The Thing | Windows

Christmas

Francesca's POV:
Windows and I walked down the street, going towards Echo's house. "Couldn't we drive?" Windows asked. "When our apartment complex is down the street? That's pretty dumb." I said. He groaned and said "it's freezing." "Nothing is colder than outpost 31." I replied. He nodded and said "remember that time everyone was cold and Palmer was just walking around in his boxers?" "Yes! He was acting we were in Florida or something!" I said. The two of us laughed and Windows said "I'm really glad you moved in with me." "After outpost 31, I didn't want to be away from you. And it's crazy that I actually moved to New York with you. I never ever pictured myself living in New York." I said. Windows stopped me and gave me a hug. I dropped the duffel bag in my hand and hugged him back. "It's us against the world." He said. I pulled away from him, his arms still around my waist. "For sure." He kissed my lips and Fox's voice was heard. "Windows! You didn't ask me!" He said as he ran down the icy sidewalk. Fox slid across the ice and Windows stopped him as he collided with Windows' body. "You're gonna slip." He said. "I'm fine. You didn't ask me if you could kiss aunt Frankie. You told me you would!" Fox exclaimed. Windows knelt down to his level and said "you're right. I should've asked you. But I have something to make up for it." Fox smiled and Windows pointed to MacReady. Who held presents in his hands. "Presents?!" "Mmm-hmm. And two of them are yours." "Who's the other one for?" "That's for your aunt." Fox gasped and said "ooh you got a present, aunt Frankie!" I blushed and said "I didn't know that I did." "Well it was kind of a surprise." Windows said as he stood up. Fox quickly ran over to MacReady and Caspian walked over, grabbing the duffel bag from the ground next to me, walking back to Echo. Windows offered me his hand and I said "so, what'd you get me?" "You have to open it tomorrow and see." He said. I took his hand and rolled my eyes playfully. "I didn't get you anything because we specifically said we weren't doing gifts." "Ah, but I thought of the last minute gift." He said as we began to walk. I shook my head and said "I could've gotten you something." "To be honest I have everything I need. And that's you." "You're lying." "But am I?" He kissed my cheek and I giggled. "Well if you're not lying, that's awful cheesy." Windows smiled really big as we walked down the sidewalk. "You love me." He said while shrugging. I sighed and said "yes I do."

Echo looked at the two of us and said "you guys are adorable." I shook my head and Fox was trying to get the presents from MacReady. "Fox, don't knock him down." Caspian said to his son. "You all should come inside." Echo said. We walked into their house which I had been in multiple times. Windows and MacReady looked around at their house. "First question, where are we all sleeping?" MacReady said. "Frankie has a guest room that she always stays in so her and Windows will be in there. You could take the basement." Echo said to MacReady. He nodded and said "I don't mind." Caspian led Mac to the basement so he could put his bag down there. Echo took the presents and set them under the tree. "Can I open one, mommy?" Fox asked. Echo shook her head and said "no. You have to wait until tomorrow." Fox went to answer and Clark ran into the room. The dog was barking happily and ran around Windows and I. "Hi, Clark." I said as I knelt down. Clark jumped into my lap and I giggled at the dog. "Windows, come see my room!" Fox said as he pulled on Windows' arm. Windows looked at me and I said "go on." He sighed and Fox pulled him up the stairs where his room was. I stood up and Echo said "Fox has been talking showing Windows his room for the past week. I'm glad he's here and gets to see it." "Anything change?" I said. She sighed and said "Caspian thought it'd be a good idea to get him an Alien poster. It was an early Christmas gift. So it's hanging up at the moment. Right next to Star Wars." I laughed and I heard the two of them coming downstairs. "I wanna show you Clark's doghouse and his stuff in the backyard." Fox dragged Windows to the backyard and I walked to the sliding glass door. Fox pointed at things and led Windows through the backyard. "He's really good with him." Echo said. "He thinks is crazy how much Fox likes him. He said he's never been good with kids." I said as Windows walked alongside Fox. "Some people just are." Clark ran in and out of his doghouse which had Christmas decorations all over it. Windows put his hands in his pockets as Fox showed him one of his toys. "What's going on here?" Caspian asked. "Fox is bonding with Windows." Echo replied. MacReady shook his head and said "I never thought Fox would want Windows' attention." "Me neither." I said. The two of them walked the perimeter of the backyard and Mac said "what's that about?"

"Fox likes to do something called, casing the perimeter. For aliens." Echo said as she glared at Caspian. "He wanted to watch it! She's never going to let this go!" He protested. "Caspian, it's a rated R movie. Which has some pretty scary stuff in it." "Like the chestburster scene?" "Caspian!" Echo said as she hit her husband on the shoulder. I walked away from the window and Echo did the same. The two of us went into the kitchen, beginning to make dinner. I took my jacket off and the sliding glass door opened a few minutes later. Fox, Clark and Windows coming back into the house. "We should watch Alien!" Fox said. "No." His mother said. Fox groaned and said "mom." She left the kitchen to deal with Fox who was currently mad. Windows wrapped his arms around my waist and I jumped. "Ooh, did I scare ya?" "You did." He kissed my cheek cheek and said "I'm sorry." I nodded and turned around to face him. "Fox showed me everything he owns." Windows said. I laughed and said "he really likes you." "I still don't know why. I'm pretty boring." "No, you're not. Cause if you were, I would've totally gotten with Palmer." I replied. Windows scoffed and said "no way. I would've never allowed that." "How?" "I'd not be boring so you'd be into me instead of Palmer." I smiled and Windows did the same but then got serious. "Did you ever like him?" "Palmer?" "Yeah." "No. Not really. When I first met him, I had a tiny crush on him. But when I got to know his personality and the fact that he always hit on me, it annoyed me. I loved having him as a friend though. I always liked you." I said. Windows exhaled and said "thank god for that." I rolled my eyes playfully and went to remove myself from him and he pulled me into a kiss. I pulled away and said "it Fox sees, he's going to be mad." Windows shook his head and said "he'll have to stay mad." He kissed my lips again and I smiled into the kiss.

-

"Wake up, it's Christmas!" Fox yelled throughout the house. His footsteps were heard as he ran up and down the halls. Thank god Macready was in the basement, other wise he'd be screaming at Fox. "Shhh." Caspian said from the hall. "Aunt Frankie!" Fox said as he burst into the room. He jumped on the bed, landing on Windows. "Ah!" Windows said as he immediately woke up. "It's Christmas." Fox said. "Christmas?" Windows said as he was trying to figure out what was going on. Fox nodded and said "yes. It's Christmas. I need you both to get up." Caspian leaned on the doorframe and said "come on, let them wake up." "I gotta wake up RJ!" Fox said as he crawled off Windows. He ran out of the room and Caspian said "Fox, that's not a good idea." He hurried after his son and soon everyone was in the living room. Fox began ripping into his gifts. Mac was more than annoyed that he had to be up so early. Fox thanked everyone for each gift he got. Windows then grabbed the gift he got for me. It was small and he handed it to me. "If you would've told me we were doing gifts, I could've got you something." I said. Windows shook his head and said "it was a surprise." I took the wrapping paper off the box and my eyes widened. I opened it and inside was a ring. "Windows.." I said as I stared at the ring. "See? It was a surprise." He said. Fox looked at the ring and said "what is that?" "He's gonna ask aunt Frankie to marry him." Echo said to her son. Fox gasped and said "say yes!" I laughed and Windows took the ring from me. "Francesca, will you marry me?" I nodded, not being able to say anything. He awaited me to still say the word. "Yes." I said. Fox cheered and Windows slid the ring onto my finger. I smiled really big and he kissed me passionately.

I'm ending it here😭 I had so much fun writing this. This movie is one of my favorite sci fi/horror movies and it needs to be appreciated more. I'm so sad that this is over! This book might have some more rewrites but there won't be any new chapters!!
~skylar🪐🛸🪐🛸