Harris and Bell: Shorts

A Harris and Bell Christmas

The black Mercedes pulls up at the little brick house. The driver takes a deep breath and looks at his large, furry co-pilot. "You're going to come back me up, right Thunder?"

Thunder just looks at him and tilts his head, panting.

"Should have known from your girly bark, I don't have a wolfhound. I have a giant chicken." The man snorts and opens the car door. He shuts it behind himself and points at the giant puppy. "Stay." He then walks up to the house and pushes the doorbell.  He steps back and shoves his hands in his coat pockets. He glances back at his car as he gets second thoughts, but he doesn't move.

The door opens and a slightly younger man pokes his head out. "What the hell are you doing here, Gregory?" He opens the door wider. The small baby in his arm giggles and reaches towards him.

Greg tips his fedora at them. "Lionel, Skylar, I'm here to see Kendall."

"The hell you are!" He glares at him.

"Lenny, who's there?" A softer voice comes from behind and gently pushes him aside.

"Kendall, go back inside, I was just about to tell this arsehole where he and his dog can go."

Kendall looks at him with a brow raised. "How about you go inside, Lionel, before my niece catches pneumonia and I'll see what he needs."

Lionel glares one last time at Greg before walking away. Kendall just shakes her head and steps outside, shutting the door behind herself. "Something wrong, Gregory?"

Gregory clears his throat. "Actually...yes. I've been an idiot and an arse."

"What'd you do this time?" She leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms.

"A girl told me she loved me and it completely went over my head." He looks at her. "Then it took her being away for me to realize what she said, and to consider my own feelings upon the subject."

Kendall just stares at him, her bright green eyes intense and concentrated. He felt like squirming under her stare.

"I realized that I need this girl in my life, not only as my business partner, but as my house partner too...so to speak." He clears his throat again. "I'm just sorry I hadn't realized this sooner."

"Part of me thinks I should call my brother back out here to deal with you now. Gregory, you broke my heart and now you're here, trying to give me yours?" Gregory looks at his feet. "Not only that, but you show up without calling, disrupting my family's Christmas festivities, and you have me standing out here in the cold, you ent!" He looks up at her to see her grinning ear to ear.

"Sorry? I just—"

Kendall looks at him. "You are one of the biggest arses I know, but you're my arse." She chuckles.

Gregory looks at her with a small smile. "So....we're good then?"

She raises a brow. "What do you mean? You weren't just going to drop by and leave?"

"Actually..."

"No. Get Thunder, I'll get him a bowl of something and some water. Then you'll join us for our Christmas dinner." She opens the door. "I just so happen to have your present with me, so you can open it tonight, too." She smiles over her shoulder.

Gregory just stands there for a moment. "You knew I was going to come."

"I hoped you'd come. I've hoped you'd come to your senses for four years now." She sticks her tongue out at him as she closes the door behind herself.

"Little minx." He chuckles, shaking his head as he opens his car door. "Come on, boy." He watches as the dog hops out of the car and grabs him by the leash as he bolts for the door. "Ah hah, nice try, come on." He leads the pup in and closes the door again.