Christmas 1976

"Food has always played a vital role in Life's rituals. The breaking of the bread,
the last meal of the condemned man, and then this meal. However informal it
might appear, you can be sure that there was to be little, bonhomie" Are the
words spoken by The Excerpt prior to the infamous Dinner Scene in the Rocky
Horror Picture Show.

He made an excellent case, look at how diverse cultures throughout the world
-- no matter if it's Ramadan or Thanksgiving -- dinning with friends and family
(or lack there of) is a significant part of holiday tradition. And because of this
axiom it wouldn't be anything but an archetypal if the Vaughns didn't also
partake in the time honored tradition and invite their friends -- Jack and Laura
Bristow with their cute little daughter, Sydney, and Arvin and Emily Sloane --
to dine with them on Christmas Eve.

Taking only a cursory glance, this seemed to be a pleasant evening filled with
laughter, presents, good friends and loving family. However, on scrupulous
review we'd discover the treachery and mutiny brewing within. This evening
was full of lies, premeditated murder, adultery, and star-crossed lovers.

[b]Laura/Irina POV[/b]

"What's that?" I pulled away, thinking I heard a sound.

"Nothing," Kissing me again, "They won't come looking for a few minutes."

"We shouldn't be doing this."

Nuzzling my neck, her confirms, "You're right, but I don't care."

I kissed him, "I should turn you, but I can't bring myself to. Honestly, I'm more
worried about Arvin."

"Arvin?"

"I think he knows."

"Impossible, we've been so careful."

"He knows something; he's scheming."

I kissed him once more, before we heard the crack at the door. Pulling away,
we're relived to see its only Sydney.

"Mummy, where's going to open presents!"

"Okay, Darling."

[b]Sydney POV[/b]

Mummy and Mr. Vaughn didn't seem very happy to see me. I was confused,
since they were always happy to see me. Especially, Mr. Vaughn who always
gave me a big hug whenever Mummy and I come to visit. Secretly,
sometimes I wished Mr. Vaughn was my Daddy. Actually, I take that back,
I wish my Daddy was like Mr. Vaughn. If Mr. Vaughn was my daddy that would
mean Mike was my brother; Mike being my brother would be an awful thing.
I'd never get to follow him around and he'd probably hate me, because he hated
his sisters, Meghan and Danielle. They are always fighting and they never follow
him around. If that's what having a brother is like, I don't want to brother and I
REALLY don't want Mike as one. I know I'd cry if Mike yelled at me.

I went off to find him. I wanted to ask him what he thought about Mummy and
Mr. Vaughn. Mike would tell me the truth, because Mike knows the answer to
everything.

I found him; fighting with his sister, per usual.

"Give me it back!" He shouted.

"No, I don't want to."

"Why couldn't you have gone to boarding school too?" He questioned, Meghan,
who was four years older.

"And leave my darling little brother? Never."

"I'll get Mum!"

"Yah, do that you little tattle tail."

"Give it back!"

I knew from experience how this would end. Mrs. Vaughn would come in and
ask why they couldn't get along. She'd make Meghan give whatever they were
fighting over back, and she'd protest. Then she'd make Mike say thank you,
and he'd protest. It'd been happening -- in that same order -- for four years.

I walked closer and they both saw me, "Mike."

"Hiya, Syd!" He smiled. "What's up?"

"I have a question," I was about to explain, but Meghan cut me off.

"Here, I don't even want it anymore," She threw the toy at Mike. Having no
ability what so ever, she threw it way off of target, nearly hit me. Mike saw
it coming and caught it.

"What the HECK?" Mike screamed. "You almost hit her!"

"I was aiming at you!"

"No wonder you failed Pysh. Ed!"

She stomped out of the room. Mike turned to me, "You okay?'

I nodded and grinned.

"What did you want to ask me."

I told him abut Mummy and Mr. Vaughn.

"Well, that is interesting. They probably were discussing what they got us
for Christmas. C'mon, let's go spy on them."

[b]Mike POV[/b]

I felt bad lying to Sydney. I never did. She's always full of questions and I
either truthfully answer them or go ask Dad. Frankly, I wanted to know
myself. Dad and Laura were very close; closer than Mum and Jack. Never
thought anything of it, I mean, Syd and I were close. Emily and Laura were
close. Jack and Emily were close. Everyone was close. We were like a
great family. They were always over here, or we're over there. Still, Dad
and Laura were never alone in the way Sydney described. I didn't show
concern to Sydney and made her think it was nothing.

I used one of Sydney's favourite words, "spy." Whenever I had friends over,
and we ran around the back yard with play guns and pretending that we were
CIA and KGB and G-Men, Sydney ALWAYS had to be involved. My friends
thought it was weird to have a four year old girl tagging along. I told them to
buzz off and they finally did after Sydney nearly gave Joe a black eye. I look
down at Sydney and she smiles at me, that's my girl.

Dad taught me how to defend myself (fight) when I was seven. Sydney was
watching the lesson, and being Sydney, she wanted to learn too. Dad and I
shrugged, and said sure. To make a long story short, she was a good pupil.
Later that day when the neighbourhood boys and I were playing
"Government Agents"; Sydney was a "bad agent" and Joe was a "good agent"
trying to capture her. She put up a fight, and she won.

I don't know who was prouder, Sydney or my father and I.

Sydney and I could here voices room the next room, "Do you think fucking
him will save you?"

"Katrina, please, I have it under control"

"Irina, he's got a wife. He will not stand by you."

[b]Emily POV[/b]

Arvin was ambitious, had a growing distrust for the United States Government,
and he loved me. A better husband could not have been selected. I only wish
Irina could had been as luckily. Russia wanted her to steel secrets and
unfortunately Jack Bristow was the man who had them. At times I wish William
wasn't married to Catherine; if Irina had been paired with him, things would be
easier. Irina was good at her job; Jack never suspected her. I doubt he even
suspected her faithlessness. However, Irina was a renegade.

William and Irina were walking down the hall. I told William, I had to talk to
Laura and he didn't object. I pulled her into the den, and shut the door.
"What the hell is going on?"

Irina flashed her fake smile, and played innocent, "I don't know what your
talking about."

"Don't bullshit me, Irina." I hissed her name.

She snapped back, "They might be listening, Katrina."

"Do you have any idea what your doing?"

"I'm --"

"You're jeopardizing your mission, because you hate Jack Stop being selfish,
and do your job. End it."

"No. Unlike you, I didn't get a match made in heaven."

"William Vaughn is the agent in charge of the Operation Defector. If he finds
out your not Mrs. Prefect, you're dead. And all of our covers are blown."

"He'd never." Irina started.

"Do you think fucking him will save you?"

"Katrina, please, I have it under control"

"Irina, he's got an adoring wife and is a loyal patriot. He will not stand by you."

Before she could say another word, Sydney and Mike barged in. Mike gave
me a very nasty look; he heard, but how much? "Sorry, I was just looking
for my dad."

"He went back into the living room, dear." I smiled. He didn't seem satisfied.

"Okay."

Sydney left Michael side, and ran toward Irina, "Mummy, c'mon! It's time to
open presents, c'mon!" Irina smiled at me, with a smile that said this
conversation is over. She took Sydney's head, and lead Mike out the door.

[b]Arvin's POV[/b]

He was idolized at work. He had a loving wife, a gorgeous mistress, and a
son that adored him. Everybody loved him; I hated him. It would all end
soon though. He has no idea. The look on his face will be priceless. I've
been planning it for months. Ever since I found out the truth about my wife.
She never told me. I, being frustrated and fed up with my authorities,
sought out a more powerful ally. And on my way to that, I uncovered who
Emily really was. The KGB and Alan we precisely who I was looking for.
They had just one condition. It was simple enough, nothing I couldn't handle.

Emily came up from behind, put her hands on my shoulder and whispered in
my ear. I got up and followed her into the deserted kitchen. She quickly
filled me in on her conversation with Irina.

"Arvin, darling, Michael knows."

"What the hell do you mean, Michael knows. He couldn't possibility,
he's just a child."

"He heard us talking. He's a smart boy, he'll tell his father. William will
put it together."

"Well what do you suppose be do about it."

She didn't answer. I stepped closer, "Are you mad?"

"We have to keep his mouth shut."

"There are other opinions. We don't have to go to extremes."

"Arvin, listen."

Cutting her off, "No, you listen. If we lay a finger on that boy William
will skin us alive. We'll deal with this tomorrow. But right now, we
have to go out there like nothing happened and keep extra eyes on
William and Michael."

Emily nodded, and I followed her back into the living room.