Tradition (Team Schmoop)
Title: Starting Off With A Bang
Author: Magisterequitum
Pairing/Characters: The Team plus Papa Eppes; Don/Robin, Charlie/Amita, Ian/Nikki
Rating/Category: G
Word Count: 852
Spoilers: Latest season and you're good
Summary: Ringing in the New Year as a team in the Craftsman.
Notes/Warnings: Thanks to Candi for being my quick Beta for this. Any other mistakes are purely my own.
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The cork to the bottle shot off with a loud bang, the trapped air from within forcing the stopper out. It hit the wall across the living room, narrowly missing the aimed target of the curly haired man. Cheers went up from the assembled group and hands eagerly grabbed flute glasses.
Don poured the champagne into each awaiting glass of his teammates and family.
Charlie frowned at his turn, “Nice aim, Don.”
The older Eppes brother grinned and knocked the bottle against the flute glass. “Just missed by a little, Chuck. Better watch it. I’ll get you the next time.”
Grumbling under his breath, Charlie gave in to a smile. He muttered something along the lines of that’s what Don always said and if he, his brother, wasn’t careful, then Charlie was going to get the other bottle and he’d make sure to hit the FBI agent. It would take barely a minute to work out the correct angles and such to guarantee an accurate hit.
The group laughed as their mathematician threatened violence through the use of math equations. Once everyone’s glass was filled and a few sips taken, they all stared at one another expectedly for what would happen next. The television had the reruns of New York’s celebration on from three hours earlier. They’d all collected themselves into a loose circle in the Craftsman living room, friends and family together for the celebration of the New Year.
Fifteen minutes remained until midnight, till this year would be over and a new one would begin.
Nikki found herself standing between Robin and Colby in their circle. Though she had finally started to feel as if she really belonged in their team, she still sometimes felt out of the loop; such as times like now where she made sure to say exactly the right thing when she spoke, if she did at all. But the nudge to her side from Colby and the smirk from the in-town sniper across the way soothed the anxiety. These people were her family now, she supposed.
“Alright,” the Eppes patriarch cleared his throat, gaining all of their attention. “With the New Year quickly approaching, I think it would be appropriate to look back at what we had and forward to what’s to come. To say thanks for the past year.”
Nikki joined in with everyone murmuring their agreement.
Alan tipped his glass to everyone and said, “To everyone’s health and safety.” His words were said with a smile and jovial tone, but there was a seriousness that all of them understood.
Charlie went next, toasting to the next stages of life, looking at Amita next to him. The female mathematician toasted to that as well. Don was next with family, Robin with loved ones here and far away. And so it went round their circle to David and Ian and Colby and Liz and finally to her.
Nikki blinked, searching for something that hadn’t already been said. Finally, she saluted her glass and stated quickly, “To belonging. To the team.”
Cheers went up again as everyone echoed her statement. Glasses were toasted and champagne was emptied. There were calls for a refill and Charlie disappeared to the garage. The television’s reporter cried that there were only a few minutes remaining in the year.
Nikki stood still as Ian crossed the room to stand next to her.
“To belonging,” Ian said, smirking down at her.
She looked up, eyebrow rising at his flippant remark. “Yes.”
The sniper hummed low, black eyes staring deeply at her, as if he understood where she was coming from, being an outsider himself. Their staring contest was broken off as the countdown officially began.
Twenty… nineteen…eighteen…
“Chuck, hurry up!” Don hollered towards the kitchen and garage.
…Fifteen…fourteen…thirteen…
The genius ran back in, champagne bottle held high in victory. “I’m here. I’m here.”
...Ten…nine…eight…
All of them were counting now, but Nikki never removed her gaze from the man next to her.
“…Three…Two…One! Happy New Year!”
Joyous shouts echoed in the Craftsman. From the corner of her eye, she could see the Boss and Robin embracing, loving smiles in place. Charlie and Amita exchanged a quick kiss, before the raven haired woman pecked her soon to be father-in-law on the cheek. Liz exchanged kisses with both David and Colby, devilish grin on her face.
“Happy New Year,” she quietly said.
Ian looked down at her, the corners of his lips tugging upward. He inclined his head towards her and his arms slipped easily around her back.
Nikki sighed into the kiss. It was just like she’d remembered.
They were content with themselves until the banging sound of another cork popping interrupted them. They looked up in time to see Charlie nail Don right in his back.
Charlie cheered triumphantly when Don whirled around. He crowed, “See. Told you I wouldn’t miss!”
Laughter rang out again not for the last time that night. Once again, they all found themselves back in a loose circle, watching as the two brothers ran around the house, ending in a wrestling tussle. The new year had begun.