"Christmas is not a feeling, come on don't stop believing." -Rend Collective
Merry Christmas everyone! Thanks for sticking with me. Let's hope next year is better than this
Valentina stood in the airport craning her neck looking for someone. Suddenly, her face brightened. She waved. Calan quickly walked over. He grabbed her in a hug with a half swing. He kissed her when he set her down.
"I'm glad you can make it." She said when they pulled apart.
Calan touched by her unusual tenderness, "I'm glad to be here."
"It's time for you to meet my family. Are you ready?" She asked.
"Bring them on." He said with confidence he didn't feel.
"That's the spirit." She looped her arm around his and led him out.
0o0
Six and Rebecca stood in front of her childhood house. Six waited for Rebecca to ring the doorbell.
"Are you nervous?" Six asked when Rebecca paused at the door.
She took a deep breath before answering. "I know it's silly. I mean we worked through all our issues. We're married. I mean what could go wrong?"
Six raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes, I know. Never ask that. I guess every time I go home, I feel like I'm 12 again." She said.
Six took hold of her shoulders and gently turned her around to face him. "Rebecca, you are the most capable, intelligent, accomplished woman I've ever met. You have nothing to worry about."
Rebecca gave a little half laugh. "I know it in here." She pointed to her head. "But I don't always believe it in here." She pointed to her chest.
Six lifted her chin so their eyes met. "Then let me believe for both of us." He gave her a peck.
She smiled and returned to the door. She rang the doorbell.
They heard loud, pounding footsteps and squeals of "they're here".
The door flung open and they were greeted with disappointed faces.
"Aww, it's just cousin Rebecca." Sarah groaned. The Luke and Matthew grimaced and trudged away.
"Kids, that's rude. I'm so sorry. They've been expecting Rex all day." Aunt Ruth apologized.
"It's okay." Rebecca laughed as she and Six walked in. "Rex, Circe, Beverly, and Caesar are a few hours behind us. They had to finish something before they could leave but they'll be here for dinner."
"That's good. The kids would be glad to see him again. They were so disappointed last year." Uncle Ben said walking over to get their coats.
"Yes, but Rex and Caesar wanted to spend it with their family last year." Rebecca explained.
"That's understandable." Aunt Ruth replied.
"Did you come in that convertible?" An unapproving voice pipped up.
"Hello, Nanna." Rebecca could recognize that critical voice anywhere.
"You'll catch your death of cold riding in that." She eyed her grandson-in-law.
"If the weather gets severe, we can put up a top. Luckily, the weather has been cooperative." Six said unaffected.
"Humph." Nanna realized that she couldn't bully Six. Instead, she went to give Rebecca a hug. "You've bulked up. Are you pregnant?"
"No, Nanna." Rebecca said through her teeth. It was going to be another long Christmas.
0o0
"Come on White." Rex wiped the sweat from his brow on his sleeve. "The hole is filled enough."
"It's good enough when I say it's good enough!" White Knight barked into his ear.
Rex looked up to the window of his office. He pulled his goggles down and zoomed in. He could see White Knight looking out the window scowling at him.
"Look, I didn't know the tank was armed." Rex explained.
"That's not much of an excuse." Caesar remarked as he shoveled dirt into the cracks of a mostly filled crater.
"Rex, just keep shoveling or we'll never get to my parents!" Beverly snapped at him.
Rex turned around and surveyed their work. "But the hole is filled."
"There are sill cracks! That's supposed to be our test track. It needs to be smooth." White growled.
"He's such a jerk." Rex complained.
"I heard that." White replied.
"Rex," Circe said tiredly. "You blew a hole in the new test track with Caesar's experimental tank. And somehow, we are all being punished. So, shut up and help us finish so Beverly can get home."
Rex turned around and started shoveling.
White watched with a small smirk.
0o0
Two hours later, it was as if the hole never existed.
"I supposed you can go now." White Knight in his mech suit checked the work.
"Woo-hoo! Christmas here we come!" Rex through his shovel down and started running towards the hanger. "Merry Christmas, you cranky albino grump!"
"Um, I don't think he meant to say that out loud." Beverly said nervously as she quickly left before he changed his mind.
Caesar and Circe wordlessly followed.
White looked back at the former hole. He took a step onto the fresh soil. After a few steps the ground trembled slightly before it collapsed under his weight. "REEEEX!"
A research Pod shot off into the sky.
A short chapter for Christmas. Working on various projects now. Merry whatever you celebrate.