"Jim! Are you ready to go!?" Walt called up the stairs.

"Coming, Da!" The six year old ran down, backpack over his shoulders.

Walt dropped his own bag in order to catch his son. He held him over his head before dropping him into a hug. Jim laughed and hugged him around the neck.

"We're gonna go flying for real when we get to Uncle Lucky's, right?" Jim whispered.

"Sh!" Walt chuckled, "That's our Christmas secret. Remember?"

"You act like I don't notice you doing that every year," Barbara rolled her eyes as she came in from the car, "And if I notice then Lucas probably notices."

"Barbara, Lucas could sleep threw an earthquake. I'm sure he can sleep threw me taking Jim for a midnight flight in the snow."

"If you say so," Barbara took Jim and started twords the car.

"I know Toby goes to Nana's for Hanukkah but are Onkel O and Mary coming? Are they bringing Tanta Jay?"

"Not this year, Young Atlas," Walt got behind the wheel, "They're going to celebrate with Tanta Jay's sister and Eli. We'll celebrate with al of them when we get back."

"Oh. Ok," Jim tried not to sound disappointed.

He had gotten used to his cousin and Uncle being with them on Christmas. He and Mary could play and get into trouble while the adults talked and in the morning they could wake everyone up together. It was almost like having a sister for the weekend.

After a grueling six hour drive, the trio finally pulled up to the house of Lucas Sturges. He was waiting on the porch for them, surrounded by snow. Jim ignored the cold as he flung himself out from the car and up the steps.

"Uncle Lucky!"

"Hey, Jimmy!" Lucas swung his nephew up onto his hip, "OOf! You're getting big. Oh, what would you say if I told you that you'll have a new cousin to play with from now on?"

"What?" Jim's eyes grew wide as he was set back on the ground.

"Lucky? Is there something you forgot to tell us?" Barbara teased as she dropped Jim's backpack over his shoulders.

Lucas grinned and opened the door. Out barreled aa dark brown puppy. The chocolate lab mix ran around Jim before pushing him right off the porch and into the snow. Then he jumped off with him andd atacked his face with big wet kisses. Jim squealed with laughter.

"You got a puppy?" Walt steppped up beside Barbara.

"Yup!" Lucas declared, "I got a bit lonely after Mom and Dad moved to Florida, aand you. Know that I'm not interested in a relationship. So, at the advisement of my therapists, I went out and adopted Muddy Buddy."

Jim tussled around in the snow with the puppy. Barbara chuckled and shook her head.

"Hey, wait. No Otto or Mary this year?" Lucas looked around.

"No, he got married this year so now they'er celebrating with her family."

"Aw...I finally learned how to make sauerkraut..." Lucas bowed his head to hide his smerk.

"1, no you didn't. He would still say you did it wrong," Walt crossed his arms, "2, You'll learn to make sauerkraut but you won't learn how to properly make meatballs?

"Why would I learn to make something I can just buy at the store?"

Barbara sighed. She knew they were just arguing for the sake of arguing but it was still a bit irritating.

"Jim, don't stay out to long. I don't want you out or...Buddy to get sick in this cold," she called over her shoulder.

"Barb, Sis, you're a doctor. You know it doesn't work that way."

"Luke, bro, I'm a mother. I'm not taking any chances."

LLB

While Christmas with the Stricklers and the Sturges wasn't very religiously traditional, they did have many of their own traditions. Walt aand Lucas commandeered the kitchen to make dinner while Barbara and Jim set up the table. While dinner cooked, they all gathered in the living room to play 'find the pickle'. Though, everyone got a prize and the left over cookies were shared generously. After dinner, Lucas set up his laptop and they did a video chat with him and Barbara's parents. They even let Jim call Otto to tell the rest of the family 'Merry Christmas'. Finally, at midnight, when everybody eles was asleep, Walt slipped out of bed, scooped up Jim, and climbed to the roof.

"Ready, Young Atlas?"

"Yeah, Da," Jim grinned.

Together they transformed and Walt flew over the surrounding hills. The stars sparkled above them and a herd of deer ran below.

"Will I be able to fly like your some day?" Jim looked up at his father.

"Maybe," Walt was, admittedly, skeptical, "We'll have to ask Onkel O."

Jim nodded and lay his head against Walt's shouder, "I'm gettting to big for you to carry me. But I *yawn* don't want to stop doing this."

Walt smiled softly and looked up at the bright moon.

"Goodnight, my angel. Time to close your eyes.

And save these questions for another day."

Walt sang Billy Joel's 'Lullaby' quietly as he flew back to the house. He had been singing it to Jim since he thought the boy was going to be calling him 'Uncle'. Before James had walked out on Barbara. Even when Barbara was still pregnant with Jim. He had a feeling he wouldn't stop even when Jim got older. Somehow, it perfectly encompassed how he felt about his son.

Landing softly on the porch, Walt transformed back into his human for and walked inside.

"Have a nice flight?" Lucas asked, sitting in a chair by thee Christmas tree.

Walt barely suppressed an undignified shriek.

Lucas chuckled and stood up, "It's alright, Wally. I'm not gonna hurt ya or turn you over to Aria 51 or anything. But, I might have to call New York. Elisa Masda and Goliath might have some questions. "

"How long have you know?" Walt held Jim more protectively.

"Since you and Barb got married. Jimmy wasn't exactly the best at staying in his human form. And that Christmas was when I found out you can fly," Lucas stood up and headed for the steps, "You being a flying rock man doesn't change anything between us, Wally. You're still my brother. Don't hurt my sister or nephew and that will never change. You know that."

Walt smiled and put one hand on Lucas's shoulder. Lucas put a hand on Wallter's. Had Walt not been holding Jim, they probably would have hugged.

LLB

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I wanted to do a little something with Barbabra's brother (my HC for the man in I the pictures in the show) and the Holidays seemed like the perfect occasion. This may be my last chapter for the year but we'll see. TTFN TaTa For Now.