In the generous home of Hiroshi and Sakura Yamada a lovely Christmas turkey dinner had been consumed by all. In attendance were of course the host couple, Stephanie, Tristan and Michael, Ryan and India, and Garrett and his new beau Ziven. A lot of looks had been directed at Ziven, being the newest of the partners of the Yamada adult children, as well as much fawning over India. She was in the full stage of pregnancy and the whole family was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new baby.
As the dessert plates were cleared, Tristan snuck away to watch TV and the doorbell rang. Stephanie put down the salt and pepper shakers she was about to carry to the kitchen and went to see who it was. It was Yuki Tamaka with a big heavy looking square bag slung over one shoulder and a giant bottle of Saki in one hand "Merry Christmas!"
Stephanie hugged him "Merry Christmas Yuki. Come in. We just finished dessert."
The small man kicked off his shoes and wandered in like one of the family "Oh good. I'm not interrupting. My kids had to go early....but they gave me a karaoke machine!"
Sakura poked her head out from the kitchen and quietly cursed in Japanese.
Garrett laughed and leaned into Ziven and Michael saying quietly "This is one of Dad's best buddies, Yuki Tanaka, and he does this every few years. I apologize in advance if it gets even weirder in here."
Ryan rubs India's lower back and says awkwardly "If you're tired...we don't have to witness what's coming..." He cringes and chuckles.
Hiro comes back out of the kitchen looking delighted "YUKI!!! Oh you brought the good stuff.....come sit....Let me get the glasses.
Michael arches his brows at the new old man and chuckles. "It can't get weirder than my family, man." and he realizes when he says it that he may well have cursed himself.
Ziven also looks intrigued. The Yamadas had been incredible about learning their son/sibling had a man as a lover. He arches the brow. "Are they going to get drunk?" he wonders, amused.
Michael snorts. "If they do, they might abandon English." he looks sweetly at Stephanie, remembering the wedding he went to with her .. where he first told her he loved her. "And if they do, just keep talking to then ... no one cares."
India groans a little bit, her feet sticking out as she admires them, since she sees them so infrequently now. "It's alright." she tells him. "If they get too bad, I'll snatch the mic and launch into gangsta rap ... no problem." she winks and rests her hand on her belly. "Or go into labor ... which ever will make them stop fastest."
Michael chuckles. "Well, if you go into labor, we have a doctor in the house."
India arches her brows and looks at him sideways. "Are you calling me a bitch, Michael m'dear?" somehow there is mild poison in her tone.
Michael shakes his head. "Nooooo ... I have NO desire to become a lesbian tonight. Thanks."
Ziven laughs quietly. It's a hell of a family. No question.
Yuki's in the room now and hears them "Are we going to get drunk? Is the Pope Catholic?" He looks at India "None for you, and no babies tonight...have fun a little longer!" He laughs heartily at the dialogue between India and Michael "Spiiiiiiceh." Hiro puts glasses down on the table and Yuki immediately pours and starts handing them out.
Stephanie passes hers to Micheal so he has 2 "You go ahead. I'll drive home later. Plus I think it would be interesting to watch you." She winks at India "Since you won't be becoming a lesbian."
Ryan looks at the glass put in front of him and shakes his head, passing it to Ziven so he has two "I think I'll stay sober....we might not stay as late as some folks."
Garrett looks at Ziven "You want me to drive, or should we both have some and crash in the spare room downstairs?" There's a glass in front of him but he hasn't committed to it.
Hiro shakes his head at all his kids in turn and quips "Lightweights..." tossing back his first like it's water "Sakura, will you join us?"
Sakura looks begrudging about it but then comes in and greets Yuki with a hug "If they puke, you're cleaning my carpets THIS time." She takes a shot and downs it giving Hiro a little eyebrow wiggle before she says to Garrett and Ziven "You can stay of course."
India looks at Yuki and shakes her head. "Oh yea .. this is fun fun fun. I want six more." she looks at Ryan as if to say 'come at me with that thing and I will lob it off' and then kisses him on the cheek. Their sex life hasn't changes too much, except in positioning, but she has adopted the rib Ryan lifestyle with both arms.
Ziven looks at Michael. "Should I be worried they're trying to get us drunk?" he nods to the glasses. "Stay we can, but drink I will pass." he bites the corner of his lip because he hadn't told anyone. "I'm on call .. JUST in case someone drops a Christmas goose on their Chihuahua. "Thank you Sakura." he accepts her offer.
Michael lifts his hand. "The last time I got truly drunk I almost got arrested for trying to kill my father so .... I think I'll pass." he considers. "But the time BEFORE that I was with my uncle Ulick ..." he strokes his chin and looks at the older men. "What the hell." he takes the glass and downs one, followed by the other. "You only live once." he will either have a great time, try and walk to Hawaii and kill his father, or Stephanie will kill him.
India sits up a little. "Oh THIS I gotta see." she announces. "So OK ... what happened .. both times. At least you don't black out?"
Ziven also looks curious. The big man could be interesting versus the smaller Japanese men.
Garrett takes Ziven's glass and his own and won't dare be shown up by both his parents, so he downs them one after the other. Each time he shudders and after the second one he scrunches up his face and mutters "You'll resuscitate me right Ziven? If this goes badly?"
Ryan gulps at India and then smiles nervously. He grins, watching Micheal who's he's never seen drink before and the laughs at Garrett "Oh Ziven you better watch him.....I'm not sure which is worse, the puking or the crying...."
Hiro and Yuki look around at the drinkers grinning and then Sakura takes the bottle from Yuki and pours "What was it Callahan used to say on your drinking nights? Come on you pussies!" She slides the glasses out to the takers and downs another. She's moved from doubles to singles.
Garrett, Ryan and Stephanie's eyes bug out at their mother and Ryan just stares with his mouth open. Stephanie starts laughing and Garrett looks around "Did she just say pussies?"
Ziven looks at his lover and then at Ryan. "I will. I promise." he agrees and looks at Ryan. "He's a CRIER?" he asks with a wink.
India crosses her ankles and grins. Things might get interesting indeed around here.
Michael takes his drink and looks at India. "Well, my father went on a tangent about gays and immigrants and a few of his other favorite hate topics. It was the first and the LAST time I got drunk around my father. And drinking with my uncle Ulick is ALWAYS a blast." he looks at Sakura and grins. "So you think yours is bigger than mine, Sakura?" he downs the drink and sets the glass on the table, ready for more.
India coughs and looks at Stephanie. No question ... things were getting interesting.
Yuki snorts at Micheal "Oh your Dad would LOVE us then......bunch of Japanese. We're all here to take your jobs right?" He jokes before downing the next one in front of him and blinking hard.
Hiro pipes up "Yeah I got one son who's a cop...definitely after Michael's job." He teases and then remembers "And oh yeah....Garrett's gay!" He holds up his glass and toasts before tossing it back.
Ryan laughs sardonically "Yeah Dad that's why I asked to be his partner." He looks at Micheal more seriously "Shitty deal your Dad's like that."
Garrett rolls his eyes "Technically bi...but to a homophobe....they won't care." He gives Micheal a sympathetic look and then looks between his parents gratefully. They hadn't even questioned the validity of his feelings for Ziven. There had been a moment of surprise and then they just wanted to know he was happy.He toasts back to his Dad and then his Mom and drinks.
Steph leans over and gives Micheal a little kiss on the cheek and then looks in disbelief at her mother "You really want to try and drink with THESE guys?"
Sakura nods and pours again "Oh yes. Your big red boyfriend didn't specify what's supposed to be bigger so we're just gonna see about that. And none of you emailed me back about the family Christmas picture so it's gonna be a New Year's picture.....you better hope I don't call the photographer TONIGHT." She downs another shot and pours the next round. Through the patio door it looks like a scene from a dysfunctional holiday Christmas movie, half a family getting hammered around the dinner table.
India looks amused, especially at Sakura drinking.
Ziven silently toasts Hiro with a grin. "Well I call myself homoflexible, so maybe if Garrett is hetroflexible then we even each other out." he suggests, very carefully not looking at Michael.
Michael accepts the drink, pauses when Hiro speaks about Garrett being gay, then tosses back what he counts as his fourth drink. "Love is love." he announces, feeling JUST fine. Sakura pours another drink and he makes that one vanish also. "Stephanie taught me THAT." he nods and looks at her with a wink. He laughs. "Well I'm ready if you DO call the photographer!" he announces. "I look just FINE!" and he does. He's sober ... as far as he can figure.
Yuki looks at Ziven like he's speaking another language and just says "Flexible?"
Garrett snorts at him and just says "Yuki, just drink. It's all good." He gives Michael a grin and says "We should totally take pictures tonight.....what's the theme Mom?" He drinks after and does a one eyed wince. He's completely feeling it now. His face is warm and his fingers are getting tingly. He starts giggling a bit for really no reason.
Sakura gestures with her empty glass at Garrett "I wanted Under the Sea but Stephanie told me I can't make India wear a Scuba suit....I mean we could make her some kinda mermaid or something....show off that baby bump in a fishy way...." She completely loses her train of thought and gestures with her glass, trying to get back on it. Sakura is smaller than all the men and even though she's been drinking Saki her whole life she rarely drinks this much. She looks helplessly at India "What were we talking about dear?"
Ryan claps a hand over his mouth, laughing and then stands up and takes the bottle from his mother "You're cut off Mom. Family picture themes."
Sakura paws at the bottle as it leaves her hand and misses and then gives it up "Oh yeah! I also thought Cowboys...what's funnier than Japanese cowboys right? I mean and India and Micheal and Ziven too....maybe we could lasso you three..."
Hiro grabs the bottle from Ryan now and pours more rounds but skips his wife. He's completely cracking up at this suggestion.
The loudness of the room makes Tristan poke his head in with a confused look on his face watching his family.
Garrett stares at his mother wide eyed "My boyfriend is a First Nations person and you want me to dress up like a cowboy and lasso him?! Are you fuckin serious?!"
Tristan gasps "Uncle Garrett...language!" He sees the bottle and sniffs at the air "Ugh that smells bad. Are you all drunk?"
Stephanie moves quickly to Tristan and ushers him out "You can have another movie if you want...pay per view even...OK?"
Tristan beams "Can I watch Die Hard 2?"
Stephanie walks him towards the family room "Sure! Whatever you want honey....." She goes in with him and has a little chat about the silly grown ups for a few minutes.
Yuki slaps his leg "Cowboys and Indians...shit that's SO racist. Can you imagine sending that out as a Christmas card? I want one if you do!"
Sakura starts laughing now too, realizing the serious flaw in her idea.
Ryan just hides his face in India as he sits back down and murmurs "Oh god...."
India gapes .. for several reasons. Ryan takes the bottle even as she is leaning forward to do so. "We were discussing how this family needs to NEVER EVER have another water themed greeting card idea." and then Sakura mentions Indians and India drinks. "Just .... just .... wow ...." and she begins laughing, holding Ryan as he leans into her.
Ziven was laughing at the idea of a pregnant India as a mermaid when the idea of Indians and lassos comes up. Then he starts laughing. he drops his head, holding his sides when Yuki says he wants one. :I want about ten. And then you can expect a call from my mother looking to have a spirit quest with you. She's native American ... but in this case I think she'd just want to get high with you."
Michael drinks pretty steadily and does manage to smile at Tristan when he comes in. "Well .... Sakura is out." his voice is still steady. "Apparently mine IS bigger than yours, but I don't want to check. Stephanie would hold me down while Hiro filleted me." he isn't laughing, but his voice is steady. "Now who am I drinking under the table next?"
Sakura is completely hammered but beyond the point where she's aware of it. She smiles sweetly at Tristan and when he leaves with his mother says nervously "Do you think he thinks we're DRUNK?" She smiles at India and then looks fascinated by Ziven's answer, forgetting what it even relates to "Your mother wants to get high with me? You know I've never done the pot....I've always wanted to try it..."
Stephanie walks back in right at that sentence and just stops in her tracks awkwardly squinting at her mother and then slowly moves to take her seat by Micheal. She pats him on the arm and then looks across at Ryan, India and Ziven who she knows are sober too with a what the hell expression.
Garrett just drinks his next shot and tries not to laugh it out as he does. His mother is beyond a trip right now and Ziven is encouraging it. He loves this man so much.
Hiro drinks his too and just nods at Micheal "You guys don't need to whip em out but my money's on Yuki. He can drink Nick and I under the table every time."
Yuki shoots his back after seriously busting a gut at both Ziven and Sakura and then looks at Micheal and says jovially, quoting Nick from past nights "Come on ya pussy!"
Ziven smiles at Sakura. "Well, no worries there. Neither has my mother." he tells her. "She smokes peyote. It's a hallucinogen .... you take it, lay back and let the spirits speak to you. You'll LOVE it."
India hears this and laughs a little harder. She sees Stephanie and the tears begin to flow. "Oh my god, Stephanie!" she manages, but then goes off on another laugh jag.
Michael hears all of this and laughs. "I say go for it, but I want video. That's all I ask." He knocks back another and looks at Yuki. "Bring it, old man." he challenges. "The Japanese are tough, but I am Irish AND German. I think I can match you ... at the VERY least." his voice is still mostly steady. He is starting to look like one of those people who appears perfectly sober ... until they start moving ... possibly.
Sakura thinks about this and says it slowly "Peyote.......I'd feel so worldly." Suddenly the rapid drinking and her body size catches up to her "I have to pee!" She announces and gets up suddenly. She almost falls into the china cabinet and then stumbles. Stephanie rolls her eyes and jumps up, swooping to grab her mother's arm "Alright.....come on now. You know when WE did this shit we actually tried to hide it from you and Dad so you didn't have to care for us drunk." She laughs.
Sakura puts her arm through her daughters "Oh Stephanie....you've never been drunk have you?"
Stephanie looks back at the table and grins "No Mom...NEVER."
Ryan laughs out loud. His face is as stained with tears of laughter as India's. He leans into the side of her beside him.
Stephanie gives Ryan a little warning look "If I'm taking her and Mike has to go...he's ALL YOURS Ryan."
Ryan grimaces and looks at Micheal. He still looks pretty OK. He glances down at Garrett who's giggling again as Hiro pours them all more shots. Thank god Garrett has a date with medical training.
Hiro passes out glasses and then holds his up for a toast which he says in Japanese, forgetting to speak English now.
Yuki and Garrett start laughing and Yuki still has enough lucidity to try and translate. "To small horses and their assholes......it makes a lot more sense in Japanese...." he laughs some more.
Garrett asks "Dad are we the horses or the assholes?" He looks around the table "You guys are so great, so accepting. I'm so lucky......there really are so many assholes..." He starts choking up and looks at Ziven "But you're not an asshole either....I love you..." And here's the cring part of Garrett drunk. It's sweet but also a bit slobbery and pathetic.
Michael was doing fine until Sakura said the word 'pee'. "Ah fuck. My turn." even though Sakura is hardly out of the room. He takes the glass he is given and lifts it. "Capaill!" he downs the drink and slaps the table, translating. "Hor... ses ...." he pushes himself up with relative ease then looks across the table at Ryan. "I ... I can do this!" he announces and side steps his chair before turning around and taking a step towards the sliding glass door. "For .. got .. saki'll sneak up on ye." he murmurs and stumbles against the door, fumbling with the latch and sliding it open. "To the great outdoors!" he cries and steps outside, actually making it to the bushes, before he gets his pants unzipped and begins to sing. Not screaming, but far from quiet. The language seems to be Gaelic, not the German he so often falls back on.
India is still crying with mirth and, once Michael is safely out the door, she relaxes a moment until he begins to sing. At around the same time, Garrett makes his drunken confession and she sniffs, then giggles more. "Alcohol. The universal truth serum."
Ziven watches it all laughing. "God, I hope I don't have to do any geldings tonight." he announces, as Michael makes it through the door alright. He smiles fondly at Garrett. "I love you too, Master Chef." he arches his brows at the tears.
Ryan watches Micheal's progression into the obvious and the musical shrubbery watering and closes his eyes, chuckling "Oh shit..." he mutters to India.
Stephanie is gone with Sakura for awhile. She ends up putting her mother to bed in the recovery position with an empty plastic waste bin in reach and range of the edge of the bed by the end of it all. It's amazing how many life long first aid skills one can learn in university with the discovery and legal age of alcohol.
Hiro sips slowly now but mumbles a lot in Japanese and Yuki keeps trying to translate bits and pieces. Most of it make no sense at all and eventually he just gives up and laughs. He notices the migrations of the other drinkers to relieve themselves and gets up casually and walks down the hall without a single swerve. Perhaps his blood is already so saturated from his years of drinking Saki that his body hasn't noticed yet.
Garrett is still quite weepy and leans his head on Ziven and sniffs. After a very plugged sounding horrible sniff he asks "What's a gelding? You're so smart.....so many nice words..."
In the other room, Tristan figures out how to order the whole Die Hard package on his grandparents pay per view cable package and credit card account associated with it and settles in under a blanket with a big pile of pillows. It's been a very exciting week. He met new friends, in particular a great lego friend. Michael had slept over and played board games with he and his mom on Christmas eve. It was Mike's birthday today so his mother bakes cupcakes for breakfast. Santa had come...so to speak....with very similar handwriting to his mom's. Also there was a lot of whispering going on after his bedtime. The jig was up, but Tristan played a long because....well duh....Santa presents rock! He had gotten the lego Batman sets that weren't supposed to be in Canada until the new year, which he suspected were ordered online from the States. Micheal had both Christmas presents and birthday presents. As his gift to Mike, Tristan had made a little model of the Cedar Point Police Station with a little Officer Reinhardt minifig talking to one of his uncle. They had coffee of course, and donuts. All the action of the last few days had Tristan happily dozing before the second movie ended, sleeping right through the mayhem in the dining room.
Michael finishes his song and his pee and comes back inside, carefully closing and locking the sliding glass door behind him. Rolling his shoulders, he sits and pours himself another shot. "Round two." he actually looks more together now that he's peed.
India has settles her giggles and is leaning into Ryan a little. "Could have been worse. He could have needed help finding it."
Ziven strokes Garrett's hair. "It is neutering. Well more than that." he explains. "Removal off the balls. But no worries. I'd never do that to you." he kisses his forehead, amused to watch his love getting shit faced.
Garrett looks horrified "NOT nice words!" He laughs after and then pushes his glass forward when Micheal returns and says round two. He suddenly looks confused "Where's Yuki?"
Hiro answers Garrett in Japanese but clearly not the answer to his question because Ryan and Garrett both stare at their father like he's completely lost it. No one translates but Hiro sees the looks and holds up his hands, switching to English "No I mean carnival worker...like a carnie....it sounds the same but it doesn't involve a suppository."
Garrett murmurs "Ziven and India, you don't want to know."
Ryan nods vehemently "I think the gelding conversation was safer."
Yuki saunters back in and Garrett repeats Hiro's original words to him. Yuki's eyes go wide and then he laughs and pats his behind "No thank you...it's working fine old friend. Exit only."
Hiro looks annoyed "That's NOT what I said Garrett!"
Garrett starts to laugh but then gets teary eyed again "He's mad at me....I took it too far...everyone is mad at me......"
Stephanie walks back in at this point and sees her older brother crying and frowns at Ryan and India, seeking answers. She sits down beside Micheal, who to her relief still looks OK. Of course she hand't heard the singing.
India blinks and takes the advice of her man and his brother.
Ziven chuckles and then blinks at Garrett. "Who's mad at you?" he wonders. Somehow he got lost.
Michael sits patiently, tapping the empty glass. He looks mildly at Garrett. "No crying on my birthday." he tells him. "OR on Christmas. EITHER of those days." he taps the glass, ready to continue drinking.
Yuki nods and pours again "Getting a little strange in here. We should call Nick to come drink with us....ah he's got a girlfriend now...prolly busy." He looks at Micheal "Shit, happy birthday Big Red!"
Hiro nods and mutters "Basting the turkey!"
Stephanie smacks her father's arm " Good god Dad!"
Yuki holds up his glass "To Nick getting laid!"
Ryan face palms "You realize he's my boss right? Jesus...."
Garrett sniffs "Happy Birthday Michael....wait that makes you Jesus right?" He's giggling again. Laugh to cry in 60 seconds but you just don't know from topic to topic what it's going to be. He raises his glass with them "To Nick getting laid!"
Hiro toasts and drinks and then paws at Stephanie "Gimme your phone..."
Stephanie shakes her head "Uh uh....you've got that look in your eye Dad."
India gapes at Yuki and Hiro and then begins laughing. "Oh my god!!!" she shakes her head. "I left your present for your birthday on your counter." she announces. Looking at Garrett she chides. "Don't inflate that ego any more than it already is."
Ziven is highly amused by all of these people. If things worked out with he and Garrett ... and he hoped they would ... this could be a yearly thing damn near.
Michael drinks again. "Nope. I don't want his job either. And thank you, India." he looks at Stephanie. "Aww come on Steph." he urges. "I would LOVE to drink with my Chief! It would be FUN!"
Stephanie does not offer her phone and just stares down the drunks, including Micheal. However Garrett's hand slaps his on the table for his father to use with a little defiant grin.
Hiro frowns at it "How do I use this? What's your pass code?"
Yuki takes it from him "Dinosaur....my grandkids showed me. Teaching me the Minecraft now. Garrett?"
Garrett shrugs "4321....don't tell!"
Yuki types it in and grins and then figures out how to make a call. He knows Nick's home number at least, by heart. "It's the machine....what do we do?"
Hiro grabs the phone back "Hey is your refrigerator run...."
Yuki grabs it back "Fuck....gimme that...Nick! NICK! We're drinking your favourite. Call this number..."He looks at Garrett "What's your number?"
Garrett calls out "604-474-2683!"
Yuki adds "THAT one....or come to Hiro's."
Ryan puts his head down on his arms and groans.
India watches this looking as if she's torn. "I don't know what to pray for .... Nick to come by or Nick to NOT come by ...." she strokes at Ryan's back, consoling him
Ziven grins. "Gutsy, man." he praises. The shy sushi chef seems to have fled. But ... what about the crying man. Ziven wasn't so sure about him.
Michael grins and takes two more shots during this exchange. The bottle is getting low. He looks at Stephanie when she stares at him and swallows. He doesn't get drunk much. Almost never. But it was his birthday and he was celebrating Christmas. Of course he understood, but ... this was not his favorite holiday. Not by a long shot.
Garrett laughs and then looks self conscious "Oh my god I'm drunk dialing the chief of police." A look of paranoia crosses his face and he tears up again "I'm a moron....."
Stephanie looks at her brother likes she wants to smack him and implores Ziven "Can you just sedate him until this passes? For fuck's sakes Gar...."
Ryan nods "He gets like this....alcohol is like an insecurity door opener....Garrett, you're not a moron. It's OK buddy." He looks like he truly feels sympathy for him.
Garrett reacts with angry tears now "I can hear you talking about me....Fuck you Stephanie! Sedate him..." He stands up from the table and overturns his chair getting up to leave but his accidental lunge forward makes it look like he's diving at Steph.
Hiro looks alarmed and tries to jump up and get between them like when they were kids "Hey!! Stop it now!!" He's quite wobbly but he throws out an arm between them across the table.
Yuki just watches with wide eyes and sips.
Ryan's seen his siblings fight but not for a long time. He protectively turns his body in front of India's, not sure where this is going.
Stepanie rolls her eyes "You are NOT going to fight me Gar. I don't care how much bigger than me you are...I can still kick your whiny ass!"
Michael half stands with Garrett, his drink forgotten. His green eyes flash, but when Steph speaks, he actually smiles, as if he'd forgotten how tough Stephanie was. "Never mind ...." he sits and downs another drink.
India's eyes grow wide and she does back away a little bit, but she doesn't look afraid. She figures that Garrett is too drunk to be any danger.
Ziven sighs and stands when Garrett does. "Annnnnnd .... that is enough of that." he says, rather casually. Obviously this is a man used to dealing with drunks. He reaches over and pulls Garrett away from Stephanie, holding in some odd combination of secure hug and bear hug. "You know something. I think we need to go home, babe." he realizes he agreed to stay but he's thinking distance diffuses. He tries to steer Garrett away as gently ... but firmly ... as possible.
Garrett allow Ziven to steer him and instantly bursts into tears "I didn't MEAN it...I'm sorry..." He's like a little boy who knows he's about to get grounded for a week "I'm so sorry....." as he's led away.
Hiro sighs and sits, looking relieved.
Stephanie looks sadly at Garrett "Hey, I know." She walks around before he goes and gives him a hug "I think you just need to sleep it off OK?" She looks apologetically at Ziven "He doesn't drink like this very often at all.....I promise."
Garrett just hangs his head in shame, crying. He's surely lost Ziven after this.
Ryan looks pained and says quietly to India "I wish I could just give him confidence. I don't know why he doesn't have it....."
Yuki shakes his head and then pours for Michael, Hiro and himself "Goodnight Garrett. Goodnight Ziven....nice to meet you."
India relaxes and watches the brother and sister exchange. She adores this family.
Michael toasts Ziven ... and Garrett. "Oíche mhaith agus codladh sámh." he tells them and then blinks and translates the Gaelic. "Good night and sleep well."
Ziven smiles slightly. "I know he doesn't." he admits. "But next time I just MIGHT sneak a mild horse tranquilizer in my coat ... JUST in case ..." he winks and leads Garrett out, tears and all.
Stephanie steps away "Ziven must REALLY love him, like we do but the other way.....I hate it when he drinks." she sits down beside Micheal and looks between he and Yuki "You guys seem fine." She laughs.
Ryan shakes his head "You missed Mike's musical pissing in the back there...."He has to chuckle and then has a concerning thought "Nick might actually call Garrett's cell...hopefully after he's sober."
Yuki snorts "Shit.....I need more numbers for Nick. Where's his girlfriend work again...let's call the Lavender Dreams....Ryan...give me your phone!"
Ryan looks over at India and then Steph and points at Yuki "See? Not sober!"
Hiro laughs now too but then says "Use the land line you lazy ass."
Yuki beams and trots off to find the cordless, now finally weaving just a bit.
Michael chuckles. "I'm great." he announces and looks at Ryan, as if offended. "And that's a shame. I'm no India Tor, but I do pretty well." he reaches for the bottle. "Did we kill this already?"
India giggles. "Oh god! Michael can leave Ziven a mes ...." she checks herself. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."
Michael snorts. "I can still make a phone call, lady." he insists. "If I knew where my phone was." it's in his back pocket but the alcohol is doing its job, even if Michael doesn't show it as well as say ... Garrett.
Hiro pats Micheal on the back "It was a very nice song..." he says laughing.
Yuki seems to have gotten lost looking for the house phone.
Stephanie rolls her eyes at Micheal "Alright you're cut off too. You always put your phone in the same place." She takes the bull by the horn so to speak and reaches into Michael's back pocket to prove it.
Ryan looks between India and Micheal and Stephanie and just chuckles.
Michael looks at Hiro, as if vindicated. "Thank you, Hiro. i appreciate that." he looks at Stephanie, mock offended but jumps up when she puts her hand in his back pocket. He removes it. "Do't grab my ass in front of your honorable father!" he chides her. Then he blinks and stumbles backwards. "Oh fuck ....." he stumbles back a few more steps and falls backward, hitting the glass door JUST right and going through it, landing with all of him on the patio except for his feet. He looks straight up. "You know what, Stephanie." he speaks calmly. "You might have a point. I think I've had enough."
India watches giggling and then gapes as Michael goes through the plate glass window. "Oh my fucking god." then she hears him speak to Stephanie and shakes her head, laughing again.
Stephanie jumps up and runs out after Micheal "Jesus fucking Christ Mike...are you OK?!" He's still joking around but maybe he can't feel the pain from how hammered he is. She leans over and looks at him for signs of cuts and bleeding "Someone put the outside light on!"
Hiro just freezes and stares in disbelief at what happened.
Ryan runs to the light switch and is ready to administer any first aid. He runs out after and looks at Micheal and then steps back "You really are a brick shithouse....not a scratch...."
Now that it's established Micheal is OK Hiro starts exclaiming "My window.....my window......"
India shakes her head, staring amazed, once she realizes he isn't hurt.
Michael stands slowly and brushes the shards of glass off of himself. "German AND Irish." he reminds them. "And ye ... I told you my uncle fell out of a couple windows." he sighs and looks at the damage. "Hiro .. I will pay for that. Just ... bill it to me." he says sincerely. "I ... think I need a walk." he sighs and looks at Stephanie with a shadow of guilt at having fallen through her parents patio door.
Stephanie isn't mad at Micheal, just glad he's unharmed but her tone is curt, more tired and just done with the drinking night and she comes off a little short sounding "Sure....let's walk." She offers him and arm or shoulder if he needs and starts off across the big yard and garden her parents have cultivated. It's like a tiny park onto itself.
Ryan pats his Dad's shoulder after coming back in "I'll cover it so you don't get birds flying in." He looks at India and smiles "THIS is not every Christmas...I promise. We can kinda blame Yuki...where the hell did he go?" He shrugs and then says "Indy will you help me get some sheets and a stapler from the hall closet and the office. Dad....go to bed. We've got this."
India gets up as quickly as she can, given her condition and waddles off to find the sheets and staplers, returning quickly enough and handing it to Ryan. "I dunno .... it was one Hell of a Christmas."
Michael walks a bit with her, sighing. "God, I really thought I was OK..." he blows out a breath. "Why the fuck did I do that? Not fall through the window .. I know why i did that." he moves to a far corner of the garden and leans against something solid. "I was trying to out-drink that fucker." he growls, and for a moment Stephanie may thing he means Hiro. Until he continues. "And hes in fuckin Hawaii."
Stephanie is about to say something cheeky about Yuki and then frowns "Your Dad? Baby what do you mean...." She looks at him kindly.
Hiro has wandered off by the time India is back and he takes the supplies from her and chuckles as he sets them down nearby "Eyep......this is a Yamada record even. I'm sorry you had to see some of it. We're really not alcoholics, any of us." Ryan has been sweeping up the glass while she got sheet and now fills his third dustpan and dumps it in one of the garden compost bins.
India watches him. "I saw my Dad and his buddies drinking. None of them were drunks but when they decided they had to out drink each other ... oh man ... forget it." she folds the sheet over her arm and watches Ryan lovingly.
Michael sighs. "I ... I HAD to prove I was a man, didn't I?" he licks his lips. "I've been doing it since before I even knew what it meant to man up." his eyes drop. "That's what my father wanted from me. To out fight, out fuck and out drink ... everyone." for him alcohol makes him honest ... which is one reason he does it so infrequently. Honesty was a luxury he could not afford before Stephanie came along.
Stephanie takes Micheal's hands in her own "You don't have to prove anything to me Mike. I love you...I love you for you...the good and the bad, and the apparently singing while you pee?"
Ryan nods "I know...I've done it. Kinda grew out of it thankfully I think. And I never got like Garrett, just silly like my Dad really." He takes a chair from the dining room and the stapler and reaches down "Can you pass me a corner Love?"
India giggles and hands him the stapler. "I think the crying would get a little annoying .. especially after the baby comes. But pee singing could be interesting .. maybe not watering the bushes, but ... you know ..." she starts giggling again.
Michael holds her hands. "I know that. I know you do and ... it stuns me every day I have your love." he chuckles. "I ... guess ... that's ... we'll blame Uncle Ulick. Him and me and Jude ... and sometimes John ... it's a very scary Irish band ... " he chuckles. "Thanks for giving me such an incredible birthday, Stephanie." he suddenly says.
Stephanie pulls Micheal's hands to her waist and wraps her arms around him "It wasn't much, but I'm glad you liked it. Are you OK? I mean I know you're drunk....but just....the stuff about your Dad."
Ryan starts laughing as he staples "I'll try to think of a song the next time I need to go....but I'm not very on key. I really doubt it would do it for you." He steps down to move the chair around and do the other side but then takes India into his arms and kisses her sweetly in the in between, the baby nestled between them.
India bumps him with her belly. "Well ... save it for when your drunk. Makes it more special." she advises. The baby inside moves, pushing at them both. "I think we are all in agreement now."
Michael clears his throat. "I am a very lucid drunk." he sighs. "With the exception of a little singing and gardening. I'll remember this pretty well." he leans back and separates his feet, making room for her to get closer. "I know this might sound like a bad time, but if you have any questions you can't usually get me to answer ... now's the time to ask em."
Stephanie looks up at him tilting her head so it's leaning on his chest "Alright...what happened between you and your father?"
Ryan grins and looks down "You're already taking sides little girl? I'm really in for it...." He's talking to the baby...which he's been doing a lot since she started to move. He lets them go and steps up on the chair again to finish tacking up the sheet.
India giggles. "That's my girl." she steps back and sits in a chair. She's loved every second of Ryan's attention .. to her, to their growing baby. It wouldn't be long now. "You know ...." she ventures, watching him. "We need to finish the baby's room ...." she reminds him, even though his planned helper is drunk ad an Irish lord outside.
Michael sighs deeply and holds her close. "Well, for one, I got in the way of his dreams of that many more years alone with my mother. John was 12 ... half a dozen years and he'd be off at college. I come along and its another 18 years." he kisses the top of her head. "And I was pretty small until I was about ten or so. Dad started 'making a man out of me' the first time I came home with a report of being picked on at school." he swallows and leans his head back looking up into the leaves of the tree he is leaning against, closing his eyes and remembering what being made a man was in his fathers mind.
Ryan steps down and staples the sides all the way down to the floor "I know. We have the bassinet though if things happen early. But we do need to build that change table."
Stephanie looks at him with absolute love and sadness for his pain "By make a man, you mean abuse?"
India nods and caresses her belly, almost absently. "Do we need a crib? Oh, I had convinced myself we'd have all of his done by Thanksgiving ... the one in November in the States." she sighs. "Less than a month, Ryan." there is a slight hint of fear in her voice. She's not as scared as she could be ... not with Stephanie to help her. But she is still a first time mother.
Michael sighs and nods. "Yea .... " he snorts and clears his throat again. "My first memory is actually of him getting into it with John. I must have been maybe three or four. Later I found out John was WAY late coming home from a date and it was the first time he really fought Dad back. And he was doing pretty good." he shorts. "Fucker saw me and turned on me, which REALLY pissed John off." he smiles sadly, then looks down at Stephanie. "You're such a great parent. I don't think I could do it, you know...."
Stephanie holds Micheal tighter, her yes filling with tears "Three? Oh my god....what is WRONG with that man? I'm so sorry you and John went through that. And I think you'd be a great dad....I mean look at John...and Mike...hate to say it but you're kinda already becoming that to Tristan. He adores you....I love you. If you don't want this, you better start running now before you break my kid's heart, and mine."
Ryan hears the fear in India's voice and puts down the stapler and hugs her again "It'll be OK. We got this..."
India chuckles. "I hope so." she sighs a little. "Ryan, make me a promise. The baby may hate you for it, but .... don't let me spoil her. I mean ... money ain't a thang for us. It would be so easy ..... and I know I've already gone a little overboard but .... I don't want her to grow up being Willow Smith ... or worse ... Jaden."
Michael holds her close. "I don' know ... but our aunt was alright. My father's sister. But she grew up differently than he did. I just...." then Stephanie talks about the rest and he stares at her. "I am?" it isn't a fearful tone, just something he hadn't noticed ... or rather hadn't noticed and associated with being perceived as a father. "No ... I mean ... I'm not runnin anywhere." he does a sort of double take, looking at the house where Tristan is asleep and then back to Stephanie. "He thinks of me like ... really?" he considers. "I guess its time to introduce you to my mother ...." he ventures. "Dad .... never if I can get away with it ... but my mom .... she'll love you ...."
Ryan laughs "Ok I promise. Cedar Point is a small humble town too. It'll help that. And if she throws a tantrum for a fancy trinket, we can take her on a cannery tour and make her look at buckets of salmon heads and guts."
Stephanie exhales, relieved "He does, and I do. You're kind of a natural with him. It's probably all the time with John's kids." She smiles "I'd love to meet your mom....and if your dad's home I'll have to work hard not to take a swing at him but I'll behave."
India giggles. "I like how you think." she tells him and leans back with a groan. "Oh Ryan ... part of me wants this girl out now, now now .... I miss my feet! But part of me really sort of likes being pregnant." she considers a moment. "No ..... yea ... its not THAT neat."
Michael nods. "Maybe ... I was their first babysitter. Well, Logan's anyway." he chuckles and then shakes his head. "You aren't meeting my father. He adored Sara because she was a blond haired, blue eyed perfect looking German woman. You .... not so much. But it might get me disowned ... well ... I'm already there probably."
Ryan rubs at her lower back as she leans. He can't even imagine how her body feels but is so grateful she's doing this for them. "I love you both ways, pregnant and not, but I'm getting excited to meet our daughter."
Stephanie grins "Well that might be the easy way to get him not to bother you again. I could wear a Kimono and only speak Japanese?" She offers cheekily.
India smiles and leans into him. "So am I. What she's going to look like ... what her personality is going to be like..." she baby moves again and it is quite visible. "If she will be a track star ...."
Michael grins. "Bow a lot, smile and play subservient ... then serve him the SPECIAL tea?" he looks for a moment as if he is actually considering it. "A beautiful fantasy, but I don't see a way to do it and NOT wind up in separate prisons ..." he pulls her closer and hugs her. "I am so fucking blessed. This is like a dream." he chuckles. "Except for falling through a window. Man its like some kind of genetic thing on the Irish side."
Ryan looks down and rests a hand against the moving baby "Or maybe you'll be a singer like Mommy? You can be whatever you want and we'll love you to the ends of the earth." He looks up and kisses India lightly after and then gets a kick directed at him and breaks it saying "But you have to let us keep doing that. You wouldn't be here without it."
Stephanie cracks up and then just shakes her head "I can't believe you weren't hurt. You scared the crap outta me Mike. You say your Uncle Ulick does it too? Now there's a name only a mother could love."
India giggles. "I think we'e going to learn to truly enjoy our moments alone." she predicts. "And maybe she will be a singer. But ... she'll have plenty of extended family to watch her back."
Michael grins a little sheepishly. "I'm sorry. It wasn't my first window." he admits. "Just lucky." he laughs. "Yea .... that may be part of Uncle Ulick's drinking problem. Sweetest guy in the world and an even happier drunk ... but ... I guess we're built like cars .. they go through windows pretty well, too."
Ryan nods "She will....and apparently a superhero. Mike's like the fucking Hulk." He can't help but grin and say "Mike SMASH!"
Stephanie closes her eyes and laughs "Remind me to get better insurance for glass repair. Good god Mike...Thankfully this is a pretty safe neighbourhood so if they can't get it fixed until the 27th no one's coming in to take the TV. Plus most people can't figure out how to get back here without going through the house because of the hill."
India begins to giggle again. "Oh ... if this happens every year, eventually she'll appear in the doorway clapping." she silently claps. "Again, again Uncle Mikey!"
Michael has the good grace to blush. "Well, if your Dad doesn't kill me for it, next time, if he gives me warning, I can make the appointment ahead of time. Or just give him new sliding glass doors every Christmas ... even if it winds UP being a gag gift."
Nick Callahan arrives at the Yamada house in plain clothes. He's off for Christmas and had been at the tail end of his own dinner with Tallulah's family. She understood the situation and of course excused him to come check on his pals. After a brief conversation with what seemed to be Garrett Yamada's new friend, he just drove over. Already chuckling at what might await him, he knocks lightly at the door.
Ryan hears the knock and lets go of India, smiling at her and shaking his head "Shit I hope not...." He opens the door and sees his boss "Chief, Merry Christmas....god they called you...I'm so sorry Sir."
Nick walks in looking jovial and claps Ryan on the shoulder "Merry Christmas, and it's just Nick. We're not at work Ryan. Where are the bastards? We're getting too old for this shit."
Ryan laughs "dad went to bed...and I have no idea where Yuki wandered off too. I should probably go check on that. They dragged Garrett and Mike into it too. Mike's.....uh...out back with Steph...he fell through the patio window, but he's not hurt."
Nick laughs even harder "JESUS you people like to party. Yuki always hits the toilet. Don't worry about him. Probably sleeping it off in a bathtub." He kicks off his shoes and heads to the kitchen door to the outside greeting India on the way "Merry Christmas Mama....you look gorgeous."
India giggles at the conversation she is overhearing, but remains seated. She beams as Nick passes her. "Merry Christmas! Thank you!" she finally stands to scrounge leftovers.
Micheal is about to say more about his new idea for a yearly Christmas present when he hears feet on the path He looks past Stephanie and smiles brightly. "It's Saint Nick!" he calls. He still doesn't LOOK drink .. just a lighter, friendlier individual than his usual stoic self. "Merry Christmas!"
Ryan peeks in on India and lets her know that he's looking for Yuki and then wanders around quietly, finally finding the old man in the downstairs bathroom curled up in the tub just like Nick said. There's the scent of bile in the air and Ryan winces and then walks to the toilet and flushes down vomit. Yuki doesn't even stir but Ryan can see he is breathing so he just washes his hands and exits,
Stephanie smiles and lets go of Michael to greet Nick with a hug. He's been a friend of her Dad's forever and since she's never worked for him he's still like an extra uncle to her. He had always favored her a bit over the boys, especially after Eryn was gone. "Merry Christmas Nick."
Nick hugs her back warmly "Jolly Jolly....did you think to ask what the hell they make Reinhardt's out of before you agreed to go out with this guy?" He lets go of her and laughs looking Micheal over "Saint Nick is putting you on the naughty list son. I saw the fucking window from the back."
India methodically finds and begins to consume leftovers, completely and thoroughly, then drawing hot water to pre-soak the dishes as she empties them.
Michael grins. "I'm a diamond in the rough." he proclaims. "That's why I go through glass so good." he laughs. "I was BORN on the naughty list." he ells Nick. "Started by appropriating Christmas as my own birthday and it was downhill from there." he chuckles. "I guess this means you got the message? Stephanie wouldn't let them borrow her phone."
Ryan comes back into the kitchen and sees India tidying up "Oh let me find some tupperware for the leftovers...." He starts digging in the cupboards, not realizing she's eating and eaten them. "Fuck, where DO the lids go eh?" He drops to his knees and digs some more.
Stephanie rolls her eyes at Micheal and explains to Nick "He looks sober but he's FAR from it."
Nick smirks "Oh damn...he's like Yuki. Watch out for the sudden fall. Happy Birthday Micheal...looks like a good one."
India watches him with a fork in a dish. When he bends down the softly kicks him in the tush. "Never mind that. I got this, Ryan. I got this."
Michael grins. "She's right, Nick. I'm as drunk as an Irish Laird and a German dictator, such as I am descended from." he bows, sways, straightens and leans against the tree. "Reinhardts only fall through WINDOWS, sir." he proclaims. "If you can keep us away from those, we're fine!" he smiles. "Thank you, Nick. It started out INCREDIBLE. Ruined a half roll of wrapping paper, but it was worth it! And I got birthday cupcakes this morning ... even better!" he looks a little like a kid at the mention of cupcakes, but the lovemaking just after midnight was even more fun for him.
Ryan sits up at the kick and looks at her with a smile, starting to put it together "Alright Babe. I'll go check the hallways for stray drunks? Maybe Yuki has a secret army.....can you imagine? They come at you with fried halibut when you look away...."
Stephanie just grins. She knew which part of the day was Mike's favourite. It was all they could do not to wake the kid.
Nick looks highly amused "Only windows? That's some talent in your family." He wonders if cupcakes are a euphemism but will never ask it about Stephanie. She's practically a niece to him and the idea, while funny, is still a bit distressing.
India giggles. "That's just scary!" she tells him and sighs patting her belly. "You know the best part of being a millionaire pregnant woman?" she doesn't mention that part much, but now she does. "If the expensive personal trainer I hired to get me back in shape doesn't work, I can just do plastic surgery!" she proclaims, reaching for one of the last dishes of leftovers.
Michael seems to consider. "Well ... glass doors too, naturally." he concedes. "I have no idea what it is. My Uncle Ulick is larger than I am, but my brother went through one that I know of ... but ... well, my father sort of helped him." he shrugs. "My nephew is turning nineteen in September. Would you like to see if the genetics hold? We're already planning on his first blind drunk."
Ryan looks at India with absolute love and a bit of sadness at how she's feeling about her body. He stands up and walks to her, putting his arms around her "I'll love you in any shape and size. Please don't alter a single eyelash. India, you're a goddess to me...you're growing a whole person inside you that we made. As long as we're all safe and healthy and together, I don't care about anything else."
Stephanie blinks and then looks imploringly at Nick "Please go with them.....oh my god.....Logan's smaller than you guys Mike...."
Nick looks curious but cautious "Explain blind drunk." He smiles a bit.
India looks at Ryan with adoration. "God, I love you." she gets as close to him as she can, then sighs and looks at her belly. "But this needs altering. She is NOT getting her bachelors degree. Do you hear me, young lady! I promise you your own room! OUT!"
Michael shrugs. "Not by THAT much." he protests. "He's got Colleens slim build, but her brother is pretty solid .. they can do the windows too, I know." apparently he has seen this in action. He looks at Nick. "Well, it means drinking until you're definitely drunk, although the blind part is optional. It's a family tradition on my mother's side." he looks at Stephanie. "Which will be optional for Tristan." the words betraying not only a fondness for Tristan, but also that he intends to be around at least until Tristan is 19 .. and beyond. "Although your Dad seems pretty mild." he doesn't know Yuki is sleeping it off in a bathtub, but Yuki isn't genetically linked, either.
Ryan laughs and then kisses India suddenly and deeply. He knows they only have so much time alone left.
Stephanie narrows her eyes at Michael now and reaches her pinchy fingers to the little spot she pinches on her brothers just behind and above the elbow and gives it a little warning squeeze "You will not be planning our son's inebriation rituals when he's only 10." In her flash of furry she didn't even realize she said our not her son's.
Nick listens with some curiosity. It doesn't sound too far off some of the antics he and his two best friends got up to in their youth minus the glass. When Stephanie threatens Micheal he looks almost delighted by the show.
India returns the kiss and turns to her side, so he can get a little closer. They're counting down the minutes, in some ways. "Wanna go home?" she asks, a little breathless. There two dishes left and the rest are soaking. She begins to put them in the dishwasher.
Michael looks at her sharply for a couple reasons. Alcohol or no alcohol, he caught the word 'our'. "Yes, dear." he replies and looks at Nick. "Am I allowed to say that if I'm not married?"
Ryan pushes her hand away from the dishwasher when he hears her tone. He looks at her with simultaneous love and absolute lust "Fuck the dishes....and lets go home so you can fuck me.." His hands grip her hips and he lets out a little grunt and then he almost runs for their jackets.
Nick looks down, catching it all and gives a little advice "I think it's a good thing to say in any state of relationship. It's the get you out of shit card son. You all seem fine here...so I'm gonna mosey. But have a good one eh." He gives them a little wave and starts walking away and his long legs make for fast strides.
Stephanie waggles her fingers and watches Nick go and then addresses Micheal's sharp look "I didn't pinch you THAT hard. What?"
India giggles and heads slowly towards the door. She can phone in their goodbyes.
Michael chuckles and nods. "Night, Nick." he takes the advice to heart. Once he is gone he looks at Stephanie. "After what you said, I would give you the WORLD, woman." he tells her. "Think back to exactly what you just said to me." he hopes she can remember it, but he does and he'll tell her. The word 'our' still making him smile.
Stephanie has a momentary look like his request is taxing her. When she's mad sometimes the words just come out fast before she even processes them. But clearly there was some kind of gem in there. She furrows her brow and slowly repeats what she thinks she said "You will not be planning...." She stops and smiles "Our son's inebriation...." Stephanie moves closer to Micheal again and leans against him in a half hug "I didn't realize it, but I do mean it Mike. Tristan clung to you at your brother's house when Jude spooked him. He doesn't even do that with his uncles, only me...."
Michael smiles. "I'm glad to know that." he hugs her back. "Now, are we spending the night, or am I crashing on the floor with my wannabe son and begging for sprite for my hangover in the morning?" he wonders. "Cause .. yea .. its that or take you right against this tree ... shame is the first casually of my inebriation."
Stephanie inhales sharply looking suddenly hot and bothered "You wanna do it in my parents yard on Christmas with everyone sleeping and passed out inside?"
Micheal pulls her close and nods as he leans in. "That's EXACTLY what I want, Miss Yamada."
Stephanie feels her breath quicken and spins them around so she's the one against the tree. It has convenient branches and she reaches up and hoists herself higher so she can wrap her legs around Micheal's waist "Then that's EXACTLY what you'll get Mr. Reinhardt.....just promise not to knock over the tree. My parents will forgive your for glass, but the orchard is non negotiable." She starts kissing him hard and happily surrenders to this crazy end to a crazy Christmas.
