8 family members and 2 level 6 AI's gathered for Christmas in a Smart House filled with love and laughter. 6 gifts under a Christmas tree, waiting for their recipients to come home.
His fingers raked lightly over her arms and could feel the goose bumps rising there. These are the best damn dreams he had ever had and there was no sex!
"I love you Jo-Jo," he whispered into her hair. Why wasn't it that easy to tell her before they left.
"I love you so much. Are you any closer to coming home?"
"Yeah, how are things back on Earth?"
The details were extremely blurred and when she tried to recall them to tell Zane, they weren't there.
"I remember it being scary for a while but happier now. I don't have any details; those are gone when I try to remember them." Jo told him her hands tracing the muscles in his back.
"Me too, it's like the outside just fades away when were here. Just us, right here right now." He kissed her cheek.
The air shifted again, time to go.
"Hurry home, my love." Jo brushed her lips on his "See you soon."
They both turned in different directions not letting go of their hands until the last second.
"Love you babe." He gave her a lopsided smile.
Jo sat up smiling CAIT was softly playing Christmas music in the background. It was Christmas morning on Emma's first Christmas. Jo padded down the hall to Emma's room. The crib was empty. Continuing down the hall and downstairs, she found Zoë sitting on the couch bouncing Emma on her lap. Emma was a tiny little thing with short dark hair, bright blue eyes, her mom's nose and her father's smile.
"Merry Christmas Jo, I checked Em's N.I. looks good" Zoë said cheerfully handing Emma over to her mom. Emma had hearing loss associated with her premature birth and her Neural Interface was a device that sat behind her ear and directly sent sound waves into her brain.
"Merry Christmas, Zoë. Merry Christmas, Emma." Jo cuddled Emma close and started humming 'We wish you a Merry Christmas.'
"And a Merry Christmas to you CAIT." She said as she walked into the kitchen.
"Thank you Jo. Seasons Greetings to you, Zoe and Emma. Would you like breakfast? SARAH told me that traditionally you open presents and have cinnamon rolls."
"Sounds great thank you, can I have a cup of coffee?"
A compartment slid open in the cabinet and Jo found her coffee. "Do you want to go open presents from Santa? And then we can go to Uncle Jack's. Yeah? I think it's a good plan too"
Walking back into the living room Jo handed Emma back to Zoë and sat down next to them.
"Presents?" Jo asked Zoë.
"Absolutely, Wadja get me this year?"
Jo set her coffee down and dug under the tree. She separated the gifts into three piles. One small pile she pushed back under the tree. There were 6 boxes, a gift for Allison, one for Fargo, one for Grace, and one for Holly and 2 for Zane (one from Jo and one from Emma).
The largest pile was the gifts to take to over to Jacks and a small pile of four gifts were left. Jo picked up the two of the four and handed one to Zoë one.
"This is from me and Emma." Jo smiled in anticipation as Zoë unwrapped the gift aided by Emma. Inside was a vintage jewelry case, inside that were a matching set of silver and turquoise vintage jewelry, a bracelet, earrings and necklace.
"Nice," Zoë pulled the box away from Emma's grasp. "I didn't know Emma had such great taste."
Jo shrugged and handed Zoë another one. "This one is to Emma from Santa."
"Oh Emma, what did Santa bring you?" The two opened the box as Jo stood watching her daughter open her first ever Christmas gift. Inside was a stuffed ballerina doll. Em squealed with delight at the doll and promptly stuck it in her mouth.
Zoë put Emma down on the ground and grabbed the remaining 2 gifts. "This is for you, Jo"
Jo opened the small box and inside was tickets to the ballet. "Thank you Zoë. It has been forever since I've been to the ballet."
"Dad said he'd watch Emma. You and I can get all dressed up and I can wear this awesome vintage jewelry."
"Sounds amazing" Jo's mind flittered to the last time she had gone to the ballet with Zane. It had been before 1947. Zane had worn a suit and she had worn this amazing violet dress. Shaking the memory from her head she tuned back into the present.
"And this one is for my little Em." Zoë handed the gift to the little one. In typical toddler fashion she was more interested in the wrappings then the gift.
"It's a baby proof digital picture frame. I uploaded pics of the fam and when Em touches a picture it says who they are. Like Aunt Zoë, Uncle Henry, Daddy." Zoë gave Jo a warm smile and hugged her friend.
"Thanks sweetie, now let's go have cinnamon rolls and load up that huge pile of gifts and head to your dad's."
About an hour later, bellies full, Emma, Jo and Zoë were loaded up and headed to SARAH.
Jo carried Emma and Zoë grabbed the gifts as they headed into the chaos that was Christmas at the Carter household.
"Merry Christmas everyone," Jo called as she walked into the bunker.
Henry rose and warmly greeted her with a hug and extricated Emma from her mom's arms. Grinning broadly he exclaimed,"There's my girl."
Jo hugged Jack, Kevin, Jenna and Andy in turn. She stifled a laugh at the sight of Andy and his garish sweater that had apparently had been a gift from SARAH.
A few minutes later Lucas arrived. He and Zoë had gotten back together and were spending as much time together as possible before Zoë went to Yale medical school in the next fall while he finished up his doctorate at MIT.
Soon after there was a snow storm of wrapping paper as gifts were exchanged, laughs were shared and drinks were passed. In the aftermath Jack and Henry were swapping stories of Christmas' past, while Zoë and Lucas were laughing and hugging under the mistletoe and Jenna was showing Emma all the new toys she had gotten. Jo surveyed the scene smiling, yes there were members of the family missing but life had continued and those left behind were making the best of it.
"Hey Jo, can I talk to you a minute?" Kevin had come in behind her. He jerked his head toward the kitchen. "In private?"
Jo turned and followed him "Sure Kev, what's on your mind."
He looked around to make sure no one was looking and he handed her a piece of well worn paper. Then he leaned back on to the counter.
Jo opened the letter and began to read. "Kev this is an early acceptance letter to MIT, you would start in the fall. This is great, have you talked to your dad about this?"
Kevin's face fell. "I don't know what to do Jo. I really want to go, but I can't leave dad here alone with Jenna. And what if mom comes back when I'm not here and what about you and Emma. Who is going to watch her and Jenna when you and dad have to work late?" Kevin knew he was babbling but he need her opinion.
Jo walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. "Kevin, you are 15 years old. The weight of the world and of the lives of your sister, your dad or Emma and I, does not rest fully on your shoulders. Your dad and I appreciate the way you have taken on greater responsibility but you have your own life to live. And if that life takes you to MIT then let it take you there."
"But if my mom comes back?"
"Then you will be on the first plane home." She sighed and hugged him quickly. "Look I know you miss her but you can't put your life on hold waiting. When they come home one day we will all be waiting with open arms but do you really think your mom would want you waste this chance?."
"No she'd want me to meet my potential, plus when she gets back I doubt she'll let me out of her sight for a month. Do you think dad will? Let me go I mean?" Real concern etched on his face.
"It'll be hard on him but ultimately he wants what's best for you. Tell you what I can talk to him next week if you want. Soften the blow?" Jo smiled.
"You're the best Jo," he said hugging her.
"I know, now go back and enjoy the party."
Kevin walked out of the kitchen and Jo stood there and watched him join Jack and Henry in some conversation.
"Nicely put Jo. I think Kevin feels much better now." SARAH contributed.
Jo smirked at SARAH's eavesdropping. "Thank you. The important thing is that it's his decision and not someone else's."
Some time later SARAH called them all to Christmas dinner. Their little family gathered around the wonderful that had been prepared and Henry stood to make the obligatory patriarchal speech.
"We are all blessed that we can join together on this festive occasion and celebrate as a family. We welcome the newest member to her first Christmas while we remember those who can not be with us tonight we must live each day to the fullest. The incidence around Emma's birth has taught us that much. Grace, Allison, Zane, Fargo, Holly and the rest of the crew will never be far from our minds or our hearts but I am truly grateful to have all of you and to count you as my family." He raised his glass and every one raised theirs and murmured "To family"
Emma squealed and the crowd broke out in laughter.
Family was a wonderful thing.
