kay_jay_dee (kay_jay_dee) wrote in qaf_drabbles, @ 2011-01-01 13:32:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | author: kay_jay_dee, gusmas 2010 |
Gusmas 2010
Title: Holiday Wishes (Part 1)
Author: kay_jay_dee
Prompts: The first 19
Notes: 19 drabbles, and a billion thank you's to xie_xie_xie for being such a fabulous beta. These are for her. I'm posting the story in two parts because it's too big for one.
Thanksgiving on the 27th... who would have thought? But then again, we've already celebrated Christmas in July, so this isn't too big of a leap. It's classic Debbie, anyway, delaying Thanksgiving until Justin could get home. "Thanksgiving isn't a day," she'd told me when I'd asked if we could actually do that. "It's family, no matter who that family is, and that's the end of that. Now pass me the marinara sauce."
It’s true, but it was only when Justin walked through the door and Debbie's face lit up like a Christmas tree that her plan actually made sense.
Emergency Sign (picture)
“Hey.”
I jump when Michael's soft voice interrupts me and turn around, hand on my heart. “Jesus, Michael.”
“Sorry.” He stands beside me, hands in his pockets. “Hunter got himself a new girlfriend."
I look at him. Is this something we should be worried about? Because he looks worried. "So, he’s straight again?"
He laughs. "No, he's calling himself bisexual now, I think." He pauses, then suddenly starts talking, “I worry about him, Em. And Ben, too. Hunter was in hospital yesterday. It was only a sprained ankle, but what am I going to do when it's something... something bigger?"
Make a Wish.
His eyes are full of worry for Hunter and he looks tired, too. I guess holidays aren't always the easiest time, especially when you have a husband and son to worry about.
There's nothing I can say to fix this, so I just take his hand. “Pick a star.”
“What?”
I sigh. “When I was a boy, growing up in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, my Aunt Lulah used to take me outside every Thanksgiving, when all my cousins and siblings were picking on me, and tell me to wish on a star.” I squeeze his hand. “So make your wish, Michael Novotny.”
A Matter of Trust.
It's a silly tradition, but wishing on a star is the same as believing in fairy dust - the rest of the world says you're crazy. So I stay standing outside after Michael kisses me with a soft "Thanks, Em" and heads back indoors. I look up, pulling my coat tighter around me. Pick the brightest star in the sky, Aunt Lulah had said... that one, right there.
Now what to wish for?
My own Ben. My own Blake. My own Justin.
When I make my wish, I swear that my star winks at me, almost like it's promising me something.
Far From Home.
When I step back inside, Justin's telling the others about his latest show in New York. Brian's listening to him with more than a hint of pride in his eyes, but he only says, “The service was terrible.”
Justin laughs. “What Brian means is he fucked the waiter.”
“I wish we could have been there,” Lindsay says, and blushes when everyone laughs. "No, I meant -"
“I know what you mean," Justin says. "I wish you guys had been there, too.”
"Someday,” I declare, “we'll all get dressed in our best New York finery and go see one of Justin's shows.”
Hanukkah.
“I'll drink to that,” Mel says, raising her glass. We all do the same, and then she checks her watch. “Hun, we should go.” She gestures at Gus, napping on the couch, and JR, asleep in Lindsay's arms. Everyone nods and starts heading for the door, kissing and hugging goodbye while Debbie presses foil-wrapped leftovers into their hands. “Christmas next,” she says, kissing Michael's cheek.
“Hanukkah,” Mel, of course, corrects her.
“Are lesbians allowed to celebrate Hanukkah?” Michael asks.
“Lesbians are allowed to celebrate whatever they want.” That's Ted.
“Or they'll come after you with power tools.” And Brian.
A Goodnight Story.
Mel, perfectly mature as always, makes a face at him, but she doesn't reply. She's too busy trying to explain to Gus, who's woken up just enough to beg for a story, that it's way past bedtime.
I laugh and wave as she, Linds, and everyone else start walking down the drive. Blake and Teddy are holding hands; Ben has either arm around Hunter and Michael; and Brian is whispering something into Justin's ear. It's probably filthy, but Justin pulls him closer, laughing, and I can't help imagining it was a declaration of love that would impress Rhett and Scarlett.
Tree/Seasons (picture)
I find Justin at the bar and lean against it, raising my voice to be heard over Babylon's music. "So, ready to return to fabulous New York?"
"To tell the truth," he says, "I prefer fabulous Pittsburgh." He pauses. "I think I'm moving back."
"Really? Baby, when?"
"In a year, maybe. I'll give myself twelve more months to conquer New York." He sighs. "I miss him, Emmett, when I'm away. I miss all of you."
"So you're coming back? Just like that?"
"After another year." He shrugs, then smiles so suddenly it's almost a shock. "It's only time, after all."
Easy For You To Say
I reach over to hug him. He smiles at me when I let him go, but before either of us can speak, Brian suddenly appears, kisses Justin, and then, without a word, pulls him onto the dance floor.
I watch them. Brian thinks he has everyone fooled, saying so easily, "Justin and I aren't married" and pretending to be all cynical and jaded - and where, can you please tell me, is the fun in that? But when you see the two of them dancing together, Brian's arms around Justin's shoulders, even a stranger knows - Brian Kinney has officially been relationshipped.
An Accident.
I've realized lately that Brian and I have more in common than either one of us wants to admit, especially me... have I mentioned how cynical he can be?
We both fall in love - or have fallen in love; the Brian Kinney I know wouldn't do it more than once - accidentally. He didn't mean to fall for Justin, just like I didn't mean to fall for George Shickle or my best friend or a supposedly straight football player or Matthew Fischer.
I suppose the real difference between Brian and me is that he managed to hold onto Justin.
Xylophone (picture)
"That sound is music to my ears," Ted says as he sits down and Debbie pours him a cup of coffee.
"Rough morning, honey?"
"Good morning, Emmett," I remark to thin air. "How are you? Why, Ted, I’m just fabulous."
He ignores me and answers Debbie. "Justin left yesterday, and now Brian is acting like something crawled up his ass and died."
"That sounds like fun."
Once again, I'm ignored.
"He made an intern cry."
Before Debbie can say anything - and believe me, she will - someone yells for their breakfast. She rolls her eyes. "Yes, I'm coming, your majesty."
Red Roses
I flutter my fingers as her as she walks away. "I'm the real queen here, Deb." After getting a mock curtsy from her, I turn to Ted, who's finally paying attention to me.
"What do you want for Christmas, Em?"
"Oooh, a chocolate fountain and the hunkiest man you can find turning up at my door with a dozen red roses."
His face lights up like Broadway. "Roses - that's it!"
"Teddy!" I'm only half acting. "That's so sweet. But it’s okay. We don't want Blake getting jealous." I wink at him.
He stares at me. "I meant for Blake, Emmett."
Teddy Bear (Picture)
"Oh." I smack him when he starts laughing. "Well, who knows? You might have never gotten over me."
He hugs me. "No one ever could get over you, Emmett Honeycutt."
I sigh. “Tell that to Matthew. Or Drew. Or the trick who fucked me last night in Deb's living room."
He blinks. "You've fucked someone in Deb's living room?"
"Well, once," I admit. "Maybe twice. Then her teddy bear collection started watching me and I had to stop."
He laughs, but his voices is serious. "You'll find him one day."
"Find who?"
"The guy who will never get over you."
Shopping
I smile as he stands up. "Thanks, Teddy."
"How many times have you done the same for me?" He kisses the top of my head. "I have to get back to work or Brian will have my ass."
"You'd better not let Blake find out," Debbie says, joining us and leaning on the counter.
I laugh with her, then stand up. "I need to go, too."
She points at me. "No buying Christmas decorations, remember?"
I nod. We still have too many left over from last year, when we discovered that the two of us shouldn’t ever go shopping together.
Mistletoe
When I get home the next day, I can hear the Christmas carols before I ever open the door. I can also hear the swearing.
"Shit!"
"Fucking tree!"
"Goddamn it."
When I step inside, I can see why. Ben is carrying a box down the stairs and trying to not to trip on any of Debbie's reindeer; Debbie is steadying the tree, which is swaying dangerously; Michael is standing on his tip toes on a chair, trying to hang up the mistletoe; and Hunter, who's being a 'big fucking help' according to Michael, can’t seem to stop laughing at everyone
Angel Wings
I hang my coat up and shut the door. I've planned parties for hundreds of people - I'll have no problem fixing this mess. I rub my hands together, and fifteen minutes later, Michael is no longer about to fall to his death, Hunter really is being a big fucking help, and Rudolph and his cousins are out of Ben's way. This is why I have my fairy wings.
"Emmett! Where are the purple snowflakes for the tree?"
But a fairy's work is never done. Sometimes I wonder why God didn't give me angel wings too, because I'm a goddamn saint.
Finger Food
Hunter and I are listening to the other three swearing. He's standing in the kitchen with me, licking cream cheese off his fingers while I prepare a tray of spinach tarts. Debbie turns around, sees us laughing together, and marches over. She pokes a long fingernail into Hunter's chest. "Next time," she says,"we'll celebrate Christmas at your house."
He nods, then calls to Ben, "Hey, Dad! Next year, we're celebrating at our house."
"The fuck we are," says Michael, joining us, too.
"Hello?" Ben says from the tree, where the lights still aren't working. "A little help over here?"
Home For The Holidays
We all ignore him and Michael keeps talking. "Where's Brian, anyway? Why isn't he helping us?"
"What date is it?" I ask.
"The twenty third."
"The twenty third?" Hunter says. "Fuck!"
"Watch your mouth, young man."
Ben's ignored again. "I still have to get presents for everyone."
Michael stares at Hunter. "Since when have you ever bought Christmas presents for anyone?" He then looks at me. "So where is Brian?"
"Justin got home today," I say. "If I'm right, then they're at the loft right now, fucking like bunnies." I sigh. "Oh, the romance."
Hunter rolls his eyes at me.
Batteries Not Included
Ten minutes later, Ben gives up on the lights and walks into the kitchen. "Debbie, they're not going to work. I'll go to the mall and buy some new ones."
"Those are new ones," she says. "I bought then yesterday."
"Well, they're not working."
I start cleaning up the kitchen, listening to Michael and Debbie argue about the best place to buy Christmas lights that 'actually fucking work'.
I pause, staring into the open trash can before pulling out some empty packaging. "Deb," I say, waving it at her. "The lights you bought yesterday... did they come with batteries?"