Oidche Choinnle (Night of the Candles)

(A/N: This next part has been written in play form at the beginning so think of our MOTG characters acting out Archie's childhood story of 'Laird Hood' ---its child centered and like a murmuring (where something or someone from the dead comes back to life)—it's still Christmas Eve 2005J Jess note: She's 20 in 2002 (like the show), so she's 24 in 2005- but not 25 just yet (until Summer 2006) in my FF. She's not quite two years younger than Claire…there's a reason for it, you'll find out why. I have her graduating from her Masters in December and not the spring like the show for a reason. J

Act 1

Lizzie, being the narrator of the skit, stood before two pink sheets from Lexie and Archie's bedroom bedding, which was clothes-pinned on a rope that draped from one wall to the other in the front sitting room. Lizzie announced while holding an old tattered script, "The place is Bogle-wood. It's 13th century, and our Laird Hood has been gathering the bunch for a party and dreaming of his Maid Susan. He's invited all of the merry men for a feast and has trusted Friar Golly with the gathering of the men." As Martha, Nigel, Golly (dressed like men with newspaper 'sailors' hats and feathery plumes from the sides on their heads and wooden swords made from plied-wood at their sides) appear, standing next to Paul dressed in green-painted newsprint hat on his head and a plume coming from it, after Molly's raised the sheet curtain. Molly then stepped aside as Lexie, Archie and the twins & Minnie sat in seats watching the skit, while Lexie recorded the whole thing on camera for Duncan.

Laird Hood: Tonight we wine, we dine, we act merry dear men! I'll be off to kild the venison…

Friar Golly: I'll be gathering men again!

Little Martha: Who me?

Shepard Nigel: Aye, you…

Little Martha: What for?

Shepard Nigel: For a party or two.

Laird Hood: So hurry along, gather 'round, it's time for the fun to begin…

Friar Golly: As I will be gatherin' 'em 'round again!

Maid Susan, dressed with a headband-ed dish cloth flowing down the back of her head, walks in, as she meets Friar Golly, Little Martha and Shepard Nigel.

Maid Susan: What keeps dear Laird Hood from his fair maiden and the wood?

Friar Golly (smiles): He's off kild the venison and I, to gather the merry men for a feast of happiness.

Little Martha: Happiness is a virtue, I dare say, for today Laird Hood has robbed from the rich and given to the good today.

Shepard Nigel: He's given to the good, m'lady, our dear Laird Hood. However, I'm sad today, for real, I'm afraid.

Maid Susan: Why are you so sad today?

Shepard Nigel: My dear Molly, my rabbit has passed down the River Bogle never to be seen again. She drowned in the river and therefore I am down. (Nigel then hangs his head in sadness)

Maid Susan: Fear not young Shepard, 'tis not the end, and whilst I get back from hunting the Deere with the hunts men, I'll be sure to bring you a friend… (Susan then walks off the 'stage' leaving Nigel, Martha and Golly standing there as the curtain drops).

Act two

Lizzie, the narrator starts again as Molly raises the curtain again, "Act two, isn't so blue, Laird Hood is standing in the merry wood directing tables, placing seats, as he's putting his men to work for the feast…he meets Maid Susan a long the way…"

Laird Hood: Hark, who goes there, out in the wood?

Maid Susan: Maid Susan, my dear Laird Hood.

Laird Hood: Maid Susan, you say? What makes you so glum today?

Maid Susan: I am not glum. I am gay, as I've found something...

Laird Hood: What's that, you say?

Maid Susan: A rabbit for today, I was out hunting the Deere with the hunts men when… (Susan opens an old oat burlap sack and pulls out Martha's stuffed animal rabbit).

Laird Hood: Good, meat to eat at the feast, we shall cook it well, and done…

Maid Susan (about to object glances at Laird Hood): Not for eating, Laird Hood.

Laird Hood: What good is it for?

Maid Susan: Entertainment…

Laird Hood: Oh right! Entertainment, song and dance…

Merry men (Friar Golly, Little Martha and Merry lass Molly appear with instruments and about to play): You rang, Laird Hood for a tune?

Laird Hood: Not quite, but you will do.

The curtain drops and Lexie and Archie glance at each other, as she asked, "You changed this a bit, didn't ya?"

"Aye, just a wee bit…"

"Why?"

"You'll see my dear Lexie," Archie winked at his wife.

Act three-final act

The curtain raises up again as Lizzie announces the final scene, "The merry men, Laird Hood, Friar Golly, Little Martha, Merry lass Molly, and Shepard Nigel are sitting down for the feast as Shepard Nigel has his head hung, still missing his rabbit dear Molly the young. Maid Susan stands at the fire watching Laird Hood getting ready to cook the rabbit she found…

Laird Hood: Rabbits are for roastin'!

Maid Susan: Not roastin'!

Laird Hood: No you say?

Maid Susan: No, I do say, for today, take a look at the merry table, are you sure the merry are frolicking one by one, dear sir?

Laird Hood (looks at Shepard Nigel closely as shakes his head): Dear Shepard what's with you tonight? Under the moonlight, you're supposed to be chipper, jolly and merry, instead you're quite contrary.

Shepard Nigel: I'm sad, Laird Hood, you've stolen from the rich and given to the good, but me.

Laird Hood: You?

Little Martha: Aye he. His rabbit swam down the river and won't be back---don't you see?

Laird Hood (Paul standing with Martha's stuffed animal rabbit at the scruff of the neck, looks at the fire place, then back at Nigel): I see before me a solution.

Friar Golly: A worldly solution?

Maid Susan: Yes, you see, Laird Hood, who's supposed to be doing good, this rabbit, I dear found in the wood, belongs to Shepard Nigel, not for food.

Laird Hood: Oh dear, I see, here dear Shepard Nigel...

As Jess appears from behind the curtain and walks in with Lopsy and hands it to Nigel. Golly beams ecstatically at the surprise arrival of his daughter.

"Tis from me," Jess smiled as Nigel's face lit up, as she kissed Nigel's cheek and then went to hug Friar Golly.

"What're ye doin' 'ere?" Golly whispered to Jess as Lizzie interrupted so they could finish the show…

"There you have it, there you go, the tale of Laird Hood and that's our show!" as the curtain then closed.

"I'm here for Christmas, Da," Jess laughed.

"But that was to be yer rabbit…yer supposed to be at school…"

"I finished school a week ago and I know. Archie told me he had a nephew who really wanted one. An' I decided to see you on Christmas so…Archie phoned me and we, aside from Molly, made plans to surprise you an' Nigel."

"You rewrote the skit for Nigel!" Lexie replied as she kissed Archie, "That's so sweet!"

Archie beamed proudly, "I did."

"Mum, I really have a rabbit?" Nigel asked shocked as Paul laughed.

"Yes, however, you are to keep Lopsy's cage tidy, her well fed and well behaved as she stays in your room." Susan announced as Paul nodded his head and whispered to Nigel, "Don't worry. We'll be sure to get Lopsy out and about with the other rabbits."

Nigel completely excited replied, "Welcome Lopsy!"

The night continued on as Lexie, Archie, twins and the rest of the family played games…Nigel was still in awe of his present from Jess as he continued to study the rabbit's new cage and everything that went inside. Nigel kept eyeballing the gifts under the tree. Susan glanced over at her son, "No presents opened on Christmas Eve, Nye, you know this."

"Just one Mummy, please…we used to do it when we lived in London or with Grammy Fifi."

"You got a rabbit."

"I know, but I didn't get to unwrap her…"

"Nigel."

"It wouldn't hurt to open just one," Molly started in as Susan glanced at Molly, "Are you sure? I wouldn't want Nigel breaking traditions."

"Oh no, let him pick one out." Molly encouraged friendly and smiled at Susan warmly.

"I agree there, lass." Golly announced standing beside Jess as they both studied the huge Christmas tree.

"Okay, Nye, one present," Susan replied as Paul walked up behind Susan…

"YAY!" Nigel hollered as he looked around the bottom of the tree for a present with his name on it and then…pulled out an awkward looking package. The tag read: 'To: Nigel, From: Seanair Golly and Molly.' "This is from Golly and Molly, can I open it?"

"Yes, as long as Golly doesn't mind."

Golly smiled, "I don't."

Nigel ripped into the wrapping paper, popped off the bow and then stared at the black case before asking, "What is it?"

Paul stood there as 'Uh oh' ran through his mind…he knew what the case was for…

"Open it Nye."

"Go on son," Golly waited patiently, and hoping Nigel would like the present.

"YES! I will!" Nigel replied excited, as he opened the case and pulled out, the bag pipes. "Bag pipes?"

"Well?" Molly asked with a huge smile, "Do you like them?"

"Do I? I do! Thank-you!" Nigel gave Golly a huge hug and then one to Molly. "Wow, when can I play 'em, Dad?"

Paul stood there as his forehead wrinkled a bit, and his gaze set on Susan, as he whispered to her, "I'm guessing I'll be pluggin' in those earplugs after all?"

Just as they marveled over Nigel's bag pipes, Lexie slipped up behind Molly and stuck a holly wreath on her head, "I hear by crown you with mistletoe, Gol, give her a go!"

"Yea, Da, kiss her!" Jess cheered as she nudged her father. Golly smiled to himself as Molly looked right up in his eyes and then planted a sweet little kiss on Molly.

"That's not a kiss!" Lexie added, wanting more to see…

"What did you have in mind?" Archie asked as he came up behind his wife…

"Well, they should be reliably snogging longer, it's my game, you know! I made that snoggin' wreath for a reason!"

Lexie laughed when Molly and Golly for sure kissed once again.

Just before bed time, Lexie and Archie decided to set the candle in their window a light while they enjoyed their company. Thanks to Golly's expertise and Molly's shop---as Molly claimed she was giving the 'Yule candles' for 'Fire to warm you by, and a light to guide you." The devious duo of Molly and Golly had rigged up fake Christmas candles (which the Christmas lights were screwed in plastic looking candles and plugged into outlets) in every window of the main floor of the house. It was Lexie's idea to have a real candle in her and Arch's room. The candles were meant to light the way for the holy family and the first footers of Hogmanay.

'Til my body is dust
'til my soul is no more
I will love you, love you

"Think we'll get a first footer this year?" Lexie asked quietly, while cozying herself up to Archie and listening to his heart go, "thump, thump, thumpety, thump."

"I don't know, maybe." Archie replied softly as he listened to Lexie inhale and exhale silently.

'Til the sun starts to cry
and the moon turns to rust
I will love you, love you

"Arch, lets play 'What if'…" Lexie suggested as she felt it was time to reveal one of her fears or joys…

"What if? We haven't played this since…"

"Our wedding night," Lexie added, "And our honeymoon…and…"

"The findings out of twins…" Archie started to catch on and inquired, "Why is it that every life changing event for us includes a game of 'What if?'"

"What if we were to win large sum of cash?"

Lexie laughed, "What if we were to build a house?"

"What if we were to go on holiday and leave Paul in charge of the place…"

"Oh jolly, not a great---?"

"Uh-Ah, it's my 'What if' no poking fun at Paul and your turn…"

"What if I heard from my Mum or my Dad?"

"What if we bought a tug boat and channeled down the Nile?"

"What if we had 2.5 children sooner than later?" Lexie blurted out her fear and joy which made Archie look at her…

"What if---hang on? You're not, are you?"

"What if I was?"

"Well, there's no what ifs about it. We made due with three kids and not just the two…"

"You're sure about this and no what if?"

"Lex, if you are pregnant, come out and say it?"

"I'm not sure, I mean, I'm not certain…I could be, would it change things? What if it did?"

"It won't. I'm excited, if it's so…"

"I've been off kilter late."

"I know you have and the thought crossed…"

"It did, you didn't tell me?"

"I assumed you'd come out and say something…you always do."

"I wasn't sure about coming out and saying it because I don't know if it's true…"

Lexie sat up staring down at Archie while he lay there, gazing up at her… "We went through your phobia of children. I thought we did, while being pregnant with the twins remember? You're not fearing a third are you? You said you were considering a third, Lex, you're---?"

"I'm not fearing anything."

"Good, courage, big thing here, especially with bringing another life into our world, you know…"

"I know." Lexie laid herself back down beside Archie as he sat up, tip toed over to the candle and blew it out, "Bedtime…Mummy."

Archie climbed back into bed and snuggling up to his wife once again as thoughts plagued him, Lex pregnant, again? All ready?

"Arch."

"Yes."

"You're not sleeping."

"Neither are you. I normally have this affect on women by putting them to sleep, remember? I say one thing and instant snooze…"

Lexie within minutes dozed off on Archie, as he smiled in the dark and chuckled, "Works like a charm, my pregnant possible wife."

But I need to know - will you stay for all
time...forever and a day
Then I'll give my heart 'til the end of all
time...forever and a day


'Til the storms fill my eyes
and we touch the last time
I will love you, love you...

I Will Love You by Fisher