Jackson Square

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

The motley little crew--Shelby, Preston, and her new not-step stepcousins all squished together for warmth, Grace cuddling up on Shelby's lap like she'd known her all her life. You kind of remind me of myself when I was your age. Only you talk a lot. So you're more like Cassie, I guess. But there is some resemblance there. Even though she felt warmer, she couldn't stop the sensation of goosebumps rising along her arms as she moved closer to Preston. Is this really happening? Am I really liking him even after I made such a huge mistake of kissing him, after I promised myself I'd forget about it because it's ridiculous? Why am I letting myself throw away all my hard work?! Sure, you're a good guy. A great guy, actually, who knows his musical theatre and is good with small children and parodies Christmas songs. But why am I acting like this? Why did I even kiss you in the first place? So you talked to me. Lots of people did. What's the big deal?

"It's pretty cold..." Preston remarked, and Grace nodded fervently. "It's freezing!" Shelby gave a little chuckle. "I kinda like it."

Grace requested another song, which led into the inevitable mondegreens that come part and parcel with kids and singing. Roasting chipmunks featured prominently in Grace's muddled version of "The Christmas Song," making Shelby and Preston laugh while Grace looked on, staring up at them with a confused look on her face. To add to it, Preston decided to parody the classic song himself. "Chipmunks roasting on an open fire....Jack Sprat pinching at your toes...Tater tots with their spies all aglow! Will find it hard to sweep tonight!" Ridiculous.

"No, that's wrong, silly Preston!" Grace scolded in between high, childish giggles. "Something else! You pick one, Shelby, he won't do it right!"

"Aww...you're so mean, Grace..." said Preston, looking crestfallen. They all looked at Shelby, as if waiting on baited breath for whatever song she would suggest.

Great. This is why I don't do things like this...ever. "Um...I dunno...Silent Night?"

That grin came over Preston's face again. "I can do that one, too, Grace! You watch! I'll show you! Silent night... Shelby Wright...Take the pond...hold it tight..." The goosebumps came back when he said her name, Shelby noticed with annoyance. Stop being such a...I don't even know what. Just stop! Now! The girls started laughing again. "No...wrong again!" said Cecily, speaking for the first time since they'd finished singing the Rudolph song.

"Wait. That's not right either!" The girls shook their heads. "Darn! I know! Joy To The World! And we'll have Grace lead, since she is a lyrical expert."

Grace nodded importantly. "Yeah! Sing with me, Shelby! Joy to the world, the lord is come..."

"Let earth receive her king? Is that right, Gracie?"

"Yep! Now your turn, Preston!"

It was halfway through the song that Shelby realized.

It wasn't a big deal that you tried talking to me. Lots of people tried it. That's not why I kissed you.

I did it because you were the only one who really got me to respond.

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

This was how hayrides used to be. Preston was kind of a sap for holiday traditions, and he was glad he could have this one back, even temporarily, with a borrowed family.

"It's pretty cold..." Preston remarked, and Grace nodded fervently. "It's freezing!" Shelby gave a little chuckle. "I kinda like it." Endlessly amusing song parodies filled the air as the ride continued. The wreckage from Katrina years before was now but a memory hidden in the deepening shadows as they tumbled along. Shelby was pressed for her pick of Christmas carols, and she took a while before choosing Silent Night.

A grin came over Preston's face again. "I can do that one, too, Grace! You watch! I'll show you! Silent night... Shelby Wright...Take the pond...hold it tight..." The girls started laughing again.

"No...wrong again!" said Cecily, speaking for the first time since they'd finished singing the Rudolph song. Preston shot her a surprised look.

"Wait. That's not right either!" The girls shook their heads. "Darn! I know! Joy To The World! And we'll have Grace lead, since she is a lyrical expert."

Grace nodded importantly. "Yeah! Sing with me, Shelby! Joy to the world, the lord is come..."

Preston watched her face as she sang, "Let earth receive her king? Is that right, Gracie?"

"Yep! Now your turn, Preston!"

"Let every heart, prepare him room..." He glanced over to the girls for approval, and the song continued, sans mondegreen.

After awhile, Preston sat back to enjoy the rest of his chilly candycane, taking a break from the singing. "You know, I miss this... Christmas is never perfect, and I'm not saying it should be.. but it's nice when you have one of those moments, you know? Where everything seems alright, and the little problems seem to just slip your mind..." He smirked up at Shelby, the candycane jutting out of one corner of his mouth like a pipe or cigar.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Sing with me, Shelby!" Grace implored. "Joy to the world, the lord is come..." A soft smile came over Shelby's face as she watched this strange new member of her family, one that had come so unwanted into the picture but Shelby found herself forming an attachment to. It must be nice to be her age at Christmas, and not have a care in the world. I'm jealous of her. She can still see in the magic in it, and she's young enough to be able to believe in it 100% too. I wish it was still like that for me. I wish I could believe in any kind of magic anymore...

"Let earth receive her king?" she said, making the lyric a question. "Is that right, Gracie?"

"Yep! Now your turn, Preston!" she said delightedly.

"Let every heart, prepare him room..." He had a nice voice, and Shelby had to admit she liked hearing it. And you were so good in the musical too...it turned out so much better than I thought it would.

"And Heaven and nature sing...and heaven and nature sing, and HeavEN and heaven and nature sing!" Shelby finished in unison with Cecily and Grace. Cecily clapped politely, her shy smile reminding Shelby of herself so much it almost hurt.

Beside her, Preston had grown quiet. "You know, I miss this..."

"Miss what?" Shelby asked.

"Christmas is never perfect, and I'm not saying it should be.. but it's nice when you have one of those moments, you know? Where everything seems alright, and the little problems seem to just slip your mind..."

He gave her a smirk, to let Shelby know that he wasn't being fully serious, but Shelby saw past that to the truth in his words. It was nice to be able to forget, even for a little while. For the first time in years, Shelby had caught a glimpse of the 'magic' of the Christmas season...and it was all thanks to him and the 'not-steps'.

Impulsively, she reached for his hand, not fully taking it in hers but letting her pink glove just brush against his hand. "Yeah," she murmured. "It is."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"You know, I miss this..." he muttered nostalgically.

"Miss what?" Shelby asked. He was starting to believe she was genuinely curious.

"Christmas is never perfect, and I'm not saying it should be.. but it's nice when you have one of those moments, you know? Where everything seems alright, and the little problems seem to just slip your mind..." He sent her a smirk. There was a look in her eyes that told him she might have taken him a little too seriously, or a little too literally. Maybe it was just a little to close to a personal truth.

The Christmas lights set up along a house they passed played in Shelby's eyes. He turned away from her slowly, as if to stare off behind them, watching the trailer's track in the snow. His bare, cold hand felt the slight tickle of fabric, and he glanced down to see her hand brushing against his. Preston couldn't hide the softly surprised look from view.

"Yeah," she murmured. "It is." He smiled over at her in response.

This was seriously starting to feel like a Hallmark movie.

He sat up a little straighter and bit into the last bit of his candycane, careful to keep his hand closer to her in the same spot on the scratchy, rough hay. "Does the girl who doesn't care for Christmas still like Christmas movies, I wonder?" he asked.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Christmas is never perfect, and I'm not saying it should be.." Preston began, sounding more metaphorical than Shelby had ever heard him. Contemplative Preston...this is something new. Wait. Gah. Why should I care if your being all philosophical about Christmas and life and everything? What does it matter? It doesn't! And it shouldn't! I don't like this. Let's go back to singing. Because when we were singing, I wasn't thinking about stupid things like this. Can we sing again, please?

"...but it's nice when you have one of those moments, you know? Where everything seems alright, and the little problems seem to just slip your mind..."

Realistically, Shelby knew that he was probably kidding. He had to be. People didn't just jump from merrily singing carols with a couple of school-age kids to contemplating the magic of Christmas and the power it has over people...at least, not outside of the movies. And even if he was being serious, there was no way he could have realized just how much that comment would affect her. But for whatever reason, it did, and even as she screamed at herself not to, she found herself reaching for his hand as she agreed. She stopped just short of actually holding his hand, but still kept hers nearby...just in case.

In case of what? the anti-Preston side of her mind snapped at her.

"Does the girl who doesn't care for Christmas still like Christmas movies, I wonder?" Preston asked, finishing off his candy cane. Shelby gazed at her half-finished one as she thought. "Um...I guess so. I like The Santa Clause, and, um...Love Actually?"

"What about Elf?" Grace piped up, apparently trying to be helpful.

Shelby smiled. "That too. What about you?"

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"Does the girl who doesn't care for Christmas still like Christmas movies, I wonder?" Preston asked, finishing off his candy cane. Shelby gazed at her half-finished one as she thought. He couldn't imagine her watching Charlie Brown Christmas, or the newer Disney Christmas specials, or anything like that. But maybe she would surprise him. She was pretty good at being the unexpected for him.

"Um...I guess so. I like The Santa Clause, and, um...Love Actually?" Without knowing exactly why, Preston laughed at that.

"What about Elf?" Grace piped up, apparently trying to be helpful. Shelby smiled. "That too. What about you?"

"Me?" he tapped his chin thoughtfully, then spread his arms out wide - careful not to hit anyone's head - and belted out in a slight accent, "Merry Christmas, you ol' building and loan!" He heard some people finishing the quote job behind him, and a few surprised chuckles.

Okay, so maybe he could cut back a little on the exuberance. But he was too cold to care. He leaned over and much more quietly said as he tapped Grace on the nose, "Every time a bell rings, an angel earns his wings, right?" He laughingly looked up at Shelby. "But my dad is a die-hard A Christmas Story fan, so I have to wait until it's just me at home to watch it. Sometimes they do an all-day thing, so I can catch all of it." He sat back against the hay bale again, smiling to himself and surreptitiously slipping his hand on top of Shelby's at his side.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"I like The Santa Clause, and, um...Love Actually?" she said uncertainly, a lame attempt to answer Preston's question that drew a laugh from him. It's not that funny... she protested in her mind, shooting him a dark look. I like that movie. Even though technically I'm not supposed to watch it because my dad is an idiot. It's a good movie. Why are you laughing at me?

"What about Elf?" This light-hearted query came from Grace, looking up at Shelby anxiously. She had to think a little bit to remember the movie, but when she did, she smiled down at her new family member. "That too. What about you?" The last bit was directed to Preston, partly out of politeness and partly due to Shelby's growing curiosity. My turn to ask the questions. You can't just interrogate me about what I think about Christmas and not give me anything in return. That's not how it works, Mustang.

"Me? Merry Christmas, you ol' building and loan!" Preston cried, once again drawing the attention of everyone on the hay ride. Shelby couldn't help laughing. "Yeah, that one's pretty good, I guess. I totally feel for George Bailey sometimes." Realizing she'd said too much, she snapped her mouth shut as Preston leaned in towards Grace and whispered conspiratorially, "Every time a bell rings, an angel earns his wings, right?" Grace nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah!"

"But my dad is a die-hard A Christmas Story fan, so I have to wait until it's just me at home to watch it."

"You look like a pink nightmare," Shelby said quietly, with a little chuckle. "Yeah, I know what you mean. My dad's got a thing for Miracle on 34th Street. He cries when he watches it, sometimes. But he always denies it."

Sometimes they do an all-day thing, so I can catch all of it," Preston continued. Before Shelby knew it, she felt his hand resting on top of hers. Huh? What do you think you're doing? That little voice in her mind told her to move away, and fast, but before Shelby could fully realize what she was doing, she ignored it and left her hand there, slowly turning her head to look at him in surprise. What's the worst thing that could happen, after all?

Maybe it won't be so bad.

"Actually, when I was a kid, I had a bit of a thing for those freaky Claymation Christmas specials, like Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town and all that," she admitted. "But I kind of grew out of it."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

"What about you?" Shelby inquired after his holiday movie tastes.

"Me?" He thought about that one for a moment, then spread his arms out wide and loudly quoted, "Merry Christmas, you ol' building and loan!" Shelby laughed.

"Yeah, that one's pretty good, I guess. I totally feel for George Bailey sometimes." Preston smirked at that, nodding in agreement. He leaned in towards Grace and whispered conspiratorially, "Every time a bell rings, an angel earns his wings, right?" Grace nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah!"

"But my dad is a die-hard A Christmas Story fan, so I have to wait until it's just me at home to watch it."

"You look like a pink nightmare," Shelby said quietly, with a little chuckle. Preston laughed aloud. "Yeah, I know what you mean. My dad's got a thing for Miracle on 34th Street. He cries when he watches it, sometimes. But he always denies it."

Without giving himself time to think it through, Preston shot a surprised look over at the man Preston assumed was her father. He smiled to himself, trying to imagine the man breaking down during the film in question. "With the good ones, it's easier to watch the whole thing nowadays, because sometimes they do an all-day thing, so I can catch all of it," Preston continued, quickly and inconspicuously placing his hand on hers. He glanced over to see her watching his face as if in surprise. You moved first. I saw you. he mentally teased.

"Actually, when I was a kid, I had a bit of a thing for those freaky Claymation Christmas specials, like Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town and all that," she admitted. Preston's jaw dropped. "But I kind of grew out of it."

"Are you kidding? You never grow out of Claymation films. Actually, they do come across as creepy when you're real little, so it's better re-watching them when you're older." He chuckled, "Man, those things were awesome. What about the one with the songs about the snow miser and...uh...I can never remember the green Christmas guy's name..." He scratched his head, then snapped his fingers as the metaphorical light bulb came on over his head, "Ah! Duh! Heat miser!" He turned to Cecily, curling his fingers like claws and wiggling them as he leaned in towards her, singing, "They call me heat miser...whatever I touch starts to melt in my clutch!" He sat up, looking pompous and proud of himself, "I'm. Too. Much!"

Then, the hayride stopped, and Preston looked up in surprise. "Woah, that went much faster than last year..."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

It was becoming easier, the whole night, and Shelby found herself not wanting it to end. Sure, it was cold, and there was an 'I-kind-of-sort-of-but-not-really-accidentally-kissed-you' air of awkwardness that lay suspended over the hay ride--or at least, so it seemed to Shelby--but in reality, she was truly enjoying herself. Probably for the first time in months. And it had been years since Shelby had expressed any real joy about Christmas in general...last year's had been absolutely awful with the divorce. She knew Cassie at least had much higher hopes for this one, but Shelby remained unconvinced--it would be their first big holiday with Ilaria and her family, who, not-so-coincidentally, lived directly across the street from the house Shelby's dad and stepmom had just bought. The way the custody agreement worked out, since Kristen had gotten the girls for Thanksgiving, their dad got to spend all Christmas with them, right up until New Year's Eve, when they would be shuttled back to the mansion. Divorce sucks. Let's just leave it at that.

Still, it was easier to forget the sucky things about it as she bonded with Preston and the girls over Christmas movies. "Yeah, I know what you mean. My dad's got a thing for Miracle on 34th Street. He cries when he watches it, sometimes. But he always denies it." At the same time, she and Preston shot a sly look over to Mr. Wright, who sat with Ilaria huddled against him in the cold. Next to her sat Grace and Cecily's parents, also bundled up and chatting about something Shelby didn't care enough to listen in on. She felt a pang in her chest as she saw how comfortable the four of them looked sitting there, with the little ones not too far away by Shelby and Preston. It was as if her father had just gone away and found some other family, leaving Shelby and her sister and brother to fend for themselves.

Mark Wright looked up, sensing their eyes on him, and grinned. "Whatever she's telling you about me, it's not true." Shelby rolled her eyes. "Right, Daddy. Right."

"With the good ones, it's easier to watch the whole thing nowadays, because sometimes they do an all-day thing, so I can catch all of it," Preston said innocently before Shelby felt the unfamiliar warmth of another hand on hers. I didn't expect that... She didn't move her hand, or take his in hers, or anything. Her only reaction was to give him a look of gentle surprise before saying, "Actually, when I was a kid, I had a bit of a thing for those freaky Claymation Christmas specials, like Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town and all that." At Preston's look of shock, she quickly added on, "But I kind of grew out of it." For the most part. Kind of. Maybe.

"Are you kidding? You never grow out of Claymation films. Actually, they do come across as creepy when you're real little, so it's better re-watching them when you're older. Man, those things were awesome. What about the one with the songs about the snow miser and...uh...I can never remember the green Christmas guy's name..." At this, Cecily's eyes lit up, and she started fidgeting like a kid in school who knows the answer but never gets called on. "Ah!" Preston exclaimed, having apparently answered his own question. "Duh! Heat miser!" He turned to Cecily, curling his fingers like claws and wiggling them as he leaned in towards her, singing, "They call me heat miser...whatever I touch starts to melt in my clutch!" Both Cecily and Grace squealed and giggled, Cecily going so far as to lean backwards until she toppled onto her hay bale. Shelby helped her up with a smile, brushing stray bits of hay from the little girl's jacket and hair. "I'm. Too. Much!"

That you are, Preston. That you are. But somehow I don't think it's a bad thing. Not tonight. Not now.

Too quickly for Shelby's liking, the hay ride came to a stop. Grace and Cecily groaned as Preston said, "Woah, that went much faster than last year..."

"Yeah!" Cecily piped up. Shelby shrugged, trying to act nonchalant as her mind went into overdrive. The ride was over. He would leave soon, and for some reason, that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted him to stay with her. Just for a little while longer.

Cecily and Grace scrambled down off their hay bales and started following the parents off of the ride. Shelby stood up, gazing at him. It was a stupid idea, but..."Preston, are you by any chance at all into visiting Santa Claus?"

That got the attention of the girls. "Come with us! Please, Preston? Please? Shelby chuckled. Kids are useful sometimes, I suppose.

They exited the hay ride and met up with the parents nearby. "Shelby?" Mr. Wright asked, sounding concerned. "Listen, Ilaria's not feeling well...the ride didn't do a whole lot for her stomach." Shelby shot a glance over at Ilaria. She did look a little green..."I'm gonna take her home. You can come along with us, or you can stay and see Santa with Luca and the girls."

"I'll stay."

Mark looked surprised for a moment, but he covered it well. Shelby knew she hadn't given him the answer he expected. "Okay. We'll see you later, then...Luca and Michelle can take you home, or would your...friend like to drive you?"

Shelby shrugged. "We'll figure it out. Bye, Daddy...bye, Ilaria." The second was tacked on just a second later, as an afterthought, and Shelby felt bad for it. Oh well.

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

He ended their hayride with another song, making the girls squeal with delight. The simple joy of hanging out with Shelby and her non-step family was something he didn't want to end. The two little ones groaned in protest. I remember complaining that I had to go home, too. "Woah, that went much faster than last year..." he commented.

"Yeah!" Cecily piped up in agreement. Preston smiled. He got the idea she was one of the shyer kids, so the comment seemed special. The two girls scurried off toward the parents, and Preston watched them go while Shelby stood up, seeming more distanced again and with an unreadable expression on her face.

"Preston, are you by any chance at all into visiting Santa Claus?"

The comment caught him by surprise, and the look on his face showed that. "Come with us! Please, Preston? Please?" Apparently the girls hadn't moved far enough away for them to stop listening in on the conversation with eagerness. He hesitated, looking between the three faces and thinking it through.

He smiled, "Well, Saint Nick and me are generally on good terms. Haven't sent him much mail recently, but I think I could pay him a visit to make up for it." He frowned, crossing his arms on his chest, "But I don't care what you bribe me with. I'm not sitting on his lap this year. A man who lives on cookies and milk may have good bones, but he can't be getting a good workout with a belly like that."

They exited the hay ride and met up with the parents nearby. "Shelby?" Mr. Wright asked, sounding concerned. "Listen, Ilaria's not feeling well...the ride didn't do a whole lot for her stomach. I'm gonna take her home. You can come along with us, or you can stay and see Santa with Luca and the girls."

"I'll stay." Shelby stated simply.

"Okay. We'll see you later, then...Luca and Michelle can take you home, or would your...friend like to drive you?" Preston felt like a third wheel during the conversation. And either he was over-thinking it or there was a certain something beneath the words 'your friend'. I am not a stalker, despite what she may have told you, he thought with amusement.

"I can bring them home," Preston offered with a smile.

Shelby shrugged. "We'll figure it out. Bye, Daddy...bye, Ilaria."

They started walking separate directions from the adults, and Preston smirked at Shelby, adding, "I'll drive, but only on the condition that you are actually in the car before I get behind the wheel. Your luck can't last forever. Any further incidents and I'm making you hold a sign that says, 'Look out!' " he glanced down at her pink gloves, "Or just make sure you keep wearing bright colors." He turned to Grace and Cecily, taking Grace's hand and adding with an air of skepticism, "So where is Santa Claus at this time of day?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"Preston," she asked, realizing with a start that there would never be any better way to ask him except the obvious lame one, "are you by any chance at all into visiting Santa Claus?" I almost just want you to say no. To say no and blow me off...because then I can spare myself the embarrassment.

She felt like kicking herself when she saw the shocked look on his face. Brutally. While wearing spiked shoes. And possibly following the kicking by beating herself with a stick. You're so stupid! Of course he's gonna say no, we knew that going in, so WHY DID I ASK? You know what, Mustang? I changed my mind. I hate Christmas, and I hate Santa, and I hate hay rides, and I hate...

"Come with us! Please, Preston? Please?" cried the little girls, their young voices chiming in like bells. They obviously couldn't tell that he was most likely thinking of the politest way to say 'Never in a million years.' I fail. At life. So does Christmas.

"Well, Saint Nick and me are generally on good terms. Haven't sent him much mail recently, but I think I could pay him a visit to make up for it." Now it was Shelby's turn to look dumbfounded. "So...you mean you'll go?" she repeated.

A frown came over his face, and he crossed his arms like a three-year-old about to have a tantrum. "But I don't care what you bribe me with. I'm not sitting on his lap this year. A man who lives on cookies and milk may have good bones, but he can't be getting a good workout with a belly like that."

Shelby smirked, not commenting on that. She had her own theories about the Santas you saw around Christmastime...Seroiusly, paying someone to have kids sit on their laps all day? Not quite sure I like that. It's probably the most sought-after job for creepers and stuff...ugh. "Deal."

They met up with the parents, and Shelby's dad explained that Ilaria wasn't feeling well and would be taken home. After both sets of parents--Shelby's, and Grace and Cecily's--had departed, Shelby turned to Preston. "I guess I should have figured she would get sick," she admitted, referring to Ilaria. "I mean, she's pregnant and stuff, and it's a pretty bumpy hay ride and stuff...I dunno..." she shrugged as they started walking away, Preston slipping his hand into Grace's. Wait, what? You can't do that. She didn't invite you along, or kiss you, or anything. It's my job to hold your hand...or it would be if I wanted it, which I don't... Shelby felt her face involuntarily turn the color of a cherry tomato, something that always accompanied the feeling of jealousy. It had earned her the nickname Tinkerbell among her cousins for it, just one of many nicknames held by the two Wright sisters.

"I'll drive, but only on the condition that you are actually in the car before I get behind the wheel. Your luck can't last forever. Any further incidents and I'm making you hold a sign that says, 'Look out!' Or just make sure you keep wearing bright colors." Shelby rolled her eyes as he referred to the nearly-fatal nature of their meeting. "You're hilarious," she said, reaching out to take Cecily's gloved hand in hers.

"So where is Santa Claus at this time of day?"

Shelby looked around. "It's never too far from the hay ride, I know that for sure. I think I saw a little 'Santa's Workshop' thing on the other side of the square when we came in..." She scanned the crowd, looking for the familiar dwelling. "There it is," she said triumphantly, pointing to a little green cottage at the edge of the square, marked by a sign and a long line of impatient parents and eager children waiting for their turn to go in. "Come on."

They took their place at the back of the line, receiving more candy canes which the girls tore into greedily. Shelby shifted from foot to foot, wanting the line to speed up so they could be inside where it as warm. She glanced around. "There's usually someone selling hot chocolate somewhere around here...anyone want one?"

"Me!" Cecily and Grace cried in unison. Shelby nodded. "That's two for sure...you? Delicious warm chocolatey goodness?"

I am such a dork.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Well, Saint Nick and me are generally on good terms. Haven't sent him much mail recently, but I think I could pay him a visit to make up for it."

"So...you mean you'll go?" Shelby asked, as though that wasn't obvious. Preston frowned, crossing his arms on his chest and looking her square in the face.

"Yes, you goofball. But I don't care what you bribe me with. I'm not sitting on his lap this year. A man who lives on cookies and milk may have good bones, but he can't be getting a good workout with a belly like that."

Shelby smirked at that. It was kind of an impish look on her. "Deal."

They met up with the parents, resulting in one pregnant lady being escorted home, and just Preston, Shelby, and the girls going off in search of a man in a red suit. "I guess I should have figured she would get sick," Shelby said, "I mean, she's pregnant and stuff, and it's a pretty bumpy hay ride and stuff...I dunno..."

"Yeah..." Preston agreed as they walked away, slipping his hand into Grace's. "I'll drive, but only on the condition that you are actually in the car before I get behind the wheel. Your luck can't last forever. Any further incidents and I'm making you hold a sign that says, 'Look out!' Or just make sure you keep wearing bright colors."

Shelby rolled her eyes. He was sure she remembered how they'd first met. "You're hilarious," she said, reaching out to take Cecily's gloved hand in hers.

Preston smirked, "So where is Santa Claus at this time of day?"

Shelby looked around. "It's never too far from the hay ride, I know that for sure. I think I saw a little 'Santa's Workshop' thing on the other side of the square when we came in..." They both looked around, searching for one of those tell-tale signs made for people like them, who were clueless as to a direction. "There it is," she said triumphantly, and he followed the line of her gesture to a little cottage. With a long, long line. "Come on."

They grabbed a place at the back, Grace and Cecily munching on their new candy canes. After awhile, Preston offered to let Grace sit on his shoulders because her feet were tired, his own candy cane jutting out one corner of his mouth as he watched the line ahead of them. Shelby seemed impatient, shifting on the spot almost as much as the little ones and looking every way. "There's usually someone selling hot chocolate somewhere around here...anyone want one?"

"Me!" Cecily and Grace cried in unison. Shelby nodded. "That's two for sure...you? Delicious warm chocolatey goodness?"

Preston grinned, the candy cane in his mouth dipping and rising again. "I'm always up for delicious warm chocolatey goodness!" His voice was slurred a little from the candy cane, as he imagined it was a cigar. A very sweet-tasting cigar. He reached up to poke Grace playfully. "Hey, you up there! You be careful to keep that candy out of my hair, ya hear?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Shelby Wright

"I'll drive," said Preston as he took Grace's hand, causing Shelby to narrow her eyes as her face reddened angrily. "But only on the condition that you are actually in the car before I get behind the wheel. Your luck can't last forever. Any further incidents and I'm making you hold a sign that says, 'Look out!' Or just make sure you keep wearing bright colors."

At that, Shelby could only roll her eyes. "You're hilarious," she deadpanned as she reached for Cecily's hand, marveling at how little she was. Shelby couldn't remember ever being that small. Weird...

"So where is Santa Claus at this time of day?"

That appeared to be the question of the day, as Shelby looked around the crowded square to find Santa's 'workshop'. "It's never too far from the hay ride, I know that for sure. I think I saw a little 'Santa's Workshop' thing on the other side of the square when we came in..." After locking eyes with several other bewildered-looking adults apparently on the same quest she was, Shelby finally spotted it at the other side of the square. "There it is. Come on."

The line for Santa seemed to be about five thousand times larger than the house itself, or maybe it just felt that way to anyone who faced the easily half-hour long wait. "The line to see Santa stretched all the way to Terre Haute..." Shelby said quietly before looking at Preston. "That's the line, right? From A Christmas Story?" She chuckled. "Where is Terre Haute, anyway?"

It was cold in line, very cold, and Shelby found herself fidgeting to keep warm. A few minutes in, Grace somehow managed to coerce Preston into letting her sit on his shoulders. They seemed to wait there forever, although Shelby knew it had really only been a few minutes. I seriously feel like a little kid again now. It always seems to take an eternity to see Santa.

After a few more cold minutes, she asked if anyone wanted her to get them some hot chocolate. The girls agreed immediately, and Shelby turned to Preston. "That's two for sure...you? Delicious warm chocolatey goodness?" She winced. She sounded like a four-year-old. Act intelligent, for God's sakes! Please! You're embarrassing yourself here!

"I'm always up for delicious warm chocolatey goodness! Hey, you up there!" he added, looking up at Grace. "You be careful to keep that candy out of my hair, ya hear?"

Grace giggled. "I will, I promise!"

Shelby gave a little shrug. "Okay then. I'll be back." With that, she turned to wander through the crowd, looking around for anything remotely resembling a hot chocolate stand. She didn't have much luck until she spotted someone and asked where they had gotten theirs. By the time she made her way back to the rest of them, they had progressed much farther into the line, although it was clear they still had a ways to go yet.

"Okay, careful, it's hot," she said, handing a cup to Cecily first before reaching up to give Grace hers. "Gracie, you be especially careful, I really don't want to have to go to the hospital for head burns tonight." She smiled. "And one for you," she added, handing Preston his hot chocolate before taking a sip of hers.

"Cecily has more marshmallows than I do!" Grace complained. Shelby shook her head. "No she doesn't, I made sure you each got five. You have five too," she added to Preston. "Just in case."

[Elda Forever]

Preston Brailsford

Their wait in line to see Santa stretched out ridiculously long. "The line to see Santa stretched all the way to Terre Haute..." Shelby said quietly before looking at Preston. "That's the line, right? From A Christmas Story?" She chuckled and Preston rolled his eyes, nodding. "Where is Terre Haute, anyway?"

"I'm pretty sure it's in Indiana. My dad's driven up there for work before. He says there's a building site up there, like a sort of underground road area, that looks just like the Mines of Moria from Lord of the Rings." he smirked, pulling the complaining Grace up onto his shoulders to let her rest her little legs, "I think that was in Missouri, though..."

After a few more minutes, Shelby offered everyone hot chocolate, to which the girls heartily agreed they should get some. Preston warned Grace not to get sticky in his hair, and Grace laughed as she promised to be careful. "Okay then. I'll be back." Shelby informed them as she vanished through the crowd of people wandering every which way.

"You guys been good this year?" Preston asked, a typical question that he hated to repeat during the holiday season, just because it was asked so often. But he found himself asking it anyway. Cecily nodded, and Grace laughed merrily, "Yup!"

"I've been pretty good this year, too... I dunno what I want this year, though," he commented with a smile. The three of them thought about the possibilities for a second, each of them adding their own little 'hmmm's. "What about a pony?" Preston suggested.

"I don't like ponies." Grace announced adamantly, making Preston gasp in dramatic shock, and ask her why. In a very serious voice, she informed him that, "Ponies poop too much. They stink all the time and they can step on your toys."

Preston laughed merrily, "Well, I guess that would make them lose some major points, right there. How about a llama? Llamas are cool." The trio stepped forward in the line, then, and both girls contemplated this new idea.

"You're silly, we can't keep a llama." Cecily added quietly. Grace giggled, "Yeah, he's doggone nutty!" The way she said it made Preston think she had heard someone older say it recently, and had taken a great liking to it. He smirked up at her, though she couldn't see it.

"I think you're silly, too."

"Okay, careful, it's hot," Shelby re-entered the scene, handing a cup to Cecily first before reaching up to give Grace hers. "Gracie, you be especially careful, I really don't want to have to go to the hospital for head burns tonight." She smiled again. Preston was starting to think the last few months had been utterly forgotten for Shelby. "And one for you," she added, handing Preston his hot chocolate before taking a sip of hers. "Thanks," Preston kept one hand holding Grace securely on his shoulders, the other carefully holding the hot chocolate, letting it warm up his chilly fingers.

"Cecily has more marshmallows than I do!" Grace complained, always the more vocal of the two. Shelby shook her head, calmly explaining her fairness tactics, "No she doesn't, I made sure you each got five. You have five too," she added to Preston. "Just in case."

Preston nodded, taking another sip, "Good, I was afraid Grace would get more than me." To the girls he added, "It's good to know Shelby's a fair one, right?" He nodded again, as if to finalize the statement. They took another step in line, now getting tantalizingly close to the man in red.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Hey, do you think we should maybe start wrapping this up, chica? Because I was considering a Christmas Day interaction with these two, involving an exchange of gifts...but if you want to keep going, that's okay too. BIC:

Shelby Wright

"The line to see Santa stretched all the way to Terre Haute..." Shelby glanced at him after finishing the quote. "That's the line, right? From A Christmas Story?" She earned a roll of the eyes from Preston. "Where is Terre Haute, anyway?"

"Far away!" Grace piped up helpfully.

"I'm pretty sure it's in Indiana. My dad's driven up there for work before. He says there's a building site up there, like a sort of underground road area, that looks just like the Mines of Moria from Lord of the Rings. I think that was in Missouri, though..."

"Seriously?" Shelby asked. "Lord of the Rings is awesome. Pippin is one of the best characters ever." Except for Al.

While they waited, Shelby offered to get some hot chocolate to bring some warmth back into their frozen bodies, and the other three readily agreed. Sticking her hands into the pockets of her jacket, Shelby maneuvered through the crowd, dodging small children with eyes glowing with excitement and the frazzled, freezing parents they carted along with them, all making idle chatter about the weather, the expected snow, and Christmas in general. It took her a while to find it, but she eventually was able to purchase four steaming cups of the hot beverage, perfect for warming up their cold hands and stomachs. She paid for them and wandered back to the group, noticing they'd advanced quite a bit in the line since she had left. It's like at a restaurant where you don't get your food until someone leaves for the bathroom--you can't see Santa until someone gets hot cocoa.

"I think you're silly, too," Shelby heard Preston telling Gracie as she approached them. She chuckled quietly, beginning to distribute the cups among them. "That's because she is," she informed him. "Okay, careful, it's hot," she warned the girls as she carefully handed them their cocoa. "Gracie, you be especially careful, I really don't want to have to go to the hospital for head burns tonight. And one for you," she added, handing Preston his cup last. She took a sip of her own, the hot liquid burning her mouth a little bit but finding herself too cold to care.

"Cecily has more marshmallows than I do!" Grace complained, leaning down to inspect her older sister's hot chocolate as best she could from her perch atop Preston's shoulders. "No she doesn't," Shelby explained, "I made sure you each got five." I'm so out of my element here. I'm used to always being the youngest kid, even among my cousins. And now I've got two new ones that are little and look up to me and expect me to know what to do when I don't know how to handle kids--I never even liked babysitting. I have no idea what I'm doing...but I do know that kids hate it when their siblings have more than they do, so I fixed that. Maybe this won't be so hard after all...but I kinda wish Cassie was here to help me.

"You have five too," she added to Preston. "Just in case."

"Good, I was afraid Grace would get more than me," Preston replied. Both the girls giggled as he said, "It's good to know Shelby's a fair one, right?"

"Yeah!" Grace cried happily as Cecily added, "I love Shelby."

Shelby stared at her, not quite knowing how to respond to that. She could only smile at Cecily and put one arm around her, overwhelmed with gratitude at her simple statement. Luckily, she was saved from having to reply by Grace's cry of delight.

"It's snowing!"