All In For Fitz

Chapter Twenty Three

I had a love-hate relationship with the month of December.

I loved all of the Christmas decorations, the holiday spirit, and the seasonal drinks. But I hated the stress of finals and the fact that it was my first Christmas without my brother.

All I wanted to do was keep my focus on school so I didn't cry at the thought of Christmas this year. My parents were trying to make the best of it.

They decided after we opened up our Christmas presents that we were jetting off to Hawaii so Parker and I decided to have our own little Christmas at his place.

We decorated a Christmas tree, made hot chocolate in a Crockpot, and decorated ornaments. I knew he would come around on Christmas eve when we were back home but it was nice to be alone together.

"What if you magically end up in Hawaii?" I suggested to Parker

"I would but you should be alone and catch up with your family right now." Parker decided, "Plus you'll be back on the second and I'll still be in California."

"But there's something I need to tell you." Parker brought up

I gave him my full attention, "What is it?"

"I have to go on another long trip. I leave on the ninth of January for eighteen days to go to Asia and Europe." he got out

Well shit.

This whole time I knew what came with being with Parker Fitzgerald. It was a small price to pay to be with the one I loved the most.

"Oh." I looked down and then back up at him, "I knew this had to be coming soon but it still sucks every time."

"I know but at least its calmed down a lot." Parker rubbed my leg, "And I'll be back in time to swoop you up and take you to Vegas for your twenty-first."

I think Parker was more excited to go to Vegas than I was but I loved his excitement.

"We all know that's going to be a wild weekend that I'm very excited for." I gave him a smile

"I can't wait, I really can't." he grinned

Parker, Lydia, Darin, and I all flew to Los Angeles five days before Christmas. Lydia was talking my ear off about planning her wedding when all I wanted to do was sleep.

But I kept my patience as she debated over forest green or emerald when they both looked the same.

I was so excited to see my family again. The night everyone came home from college for the holidays was always a big deal. We would go out to dinner then to a Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree for the year.

Of course Asher would always saw it down but my Dad and I did the honors this year.

We didn't get it as straight as asher normally did but it was still pretty good.

"Not too shabby!" I looked up at my dad

He gave me a high five, "Good job, Zibby."

"I can't wait to decorate it." London clapped excitedly, "It's gonna be so cute."

At least she was keeping everyone's spirits up.

We decorated our Christmas tree in the same tacky way we did every year. The multicolored lights, fun ornaments but then my mom shocked everyone when she pulled out the new ornaments she ordered.

The first one said 'Because someone we love is in heaven...there's a little heaven in our home' with a small picture of Asher. The other one was a picture of him in the shape of a heart.