A/N- Last Christmas Chapter!
oooOOOooo
Amy's POV
"Amy! Amy! AMY!" a voice called in my ear.
"Hum? Wha…?"
"Amy, get your butt up! It's Christmas!"
"Okay, Okay, Dan. Just give me a second. Let me brush my hair and wake up."
"NO!" Dan yelled, now jumping on my bed. "Get up now!" He threw my covers off.
Cold air replaced the warm sheets. I sat straight up in my bed, "Stop, you Dweeb! I'm getting up!"
"Good!" He went out my door. I got up and brushed my hair and then walked down stairs.
I met Ian and Natalie, who were already sitting on the sofa in the living room. The tree glowed with twinkling lights and the tree had presents under it. The windows gleamed. There was snow on the ground and everything was painted a light white.
"So does Dan normally get this excited for Christmas?" Natalie asked, sitting cross legged on the couch.
"Yes. Yes, he does." I said nodding. "So, have you guys had a memorable Christmas this year?" I asked.
"Yes. Definitely." Ian said.
"You guys are the best." Natalie said, and then she smiled to herself. "Two years ago, I would have never thought I would say that."
"Two years ago, I wouldn't have wanted either of you to come anywhere near me. Especially not to live with me." I said. "Funny how so much's changed."
Dan bounded into the room. "I got Uncle Fiske and Nellie up! Uncle Fiske is tired and Nellie's murderous!" He had a large smile plastered on his face.
As soon as we were all sitting, Dan passed out the presents under the tree. We all had one from "Santa." Dan got another gaming system, Ian got a new expensive chess board, Natalie got a new diamond necklace, Nellie got some new cooking utensil, (It looked so complex, I didn't even know what it was.) and I got an exclusive book set.
Dan got just what he wanted from everyone. Video games. He was so happy.
I got a new book from Nellie and a nice green scarf from Natalie (Hand-made in France, she said). Dan just gave me a hug for Christmas and explained that he had run out of money. (Yeah, right.)
I started to open Ian's gift. His was the one I had really been pondering about. Nellie and Uncle Fiske always gave me books, I knew Natalie was going to give me clothes or some sort of fashion something-or-another, and Dan would find an easy way out. Now, Ian always tried really hard to be the best at something, and I knew Christmas wasn't going to be an exception.
Inside of the cardboard box was some sort of container. It was made out of carved wood and had quite a bit of details. I opened it up to find a mirror. A jewelry box, I guessed.
"Um, thanks," I said, not quite knowing how to reply.
"Do you recognize it?" he asked.
I turned it over. "I guess it looks sort of familiar. Am I supposed to?"
"Look at the bottom of the box." Ian commanded.
I dug my hand in and found a photo. It was quite an old one. It had Grace and my mom when she was a girl. I still had a puzzled look on my face.
"Look on the dresser in the background."
Sure enough, the exact same jewelry box sat on the dresser.
"Oh my goodness! How did you…?"
Ian shrugged. "It took research and professionals to tell me when and by whom it was made. It's not the exact same one, just a replica."
"Wow. Thanks, Ian."
"You're welcome."
"You guys have to open ours next!" Dan said to Ian and Natalie.
"Dan and I got you guys practically the same thing, so you can open them together." I said.
oooOOOooo
Natalie's POV
I decided not to wait for Ian and just to go ahead and unwrap the gift. I tore the corner of the wrapping.
A picture. It was a picture in a pink frame. Of Ian and I. I had no memory of this event, but it was clear that it was us. Ian was only about eight and he wore something similar to Invisi-line. I, only about five, had diamond earrings in my ears and my two front teeth were missing. The only think that was so abnormal about this picture is that it did not look nearly as perfect as other family ones. Ian and I looked like we had been playing with paint. Ian had blue smeared across his cheek. I had purple up my arm. Ian also wore a t-shirt and jeans. I wore a tiara and a dress-up princess gown. We looked rough, like we had been running around and playing. I tried looking in the background of the photo, trying to guess where it was taken, but it looked like any backyard or playground. I never had seen a photo of me or Ian like this. We… We were almost normal kids.
"Where did you find this?" Ian asked, now looking down at his picture in a mahogany frame.
"It took some Cahill research and professionals." Amy replied, smiling. "Do you like it?"
I squeaked out, "Yes. Yes, it's wonderful. But where…?"
"Well, I figured it couldn't be just your mom and dad. You had to have other family somewhere. With Cahill help, we tracked your grandparent, who live in Michigan."
"Michigan?" Ian asked, rather shocked. "My mom or dad's parents?"
"Your mom's. They retired by the great lakes. We were able to contact them and get them to send a picture of you both. Your mom left you both with her when she and your dad went to Cahill missions when you were little. She left you with a nanny when you both got older because she didn't want you both to remember them. I have their number, and they would like to contact you; but they understand if you both wouldn't want to because of what has happened."
"They want to see us?" I asked, never imagining that a family member would want me.
"Yes."
"Are they Cahills or Vespers?" Ian asked. I knew he had a good point. Isabel had Vesper in her.
"Neither. They are related to Vespers, but did serve the Cahills for a while. They gave up the Cahill business a few years after they got married and didn't want their kids to know. Isabel did eventually find out." Amy said.
"So, are they normal?" I asked.
"And you said kids. Did Isabel have siblings?" Ian asked.
"I don't quite know too much more, Natalie. I just called once to talk briefly and ask them for a picture. And, yes, Ian. You, if I remember correctly, have an uncle and an aunt. Both married."
"Why didn't mum tell us anything about our family?" I asked Ian.
"Because she simply didn't want us to know." Ian replied.
I started to get teary-eyed. I had family. The Cahills had been a real close second, but a real family meant something.
"We should call them. Soon." I said to Ian. He nodded in agreement.
"Is that it? No more gifts?" Uncle Fiske asked.
"Oh, I have Natalie's gift. I have to go get it."
It took Ian five minutes to go get my gift. I wondered if he had forgotten and was just trying to find something to give me at the last second.
He finally came down with a… crate?
"What on earth?" I asked. He sat the crate right in front of me and opened it.
A white ball of fur attacked me with licks. I started laughing.
"Aw!" I said. It was a small dog wearing a pink collar and a small, polka dotted bow behind one ear. It had pointed ears and a rounded, terrier face. "Ian, it's so cute! But, you know I'm allergic to shedding animals. I can only stand one shedding animal," I said looking at Saladin, who was giving the white dog a death stare as it ran around exploring the room, "I don't think I can stand a second."
Ian smiled, "I thought of that. It's a West Highland White Terrier/Maltese mix. Maltese don't shed. And it's a she. I didn't name her, though. And I think Saladin won't mind the new friend as long as he's still the head of the house."
"It's so adorable!"
"Westies are supposed to be rather protective, barking if they find anything suspicious. Maltese are known for being rather the dog breed for pampering. I thought this would be a good gift for you."
"Mr. Fiske, did you say yes to this?" I asked.
"I sure did. I thought it would be a good addition to the family."
Her little brown eyes looked up at me. Aw, why not? I started to pet her behind her ears.
"She's already had a month of training, so I think she's got a good start." Ian said.
"What should I name her?" I asked everyone. She looked very cute. I wasn't thinking a long name. Short and sweet.
"How about Snowball?" Dan asked.
"Ha. No."
"Anna's cute." Amy suggested.
"Um. Kinda plain. Nor really feeling it."
"How about… Lucy?" Nellie suggested.
I looked at the dog. Lucy… Her brown eyes looked up at me and her pink bow was crooked on her head. Lucy fit her.
"Yeah. Lucy." Lucy climbed into my lap and licked my face. "This Christmas has been amazing."
oooOOOooo
"So know you have a pet of your own, don't you?" Amy asked me as I stroked Lucy's head. I only had to take her out to pee like ten times today. We were both sitting on my bedroom floor. Saladin was curled up by Amy, and a worn-out Lucy was laying on her side practically on top of my leg. I moved an inch to try to move a little out of her way since she was right on me, but Lucy gave me a look and scooted right back on my leg. I had to laugh at her. She was a hyper dog during the day, but when it hit 7:30, Lucy crashed. Saladin bopped her on the nose, and Lucy got the message not to play tug-a-war with Saladin's tail and learned who was in charge.
"Ian actually did a good job with my present!"
"Now you'll have someone to sleep with you at night."
"Yeah. Lucy can be my little protector." There were a few seconds of silence. "When you talked to my grandparents, were they nice?"
"They sounded very nice. I really hope they are for you and Ian. We can even try to visit them for New Years or Christmas break."
"That'd be great. I would like you to come. Even Dan. Dan could get a little of the awkward out of the situation when we met them."
"Sure. You're grandparents sounded so nice on the phone."
"But my mom looks very nice to people when they first meet her. Appearances deceive."
"True. But I really hope they're nice for your and Ian's sake."
"Yeah." I said, trying to picture faces in my mind. Family. It'll be good to have.
"Well, Merry Christmas, Natalie. I'm going to go to bed. It's been a long day."
"Alright, Amy. Good night." Amy left my bedroom.
A/N- Last Christmas Chapter! Whooo! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!
