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"Thats it! Perfect!" Carol says, helping the kids roll cookies out onto baking trays.
Judith, Rj, Gracie and Hershel all stand around the bakery counters in aprons and hats as they ball gingerbread dough out, cutting them into little people with clean cookie cutters, laughing as they do.
"Will Santa really come if we leave these out?" Gracie asks, pressing the cookie cutter into the dough.
"Mhmm, and that big tree you're going to decorate with Connie and Kelly, he's going to leave presents under there for you all." Carol says, preheating the oven behind her, "as long as you've been nice."
"What if we haven't?" Judith asks, rolling out the dough.
"You get presents but instead they're filled with coal or bad things like.. liquorice" Carol chuckles as she says it.
"I like liquorice!" Rj says, the kids and Carol echo "ewwwws" as he says it.
Once the kids finish with their cookies of all different shapes and sizes, Carol takes them to the oven and puts them in and closes the oven door.
"Now, whilst you guys wait for these cookies to be done, go head to the community building and help Connie and Kelly decorate that tree, once that's finished head back here and we'll decorate these cookies." Carol says, "go on! I want to see that tree shine from this room!"
The kids take their aprons and hats off and hang them on the hook lined walls before thanking Carol and rushing off to the Alexandrian community building.
-
"I can't believe it's snowing!" Gracie says, walking across the snow covered grass blades, "I love snow."
"At least it isn't as violent as the last load of snow we had." Judith says, kicking a pile of snow.
"Yeah," Gracie says, smiling, "a lot calmer and a lot more fun."
They turn the corner of the street towards the community building where Connie, Kelly, Aaron and Daryl are bringing boxes into the building.
"That's a lot of boxes." Rj says.
"Which means a lot of decorations." Hershel sighs.
Daryl walks out the main door and waves at them, "Come on! We could use some youths helpin!" The kids rush over, practically tackling Daryl in a hug, "good lord, Y'all excited for Christmas?"
"Very." Judith says, "where's the tree we're decorating?"
Daryl nods inside to the tree which looks huge to the kids however it's only about 7ft tall. The kids rush inside, looking at it.
"Is it real?" Rj says.
"How are we supposed to decorate that?" Hershel says, looking at Daryl.
"Con and Kel are helping you out, careful," he leans into whisper, "Connie's quite the perfectionist when decoratin."
Connie taps his back, Talking about me?
Never. Daryl says with a smile, "have fun!"
He and Aaron head out to help with some other chores before Christmas tomorrow.
"Right, who's ready for some decorating?" Kelly asks, opening the boxes lined across the floor, "we have everything."
Connie's eyes light up as she starts taking baubles out and showing the kids how to decorate, the kids watch as she gently opens the bauble's string and threads the metal branch into it. The shiny gold bauble dangles singularly on the tree waiting for others to join it.
Just like that. Connie signs, impressed with herself.
"Ooo what's this?" Judith says, pulling a long red string covered in thin strips of metallic, glittery foils and wrapping it around herself.
"Tinsel! It goes around the trees to make it sparkle!" Kelly says, grabbing one end of the tinsel and yanking on it, spinning Judith around as it unravels, "right let's get to work!"
The kids start on the bottom part of the tree, hanging up baubles of all different sizes, shapes and colours, glistening as they spin into place, dangling from the tree "branches".
With a step ladder's assistance, Connie and Kelly start at the top of the tree, working together to hand each other baubles as they work through the layers of branches needed to be filled.
Once all the baubles are in place, Connie and Kelly climb down, looking at the tree with the kids.
Lights! Connie signs, pointing to the box full of fairy lights, the kids run over, pulling them out and beginning to untangle them. Connie sitting beside and helping them out, wrapping them into neat cords to later wrap around the tree.
"Need help?" Daryl says, walking through the door with Aaron once again, Aaron wheels a trolley of hot cocoa behind Daryl, "we also come with drinks."
The kids look over at the hot cocoa, mouths watering as Connie nods for them to get some, the kids rush over as Aaron pours them all a cup.
Daryl stands, hands on his hips looking at the tree, you did the top? He looks to Connie, she nods, looks like shit.
I hate you. Connie signs, rolling her eyes, she holds her hands out in front of her as Daryl walks over, helping her up with a pull.
Cocoa? Daryl asks, holding a hand out to Kelly to help her up, it's really nice.
He walks to the trolley with Kelly and Connie, handing them both a mug before grabbing himself one, the kids sit on the sofa's drinking their cocoa, talking about the decorations and what presents Santa may bring.
Connie sips the cocoa, looking at the tree, it doesn't look too bad!
It's missing some lights, Daryl signs, but I see you've got that undercover. Daryl nods to the lights which are now untangled.
Aaron picks up the lights and starts wrapping them neatly around the tree, Connie watching carefully to make sure it looks nice.
"I can feel Connie watching me." Aaron says, using the step ladder to get the lights to the top.
"She's not complained yet." Kelly says, sipping her cocoa.
Aaron continues to wrap the tree with the lights, Connie's lips pursing as she watches him does it, she hesitates to complain before he reaches the bottom, he turns to look at her and she gives him a thumbs up and signs a thank you.
Aaron let's out a relieved sigh and dramatically wipes non existent sweat from his brow, Gracie jumps around her dad excitedly as Daryl plugs in the lights, the tree sparkling with rhythmic light flashes of all different colours.
"Woah." Hershel says, circling the tree, "it's amazing!"
"Your mom's gon' love it." Daryl says, patting Hershel's back, "she always spoke about how she loved decoratin' the Christmas tree with your grandad and aunt Beth."
"Really?" Hershel asks.
"Oh yeah. She'd tell Carl about it all the time." Daryl smiles, "alright guys let's finish up this decorating and then go help Carol with those cookies."
Connie begins lining the fireplace mantle with stockings for the kids, tinsel along the top and little snowman ornaments along the top, smiling as she lines them across in an organised manner.
Daryl stands behind Connie, watching her decorate and helping her hang the stockings and handing her the ceramic ornaments whilst she gently places them.
Judith and Gracie lay out Christmas blankets and pillows along the sofas whilst Rj and Hershel set up some lights along the window sills.
Kelly and Aaron supervise the kids, helping them when necessary before Daryl's radio buzzes, "The cookies are cooled now!" Carol's voice is heard over the radio.
Daryl claps his hands, "alright kids, let's get to Carol and get these cookies done. Thank Kelly and Connie for helping you guys decorate!"
"Thank you!" They say, repeating it in sign to Connie before heading out.
Coming to help with the cookies? Daryl asks Connie, holding his hand out.
Can we eat them? She asks, smiling, Daryl nods and she takes his hand.
"Bring us some back!" Kelly says, sitting on the couch.
"If the kids let us!" Daryl says, opening the door for Connie as they follow the kids to Carol's.
-
The kids rush in, grabbing their aprons as Carol lays out icing powder, normal icing and sprinkles along the counter. They lick their lips as the ginger scent encapsulates the room, consuming their senses with their delicious aura. Connie and Daryl walk in and all they care about is stealing the scraps to eat.
Hey Connie! Carol signs, smiling.
Your sign is getting better! Connie signs, Carol raises an eyebrow before Daryl speaks up.
"Your sign is getting better" he laughs, his arm slumping around Connie's waist, "any spare cookies for us?" He smiles childishly.
Carol slides a plate over to Connie and Daryl who take it and rush to the table to eat whilst the kids decorate the cookies.
Judith and Gracie make their cookies neat and pretty whilst Rj and Hershel let their minds go wild with them, icing and sprinkles thrown all over the cookies and themselves.
"Father Christmas won't eat yours! You're supposed to make them look edible." Judith says.
"It's food, in this day and age he'll eat whatever we give him." Hershel says.
"Yeah he will." Daryl says from the table, stuffing his face, Connie taps her hand on the table in disgust watching him speak with his mouthful. Sorry! He signs sheepishly.
"Is there no walkers in the North Pole?" RJ asks, putting his cookies in a little box to take back to Daryl's.
"Nah, only Santa and Elves, they're magic and shit." Daryl says, wiping his mouth with his hand.
"Lucky." Gracie says, putting her cookies in her box.
The kids help Carol tidy up as she hands the kids little glass bottles with a beige liquid inside, "now, this is eggnog. Leave it out for Father Christmas and he'll drink it with your cookies.." she smiles, "now you best be heading home and to bed, you need to be asleep otherwise he won't leave you guys presents."
The kids nod before Daryl and Connie get up and head to the door, "say thank you to aunt Carol." Daryl says.
"Thank you aunt carol!" The kids chime before heading out, where Daryl and Connie walk them individually home.
Starting with Hershel to which Maggie, Elijah and Lydia are all welcoming him back, thanking Daryl and Connie for walking him back before heading inside to get ready for bed. They then take Gracie home, Aaron opens the door already in some cringy Christmas pyjamas to which Gracie has a matching pair, Judith hugs her goodbye before Daryl, Connie, Rj and Judith head back to Daryl's apartment.
"Is aunt Connie staying?" Judith asks, grabbing a plate to put hers and RJ's cookies on for Father Christmas.
"Might as well." Daryl says, sleeping?
Yep! Connie signs back, handing RJ the eggnog to put next to the cookies.
"Yeah she's stayin'" Daryl says, "alright, go get showered because you're stinkin the place up." He chuckles.
Judith sticks her tongue out and heads to her bathroom to get a shower and Rj tides up the kitchen with Connie whilst he waits for Judith to finish getting ready for bed.
Connie washes the dishes as RJ puts them away and Daryl heads to his room for a shower too. Dog hovers around the island, sniffing at the cookies as Rj taps Dog's nose to back off.
Once they've finished tidying the kitchen, Judith shouts for RJ to go get showered and ready for bed as she gets her stuff ready for bed, Connie sits on the couch, Dog laying across her lap as she sinks into the couch rubbing her eyes and yawning.
Daryl comes out his bedroom after a while, his hair damp and laying across his, now wet shirt, shoulders as he sits next to Connie, kissing her forehead as he sits next to her.
The kids come out a little while later in their pyjamas, hugging Daryl and Connie to say goodnight before heading to bed and heading to sleep.
-
Across the commonwealth community, parents, families and siblings now give the illusion of "Father Christmas" by eating the left out cookies and drinking the milk or eggnog left out for him. Some, some being Connie, even leaving "magic dust", glitter, on the counter and creating "hoof" marks in the sand laying across the balcony floor.
You're really getting into this Christmas bullshit hm? Daryl signs once she comes back in from the balcony.
These kids deserve this. Connie smiles, it's a piece of joy in this shit hole full of sickos.
Daryl smiles, looking at the clock, hm, it's passed midnight now.. Merry Christmas!
She smiles, merry Christmas. Cmon, let's put some presents out then get to bed.
Daryl nods, heading to get the presents from his closet, a few for both the kids and even one for Connie and himself which Aaron got him. He lays them upon the coffee table before nodding towards the bedroom to tell Connie it's ready for bed now.
Connie yawns before heading to his room, Daryl following behind her as she gets a shirt of his to change into for bed. Daryl lays in bed, covering his hips down in the bedsheets as he leans back into his pillow watching Connie closely as she changes and gets into bed. Daryl leans an arm out for her to wrap her in as she cuddles up to his side yawning as she leans into his chest.
Soon enough, like the rest of the community, everyone is sleeping soundly, excitement within for the upcoming Christmas Day.
-
"DAD DAD!" Gracie shouts, jumping on the end of Aaron's bed, "SANTA! HE CAME! HE CAME!"
Aaron grumbles, rolling on his side as the bed springs beneath him as his daughter jumps at the bottom.
"Gracieee, it's not even 8am.." he groans, turning his lamp on beside him.
"BUT DAAAAD. SANTA." She shouts, grabbing his arm to pull him out of bed.
"Go wait in the living room, I need a coffee atleast." He wafts a dismissive arm as she rushes out his room to the living room.
-
Maggie wakes up to muffled voices behind her bedroom door, she sits up and checks the time, "eight..." she gets up and pulls her dressing gown over top of her pyjamas and heads out.
Hershel Jr sits on the couch waiting patiently as Lydia and Elijah make breakfast and coffee for Maggie and themselves.
"Maggie!" Lydia says, looking at her, "didn't know you woke up!"
"Heh, it's a shock hearing voices at 8am not on a school day," she smiles, she looks to Hershel, "what's that?"
"Santa! He came!" Hershel says, excitement rippling through his voice, not an ounce of tiredness in his attitude.
"That's amazing bud, let gets some food in us before we open them up, an appetite is needed for this big experience!" Maggie says, indicating his presence at the breakfast table as Elijah lays the food out.
-
Connie and Daryl lay peacefully in Daryl's bed, Connie wrapped up in his arms, her eyes half open as she wakes up, Daryl moves around beneath her body as she feels the vibrations of a door closing.
"Aunt Kelly!" Daryl hears through the wall, Judith's voice clear as day.
"Merry Christmas!" Kelly says in a hushed voice as she hugs RJ and Judith, "uncle daryl and aunt Connie not awake?"
"Not yet!" Rj says, looking at the present filled tree, "Santa came! We're just waiting for them!"
Connie looks up at Daryl who's definitely awake as he's listening, his fingers tracing circles on Connie's back gently as he listens.
Connie taps his chest, what?
Kelly, she's here, kids are up. Daryl moves his arms to sign, cmon, let's go get some coffee and watch these kids rip their gifts open.
Connie nods, rolling out of his arms and getting out of bed, pulling her Pyjama pants on as he walks to beside her, kissing her forehead before slipping out of the bedroom door.
"Mornin'" Daryl grumbles, heading to make himself, Kelly and Connie a coffee.
"What time do you call this! It's Christmas!" Kelly teases, tapping her wrist where a watch would be.
"Eight fifteen." Daryl replies, rolling his eyes.
Connie comes out the bedroom, smiling at the kids as they rush over to drag her over to the presents.
"THERES HOOVE MARKS ON THE BALCONY!" Judith shouts, her eyes glistening with excitement, she looks at Daryl's face, "right. Eight fifteen." He chuckles, the kids sit on the couch beside Connie as Kelly sits herself down on the armchair beside the balcony door.
Daryl heads in with a big bag and three mugs as coffee, dog trotting beside him as Daryl hands Kelly and Connie their coffees and sits next to Connie with his.
"Can we open them?" Judith asks, Connie and Daryl nodding as she and Rj begin to tackle their presents.
-
"what's 'operation?'" Gracie asks, looking at the box in her hand.
"A board game! It's loads of fun." Aaron says, "what else you got?"
"Well, Santa got me operation, game of life and," she gasps opening another present, "ARE THESE BARBIES?"
Aaron smiles, "woahhh!"
"I'm gonna play with these with Judith and coco at Dinner tonight!" Gracie says, Aaron smiles at her gesture.
"That'll be fun."
-
Lydia perches on the coffee table as Hershel opens his gifts, Elijah and Maggie sit on the sofa.
Hershel rips open his present, the box is a remote control car, "woah! This is awesome! I wanted something like this!" He looks at it, "Me and Rj are gonna love playing with this."
"When you were little uncle Eugene would love playing with his remote control car around you, you would crawl after it and try eating it but you loved it." Maggie smiles, patting Hershel's head.
Hershel opens the next gift, "NERF GUNS!"
Lydia smirks as he opens it, mouthing, "I had to", at Maggie.
Hershel continues to open his gifts, a range of toys, books and some supplies he wanted for school.
-
Judith opens her presents, neatly wrapped Vynils and clothes she's told Connie she loves, her eyes lighting up each time she opens a gift, smiling wide.
Rj opens his gifts of Comics, books and clothes aswell, having a quick read of the books blurbs and holding the clothes up to his chest and legs, nodding pleased as he checks their sizing.
"Daryl! Connie! You have gifts too!" Judith says, handing them both over, Daryl raises an eyebrow at Connie when he sees his gift.
I know you got me something I wasn't going to not return the favour, Connie signs smugly, taking the little box from Judith's hand, Daryl doing the same with his wrapped gift.
You first. Daryl signs.
Connie unwraps the wrapping, clearly done by Carol, and puts the wrapping paper in the bin bag beside her, she opens the little teal box which reveals a little silver chained necklace with a little circular diamond charm and some matching earrings. She smiles, he smiles as she opens it.
Fancy, where'd you get this? Connie signs, taking it out the box.
Out on a scavenge, untouched jewellery stuff. Daryl smiles, taking it from her hands and clasping the necklace around her neck.
Alright open yours you're getting sappy. Connie wafts a hand as Daryl opens his, he reveals a box full of hand crafted arrows.
"WOAH!" Rj props himself up on the coffee table looking at the arrows as Daryl takes them out the box.
"Holy shit." Judith utters, Daryl gives her a 'language' look.
Con? Where'd you get these? He signs, examining them.
Me, Carol and Jerry made them, with love! She teases, kissing his cheek. Alright, I'm gonna go home and get ready for Christmas Dinner with Kelly. I'll see you at one?
Sounds good, Daryl signs.
Connie gets up, hugging the kids who utter "merry Christmas!" Into her chest, she can feel the vibrations of their words and Kelly follows with hugs too.
"See you at one!" Judith shouts, Kelly and Connie nodding as they head out, dog scratching at the door when they leave.
"Alright. Let's get ready!" Daryl says, slapping his knees as he stands up, "aunt Carol got you both some Christmas sweaters and Judith she and Nabila made some headbands for everyone and one specifically for you."
Judith nods before the kids head to get ready, Daryl heading in his room to do the same.
-
At dinner..
Daryl walks in with a few gift bags along with Judith and RJ following behind him with some too. The other kids rush over to RJ and Judith, hugging them both tightly, the kids chat as Judith and RJ put the presents around the community Christmas tree and Daryl goes to see the others.
"Wooooo! Look at you in your Christmas jumper!" Carol sings, hugging him.
"Shut it." He says, planting a kiss on her cheek, "you're lookin' jolly."
"That's the whole point of Christmas!" Carol laughs.
Maggie walks over, hugging Daryl, "nice of you to join us."
"Wouldn't miss it, y'all got turkey and food." Daryl smirks, Maggie pushes his shoulder.
"Get anything nice?" Maggie asks.
"Con got me some arrows she, Carol and Nabila made, Judith and Rj got me a mug with "worlds best uncle" on that I'm certain Kelly got for them to get me." Daryl laughs, "you?"
"Lydia and Elijah got me some new clothes which was real nice because they're comfy as ever, Hershel got me a blanket he 'asked Santa for'." Maggie smiles, "Aaron got Lydia one of those titanium arms he has, she was ecstatic, go see it it's real nice. Eugene helped make it."
"I will," Daryl smiles, "when's food? I'm starvin."
Carol smacks his back lightly, "go mingle first! And I'm about half an hour."
Daryl rolls his eyes before heading to see the others.
-
The kids sit around the fireplace, playing with each others toys and looking at what eachother got. Gracie and Judith play with some Barbie dolls whilst Rj and Hershel run around the building chasing the remote controlled car Hershel got.
"Kids!" Kelly shouts, ushering them over, "want to get a picture?"
The kids nod enthusiastically, "wait we need to get Coco!" Judith says, rushing over to Gabriel to get her, she takes her gently before rushing over to sit down in front of the tree with other kids.
Once all positioned Kelly takes her Camera out and Connie approaches with a Polaroid, the pair take a photo each of the kids, Kelly showing the digital one whilst Connie fans the Polaroid and walks off to add it to the others she has taken.
The kids all fuss over the photo whilst Connie stands over the coffee table looking at the Polaroids, Daryl slides next to her looking at them too.
Been busy? He signs.
Memories.. she smiles, looking at them all, getting away from the crowd?
Yeah, too much. He rests his head on her shoulder.
Carol rings a bell, "dinner!"
Cmon. He grabs her hand and they head to the dinner table.
-
Everyone takes their seats, handing plates of hot food around as everyone takes portions and places them on their plates, pouring drinks of either booze or juices for the younger generation.
The room is filled with laughter, the sound of Christmas crackers cracking, silverware clanging together, food being eaten.
Peace.
Everyone seemed happy. That was what was needed. Happiness.