Thank you Marina Ka-Fa and guest for reviewing the previous chapter! I'm sorry it took so long to post this one.
Ages: Cersei/Jaime 47, Joffrey 19, Myrcella 15, Tommen 13, Gemma 4.
"I drew another picture mommy, wanna see?"
"Let's get you into your dress first, then I will take a look," replied Cersei. She wanted to be sure Gemma was dressed up before father arrived, he'd find enough other things to criticize her for anyway. She could have had the nanny get Gemma ready, but most of the time she preferred to take care of her daughter herself. Having a nanny available was nice though, it meant she always had the option of taking a break.
"I am glad you are using the crayons Santa brought you," stated Cersei as she helped Gemma into the adorable red dress.
"There, all done. Now for your hair and shoes."
"You said you'd look once my dress was on!"
"Alright. Let me see," replied Cersei smiling at her daughter.
The little girl quickly walked over to the small desk in the corner of the room and grabbed the picture she had drawn and handed it to her mother.
"What a lovely picture," stated Cersei before taking it all in, then she noticed that someone in the picture seemed to be lying down.
"Who is that lying down here?" Cersei asked pointing to the person lying down on their back.
"Uncle Tyrion."
"Why is Tyrion laying down?" asked Cersei
"Because he drinks a lot. When uncle Tyrion drinks it makes him sleep. See that mommy? That was the accident he had," replied Gemma pointing to the pool of yellow she had drawn on Tyrion's blue jeans.
Apparently, Gemma had not forgotten Tyrion's drunken escapade last weekend. A week ago when Cersei took Gemma downstairs to watch cartoons on Saturday morning they had found him passed out on the living room couch. Cersei had been furious to find that Jaime had driven Tyrion back to their house and then had the nerve to let the little imp sleep on her couch. Well, more like pass out, since Jaime insisted that had Tyrion not passed out he would've gotten him to one of the guest rooms. "You should have carried him, carried him back to the car that is and dumped him on his lawn," had been what she'd told him later.
"My, such detail you went into," stated Cersei before continuing, "Why does Joffrey have lines all over him?" she asked, recognizing the tall blonde boy off to the side must be Joffrey.
"He's in a cage mommy"
"A cage?"
"You go in a cage when you're bad. That's where you make them put Sir Pounce when he scratches the chairs. Joffrey is always bad."
Just then there was a knock on the door interrupting their conversation.
"Come in," commanded Cersei.
It was Jaime. "You ready? Myrcella is dressed and waiting in her room to be called down for dinner. Tommen is ready as well, I finally convinced him to wear the Christmas sweater you bought him."
"Almost ready. I just need to put Gemma's ribbon in her hair and get her shoes on."
"Let me show uncle Jaime my picture mommy!"
"Sure," stated Cersei hiding her embarrassment as she handed Gemma's picture back to her.
"Look uncle Jaime, that's you and mommy right there because you're always with mommy just like a daddy is. I don't know why you aren't my daddy." Gemma said pointing in the middle of the picture.
Gemma had drawn Cersei and Jaime holding hands, or so he assumed as their hands were drawn on top of each other. "Very good," complimented Jaime feeling very proud and happy. None of his other children had ever drawn anyone but Robert next to Cersei. At least he could somewhat be a father figure to this one.
"And that's Joffrey because he's always bad, and that's Tyrion, he had an accident, and that's Tommen eating cause he always eats, and that's Myrcella in her dancing clothes, and that's grandpa, and that's me right there!" Stated Gemma as she pointed at each one.
Jaime struggled not to laugh when she pointed at Joffrey in what he assumed was jail. He did begin to laugh some when he saw her renditions of Tyrion and Tommen but quickly turned it into a cough. Next to a drunken passed out Tyrion, Gemma had drawn Tommen five times as big as everyone else with what looked to be a plate of food in front of him. At least Gemma's renditions of herself and Myrcella were pretty normal, with her being in a dress and Myrcella being in what he assumed was her dancer tutu. Tywin looked normal as well, albeit his face had a straight line where the mouth was, same as Joffrey's, while the rest had smiles.
"Wonderful picture. I could go put it on the fridge right now for you," offered Jaime.
Cersei shot Jaime a death stare before speaking up herself.
"Actually, this is such a lovely picture. I'd like to keep it all to myself, next to my bed so I can look at it every night before I go to sleep."
"But then everyone won't see it!" pouted Gemma.
'That's exactly the idea' Thought Cersei to herself. Out loud she said "You know what it's like to not want to share, don't you, well mommy doesn't like to share either, and I really love this picture."
"But, I always have to share in my class! My teacher says sharing is caring!"
"Well, from now on no more sharing with anybody, unless you want to," offered Cersei.
This might cause problems in Gemma's Pre K class, but right now Cersei didn't care. That picture was embarrassing and would likely anger Tywin and Joffrey while embarrassing Tommen. Although she did hesitate for a moment when she realized it would also have the added bonus of embarrassing her horrid little brother. However, her concern for Joffrey and Tommen and fear of Tywin won out in the end. Besides that, Cersei reasoned that a Lannister shouldn't have to share anyway. She would just have to buy multiples of all the toys in the class until there was one of each for however many children there were in the class. Simple solution.
"Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!" exclaimed Gemma excitedly.
Cersei smiled at seeing her young daughter so happy, or at least she started to smile before Gemma spoke again.
"My very own kitty! I'm gonna name him cuddles!"
"Gemma, sweetie, what are you talking about?" asked Cersei.
"My kitty! You said I don't have to share anymore. So now I can have Sir Pounce all to myself because I don't have to share with anyone anymore! I'm gonna call him Cuddles and he's gonna sleep in my room every night and never Tommen's!"
Oh dear. Tommen would be rather upset about such a thing.
"That's not what I meant! I..." Cersei was at a loss for words.
"Gemma, mommy was wrong. Sharing is good. She will put your picture on the fridge, won't you Cersei?" cut in Jaime frowning at Cersei.
"Of course I will. Yes, mommy was wrong, sharing is caring," replied Cersei defeated.
"But I want Sir Pounce!"
"I can perhaps get you your own kitty for your birthday in a few months," replied Cersei hoping Gemma would forget about conversation by then. At least though If she had to, she could always get a declawed older cat, not another Sir Pounce type that would damage all her expensive furniture.
"Well...ok," replied Gemma after a moments thought.
"I can go put this on the fridge for you right now," offered Jaime again.
"No need brother, that is for the help to do. Jaime, please give me the picture and I'll go have one of the help do the honors of putting it on the fridge," Cersei lied. In truth, she planned to put the picture into early storage. If Gemma noticed the picture was not on the fridge she would just tell her, "The maid must have put it on the kitchen fridge, not the dining room fridge" and then distract her with something. Foolproof plan, she hoped.
"Actually, I can give it one of the help, you should finish getting Gemma ready.," replied Jaime not letting go of the picture.
Before Cersei could protest there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," stated Cersei.
"Joffrey is on the line," stated the servant girl who had knocked.
"Alright. I may be a while. Send for the nanny to finish getting Gemma ready," Cersei stated to the girl.
Although Joffrey at nineteen had no job and was not in college Cersei had bought him a house once he turned eighteen. She would have preferred him to stay here with her, but Joffrey was very insistent that he wanted his own place. She'd at first wanted to buy him a house close by, but he'd insisted on a nice large red mansion a thirty-minute drive away that he'd spotted while out driving one day. Cersei could still not deny her eldest child anything and so the owner of the mansion was quickly offered a far above market value price, which they of course accepted.
After several moments on the phone with Joffrey, and after finally promising him a higher allowance Cersei got him to agree to both stay overnight and wear the Christmas sweater she'd had shipped to him weeks ago.
Shortly after leaving the room in which she had taken the call, she spotted Jaime.
"Is Gemma with the nanny?" she asked him.
"Yes, she's finishing getting ready."
"Alright, well Father should be here soon, let's go wait for him in the lounge."
"Sure," Replied Jaime, happily thinking they were about to have a Christmas day quickie.
Once they arrived in the lounge room, Jaime gave Cersei a passionate kiss. She pushed him away. "Not here! Father could come in at any moment!"
"But Cersei...:"
"Tonight. I'll sneak down to the basement."
He tried again to put the moves on her. "Jaime, no! If you keep this up I won't be sneaking off to the basement tonight or any other night!"
"Fine," Jaime pouted.
It was a good thing Cersei hadn't given in, because only a few short minutes later their father made his appearance.
"Gemma greeted me on the way here. She was very eager to show me her picture, " stated Tywin sitting down.
"Gemma was with the nanny in her room I thought," replied Cersei.
"She was with the nanny, she demanded they take her to greet her grandpa when he arrived. But, her misbehavior isn't the issue here. Look at this." Said Tywin gesturing to the picture.
"We've seen it." Cersei and Jaime replied in unison.
"Well then surely you can see there is a major problem here," he stated, looking Cersei right in the eyes before continuing, "I've told you that you needed to use a firmer hand on those children of yours. Even your four year old knows. Joffrey is always in and out of jail. Myrcella is dancing her life away when she is not with that Martell boy that is, and Tommen gets fatter and fatter by the day. Will any of them even attend college? Joffrey is nineteen, he should be a sophomore or at least a freshman by now. At least there may still be hope for Gemma, though with how demanding she is..."
"Joffrey is in a cage in that picture not jail." cut in Cersei finally.
"Don't play innocent with me. You know as a senator I know a lot of people. It hasn't escaped my ears that the boy has had more than a handful of run-ins with the law."
"Joffrey is just coming to terms with being an adult and being out on his own for the first time," defended Cersei.
"Joffrey has always been trouble. Where did you go wrong with the boy?" asked Tywin rhetorically.
"He's a fine boy, just give him some time, as for the others, Myrcella loves dancing and Tommen isn't that fat!" defended Cersei once again.
"Myrcella needs to start thinking about colleges. Least she ends up like Joffrey," replied Tywin.
"She's only a sophomore!" Exclaimed Jaime cutting in.
"It's never too early to start thinking about college, but you are her uncle, not her father or grandfather, I don't see how it concerns you any," replied Tywin.
"Now about Tommen, how big are you going to let the boy get before you send him to fat camp? I've given you several brochures. You need to pick one already." stated Tywin addressing Cersei this time.
"Tommen's not that big. He's just a little chubby," stated Cersei in denial. At thirteen Tommen was only 5'4 and nearly 200 pounds.
"Yes, well there are more important things to worry about any way I suppose. Surely you could see from that picture the confusion you're causing Gemma. " He stated pointing at the Cersei and Jaime in the picture before continuing. "As I told you both numerous times, Jaime needs to move out. He can more than afford his own place. You staying here just fuels all those disgusting rumors." Tywin stated looking at Jaime.
"I know that father. I just haven't found the perfect house yet," replied Jaime.
"I've told you, with your fortune you can more than afford to buy any house you want."
"Well...all the ones I think look nice and are located in a neighborhood I like aren't for sale," lied Jaime hoping this would provide a good excuse for why he'd been living with Cersei for the past three years after finally getting out of jail for suspicion of murder.
"You're a Lannister. It doesn't need to be for sale. You can more than afford to hire a private investigator to find who owns it and track them down. Offer them double, or triple the value. They will take it." Scolded Tywin.
"I don't like to spend my money so frivolously." Said Jaime trying to think of another excuse.
"Then tell me a house you like and I will take care of it all," offered Twin before continuing, "You cannot continue to stay here. It only helps fuel the incest rumors and the rumors that you killed Robert to have your sister all to yourself!
"I'll try to pick one father," lied Jaime.
"You had better. I know Stannis killed Robert, but many in the community don't share that opinion. The things they think of you two, it sickens me. You know how hard Stannis has been pushing to try to get a DNA test done on the children. You should consent so we can lay the disgusting rumors to rest."
"We will consider it father," stated Cersei with her own lie.
Once Jon Arryn's body was found two months after his death, because of his close ties to Robert a murder investigation had been launched. Jaime had been jailed and was awaiting trial when to his luck Stannis Baratheon hired an undercover police officer to kill his younger brother Renly. This evidence caused the jury to vote in Jaime's favor. Poor Stannis was not so lucky though and went to prison several months ago for the attempted murder of Renly, which he was guilty of, as well as the murder of Robert. Ever since then he had been trying to force the courts to make Cersei's children take a dna test, but he'd had no luck so far.
The three sat in tense silence for another moment before someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," stated Cersei
It was Tyrion, much to Cersei's chagrin. She'd just gotten rid of him this morning after present opening and now he was back for dinner. To her annoyance, he had even gotten Gemma a super soaker as a gift. That would be rather annoying because knowing Gemma she wouldn't limit her water attacks to the help.
"Hello, Jaime, Cersei, father." Replied Tyrion uneasily. Tywin and Tyrion had never been close, but they had started to get closer when Tyrion embarked on a political career in his mid-twenties. That closeness lasted only a few short years before Tyrion converted to becoming a Democrat and Tywin had never forgiven him.
"Tyrion, you didn't have to come. We already exchanged all our gifts earlier." Stated Cersei.
"Christmas dinner with my nephew and nieces? I wouldn't miss that for the world...hey what's that there?" Asked Tyrion finally noticing the picture.
Nephew? Not Nephews? Before Cersei could correct his tongue slip, and before the picture could cause anymore awkwardness, someone else knocked on the door.
This time It was a maid. "The chefs wanted me to inform you that the meal is ready and on it's way to the dining room, your son Joffrey has just arrived as well, he is in the living room smoking."
"Thank you," replied Cersei, slightly annoyed that her eldest son wasn't following her house rules.
"Should I inform the children and Joffrey that the meal is ready?" asked the maid breaking Cersei out of her thoughts.
"How stupid are you? Of course, I would want you to inform them, it's Christmas dinner!" Exclaimed Cersei.
"I'm sorry ma'am I will do so at once."
"Please do, and do not ever call me ma'am again. I am not that old!" Cersei stated glaring at the poor maid who quickly scurried off.
Ten minutes later everyone was finally seated in the large dining room.
"So, do any of you children have plans for college?" Asked Tywin.
There was an awkward silence for a moment.
"I'm hoping to get into Julliard." offered Myrcella finally.
"Julliard. A performing arts school? " replied Tywin horrified.
"Yes, grandpa, Julliard. It's the top rated performing arts school in the country. If I can get in I just know I can make it onto Broadway one day."
"Do you have any idea how many people think they will make it onto Broadway one day?" asked Tywin.
"Father, how about asking how our Christmases were instead? We were all so saddened that you could not make it earlier," lied Tyrion, seeing where this conversation was going.
"A senators work is never done. Although yours certainly should be. And you Jaime, you just abandoned your career for what to stay here and hang out with your nephew and nieces? "
"I hated politics. I only got into them because you pushed me I was glad to retire." Jaime stated.
"And now look at you. a nearly fifty-year-old man living in his sister's basement." replied Tywin.
At that Joffrey burst into laughter.
"You shouldn't laugh. Don't think I don't know that you aren't in school. You won't amount to anything with the way you've been living." Scolded Tywin.
At that Joffrey fumed silently.
Cersei tried to lighten the things some, mostly to improve Joffrey's sour mood.
"So, what were you so busy with this Christmas morning, Joffrey?"
"I don't need to answer to you." Replied Joffrey rudely.
"Answer your mother," demanded Tywin.
"I was sleeping. I had a late night last night."
"A late night doing what?" asked Cersei concerned.
"Partying." Replied Joffrey simply.
"Well, would any of you like to tell Grandpa about your Christmas presents?" Asked Jaime this time being the one to try to steer the conversation onto a better path.
"I got several new games and I'm getting my own kitty when it's my birthday!" exclaimed Gemma
"Really, another cat, Cersei?" asked Tywin raising an eyebrow. Tywin was no fool, he'd figured out why the furniture now all had covers and why it was being replaced more frequently.
"I want another cat too, then mom," demanded Tommen.
"Well, it isn't your birthday until May, and you have Sir Pounce already," explained Cersei
"Sir Pounce is everyone's cat though. Or at least you always tell me that everytime Gemma asks for him to sleep in her room. You could get me my present early. Two kittens, one for me, one for Gemma. I read that kittens adjust much better when they have a littermate to keep them company," stated Tommen helpfully.
"Two kitties!" exclaimed Gemma.
"We'll see about it," replied Cersei at a loss for how to get out of this.
"Well, I got a great gift. Santa got me a new car," stated Jaime winking at Cersei.
It didn't go unnoticed by Tywin. "Santa should be careful what he gives to certain people. It might cause trouble or give the wrong impression if he gets the wrong someone too good of a gift."
"Well, uncle Jaime must have been very good to get such a big gift! I bet he never does anything wrong!" stated Gemma.
Upon hearing that Jaime nearly choked on his food as he began to laugh,
"Stop acting like a fool. Lannisters aren't fools!" scolded Tywin.
"Well, would anyone else like to tell grandpa what they got for Christmas?" Asked Tyrion this time, in hopes of preventing another argument.
"I got several new dresses. They're all so beautiful. This one is my favorite, though." stated Myrcella, wisely leaving out all the dance-themed gifts she had gotten as well as the techno cd's she had been gifted.
"That's good. It's always important to look one's best. First impressions matter a lot in this world," stated Tywin approvingly.
"I agree with your grandfather, It's always good to look one's best," affirmed Cersei.
"Well, I don't think it matters quite so much," stated Jaime.
"Yes, we can all see that from how you're dressed," stated Tywin disapprovingly.
The room was silent once again.
"I got tons of new video games! I've already played them some. I still can't decide whether I like Nintendo or Sega better," Stated Tommen breaking the awkward silence.
"You're getting a bit too old for video games." stated Tywin before continuing, "Do you have any college plans?"
"Well, I'd like to work with animals one day. I love helping animals, especially cats," replied Tommen proudly.
"A noble profession, but not quite as noble as helping your fellow human," stated Tywin.
"It's not helping to keep cutting programs that the poor and needy need," replied Tyrion, unable to control himself.
"The poor need to get a better work ethic and then they wouldn't be poor," defended Tywin.
Seeing this wasn't going to end well, Jaime brought up a topic they could all agree on, or so he thought.
"I hope they put Stannis to death soon, he really needs to pay for what he did to Robert. Poor Gemma will never even know him," Stated Jaime trying his best to sound sad.
"Who's Robert?" asked Gemma.
"Your father. Our father," Stated Joffrey proudly.
"But, a daddy lives with you, like uncle Jaime does. Why isn't uncle Jaime my daddy?" asked Gemma innocently.
"See what I mean?" stated Tywin rhetorically to Cersei, referring to their earlier conversation about how this living arrangement was confusing to a child Gemma's age.
"Well, Robert had a lot of enemies, what if Stannis is actually innocent?" asked Tyrion before continuing, "Do you know how many innocent people get put to death every year?"
A long tense political argument broke out then, much as they break out every holiday in American houses. Eventually, Joffrey was the first to take his leave. Cersei followed him, and unnoticed by everyone else, Gemma followed her.
Joffrey headed to the lounge room because he thought he had left his cigarettes there and Cersei walked with him, trying to make conversation. Unnoticed, Gemma followed both of them. The lounge room was just a short walk from the dining room and it wasn't until they'd arrived there that Cersei remembered about the picture Gemma had left.
Joffrey was busy searching for his cigarettes and hadn't noticed the picture, but he did, however, notice his mother's mad dash to the other side of the room.
"And what is that, there?" He asked her gesturing to the picture in her hand.
"Nothing."
"It's not nothing, I drew that!" Exclaimed Gemma hurt.
"Gemma, where did you come from?" asked Cersei.
"The Stork, you know that mommy," she replied confused before continuing "I wanna show Joffrey my picture. My picture is not nothing!"
"Not interested," He replied dismissively.
Normally Cersei would have insisted but she didn't want him to see it anyways. Joffrey had no humor. At least not when he felt it was mocking him.
"Give me my picture mommy."
"Joffrey's not interested, sweetie."
Gemma pouted. "Well, I want my picture anyway."
Reluctantly Cersei handed the picture to her daughter. Unfortunately, Gemma was not a quitter. She immediately went over to Joffrey with the picture.
"Look, now!" She exclaimed as he sat down on the lounge chair after failing to find his cigarettes.
"No."
At that Gemma held the picture up to his face. Rolling his eyes, he decided to look, figuring some criticism would ruin that excitement of hers.
"You drew me in jail?" Joffrey asked his youngest sister grabbing the picture from her.
Before waiting for an answer he began to rip the picture to shreds.
"My picture!" exclaimed Gemma angerly.
"Joffrey! How could you!" exclaimed Cersei aghast.
Suddenly, Gemma lunged at her brother. She grabbed his arm and bit down hard. She sunk her teeth in and would not let go.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Get off me you little brat!" exclaimed Joffrey clearly in pain.
"Gemma, stop!" commanded Cersei to no avail, Gemma would just not release Joffrey's arm.
"Mother, get her off me!" exclaimed a furious Joffrey.
With some effort, Cersei managed to pull Joffrey's arm out of Gemma's mouth. The little girl backed up some and unnoticed by her mother spit out some of Joffrey's blood on the floor as Cersei inspected the damage to Joffrey's arm.
"Send her to her room!" demanded Joffrey.
"Joffrey, you did destroy her picture. I think we can consider you both even now. Ask a maid to get you a band-aid, and some disinfectant for that," Cersei replied right before Gemma stuck her tongue out at her older brother.
"Well, I'm going home." Stated Joffrey angerly.
"You are doing no such thing. You promised you'd stay overnight. We have a lot of games planned. Starting with Gemma's favorite, Candyland. Unless that is you don't want your weekly allowance?"
"Fine," stated Joffrey unhappily.
"Don't pout, it's Christmas." requested Cersei
"He's already on the naughty list and it's a whole nother year till Santa visits!" exclaimed Gemma happily.
"Santa is" began Joffrey starting to tell his sister the truth.
"Joffrey don't you dare!" exclaimed Cersei glaring at him.
"He just doesn't like Santa cause he's always on the naughty list!'
"Enough Gemma, let's take a quick bathroom break, then at six thirty we will all meet in the game room to play some games."
And so everyone, (except Tywin who already had headed back home) played with the new games they had gotten for Christmas. A merry Christmas evening was had by all, except for a sulking Joffrey.