Here is the list again of the family. Hope it helps.
Zack & Leslie- Ariel (7), Cody (5), Corin and Tyler (3).
Jennifer & Ken- Joseph (8), Max, (6) Connor (4).
Eleanor & Wilhem- Emma. (7)
Maya & Dayvid- Miguel. (13)Harry (11), Italia (9), Wylie (5), Tabitha.(7 months)
Anna & Dan- Gabrielle (12), Alexander (7) Sharesse, (5)
Melanie- Nichole. (2), Nicholas. (1 month)
Enjoy this chapter! (Hopefully!)
"DADDY!" Ariel cried, dismayed. She stared at her dad, her green eyes wide,unable to get up as her aunt was braiding her hair. "Are you serious?"
Zack looked at his daughter with laughter in his eyes. "Yep. We got you a hairbrush, socks and a piece of sugar free candy."
"Mommy, did he?" She appealed.
Leslie laughed. "No, baby, you're safe."
Ariel stood up, her red hair now confined in braids. "Thanks, Aunt Jenn," She said, giving her a hug before darting from the room, her name being called by one of her cousins.
Jennifer smiled at Sam who winked back. Sam was playing dominos with Jennifer's boys and Alexander- and winning.
"Hey, Wilhem, your wife needs ya!" Jack informed him, walking into the room. The tall German nodded and folded up his paper. With a slight bow, he left. Jack plopped into the chair vacated by his brother-in-law. His eyes were automatically drawn to his 2IC who was sitting on the floor, playing with his nephews. She was wearing a blue shirt that set off her eyes and blue jeans that hugged her just right.
He cleared his throat. "So... Carter... whatcha doin' today?"
Å
Anna and Melanie watched with identical smirks as their brother openly stared at their friend. Not that they could blame him. Sam looked hot.
Sam shifted slightly and Jack stared even more.
"Wha' Miss Sam do?" Wylie asked innocently, "Everybo'y staring at her."
Sam looked up. "What?"
The two sisters giggled.
Å
The rest of Thursday was spent finishing the last minute shopping. Jack, Sam, Wilhem, and Ellie took the kids' caroling- much to their joy. Singing loudly but not unpleasantly, they delighted Jack's neighbors and came home, pockets filled with goodies.
Friday, much to Jack's dismay, Carter spent in the company of Melanie, Nicholas, and Nicole. They slipped away after breakfast and didn't return till late afternoon...
"Carter!"
The blond Colonel grinned and subtly shifted a bag behind her bag. "Sir!" She greeted. "How... was lunch?"
Melanie giggled.
Jack eyed then both. "What are you guys up too?"
'Nothing!" They both declared loudly then looked at each other, which made them promptly dissolve into giggles.
Jack stared at his 2IC. Carter never giggled. Okay, occasionally one slipped out but that was rare. VERY rare. What the hell was up with her?
She shook her head. "Don't ask, sir, 'cause I won't answer."
Another giggle.
The two women slipped past him and into his bedroom. Laughter soon issued from the room.
Å
"We... have an announcement to make," Melanie said standing up. Carter promptly followed suit.
"It's about time!" Dan declared. The two women had drawn their wives into the plot and now all the women were randomly smiling.
"You all know that on the eve of Christmas Eve, we, the O'Neill's, have a 'show'." Mel began when all the guys began booing her.
"Hem, hem," Ellie coughed daintily. The booing subsided.
"Thank you, Elle," Melanie said, frowning at her brothers. "Anyways, we've decided-"
"Who has decided?" Jack and Ken demanded.
Melanie sighed. Ellie 'hem, hemmed' again.
"Sorry," they apologized.
"Anyways," Melanie began, glaring at Jack, "That tonight... we... will... ALL... wear costumes."
The reactions were slightly different then expected.
The guys all shrugged then turned to Melanie. "No costumes, Mel," Zack announced rather triumphantly. "We tossed the ones we made last time."
Mel gave him a sweet smile. "Children?"
Instantly, half a dozen children disappeared then reappeared with bags in their hands. They gave on to each of the men.
"Enjoy!" All the women called before leaving with the children.
The men slowly opened their bags.
"NO WAY!"
Å
Everyone assembled in the living room, the children laughing hysterically at the adults' faces.
Ariel, Wylie, Shareese, and Nicole were dressed as princesses from Disney movies. Ariel for Ariel, Jasmine for Wylie, Belle for Shareese and Cinderella for Nicole. Italia was Little Red Riding Hood. Gabrielle and baby Tabitha were both dressed as angels, despite Tabitha's tendency to chew on her halo.
Among the boys were Batman, Spiderman, the Hulk, cowboys, astronauts, police officers, chefs and a few wizards.
Leslie decided on a poodle skirt and saddle shoes, while Jennifer went Scotch and wore a plaid dress (that truly belonged to the Blair clan but what they didn't know, wouldn't hurt them.)
Eleanor and Emma came robed as hippies. The garb suited both mother and daughter who smiled frequently at each other.
Maya wore an Indian costume, which both 'M' sisters wanted. Melanie finally gave it up and chose a renaissance lass outfit.
Anna had gone all out and had 'come' as a Russian High Duchess.
And Sam...
Jack grinned.
She was wearing a dress that looked EXACTLY like the one the Shavadi had made her wear. She gave him a shy smile, which he promptly returned.
The O'Neill men were clad well too.
Zack was a fireman and very handsome did he look. Ken wore a kilt, which drew a few jeers from his brother in laws. Wilhem was dressed as a renaissance lad but instantly dropped 'his' lass for the hippie lady.
Dayvid's costume, much to his surprise, was as 'The Phantom of the Opera' a fact, which made Gabrielle smile widely.
Dan decided to never forgive his sister-in-law after seeing his own costume. "Ho, ho, ho," He mumbled gesturing to his wide pillow tummy. "Why doesn't Zack get to be Santa?"
Jack had opened his and stared at it for a few minutes. He was now... Zorro.
Melanie clapped her hands over the babble of voices. "Let the show... BEGIN!"
Å
It was a 'talent' show O'Neill style.
Each person had to sing a song, do a dance, act something out, do impressions...whatever they wanted. As Ellie frequently repeated, the point was to have fun.
Already several impressions had been done: 'Jenn's family having a pillow fight,' 'Miguel playing the violin' and 'Maya when mad,' had been guessed amid much laughter. 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little star," had been sung and 'The Peter Panda dance' done. Carter got the few Jack did including gesturing frantically while speaking rapidly, (Daniel) Pouting (Daniel) and lifting his eyebrow (Teal'c).
At last it was Carter's turn. She strolled leisurely onto the 'stage' (a long, sanded board) and plopped down. After several minutes, she lazily flicked an imaginary fishing pole.
"Unca Jack? Fising?" Little Connor said tentatively. "He 'ike fising."
She grinned at Jennifer who hugged her little boy and murmured something about him being clever.
She nodded and stepped off the stage. Maya and her family came on stage and acted out 'Life with Us'. Zack and Ken got up and sang 'Joy to the World' to the tune of a funeral dirge. The kids did a spirited version of 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
Jack plodded onto the stage once it was his turn. After thinking for a minute, he said, "Carter, I need you."
Carter was surprised but obeyed.
"Jack O'Neill and Samantha Carter presenting... Romeo and Juliet!"
Carter froze. "Sir?"
"We'll have to improvise a bit but-"
"Sir!" She hissed.
He ignored her. "Obviously, we-"
"Jack!"
He looked at her.
"I haven't read the play since I was fifteen years old!"
He shrugged. "It'll come back to you... LIGHTS AND... ACTION!"
"JACK!"
He ignored her. "Once upon a time, lived a girl and a boy who belonged to different families. The families were bitter enemies-"
Carter sighed loudly and Jack hastily continued on.
"Romeo attends a party and is struck by Juliet's beauty," Jack continued narrating.
Carter patted her cheek and simpered. A few of the children giggled.
"Later, after the party, he is struck by the sudden desire to see her so he climbs into the orchard..."
Jacks stealthily crept across the stage then leaped over an imaginary wall. After stalking around for a few minutes, he began, "But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon…" He trailed off. "Words, words, words…" he mumbled for a bit before coming up with the next part."It is my lady, O, it is my love!" he continued, "O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?"
Carter had the sudden thought that this applied remarkably well to her… in a way. She wasn't suppose to say anything either about her love for-
"Carter!" Jack hissed. "Your turn!"
"I don't know what to say!" She hissed back.
"It's the rose quote... and something about me."
"What rose quote?"
"The name one!"
Carter searched her memory frantically. High school, tenth grade. Romeo and Juliet… she had been the understudy. Something clicked.
"What's in a name?" She began slowly. "That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet?"
Jack nodded approvingly. They continued to improvise until the end…
"Jack… we both die," Carter hissed.
Jack frowned and looked at her. "Never liked that part," he whispered.
"So we…?"
"Change it!"
"And so Juliet stopped Romeo from drinking the poison and they ran away to live happily ever after… the end."
There was a brief pause then their' audience began clapping.
"That was cool," Reese whispered to Wylie who nodded vigorously.
The couple gave a bow then stopped off the stage. The show was over.
Melanie looked at her daughter who was nestled in her arms. "I love the O'Neill's."
Nicole nodded sleepily. "Me 'oo, Mommy."
Å
They all slept late the next morning, exhausted from the long night. The children were wild, continuously announcing that the 'Christmas is tomorrow'!
"Are there any special 'O'Neill' traditions I should know about?" Carter asked, sipping her coffee.
Anna looked thoughtful. "Well… we go caroling and we look at lights. We'll probably attend a Christmas Eve service then come back, have hot chocolate, sing some more, then crash. Next morning, stockings and presents."
"That's it?" Sam clarified.
Anna nodded. "Yeah... oh, we do have a few other traditions but they are nothing major."
"Like?" she pressed.
The matron shrugged. "Hot Mistletoe..."
"What?"
Anna grinned. "Ever play hot potato?"
Carter shrugged. "I dunno, maybe."
"Basically, you pass the mistletoe to music- the music stops randomly. If you have it when the music stops, you're out."
"And the person who has it the longest wins?"
Anna nodded.
Carter smiled. "Easy enough."
Jack's sister chuckled. "Yeah, kissing is easy enough."
Carter sputtered for a moment. "What?"
Å
Anna explained the tradition in greater detail. The last person standing got the mistletoe... and the power to kiss whomever he or she desired.
The morning and afternoon were passed playing games, primarily Twister. Jack and Sam were the last standing when Carter, gathering up all her courage, pushed him off the mat, proclaimed herself winner then ran for it.
Twenty minutes later, Jack and Sam turned up, soaked to the skin. With lots of scoldings, the two hurried off to get dressed for the Christmas Eve service.
Å
Jack swallowed hard. Carter was wearing a black dress that came to her knees. It was backless and... It was perfect.
"Ya gonna freeze in that." Max said matter-of-factly, looking at the lady that had been at his uncle's house since he had arrived. "It's cold outside."
She laughed. "Should I wear a jacket?"
He nodded.
"It's on my bed- er, the couch. Will you get it for me?"
Adoration in his eyes, he ran off. Carter smiled after him and stood up.
"You got yourself another fan," said Jack giving her a brief smile.
She grinned and gave the little boy a big hug as he returned with her jacket.
He blushed then ran away.
"Time to go!" Maya called. "¡Vayamos!"
"Pienso eso Tío Jack and Tía Sam desee permanecer detrás de con el mistletoe," Miguel said mischievously.
"What?" Jack demanded.
"He believes that we wish to remain behind with mistletoe," Carter translated, watching with a smile as the teenager paled.
Jack nodded. "I thought so…" he winked at his nephew to show that he wasn't annoyed, "let's go, people!"
Å
The group immerged from the church an hour later in a thoughtful mood.
As tradition dictated, they drove around town and looked at Christmas lights. Carter found out that her CO could sing 'Silver Bells' backwards without a single mistake. After looking for an hour, they returned home for fun and games…
Å
"Go Uncle Jack!"
"Go Daddy!"
"Mom, you can do it!"
"Sweetie, you can do it!"
A small circle of people in the middle of the room grinned widely as they were cheered on.
Jack, Dan, Maya, and Italia were all that was left out of the twenty-nine-person game. Carter had been the seventh one eliminated and cheered her CO on.
Miguel hit the button and Maya froze, mistletoe in hand.
"You're out, Mom!"
Maya muttered something in Spanish and left the circle. Miguel played the music and 'Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock' blared through the speakers. Italia managed to pass it to Dan just as the music stopped. Dan gracefully accepted his defeat and stepped out.
The little girl faced her uncle rather nervously. Jack gave her an encouraging smile, which she returned.
Å
Carter watched as the two battled it out. Back forth and forth, back and forth. For a few brief seconds, she thought about Daniel and Teal'c and hoped that they were having as much fun as she was.
A loud cheer made her look up. Italia had won and had chosen her father to bestow the kiss on.
She smiled. Tomorrow was Christmas Day… and she couldn't wait.
The longest chapter I've written in a while! It's not very good but...
Hopefully I can get the next chapter up before Christmas!
And... Please review!