nancy asks becoming frantic.

"Nancy calm down, he's exaggerating so we'll forfeit so he'll win the game." Elizabeth says.

"Your throat is all red, young lady," Max says. "And I don't need you to forfeit. You'll lose."

"There's only what an hour left in the game. I'll be fine til then." Elizabeth stands her ground.

"Where'd you buy your medical degree?" Max asks.

"Dad is taking you home." Nancy says firmly.

"Don't you dare say anything Nancy Lynn Bradford. If you do I won't talk to you for as long as I live."

"That'll be a very long time." Nancy says as she approaches her father.

Abby looks up at Nancy's approach. "What did Max say?"

"That her throat is all red and that she should be in bed. Dad you have to take her home you and her aren't playing anyway."

"Ok, but if you guys win. Bring your sister and I food back from the restaurant."

"Anything special you want brought home for you?" Abby asks.

"The most expensive meal in the place if we win my dear."

She leans over and whispers into Tom's ear, "The best meals aren't for sale."

Tom kisses her and then takes Elizabeth home.

Abby calls the girls, Tommy and David over. "OK, we can win this game, and your father will eat his heart out for the rest of his life that we did it without him--you ready to do it?"

"More than ready." Nancy says.

"I was born ready." David adds.

"That's what all your girlfriends say," Joannie tells David.

Nancy laughs. David glares at her and Joannie.

"Save it for the Maxwell boys," Abby says. "Let's go."

They return to playing.

Abby calls the Bradfords into a huddle. "OK, we have a minute to go and the score's tied. David, you take the ball. The girls and I will distract the Maxwells. I don't care what you see while you're running, you score, OK?"

They return to playing.

"You got it." David says.

Max starts yelling at his boys to tackle David.

His boys are too busy checking out the Bradford women as David makes a touchdown.

Abby turns to Max. "Better luck next year."

"Right. At least I have the consolation of knowing Tom had nothing to do with this. I'm still the better man."

"Where are we going to eat? Dr. Max?" Nancy asks.

"Harry's Hamburger Pit."

"But Dad, what about pizza?" Brad asks being very brave.

"Oh, all right," Max pretends to grumble. ~At least it's not the seafood restaurant.~

They go out to eat.

Meanwhile at the house.

"I'm sorry you had to take me home Dad. It's Nancy's fault."

"Now don't go getting angry with your sister she was just looking out for you like I should have done. Go upstairs and get into bed. I'll bring you some orange juice and soup."

She goes upstairs and to bed while he starts the soup and grumbles about having to miss the rest of the game.

After eating, Abby orders meals for Tom and Elizabeth and excuses herself. "The kids are all interested in flirting," she tells Max and Daisy, "and you can flirt with each other. I'm going home to my husband."

"Have a good time." Daisy says to her.

"Oh, I will," Abby smiles. She takes the bags of food, tells the kids she's leaving, and goes home.

"Room service," she calls out when she gets home. "Anyone hungry?"

"Starving!!" Tom shouts from the kitchen.

Abby puts the bag down in front of him. "Where's Elizabeth? Sleeping?"

"Yes, she's one sick kid right now. I can kick myself right now for even letting her out of the house this morning. So did we win?"

"Of course we did," Abby says. "Max says it's the first time your family had decent coaching."
 

"I agree the family had very decent coaching, but Max is wrong that it's the first time."

"Yeah, I heard you've won three time in the past 15 years," Abby teases.

Tom eats his dinner. "And who is spreading those lies?"

"Your children."

"I will disown them all." He kids.

"So what's the real story?" Abby asks, reaching over to filch a bite of Tom's pizza.

"We lost track of the score on a lot of games that we really won."

"Uh huh," Abby says doubtfully.

"It's true."

"I'm sure it is, dear," Abby says. "Should I go check on Elizabeth, or should we take advantage of the quiet?"

"I already checked on her a few minutes ago. And we can only take advantage of the quiet for a little while. I want to check on her again in about an hour or so. Her temperature has risen a few degrees."

"Maybe we shouldn't wait an hour to check on her again, then," Abby sighs. "How high is it now?"

"One hundred and one point three."

"Don't you think you ought to call Max?" Abby asks, worried.

"Max will just tell me to give her plenty of fluids and Bayer. Which I already have. If it goes up anymore I'll call him." Tom says.

"If you say so," Abby replies skeptically.

"Abby trust me I've been through it countless time before." He starts kissing her. "Now let's go upstairs what do you say?"

"I don't know," Abby hesitates. "What if she needs us?"

Tom remembers in Chicago where he thought Nancy would simply call out for them if she needed them then and then remembers seeing her unconscious and bleeding unable to call out for anyone. "You're right we should at least wait till the rest of the kids get home. And if we're very quiet they'll never know."

"Since when does what they know worry you?" Abby asks. "You know, you've been acting very strange since we got home."

"Why does everyone say that? I have not been acting strange."

"You have," Abby insists. "Either that, or you were acting strange before and this is normal."

"Or maybe I'll never be normal." Tom teases.

"Well, you're a Bradford, so that's a given," Abby says. "But normal for you--or at least the way you were a month ago. I'd settle for that."

"What are you saying Abby? That I should see a shrink or something?"

"What is with you? I didn't say anything like that," Abby says, her voice rising. "Maybe we shouldn't have gone off on a honeymoon; it obviously did something strange to you. Talk about paranoid..."

"Abby I'm not paranoid I was just asking. I'm not the only one who has been acting strangely around here."

"What do you mean by that?" she demands.

"Have you not noticed that Joannie and Nancy have been watcus a lot lately?"

"Joannie always has, and Nancy, well, until recently she's been too wrapped up in her own problems to get behind Joannie's program, I guess."

"Yeah but it's more than usual." He says.

"I hadn't really noticed," Abby says. "With the amount Joannie watches me, what's another hour or two a day?"

Elizabeth ventures downstairs. "Hi Abby did we win?"

"What are you doing out of bed?"

"I'm hungry for real food."

Abby pushes the takeout bag over to her. "Pizza. Courtesy of the Maxwells."

"All right." Elizabeth eats as much as her sore throat will allow.

Abby gets up to make Elizabeth some tea and offers some to Tom, too.

He accepts the offer and feels Elizabeth's forehead. "I'm going to go get the thermometer."

Elizabeth groans. "Not again. Why don't you give the Bayer some time to work."

"Everyone has to have a hobby, Elizabeth," Abby says. "Your father's is worrying."

"That's right." He goes to get the thermometer and sticks it in Elizabeth's mouth. He then turns to Abby. "This is great tea."

Abby looks at him, beginning to really wonder at Tom's strange behavior. "It's just tea."

~Sheesh can't I compliment my wife without getting a strange look?~

Abby takes the thermometer out of Elizabeth's mouth. "You fever's up a little more. Guess your father should have let the aspirin work," she says, and pours a cup of tea for her.

"How high is it?" Tom asks.

"Almost 102. I really think we ought to call Max."

Tom calls the restaurant and has him paged there he soon comes to the phone. "Max, Elizabeth's temperature is rising it's almost 102 right now can you come over?"

Tom calls the restaurant and has him paged there he soon comes to the phone. "Max, Elizabeth's temperature is rising it's almost 102 right now can you come over?"

"Is this a trick to get me to bring you desert?" Max asks.

"I wish it were but it's not." Tom says.

"I'll be there in ten minutes," Max says and hurries to the Bradford home.

"He's on his way." Tom tells Abby and Elizabeth. "Meanwhile I want you back in bed." He tells his daughter.

"Can I lie down on the couch instead."

"Sure." He helps her to the couch and gets her a pillow and blanket.

Part 2