With conditions

Paul sat there for a minute pondering why he was even really considering this. He couldn’t deny there wasn’t some pleasure in it, and it struck something he hadn’t realized had really been there before. As a kid there had been times the idea seemed appealing and there was something really powerful about being able to look sexier than he had ever imagined. But could he really risk going back to the dungeon like that again?? Everyone there had met ‘Vyki’ as someone else; his fictitious sister no less! Could he really do it again without them recognizing him?

Looking over at the presents under their tree, he got an empty feeling thinking about how his kids weren’t going to be here and how he had planned to spend the day with them, but now without them here, he could feel frustration building up within him. He was sure he lingered around he would just get angrier. The only thing worse than staying around here would be to venture out with the last-minute procrastinators for presents before the stores close.

So, what do you do? Sit at home and stew ruining the holiday, torment yourself at consumers nightmare to ruin the holiday, or....

“I’ve got conditions....” Paul said not looking away from the tree.

Molly had to hold back a cheer as she knew she could deal with whatever he brought up and pulled out an acadmey worthy performance with a simple, “k, and?”

Paul turned to look at her sternly, “One: like you said, no pictures, no touching, no serving or running around as some gopher. I’d be there to help out the good cause and be the person up front for it, but not going to be some subbie there for them to play with, torment, or use.”

Molly could almost hear a lilt coming into his voice, “ya, sure, not a problem.”

“Two: I get final say on the attire,” Paul continued before Molly could try to change it, “I know Heather has some special dress, but if it makes her look like a skank, I’m not touching it.” Paul was thinking of some of Vyki’s dresses that could work and she was pretty sure she had a red summer dress that might pass. “And if Heather doesn’t like what she picks out, she can go fuck herself and find someone else.”

“Of course,” Molly said hoping he doesn’t go too far.

“Three: If someone can’t toe the line, Heather or her goons take care of it and leave us out of it. She can be the bad guy and if she won’t do her job, we don’t need to be there and not going to play the bad guy for her.”

“Makes sense.”

“Four: After it's all done and Heather sends out the public “thank you”s participants, she thanks us explicitly and not just one in the crowd. It's about time she recognized our family for what we’ve done for them over the years,” Paul continued before jumping, “but ONLY if I approve of how things went. If it's a shit show, I don’t want anyone to know we were involved.”

“Absolutely,” Molly said trying to get him to the end as soon as possible.

“Five: And you stick with me while we’re there.” Paul said, “I think I could use the support.”

“Def....” Molly said before catching herself and her eyes going wide as she realized she was probably going to have to own up to the other part of her encouragement of this.

Paul could tell something was wrong, “what? You were just going to leave me there??”

“Welll.....” Molly said like a kid who just got caught skipping school. “They sounded like they had plenty of people otherwise and I was hoping....” Molly said dropping into a quiet mumble at the end making it impossible to understand.

“What?” Paul said irritated. “You were hoping what??”

Molly resigned in a huff knowing what she was about to get, but hoped she could still work it the way she wanted, “I was hoping to finish up my present shopping.”

“What?!? You’re not done yet??? It’s Christmas Eve!!” Paul never understood hope people did that in this day in age having bought all his presents online and having gotten them weeks ago. Envisioning the crowded malls & the last minute craze of trying to get an item sent shivers down Paul’s spine as the idea of dealing with that many people was just frightening to him.

Molly knew this was coming now but was hoping it would only come AFTER she had gone through with it. “I know but its just a few last items that I wanted to get to round out the list.” She was somewhat lying as she had really only gotten 1 thing so far.

“Well, I’m not going to do that. Just count me out of it.”

“But you see, you don’t have to deal with it with me,” Molly said excitedly, “you can go have the holiday spirit and help out charity with the real giving of the season and I’ll tough through the crowds.” Molly could see him backing down, “I’d just be bored or in the way there; this way we’re both doing something productive in the Christmas spirit.”

Paul was really considering this was a bad idea to keep going, but something in him made it seem like something fun to do, and everywhere else he saw annoyances. “Fine.” Paul responds as Molly jumps up and cheers unconcerned with her robe flying free exposing her nude form as she leaned forward to kiss her lifelong partner. After the kiss broke, Paul continued. “But I’m sticking hard to the other 4!”

“Totally!” Molly agreed from his lap.

“And I can keep my phone with me since you won’t be there.” Paul said after the fact.

Molly wasn’t sure if Miss H would go for it or not, but at this point having him agree to it she felt like she could get through anything. “Got it!”