A New Year's fic. Hope you all enjoy it. It's an experimental thing. Anyway, Gary deserves a happy new year, so here goes.

Rating: G

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters. If I did I'd be the luckiest person to ever live.

Spoilers: "Pilot," but we all know Marcia dumped Gary, right?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Countdown
by Ally McKnight

Just a normal day in the life of Gary Hobson, resident hero. A dog caught on fire, a woman got her head stuck in a fence, and a yo-yo factory blew up. Or, at least they would have, had it not been for Gary's magic newspaper. The past week had brought him more stress than he thought possible.

  Finally, though, he would have some time for himself, and his social life. It was New Year's Eve, and he was going to a big party with his girlfriend Toni Brigatti. He smiled to himself. He certainly deserved a break from the paper. He threw his leather jacket on his couch, and sighed. The phone rang suddenly.

 "'ello," Gary said, tiredly.

 "Gary? Honey?"

 "Oh, uh, hey, Mom. How's everything in Hickory?"

 "Fine. How are you doing sweetie? You sound terrible."

 "I'm okay, I uh, guess. Just got alot going on with the paper."

 "Well, don't let it work you too hard. Did you get the Christmas present we sent?"

 "Yeah, thanks," Gary replied. His parents had given him a big, warm jacket. He had been yet to try it on. Though it was good-looking, he found the winter milder than usual, and he prefered his leather bomber jacket above anything else.

 "Are you eating alright, honey?"

 "Yeah, Mom, I'm eating fine." Gary rolled his eyes. Typical motherly question.

 "Well, honey, try and get some rest. You sound like you're ready to collapse." Lois sounded worried.

 "I can't Mom. I have a da-, uh, I mean, um, never mind.." Gary trailed off. He didn't want his mom to make a huge fuss over one date with Toni. He never told either of his parents about Toni, nor did he want to. Even though it seemed to be Gary's first real serious relationship ever since Marcia left him. Toni even knew about the paper.

 "Did you say you have a date?" Lois asked, barely concealing her delight.

 "I never said that. I said that I couldn't relax." Gary said, trying to cover up his lie.

 "What's her name? Why haven't you told us about her? How long have you known her? When can we meet her?" Lois fired off questions.

 "Goodbye, Mom," Gary said.

 "Gary Matthew Hobson, if you hang up on me, I'll march right down to Chicago and find out for myself. Then you can tell me and your father in person. Now, are you ready to tell the mother who raised you and took care of when you were sick, scared, or hurt, about the woman you are dating?"

 Gary winced. Nobody could guilt a guy like his mother. "I didn't want you to make a fuss over me, her name's Antonia Brigatti, I've known her for about a year, and you can't meet her. Okay? You happy?"

  "So.... where are you kids going?"

  "Party. Okay, Mom." Gary glanced at his watch. "I've gotta go now, car accident on Sherman Ave. Only got a half an hour." 

  "Fine, go. But, I'll call later, and I expect details. Oh, I can't wait to tell Bernie!"

  "Mom, it's no big deal," Gary whined.

  "It's a huge deal. You deserve a little fun every now and then."

 "Bye, Mom."

 "Bye, honey. But remember to get some sleep. You seem like you were just run over by a truck."

  "No, just an interrogation by my mother," Gary said sarcastically."

  "I heard that," Lois warned. "Bye, sweetie. Have fun on your date."

  "Bye, Mom," he said and hung up. He grabbed his coat, and hailed a cab to get to Sherman.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Gary picked Toni up at eight. She looked great, in a slinky red dress, and hair piled up on top of her head. The party was at a huge mansion, owned by a family Gary had saved. In gratitude they had invited Gary and a guest to their party. They said he could invite all the people he wanted. He had invited Marissa and Emmett, but they were spending New Year's by having dinner at Marissa'a apartment.

  The night seemed to go by in a flash. It was almost midnight.

 "Come with me," Gary almost whispered. He led her to a secluded balcony, with a dozen roses, and a bottle of wine waiting for them. The couple looked up at the skyline. It was gorgeous. The night sky was filled with hundreds of tiny stars, and a light snow was beginning to fall on their heads.

 "It's beautiful," Toni said, looking into Gary's eyes.

 "Not as beautiful as you look tonight," Gary replied.

 "You don't look so bad ourself," Toni said. They sat down and enjoyed the wine, and just eachother's company. The countdown began to start. They sat, gazing lovingly at eachother and the skyline.

10.....

 "I love you, Toni," Gary whispered in her ear.

9....

 "And I love you," Toni replied.

8....

 "I never want this moment to end," Gary said. He gave her a shy kiss on the cheek.

7....

 "Just as long as we're together when it does," Toni said, returning his kiss.

6...

 "let's not let it end," Gary said softly.

5....

 "I agree," said Toni, kissing him gently on the lips.

4....

"I love you more than anythng," Gary said.

3...

 "And I'll love you always, and froever, until the end of time, and then some," Toni said, grinning.

2....

 "I love you, Toni Brigatti. Will you marry me?" He got down on one knees, and opened a small ring box, with a large diamond ring.

1....

 "Yes, I'll marry you. I love you Gary Hobson." She threw her arms around him, and kissed him passionately.

  And while everyone else was ringing in the new year, Gary Hobson was slipping a diamond ring on the finger of his fiancee, Toni Brigatti.

Email the author: Ally McKnight
 
 

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