Apt 8160, Christmas Day - The Family.
However uncertain or uncomfortable things could be between them, one thing Alec and Ang could agree on was the importance of family. This would be Gavin's first Christmas, and Emma was expecting the big family meal, they couldn't disappoint.
And, honestly, he had to admit, by the time they were all seated around the big table and the food was being dished out he could almost imagine that it wasn't all for show. It felt, truthfully, the way it should have, the way it had before.
Ang had worked hard to keep everything under control, while feeling fairly stressed and miserable at the same time. Now of course with the meat and Yorkshire Puddings plated up, and a very small plate done for Gavin, all cut up of course, she was quietly hopeful that today would go off without a hitch. Well, at least until she pulled out the Apple Pie anyway. She'd kind of decided to tell Alec and Emma the er, news over dessert. It seemed kinder that way, to not spoil the meal?
Emma had settled into what was rapidly becoming her seat, and picked up the spoon for Gavin, fitting it to his hand where he sat at the table in his special seat. He wasn't up to feeding himself just yet, but he was starting to get the hang of holding the spoon. She chuckled when he used it as a hammer on the table, and looked up as Ang set the tray on the table, "You need a hand with anything Ang?"
"No, I'm ok Emma, just a little tired, but here, dinner for all of us, so let's not let it get cold." Ang grinned at Alec and set his plate in front of him, before putting Emma's and Gavin's in their places and her own by her chair. "I'll just get the vegetables and the gravy."
Alec was refilling Gavin's sippy cup with juice when he nodded at Emma. "Juice, Emma? Or did you want something else?"
"I wouldn't mind a glass of wine if I'm allowed?" She smiled cheekily at Alec, "Just the one though? I wouldn't want to freak out and get roaring drunk."
Ang laughed, "I think we could allow that, the one that is, not the roaring drunk. Right Alec?" She reached into the fridge and pulled out a special purchase, a very small 25cl bottle of white wine. "This should do you Emma, have a whole bottle!"
Previous experience had showed Ang that you were lucky to get one glass out of those things, with no refills, so she wasn't worried. She just wasn't going to be drinking any of it, having bought some sparkling grape juice of the non-alcoholic variety for herself and Alec. Turning back to the table again with the serving bowls of vegetables on the tray she set them on the coasters and settled down with the gravy boat. "Now, let's get this show on the road? Who wants roast potatoes?"
To his credit, Alec merely dipped his head when Emma asked for wine - he was slowly but surely learning to accept that Emma wasn't a little girl needing his protection anymore - and picked up his plate when Ang mentioned potatoes. "I'll take a piece of that action."
Emma took the bottle, a screw top, and laughed, "Oh my god, you are crazy. Seriously crazy, but I love it! And definitely yes to the roast potatoes!" She opened the bottle and poured it out, just a glass full, and shook her head, "Not that I'm complaining about the rationing? But I think I like the bigger bottles better? Just, because we can share those?"
"Ah," Ang smiled, "But I'm not drinking, because I need to keep a clear head to deal with dinner and Gavin and sorting out you two as well. Can't be fuzzy headed with so much responsibility to manage." She spooned out roast potatoes on to two plates before adding a couple to her own. She set the bowl down and spooned some of Gavin's dinner into his mouth, "Can you guys manage your own veg and gravy? Just this once?" She grinned, knowing full well they were both perfectly capable of dishing up their own dinners, then had a thought, "Just, don't forget I want some too huh?"
"Hear that, Emma?" Alec teased across the table, grinning at Emma as he reached for the spoon in the bowl of steamed vegetables. "No hogging."
"As if! You always eat the most, I don't know where you put it, and I do not want to know how you work it off!" Emma grinned back and lifted the gravy jug, pouring it over her meat and potatoes, and the yorkshires! Had to have gravy on those. "Besides, I'm watching my weight, it's sort of increasing, but not enough to worry me yet? I blame it on all the take out dinners and cinema treats."
"Sounds like someone's hinting she wanted a gym membership for Christmas...." Alec winked at her, picking up the gravy jug as she put it down.
"I don't need one, there's a gym here." Emma stuck her tongue out at Alec, and then laughed, "But I can't help thinking that I didn't need anything for Christmas, so I have no idea why anyone went to so much trouble. What did you guys get each other?"
"Oh love, we like to spoil you, you should know that. We're happy to have you and Gavin around to keep us on our toes too." Ang managed to get some meat into Gavin's mouth, and he gurgled as he chewed it. She pulled a happy face at him and then reached for the spoon in the vegetables. "Of course, I would love an extra pair of hands, but, something tells me they'd be only temporary at best."
"Christmas is less about what you need, than what you want," Alec pointed out to Emma, and Ang too, picking up his fork. "So is there anything you want that you haven't been able to justify buying?"
"Nope," Emma said cheerfully, "and although a new car might be nice, it really isn't necessary, the one I have now does everything I need it to, you know, run? And it's not so uncool as to be dreadfully embarrassing?"
"Oh good," Ang chuckled, spooning some vegetables into Gavin's mouth as well as forking some up off her own plate, "because I think a car might be pushing it? Although, I'm wondering if I might need one of those soon, for all the running about we're going to have to do with Gavin to clubs and things? How early do they start playing baseball?"
Alec laughed. "T-ball is the lowest level of baseball and softball for kids, but he still won't be able to play that until he can hold and swing a bat on his own, not to mention walk and run."
"Oh, well I still think I might need a runabout sooner than we think. Especially if you're still coaching Andover baseball this spring and summer." Ang smiled, "But like Emma says, it's not strictly necessary right now."
Emma shook her head, laughing, "I know Alec, you buy me a new one and Ang can have my old one!"
"Oh yeah," Alec snickered. "I'm sure Ang would consider that completely fair. Sure."
Ang laughed, "I can already tell who doesn't want dessert today, that's for sure!" She managed to cut some of her meat, and fork it up to her mouth in between feeding Gavin bits of his dinner. It wasn't a perfect solution, but he was trying to spoon food up for himself, even if it did go all over the place instead of into his mouth.
"Ha!" Alec's eyebrows shot up at Emma. "More for me then."
"What! No fair!!!" Emma squealed, and then realised something, "Hey Ang, would you like a hand feeding Gavin? Before your dinner gets cold?"
"That would be nice, thanks Emma," Ang handed over the spoon, realising something herself at the same time, and grinning, "I think that might get you reinstated on the dessert list, but, you know I think I'd want to see more of his dinner in him than on him for that to happen?"
It was Alec's turn to complain then. "Hey, now that's not fair. He's on the other side of the table from me. I can't help."
"You helped cook dinner and dish up, don't worry you're still ahead," Ang snickered softly and forked herself up a large mouthful of food, taking her time over enjoying it and swallowing it down, "Besides, you get dessert every time I cook a pie, Emma has to come for a meal first." She turned to Emma, "And we don't see you often enough, maybe you should spend more time here, bring Lucas, if he's all right with that and not working?"
"Oh good lord, what did we do now? I mean, hello? Still teenagers? I know you guys are cool and all but, so not happening! Besides, I like to spend time with him doing stuff, did you know he really can't sit still unless he's asleep?" Emma laughed, "I've tried sketching him a couple of times and it just does not work."
"Aw, thanks, babe." Alec smiled at Ang and then turned an appraising look on Emma. "He would be doing something," he pointed out. "He'd been eating dinner and talking to us."
"Oh yes, and I am so subjecting him to another of your spanish inquisition dinner sessions." Emma laughed, "The last one had him worrying if he really knew who his family were or what they do!"
"Oh Emma it wasn't that bad, and he was volunteering some stuff," Ang began, only to be interrupted by Emma snorting with laughter again.
"Oh yes, one stare from Mr Scary over there and anyone would talk!" She was still grinning though, "I have to say it was almost funny to watch, but very embarrassing."
"Mr. Scary," Alec mused, seemingly to himself. "I like it. Maybe I should have that put on a name tag...or get a nice brass nameplate for my desk." He glanced over at Emma to see her reaction.
"That would so work." Emma snickered and forked up some more of her dinner, while Ang shook her head and resumed feeding Gavin.
"Of course, sometimes he's a lot more comforting than scary right? I know I get that feeling a lot." She spooned another little bit of food into her son's mouth, smiling at him as he gurgled happily.
"Besides," Alec added after a thought. "Eating with us still has to better than spending Christmas alone, isn't it? We're not that bad."
"Well, there is that," Emma grinned, "and of course Ang's cooking is miles better than my own."
"Cupboard love, my favourite, now, eat up please, or everyone's dinners will be cold, not just mine." Ang smiled, and spooned some more of Gavin's meal into his mouth, vegetables and gravy, mushed up meat and potatoes, well, he seemed to like it.
"Take him a plate," Alec smiled at Emma as he speared a piece of turkey and slid it around in the thick, rich gravy. "He'll be yours forever." Through the stomach wasn't the only way to a man's heart but it didn't hurt.
"I think he's busy today. Not sure, but I know he had an invite, and he couldn't make it." she shrugged, "I was lucky to get Halloween apparently, and there's all sorts of worries about Christmas of course!"
"I'm so not worrying about that yet, but you know you are both welcome right?" Ang grinned at Emma, and then looked at Alec, "Provided Mr Scary over there agrees to smile and be friendly for the day huh?"
"Who, me?" Alec did his best to look innocent. "Of course, I'll smile and be friendly with Emma." He smirked and winked at Emma.
Emma laughed, and poured out the wine into her glass, then lifted it in a small toast, "I'd like to see you be friendly to some other people, but for now, merry Christmas, and let's just enjoy ourselves right?"
"I can agree with that Alec, Merry Christmas family," Ang lifted her juice glass and smiled, "I like having the opportunity to enjoy time with you guys, and good food is always welcome, right?"
Alec lifted his glass to the impromptu toast as well with a broad smile. "To family, to friends, to good food, and to being nice."