A Very Unmerry Christmas {Tessa, Jordans}

[Simone Winchester]

Tessa:

Tessa yawned as she walked, or more correctly, practically stumbled her way down the stairs. It was fairly early Christmas morning and she was a little bit grumpy from being woken up from some noise she heard outside. It was tooooo early for her taste, but she couldn't go back to sleep for some reason.

Dressed in her flannel Christmas pajamas with Santas and reindeer all over the pants and a big Santa face on the top, her feet shuffled down the steps in Rudolph sleepers. On automatic pilot she zombie walked into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. It took her a few minutes as she fumbled around a bit.

With the coffee going she moved out to the front room still blinking sleep out of her eyes as she went to the front door. Nothing like coffee and the newspaper in the morning. Of course, she always read the comics first. Well, truthfully... that's all she really read. At least most of the time.

Another big yawn and she pulled open the front door. Before she could stoop down to get the paper her jaw dropped open at a familiar person standing on the front porch quite unexpectedly.

Simi:

It should have been a time of happiness and laughter. It should have been a morning to be greeted with joy and excitement.

Instead, it was a morning that SImi had greeted with dread and disillusionment. The night before had seen to that. No amount of cheer could be found in her soul and although it was her favorite day of the year and her birthday to boot... She hadn't even been able to dredge up a smile.

With her fathers help, the little blond had struggled to figure out what she was going to do but a call to Uncle Curse late last night had cemented her plans. She couldnt stay at the house with so much revelry so she'd asked if she could come stay with them for a few days knowing it would at least ease a bit of the ache if she didn't have to be at the "Scene of the Crime" as she now referred to it.

When her "adopted" Uncle had told her to come on over, she'd treated and paced her room for all hours of the night until she'd finally given in and gone to look for her father. With no more tears to be shed at the moment, she'd curled up in her favorite chair in the study and watched him as he did some office work like she had as a small child. Her mother had tried to hover but soon enough, Tristian had sent her to bed, stating that they would be fine and Lexi needed her sleep to entertain the next day.

Thankfully, she'd fallen asleep at about four in the morning but the toll of the clock at six had woken her abruptly. Unable to stay in the house a minute longer, she'd packed her bags and then begged her father for a ride over to the Jordan's in the hummer. Of course, he'd decided they needed breakfast first so it was a reasonable hour of eight when she found herself standing outside the Jordans house, staring at the knocker.

"Good Lord.. What am I doing crashing someone elses christmas?" she thought to herself as she stood with one hand raised.

Thankfully, she didn't have to finish that thought as the door suddenly swung open and she stood face to face with the one person she really DID want to see.


"Heya Tess.... Merry Christmas??" she said before promptly bursting into tears right then and there.

[tessa]

Tessa blinked her eyes a few times, just to make sure she wasn't seeing things this early in the morning. No, it was most certainly Simi James standing outside the front door. At first Tessa thought it was going to be a chewing out because Tessa hadn't made it to the Christmas Eve part as the James' place. She was about to launch into an apology, saying she had been out on a hunt and hadn't gotten back to the family home until late last night and that she was planning on visiting the James' today. Then she got a clearer look at Simi.

To say that Simi didn't look like herself was an understatement. She looked like she hadn't slept a wink, dark circles under her eyes and her face looked a little scrunched up like she had been worrying about something. Before Tessa could say anything about what was going on Simi got out a not so cheerful "Merry Christmas" then burst into tears.

"Oh God... Simi, What's wrong hon?"

Tessa said as she moved and wrapped her arms around the girl she had grown up with. She hugged her tightly for a few moments and then pulled back and looked Simi over again. She had luggage with her, that was odd.

"Simi, you look like you had a long night and I take it from the bags that something really terrible has happened. Why don't you come on inside and we can have some coffee and talk. I just put on a fresh pot."

Tessa hugged her friend again and then reached down and grabbed up her bags, holding the door open for Simi to step through before she went back into the house herself.

[Simone Winchester]

Simi:

Thank GOD for Tessa's take charge manner. Simi didn't know if she could have operated at the moment with everything still so fresh.

Before she could reply to the other woman's questions, the dark haired beauty was already picking up her bags and whisking her inside.

With her normal, no nonsense demeanor, Tess had them inside out of the cold and Simi found herself seated with a cup of coffee in her hand before she could even react. Her mind was still in to much of a whirl to make coherent plans and she supposed she could viably have stood outside all day if it hadn't been for her friend

"Oh god...... Tessa.. I don't even know where to start..." she started out, taking a deep breath that failed to still the tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry to crash your family christmas but I couldn't stay at home and Uncle Curse said I could stay here for a few days.. at least.. till I figure out what I'm going to do...."

Reaching up, the fragile looking blond ran a hand through a lock of blond hair before continuing. "Its Ryder.... he and I.. we've actually been living together the last few months... We .. I... We love each other and it seemed so perfect... I guess if things seem to good to be true, they probably are right? well, I guess it was really true in this case.... We were suppose to have a family Christmas like we always do last night.. You know how it is at our place.. You guys are usually there... Uncle Curse stopped by earlier but said he couldn't stay cause he was waiting on you kids to get home but.. You remember how it is... Anyways.. I wasn't even sure Ry was going to make it because he'd been teasing me about it for weeks but he did... and it was so great... "

On some level, Simi knew she was babbling but the story seemed to spill forth on its own.

"And then.. and then ... It all went to hell... We were outside playing after opening gifts with the family and this car came pulling up.... At first.. at first I didn't even know who it was... and then I recognized her as Ry's dead fiance!!! HE MADE A DEAL TO BRING HER BACK!!!!"

With her fingers clenched around her coffee cup, the young woman looked at her friend with all manner of grief in her glimmering blue eyes. "it was before we got together of course but.... HE SOLD HIS SOUL, TESSA!!! HE SOLD HIS SOUL!!'"

[tessa]

Tessa ushered Simi inside and prodded her toward the kitchen while she shut the door behind them. On the way to the kitchen Tessa dropped off Simi's bags on the side of the staircase and went into the kitchen. The coffee was just getting done and Tessa got two mugs out and poured them both a cup of the hot brown liquid that was a requirement in the morning for Tessa. She set the variety of flavored creamers and sugar out and then set down next to Simi.

While Tessa sipped at her coffee her friends' story flowed out along with the tears. Tessa was surprised at what she was hearing and down right shocked when she got to the end and Simi got the part about Ryder making a deal out. Tessa worked hard to keep her face from showing too much of her own emotions. Right now she needed to keep it together for Simi. She needed to be strong and not freak out too much. Tessa didn't know everything that was going on with Simi and Ryder, but "he sold his soul" kept ringing in her ears.

"Simi... You and Ryder? I didn't know you two were serious. Wow."

Tessa took a deep breath and sighed a little. Getting back on track. That wasn't the primary problem here at the moment.

"I'm so sorry Simi. That's terrible. What a mess. I can't imagine what you must be feeling right now. Jesus H. Christ, I can't believe Ryder Winchester sold his soul. What is is with that family and making deals with demons?"

Tessa paused for a moment. This was crazy to even think about. He must have been so desperate to do that in the first place and then, later... it came back to bite him in the ass. And, that's before the real consequences of the deal come calling.

"Don't worry sweetie. You can stay here as long as you like. I'm here for you. We'll figure something out."

Tessa sipped at her coffee and watched as the usually bouncy, vivacious young woman who's usual cheerfulness was probably only matched by Tessa's own hyper-active silliness. It was a huge dose of information to take in all at once for the young hunter. She couldn't even come close to what Simi was going through right now.

[Simone Winchester]

A morbid laugh seemed to claws its way out of her throat as SImi heard her friends words. Serious? OH yeah, it had DEFINITELY been serious on her end. More serious than she'd been about anything her entire life.

Tessa's words about the Winchesters and their habit of making deals with demons only seemed to bring the hysteria closer to the surface. It so WASN"T funny.. but at the same time... She could ALMOST see the humor in it all.

"No Tessa.... I don't think we will figure anything out... because.. thats not even the icing on the cake..." she whispered out, staring down into her coffee cup. "See... theres something more.. Something no one knows except Tams .. Something I didn't know until a few days ago and something I was planning on telling Ryder last night....Until his dead fiance showed back up, baby and all....."

Raising her sapphire gaze to her friend once more, Simi gave a small smile that didn't do anything to relieve the stark pain in her eyes.

"I'm pregnant..."

[tessa]

"Fuck. Me. Sideways."

Tessa couldn't help the words that quietly came out of her mouth. She stared at Simi for what seemed like a long moment, then she turned sideways leaned over and gave her friend another tight hug.

"Holy shit Simi."

Tessa said while her face was still pressed against Simi's shoulder as she clung to the blonde young women next to her. Tessa was at a loss for words at the moment and that was saying something. Like her father, Tessa was usually a talker with a snarky wit. But, right now... it was not the time for that.

When they broke apart, Tess shook her head to clear her mind. Staying quiet for the moment, she got up from the chair and went to one of the cupboards. She rummaged around until she found a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey. With a heavy sigh she sat back in her chair, twisted the cap off the bottle. Pour a health dose into her coffee cup and then went to pour some into Simi's and then remember... Simi was pregnant... She couldn't have whiskey... Simi was pregnant. Oh. My. God. Tessa thought. Under different circumstances this would be an amazing, joyous thing to hear, but not now.

Tess looked at Simi and raised an eyebrow.

"Should you even be drinking that coffee? I can get you juice or something?"

Her mind was still buzzing with the news that was just dropped on her. She looked at the bottle of whiskey in her hand. Tipping the bottle up to her lips she took a long pull from it before she put the cap back on and set it down on the table.

"Oh, man Simi. You're gonna have a baby. I don't know how to react. That should be such a happy thing for you. I know it looks bad right now. Really, really bad. Maybe I can't fix it, but I can be here. I can help you. Whatever you need, you know I'll do it. We'll all get you through it. We're family."

Tessa took a few sips from her heavily whiskey laden coffee. She wasn't sure what they were gonna do but, she had to do whatever it took to help one of her oldest and dearest friends.

[Simone Winchester]

Simi:

Simi could sympathize with Tessa's feelings. Shock, bewilderment, worry... It was all there and reflected in SImi's own eyes. When Tessa went to the cupboard and pulled out a thing of whiskey, SImi really wished she could indulge too but .. Well, she had someone besides herself to think of these days.

"A bit of coffee won't hurt me at the moment... ITs not that much and I.. I truly need it right now... One cup surely isn't a sin..." she said softly, wrapping her fingers around the cup and then sighing. "I .. I just appreciate you not minding me crashing here for a few days.. I mean.. I know its Christmas and all but.. I couldn't stay at home and I don't wanna go back to Tam's yet.. Not where he and I have been so happy.... "

Rubbing her face with a tired hand, she let out a little laugh.

"What a birthday present huh?? I guess it could be worse... I still have a part of him at least... No one can take that from me and I'll be damned if I'll let that woman ruin it. I don't care if shes the innocent in all this or not... I HATE HER!"

Then, reining in her temper, Simi took a deep breath. "God.. Sorry... I don't know how to feel or what to think at the moment... My head so messed up ...."

[tessa]

Once Tess was assured by Simi that the cup of coffee wouldn't hurt her or the baby, the two women sat sipped their cups while they talked and processed the information. Tessa was trying to think about what would do Simi the most good. She was lost in thought as her friend's voice got her attention when she brought up the fact that it was not only Christmas but Simi's birthday as well.

Tessa ran her hands through her still sleep induced bed head. She took a couple more sips of her coffee. This was certainly a situation. Poor Simi. How could all this have happened so fast. Tessa chewed on her lip for a minute as she looked over at Simi. Well, she would be God damned if she wasn't at least going to attempt to make Simi feel a little bit better. Even if it was only a tiny tiny bit and for just a moment or two. She was going to do her damnedest. It was freaking, fucking Christmas and Simi's birthday. The girl deserved better than this.

"Look. Here is what we're gonna do for now, OK? We are gonna get your stuff, take you upstairs to my room and get you all settled and comfy in my bed. Then I'm gonna be your slave for as long as you're here. If you want something to eat, just ask. I personally am going to bake you some cupcakes and we'll have our own little party, either up in my room or down here with the family. Oh, and just beware. Ash came home for Christmas and he brought his new girlfriend with him. Can you believe that. Ash... Ash NEVER brings girls home to meet the family."

Tess took a breath and thought some more.

"First things first. You need some rest. And don't you even try to argue with me. I know you probably don't feel like celebrating so whatever we do, we'll keep it low key. But, you deserve something good on your birthday and Christmas. Then, we'll talk about what you want to do next. Hey, maybe we can take a little road trip. Just the two of us girls. It's been a long time since we've done something like that. Anywhere you want to go, anything you want to do. I make it happen. For now, it's upstairs for you missy."

Tessa tried to give her friend a little smile. Things looked bleak for sure right now. They needed to keep moving or in Simi's case, get some sleep and something to eat. At least try to keep her mind off things. The worst thing she could do was be left alone to fester. Tessa would give Simi her space if she needed it, but she was going to be close enough in case Simi needed her. She was serious about taking care of Simi.

Tessa drank the last of her coffee down and then went to put the bottle of Jack back in the cabinet. She returned to stand by Simi, waiting to escort her upstairs and make sure she was comfortable.

[Simone Winchester]

Rest? Simi didn't think she was ever going to be able to rest again. Even though her body was tired, her mind was to full and she felt like a pack of dynamite ready to come apart. Unfortunately, she could also tell by the look on Tessa's face that she wasn't taking no for an answer.

Man, it was really nice to have good friends even if they were the managing sort. Simi honestly was just thankful enough to turn over the reins to her and let her call the shots.

"I don't think I can rest, Tess, but I wouldn't mind some cupcakes... Maybe we can bake them together or something... I .. every time I close my eyes right now... Well, its just safe to say that I don't feel much like sleeping..."

Then, realizing what Tessa had said about Ash, she blink and grinned a bit. "Ash brought a girl home? Thats like.. a MIRACLE! I don't think I've ever seen Ash with a woman that he considered worthy of bring home to mom!! Well, I mean, expect for when we dated for awhile in high school but... That was more just a childhood thing..."

Shaking her head, Simi followed Tessa towards the door and then up the stairs. Sounds of stirrings around the house could be heard but Simi discovered that she suddenly was leary about meeting up with anyone else. All she wanted to do was hide away from the world for the moment.

[tellie]

Tellie had gotten up early that Christmas day to research more on housing options. The first few apartments and houses she had looked at online were either too large or too expensive for her tastes. She would not have more of her jams or jerky sales to fall back on until later in the year. She pinched herself several times to make it real that she was actually going to complete her degree. Going that far away for that long had been a scary prospect. But she was determined not to waste her efforts so far.

She heard stirrings about the house and groaned softly to herself. Soon she'll have to explain to her parents her decision. It was not a moment she was looking forward to. Footsteps came up the stairs and a familiar voice was heard outside her door. Simi, who was talking with Tessa.

Her research forgotten, Tellie smiled brightly. She had not talked to Simi in a while. She rushed over to her door and poked her head out. It was indeed Simi and Tessa, headed for Tessa's room. "Hey, Simi! Hey, Tessa! Merry Christmas! What are you doing here this early? I thought we were going over to your place later?!?!?