"Wake up!" Clark demanded as he bounced on the bed. "It is not to early." He told the prone from on the bed.
Sitting up Kayla looked at the clock seeing that it was 2a.m.
"Yes it is to early. Come here," she told him lifting the edge of her covers hissing as the cold air hit her.
Laughing Clark climbed in saying, "Santa came, and the presents are here."
Kayla sighed saying a mental prayer that she had never been like that at Christmas.
"Yes you were Daddy thinks so." Clark told her his eyes beginning to drop.
"Tell you what, if you go back to sleep for a little bit we can both go wake up your Mommy and Daddy." She told him remembering Jon promising her the same thing her first Christmas on the farm.
Two hours later she woke up Clark and the both began to sneak down the hall. Clark trying very hard not to laugh as they got closer. Silently they opened the door to see Martha asleep in the bed. They were both to excited to notice that Jonathan wasn't there until he came from behind them and said boo.
They both screamed as Martha and Jonathan began to laugh.
"Told you they would try to tag team us." Jon said scooping up Clark and depositing him on the bed. Turning around he hugged Kayla who playfully smacked him.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack," she told him giving Martha a hug.
"I remember Mom and Dad's face when we tag teamed them and there was no way I wanted to look like that." He said with a laugh, "besides aren't you a little old for this?"
"I could ask you the same question. Mr. Kent," Martha said laughing as well.
"Presents!" Clark demanded before anyone could respond.
Picking him up Kayla started down the stairs. "Come on Clark, lets go make some breakfast then we can open the presents."
Clark pouted for a bit before nodding his agreement. "I want chocolate waffles" was the next shout Martha and Jonathan heard from Clark as the two headed down the stairs.
The phone began to ring as Kayla finished making Clark's waffles. She heard him answer the phone and conversation about Santa as he came into the kitchen handing her the phone.
"Merry Christmas Bruce," Kayla said grabbing the phone from Clark and gesturing to his waffles.
"Merry Christmas to you, I heard Santa managed to find the Kent farm this year."
"At least you didn't hear it at 2."
"No I had another call at 2. Kayla, Mrs. Luthor is in the hospital, her heart…she is doing a little better now."
Kayla said nothing only sank boneless into a chair. Clark giving up his pancakes crawled into her lap and hugged her tightly.
"Kayla…"
"I'm still here, how's Alex."
"He is hanging in there. His Dad won't be home till after new years." Bruce said his voice getting hard.
"When are you heading to Metropolis, I want to come with you."
"Well, I was hoping later this afternoon."
"If you can be here at noon we can eat here and then go to Metropolis." She told him hearing Martha and Jonathan start down the stairs. "See you then bye." She hung up the phone and returned Clark's hug as the two adults came into the room.
"Don't worry Kayla they will understand," Clark whispered into her ear. Smiling once again he went over to Martha and pulled her into the living room demanding presents. A few minutes later Jonathan and Kayla came into the room to see Clark standing in front of the tree waiting impatiently.
"Told you he would say yes, now can we open the presents," Clark whined as Martha shot a confused look to Jonathan.
"Here Clark, I think this one is from Santa," Kayla said handing him a wrapped box.
Eagerly he tore into the paper to find the toy inside. "Rhinokey!" He squealed holding up the stuffed toy for all to admire.
Rummaging under the tree he pulled out a package and handed it to Kayla. "Santa brought you something."
Unsure of what could be in the box Kayla opened it slowly and stared in shock at the gift.
Impatient Clark climbed into her lap and looked into the box. "That doesn't look like Mommy's." He told her honestly.
"This is a different kind of camera," she exclaimed looking up at Jonathan and Martha. "How did you know?" She finally managed to ask.
"Santa's helper," Martha replied with a laugh. There is film in there as well.
Grinning Kayla picked up Clark and deposited him on the couch in Jonathan's lap. Crossing to the other side of the room she carefully set up her shot making sure she had enough light and they were all in focus before taking the picture. She then carefully balanced it on the camera and ran over to the couch. She managed to sit down just as the camera flashed again.
"Thanks again for letting me steal Kayla away like this," Bruce said as they were getting ready to leave the house.
"Thanks for telling me about Kayla's hobby. The look on her face was priceless." Jonathan said. "Besides I know my sister nothing could keep here away from either of you two if you needed her."
They were interrupted by Kayla coming down the stairs her new camera in a box slung over her shoulder and six small boxes held in her arms. Bruce quickly went over and took the boxes from her.
Before walking out the door she gave Jonathan a long hug. "Thanks, for understanding." She was out the door before she saw the tears in his eyes.
"You can't keep her here forever," Martha said wrapping her arms around his waist.
"There was a time that this was enough," he told her before shutting the door no longer able to see the car they had left in.
"Merry Christmas!" Bruce and Kayla exclaimed in unison as Alex opened the door.
Before he could say anything, Kayla had enveloped him in a hug placing a kiss on his cheek.
"What are you guys doing here?" Alex asked once he was released by Kayla.
"We decided that you needed some company today," Bruce said looking around the house. "Where is everyone?"
"Mom gave them the holiday off as usual. They will be back on the 31st."
Kayla gave Alex another hug. "Well, I can stay till then."
"Alfred is coming up tonight, so we won't be here all alone." Bruce added.
"Now, Kayla said looking around the empty living room, "I think its time for some Christmas in here.
After a few phone calls to Alfred and several more back to the Kent farm and a four hour wait the living room had a beautiful tree, decorations, a roaring fire, and a dinner consisting of Chinese take out. Under the tree were the six boxes that Kayla brought joined by gifts from Bruce and Alex. When all was said and done the room had been transformed into what could pass as a somewhat dysfunctional Norman Rockwell painting.
"Alex, when were you planning on decorating?" Bruce asked as he reached for some more fried rice.
"Today we never decorate when Father is here.."
"Alex, want to join a club?" Kayla asked breaking the awkward silence.
"What kind of club?" Alex asked as Bruce flashed Kayla a grateful smile.
"A club for friends who will always have people who love them." Bruce explained
"Well," he said looking back and forth at them both, "I think I would qualify for that group."
With a squeal, Kayla lunged at Alex and pulled him into a hug. Laughing they both pulled Bruce into the hug as well.
A few minutes later they had sat down and had opened all the presents but one. Kayla had gotten all the tools needed for her to develop her photos. Bruce had gotten books on Tai Chi, while Alex had gotten books on mythology. All that remained were three clumsily wrapped gifts.
"Kayla, what are these?" Alex asked holding up his gift.
"I don't know, Clark made them for us. Martha said he wrapped them and everything."
Slowly they unwrapped the gifts to find frames with puzzle pieces and buttons glued on. In the frames were two pictures. One of the four of them all dressed up before Lana had arrived. The second was of the Bruce, Kayla, and Alex in the living room. They were all wearing sweats and Kayla was clinging to them both in response to the unseen threat on the television.
"These are so great!" Bruce exclaimed. "Too bad it is to late to call and tell him that."
"He knows," Kayla said a few tears in her eyes.
"You guys we forgot about the fortune cookies," Alex said
"Girls first," Bruce said handing a cookie to Kayla.
"Chicken," she teased. Breaking open the cookie she ate a small piece. Turning the piece of paper over she read, "The secret of good friends is no secret to you."
"Alex," Kayla said handing him the next cookie.
He repeated the procedure before reading, "Let more people into your circle."
Bruce was the last to go looking at his fortune for several moments before saying, "Spend you life lifting people up."
"In bed," they all said together before dissolving into laughter.
A/N To answer Tora Tigress Kayla belongs to me.