Disclaimer: Mutant X and all its characters still belong to someone who
isn't me.
Author's Note: I know that it's a little early for Christmas, but I wasn't going to wait until the 25th to post this.
Words in / / = Thoughts.
Words in * * = Italics.
*
Chapter 8.
Nearly three months later.
Adam didn't know what it was about Christmas.
For some reason, there was never a New Mutant in danger or anyone who wanted to go into the Underground.
Even Mason Eckhart seemed to have enough respect for the holiday not to create any trouble at Christmas.
Adam didn't believe in magic but if he did, he would have thought that there was a good fairy who watched over the mutant X team during the Christmas season.
Shalimar, now nearing her eighth of pregnancy, was quickly becoming more irritable and short-tempered every day. It seemed that as her stomach grew larger, her supply of patience, which had never been inexhaustible, was growing smaller.
She was longing for the day when she would be able to get back into action.
Emma, knowing that her friend was feeling down, had utilised her usual method of cheering people up - she was planning a Christmas party.
* * *
"Not again!" Jesse moaned, slumping in his chair.
"It's not as bad this time." Brennan ventured, trying to console his unhappy friend. "At least it's not a surprise party this time - so we don't have to worry about hiding everything. And Emma said that she and Shal would take care of the decorating. Adam's taking them out to find a tree as we speak. That just leaves us with. . ."
"Cleaning." Jesse pointed out crossly. "As usual."
Brennan shot his friend an annoyed look. "Well, if *someone* hadn't insisted that he knew 'absolutely nothing whatsoever' about preparing food, we'd be sitting on our asses, writing out a sample menu right now."
"I think that I'd rather clean."
"You're joking, right?"
"I' serious. I don't want to have to cater for Shal and her - what's her current craving for?"
Brennan shuddered. "Strawberry ice cream, raw fish, marmalade and those pro- biotic yoghurts that Emma always buys. All blended together like a milkshake."
"That kid of yours is going to grow up with the weirdest taste in food." Jesse commented, before bursting into giggles.
"What is it?" Brennan asked, bewildered.
"This time next year. . ." Jesse broke down, laughing hysterically. "Brennan, this time next year you're going to be one of those poor unfortunate dads that has to spend hours queuing at the mall with their kid to see Santa!"
Brennan's face fell as he realised that his friend was right.
"Enjoy this Christmas while you can." Jesse warned his friend, relishing the look on his face. "It will be your last peaceful holiday for the next eighteen years!"
* * *
"What about this one?" Adam asked, slightly breathless, as he pulled out yet another tree.
Shalimar and Emma examined the tree critically. Their breath made little clouds in the frosty air.
"Too big." Shalimar decided.
"We'd never be able to fit the decorations on the branches." Emma added. "They're too thick."
"Fine." Adam held up another tree. "What about this one?"
"Too scrawny." Emma wrinkled her nose.
"I can't decide." Shalimar complained.
"Ladies." Adam made a heroic effort to keep his temper in check. "We have looked at every tree in the place! Surely there is *one* tree that you like."
They exchanged a look.
"Can you show us those ones again?" They asked in unison.
Adam groaned.
/Next year, I'm picking the tree myself! /
* * *
"Jesse? Brennan?"
As soon as they heard Adam call their names, the guys snatched up dusters and started cleaning the rec room.
"We're in here, Adam!" Brennan called.
"Working hard!" Jesse added.
"Come and give us a hand with the trees!" Adam called.
Brennan and Jesse exchanged a confused look.
"Trees?"
* * *
Emma stepped back, surveying her work with satisfaction.
"So, guys, what do you think?"
"It's very nice." Jesse told her with a smile.
"Why'd you get seven trees, Adam?" Brennan was still confused about that.
Adam scowled darkly. "Ask them." He indicated Shalimar and Emma, who were packing away the boxes that had held the decorations.
"I couldn't decide." Shalimar explained with a disarming smile. "There were so many I liked. It took us nearly three hours to narrow it down to this seven."
"And we did have more than enough decorations to go around, so Adam. . ."
"I just wanted to get out of the cold." Adam told the guys, who gave him sympathetic smiles. He glared at the girls. "They know perfectly well that I can't resist both of them at once, so. . ."
"He let us buy all seven." Shalimar finished happily.
"They do look nice though, don't they?" Emma was glowing with pride. "We can spread them around Sanctuary. That one" She indicated the largest and most ostentatiously decorated tree. "Can go in the rec room and this one. . ." She pointed to a tree decorated entirely in red. "We can put on the dojo and this. . ."
"You know, Emma, we'll let you decide where to put them." Adam interrupted hastily. "Jesse will help you. Shalimar, if you're ready, I want to do a quick examination before dinner."
"Again?" Shalimar grumbled.
Brennan put his arm around her shoulders. "Come on - I'll hold your hand."
As the couple headed off towards the lab, Adam turned to the other two with a half-exasperated, half-affectionate expression.
"She complains like this every week."
"I heard that!"
* * *
Christmas morning.
Emma was the first to wake up.
Within twenty minutes she had managed to get everyone else out of bed and had dragged them all down to the rec room for presents.
As it was half past five in the morning, they were less than appreciative and their Christmas spirit didn't really come into play until Adam brewed a pot of strong coffee.
Nicholas Fox - picked up by Jesse and the Double Helix - arrived at around eight o'clock, laden down with presents.
"It's time to make up for all those Christmases I missed." He told his daughter, piling gift after gift into her arms until she staggered under the weight.
Brennan darted forward to relieve her of her burden, only to be handed his own pile of gifts. "This is very generous of you, Mr Fox." He said when he recovered his power of speech."
"Nick, please." His father-in-law clapped him on the shoulder. "We're family!"
"Thanks, Mr. . .Nick."
"Don't mention it." Nicholas hugged Shalimar, patting her bump. "How's my first grandchild?"
Shalimar winced as she was kicked from within. "Active." She said dryly.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
Shalimar looked across at her husband. "Brennan doesn't want to know until the birth, Dad. He wants everything to be a surprise."
"You're probably right, son." Nicholas acknowledged, remembering the prenatal scan that had led him to seek help from Adam Kane and Genome X. "Sometimes you're better off not knowing. So," He forced a grin as he changed the subject. "Have you two kids thought of any names?"
"Hey, guys, come on!" Emma's impatient call spared Shalimar and Brennan the task of answering the question.
* * *
Emma's organisation had really paid off.
Sanctuary was beautifully decorated and the Christmas lunch she and Adam had prepared was universally declared to be excellent.
She had prudently sat Adam and Nicholas at opposite ends of the table, as far away from each other as possible because, although the two men had reached an uneasy truce since her outburst at the wedding, whenever they were in the same room the tension between the was palpable.
She wasn't going to let them ruin her Christmas party!
Poor Shalimar felt like a bone between two dogs as she tried to keep up a conversation with both of her 'fathers' at the same time as they clamoured for her attention.
It took one of Emma's best 'warning' looks to get the two older men to stop their tug of love and let Shalimar eat in peace.
"So, Dr Kane," Nicholas's voice was mingled curiosity and scorn as he addressed Adam for the first time. "Why exactly do you have so many Christmas trees?"
The four mutants burst out laughing at his words.
"What?"
* * *
After dinner, everyone was feeling very full and quite tired.
After third helpings of Emma's rich Christmas cake, they made their way to the rec room and collaspsed on chairs and sofas, feeling too full to move.
Emma and Adam were playing a game of chess and, as Adam was so sleepy, for the first time since they'd met, Emma was actually winning!
Shalimar was curled up on the couch, her head in Brennan's lap, fast asleep, occasionally letting out a soft purr and batting at imaginary objects.
Jesse had been silent for a while, unable to think of anything to say to Shalimar's father, of whom he was less than fond.
"So, Mr Fox," The older man looked up at him. "Would you like to watch a movie? I think I've got one that you'll. . ."
"Don't you dare!" Shalimar warned, she was still half asleep but alert enough to know which movie he was referring to.
Emma sighed happily, looking around at her friends, her family gathered around.
"Don't say it, Em!" Brennan pleaded, seeing the nostalgic look on her face.
"God bless us, every one."
TBC.
*
Thanks for the reviews. I'll update as soon as possible.
Next Chapter: The Birth.
Author's Note: I know that it's a little early for Christmas, but I wasn't going to wait until the 25th to post this.
Words in / / = Thoughts.
Words in * * = Italics.
*
Chapter 8.
Nearly three months later.
Adam didn't know what it was about Christmas.
For some reason, there was never a New Mutant in danger or anyone who wanted to go into the Underground.
Even Mason Eckhart seemed to have enough respect for the holiday not to create any trouble at Christmas.
Adam didn't believe in magic but if he did, he would have thought that there was a good fairy who watched over the mutant X team during the Christmas season.
Shalimar, now nearing her eighth of pregnancy, was quickly becoming more irritable and short-tempered every day. It seemed that as her stomach grew larger, her supply of patience, which had never been inexhaustible, was growing smaller.
She was longing for the day when she would be able to get back into action.
Emma, knowing that her friend was feeling down, had utilised her usual method of cheering people up - she was planning a Christmas party.
* * *
"Not again!" Jesse moaned, slumping in his chair.
"It's not as bad this time." Brennan ventured, trying to console his unhappy friend. "At least it's not a surprise party this time - so we don't have to worry about hiding everything. And Emma said that she and Shal would take care of the decorating. Adam's taking them out to find a tree as we speak. That just leaves us with. . ."
"Cleaning." Jesse pointed out crossly. "As usual."
Brennan shot his friend an annoyed look. "Well, if *someone* hadn't insisted that he knew 'absolutely nothing whatsoever' about preparing food, we'd be sitting on our asses, writing out a sample menu right now."
"I think that I'd rather clean."
"You're joking, right?"
"I' serious. I don't want to have to cater for Shal and her - what's her current craving for?"
Brennan shuddered. "Strawberry ice cream, raw fish, marmalade and those pro- biotic yoghurts that Emma always buys. All blended together like a milkshake."
"That kid of yours is going to grow up with the weirdest taste in food." Jesse commented, before bursting into giggles.
"What is it?" Brennan asked, bewildered.
"This time next year. . ." Jesse broke down, laughing hysterically. "Brennan, this time next year you're going to be one of those poor unfortunate dads that has to spend hours queuing at the mall with their kid to see Santa!"
Brennan's face fell as he realised that his friend was right.
"Enjoy this Christmas while you can." Jesse warned his friend, relishing the look on his face. "It will be your last peaceful holiday for the next eighteen years!"
* * *
"What about this one?" Adam asked, slightly breathless, as he pulled out yet another tree.
Shalimar and Emma examined the tree critically. Their breath made little clouds in the frosty air.
"Too big." Shalimar decided.
"We'd never be able to fit the decorations on the branches." Emma added. "They're too thick."
"Fine." Adam held up another tree. "What about this one?"
"Too scrawny." Emma wrinkled her nose.
"I can't decide." Shalimar complained.
"Ladies." Adam made a heroic effort to keep his temper in check. "We have looked at every tree in the place! Surely there is *one* tree that you like."
They exchanged a look.
"Can you show us those ones again?" They asked in unison.
Adam groaned.
/Next year, I'm picking the tree myself! /
* * *
"Jesse? Brennan?"
As soon as they heard Adam call their names, the guys snatched up dusters and started cleaning the rec room.
"We're in here, Adam!" Brennan called.
"Working hard!" Jesse added.
"Come and give us a hand with the trees!" Adam called.
Brennan and Jesse exchanged a confused look.
"Trees?"
* * *
Emma stepped back, surveying her work with satisfaction.
"So, guys, what do you think?"
"It's very nice." Jesse told her with a smile.
"Why'd you get seven trees, Adam?" Brennan was still confused about that.
Adam scowled darkly. "Ask them." He indicated Shalimar and Emma, who were packing away the boxes that had held the decorations.
"I couldn't decide." Shalimar explained with a disarming smile. "There were so many I liked. It took us nearly three hours to narrow it down to this seven."
"And we did have more than enough decorations to go around, so Adam. . ."
"I just wanted to get out of the cold." Adam told the guys, who gave him sympathetic smiles. He glared at the girls. "They know perfectly well that I can't resist both of them at once, so. . ."
"He let us buy all seven." Shalimar finished happily.
"They do look nice though, don't they?" Emma was glowing with pride. "We can spread them around Sanctuary. That one" She indicated the largest and most ostentatiously decorated tree. "Can go in the rec room and this one. . ." She pointed to a tree decorated entirely in red. "We can put on the dojo and this. . ."
"You know, Emma, we'll let you decide where to put them." Adam interrupted hastily. "Jesse will help you. Shalimar, if you're ready, I want to do a quick examination before dinner."
"Again?" Shalimar grumbled.
Brennan put his arm around her shoulders. "Come on - I'll hold your hand."
As the couple headed off towards the lab, Adam turned to the other two with a half-exasperated, half-affectionate expression.
"She complains like this every week."
"I heard that!"
* * *
Christmas morning.
Emma was the first to wake up.
Within twenty minutes she had managed to get everyone else out of bed and had dragged them all down to the rec room for presents.
As it was half past five in the morning, they were less than appreciative and their Christmas spirit didn't really come into play until Adam brewed a pot of strong coffee.
Nicholas Fox - picked up by Jesse and the Double Helix - arrived at around eight o'clock, laden down with presents.
"It's time to make up for all those Christmases I missed." He told his daughter, piling gift after gift into her arms until she staggered under the weight.
Brennan darted forward to relieve her of her burden, only to be handed his own pile of gifts. "This is very generous of you, Mr Fox." He said when he recovered his power of speech."
"Nick, please." His father-in-law clapped him on the shoulder. "We're family!"
"Thanks, Mr. . .Nick."
"Don't mention it." Nicholas hugged Shalimar, patting her bump. "How's my first grandchild?"
Shalimar winced as she was kicked from within. "Active." She said dryly.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
Shalimar looked across at her husband. "Brennan doesn't want to know until the birth, Dad. He wants everything to be a surprise."
"You're probably right, son." Nicholas acknowledged, remembering the prenatal scan that had led him to seek help from Adam Kane and Genome X. "Sometimes you're better off not knowing. So," He forced a grin as he changed the subject. "Have you two kids thought of any names?"
"Hey, guys, come on!" Emma's impatient call spared Shalimar and Brennan the task of answering the question.
* * *
Emma's organisation had really paid off.
Sanctuary was beautifully decorated and the Christmas lunch she and Adam had prepared was universally declared to be excellent.
She had prudently sat Adam and Nicholas at opposite ends of the table, as far away from each other as possible because, although the two men had reached an uneasy truce since her outburst at the wedding, whenever they were in the same room the tension between the was palpable.
She wasn't going to let them ruin her Christmas party!
Poor Shalimar felt like a bone between two dogs as she tried to keep up a conversation with both of her 'fathers' at the same time as they clamoured for her attention.
It took one of Emma's best 'warning' looks to get the two older men to stop their tug of love and let Shalimar eat in peace.
"So, Dr Kane," Nicholas's voice was mingled curiosity and scorn as he addressed Adam for the first time. "Why exactly do you have so many Christmas trees?"
The four mutants burst out laughing at his words.
"What?"
* * *
After dinner, everyone was feeling very full and quite tired.
After third helpings of Emma's rich Christmas cake, they made their way to the rec room and collaspsed on chairs and sofas, feeling too full to move.
Emma and Adam were playing a game of chess and, as Adam was so sleepy, for the first time since they'd met, Emma was actually winning!
Shalimar was curled up on the couch, her head in Brennan's lap, fast asleep, occasionally letting out a soft purr and batting at imaginary objects.
Jesse had been silent for a while, unable to think of anything to say to Shalimar's father, of whom he was less than fond.
"So, Mr Fox," The older man looked up at him. "Would you like to watch a movie? I think I've got one that you'll. . ."
"Don't you dare!" Shalimar warned, she was still half asleep but alert enough to know which movie he was referring to.
Emma sighed happily, looking around at her friends, her family gathered around.
"Don't say it, Em!" Brennan pleaded, seeing the nostalgic look on her face.
"God bless us, every one."
TBC.
*
Thanks for the reviews. I'll update as soon as possible.
Next Chapter: The Birth.