HAZE (On Hold)

Part 63

Hailee watches on and smiles as her Dad, Chelsea and J.J. place the last of the decorations on the huge Christmas tree.

Her Dad moves the ladder into place and then Chelsea hands her the box with the tree topper. Hailee looks at the beautiful star in the box and then her Dad, "J.J. come here."

The young girl makes her way over to look inside the box that Hailee holds, "It's beautiful!"

"Yeah, it is. My sister Hillary and I used to alternate who got to put the star on the top of the tree. I think that being as though you are soon to be my sister, you should get to do it this year and then I can do it next year. What do you think?"

"Really? That would be awesome! Can you help me though because it's kinda high."

Hailee helps J.J. climb up the ladder before passing her the star, "You got it?"

J.J. smiles and nods.

"Then do it, kid; let's get this tree lit!" Hailee realizes as soon as she says the word that perhaps she could have chosen a better word, but, J.J. doesn't seem to catch on to, so she figures she's okay.

The star is placed on the tree and Hailee helps to connect to the lights, before the climb down the ladder and check it from the ground.

Hailee points to a switch on the far wall, "See that switch over there, J.J?"

"Yeah."

"Go turn it on!!" She laughs as she says it and the younger girl runs over and flicks it on. The area lights up around them.

"Wow!! That's so cool!!"

Hailee wraps her arms around J.J. "Good job. I love you."

"I love you, too and I can't wait until you're my real sister."

Chelsea watches them and wraps her arm around her fiance before kissing him on the cheek. "How about a family picture in front of our first tree?"

Hailee and J.J. smile and nod and Chelsea heads into the kitchen to ask Anna if she would mind taking some pictures of them.

They are in the middle of posing when the front door opens and Dylan and Charles enter.

"You said you'd wait for me to turn on the lights!"

"Sorry, D, you guys were taking too long at the doctor's."  Hailee walks over and rubs Dylan's tummy, "How's my little nephew doing in there?"

"Ummm, he's doing fine."

Hailee noticing the way that Dylan stumbles on her response looks at her, "D, what's going on? Is little Z-man okay? Are you okay?"

Charles joins them, "Ms. Hailee, the doctor suggested that perhaps some bed rest would be a good idea for Dylan. Perhaps, you should continue your conversation upstairs."

Hailee nods and then leads Dylan to a door and opens it before stepping inside.

Dylan looks at her, "WTF? Has there always been an elevator here?"

Hailee nods and laughs, "Yeah, I thought you knew."

"Hell, no, I didn't, otherwise I would have been riding it rather than lugging my huge ass and swollen ankles up and down those stairs."

Hailee laughs, "Well, now you know. C'mon, let's get you to bed."

"What about the Christmas tree and decorating?"

"You are much more important to me than putting some ornaments on a tree, not to mention I'm pretty certain that Anna will bring us up some treats to munch on."