Christmas is coming

 Frankie was in total shock to see Cyrus at his doorstep. It was dark outside. "How did you get here?" He looked about outside and didn't see a Taxi or an Uber.

"I took the bus," Cyrus said he knew Pixie wasn't here. She was at the pizza place.

"Why aren't you working?"

"I faked being sick." He nodded as he followed Frankie to his open kitchen far from his majestic livingroom. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Like what?"

"Like, stop making people think you and Pixie are together." His words stung Frankie.

"What do you mean? What have you heard?" Frankie winced wondering if it got back to Pixie.

"Nothing much," he shrugged. That's when he pulled out a wad of cash in an envelope. Frankie couldn't help but be a bit bug-eyed.

"What's that for?" Frankie squinted as if this couldn't be good. What if Cyrus was part of a Mafia family. Was it hush money?

"Christmas." Cyrus finally sighed and sat down at the barstool across from Frankie.

"Christmas?" Was he joking?

"Pixie's Christmas and kind of mine, too." Cyrus shrugged.

"I can't believe you brought all that cash here." The money could hardly stay in the envelope.

"Well, I had some money in my savings," he shrugged. "Could you buy her a car with it?"

"A car?" Now Frankie made a face of disgust. Oh, he didn't like the sound of someone like Pixie with a car.

"Yeah, she needs one." Cyrus nodded with his curls in his eyes. Honestly, he looked a little underdressed for the windchill. "I need her to drive me places too."

"Of course," Frankie supposed that was the catch. 

"I mean, I don't like that she lives with you, but..but she says you're like a brother she never had," He looked Frankie over. "So isn't this what a brother is supposed to do?"

"Yeah, but..."

"Please," Cyrus said he needed his help. "I want her to have a good Christmas."

Frankie pressed his lips tight. He knew this was no time to be Scrooge.

Honestly, in her wildest dreams, Tori never knew she could be this happy. And to think of how down and out she was last Christmas. It was still shocking and yet she held baby Soren with ease. She truly hoped he loved the holidays. 

Of course, she read to him, sang to him as she rocked him along. The tree was lit and she'd made mittens for her friends. It was so homemade. She hoped they didn't mind, but honestly, she didn't care. She didn't want anything from them. Just peace. Was that too much to ask for?

Hope dropped by. She'd made broccoli and cheese soup for them and brought baked bread too. Truly, it was simple gifts like this that meant the most to Tori. 

"Seriously, you are spoiling us," Tori told her.

"Oh, but I like cooking. I like cooking for you guys. I like that I have someone I can talk to. Especially, about the baby and of course, Frankie." Hope laughed.

"Oh that Frankie, I wonder if he'll pop the question? And then we can see a real wedding happen," Tori laughed back as if they both hoped good things happened for him.

"I don't think it's Pixie," Hope shrugged.

"Then who?" Tori winced as if this was truly bad news.

"Kyle talked to Cyrus and it seems she must be seeing him."

"Really?" Tori sounded as if that was a downer.

"What kind of mystery does he have going on now?" Hope shook her head.

"Remember how he was hush hush about that person he met online?" Tori shrugged.

"I know, why is he like this? What is he afraid of? What could we do to make him..so..paranoid?" Hope plopped the baby carrier on the floor and got Jewel out of her seat. She was wide-eyed taking everything in.

"I wonder what he'd do if we left these two with him for the afternoon?" Tori smiled.

"Oh, we do so love to torture that Frankie, don't we." They both had a good laugh as they started to talk how they might make that happen someday soon.