I must be mad! Writing two fics and publishing them at the same time!? Well it is Christmas time I suppose, and I had promised this to a few people.
This tale takes place after A Pirates Lady and before From the Ashes. Using my artistic license as the author I'm making this fit as A Pirates Lady was set in the autumn. ;-) Hope you enjoy. R&R!
Just so we're clear I own nothing but my characters. The original Angels belong to the official guys at Spelling etc...
An Angel's First Christmas.
Chapter 1.
Trees were being decorated, houses were being coated with twinkling lights, joy seemed to be hanging in the air and some areas quite literally. Although not all was as it seemed as in one small home things were not as joyous as they should have been. For in the Fox residence tension ran high a long with tempers.
'Damn it!' Cate cried out for the third time in the space of fifteen minutes.
'Language Caitlin.' Bette, Cate's mother, scolded from the kitchen. Cate grumbled under her breath. As she again tried to attach the long tinsel styled decoration from one corner of her lounge to the centre light in the room.
'Want me to do it?' Kelly's voice came from where she sat on the floor trying to untangle the Christmas tree lights.
'No thanks.' Cate said determined to get the decorations up herself she had come this far with them she would finish them. Unfortunately for Cate she had the ladders very close to the front door of her soon to be filled with people festive home.
'Hello family!' Scotty called as he burst open the front door straight into the stepladders sending Cate flying off of them and thankfully landing on her soft couch. Trying not to laugh Kelly quickly turned from her seated position to check on her little sister who had landed with one of her legs hanging over the back of the couch and the rest of her strewn across it.
'Are you all right?' Kelly asked not being able to hide her giggles at all.
'Terrific, just terrific.' Cate grumbled trying to get herself up off of the couch, Scotty rushed around to the back of the couch and helped pull his older sister up off of it.
'Sorry Cate.' He sheepishly apologized as Cate stumbled up to her feet, Cate looked at her baby brother with a scowl before she pulled him into a tight hug.
'That's all right, what's Christmas without one of us falling off of a ladder.' Cate smiled as she hugged her brother. 'Mom's in the kitchen.' Cate said as Scotty turned to go and find her, before he left Cate's reach she slapped on the back of the back of his head.
'When are Danny and Tessa getting here?' Kelly asked going back to her tree lights.
'Depends how many times they had to stop on the way here. The baby has moved itself around a little and is having a habit of resting on Tessa's bladder.' Cate smirked as she set the stepladders back up again.
'I see, the joys of pregnancy huh?' Kelly laughed.
'So they say. Right ok, now if I don't get it up this time I give up!' Cate said picking up the decoration again and heading back up the ladders just as the phone began to ring. 'Typical.' Cate sighed.
'I'll get it.' Kelly offered smiling to Cate as she moved across the carpet on her knees to the phone. 'Hello?'
'Hey Kel it's Kris. We'll be over soon just got to pick Julie up and we'll be there.' Kris's chirpy voice said through the phone.
'All right Kris, and Kris, use the back door to enter, I don't think Cate can afford to fall from the ladders again.' Kelly laughed down the phone looking over her shoulder to Cate who rolled her eyes at her big sister.
'Ok Kel,' Kris replied laughing herself. 'look forward to hearing about that when we get there see y'all soon.' Kris hung up, as did Kelly heading back to the lights.
'They're on their way?' Cate asked as she managed to finally hang the decorations.
'Yeah, they just have to pick Julie up first.' Kelly answered. Cate came down the stepladders folding them and putting them to the side propped against the wall.
'Need a hand?' Cate offered looking down at her sister.
'Yeah, you want to start stretching these out now I've untangled them.' Kelly said looking at her sister with an accusing look.
'Don't look at me like that, I put the lights away properly last time I used them they just have this magic way of tangling into a balled mess.' Cate laughed as she sat on the floor with Kelly pulling out the strands of lights.
'Caitlin, was that your brother on the phone?' Bette asked coming to the alcove entrance of the kitchen.
'No mom just Kris, they're on their way.' Cate answered as Kelly handed her another strand of lights. Cate looked up to her mother seeing the worried look on her face. 'Don't worry mom they'll get here safe and sound.' Bette smiled and turned back into the kitchen.
'Get away from that bowl!' Bette called out followed by the sound of a slap and Scotty's cry of pain. 'Out of my kitchen.' Bette shooed Scotty out of the kitchen area. Kelly and Cate turned to see Scotty rush out to join them in safety.
'You know better than that.' Cate teased as Scotty sat on the couch opening up the boxes of baubles.
'I thought her back was turned long enough.' Scotty grinned. 'Where is that big brother of ours anyway?' Scotty asked looking to the front door and then the clock on the wall.
'They'll be here, calm down. Why don't you go and get your stuff out of your car.' Cate suggested. Scotty sighed getting up and heading for the door as the phone rang again, Cate reached over picking up the receiver.
'Hello?'
'Cate, it's Danny.'
'Hey are you ok?' Cate asked straight away knowing something was wrong.
'Tessa's gone into labor we're at the Cedars- Sinai hospital.' Danny rushed in to the phone. Cate stood up hearing this looking to Scotty she motioned for him to get their mom.
'Is Tessa ok?' Cate asked.
'She's fine, fine but can you come down here? We've got all of our stuff in the car, presents etc not to mention Rebecca. Cate it's gonna take some time, can you come and pick the car and Becca up.' Cate smiled as her brother sounded so panicked and out of character.
'Yeah of course, no problem. I'll bring mom with me and make an exchange.' Cate cheerfully said down the phone.
'Great thanks sis, see you soon.' Danny said before hanging up the phone. Cate hung up her phone turning to her family stood waiting around her.
'Mom, grab you coat hand the cooking over to Scotty or Kelly.' Cate smiled.
'What's going on Caitlin?' Bette demanded as Scotty fetched his mom's coat.
'Tessa's gone into labor, she, Danny and Becca are at the hospital. Tessa's ok but it's going to be a while. Danny wants me to take you there and pick up Becca and their things from his car. Bette rushed around getting her shoes on and grabbing her purse.
'Kelly you're in charge of the kitchen, Scotty stay out of it.' Bette ordered her troops. 'Caitlin let's go.' Smiling broadly to Kelly and Scott she followed her mom out to the drive and her car just as Kris pulled up along the curb outside Cate's home. Kris, Jill and Julie filing out of the Cobra.
'Hey where's the fire?' Jill called out as Bette got into Cate's Mustang.
'Tessa's gone into labor.' Cate called over her car to them all. 'Be back soon, go on in and help Kelly and Scotty.' Cate waved as she got into her car, starting it she drove out of the drive and on her way to the hospital as the other Angels laughing excitedly went into the house.
About an hour later Cate returned to her home. Getting out of the car with her niece Rebecca the front opened where Kelly stood waiting for them, seeing Kelly stood waiting Rebecca rushed over to her, Kelly picked up the little girl sweeping her into a hug.
'Hey there little one, how you doing?' Kelly asked as the little girl wrapped her arms around Kelly's neck.
'Mama's at the hospital having the baby!' Rebecca said excitedly, Kelly laughed at the little girl's enthusiasm.
'That's right soon you're going to be a big sister!' Kris said over Kelly's shoulder tapping Rebecca on the tip of her nose.
'Aunt Kris!' Rebecca called arms stretched out to the short blonde, Kelly handed Rebecca over to her for their hug as she went out to help Cate bring things in from her car.
'Is Tessa ok?' Kelly asked taking bags of gifts into the house.
'She's ok, considering the labors probably going to be a few more hours yet she's doing just fine. Danny's pacing up and down the room not really sure what to do with himself so I've left mom in charge.'
'It's what she's best at.' Kelly smiled picturing Bette, the head of the family taking care of the situation ordering not just Danny around but the medical team as well. 'They brought a lot of stuff.' Kelly huffed as she picked up a heavy bag.
'I think they picked up some things for Scotty and mom as well.' Cate explained looking at all the bags. 'I think there might be some just incase things.'
'Just in case things?' Kelly queried as they walked into the house.
'Just in case the baby came a little earlier than expected.'
'Ohh, right yeah, of course.' Kelly realized with a chuckle and a smile. As they walked into the lounge they found Rebecca sat with Scotty on the couch as the rest of the Angels sat around on either the floor or the armchairs.
'Everything ok?' Scotty asked as he tickled his niece.
'Everything's fine, mom's handling everything.' Cate said with a wink to her little brother. 'We'll get these out of the way and finish up the decorations.' Cate said pointing to the lights still stretched out on the floor that Jill was now inspecting and checking on. Within an hour the decorations were up and the house looked good and festive.
'You like it Becca?' Kelly asked the little girl who sat on the couch looking up at the tree.
'It's great, but the tree looks funny.' The little girl said tilting her head to one side.
'Really, what's wrong with it?' Kelly asked knowing full well what was missing as the other Angels and Scotty sat around listening.
'The angel's missing from the top of the tree.' Rebecca finally realised. The adults watched and laughed amongst themselves in awe at the little girls wonder of the tree and decorations.
'Well we'd better make that right then hadn't we.' Cate said to Rebecca nodding to Scotty who picked up his little niece as Cate took a small box and opened it to reveal the angel, handing it Rebecca Scotty lifted her so she could place the angel on the top of the tree.
'Now that looks like a great Christmas tree!' Jill exclaimed. 'Good job Becca.' Jill rewarded Rebecca with her best winning smile. Rebecca giggled as her uncle dropped her into his arms again tickling her.
'So should we switch on the tree lights?' Kris asked.
'I don't see why not, Becca you want to do it?' Cate asked her niece who nodded quickly rushing over to her aunts lap who held the switch in her handing waiting. Placing her smaller hand into Cate's and leaning against her Rebecca went to switch on the lights.
'Oh, wait a minute!' Jill called out. Rebecca froze waiting as Jill jumped up and switched off the house lights making the room darken slightly to the natural light outside. 'Ok Becca, now.' Jill excitedly said as Rebecca turned back to her aunt and flicked the switch. The tree lit up gold, red and green as everyone around cooed at it.
'That looks fantastic.' Julie said from the armchair she sat curled up in looking lovingly at the festive tree in the corner of the room. 'So what shall we do now?' She asked.
'Well, we can't exactly go anywhere whilst Danny and Tessa are at the hospital.' Cate said still sat on the floor with Rebecca sat against her.
'What do you want to do Becca?' Julie asked. Rebecca looked up to the ceiling thinking hard at what she would like to do.
'Story.' She simply said to which both Scotty and Cate lightly laughed at, the Angels turning to them wondering what was so amusing.
'She's Danny's little girl all right.' Scotty said to which Cate smiled in agreement rocking Rebecca from side to side in her arms.
'Oh yeah, she's a Carter all right.' Cate looked around at her friends seeing their bewilderment. 'We have a tradition in our family that once the decorations are up and the tree is lit we tell stories.'
'What story do you want to hear Becca?' Scotty asked getting down onto the floor with Cate and Rebecca.
'First Christmases.' Rebecca replied smiling a wide smile.
'First Christmases? But you've heard all of them.' Cate said with laughter in her tone.
'Not yours I haven't.' Rebecca defended looking up to Cate.
'You have.' Scotty said lightly poking Rebecca making her giggle.
'No I haven't, not Aunt Cate and Kelly's first Christmas.' Rebecca defended her choice. The realization dawned on the room of adults with laughter.
'Oh, I see, well all right. Why don't you go and sit up on the couch with aunt Kelly and Kris and they can begin the story whilst I get us some drinks and snacks, you can help Scotty.' Cate instructed as Rebecca skipped the short distance over to Kelly who waited with open arms loving this little girl she got to call her niece.
'You sure that's wise?' Jill asked as Cate walked past her.
'I'm sure we can skirt around some things, at least until the little bit falls asleep anyway, shouldn't take her long.' Cate said quietly enough for only Jill to hear.
'So how shall we start?' Kris asked looking around the room her gaze finishing on Julie.
'Hey don't look at me, I didn't know you guys then remember? I'm going to enjoy this story just as much as Becca is.' Julie laughed.
'Ok, well how about once upon a time.' Kelly suggested.
'Great.' Kris said as she snuggled down closer to Rebecca who sat wedged between Kelly and Kris. Kris thought for a moment and then smiled as inspiration kicked in. 'Once upon a time there were three little girls who…'
'Not that one!' Cate yelled from the kitchen causing the Angels to all laugh, as Rebecca looked around confused.
'How about we start it like this.' Kelly began smiling down at Rebecca. 'Once upon a time about three years ago when two sisters first met they celebrated their first Christmas together.' The room settled down listening with just the glow of the Christmas tree lighting the room as Kelly told the story of their first Christmas together with Cate.