Posted by Civilian Aedan Teller (Owner/CEO of OMAP Industries) in Twas the night before Christmas Nathan and Chloe

Posted by Ensign Chloe Kendrick (Nurse) in Twas the night before Christmas Nathan and Chloe

Posted by Ensign Chloe Kendrick (Nurse) in Twas the night before Christmas Nathan and Chloe
Chloe stared at her personal communicator and raised an eyebrow. It was eight AM on Christmas Eve and she was already having mixed feelings about the day. Her family was in full swing downstairs making breakfast, planning last-minute trips to the store, and talking about how they slept the night before. Chloe was in bed messaging Nathan. =/\=Okay are you lying to me? Are you really going to your Aunt’s? I am not sure I believe you that you are actually taking leave. Seriously Nathan what are you doing for Christmas=/\=.

=/\= Just cause I can’t stand my family doesn’t mean it isn’t family. I think that’s on a wall poster in my father’s practice somewhere…=/\= Nathan said with a roll of his eyes at the very idea. He knew at some point he would have to see them all, he couldn’t ignore his family all Christmas but it was often so much more fun to tease Chloe.

“I am coming,” Chloe yelled down from her room. As much as she loved her family, at times she wished she was an only child with a quiet family.

=/\=I gotta go. Message me when you can and tell me what you are doing. No, take a picture. I want proof you are on a couch somewhere and not the couch at the hospital.=/\=. Chloe tossed the phone on the bed and got up to get a shower. It was going to be a long day. It was better to start it now than wait for her mom and grandmother to come up and find her.

=/\= Oh you asking for a picture now, this is getting serious. Don’t worry I will be fine, I always am.=/\=

=/\=You are never fine and yes I am worrying about you. Getting dressed =/\= she replied setting the phone down on the sink. Chloe was not finished with this conversation. Nathan was always about telling the truth and he hadn’t lied yet but he did other things. =/\=Okay back. And no sabotaging your leave. If I hear you “volunteered” to cover someone’s shift I am going to kill you. When does your shuttle depart?=/\=

Ensign Chloe Kendrick

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Two hours later.....
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=/\=If I have to look at one more sweater set I am going to choke someone with the pearls around their neck. How many sweater sets can one person from Connecticut own? Apparently not enough,/\= Chloe let out a chuckle as she held the coffee cup in her teeth so that she could type with both fingers. =/\=Don’t worry. I am saving the return slips. =/\=

=/\=Hey, you always look cute in those sweaters. Plus I do have a surprise for you soon… just have fun it’ll be fine.=/\=

=/\=Okay sweater sets are not fun. Do I need to remind you=/\= She stopped texting long enough to send the image her family chose for the Christmas card and sent it to him again. =/\=Stepford family. What is my surprise?=/\=

“Chloe will you get off that communicator. It is Christmas. Now help us figure out which one,” her mom held up two identical sweater sets in purple and in navy.

“Navy,” Chloe said looking back at her phone. =/\=Gotta run. Next will be matching scarf sets. Bye=/\= she messaged Nathan and stuffed the communicator into her pocket. “What if we go leather,” she teased ready to find whatever else they needed so they could go home and relax.

Chloe Kendrick

=/\=Navy? Really? You look so much better in Santa Red…=/\= came back to her communicator as it seemed to sit like a precognition as it waited for Chloe to just pick it up, if only for a second.

Nathan Harland

=/\=I said that and now we have matching set for caroling. But oh it gets worse. We could not go with just Santa Red but Santa Red is a Santa hat and the green is like an Elf hat but green. I made sure I snagged a red for me but I can get you a green one. Wanna be my elf=/\= Nor caring about the mundane last moments of shopping Chloe did the unexpected.

=/\=Oh did you know your Elf name is Buddy Jazzy Hands? Just saying =/\= Chloe thumbed through the rack of clothes acting like she was shopping but disguising the fact she was having more fun messaging Nathan than worrying about Aunt Edna’s sweater. Plucking one from the rack she held it up not caring about the print.

“Chloe is that a 3XL,” her mom said grimacing. “Edna’s thyroid issue is getting worse.”

“Or maybe the fact she can’t put down a donut,” Chloe muttered getting a shove and harsh whisper to be nice by her mother.

=/\= Psstt two guesses where I am at =/\= snickered at the screen waiting for a reply.

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Noon on Christmas Eve
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=/\=Where are you? Are you at Aunt Martha’s yet? Show me her front door and for the record no I don’t trust you=/\= Chloe flopped back in the armchair in her study.

=/\=So what did you get Martha? We settled on an “ugly” sweater for Aunt Edna. At least that is what we are calling it. Do you know how hard it is to find a sweater in 4X this time of year?=/\= Chloe put the phone down on her tummy as she pulled the candy dish over and picked through it. The irony did not escape her that if she ate another Recee tree she might have to go up a uniform size but it was Christmas.

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Four O’Clock Christmas Eve
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=/\=What time are you eating? We are supposed to eat at four-thirty so we can get to the five o’clock church service and then caroling at eight. FYI I have your Elf hat in the pile just in case you wanted to pop down for a few songs? What are your plans this evening?=/\= Chloe realized she had no idea what Nathan did for the holidays besides hanging out with his Aunt. She knew his dad had to show up at some point but they had to have some traditions even if they were not super close.

Ensign Chloe Kendrick