The end of the year is the start of something new. A chance to leave behind the old and start over. An opportunity to begin fresh, to say to yourself, this time, I'm gonna do it better.

It had been a strange month. Granted, it had been a quiet month - even Christmas had come and gone with very little fuss, though Meredith was accustomed to even ( Read more... )

Lisey gets up, brushing off the snow that had stuck to her knees as she'd knelt to check the mulled wine and cider. The fire seems to be keeping it at a good temperature, and she's satisfied that they'll have enough hot drinks to warm up their guests after a few rounds on the frozen pool - that is, assuming that anybody turns out. But it's a lovely ( Read more... )

Karen wasn't exactly happy with the cold, but she didn't hate it, either - the only thing she really disliked was making the trek from her home on the now frozen beach to the compound. That was easily worked around simply by staying with Nick instead, and Karen spent the majority of her days either giving in to her childish side and making snowmen ( Read more... )

After nearly killing himself with the flu and letting Sam drag him back to civilization, Sam and Josh talk about how Josh is a jackass and a crappy friend. There are fumbling excuses and explanations, a few harsh but well-deserved words, and maybe some good stuff at the end. Things are a bit better and not perfect. But they're alright.

[Dated to ( Read more... )

On Thanksgiving, the Bartowski siblings (and Devon) throw a small to celebrate. Surrounded by friends, it turns out to be a pretty good day.

[Dated last Thursday]

Whenever everyone pulled together to do something like this, Dale was reminded just why they had something to celebrate. Tabula Rasa has begun as just a handful of people on an empty beach and everything it now was, was because of its residents pulling together and making something of their mutual situation ( Read more... )

Karen hadn't exactly been sociable or even in a good mood for the past week or so, but she figured losing two friends - one of them her best friend - in the span of a few days was excuse enough. If it wasn't, she didn't really care. She was tired of losing friends, tired of knowing she was going to lose someone every now and again no matter what ( Read more... )

When another Halloween had come and gone and she had survived physically (and mentally, seeing as her boyfriend had suddenly become one very afro-fied little boy), she was beginning to think that there would never be a holiday on the Island that was normal ever again. That was what had prompted her into action. She had spent the morning helping to ( Read more... )

Oscar Wilde once said that it is the curse of all women that we grow up to be our mothers. I don't think that's true. We are not our mothers. We're what comes next. We're the after. We are, for better or worse, our own women.Birthdays had never been a particular important occasion in the Grey household. There hadn't been many friends to invite over ( Read more... )

With one hand I carry my case. With the other I cast the sign of Mictecacihuatl like a handful of cobwebs in the air. Death, and a gift. The essential seduction. More potent by far than chocolate. And now, I turn to smile at her. Outside, and the darkness will swallow me whole. The night wind flirts with my red dress. My scarlet shoes are like ( Read more... )