Spoilt Holidays

Summary: Wheeler and Linka spend some time with their families while trying to sort out their relationship. Set after the series ended.

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone and my thanks as always to Becks7 for the help and encouragement. I'm going to try to post this on the correct days but it's not quite finished so my apologies in advance for any delays.

Disclaimer: I do not own Captain Planet, I'm just borrowing it and will make no money whatsoever from these stories.

Prologue – 1st January

Linka frowned over the New Year's Day breakfast she was making in her Grandmother's kitchen and scrambled the eggs with an almost vicious fervour.

It was still early in the morning, she had the whole day planned out as usual, and she was determined that this time nothing would spoil the celebration.

Her thoughts however, kept returning to the previous week and some of the things that even now, made her furious to remember...

Chapter One – 23rd December

"Linka could you come to the crystal chamber please?" Gaia asked, quietly appearing in the young woman's room where she was wrapping presents. "Wheeler's cousin Joey is calling."

The Russian looked up in surprise but quickly began hiding the remaining presents anyway in response to the summons, "Is Wheeler not still on the beach?"

"It's not Wheeler he's asking to talk to," the spirit kept pace with Linka as she headed towards their meeting room.

The Wind Planeteer stepped in front of the big screen, concern showing on her face, "Hello Joey, it is good to see you again, is something wrong?"

"Hi Linka... There's not exactly anything wrong but... I was wondering if Wheeler could spend Christmas with you instead of coming here?"

"He can of course," she responded without hesitation but with considerable misgivings, "but do you not think that he might be a little hurt that you do not want him to come to you?"

The young boy shook his head, "I want to spend Christmas with him, it's not that... maybe you could come get me and I could go with you too?" He asked hopefully.

Linka laughed, relieved that the only member of Wheeler's family of whom he seemed really fond was not in fact, rejecting his company. "You would be welcome Joey but I think your parents might not be very happy about that."

Wheeler's cousin sighed and nodded unhappily, "Yeah, that's the problem. Mom has it in her head that we should have this big family Christmas, though Dad thinks she just wants to show off the new house. Thing is, she's invited Auntie Cathy and Uncle Joe..."

"Wheeler's parents?" Linka guessed with a sinking feeling.

He nodded, "No one will tell me why they don't get on but I'm not stupid, I know Wheeler won't like it. Mom just says that things are better now Uncle Joe isn't sick all the time but that doesn't make sense. Wheeler wouldn't be mad at his dad for being sick, would he?"

Linka shook her head. Though she knew she had no right to interfere she hated the idea that anyone might get the wrong impression of her friend. "I think the word your mother was looking for is 'drunk'."

"Oh."

She let that sink in before saying, "Thank you for the warning Joey, I will tell Wheeler for you. Things are better between him and his father but I agree that he should have the choice about spending Christmas with them."

"Yeah but there's something el..." He was interrupted by the entrance of a not unattractive middle aged woman, who began to speak his name but stopped, staring in amazement.

"What is that?"

Joey threw Linka an apologetic look, "It's how the Planeteers communicate. This is Linka, Wheeler's girlfriend, we were just talking. Linka this is my Mom."

"Oh!" The woman beamed and knelt down beside her son, "I'm pleased to meet you Linka, I hope nothing has happened to stop Jason coming to us tomorrow? We're so looking forward to having a real family Christmas for once. You should come with him, if he'd told me he had a girlfriend I would have insisted he bring you."

She hadn't given the Russian time to do more than smile weakly at her cheerful torrent of words, let alone correct Joey's assumption about her relationship with her teammate. "That is very kind of you but..."

"Oh you probably already have plans now," the woman actually pouted, "but surely you could get out of them? It would be so much fun and I'm sure you would much rather be with Wheeler over the holidays, wouldn't you? Of course you would."

Linka had nodded involuntarily but she had to admit that it was true, despite their still being just friends her heart had responded to the idea of spending Christmas with him and his family. Besides Joey was still looking worried and had made it clear that there were more trials in store for her red-headed team-mate and she felt a very real desire to be at his side through them.

If there was one thing the Russian hated, it was being disorganised and while she would drop everything when Gaia called, changing plans at the last minute was otherwise out of the question. In fact, the others were almost afraid of telling her of even a minor alteration and usually left it to Wheeler. They would have been amazed therefore at her response.

"Spasiba... I am sure that my family will not mind, we are going to them for New Year anyway, so if you are sure I will not be in the way...?"

Joey's mother beamed, "Oh that's wonderful dear, of course you won't be in the way, and you and Wheeler will have a room to yourselves, our new house has four bedrooms you know..."

Linka said everything that was polite, allowing the older woman to expound on the merits of her new home while her son rolled his eyes in the background. When she was done however she ended their call without giving Joey a chance to say more than a quick farewell.

Closing her eyes, the lovely blond took a moment to appreciate the peace and quiet of her island home.

Gaia smiled at her and spoke softly, "I can tell them you have an eco-emergency if you like?"

Linka laughed and shook her head, "We should leave that for Wheeler to decide, but thank you."

Instead of returning to her parcels, Linka wandered down to the water's edge in search of her American friend. She found him a little way along the beach, asleep under the shade of some conveniently placed trees. Sitting quietly beside him the lovely blond smiled at the peaceful expression on his face.

She'd used to think him lazy when he took naps here and there but she'd long ago come to realise that it was because he rarely slept well at night, another relic of an unhappy childhood.

Very gently, Linka began to run her fingers through his hair, disturbing him with a kindness he rarely experienced. One eye opened and he smiled, but then he shut it again, apparently enjoying her ministrations. "What can I do for you, Beautiful?"

"I must tell you something." She spoke softly and had continued to stroke his hair, fascinated by how soft it was, but he must have caught something in the tone of her voice that put him on guard because his eyes opened and he sat up on one elbow.

"Good news or bad?"

Linka withdrew her hand and moved so that she was hugging her knees, giving a little shrug. "Both?"

"Go on."

"Joey called, your Aunt has invited your parents to have Christmas with you." She tried to make it sound like a good thing but he groaned and dropped down onto his back.

He said, "I hope that was the bad news."

"You will have to tell me that… Joey introduced me as your girlfriend so she invited me too." Linka looked down at her knees and waited for his verdict.

"Er… aren't you going to Gram's? I thought… I mean, what was your answer?" He was looking at her intently but she refused to meet his eyes.

Linka turned her head to look out over the sea, "I told her I would like to join you and that we will see my family at New Year anyway, but you can always make an excuse for me if you do not want me there."

"Are you kidding?" Wheeler sat up properly and put his hand over hers, "Of course I want you there! …But Babe, are you sure? I don't want to spoil your Christmas, I don't want my relatives to spoil your Christmas or your family's."

Happy now, the Wind Planeteer turned a smiling face back to him and shook her head, "Grandmuska did not mind, she just made a comment about not being surprised that I would rather be..." she stopped, blushing when she realised what she had been going to say.

"With me?" The American asked tentatively, trying to keep his reaction in check but not able to keep the hope out of his voice.

Linka looked down at their now joined hands and her smile widened but she declined to answer, "So is it good news?"

"It's the best news I've heard all year!" He answered, his grin now matching hers.

"Good, then you can come shopping with me," she teased. "I will need extra presents now."

Wheeler grimaced but then remembered something else she had said, "You don't need to do that, I can just put you on mine… joint presents, from me and my girlfriend. That's what you said you were, right?"

"Joey said that."

"Did you correct him?"

"Your aunt did not give me the chance." Linka told him innocently, but there was a look in her eyes when she met his that told him not to question it too closely.

Wheeler gave her hand a squeeze and resumed his former position, closing his eyes, "Then I'll sign my gifts from both of us. You don't need to worry, my aunt told me what to get anyway." He added, "You should join me Babe, make the most of the peace and quiet, and the warmth, while you can."

Linka was more tempted than she let on, but she laughed it off and told him that she had presents of her own to wrap and more to do now that her plans had changed.

He let her go but they were both still grinning at what had passed between them, and in anticipation of what else might happen in the next few days.