Part 427: Arriving Guests

Kellye had finally arrived at the Reyes mansion. She was hoping she wouldn’t be late but normally, everybody else was arriving late anyway. The only reason she was trying to be early is because she wanted a decent parking spot. As she turned down the main street, she saw the large house with the accompaniment of vehicles from all their friends and family. She slowly pulled up toward the side street and got out of the vehicle with her small group of presents. As she did, she then noticed another call pulling up. Right on time it was Ana-Lucia. The officer walked over as her superior officer waved to her. “I thought you said you weren’t sure you were going to show this year?” Kellye laughed.

“Yeah, well,” Ana-Lucia stepped out with a present for someone, “I . .uh . .smelled Mama Reyes’s Bourbon chicken . .and I was helpless.”

“From south LA?” the younger officer laughed.

“Something like that.”

Kellye put her arm around her friend and proceeded up to the house. Already the porch was having the usual groupings of friends, hanging out; drinking whatever their was available. The officer waved to her friends on the porch, especially Hal. The San Fransisco cop waved to them and continued his story to John and McKay. “It was an insane scene,” he whispered in his deep voice, “This maniac had taken hostages inside this bank. He was demanding an airplane to get him to Hawaii.”

“And this guy . . was firing arrows?” John inquired.

“Yeah, John. I got no idea where this guy got these crazy arrows. It was like he either made them or bought them off some whacked-out arms dealer. He had tear-gas head, magnesium flare arrows and explosive rounds. One arrow detonated a police car right in front of us.”

“Explosive arrows?” John raised an eyebrow, sipping his eggnog, “I could have used those back on the Island.”

“We had no choice but to fire enough tear gas into that building to knock him and the hostages out. We caught him alive and what was left of his tricked-out arrows.”

“Man, that is crazy,” McKay laughed, “You guys get to keep those arrows for a momentous occasion?”

“Naw, no way.” Hal sipped his beer, “The Feds will come pick them up but as usual, they are taking their sweet time about it.”

“Never a dull moment, eh, Hal?” the archer laughed at the story.

“What, like that time McKay, Seth and Sayid RE-rescued Bridgett?” the cop chuckled, “Man, what a crazy day that was.”

“And I remember it like it was yesterday.” Shannon smiled.

The people on the porch then welcomed the next family to arrived which was Shannon, Sayid and Andra. The young former lost girl from the Island had grown into being a beautiful woman. Flower was the first to greet her, hugging her like a long lost sister. Sayid shook hands with Hal, McKay and John. They were happy to see their good friend. The Iraqi then looked at the entrance to the house, then back to the men on the porch. “Tony is not here?” he asked.

“Not yet.” McKay said, finishing off his drink.

John gave a concerned look as he stared at the ground. McKay then patted him on the shoulder. “I told you not to worry,” he told him, “Tony will be here.”

“And when he gets here, will he be blind?” the archer said bluntly, “Is that why he hasn’t called us in a month? Because he’s ashamed?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions, John,” Sayid said, “If Tony hasn’t called you, then it’s for a good reason.”

John sighed. He understood why his friends were telling him that; to remain positive. The four friends then began to maneuver back into the household so they could get their Middle Eastern friend a beer. Shannon placed her purse down and greeted all of her friends in the living room. Taylor and Mandy were the ones that came over to greet her first. They were the Blonde Triple Threat in McKay’s eyes. Three sisters that had bonded by circumstance, not to mention social status. “How have you been?” Mandy kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ve been wonderful,” she hugged them both, “ Sayid has taken great care of me and having Andra around is excellent too. She’s starting to become my little sister.”

“Andra and Shannon blowing Sayid’s credit cards in a mall?” Taylor giggled, “This I got to see.”

“Oh, shut up,” the tall blonde playfully pushed her.

“One more thing, Shannon,” Mandy smiled, “Bridget has been asking about you.”

“Where is she?” her eyes lit up.

“Auntie Shannon, Auntie Shannon!” the little girl screamed with delight as she rapidly made her way down the stairs.

The tall blonde giggled, then kneeled down; holding her arms wide for her approaching niece. Little Bridget ran up and embraced her, as Shannon picked her up and held her. The little girl held onto her aunt briefly, then backed off to look at her directly. “Did you bring it, Aunt Shannon?” the girl inquired, “Please tell me you brought. You said I could do it this year. Please, please, please.”

“There is always something you can count on, Breebree,” she said, kissing her on the forehead, “I will never let you down.”

Shannon then placed her back on the floor, then walked over to her large purse. She reached in and pulled out a large square object wrapped in tissue paper. She kneeled back down and unwrapped the item, giving it to Bridget.

It was a framed picture of Boone.

The young girl wrapped her arms around the photos; hugging it close to her chest. She gently kissed the picture and then began to walk over to the Memory Table. Shannon stood up and took Mandy’s hand. The blonde was trying to not to cry, watching her daughter place her father’s photo on the table; a father she had never meet, no will ever meet. However, it didn’t stop Bridget from loving her father’s memory. The young girl leaned up on her tippie toes and placed the photo onto the table. She grunted as she pushed it toward the right a little bit so it wouldn’t be off-centered. When she was satisfied she stepped back and smiled. “Merry Christmas, daddy,” she giggled, “I hope you are having a great party up in Heaven.”

The group of adults then applauded little Bridget. Even though Aaron was the first born out of their large extended, it was her who was born the first upon their arrival back into America. The young girl then ran across the living room and embraced her mother. Mandy held onto the little girl; holding back her tears at the lovely scene she had just witnessed. She wished Boone could be with them but since he couldn’t be; she’ll always be thankful for the daughter that he gave her.

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Jenny calmly pulled up her truck into the large driveway of the Reyes mansion. The large gathering of cars meant that the majority of the people were here. She didn’t see Jack’s car yet but she did see Kellye’s and Ana-Lucia’s. It’ll be great to see all of them. She calmly looked over to her passenger as he stared out the window. Raven took a deep breath and then looked in the mirror on the dashboard to check and make sure his medical mask was on, as well as the bandages underneath. “How do I look?” he asked her.

“Like a classy Invisible Man,” she giggled.

“Jenny, that isn’t funny,” he grunted, “I don’t want to scare the kids again.”

“The kids are a year older, Raven. Besides, you know Brendon loves you.”

“That’s only because he’s the rare child at that age that has an open mind.” He said, getting out of the car, “I’m thankful he was raised well.”

“Yeah, I know,” Jenny followed, “Considering this is Seth we are talking about.”

The survivors then saw Jenny and Raven coming up toward the porch. Like every single year, they greeted him with open arms. The cyborg was thankful that these people accepted him for what he was; a freak of nature. Back on the Island, during his exile; he never would have contemplated that he could be accepted by normal people. He was thankful for Jenny and how she saved him; both spiritually and in reality. Without her, he might have been a lost soul.

Jenny took off her coat and placed it on a nearby rack. As she turned around, she heard a soft voice crooning behind her. “Oh, Officer,” the female voice whispered, “I think you need to arrest someone for not calling her friends enough.”

“Kristy!” the young officer laughed as she turned around and hugged her model friend.

The tall brunette embraced her like the sister she had grown to be for her. Jenny then parted from her and smiled at her beautiful friend. “I saw your Vogue cover.” She grinned.

“That was a wicked photo shoot,” she laughed, “And the Bahamas was great this time of year.”

“Rumor has it you are dating Justin Timberlake.” The cop playfully nudged her.

“Ugh. He wishes,” she laughed.

The two friends giggled together as they walked into the living room. Jenny greeted all her other friends as she continued on. She paused when she saw the Memory Table and then realized one photo was missing. “Kristy?” she pointed, “Where is the photo of-“

Kristy stopped her. Then pulled out a framed photo of Martin. “I was waiting for you.” She winked.

Jenny then just smiled and sighed. She then took her friend by the hand and walked over to the Memory Table. The officer then placed the photo of their dearly departed friend. Kristy then took the long stem lighter and lit the two candles by his side. Jenny smiled at the loving photo, then embraced her friend again. “Merry Christmas, Kristy,” she smiled.

“Merry Christmas, Jenny,” she kissed her on the forehead, hugging her.

The two friends the parted and decided to go mingle with their fellow survivors. Jenny took a brief moment and stopped by Brendon Battle’s photo. She kissed her fingers and then placed them onto his picture. She regretted not getting closer to Brendon as they probably would have with martial arts. He was a warrior, a poet and a best friend to Seth, Shanna, and Mia. If anybody was the best of their bunch, it was him.

Raven walked into the kitchen and then poured himself a glass of eggnog. He then looked around and much to his surprise; there was a large stack of straws in a holder. The Jaeger Unit smirked as he picked up on to drink the eggnog through his mask. Then a pat on his shoulder interrupted his thought and he saw the owner of the mansion. “See, dude?” Hurley commented, “We didn’t forget this year.”

“Thank you, Hurley,” Raven smiled.

“Go ahead and enjoy your eggnog in the garden outback, Raven,” Joscelyn with a wink, “You know that’s where HE is.”

Raven chuckled with that the younger woman was talking about. He calmly exited the kitchen and proceeded to the back door entrance. As he stepped out onto the porch and proceeded down the steps; looked into the massive flower garden in the back. Especially at the bulky black man admiring them. “You always did seem to be a child of nature, Ecko,” Raven called.

The black man turned and laughed at the man he spent 7 years with on the Island. They laughed and embraced like long lost siblings. “I’ve always loved nature, my brother,” Ecko smiled, “It is where God’s true harmony lies.”

“Why don’t you get Hurley to have landscapers construct you a garden on your farm?” Raven sipped his eggnog.

“Because then I would see it every day. The only way for this particular garden to be special to me is to keep it as a treat. Besides . . .Hurley already offered and I said no for the same reason.”

Raven and Ecko laughed again with their mutual joke. They both felt better to be in each other’s presence. It was naturally considering they both spent 7 years dodging the Liberation as they maintained control of the Island. However, Raven was content to live with Jenny on the outskirts of the city. Ecko felt more in tune with the area upstate where he lived; surrounded by trees. So as a result, they always did enjoy their time during Christmas. They came together for the same reason they always do every year and to enjoy the time they had together. Before Raven could mention anything else, he heard a small boy calling his name. “RAVEN, RAVEN!!!” Brendon ran toward him.

“Oh, my goodness,” Ecko chuckled slightly.

“Doesn’t the boy have anything better to do?” the Jaeger Unit smirked under his mask.

“What can you do, my friend? Every young lad needs a hero to look up to.”

“I’m not a hero.” He countered.

“You are too him.”

“RAVEN, RAVEN!!” Brendon screamed in delight as he finally reached the Jaeger Unit and hugged him around the legs.

“Hey, boy, how you doing?” he patted him on the back.

“I’m so glad to see you,” he parted, “Can you do a magic trick for me?”

“What?” Raven sighed, “Another one?”

“PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!!!” the little boy hopped up and down.

“Oh, all right, “ Raven kneeled down on one knee, and scooped up some of the small river pebbles from the flower garden, “Hold out your hand.”

Brendon did as he was told and when he did, Raven poured the pebbles into the boy’s hand. Then Raven held open his hand. “Put them in mine.” He whispered.

Brendon did what he was told; pouring the small pebbles back into the hand of the Jaeger Unit. Raven then motioned for the little boy to hold out his hand for the pebbles one more time. “Now,” the cyborg smiled, “Watch my hand closely as you pour the pebbles down to it.”

Brendon then let the pebbles drop down. Raven’s hand then glowed a soft blue and the small rocks past right through the palm. The little boy’s eyes lit up with the advance science he called magic. “WOW!!” he screamed, “DO IT AGAIN, DO IT AGAIN!!”

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Down the street, Eddie and Bonnie were getting closer to the mansion where the massive Christmas party was waiting. The young man was happy that his girlfriend agreed to come to the Christmas party to finally meet his mother and the bulk of the Flight 815 survivors he had come to know as family. However, the young redhead gave her boyfriend the impression that she was having second thoughts. Especially over the slow shrill she was emitting from her lips. “Bonnie?” Eddie asked.

“I can’t do this.” She whispered.

“Bonnie, calm down,” he laughed.

“I’m nervous as Hell. I can’t calm down.”

“Honey, please. She’s just one person. It’s not going to shake your world if you meet her.”

Bonnie then looked at him. “Her?” she inquired.

“Yeah, her.” The young man replied, turning down a side street.

“Wait . . .who are we talking about?”

Eddie blinked as he glanced over to her. “My . .mom?” he asked, thinking it was obviously.

She giggled slightly and patted his arm. “No, Eddie. I can handle your mother, that’s not going to be problem.” She told him.

The young man was royally confused. “Then,” he stammered, “Who . .who were you talking about?”

“Who do you THINK I was talking about?” she gasped, “TUROBSHAFT!!!”

“Oh, my God,” Eddie laughed.

“I’M HAVING CHRISTMAS WITH TURBOSHAFT!!!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Ease up, babydoll,” he said, rubbing his index finger in his right ear, “I don’t think they heard you back in Los Angeles.”

She laughed as she rapidly shook his arm to convey her incredible amount of excitement she was expecting to have this evening. Eddie just shook his head and laughed; as he pulled The Turk into the side street behind all the cars that were there. Eddie exited the vehicle and then walked to the trunk. As he opened it, he pulled out several Christmas wrapped presents and a large red laundry bag; which of course, looked like Santa’s gift bag. Bonnie did giggle on how Eddie treated the younger kids of their core group. He really was the older brother to him.

The young couple started walking toward the porch and already Eddie was being greeted by the people. A lot of the people patted him on the back and thanked him for showing up. Then John and McKay approached him, and they embraced. Most of the men felt like Eddie was their little brother or son; plus Eddie returned the gesture to most. The young man then parted from the archer and the Australian, taking a brief look around the porch and then back again. “Tony and Marita aren’t here?” he asked.

“Not yet.” McKay said bluntly.

“You heard from them, Eddie?” John asked.

“Naw. You?”

“No,” the gym teacher rubbed his eyebrow.

“John, once again, I’m sure everything is okay.” McKay patted him on the shoulder, “Right, Eddie?”

“Yeah, sure, Uncle John. Tony will be here.”

Eddie wasn’t sure of the situation himself. He also had not spoken to either Marita or Tony since they left. He excused himself from John and McKay, proceeding back into the house with Bonnie in tow. Everybody greeted him as he walked over to the giant Christmas tree, placing his presents down. He then reached into the large pocket of his jacket and pulled out a framed photo of his deceased father. The young man calmly walked over to the Memory Table and placed it beside Boone’s picture. Bonnie rubbed his arm as she looked at all the pictures. “What is this, Eddie?” she asked.

“It’s the Memory Table,” he said, adjusting his father’s picture, “We always make one every Christmas to remember the loved ones we lost on that Island.”

“That’s really sweet,” she admired.

“Oh, lookie there.” Karleigh said approaching her, “It’s our biggest fan.”

“Oh, no,” the young girl whimpered.

“Hey, Bonnie,” Dutch said, placing his arms around her, “Merry Christmas.”

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,” Bonnie said in low shrill.

“Okay, guys, “ Karleigh said, taking her aside, “We’ve embarrassed her enough. Eddie, may I have the honor of introducing her around?”

“Feel free.” He smirked, grossing his arms.

“You might want to head upstairs to the gaming room, man,” Seth pointed, “Aaron and the rug rats are asking about you.”

“Oh, boy,” he shook his head, then touched Bonnie on the arm, “Come on up after you meet everybody.”

“Okay,” she said, still trying not to freak with Karleigh putting her arm around her.

Eddie began to ascend the stairs to meet up with Aaron, Brendon and the rest of the younger kids. He wondered if things would be hectic like it was last year. The moment he stepped in and saw Aaron wrestling with Brendon, he knew it would be.

“Nothing changes,” he smirked.