By Tracy (biancaheart@yahoo.com)
Rating: PG
Category: FF
Spoilers: Season 3
Summary: Part 3 of the Greatest Gift series
Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell…but I'd buy it if they let me.
"What is that?" Isabel exclaimed as Kyle carried a large rectangular box into the house.
"It's a surprise." He said, his face gleaming.
"For who?"
"For the birthday boy."
"He's in the living room watching TV! Be quiet or he'll hear you!"
"I'll run it up to the apartment, okay?"
Isabel sighed. "Yeah, right, okay, whatever."
"Oh, don't be a grinch!"
"I'm not a grinch! I'm like Mrs. Christmas."
Kyle rolled his eyes. "More like the Christmas Nazi!"
"Hey."
***
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight." Kyle closed the book. Evan was soundly sleeping in his arms. His black hair was stuck out like a halo around his head. "Izzy, I think he's asleep."
"I'll take him." Izzy picked him up. "I can't believe how big he's getting."
"Two. Two years ago." Kyle said. "Has it really been that long?"
"I know. I feel like he should still be an infant- it doesn't seem like that much time has gone by."
"Want some coffee?"
She shook her head. "Hot Chocolate?"
"With 3.5 marshmallows exactly?"
"But of course." Isabel smiled. "I better get this little one to bed."
"Yeah, before he wakes up and we have to put him to sleep again."
"Kyle!"
"It's happened before!"
"Yeah…but…"
"It happened tonight!"
Isabel kissed her son's forehead. "Yeah, isn't it wonderful?"
***
She sniffed the minty aroma of the hot chocolate just before taking a sip. It was truly a divine beverage.
"So, Kyle."
He matched her facial manners and tone exactly. "So, Isabel."
"What's in the box?"
"Wait and see."
Kyle quickly ran up the stairs and came down with the bulky box. He ripped it open and dumped out the contents.
"It's a bunch of nuts and bolts."
"Ah, but it's a bunch of nuts and bolts with some cardboard."
"Are you sure this is safe for a two year old?"
"Isabel, it's Billy Bunny's Clubhouse. Just the coolest toy this side of…anywhere. This is the hot toy this Christmas season."
"Evan has plenty of toys! You helped me pick them out, Kyle."
"I want him to have a good Christmas."
"And he will."
"I want it to be special. Poor boy has the bad luck to be born on Christmas."
"And that's bad because?"
"There are two days every year when people get loads of presents- 1. Their Birthday, and 2. Christmas. Evan's are both on the same day. Meaning people would want to stiff him and give him less gifts, simply because he's born on Christmas. And that little boy doesn't deserve to be cheated out of anything.
Isabel shook her head. "I don't know whether to call you insanely sweet or amazingly stupid."
Kyle shrugged. "A little from column A, a little from column B. So you'll help?"
"I have a choice?"
"Well, no…"
"Hand me a screwdriver." Isabel sighed. "I knew I should have taken the coffee."
***
Kyle sighed in relief.
It was 4:30 in the morning, and Billy Bunny's Clubhouse was finally standing tall and beautiful.
His eyes felt like lead. He couldn't remember ever feeling more tired. Fighting Aliens was less exhausting than building this monstrosity.
Isabel had been sleeping for the last hour or so on the couch. He'd covered her up with a throw blanket and continued hooking Billy's ears into the top socket of the house. Crazy rabbit ears.
Kyle climbed up onto the couch, grabbed a pillow and stole half of Isabel's blanket. Sleep quickly came, and he could feel himself falling down, down, down, into a blissful spiral of relaxation.
"It's Christmas! Santa Claus has been here! Santa!" Evan ran the whole way from his room to the living room. He climbed up onto the couch and started to bounce up and down. "Momma! Ky! Santa has been here! WAKE UP!"
Both adults sat up with a start.
"Evan, honey, don't scare Mommy like that!" Isabel said, smoothing his hair.
"It's Christmas."
"Yes, I know. Kyle, tell me that clock doesn't say what I think it says."
"You don't want to know."
She sighed. "Let's open the presents."
***
Isabel smiled, happy that Evan had just been put down for a nap.
Now she could take a nap.
She loved her son incredibly, but didn't care for the early morning Santa expedition.
Kyle was passed out on the couch. He'd barely been able to keep his eyes open during the present exchange. Sleep had overcome him while watching some football game, while holding his squirming sports buddy in his arms.
Isabel adjusted the blanket that he'd pulled off and settled down into the comfy recliner chair. She'd never tell Kyle the revelation she'd had earlier this afternoon- he'd never have to know.
They could have used their alien powers to put together Billy Bunny's Clubhouse.