Episode
3.12 [Christmas Eve]
“Where is
he? Doesn’t he realize the service starts soon?”
“Mom, it’ll
be fine.” Abby held her mother’s wrists and forced
Abby
sighed, running her hands through her medium length brown hair before she
focused her attention on the star on the top of the tree, “Mom, I love Ethan.
I’m not going to marry him as some sort of social power play.”
”Oh I know that dear, its just I want you to have everything you’ve ever hoped
for.”
“Mom, I do.
I have a job I adore and I found a wonderful man to love.” She pulled the
sleeves down on her red sweater as she felt a chill come over her.
“Mom, Jeans
are fine. Its not like I’m going in a jogging suit or
something. Besides I have to stop by Hallow Hills after the service.”
“Mom, I’m
just helping Mr. Davis with a few things, that’s all.”
“Oh, well
who knows last shot ya know.”
“Mom? Dad? Abs?” Dan called from the hall
as he stomped his feet on the mat by the door.
“In here
Briscoe.” Abby called out.
Dan came in
and gave Abby a look, “I’m too young to be Det. Briscoe from Law and Order, very cute though.” he was
taking off his coat and revealed he still had his uniform on.
“You’re not
working are you?”
“No Mom, I
just got off duty I haven’t had time to change.”
“Well this
might work actually, who knows maybe Ethel’s daughter Cindy will notice what a
catch you are.”
“Please
Mom, not tonight. I’m happy being single right now. Can’t you just be happy
knowing Sam’s with Pam and Abby’s with Ethan?”
“Yes
“Fine, I’ll
let him be for now.”
“Alright big sis, its time to be honest. What’s going on with you and
Conner?” Cassie asked as she closed the kitchen door.
“Nothing,
Conner and I are no longer in communication together.” Maggie explained as she
opened the fridge, removing dinner items.
“That’s
Bull and you know it Mags. For crying out loud you
love that guy more then anyone, that’s including you’re ex-Kevin and the good
Doctor.” Cassie took a precut carrot and started eating it.
“Love is
more complicated then that Cassie, things have happened.”
Cassie
nodded, “Like you replacing Conner with every other guy who crosses your path.”
“Cassidy
Williams!” Maggie retorted and Cassie hoisted herself up onto the Counter.
“Well its
true, I mean gosh Mags, you couldn’t be with Conner
so you went to Kevin, and then I know you and Luke hooked up, and of course the
good doctor.” Cassie smiled.
“Listen
Cass, I know you think Conner’s a great guy and all but he has to be open to it
to.”
“Seriously
maybe the two of you just need to get locked up together somewhere.”
“Been
there, done that.”
“Really?”
Maggie
nodded, “Yeah we got locked in a storage cage in the mall last summer. Well he
had the key.”
A new plan
was forming in Cassie’s mind as she listened to her sister.
“Is their
anything I can do to help?” Allie Cramer asked as she walked into the kitchen.
Maggie
cringed, “No I have it all under control Mother.”
“Maggie,
please I’m not here to hurt you.” Allie said as she stood behind her daughter
who refused to face her.
“I’m gonna bounce.” Cassie quickly exited the kitchen and saw
her Father and Step-Mother about to enter and pushed them back to the kitchen.
“Well if
you didn’t want to hurt me, why were you out of my life until I had a
miscarriage?” Maggie asked as she turned to look at her mother.
“Because I was stupid. I was scared of a lot of things, love, independence,
letting your father down.”
“yeah right.”
“I was
Maggie, I mean my gosh when Larry and I were together
we wanted a huge family. We tried very hard to have you two girls, and when it
took ten years between the two of you, we realized may never have another
child, especially with all the miscarriages I was having.” Allie sat down at
the table and nervously played with the dishtowel.
“I had gone
back to school, I was all ready to attend medical
school nearby. But when I found out I was pregnant with
Maggie
leaned against her counter, “Why didn’t you come back?”
“Fear, I
figured by then Larry and you girls were better off. Plus
“What does
this have to do with me?”
“Don’t be
afraid to be yourself honey, don’t be afraid to love
the man you love.”
“You over
heard Cassie didn’t you?”
Allie smiled,
“Partially, but I saw it in
“It’s too
late, Conner and I had our chance, the window is
closed. Neither of us want it open.”
Kyle
studied the pile of presents under the tree, he’d have
to remember to call his Mom and thank her but tell her it was a bit too much.
He started searching for a particular box and found it, wrapped in simple green
paper with a silver ribbon. He took the loose piece of ribbon and then took the
ring from his pocket, he was going to do this tonight.
It would be perfect.
He took the
loose end and tied the ring to the package, letting the lights from the tree
slightly hit the small diamond.
Pinõn
Hallow Mall
Lysa
stepped out of Foley’s with several bags and walked right into Sean, “Hey
Uncle. What’s going on?”
“Are you
coming by tonight?” He asked as they walked casually through the mall.
“I can’t,
we have church tonight and other things Dad and I have to do.”
Sean
nodded, “Tomorrow then?”
“No, I
can’t come tomorrow either. We have dinner at Grandma’s, you know your Mother.”
“That’s
right, well I’ll see you there.” he touched her face and she felt her heart
racing.
“But as
your niece, not as—well you know.” She said in hushed tones as she walked off
to the food court.
Hallow
Hills—Doug and Adel’s Room
“Be Honest
with me Doug, where were you?” Adel asked as she followed him out from the
bathroom.
He sighed
as he took a tie from the closet, “I told you already. I was in the nursery
with Isabella. I swear I didn’t kill Kathryn. Trust me,
I’d have popped champagne if I did.”
“You don’t
think Kip did it, do you?”
“No, it
couldn’t have been him.” He stood behind Adel and put his hands on her
shoulders, “Lets forget about this awful mess, she’s gone. Our daughter is safe
with us. Its Christmas, lets be happy.”
Adel turned
with a smile on her face, “You’re right we should be.”
Hallow
Hills—Living Room
Jeff put
several packages under the tree as
“Hey
“I’m fine,
why do you ask?”
Jeff
stepped forward, “I saw how you looked when you found out Ethan and Abby got
engaged.”
“I was surprised, I mean they just got back together.”
“Are you in
love with Abby?”
“I’m
serious.” Jeff poured himself a drink and turned back to his nephew, “I’ve seen
you two together. Ethan is my son, and I love him. But I have this feeling that
he thinks he’s found it all with Abby but he hasn’t.”
“Exactly.”
“I hate to
burst your bubble but that’s not what’s going on.”
“I hope for
all of you’re sakes its not.”
The Adams
family sat on one side of the Church near the front, while the
“And now,
I’d like to ask
After the
candles were lit a baby began to cry and Abby turned around to see it was
Fallon, and
Jeff looked
on, and knew he had been right earlier, he could only wonder if his son saw
this.
“Merry
Christmas all, have a very good holiday.” Ethan announced, signaling the end of
the service.
He watched
as families left and saw Abby putting Fallon back in
“Thank
you.” Ethan replied, “So you’re off to help
“Yeah, I
believe that’s the plan. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” She gave him a quick
peck on the cheek.
“Yes, have
a good night love.”
“Kyle, we
can’t open anything until tomorrow.” Trista insisted as he playfully pulled her
into the living room.
“This is
special. It has to be opened tonight!” he told her as he went for the green
package with the ring.
Trista was
about to take the package when her beeper went off, “Work, I got to call.” She
went into the kitchen and made the call.
Kyle
waited, hoping with every thing he had that she wouldn’t have to go in, but the
moment he saw her face when she came in he knew she would be gone for the
night. “You’ll open it in the morning. It’ll be perfect.”
“I love
you.” She gave him a quick kiss before going to put her jacket on.
“The coat
room, I’m telling you Eric its perfect. It will work.”
Cassie insisted as they stood outside in the cold.
“But
they’ll miss the service people will notice.”
“Darn
you’re right. Well we’ll figure something out and sooner rather then later they
will be together.”
“Cassie, honey come on. You’ll miss the service.” Larry popped his
head out the door and smiled as his daughter and then glared at Eric.
“I’ll be
right in Daddy. I promise.” She said as he retreated back in.
“Yikes is
your Dad like that with every guy?”
Cassie
nodded, “Well except Conner. That’s how I know its right.”
“Don’t
worry Cassie, we’ll get those two together if they
don’t do it themselves.”
Maggie
absentmindedly leaned back in her seat to stretch her back after one of the
hymns and caught sight of Conner sitting next to his daughter and mother. His
eyes seemed to be glued to the hymnal in his hands. She sighed,
he wasn’t even trying to look over. She reached back for her own hymnal and
tried to focus on the next song.
“Please
rise.” Ethan asked for the next song.
Conner
stood and with that movement made a quick look towards Maggie who had all her
focus on the song book. Before he could look any longer the organ started and
everyone began singing Away in the Manger.
As everyone
began to leave the sanctuary Cassie and Eric caught sight of each other and she
nodded her head towards the coat room. He shook his head no.
Cassie
sighed as the family walked out and into the cold. As she stood hugging herself
near the door she saw Conner come out, “Merry Christmas Conner.”
He stopped
and smiled, “Merry Christmas Cassie, how are you?”
“I’m fine, its Maggie I’m really worried about.”
“Why’s
that?”
Cassie
shook her head, “From what she says you wouldn’t care.”
“That’s not
it Cassie, its very complicated.”
“Only because you two make it so.”
“Merry Christmas Maggie.” Eric said as he retrieved his coat from the coat room, and
suddenly wondered if Cassie had the right idea.
“Merry
Christmas to you to Eric, I hope finals went well.”
“Oh very
well.” he put on his coat, “You know, Conner hasn’t been himself since, well
you know. But one thing hasn’t changed.”
Maggie grew
tense, “What would that be?”
“He still
smiles when you walk by.”
Conner was
just about to get into his car when he heard the sound of boots on the cement
running towards him. He looked up to see Maggie, almost out of breath as she
stood at his car door, resting one hand on the door frame. “Give me a second,
I’m not as in shape as I look.” she joked.
Conner
couldn’t help but smile, “Merry Christmas Mags.”
She smiled,
“Same to you McKay. Listen, I’m sorry about everything. If you need time you
have it, as much as you need.”
“Thank you,
but what good is it. You’re with Carsyn.”
Maggie
sighed, “I guess I am. Who knows maybe one day our paths will meet up again.”
Conner
reached out and touched her face just as it began to snow, “Who knows, you
could be right.”
“Have a
good night Conner.”
“You to Maggie.” She let go of the door and Conner climbed in.
Cassie and
Eric watched from the stairs, “Those two are so stubborn!”
“They sure
are.” Eric agreed.
Hallow
Hills
Abby and
“Thank you
for all your help.”
“Why’s
that?”
“A year ago
Carla Harrison came bursting in and told me and Kip she’s our biological
mother. Obviously we choose not to acknowledge her.”
“That
must’ve been a shock.” Abby sat down on the couch, and
“They’re
special Mr. Davis, I do love them. Its hard not to.”
Abby looked down at her left hand and fiddled with her engagement ring.
“I wouldn’t
have been able to do any of this with out you.”
“Thank you
for allowing me into the kids lives.” Abby smiled and she had the urge to move
closer to him, to be in his arms. “I should get going.”
“Yes I
guess you should it is late.”
They stood
up and walked to the door, Abby grabbed her coat from
the closet and put it on as
They moved
closer to each other, removing any empty space that had stood between them as
Abby reached for his face and he reached for her waist. Their lips met, and the
kissed, pulling the other even closer then they thought possible.
Abby held
onto him for dear life, almost shaking as the kiss deepened and as she pressed
Finally
they pulled apart, both gasping for air, “Merry Christmas Chad.” Abby said
before walking away.
Jeff stood
at the top of the stairs and shook his head, he had been right. Only he wasn’t
sure he could tell Ethan about this himself.