Dec 8th fic prompt
Title: Where are you Christmas?
Summary: William finds there's reason to hold onto the holidays
Rating: G
Characters: William Evans (3:10 to Yuma), Bill Pardy (Slither), Kate Warner (24), Boo (Monster's Inc.)
Disclaimer: Ho-ho-hum, characters aren't mine.
warning: I guess you could count spoilers for 3:10 to Yuma in this. Set to happen the Christmas after those events.
A/N: Another holiday gifty for ceitfianna in answer to her prompt Bill, Kate, William-- All sorts of family. Title and cut text taken from Faith Hill's Where are you Christmas?"
A/N 2: If you look at it from a West coast standpoint, this is still totally being posted on the 8th. If you don't, I'm a wee bit late.
William walks into the bar in front of an icy blast of wind. He closes the door and kicks a light powdering of snow off his boots, blowing his hands to warm them.
Arizona might be a desert, but that doesn't mean its winters aren't cold.
Heading to the bar for a cup of coffee, William smiles when he sees Bill already there; a happy toddler on his lap.
"Hey, Bill."
Bill turns towards William and gives him an embarrassed smile.
"Hey."
William does a double-take when he gets a better look at Bill, and Bill's embarrassment seems to go up a notch.
"Wha-- " Biting his tongue, William goes with a different question. "How're you doin'?"
"It's the holidays," Bill replies in a way that makes it sound like an explanation. "I-- "
"Kismas!" The girl on Bill's lap cheers, before slapping another holiday sticker onto Bill's cheek.
Bill's wearing quite a few, a wreath on his forehead, a star beneath one eye, and baubles... everywhere.
It isn't just that, though. Bill's also wearing a fancy looking red scarf, and a hideous green sweater with a penguin on it.
He doesn't look too comfortable in any of it, but he gives the girl a smile and nods.
"That's right, Boo. S'Christmas."
Bill bounces her on his knee and she giggles, then goes back to applying stickers to the book that's laid out on the counter.
Bill lets out a silent sigh, and rolls his eyes a bit before turning his attention back to William.
"I keep tellin' myself there's only a few days left, but I dunno if'n I'm gonna survive."
William looks down at Boo, then tilts his head at Bill.
"Is she... "
"No." Bill shakes his head. "But me an' Kate look after her when she's here. Boo? This is William."
Boo looks up and gives William a smile.
"'Lo, Willum! Kismas!" She reaches out and sticks a candy cane sticker onto William's hand.
William lifts his hand and reaches to peel it off, but a quick head shake from Bill stops him.
"Don't."
Glancing back at Boo, William sees she's studying him with a stern expression, half a pout already formed on her mouth.
Instead of taking the sticker off, William smooths it down in place and gives her a smile.
"Uh, thanks, Boo. It's... pretty."
The toddler beams and goes back to her book.
Bill has a look of relief like a crisis has been averted.
"So how're you? It gettin' towards Christmas time on your side of the door?"
William takes a drink of his coffee and shrugs.
"Yeah, it's 'bout that time I guess."
"Y'don't sound overly excited about it," Bill comments.
William gives Bill a sideways look, and Bill laughs.
"Hey, I may be complainin' here, but that don't mean I don't like the season. Y'wouldn't see me here like this if I didn't."
"Why are you dressed like that?" William finally asks. The stickers have been explained, but the rest...
Heaving a sigh, Bill shakes his head while adjusting Boo on his lap.
"Because I've got two women in my life, an' I love 'em both."
William's eyebrows start to rise, but Bill goes on to explain.
"This," Bill says, tugging on his scarf, "is from Kate. She picked it up for me somewhere in L.A., an' she's convinced it looks good on me.
"An' this," he pulls on his sweater, making a resigned face, "is from my mom. Every year since I was 'bout six years old she's either bought or made me a sweater. An' I only ever wear 'em a couple times for the holiday, then hide 'em. I swear I've got a box stashed away full of sweaters just as bad, an' some even worse, than this."
"So why wear 'em an' keep 'em? How come you don't just get rid of 'em?" William asks.
"Because it's Christmas, an' it makes 'em happy. Me gettin' horrible sweaters is a tradition, an' I'll bet you me gettin' overpriced scarves'll be one now, too."
Bill glances down at his scarf, and shakes his head. "I mean' lookit this, what kind of dude wears cashmere, really?"
William doesn't know, so he doesn't answer. Instead, he thinks over the things Bill's said.
"The holidays are about family," Bill says, giving William a smile. "Not just puttin' up with 'em, but enjoyin' the time together, celebratin' what you have."
"Skoo!" Boo chimes in, clapping her hands.
"That's right, Boo. S'about our school."
"An' pr's'nts," she grins, and Bill laughs.
"Well yeah, can't forget the presents."
*****
William's on his way out to the stables when he runs into Kate who's coming up one of the trails from the woods.
She gives him a smile, and slows her pace.
"Hi, William."
"Good afternoon." He doesn't tack on the 'ma'am', and she gives him a bemused smile.
"How've you been?" she asks, taking a drink from a bottle of water she has with her.
"I been alright."
"Getting ready for the holidays?"
"Not really... kind of. I guess." He gives an undecided shrug. Seeing the way Kate's studying him, William gives a soft sigh.
"It's just... I don't know if I really see a whole lot t'celebrate. This years been real hard. An', well, there ain't a whole lot to celebrate with."
Kate's smile softens, and she shakes her head gently.
"Celebrating the season isn't just about what we buy, William. It's the gestures we make, and the people we surround ourselves with."
She glances towards the bar, then back to William. Tucking a loose strand of blond hair back behind her ear, her expression turns empathetic.
"This year hasn't exactly been the best for me either, but I can tell you, I'm glad to have the chance to celebrate making it through. In a lot of ways it's an achievement, and I'm grateful just to be able to enjoy the season; with people I care about."
William nods, silent a long moment, looking out towards the stables and pasture beyond.
"This'll be the first Christmas since... since my pa died," William says quietly. "Somehow, it don't feel right t'celebrate it at home without him."
Kate touches his arm lightly, bringing his gaze back to her.
"I know how you feel, William. After my mom passed, it was hard to... to move on after; especially during the holidays. It doesn't feel the same when someone you love is absent, and you almost feel guilty for marking the occasion without them."
Not almost, he does.
William's family never had much of anything, but his pa always tried hard to make at least Christmas time special for them. It was that one time of year when they found some small measure of peace and happiness to celebrate.
"I just don't know if I-- how I'm going to make it like it was before."
"You can't," Kate replies, soft and sad. "It'll never be like it was, but that doesn't mean it can't be good. You still have others you care about, and it's important to try to maintain those relationships."
The way Kate says the last makes William wonder what happened to her family after her mother died, and it causes him to take her words to heart.
"My ma and brother do deserve to have a good Christmas," he says after a long pause.
"So do you, William."
*****
Christmas day is another cold one, but William's cheeks are warm as he comes in through the door again; toting a few packages and leaving behind the smells of wood burning and good cooking behind for now.
He's looking one way when a greeting comes in from the other.
"Hey, Merry Christmas, William."
William turns to see Bill approaching, Boo tugging him around by one hand, and Kate trailing not too far behind him.
"Kismas!" Boo cheers. She has on a red Santa hat, and William's smile quirks when he takes in the pair of felt antlers Bill has on his head.
"Merry Christmas," William greets them.
"Y'eat yet? There's plenty around," Bill asks, nodding towards the tables and counters where food is spread out.
William shakes his head.
"My ma is cookin' right now, so I'm gonna save my appetite."
Bill grins and nods.
"Don't blame ya there."
"I just stopped in to drop off a few things. I uh, I got a few presents for y'all," William says, holding up the bundles he's carrying.
The gifts are wrapped up in cloth and tied with string he found; names carefully scrawled on slips of paper tied to the tops.
William hands Bill the two meant for the sheriff and Kate, then kneels down to give Boo hers.
"Here y'go, Boo."
Boo squeals in delight, opening the package to reveal a small, hand carved horse. Hugging William around the neck, Boo runs over to Kate to show her the present.
"Thanks, William. Y'didn't have to," Bill smiles. "But we, uh, we-- "
Bill searches himself, then glances back at Kate who comes over from the counter carrying a pair of gifts wrapped in bright paper.
"We weren't sure you'd be in, so we left them with Bar," Kate explains, giving William a warm smile as she hands the gifts over.
William looks down at the boxes, cheeks flushed and throat a bit tight.
"Thank you. I-- thanks."
Bill and Kate smile at him, and Boo comes running up, the bells on her shoes jingling, and another pair of antlers in her hands.
"Willum, deeeer! You 'n B'll on Gracie-Boo-Santa sleigh!"
She hops up and down, and lets out a high, excited sound when William dons the antlers.
The package from Bill has a set of Western serial books in it.
The one from Kate has a blue, cashmere scarf.
Summary: William finds there's reason to hold onto the holidays
Rating: G
Characters: William Evans (3:10 to Yuma), Bill Pardy (Slither), Kate Warner (24), Boo (Monster's Inc.)
Disclaimer: Ho-ho-hum, characters aren't mine.
warning: I guess you could count spoilers for 3:10 to Yuma in this. Set to happen the Christmas after those events.
A/N: Another holiday gifty for ceitfianna in answer to her prompt Bill, Kate, William-- All sorts of family. Title and cut text taken from Faith Hill's Where are you Christmas?"
A/N 2: If you look at it from a West coast standpoint, this is still totally being posted on the 8th. If you don't, I'm a wee bit late.
William walks into the bar in front of an icy blast of wind. He closes the door and kicks a light powdering of snow off his boots, blowing his hands to warm them.
Arizona might be a desert, but that doesn't mean its winters aren't cold.
Heading to the bar for a cup of coffee, William smiles when he sees Bill already there; a happy toddler on his lap.
"Hey, Bill."
Bill turns towards William and gives him an embarrassed smile.
"Hey."
William does a double-take when he gets a better look at Bill, and Bill's embarrassment seems to go up a notch.
"Wha-- " Biting his tongue, William goes with a different question. "How're you doin'?"
"It's the holidays," Bill replies in a way that makes it sound like an explanation. "I-- "
"Kismas!" The girl on Bill's lap cheers, before slapping another holiday sticker onto Bill's cheek.
Bill's wearing quite a few, a wreath on his forehead, a star beneath one eye, and baubles... everywhere.
It isn't just that, though. Bill's also wearing a fancy looking red scarf, and a hideous green sweater with a penguin on it.
He doesn't look too comfortable in any of it, but he gives the girl a smile and nods.
"That's right, Boo. S'Christmas."
Bill bounces her on his knee and she giggles, then goes back to applying stickers to the book that's laid out on the counter.
Bill lets out a silent sigh, and rolls his eyes a bit before turning his attention back to William.
"I keep tellin' myself there's only a few days left, but I dunno if'n I'm gonna survive."
William looks down at Boo, then tilts his head at Bill.
"Is she... "
"No." Bill shakes his head. "But me an' Kate look after her when she's here. Boo? This is William."
Boo looks up and gives William a smile.
"'Lo, Willum! Kismas!" She reaches out and sticks a candy cane sticker onto William's hand.
William lifts his hand and reaches to peel it off, but a quick head shake from Bill stops him.
"Don't."
Glancing back at Boo, William sees she's studying him with a stern expression, half a pout already formed on her mouth.
Instead of taking the sticker off, William smooths it down in place and gives her a smile.
"Uh, thanks, Boo. It's... pretty."
The toddler beams and goes back to her book.
Bill has a look of relief like a crisis has been averted.
"So how're you? It gettin' towards Christmas time on your side of the door?"
William takes a drink of his coffee and shrugs.
"Yeah, it's 'bout that time I guess."
"Y'don't sound overly excited about it," Bill comments.
William gives Bill a sideways look, and Bill laughs.
"Hey, I may be complainin' here, but that don't mean I don't like the season. Y'wouldn't see me here like this if I didn't."
"Why are you dressed like that?" William finally asks. The stickers have been explained, but the rest...
Heaving a sigh, Bill shakes his head while adjusting Boo on his lap.
"Because I've got two women in my life, an' I love 'em both."
William's eyebrows start to rise, but Bill goes on to explain.
"This," Bill says, tugging on his scarf, "is from Kate. She picked it up for me somewhere in L.A., an' she's convinced it looks good on me.
"An' this," he pulls on his sweater, making a resigned face, "is from my mom. Every year since I was 'bout six years old she's either bought or made me a sweater. An' I only ever wear 'em a couple times for the holiday, then hide 'em. I swear I've got a box stashed away full of sweaters just as bad, an' some even worse, than this."
"So why wear 'em an' keep 'em? How come you don't just get rid of 'em?" William asks.
"Because it's Christmas, an' it makes 'em happy. Me gettin' horrible sweaters is a tradition, an' I'll bet you me gettin' overpriced scarves'll be one now, too."
Bill glances down at his scarf, and shakes his head. "I mean' lookit this, what kind of dude wears cashmere, really?"
William doesn't know, so he doesn't answer. Instead, he thinks over the things Bill's said.
"The holidays are about family," Bill says, giving William a smile. "Not just puttin' up with 'em, but enjoyin' the time together, celebratin' what you have."
"Skoo!" Boo chimes in, clapping her hands.
"That's right, Boo. S'about our school."
"An' pr's'nts," she grins, and Bill laughs.
"Well yeah, can't forget the presents."
*****
William's on his way out to the stables when he runs into Kate who's coming up one of the trails from the woods.
She gives him a smile, and slows her pace.
"Hi, William."
"Good afternoon." He doesn't tack on the 'ma'am', and she gives him a bemused smile.
"How've you been?" she asks, taking a drink from a bottle of water she has with her.
"I been alright."
"Getting ready for the holidays?"
"Not really... kind of. I guess." He gives an undecided shrug. Seeing the way Kate's studying him, William gives a soft sigh.
"It's just... I don't know if I really see a whole lot t'celebrate. This years been real hard. An', well, there ain't a whole lot to celebrate with."
Kate's smile softens, and she shakes her head gently.
"Celebrating the season isn't just about what we buy, William. It's the gestures we make, and the people we surround ourselves with."
She glances towards the bar, then back to William. Tucking a loose strand of blond hair back behind her ear, her expression turns empathetic.
"This year hasn't exactly been the best for me either, but I can tell you, I'm glad to have the chance to celebrate making it through. In a lot of ways it's an achievement, and I'm grateful just to be able to enjoy the season; with people I care about."
William nods, silent a long moment, looking out towards the stables and pasture beyond.
"This'll be the first Christmas since... since my pa died," William says quietly. "Somehow, it don't feel right t'celebrate it at home without him."
Kate touches his arm lightly, bringing his gaze back to her.
"I know how you feel, William. After my mom passed, it was hard to... to move on after; especially during the holidays. It doesn't feel the same when someone you love is absent, and you almost feel guilty for marking the occasion without them."
Not almost, he does.
William's family never had much of anything, but his pa always tried hard to make at least Christmas time special for them. It was that one time of year when they found some small measure of peace and happiness to celebrate.
"I just don't know if I-- how I'm going to make it like it was before."
"You can't," Kate replies, soft and sad. "It'll never be like it was, but that doesn't mean it can't be good. You still have others you care about, and it's important to try to maintain those relationships."
The way Kate says the last makes William wonder what happened to her family after her mother died, and it causes him to take her words to heart.
"My ma and brother do deserve to have a good Christmas," he says after a long pause.
"So do you, William."
*****
Christmas day is another cold one, but William's cheeks are warm as he comes in through the door again; toting a few packages and leaving behind the smells of wood burning and good cooking behind for now.
He's looking one way when a greeting comes in from the other.
"Hey, Merry Christmas, William."
William turns to see Bill approaching, Boo tugging him around by one hand, and Kate trailing not too far behind him.
"Kismas!" Boo cheers. She has on a red Santa hat, and William's smile quirks when he takes in the pair of felt antlers Bill has on his head.
"Merry Christmas," William greets them.
"Y'eat yet? There's plenty around," Bill asks, nodding towards the tables and counters where food is spread out.
William shakes his head.
"My ma is cookin' right now, so I'm gonna save my appetite."
Bill grins and nods.
"Don't blame ya there."
"I just stopped in to drop off a few things. I uh, I got a few presents for y'all," William says, holding up the bundles he's carrying.
The gifts are wrapped up in cloth and tied with string he found; names carefully scrawled on slips of paper tied to the tops.
William hands Bill the two meant for the sheriff and Kate, then kneels down to give Boo hers.
"Here y'go, Boo."
Boo squeals in delight, opening the package to reveal a small, hand carved horse. Hugging William around the neck, Boo runs over to Kate to show her the present.
"Thanks, William. Y'didn't have to," Bill smiles. "But we, uh, we-- "
Bill searches himself, then glances back at Kate who comes over from the counter carrying a pair of gifts wrapped in bright paper.
"We weren't sure you'd be in, so we left them with Bar," Kate explains, giving William a warm smile as she hands the gifts over.
William looks down at the boxes, cheeks flushed and throat a bit tight.
"Thank you. I-- thanks."
Bill and Kate smile at him, and Boo comes running up, the bells on her shoes jingling, and another pair of antlers in her hands.
"Willum, deeeer! You 'n B'll on Gracie-Boo-Santa sleigh!"
She hops up and down, and lets out a high, excited sound when William dons the antlers.
The package from Bill has a set of Western serial books in it.
The one from Kate has a blue, cashmere scarf.