A/N: Happy New Year darlings!! Is it too late to post up a little Christmas magic? I can't believe I started another story but this has been buzzing around in my head for a week and a half. I love this time of year and one of my favorite traditions over the years has been the tradition of the mistletoe. If I could I would walk around with a hat made of it...this got me to thinking about Chad and Taylor and what if they made up their own tradition for mistletoe. This is totally T and is a futurefic and I hope that you had the merriest of Christmases and a rockin' New Year. One more thing flashbacks are in italics.
Taylor hated shopping at the last minute. Between ballet classes with Lacy and gym and swim classes with Tyrone and little Charlie she barely had time to go to the bathroom let alone Christmas shop. Waiting until the last minute was so unlike her but with work, kids and a crazy dog the holiday just seemed to creep up on her. Honestly she was feeling a little frazzled. She hustled her bags and packages into the back of her truck. Thanking God that Chad had the day off so that she could get this last bit of shopping done. She hurried to the front of her vehicle and quickly got in and started it turning the heat on full blast. The dropping temperature along with dealing with last minute shoppers made her crave hot cocoa and a cozy fire snuggling on the couch with her family.
Singing along with the Christmas music playing on the radio she smiled to herself. If anyone had told her that her life would be this ten years ago she would have laughed so hard. No she was not president of the USA but she was queen to her very own little slice of heaven with Chad as her very own king. Yes, they had been on again off again since high school. However it was actually a Christmas about six years ago that made them stop dancing around each other. Who would have thought that it would involve something as small as a sprig of mistletoe.
"Okay Gabriella we made an appearance. You can catch a ride with Troy but I'm about to leave. I can't believe that you talked me into coming over here." Taylor said as she crossed her arms. Here was the Danforths, at her ex boyfriend's childhood home. Specifically at their holiday party. She felt like a tag along with the Boltons and Gabriella. That wasn't really true since she got on well with both Charlie and Katrina Danforth. They had always made her feel welcome and when she and Chad were a couple she had felt more at home here than at her own house.
It was just awkward. She and Chad weren't exactly together but they hooked up on occasion here and there whenever they were both in town. When they had broken up the after the first semester of college Taylor had no intention of not completely breaking up with him. But she would get random texts from him sometimes, which would lead to emailing and IM's and the odd phone call. They actually ran into each other in town the next summer and the easy banter led to other activities in the back of her truck. It was never planned and it had been going on for a couple of years. They just couldn't seem to help themselves.
So, this is where she found herself. Feeling a bit uneasy. "Tay, you're being silly. All of them know that you are coming and are excited to see you. Including Chad." Gabriella said with a grin as she took Taylor's arm and led her further into the living areas. Taylor rolled her eyes at the continual optomist known as her best friend. Gabriella was the only one who knew the extent of what was going on between her and Chad. She hadn't told her sisters because they would never shut up about her wasting her time. Taylor wasn't interested in hearing anything they had to say. She was grown and could make her own decisions. Her thoughts were interrupted when she found herself engulfed in a hug by the hostess.
"Taylor, its so good to see you again." Katrina said excitedly stepping back and taking in her son's ex-girlfriend. She had always liked Taylor. Ambitious with a good head on her shoulders. She had the tendency to be a bit of a know-it-all but what young person wasn't. "So gearing up for your last semester at Yale. Very exciting. What are your plans after graduation?"
"The editor at the newspaper I work for has passed some of my work on to various periodicals. I'm hoping to land at either a journal or magazine that covers politics." Taylor explained excitedly.
"Look who's talking about big plans again." Taylor turned around at the sound of Chad's voice. He looked at her with a smirk on his face and a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. Katrina looked at the two young people and immediately felt the sparks bounce off the two of them. She immediately made herself scarce.
"What's so wrong about making plans?" Taylor replied with a smile of her own.
"Nothing, but I like to be ready to expect the unexpected." he said as he made his way toward the kitchen for another drink. Taylor shook her head. He thought he was slick. She was not going to follow him. Gabriella who was watching from a corner decided to meddle. "Tay could you please get me a drink?"
"Do I look like Florence from the Jeffersons?" Taylor asked not wanting to go anywhere near the kitchen.
"What are you talking about?" Gabriella looked at her confused.
"You know George and Ousie, movin' on up, wise cracking maid? Oh never mind. What was it you wanted to drink?" Taylor said giving up.
"Vodka and cranberry juice."
"Real festive. Be right back." Taylor sulked as she made her way toward the kitchen.
"I knew you couldn't resist me." Chad said as she came into the kitchen. Leaning up against the counter he really looked at her. She cut her hair and had on a green mini sweater dress with high heeled boots. Taylor drove him to distraction but he was always happy to see her. He had never dated anyone else who was just willing to listen but had no trouble giving you her honest opinion. She told him the truth in a way that challenged him, but always encouraged him to follow his heart.
"Shush, I actually came in here to get Gabriella a drink." she said going over to the drinks station that was laid out for the party. Since she was playing the bartender she would make sure that sneaky Gabriella would get her drink's worth.
"Yeah, right. Listen Taylor lets stop dancing around each other for a moment and talk seriously." Chad said as he put down his drink and moved closer to her.
"Seriously about what Chad?"
"About how amazing you look." he said from close behind startling her.
"If you think that you're going to sweet talk your way into my pants..." Taylor started as she turned around to face him.
"That's not sweet talk, its the truth. You look amazing and you are amazing. Taylor thank you." he said as he moved closer.
"For what?" she asked feeling closed in.
"For everything. Being a friend and confidante. Taking me seriously when you could have just been like whatever. I don't know of a whole lot of exes that would be so generous."
"You're welcome. We've always been more than exes Chad. Since cooking up that evil scheme back in junior year of high school you were one of my first real friends. You took the time to really get to know me and that made you all the more interesting." Now that she thought about it that's the one thing that kept drawing her back to him. Even if the circumstances of them remaining a couple weren't ideal she found him infinitely fascinating on all levels. There was also the fact that she felt safe and endangered around him at the same time.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Chad asked slowly.
"Sure."
"What do you think of mistletoe?"
"Huh?"
"Well we happen to be standing right under some right now." He said with a small grin pointing up to the bright sprig. Taylor looked up and rolled her eyes. "Nuh-uh. No. Who does that anyway? I've never seen it placed on a ceiling fan in the middle of a kitchen."
"Oh come on. Its just one little kiss." Chad said taking her hands. "I think if you don't kiss you have seven years bad dates." She rolled her eyes at him. Yeah just what she needed more bad dates. Shit, if kissing him would end her ridiculous run of dating hell it was worth the risk.
"Show me what ya got Danforth." She cupped Chad's face in her hands and brought her mouth up to meet his lips in a sweet and tender kiss. Mmmh, it was nice. She let herself linger there. He increased the pressure when she thought he would pull away and she reciprocated. Chad let his hands go to her waist and Taylor let her hands tangle in his curls as they added tongues into the mix. Okay so now they were making out while standing up. That is how Troy and Charlie Danforth found them. They were in their own little bubble under the Danforth's cleverly placed mistletoe in the most heated kiss that Troy had ever seen them in. While they stood there in shock Gabriella came in calling Taylor's name.
She and Chad jumped apart quickly. Gabriella was grinning like a cat that ate the canary. "I just came to see if my drink was ready." she said all to innocently. Finding her drink she thanked Taylor and pulled Troy out of the kitchen with her. Charlie Danforth awkwardly looked back and forth between his son and Taylor before leaving the kitchen smiling when he noticed the tiny sprig his lovely wife had hung just above them.
Taylor still got butterflies thinking about that kiss and about how Chad hadn't left her side the entire night. There was something different in the way he kissed her. The vibe between them changed after that too. No longer were they reluctant lovers who only met when their ships passed in the night. They spent almost everyday of that particular break together but not just to hook up. Chad and Taylor talked a lot about everything. Chad would start at the Police Academy after the new year and Taylor was hoping to stay on the east coast somewhere around Washington D.C. Even a discussion of the prospect of actually getting back together came up. But it seemed like their lives were headed in two different directions so they just decided to leave things as they were. There were texts and calls mostly over the next several months.
Then fate stepped in by the name of Taylor's mother, Tracy McKessie. Or namely Tracy Mckessie's stroke. Tracy was found unresponsive in the restroom of her office a month before Thanksgiving. Taylor found herself moving back to Albuquerque to help her mother through a long rehabilitation process. Despite their differences seeing her mother struggle to learn how to speak, read and write again was difficult. In light of her mom's illness Taylor decided to change her career focus to nursing. Her sisters were supportive and for the first time in a long time so was Tracy. In the midst of all the chaotic changes the one constant in her life there to support her was Chad.
Stuck in downtown Christmas Eve traffic Taylor let the memories from that time race through her mind.
Taylor was dropping off her paperwork at the local junior college when a familiar ringtone sang from her purse. "Hello." she smiled as she answered the phone.
"Hey, you. What are you doing Saturday evening?" Chad said quickly.
"My sisters are in town so I was going to run some errands for mama and then finish up my Christmas shopping." Taylor said as she got into her parked truck and started the engine. "Why what do you need?"
"A date to the First Responders Charity Christmas Ball. Will you be mine? I know that you've been the main caregiver for your mom since she got sick, and I know that you could use a break." Chad explained.
"I'm surprised you don't already have one. A date I mean."
"Well I was originally going to be the sober driver but one of the other deputies got in trouble with the lieutenant and now he's sober driver as punishment. Its formal and there's dinner and dancing..." he added persuasively. "Come on. I promise to have you back by curfew and you know I'm always a good time."
"Sure. It sounds like fun." Taylor said laughing and feeling all tingly.
"Great I'll pick you up at 5:30. Its black tie so wear your fanciest dress."
"See you then." Taylor said hanging up.
She'd only seen him a couple of times since she'd moved back to town. Chad had called and text for updates about how her mom was doing when he found out what happened. Taylor had been dealing with doctors and health insurance people on her own. Torrence was eight months pregnant and couldn't travel from Chicago and Tamera was stationed overseas with the Air Force. This left Taylor dealing with her mom on her own. In the best of circumstances Tracy McKessie was a piece of work. Throw in the debilitating effects of a mild stroke and Taylor felt like she was trying to manage a small child. It was all she could do to hold on to her sanity. As a matter of fact the first time she had seen Chad since last Christmas she was trying to keep her mom from having a meltdown in the middle of Whole Foods. Right by the frozen pies her mom in tears and Taylor on the edge Chad, in full uniform, came over and calmed both of them down. Taylor had never been so happy to see the police. Her motto from that day until now was live in the moment. To think to far into the future was too overwhelming.
Living in the moment found Taylor out on a real date with Chad in the sexiest dress she could find and nervous as hell. It wasn't the Chad part or wearing the sexy dress that made her nervous. It was the date part. Her bad date karma was haunting her and she felt like she was going to throw up right now. She hadn't been on a date worth writing home about since 2008. Taylor took a deep breath as she reached out for Chad's hand.
"You've been awfully quiet tonight. If you're worried about your mom I think she'll be okay for a few hours. Your sisters are there to help and they have our numbers."
Chad said squeezing her hand.
"Believe it or not I'm nervous about this date." Taylor said giving him a side eye. Chad burst out laughing. Taylor pulled her hand away and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't mean to laugh its just we've sort of done this before for almost two years." Chad said trying to calm the laughter out of his voice.
"Yes but not in the last four and a half years. When it comes to dating I think I have picked up some bad mojo or something."
"I'm sure you're exaggerating." Chad scoffed in disbelief.
"Tell that to the dude that bought weed from his dealer right at the dinner table. Or how about the guy who ran over a stray cat on purpose." Taylor exclaimed. She could see Chad trying to hold in his laughter. "Its not funny." she said smacking him on the arm.
"Two bad dates does not equal bad mojo or whatever." Chad said with a snicker.
"That was just two of about a hundred, over the last few years or so."
"Whoa! A hundred?"
"Give or take." she said shrugging her shoulders.
"I can't believe you counted."
"It seemed to be a bit of a trend. You know me. I had to analyze it. Anyway, it felt like the universe was giving me a message and I haven't dated much since that long loser streak." Taylor said fiddling with the hem of her overcoat watching the scenery pass by as they drove. Chad reached out and took her hand again. "If the universe was saying anything it was that those guys were a waste of your time. Just take a deep breath and relax. We're here now and I didn't kill any cats on the way so lets go have some fun."
Taylor laughed as Chad helped her out of the car. They quickly made their way through the cold night air into the El Dorado Hotel where the ball was being held. They had checked their coats when Chad pulled her aside to a quiet seating area outside the ballroom. "Oh, I almost forgot. I got this for you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a corsage made of mistletoe. She smiled at him remembering the last time they were around mistletoe. "You're putting in a bid for your Christmas kiss already?" Taylor asked as she let him put the prettily arranged sprigs on her wrist.
"Well, considering the hot kiss you planted on me last year I figured that I should be first in line." he said taking her hands pulling her closer.
"There is no line." she scoffed
"Damn straight! Just the presence of a real man scared them off. Should I prove now or later that you don't have bad date mojo?"
"Hmm...If its gonna be bad I'd want to know sooner rather than later." Taylor said as she brought her hands to the nape of his neck looking up into his beautiful brown eyes before he leaned and placed the sweetest kiss on her lips. Closing her eyes Taylor felt herself melting into the hard frame of his body. Surrendering to the desire of Chad's kiss she pulled him closer and started lightly sucking on his bottom lip. Chad let his tongue slide across hers in response moving his hand up to tangle in her hair and letting the thumb of his other hand rub her lower back exposed by her dress.
"Deputy Danforth, is that you?" came a voice from behind Taylor. Chad let out a low groan and held Taylor in front of him as she turned around to greet the person behind the untimely interruption. "Lieutenant Dangle, good evening. You haven't had a chance to meet my beautiful date Taylor McKessie." Lt. Dangle seemed to be in shock for a second before recovering. "Great to finally meet you. Chad talks about you a lot..."
"Well Lt. good to see you. We'll catch up to you in there." Chad interrupted starting to hustle Taylor towards the entrance of the ballroom.
"Nice to meet you too Lt. Dangle." Taylor said hurriedly as they moved forward with the throng of people into the ballroom. "Chad what was that all about? That was actually kind of rude."
"I have respect for my commanding officers, usually. That guy gives me the creeps. I didn't like the way he was looking at you." he continued wrapping a protective arm around her waist. "I only want to look at you that way." he muttered.
She smiled to herself "And how was he looking at me?"
"Like he wanted to take you out on a bad date." he said with another snicker.
"Real funny. Go on laugh at my past pain. Its just nice to be noticed." she said taking her seat and crossing her legs sexily. "As long as you're the one doing the touching."
"You're such a flirt." Chad said as he kissed the hand with the corsage.
A/N: I really tried to make this a oneshot, but the ideas kept coming. The second part will be from Chad's POV Tell me what you think:D