Christmas is Kayla's favorite time of year. She's had her apartment decorated like a winter wonderland since after Thanksgiving but has been listening to Christmas music since November 1st. It was the one holiday that her whole family could come together. People wouldn't always be able to make it for Thanksgiving and Halloween is more of friend holiday, but Christmas is for family...and amazing Christmas parties!

Ever since Kayla moved to LA, she has thrown an awesome Christmas party for her 118 crew and family. It's something her parents used to do when she was younger but stopped after she turned 18 because of certain reasons. Now, she gets to help the kids and families she works with have amazing memories.

"So, what is this huge O'Malley Christmas party I keep hearing about, Darlin?" Eddie asks, walking up to her as she lays on the couch in the loft of the firehouse. Her eyes are taken away from her laptop to the brown ones behind her. "It's my annual Christmas party. It's something for all the crew here to get to bring their family to and enjoy being together. Team building and everything." Her face lights up in a smile as she tells him everything.

"So, when is it so Chris and I can be there?" He asks, leaning against the back of the couch. "I havent gotten the invites done yet, you will know when you get it in the mail." She winks before standing up and heading downstairs. Eddie watches as she walks away before sighing and falling back onto the couch.

Kayla just puts her laptop back in her bag when the alarm goes off in the firehouse. Quickly putting on her gear, she hops into the truck and sits across from Eddie as the crew head towards a house where a man is stuck in a package and on a plane.

"How long has he been up there?" Buck asks, the truck racing to the airport. "Plane took off from LAX 18 minutes ago. It was diverited to SoCal Airport." Bobby informs the crew as some of them finish strapping up or check their gear. "18 minutes. It's nearly long enough to reach altitude. It's not good. Cargo isn't pressuaized or heated." Eddie says, making the whole situation seem even worse.

"I thought coach was bad." Chimney tries to joke but everyone is in focus mode. "Hey, Chim, make sure we got O2 and warming blankets standing by." Bobby says to keep him on track, "Copy that." He says and the truck goes silent.

It doesn't take long for it to get to the airport and on the tarmac. Cap jumps out to look around, "Put your lights on. Let's go, Chim." Cap says as the four follow behind them as they turn on their lights.

"Come on, let's move." Cap encourages as they climbs the stairs to get in the cargo part of the plane. "Oh, joy." Chimney says sarcastically as they look to see all the identical clear wrapped boxes. "Well, it looks like we're opening presents early this year, huh?" Buck jokes before yelping when Kayla smacks on the back of the head.

"Clock is ticking, we gotta find this kid." Cap says, bringing everyone back to focus as he walks carefully through the boxes. Buck, Eddie, Chimney, and Kayla put their bags down as they start to grab essentials, "Dispatch said he was having trouble breathing even before he went up in the air."

A phone starts to ring, catching everyone's attention. "Wait. Did you guys hear that?" Cap asks as Buck, Eddie, and Kayla surround a box. "Stethoscope," Cap says and Eddie puts it on before putting it to the box. "That's our guy." Buck and Kayla start to cut and take off the wrapping as quickly as they can.

Buck moves a box and Kayla cuts the box the man is in open at the top. Her eyes peak inside and can see him in there, "He's here and he's out like a light." She says as Eddie and Buck start to cut the sides of the box. The packing peanuts fall out as the unconscious man rolls onto Kayla's lap.

She checks his pulse, "No pulse, he looks blue and feels really cold." She asses before allowing Buck and Eddie to pick him up. They move him to the stretcher as she quickly walks over while brushing packing peanuts off of her. Chimney puts warming blankets on him as they get him hooked up to a vitals machine.

Chimney starts chest compressions with Buck waiting on hand as Cap and Kayla stand to the side. Eddie is at his head to do pulse checks, it takes a few moments but they're able to get a pulse back. Kayla lets out an unknown breath she held as she whispers a small prayer of thanks.

She goes to his side as he starts to warm up. "Welcome back, Brandon. You gave us a bit of a scare." She jokes as she puts a comforting hand on his cold skin. "I'm not dead?" He asks as the group chuckles, "You're not dead, we weren't gonna let that happen." She assures him, a soft smile on her face as he leans into her warm touch.

His phone continues to ring, turns out, Maddie told him she would call so they can locate him faster. Chim talks to her for a second before putting the phone to Brandon's ear. He thanks her tearfully as Kayla knows Maddie is feeling immense relief that he's okay.

"I look like an ornament." Brandon jokes when he's put on the gurney and notices the shiny warming blanket on him. "Better on it than under it, right?" Buck says and he laughs.

Kayla walks off the plane as she watches Brandon get put in the ambulance. She smiles to herself as she puts her stuff back in the truck before taking a deep breath. LA might not be chilly as Tennessee can be during this time of year, but it certainly has it's own charm.

Kayla is all smiles the next day as it's the LAFD's annual Christmas Toy Drive. It's one of her favorite things to do because she gets to give back to the community during the best time of year. She's dressed in her required station t-shirt and work pants but also has her hair curled with some clip in holly on some small pigtails she did. Her shirts is covered by a Christmas cardigan her grandmother made her the last christmas before she passed on.

Families from all over the city come to drop off toys, get food, and the kids gets to be up close and personal to the fire trucks. Currently, Kayla is letting a little girl try on her turnout coat as her parents coo at how adorable she is. "Miss. Kayla. I wanna be a firefighter like you!" Her heart swells as she hugs the small girl. "You can be anything you want to be, sweet girl. Don't let me influence you too much, but being a firefighter is pretty cool." She says with a wink before getting her coat back.

"It was so nice to meet you guys!" She says as the family leaves, the girl waving rapidly as she rests on her mother's hip. The smile cannot leave her face as she walks over to the tables set up to take toys and for people to get food. "You seem like you're about to explode with happiness." Eddie says, stopping her in her tracks.

"This is my favorite time of year and plus I love getting to meet the kids, seeing some of the ones that have come before, and it's just amazing." She gushes before the two walk to the table together. "Thank you," Eddie says as he takes a toy from a woman but suddenly goes quiet. Kayla looks at him confused before she notices Shannon in front of her, "Shannon. What are you doing here?" he asks as he puts the firetruck toy she brought into the box in front of him.

"You won't answer my texts or return my calls." She says, glaring at him before she turns to look at Kayla. "This is not the place." Eddie warns as he looks at the family behind her with a smile before grabbing the toy. "Maybe it's the perfect place, because I think I see why you haven't been answering me." Kayla looks at Shannon shocked.

"No, no, no. Eddie and I are friends and co-workers." She says, trying to defend herself. "Well, maybe it's the perfect place for us to have a conversation without ending up in bed." Shannon says while looking at Eddie but she knows some of the comment is to try and hit Kayla.

The comment also catches Chimney and Buck's attention. The two are at the table next to where the whole thing is going down while giving out food. Eddie stays silent for a second before looking to Kayla then Shannon, "Follow me." he says, his voice low as he tries to keep from being angry.

The couple walks away with the three watching. "Wait, Eddie is with that chick? I thought you two..." Chimney sais confused as Kayla rolls her eyes. "It's a long story and not something for me to tell. That's up to Eddie." She says before smiling at the family in front of her. She takes a few toys before the locker room door opens and she smells Eddie's cologne waft past her as he stands next to her.

"So, Shannon seems..." She trails off, "I'm sorry that this is all happening, Kayla. It's a lot and complicated." He says, sounding exhausted. "Don't worry about me, as long as I can continue to be your friend and there for Chris, then that's all that matters." She assures him, a comforting hand on his back.

She looks up as Shannon heads for the exit. The two women's eyes meet as Kayla's brown ones stay soft, Shannon's blue ones turn cold before she stomps off. Sighing to herself she takes her hand off Eddie before turning back to the children.

The event hall is decorated perfectly as Kayla looks around in awe. It was finally time for her Christmas party and everyone was coming! She had the place she rented decorated to look like a perfect and cozy Christmas. Her green dress falls right at her knees and her hair is done with a slight curl to give it more of a style than usual. It's not a majorly fancy party, but she definitely wanted to look cute.

Classic Christmas music is playing in the back as people start to arrive. It's all co-workers and their families coming to celebrate together. "Bobby! Athena!" Kayla says when she sees the couple walk in, she hugs them as Harry and May walk in behind them. "Well hey there, munchkins." She says as she hugs them. "Kayla, this place is so beautiful. You did amazing." Athena says while she looks around.

"Thank you, I tried. I hope y'all have an amazing night." She says before walking around more. Soon, Hen, Karen, and Denny join the party as well. "Kay! You always outdo yourself on these things." Hen says as she gives the woman a hug. "It's not that crazy, just needed a cozy vibe." She says before hugging Karen. "Well, it definitely sends me back to my childhood. It's so warm and inviting." She explains as Denny hugs Kayla's legs, making her laugh. "Hello to you too, Denny. You're getting so big." She says before kissing his forehead.

"I'm trying to be taller than mom!" he says excitedly and she giggles, "I think you just might do that." The couple soon walks away as Buck, Maddie, and Chimney walk in. "Okay, Evan was seriously understating how all out you go. This is amazing." Maddie says in awe. "Well, we do have new people coming to this for the first time, need to make an impression." She says before hugging all three of them.

She and Maddie walk to get a drink and chit-chat until she hears a familiar voice, "Kiki!" Turning around, she smiles when Christopher walks in with his crutches. Kneeling down she hugs him tightly as he laughs, "I'm so glad you got to be here!"

"Dad was a little nervous but I really wanted to come." He says as Eddie walks up behind him. "Well, you have a lot of friends here to hang out with, you will definitely have a great night." She says as Harry runs over. "Chris! Do you wanna come watch the ducks with us at the window?"

He looks behind him to his dad and he nods as the two boys walk away. "You were nervous to bring him?" Kayla asks, looking at Eddie as she stands up straight. He's dressed in a deep red button-down and dark jeans. He looks like he just came out of a Christmas romance novel, "Yeah, it's a lot of people and I know he can get overwhelmed easily. I remembered, though, that you said this would be for the station and their families so I thought...there's no safer place he can be."

She smiles at him before walking closer, her scent wafts over to him as she stands only a few inches away. "Would you like a drink? Dinner will be ready in a little bit." He nods, smiling at her.

The party goes well, people are dancing, eating, drinking, the kids are playing around and watching Christmas movies. As the clock ticks later, people start to leave and like a good hostess, Kayla tells them goodbye at the door.

After she had said goodbye to one of the paramedics, she starts to walk away when someone walks in. "What are you doing here, Vince?" She asks, quickly walking over. Her voice low and full of confusion, "I had to come and enjoy the O'Malley Chirstmas party. This was one of my favorite things we did as kids." He teases, wrapping an arm around her waist.

She pulls it off as her eyes harden, "You weren't invited. I need you to leave." She warns but he doesn't budge. "Come on! I think it's time I met the people who have been keeping my girl safe."

"I am not your girl! This has been an amazing night, I will not let you come in here and ruin it. Leave." Being the always stubborn thing he is, Vince doesn't listen. He brushes past her, walking to the bar as she follows close behind. He orders himself a drink before turning to look at all the people, "You always knew how make things magical, you could do great things with planning events."

Most people would take that as a compliment but she knew what he was referring to. It's what he said when he first showed up in LA, if she married him then part of her job as his wife would be to plan galas and dinners. "You need to get that thought out of your head because it is never happening."

Vince chuckles as he finishes his drink before grabbing her hand, "Let's dance." He doesn't let her respond as he drags her to the dance floor. As this is happening, people start to notice the new guy with Kayla.

"Woah, dude, who's that with Kayla?" Eddie asks Buck as the 118 watches. "I don't know. He looks very familiar though. Maybe a friend from her hometown who came to visit?" Buck assumes as the two start dancing. "I don't think it's a friend considering she looks pissed." Chimney points out. "Oh my God, that's Vince." Hen says when she sees his face.

"What the hell is he doing here?" She asks but Buck and Eddie don't ask questions as they look to Cap. Bobby nods and with his permission the two stand up and walk out to the dance floor.

"I knew giving into you was a mistake." She says through gritted teeth as he spins her around before pulling him back to his chest. "You haven't forgotten a singe step. Seems like all those years of ballroom dancing actually worked." She rolls her eyes before hands land on her shoulders.

Looking behind her, she sees Buck and Eddie behind her, stoic looks on their face. "Oh, so I finally get to meet the new men your life?" Vince teases as he tries to pull her to his side but Buck keeps his hands on her shoulders steady.

"Considering the fact that you shouldn't be here. I think we don't really need to meet." Buck says, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Vince chuckles before letting Kayla go, "Well, thankfully I already know who you two are. Evan and Edmundo. You really think I would let my girl do what she does and not know who is around her?" He questions, a sly smirk on his face.

"I am not your girl, Vince. Just leave me alone! I thought you changed but you only said that stuff to get what you wanted. You got it! Now leave." She walks away from the men before heading to the bathroom. She locks the door and slides down it as she starts to cry.

Why is nothing ever easy?