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?=/\=

=/\=You don’t need to worry about me doll, and I am leaving at 0730. Trust me, I think… I think we are all going to have a wonderful Christmas.=/\= Nate said as he sat back in his apartment, looking down at his bag that had a large gift wrapped and his clothes underneath. A small smile crossed his lips as he did before putting the communicator in his pocket as he zipped up the bag.

Ensign Chloe Kendrick

=================
Two hours later.....
=================

=/\=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?=/\=

=/\=Oh that would be telling, and you know I am okay with secrets, just not lies.=/\=

=/\=I don’t like secrets. I need to be in the know. If not how can I control the situation? Off-roading typically is never a good thing=/\=

“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

=/\= 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.

=/\= Am I now? Jazzy Hands? Do you think that matches me? What’s yours? =/\=

=/\=Bubbles Angel Pants. Kinda fitting because I am quite effervescent and I do get compliments from time to time on my south forty. Oh, keep it PG. The last thing I need is my mom picking up my phone. Test your intelligence and if you want to reply then mime it.=/\= Chloe could not help but laugh hysterically with her comment and sent several laughing faces after just to make sure Nathan knew how pleased she was with herself.

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

“Or maybe its 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.

=/\= Stripper place? I mean Buddy Jazzy Hands sounds like a stripper. =/\=

=/\=Hiding in a dressing room. I need to get out of her.=/\=

====================
Noon on Christmas Eve
====================

=/\=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.

=/\=I’m at the door right now… see? =/\= Nathan said with a large grin as he stood in front of the door, only the door was not some unfamiliar door Chloe had never seen, but the dark brown with the wreath she had just seen moments ago as she entered was staring back at her, with Nathan right in front of it.

=/\=Hey my mom has a wreath just=/\= the text stopped as Chloe blew up the image and stared at it. A wreath was on every door but not every door has a red banner over it that said Welcome To the Kendrick’s. Sitting up in her seat she returned to the floating dots holding her message in the virtual world. =/\=Nathan where are you=/\= she texted as she headed to the door.

=/\= If you want the surprise, now might be the time… =/\=

Nathan Harland

Chloe opened the door and her eyes got wide at the sight she saw.

Ensign Chloe Kendrick