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Chapter 11: Kate
"Alex! Get back in here! I know you are in that living room trying to get into your presents!" I yell as I hear noise coming from the living room.
"But Mommy! I want to open one!" he says, coming into the kitchen where Laura and I are cooking.
"Later, after the party, okay? Right now, I want you to just sit here and maybe help Laura and me. Is that okay with you?"
"Fine," he mumbles, starting on making cookie shapes with the dough Laura has just given him.
The doorbell rings and I go to answer it. To no real surprise, Danielle is on the doorstep with Lance by her side. "Hey you two! Welcome! Where is the rest of the gang?"
Danielle looks at Lance and he says, "Well, they got held up and didn't make it on the same flight I did. I'm sorry Kate, they all wanted to be here to celebrate Christmas with you though."
A pain in my heart so familiar... I smile and say, "It's okay. I didn't expect for JC to come anyway since we have just been strictly friends these past months. Why don't you come in? Alex and Laura are in the kitchen."
"Thanks Kate," Danielle says. "Merry Christmas! Where do I put these gifts?"
"Under the tree. I have to get back to help Laura though because I don't want anything burned. I'll be right there," I say, closing the door behind them.
Alex comes running out and runs directly to Danielle and Lance to give both of them a hug. They smile down at him and lead him into the living room while I go back into the kitchen. The doorbell rings again but Laura leaves to go get it since her part is basically done. I hear an excited voice and know that James, her husband, has finally arrived. I'm so glad that the two have worked out their differences and have seemed to be even more in love than before. It is incredible to see how much love has kept both them and Lance and Danielle so happy. I wish I could find that happiness.
I hear some little giggling and get a big hint that Alex is getting close to his presents again. I am almost done so I transfer the food onto a platter and go towards the living room. "Alex! You better not be getting into your presents again! I warned you about what happens if you are."
"I'm not Mommy!"
"Yeah right little rascal!" I say, rounding the corner to find that no one is in there. "Hey! Where is everyone?"
"...Christmas time, is so special. When you're kissing me, under the mistletoe. Exchanging love and gifts, sitting in front of the tree. Me holding you, and you holding me..." JC sings, coming into the room. I have to be imagining this!
Soon, the other four guys come in, singing the chorus with him. When they finish singing, I notice that I am against a wall, with JC coming closer to me. Soon, he places both hands on either side of my head against the wall and closes the gap between our lips before I could say anything. When he breaks away, I manage to ask, "What was that for?"
"That was from me but also because there is real mistletoe above your head." I look up and realize that he's right.
"So it's just because of this stupid plant?"
"No, because I love you."
"What did you just say?"
"I love you. It's hard to think that anyone ever couldn't. I figure it's time to finally confess my real feelings to you so yes, I love you. I don't care if you want to keep going on as just friends or what, but I love you Kate."
"God JC! I love you too, and you know I want more than friendship! I love you so much!" I exclaim, bringing his face down to mine again for another kiss. I hear clapping going on and realize that the rest of our friends are clapping for us, once again being witnesses to a special moment between JC and me. I smile and break away from JC, allowing for his hand to grasp mine in his while walking back towards our friends. "So you all were in on this, huh?"
All of my friends look back at me with guilty looks. "Well, he wanted to surprise you. Who were we to stand in the way of him and his wish for Christmas?" Danielle asks.
"Even you knew Laura?"
"Guilty. I was so afraid of letting it slip. I'm glad I didn't though because that look on your face was priceless!" Laura says, in the arms of her husband.
"Wonderful! Well, thank you everyone for doing this for me. It definitely is a nice Christmas surprise. Dinner however, is ready and should be available for everyone to eat as soon as we get it all into platters and such. If everyone will follow me back into the kitchen, dinner will be served," I say, leading JC and the others into the kitchen, where I find my little boy eating some raw cookie dough. "Alex! I told you not to eat that stuff!"
He instantly gets a guilty and sad look on his face and says, "Sorry Mommy."
"Aww, it's okay Alex. No more though, okay? It's dinner time."
After dinner is complete, we all gather into the living room to open one present each. Alex is allowed to go first and so we watch in amusement as he spends five minutes deciding on which one to open. He decides on a gift that came from the guys and I am hardly surprised when the ripped off wrapping paper reveals a mini-basketball hoop and ball set. JC goes over to help him pull it out, while Justin and Joey start playing with the ball already.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Laura and James sneaking out of the apartment, heading into the night for a romantic stroll I'm guessing. I can't help but smile as I see them walking hand in hand out the door, looking so happy finally.
"Danielle, you mean so much to me. Would you please agree to spend the rest of your life with me? This ring is rather materialistic, but with it I give you full ownership of my heart with it," Lance says, turning my head towards the couple.
"What do you mean Lance?" she asks.
"Will you marry me?"
"Oh Lance! Of course I will! I love you so much!" she says, throwing her arms around him and kissing him deeply.
I unexpectedly feel a pair of arms slip around my waist and I smile as I see JC looking down at me when I look up to see him. "Isn't it so sweet how everyone is just falling deeper and deeper in love with each other? I can't believe that Danielle and Lance are finally engaged and that Laura and James have worked out their problems. It's as if life has just become so perfect for all of us."
"I agree. I still can't believe that you took me back. I was beginning to lose hope."
"You should know better than that. You mean too much to me to give up so easily, even if I insisted on space before because I felt that we were rushing back into things and heading towards disaster again. Tell me though, can you handle Alex?"
"Can I handle him? That is so an insult! He is the sweetest little boy in the world. Why wouldn't I be able to?"
"I don't know. Just that well, he isn't yours and if anything should happen, would that fact hurt us in anyway?"
"No way babe. Not at all! Just as the song "Perfect Three" says, we will be together forever, no matter what."
"That song was about Alex and me?"
"Of course. Who else would it be about?"
"I don't know. Oh God, you guys did pick out the right present for Alex. Look at him playing with Justin and Joey! It is so cute," I comment, watching as Justin picks Alex up to fly past Joey, to sink the ball into the mini-hoop.
"I am glad. Don't you want your present?"
"You JC, are present enough for me. What else could I desire?"
"I guess you'll just have to wait until tomorrow morning then!"
"Now you have me curious."
"Too bad!"
"You are such a brat sometimes, you know that?"
"I know! Don't you just love me?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean that will stop me from tickling you!" I say before doing just as I said, tickling him. We get into a tickling fight, which Alex joins in on, making it a really interesting match. JC ends up giving up first though so Alex sits on him with help from Joey and I pin back JC's arms.
When JC stops laughing, he looks up at me and asks, "So now that you have me all pinned down, what do you plan to do with me?"
"You'll just have to wait and see!" I say, turning his own words against him.
Eventually, everything calms down and Danielle, Lance, Joey, Chris, and Justin all leave to go to wherever they are staying. JC stays with me to help me clean up and then probably spend the night. The guys had never gone to their hotel yet so his stuff is still in the car. He grabs it out before they take off so that he has his clothes this time. Laura and James are also around, helping clean up, and Alex, well he is just plain tuckered out.
"While you are cleaning the living room a little, can I tuck Alex into bed?" JC asks.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course."
"Sure, why not? I'll be right in there though."
"Okay," he says, before picking Alex up in his arms and heading towards Alex's room. Wow, maybe he really is attached to him.
By the time I make it into Alex's room, JC is closing the book he is reading him. "Thank you JC."
"You're welcome Alex. Excited about Christmas?"
"Yes. Hi Mommy!" he exclaims, noticing that I'm there.
"Hi Alex. You better get to sleep mister, otherwise Santa won't be coming around tonight," I say, sitting down on his bed, next to JC.
"Okay. I love you Mommy. Love you JC," Alex mumbles before closing his eyes. I lean down and kiss his forehead before tucking him in.
I turn off the light and lead JC to my room. "Are things all cleaned up now?" he asks.
"Yes. I'm going to go get change. Go ahead and use the shower if you need to. I'll use it after you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm actually going to take a bath anyway."
"Well, couldn't we use both at the same time?"
"JC, I really don't think that-"
"Kate, I won't do anything to you. Just to save time."
"Okay. Actually, your surprise may as well be given in the tub."
"Dang girl! What do you have in mind?"
"Just a massage. I'm wearing a bathing suit in there so it's up to you as to how you get in there. I'll go run the water."
Ten minutes later, we are both in the tub with candles lit around us. "First, I'm going to give you a sponge bath of some sort and then we'll move back into my bedroom for the real massage. Sound good?"
"More than good."
I slowly pick up the towel and sponge that I have soaped up already and started on his back, moving slowly down his arms and legs, which is a bit hard sometimes. When I'm done, he insists on scrubbing me as well, which I let him. I am a bit uncomfortable at first, but slowly begin to trust him more as time went on. After the bath, we both get out and dry off before going back into my room. I have him lie down while I lit the same candles I moved from the bathroom again and warm the oil. When it's ready, I bring it over towards the bed and start rubbing it in my hands. I slowly work on his shoulders and continue down his back, feeling all the muscles there relax slowly. From there, I massage his legs and feet before his arms.
"Mmm... Kate that felt so wonderful," JC says after I'm done.
"I'm glad you liked it."
"Why don't you come lie down now?"
I smile at JC and instantly move into his arms on the bed. He pulls me closer and says, "Thank you Kate. That was very nice."
"You're welcome," I say, kissing him.
We talk for a while like that, looking into each other's eyes, resting in one another's arms. "This is total bliss," I hear him murmur, before starting to kiss a trail from my shoulder to my lips. We kiss for a while, remaining as close as I would let him, until both of us fall into a contented sleep.
The next morning, I wake up to Alex coming in and yelling, "Presents, presents, presents!"
"Alex, what time is it?" I ask, aware that I was still in JC's embrace.
"Umm, the big hand is on the twelve and the little one on the five."
"Alex, it's way too early to get up. Come here sweetie."
"No, presents!"
"Alex, if you go to your mom, I'll play some basketball with you later on in the afternoon," JC says, trying to help me out.
"Okay," Alex says, climbing into the bed, placing himself right next to me. I pull the covers up over him and watch as he slowly falls back to sleep. I guess the rugrat was sleepy still. Figures.
Three hours later, Laura, James, JC, Alex, and I are all sitting under the tree. Alex has dove into his gifts and is currently playing with one of the educational games Laura bought him. I take out JC's gift from under the tree and hand it to him. "I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I will," he says, slowly opening the box. "Wow! This sweater is in the exact color that I love! Where did you find it?"
"Actually, I made it for you."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, she is. I've watched her for months make that for you especially, even when you two were apart. She got your measurements from Lance too," Laura supplies.
"Kate, you didn't have to go through so much trouble for me," JC says, giving me a kiss of thanks.
"It was nothing. I really wanted to do that for you. I hope it does fit you," I say.
"I'm sure it will. Well, here is my gift to you," he says, pulling out a box from under the tree.
I am curious as to what can be in it and slowly open it. Inside, there is a necklace with three silver rings on it, each with a different colored jewel placed in the band of it. I look closer and realize that JC's, Alex's, and my own name are each engraved into each ring. "JC, it's beautiful!" I exclaim as he takes it from me and puts it around my neck to clasp it.
"I'm glad you like it. I thought that it was appropriate."
I reach up and give him a deep kiss and smile as I pull away.
"Well, I think now is the time I have to tell you something Kate," Laura says.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, James and I have decided on me moving back home. We want to have our own family soon, and well, our own little kids. I love you and Alex a lot but I think I need to start on my own life now."
"Understandable. I'm so happy for you two though!" I say, running to her and giving her a big hug.
"As I am happy for you and JC. It looks like you may have found the perfect guy for you in him Kate. Don't lose him again."
"Don't worry, I don't plan on it," I say, laughing as I see JC making Alex giggle as he held him up really high so that Alex could act like he was Superman or something. I really and truly don't want to lose him ever again, no matter what.