Colin's posts

Ty just looked at Angela and smiled again.

"That's very nice of you." he said.

"But you know it's not a HUGE issue for me to be alone on Christmas." he went on, before pausing. "For the record, that was not meant to be as depressing as it sounded." he quickly said.

"And food to send? Well, THAT'S extra nice!" he added.

There was silence on the other side for a moment, before they heard a beeping and a buzzing.

"Yeah, sure, come on in." Ty said.

The three of them made their way to his door and knocked on it, with him answering seconds later, dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt.

"Hey." he greeted them.

"Merry Christmas." he said with a smile.

"Come on in." he finished, stepping aside.

Hal winked.

"Of course." he responded.

He then made his way back to the table where he set the Geode on, and left two more presents there. One was addressed to Ty, and the other to Angela and Zeke. Once he did so, he picked up his own gifts that he had received.

"I need to make my way back to my office!" he declared.

"See you all later!"

Hal smiled.

"Here's hoping." he said.

"And sure, I can join you for dinner." he told her.

"The nice thing about the time zone difference is that I can be with you guys, AND Hollie, for Christmas." he laughed, before looking at the gift that Ty had given him, wondering what it was.

"But it looks like we're all going to have a VERY Merry Christmas this year."

Hal nodded.

"Perfect." he said.

"I think it'll be the perfect gift for the both of them." he told her.

"Oh, and seems he also plans to get a bigger place to live if he's approved." he then said. "He told me himself that his place is not super suitable for long-term living, and that was a big reason he's being accepted." he went on.

"Not only is he proving himself right now, but he's thinking ahead for the future."

"I wanted to tell you this before you left, outside of Ty's earshot." Hal responded.

"But it's been approved." he told her.

"Ty can officially begin the process of adoption... any time now." he revealed.

"Everyone's seen how he's done and what he's doing, and they agree that he can care for a child. They're all right with the daycare being used by them, obviously, and he has a support network to help him care for her." he explained.

"In short, he's finally proven himself."

Ty shrugged.

"I'll make sure it's one they remember." he said.

"...in a good way." he added.

Hal just laughed a little.

"I understand." he said.

"Anyway, I'm going to say goodbye to the girls." Ty told them, before walking closer to them. Ty watched, and smirked.

"And he's about to have the best Christmas ever."

Ty nodded in response.

"Yeah." he said.

"Don't worry." Hal interjected. "I won't be calling anyone to come into work unless it's a dire emergency." he assured Angela.

He then looked at Ty and smiled.

"You have plans this Christmas, do you?" he asked. "That's rather unlike you." he commented.

"Well, things change." was all Ty responded, as he shrugged slightly.

Hal stepped away from Lunet and Liv to let them get ready, and made his way back to Ty and Angela.

"Anyway, Merry Christmas you two." he told them.

"Back atcha, Hal." Ty responded.

"Have a good break." Hal said further.

"We'll see ya when it's done." Ty smiled.

Hal smiled at Liv.

"Figured you'd like them." he said.

"Especially the griffin." he added, before looking at Lunet.

"And you're welcome, sweetie." he told her.

"I'm glad you like it."

Hal laughed at Liv's statement, and gave them each a wrapped gift.

"Here you both go." he said.

"Merry early Christmas." he told them.

"Go ahead and open them." he said further.

The two did so, and Lunet discovered that Hal had given her a book. A book entirely of brail, and one she'd heard about a while back and wanted to read. Liv discovered a set of 5 little stuffies, based on cute versions of mythical creatures.

Hal gently set the geode down on a table that was near him, and made his way over towards the two girls. Once he was close enough, he knelt down and gently pulled them both into a hug.

"Thank you, girls." he said.

"It's amazing." he told them.

"Just like the both of you are." he finished.

"That is an understatement, my dears." Hal responded.

"This is so rare, it's... it's..." he said further, stopping for a moment.

"It's perfect." he then stated.

"It's gorgeous, it's stunning, and it's a wonderous thing." he went on.

"How did you EVER get it?"

Hal just looked at Angela.

"Well, you're horrible at recognising what 'nothing' is." he told her.

He then looked at package, before slowly unwrapping it and opening the box inside. And when his eyes were laid upon the geode, they lit up with sheer surprise, to the point of being stunned.

"Oh... oh my..." he mumbled.

"This... this can't be...!?" he exclaimed lightly, sheer joy in his eyes.