A Misfit Christmas

To Aaron: Hey there Aaron! Yeah, the laughs keep on coming. I don't think John would want Lisa to catch him. She may be in the mood to re-enact a scene from John's books, heh heh… I'm glad you liked the bonding between Jenni and Craig. Jenni adores her cousin, even though he's…different from the rest of his family. They may enlist Wanda to help with the prank, considering she loves to get one over on her twin. Enjoy the new chapter!

To AnonGirl88: Hey there Anon! I'm glad you and Fishy liked the last chapter. What are Craig and Jenni up to? You'll see. I'm glad you liked the last chapter, and I hope you like this new one!

To RogueFanKC: Hey there, RogueFan! I read the new chapter of 'Light in the Heart of a Misfit' and I loved it. That Gideon clown acts a lot like a Friends of Humanity member around a mutant. I thought it would be good for a laugh to see Lina tackle Fred under mistletoe. The X-Boys serenading Jenni, huh? I like that idea. I'll see if I can fit it in somehow. Enjoy the new chapter!

To Red Witch: Hey there Red! I read the new chapter of 'Holidays Are Hazardous To Your Health' and I loved it! I liked the way you freaked out Jean's grandmother! Gypsy Gay Jewish Republican Media. That's a funny line, hee hee. Yeah, there's trouble afoot! Enjoy the new chapter!

To Sparky Genocide: Hey there Sparky! Let's see…Trinity singing Christmas Carols off-key? I like that idea! I'll see if I can fit it in somewhere. Enjoy the new chapter!

To Raliena: Hey there, Rae! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Enjoy the new one!

Disclaimer: "Either this guy was a certified genius or an authentic whacko!" - Dan Ackroyd as Ray Stantz, Ghostbusters.

Chapter 6: Prank Begins!

Misfit Manor

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Claudius and Barney screamed from their playpen.

"There, there, little guys…" Jenni cooed as she picked up Claudius. She had been joined on the couch by Vicki and Jason. Vicki picked up Barney.

"It's okay, little Beak. It's okay." Vicki sang softly as she picked up Barney and started stroking him. The babies continued crying.

"What is that noise?!" Jason snapped.

"It's the babies!" Jenni answered.

"No, not the babies. It sounds like a cat trying to sing." Jason shook his head. The girls blinked. The babies' crying sounded normal enough. They listened more carefully and discovered that there was a terrible sound in the background. And it fit Jason's description. It sounded like cats getting strangled. The three Southside Misfits blinked.

"Well, I can't help you guys with finding the source of the noise now. I have to help Craig and Wanda with a Christmas prank." Jenni grinned as she put baby Claudius back in his pen.

"You know, I think your cousin adores her. I can sense these things." Vicki chuckled.

"No offense Vicki, but you believe that Alvers guy's imaginary friend is an actual spirit." Jason rolled his eyes.

"Trust me, Jason. I've seen that coyote." Vicki shook her head. "I think Lance would like him better if he didn't have such an annoying voice.

The Pit Motor Pool

Wanda and Craig were standing in the middle of the motor pool, waiting for Jenni. The blonde Starr finally showed up.

"You're late." Wanda said simply.

"Sorry. Babies." Jenni apologized. The two East Coasters nodded in understanding.

"That's understandable. Don't worry about it. Anyway, what's the plan again?" Craig said. "We'll need to go over it again."

"Okay, Jenni will take Pietro's two invitations and put them in the Joes' rooms where they can easily be seen."

"I know which two. Pietro will freak out so bad." Jenni grinned evilly. Wanda smiled.

Oh yeah, Jenni and Craig are so related. Wanda mentally chuckled. "Once Jenni does that, Craig and I will tell the Joes that someone wants to kiss them under the mistletoe."

"And once that's done, I will tell Pietro that Lance and Angelica are under the mistletoe!" Jenni giggled happily. "This is such fun."

"Oh yeah." Lance and Angelica emerged from the shadows. "Thanks for letting us in on this." Lance grinned.

"And the best part? We'll have it on tape!" Angelica grinned, holding up a camera.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's do it!" Jenni whooped.

"Yeah!" The other four agreed and raced out of the motor pool. Along the way, they passed a Joe vehicle known as a HAVOC. A Joe codenamed Cross-Country and Johnny B. Goode were working on it.

"What's that all about?" Cross-Country asked Johnny. The inventor shrugged.

"I have no idea." Johnny answered. "Okay, I just put an MP3 player, turbo boosters, saw blades, and some surprises. Anything else you think this thing needs?"

"YEOW!!!" Cross-Country exclaimed as he and Johnny B barely managed to dodge a stream of flame.

"WAAAAAAAAH!!!!" John screamed as the loony Australian ran by.

"Come back here and give mama some lovin'!" Lisa squealed as she pursued him. Cross-Country and Johnny B peeked up from the HAVOC.

"What…was…that?!" Cross-Country panted. Johnny B blinked.

"I think that was Lisa. I guess she met the man of her dreams." Johnny B laughed.

Misfit Manor

"Can I speak to Danielle Moonstar, please?" Mike "WrongWay" Baxter grinned as he laid on the bed of Lance's room, a cell phone in hand. "Hello, Dani. This is the man of your dreams here to say-" A click was heard from the phone. "Man, that chick is awesome. Not only is she smokin' hot, she also plays hard to get. I know she thinks about me." He noticed Lance at the door.

"What are you doing in my room, Baxter?" Lance crossed his arms and tapped his foot. Mike grinned.

"Nothing much. Just talking to a certain muy caliente Cheyenne number down at the Institute. She's a freak." The mutant tracker grinned. Lance rolled his eyes.

"Danielle Moonstar. She's alright." Lance never thought much of the Cheyenne mutant. She didn't annoy him like the 'main' X-Men did. "I highly doubt she'd be into you."

"Trust me, she is. She thinks about me all the time." Mike chuckled. "You look like something's eating at you. Bad Eggnog?"

"No." Lance admitted. "Something Vixen said to me."

"Oh you mean about your spirit?" Mike blinked. Lance's jaw dropped. Mike chuckled. "She said that to me. Look man, that Coyote thing, it may be a hallucination. May. But I have to admit something to you. You see, I'm half-Native American, and that part of me is telling me you got yourself a spirit guide."

"Okay, let's say for arguments' sake, this Coyote is a spirit. Why is he interested in me, then?" Lance groaned. "And why does he have Pietro's voice?"

"Coyotes are tricksters, brother. They're supposed to play pranks, crack jokes, and sometimes be annoying." Mike laughed. "I was called 'Coyote' as a kid for obvious reasons."

"I'm not really a joker by nature." Lance shook his head, leaning against the door frame.

"What can I do about that?" Mike grinned. "Anyway, Native Americans believe that spirits guide them and give them strength. Think about it, Alvers. You're given power over the earth, which is a big part of mythology. You're taken in by a Native American, and now you have a coyote hallucination." Lance thought about it.

"What're you saying?"

"The spirits have got big plans for you, brother. Your life has come to this point for a reason, and I think the Coyote is there to make sure you continue on that path."

"Path to what?" Lance blinked.

"Only the Coyote knows. But don't expect him to tell you." Mike laughed.

Well, well, well! Looks like the plan is starting up! What madness will happen next? What is that noise? Which two Joes will end up under the mistletoe? Will Pietro find out? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!