The Most Valuable Gift

Mishka was watching his reaction to his own behavior. She found it fascinating! She glanced at Heather and saw she was still staring at Ed. Mishka moved closer and bumped her with her hip. Heather started and blushed as she looked at her lover. She took Mishka's arm and they walked over to the bar. She leaned in closer to speak quietly. "Fuck! That was really hot! I've never seen Ed act so aggressive!"

"I don't think Ed is used to it either." Mishka mused and Heather looked back and saw Ed trying to get his equilibrium back.

The doorbell rang again and Ed looked up. There was only one more outstanding guest so he struggled to his feet and Grace let him go on his own. He met Isabelle at the door and indicated that he'd answer it.

When he opened the door he saw the back of a fur coat walking away from the door.

"Victoria?"

The figure stopped then slowly turned. Nervous hazel eyes looked back at him and he smiled.

"Come in please! It's cold out there!"

Victoria walked back and stepped into the warmth of the house while Ed closed the door. She noticed he was using a cane and her timid smile was replaced with a look of concern.

"What happened Edward?" she asked, touching his arm.

Ed shrugged. "Just a little accident in my truck last night. I need to keep all my weight off my leg for a bit. Nothing major. Can I get your coat?"

She nodded and undid the buttons slipping it from her shoulders. Ed hung it in the closet by the door and turned to face her again. She was wearing a lovely black lace blouse with a gold underlay, a charcoal skirt to mid-calf and red pumps. Very chic and stylish.

As promised she hadn't gone to a salon to have them airbrush away her natural beauty. She'd done her own make-up and kept it subtle... except for her bold red lipstick but that was her trademark so it was expected. Her hair still shone like gold but its style was more casual and loose.

Once he'd taken in her new look he gazed into her eyes and saw her desperate need for approval. Even he was able to recognize that look.

"You look so beautiful tonight, Victoria. Thank you for coming to the party!" he said and she bloomed. Her confidence and poise returned, perhaps not as strong as it had once been but it was good to see her brittle fear burned away by her happy smile.

Angie arrived with Rachel and Zoe. Ed glanced nervously at Zoe as Rachel stepped forward.

"Victoria! Welcome! This is Angie Spencer, our host for the party and Zoe Sandoval who owns the property next to yours. It's so wonderful you were able to join us today! Merry Christmas!"

Rachel then surprised Victoria by giving her a real hug, not the fake touchless greeting she'd received in the past. Angie did the same as did Zoe and by the end Ed could see Victoria was beginning to get a little overwhelmed with emotion. Her smile was in place but her eyes had become a little glassy.

"The others are in the family room and you can get a drink in there. We're just finishing up the dinner preparations." Angie said and the three headed back to the kitchen.

When they were alone Ed took Victoria's hands in his and she bit her trembling lip. "We're huggers. It's real and honest. You're part of our circle of friends now, ok? If you need help you can call on any of us, at any time. You aren't alone."

It was too much for Victoria and she began to cry. Ed pulled her against his chest and she clung to him as she cried. He held her until the fear and desperation were gone and she felt composed once more. She pulled back and took a tissue from her small gold clutch purse. She dabbed at her eyes and smiled shakily at Ed.

"Thank you so much Edward. I've never... had any real friends," she said sadly.

"Well now you have many!" he grinned. "Come on, let's go meet the rest."

Taking his arm in hers Ed led her down the hall into the family room. He felt her grip on his arm was a little tight as she was nervous.

He brought her to Grace first as she was closest to the door and his leg was beginning to ache.

Grace stood and met them as she saw the hint of pain in Ed's eyes. "Victoria! It's lovely to see you again!" she said as she gently embraced the woman. Ed took that opportunity to sit.

"Sorry, my leg needs a rest." Ed explained as Victoria looked at him in concern taking in the wince.

"Doctor's orders." Mishka said with a grin as she approached. "Hello, I'm Mishka Shyamalan and this is Heather Connors. I own the first home on the street and Heather is my fiancé."

"Congratulations!" Victoria said and stepped forward to give Mishka a hug. She wanted so much to be part of Ed's circle of friends. Mishka was a little surprised but embraced the woman in return. Heather enthusiastically came forward for a hug of her own and Victoria's smile was beaming as she stepped back. She loved this new level of intimacy. It warmed her to her toes.

As Mishka and Heather stepped back Carolyn and Stephanie approached.

"Is- is that a Givenchy?" Victoria asked in surprise as she took in Stephanie's dress.

The woman smiled in return. "I'm afraid it's only a poor copy but I love it just the same. I'm Stephanie. It's very nice to meet you Victoria!" They embraced and she stepped back to introduce her friend. "This is Carolyn. We own the two homes just north of Rachel's up the hill."

"Very nice to meet you! Welcome to the family!" Carolyn smiled, reading Victoria's happiness to be included as she stepped in for her own hug.

Victoria was looking a little misty eyed again as Dale and Tristan approached.

"We're the only ones in this 'family' who don't actually live in the neighborhood." Dale said with a grin. "I'm Dale Grant and this is my lovely wife Tristan."

Victoria recognized Dale's name and it showed in her surprised look. In the social circles she'd... once been in, the Grants were well respected and targets of opportunity. "My- husband spoke of you. He was highly jealous of your connections and influence."

Dale grimaced. "You are highly fortunate to be rid of that evil man."

"Dale!" Tristan gasped in horror at his coarse words.

Victoria smiled and pulled Dale into a tight hug. He was smiling when she stepped back. "Yes. Yes I am!" she said, her confidence getting yet another boost.

Tristan was still a little embarrassed but calmed when Victoria hugged her too.

"Dinner's served!" Angie called from the doorway and her guests made their way down the hall to the dining room.

The long table was beautifully set with tall slim candles in groups of three down its length. Platters of turkey, cranberry jelly and fresh cranberry sauce, turkey dressing, steaming bowls of vegetables, and baskets of fresh baked biscuits filled the surface of the table. Twelve place settings were arranged down the sides of the table, six on each side with a thirteenth at the top for Angie as the host. At the other end of the table was the kids table seating three per side.

When the kids came upstairs Stephanie made the introductions for Victoria who was delighted to see children at Christmas.

Ed caught a sad expression flit across her face. He moved next to her and gently bumped her shoulder with his. When she looked up at him he gave her a smile. "Family's worth fighting for," he said and she nodded firmly. He saw the resolve in her eyes as she thought of her daughters.

They looked to find their places at the table and saw beautifully hand written cards positioned before each place setting.

"This is exquisite calligraphy!" Victoria said admiring the script on the small white card. She was secretly thrilled to see she was sitting next to Ed.

Isabelle blushed. "Thank you! It's a hobby of mine."

"Are you an artist too? Such graceful control over a pen usually means you're equally skilled at other artistic pursuits," Victoria continued.

"I dabble," Isabelle admitted bashfully.

Angie snorted. "Dabble. She's a brilliant artist and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mother!"

"Mom!"

Angie grinned at her daughter's embarrassed smile.

"Take your seats everyone!"

With Angie at the top she'd placed Rachel at her right hand and Zoe at her left. Next to Rachel was Ed, then Victoria, Dale, Tristan, and Isabelle who could keep her eye on the kids. Sitting next to Zoe across from Ed was Grace then Stephanie, Carolyn, Mishka, and Heather.

Once everyone was seated Angie got everyone's attention. "Before we begin I'd like everyone to join hands please."

Victoria felt a thrill as she placed her left hand in Ed's large hand and took Dale's hand in her right. She looked up at her host with a smile as did the others.

"First I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate Christmas with us. It means so much to us that you joined us. Whether you celebrate the religious significance of Christmas or simply appreciate the traditions of the day, the most important purpose of the day is the gathering of friends and family to share the joy and love this celebration is built upon. I can think of no finer friends to share this day with."

"Amen!" Dale said a little louder than intended and chuckles erupted around the table.

Angie released her friend's hands and everyone began filling their plates. Platters and bowls were passed back and forth. Dale did the honors of opening two bottles of wine and these were passed around as well.

Soon everyone was enjoying the wonderful food and drink and conversation was light and fun.

Victoria was enjoying the wine and her relief at being accepted was so complete it made her almost giddy. She didn't need to pretend to be interested and friendly as it came naturally. Everyone was so genuine and open! For the first time in years she was able to relax with others. She struck up a fascinating conversation with Dale and his wife about their recent trip to Barbados, an island she'd always wanted to visit. Mishka and Heather joined in as they thought it might be a lovely place to go on their honeymoon. When Victoria heard that Edward and Rachel were there with the Grants the idea of traveling with the big man slipped into her mind and that fantasy distracted her for a bit.

Ed was trying to tell a joke and he was destroying it so badly that Stephanie couldn't stop giggling. On his third attempt Stephanie frantically waved at him to stop as she couldn't breathe. He finally gave up with a grin and pout. Carolyn was enjoying seeing Stephanie lose it. Grace was watching Ed with a grin and Zoe's eyes were twinkling with happiness.

Dessert was a choice of sticky toffee pudding cake, chocolate peppermint pie, ice cream and a variety of home baked cookies.

Ed sampled everything but the peppermint pie as he wasn't keen on that flavor.

Too soon the meal was over and the kids were tasked with taking all the dirty dishes to the kitchen before they were allowed to head downstairs to play. Angie and Isabelle moved the leftover food into the fridge while everyone moved back to the family room to relax.

Ed found a comfy spot on the sofa and eased himself down. His leg wasn't bothering him so much as he'd overeaten and was feeling a little sleepy from all the good food. Grace sat next to him and held his hand. Victoria walked in speaking with Dale and Tristan. Ed saw she was smiling and relaxed and he was glad that she was having a good time.

"Ed, can I fix you a scotch? I brought a bottle of the good stuff to share." Dale called out.

Ed grinned and nodded to the man and got a big smile in return.

Victoria looked around for Ed and spotted him sitting in the middle of a large comfortable couch. She'd had too much wine with dinner and her head was spinning a little so she carefully made her way towards the couch. She looked to Grace who saw how carefully she was moving and the young woman gave her a knowing smile.

"My goodness, I think I enjoyed myself a little too much at dinner. The wine was so good! May I join you before I fall down?" she said to the couple on the couch.

"Please do. I mean- please have a seat, not fall down." Ed blurted.

Victoria turned to sit but spun a little too quickly as the room kept spinning and she began to fall back. Then she felt a hand on her ass and one was on her side guiding her down. She felt the strength in his hands as he gently lowered her onto the couch beside him. When she was down he pulled his hand back but she leaned back and settled in under his arm. God his body felt good to lean against!

"So sorry. The room is spinning a little," she said as she blushed.

Dale carried over Ed's tumbler of scotch and saw Victoria's state. "Did I give you too much wine?" he asked gently.

Victoria smiled up at the gentleman. "Maybe just a touch but it was such a wonderful dinner. I wouldn't change a thing." She was feeling a definite glow at the moment and was becoming very sleepy. The security of Ed's arm around her and the heat of his body against hers after the ordeal she'd been through was completely relaxing her. She finally felt safe, like her troubles were over and she was free. Her eyes began to close.

Dale handed Ed the scotch and smiled at the woman who was obviously on her way to sleepy land. He raised a toast to the young man and they clinked glasses. He watched Ed sip the scotch and take in its flavors. Then the swallow with eyes closed to feel its heat sliding down his throat. When Ed's eyes reopened he smiled broadly.

"Oh that's good scotch! Really good!" Ed gushed.

"I knew you'd appreciate it!" Dale grinned as he took a sip from his own glass.

"There you go, corrupting Ed with your wicked hard liquor again!" Tristan teased her husband.

"Being introduced to the best things in life isn't corruption it's enlightenment!" he teased back. "That's how I felt when I met you!"

"Ooo! You're a smooth talker mister!" Tristan said batting her eyelashes at Dale.

"All the better to sweep you off your feet my love!" he said pulling her into a hug and planting a kiss on her happy lips. They moved to take a seat on the loveseat across from the couch.

Ed was grinning with joy and looked towards Grace. He saw she was watching him with love in her eyes. He tried to lean towards her to kiss her but he couldn't move. He looked to his left and saw Victoria was asleep on his left arm. He looked back at Grace in surprise and her lips were on his. Her wonderful soft lips. He could get lost in the bliss of her kiss! He put his tumbler between his knees then reached up with his freed hand to slide it into the hair on the back of her head so he could kiss her more deeply. She pushed back against his chest and pulled her lips from his causing him to moan a little. She lifted his arm over her and settled in under it.

His head was spinning from her kiss but he realized he no longer had a hand to lift his scotch with. "Uh Grace, could you get my scotch now that you have my arm?"

She chuckled and pulled it from between his knees and he was able to relax. She lifted it to his lips so he could take another sip.

Mishka and Heather were helping Isabelle, Stephanie, and Carolyn roll the three couches, the loveseat and two extra chairs in a square around the large coffee table. Angie, Rachel and Zoe carried in platters of cookies and cupcakes, and a tea and coffee service. All of this went onto the coffee table.

Soon everyone was relaxing and Rachel spotted Victoria snoring gently against Ed's shoulder. She smiled and shook her head. She understood how comforting it was to be in Ed's arms and couldn't begrudge the woman this simple pleasure after what she'd been through. She caught Ed's eyes on hers and saw his admiration and love in them. She felt a zing of joy shoot through her body from that.

Isabelle made herself busy as Santa's little helper by bringing the kids upstairs. They immediately headed for the cookies and cupcakes. Isabelle got them distributed amongst the couches squeezed in with the adults then collected the presents under the tree for them. Each child got one present to open and they tore into the wrappings with joy. They all discovered action figures from the latest movie release so squeals were heard and each of the kids rushed to give Angie a kiss then they raced downstairs to play with their new toys.

Victoria woke to the sounds of happy children and she smiled thinking it was her daughters. Then she recalled they were overseas and for a second despair almost overwhelmed her. Edward's words came to her then. Family was worth fighting for and she would not give up! She felt so warm and safe. Then she heard other voices. She cracked her eyes open and saw she was on the couch nestled in under Edward's arm up against his body. She saw Dale and Tristan sitting on the loveseat on the other side of the coffee table. They were watching her wake with gentle smiles on their faces.

That's when she noticed the drool.

She was mortified that she'd drooled on herself- on Edward too!

"Oh my god! Oh! I'm so sorry!" she muttered in absolute embarrassment and tried to move away from him but his strong arm wrapped around her holding her in place. A gentle hand dabbed her mouth and chin with a tissue. She timidly looked up into friendly eyes smiling down at her.

"Do you think you're the first to do that to me?" he said simply as he dabbed his sweater dry.

She blushed again and he gave her another hug then released her so she could sit up.

She looked down at her hands. "Thank you Edward for being so nice to me."

Ed looked at her in surprise. "Why wouldn't I be nice to you?"

Victoria shook her head and looked at the rest of the group. "I really want to thank everyone for being so welcoming and wonderful. Everyone I knew before... before I killed my husband..." she shook her head. "They've abandoned me. I'm a social pariah. I don't want any of you to suffer that fate for my sake."

"Victoria, anyone who would abandon you in your time of deepest desperation isn't worthy of your friendship. Ed brought us up to speed on your situation and on the measures you were forced to take to escape from your husband. I believe I can speak for all of us here that we don't give a rats ass what anyone thinks of us and we'd be damned if we let anyone's ignorance keep us from being your friend. You are one of us now. You're stuck with us." Dale said with a stubborn look.

The rest of the group nodded and smiled. Ed put his hand over hers and gave them a squeeze. Victoria's eyes were welling with tears. All she could manage was a squeaky 'thank you' as her throat closed up.

Isabelle returned from the basement. "Is it time to hand out the gifts to the adults now?" she said with a smile.

"What gifts are those? We didn't get gifts for each other." Angie asked.

Isabelle went to the tree and picked up a stack of small boxes roughly wrapped. Names were hand written on them. She began to hand them out and Ed began to squirm when he saw it was the gifts he'd picked up.

"Ed, stop worrying." Grace said patting his leg which was bouncing nervously.

He pushed himself to his feet. "I just want to apologize now before you open them. I had no time to Christmas shop this year so I picked up all my gifts at the airport in New York City on the way back from our visit. I thought these would be just a little fun thing and I'd get you all something better but..."

Stephanie got hers open first and pulled out a metal locket the size of her palm with an etching of the Statue of Liberty on it. She smiled at Ed and pressed the button on the side and the locket folded open. There was a mirror on one side and a 2"x3"picture on the other. Stephanie looked at the picture and froze. Her eyes went wide as she bit her lip and her face got all red as Ed watched her nervously. He was expecting her to laugh. He thought the gift was funny. Why wasn't she laughing?

Angie got a gold locket with a big red apple on the side. She opened hers and gaped at the picture she found inside. She looked over at Rachel and Zoe who were tearing into their packages after seeing the expressions on their friend's faces.