Twelve Days of Christmas

Parade and Gifts

The next day was full of activities. oEvery Christmas academy and it's members deliver Christmas dinner to families in need. There would be toys for children and gifts of different kinds for the elderly. It's surprising how many families there are who struggle to have the basic needs. The elderly are the worse. It's very hard to survive on the limited income they have. These donations on a regular basis, not just on Christmas are the only way for them to have food sometimes. Uncle and his crew, including North and Luke cooked for two days straight to finish everything. The diner was closed and Sang, the team along with some others were packing up the food and the gifts according to the lists. These would be delivered by tonight. So the families would have lunch and dinner for Christmas Day.
After every thing was packed everyone divided up to different cars and went their way. Sang was with Silas and North in North's truck. The back of the truck was filled with boxes. Each had names on top and Silas had the address list. The first stop was a young mother with twins. She started crying over her package. She couldn't believe that her boys would have a Christmas with gifts and proper dinner. Sang felt grateful for once. This might have been her in a few years if the boys hadn't found her. There were many families like that along route as well as the elderly. It was eye opening for Sang.
It was very late coming back to Nathan's house. She was sitting between Silas and Nathan in the back seat, thinking.
"Is something wrong Aggele mou" Silas asked.
"No. Nothing is wrong. I was just thinking."
"Thinking what baby?" North asked, not taking his eyes of the road.
"The woman with the twins... She is not much older than us. My mother... My birth mother had me when she was my age. She would've been like that woman. I could've been like that woman." Sang told them with tears in her eyes.
"That wouldn't happen to you!" Answered North vehemently.
"Why not?" Sang was getting angry. "If Kota hadn't run into me you don't know what would've happen to me. That girl could be me."
Gabriel rubbed his hand on her back." You are right Sang. It could've been. This is why we do this kind of trips every year. To remind ourselves what could've happened to us."
They were already in front of Nathan's house. Sang got out without saying anything to them.
"Cupcake"? Luke called worriedly. Sang stopped and turned around.
"It's alright. I'm okay. I'm going to bed." She went into the bedroom.
The boys looked at each other. They didn't know what to do. Kota and Nathan walked in and after taking a look at their faces immediately asked what was wrong.
Before the others could go on a long explanation Gabriel gave them the rundown of the conversation in the car. The he said,"look guys she's a little upset. She'll be okay in the morning. I'll talk to her then. I'm staying over tonight. We have an early start tomorrow". He shooed everyone out.
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The next morning Sang woke up tucked into Gabriel's chest. His arms pinning her down. She started squirming around to get loose. But it was like trying to move a stone.
"Stop moving trouble" mumbled Gabriel.
"But I have to get up" Sang whispered.
Gabriel's eyes popped open and he rolled over and Sang got up to go to the bathroom. After she came out there were clothes set out for her on the bed.
After getting a text from Kota Gabriel rushed Everyone and when went over to Kota's house. 
"Merry Christmas Sang" Kota came close to kiss her on the cheek. "Are you ready for today?"
"Merry Christmas Kota. Where are we going?" Sang hugged him back.
"To the parade."
They met the others downtown. Victor handed her a coffee like everyone else. "Merry Christmas princess". He told her.
"Merry Christmas cupcake."
"Merry Christmas baby."
"Merry Christmas Aggele."
"Merry Christmas Pookie."
"Merry Christmas Ms. Sorenson."
"Merry Christmas everyone." Sang beamed at them.  She was happy. She's going to see the parade.
They had a reserved place at one of the viewing area. Apparently the Morgan's make a hefty donation every year and that gets them those seats.
Sang eagerly waited for the parade to start. A little after nine they announced the first float. It was a floating garden. At least that's what it looked like. Flowers covered every spot on the float. One by one the floats passed by. There were ones from the historic society with people dressed up as prominent figures in Charleston history. There were from the business district, the marine club. Various schools. SC university, the football team. Some of them had live performers that stopped in the middle and performed. Sang was lost in everything. All of a sudden North nudged her. "Baby! Look."
Sang looked up to see a marching band from a local school marching up. "Do you see princess?" Asked Victor. Sang was confused.
"What Victor?" She asked.
"Day eleven and twelve, look!" Kota answered.
Sang followed their direction to look at the parade. There it was, the marching band.twelve drummers on the line then came the pipers. Sang would bet anything that there were eleven of them they marched down the line and stopped in front of the seats she and the boys were occupying. The whole band did their routine I front of them.
"How did you manage this!" Sang asked in a awe struck voice.
"It was some favors someone owed" Answered Silas.
Sang was worried. "You shouldn't have used academy favors" she told them "now you'll have to do something for them."
"Don't worry baby" North gave her a sideway hug, "it wasn't a academy favor. It was somethin personal with their coach. We are fine."
Soon the parade finished and they started heading back towards home. They were full from munching on junk at the parade. So now Sang would start preparing dinner. What the boys didn't know that she started preparing little by little for the dinner about two days ago. It's only the matter of heating things properly.
When they arrived at Kota's home Sang shooed all of them out of the kitchen. This was her Christmas party! She would do it herself! Only Gabriel would help with the setting. All the boys went I. Different direction with the promise of returning later. Gabriel and Luke stayed over to help with the table and dessert. Even they left after a while.
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It was only a hour before the boys arrive. Sang dashed into the bedroom for a shower and change into what Gabriel left her. He would come by later to do her hair. She was bouncing with excitement. This was something she'd never had the chance to do before. A family dinner. Sang paused her thinking. Family! That's what she thought of the boys now!
When she came down she found all the boys sitting in the living room. All grinning. She went into the kitchen and called Gabriel inside.
"Is everything alright Meanie?" She asked.
"Yeah! All good!" He sounded flustered. Sang shrugged and handed him the drinks to take out side. She took the appetizers. She made littles bite sized chicken wrapped in bacon. Tiny stuffed mushrooms and dips. She wanted to ask them how everything was but hesitated. A touch on her elbow had her turning to face Mr. Blackbourne. He gave her a slight nod, as if to assure her. She finally relaxed. Every one looked so relaxed and happy. May be one day she could dream of a house like this of her own.
The menu she made was simple. She wasn't going to tell them but she called up Erica and took her advice. She told her simple but good is always better than extravagant and bad in taste. She suggested some stuff and told her where to look up the menu. Sang had roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes, spiced vegetable baked, rolls, green bean casserole, squash and mushroom dressing. She brought a cake from uncle and made apple pie herself. She was worried how everyone would like them. She waited until the took their votes to guess their reaction from their faces. Well good thing was no one made a face like they hated it. The dinner table was busy with each boys telling their own version of holiday disasters. Dr. Sean was telling how many people he saw end up at the hospital with stupid to serious injury. "Somehow thanksgiving and Christmas dinner table is always the place for the dark family secrets to come out" he said.
"Greeks are always loud. We always make the holiday dinner special by having a fight or two. Then you get drunk." Silas provided.
"Remember the time we had to work as waiters for an academy job?" Said Luke. "It was a party for all the high and mighty of Charleston and ended up being free for all hair pulling incident."
"Yeah! And we ended up covered in food." Grumbled North.
Sang was enjoying their stories. This was also new to her. She was drinking up every bit.