Author's note: see ch 1 for disclaimer
Warning: mention of spanking
When the alarm went off the next morning, Scott carefully opened his eyes. He looked at his chest and saw Madelyne draped across him and sleeping. He smiled to himself and gently started shaking her awake.
"Mmm. Time's it?"
"Quarter till. You wanted to get up and make pancakes, remember?" Madelyne rolled over and stretched, giving Scott another view of her body.
"What?" she asked. Scott smirked at her and sat up.
"Wanna go again? It'll be a week before we get another chance," he said before kissing her. Madelyne started returning the kiss before pulling away. She barely was able to get her robe on to rush out of the room and into the bathroom to vomit. Scott threw on his boxers and ran after her.
"I'm sorry," she said before retching again. Scott pulled her hair back and kissed the top of her head.
"It's fine, Maddie. There's more to us than just physical stuff." Madelyne took the washcloth Scott offered her and wiped her face. He helped her stand up and she quickly started brushing her teeth.
"You ok, Mom?" Nate asked at the door to the bathroom, dressed similarly to Scott.
"She's fine, Nate. Go on and get dressed. We'll get breakfast going in a minute." Nate nodded and walked away.
"I'll need your help," Madelyne told Scott after rinsing.
"Yeah, babe. Whatever you need." They walked back to their room where they got dressed. When Madelyne stepped out, Carolyn was getting bowls out for her from the cabinets.
"Thank you, Carrie," she said, walking over.
"Are you ok? I thought the nausea had stopped?"
"I'll be fine. It comes and goes. It really has lessened these last couple weeks."
"Want some ginger lemonade?" Madelyne nodded as she started adding ingredients to a bowl. Carolyn pulled the lemonade out of the fridge and poured Madelyne a small glass.
"Thank you," Madelyne said with a soft smile as she took the cup. Scott came out of the room and gave his fiancée and daughter a smile.
"Morning, Carrie."
"Morning, Daddy. You sleep ok?"
"Yep. Maddie, what can I do to help?"
"It's fine, Daddy. I can help her. You should make sure the decorations are ready and that the lights work. And that we have an angel or a star or something. It's Christmas Eve, so I don't know how fast we'll be able to replace things if we needed to." Scott raised an eye and looked at Madelyne.
"Your daughter is as bossy as you are." Madelyne winked at him and worked with Carolyn to prepare breakfast. Scott shook his head and went to the boxes of decorations he had set aside the previous week. He sat on the floor and started pulling strands of lights out.
"Can we help?" Nathan asked, coming over and sitting next to Scott. Nate was not long before joining them.
"Yeah. Nate, check to make sure there's some sort of topper. Nathan. You check the lights. I'm going to make sure the ornaments have hooks." The three got working, not noticing the pictures Madelyne and Carolyn were taking of them.
"Breakfast is ready," Madelyne finally announced. The three males stood up and went to the table. Carolyn and Madelyne used their powers to set the table, move the plate of pancakes to the center of the table, and send the syrup. Everyone quickly made a plate, except for Madelyne, and began eating.
"These are amazing," Nate said.
"Thank you, Nate. It's my mother's recipe."
"Are you not eating?" Scott asked, concerned.
"I'll get some yogurt in a minute. I'm just enjoying the moment." Nathan waved to the fridge and cabinet and had a cup of yogurt and a spoon float to Madelyne.
"You need to eat, Mom. I know how Dad is with picking trees… We're going to be out there forever."
"None of the trees here hold a candle to what's available back home. Not my fault I always try to think otherwise." The group finished eating and Scott volunteered to wash the dishes.
"Are you sure? You hate-"
"But I love you. Sit and relax, Maddie. I can do this for you. Think of what size tree you might want." Scott put the dishes near the sink and filled a side with hot, soapy water. He smiled when Nate came over to help.
"I'm sorry about last night, Dad."
"It's fine. I just don't like you guys going behind my back. My life… I don't have a lot of people I can trust, Nate. I'd prefer it if my kids weren't on that list."
"We just wanted to help…"
"I know that. But put yourself in my position for a minute. Imagine Sinister was after your brother and your son, so you did all this stuff to update the security of your home and had a select group of people know how to get into specific areas- areas that are being reinforced to be like fallout shelters for the New Recruits and the woman carrying your children. And then all of a sudden, you find out that these codes were passed out to other people without you knowing. Would you see that as helping, or would you see it as your children being in even more danger?" Scott let the water out of the sink and dried his hands as Nate finished rinsing the last few dishes.
"I get it. But you should see it from our side. The mother we didn't get to grow up with is in danger and we're in a position to help." Scott put a hand on Nate's shoulder.
"If you had come to me, we could have figured something out."
"Yeah, but you should have thought about us wanting to help-"
"This is done," Madelyne said, coming over. "Nathan was wrong to go behind Scott's back. You were wrong to announce you had the codes in front of everyone, forcing Scott to act. Scott was wrong to not ask for help. It's over. Now, it's Christmas and I'd like to get our tree."
"Sorry Mom," Nate said, leaving to get his coat.
"I did ask for help," Scott said, frowning.
"Not from the people who are the most dedicated to keeping us safe."
"You think I was wrong?"
"I think you were being a father and not wanting to pull your children into this. Let's get our coats on, now. Please." Scott nodded and got their coats from their room.
"Everyone ready?" Scott asked at the door.
"Yes!"
"Do we have an axe?"
"No. My visor is in my pocket. If Nate and Nathan can brace it, I'll get it down." Madelyne nodded and soon, the five were out the door and heading down the stairs. Out of the mansion, Scott saw Lorna, Alex, and Gabriel getting into a car. He frowned and walked to them.
"What are you three doing?"
"We're giving Lorna a tour of Bayville."
"With what license? You don't even have a permit, Alex. You can't just take off and go wherever you want."
"Don't worry about it, Scott. Hepzibah is coming with us." Scott sighed.
"Whatever. If Dad finds out, he's going to belt you." Alex and Gabriel blushed.
"Scott!" Scott looked up and saw his family at the edge of the forest, waiting for him. He gave his brothers another disapproving look before walking off to rejoin his fiancée and their children. He took Madelyne's hand and led them into the trees.
"What were they doing?" Nathan asked.
"They're going for a drive. Alex tried to lie and say Mom was going with them, but I'm not stupid. It's their funeral, not mine for once."
"Do you see anything you like, Scott?" Scott looked at Madelyne and smiled.
"Plenty." She blushed and pretended to swat his chest.
"I meant trees."
"Hm. I've seen some, but Maddie, we're picking out your tree."
"Then will anyone be upset if I say I see it now, or do we want to keep looking?" Scott looked at their children.
"Well? Do we want to wander around or go back in and start decorating?"
"Decorating!" Carolyn and Nate exclaimed.
"There you have it, love. Now which tree are we bringing in?" Madelyne pointed and Scott just blinked.
"You sure, Mom?" Nathan asked.
"I'm sure." Nate led Nathan over and stood to the side, grabbing the trunk. Scott kneeled down, switched to his visor, and aimed a low powered blast at the base of the tree. It started falling and Nate and Nathan caught it.
"Carrie? A little help?" Carolyn helped lift the tree in the air, quickly aided by Nathan. They carried the tree into the house and up to their suite. Madelyne and Scott quickly set up the water base for it. Nathan and Carolyn put the tree in the base and Nate turned the screws to keep it in place.
"Ok, Maddie. How do you want us to start?"
"Lights go around the trunk, and then around the branches." Scott and Nathan worked together to get the lights started and wrapped around the trunk of the tree. Once that was done, Carolyn and Nate put the lights on the branches.
"Ornaments next or star?" Scott asked Madelyne.
"Ornaments. Tree topper is always last." The five started putting the ornaments on the tree. Carolyn lifted herself into the air and put ornaments in the harder to reach sections. Finally, Madelyne handed the star to Nathan.
"Want me to help you up?" Carolyn asked. Nate looked at Madelyne.
"Mom?" Madelyne smiled as she used her powers to lift Nate into the air. He put the star on top of the tree and was gently lowered down. The group stood and looked at their work, Scott's arm wrapped around Madelyne's waist.
"I want a picture," she said. "Nathan, Nate, you two stand in the back by the tree. Scott, you and I will be in front of them. Carrie, you're in front of us." Madelyne waited for everyone to start moving before she had her camera zoom over. Once she was satisfied with how everyone was positioned, she used her powers to take a few pictures. Madelyne had the camera come to her and she checked the results.
"Will those work?" Scott asked.
"They're perfect. Are you four hungry?"
"It's fine, Mom. We can make ourselves some sandwiches. You sit and relax. Put on another Christmas movie," Nathan said. Madelyne went into her room and used her powers to move wrapped presents to go under the tree before sitting on the couch and turning on the television. Scott came over and handed her a sandwich and some more ginger lemonade.
"Thank you," she told him. Scott simply kissed her forehead before going to make himself lunch. He'd just sat beside her when he felt his phone buzz. Scott pulled it out and saw Alex was calling.
"Not answering," he told Madelyne. "I told Dad we weren't going to be bothered today short of an emergency." Scott dismissed the call and took a bite of sandwich. Soon there was pounding on the connecting door for the suites. Nate looked confused as he unlocked and opened the door. Chris came in on the phone, eyes wide.
"Dad?"
"He got him. Sinister took Gabriel."