Hi there, again :) My lovely and patient readers – I've had a crazy time with school and a wonderful time with orchestra and friends but I promise that during Xmas break I will update more :)

Disclaimer: None of the Benedicts/the Savant World belong to me – all rights to Joss Stirling.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Seven years later

„Xav? " I whisper and blindly fling my arm at the other side of the bed. "Xav?"

Xavier Benedict!

What, you annoying muppet? Xav mumbles and pulls his duvet tighter around his shoulders, covering his ears.

You do realise that telepathy works even with your ears covered?

Go … sleep… It's like 3.30 in the freaking morning or something.

Exactly, meaning it's the little princess' time to insistently cry and beg her wonderful dad for food.

It's your turn.

No, it's your turn. I did it last night remember, you laughed at me when I came back to bed with a vomit-covered t-shirt.

… Crap. It's my turn.

I grin smugly and reach over to pat his behind as he reaches for his t-shirt.

If you come back quickly, I'll have a nice surprise for you.

I can feel him stifle a groan at the mental image I'm creating in his mind and let out a small laugh.

"I have to drive Imogen to the Ski Resort tomorrow and you have to pick up Trace and Diamond and their bunch of kids from the airport. You better get a move on."

"Are we there yet, Mama?"

"No" I let out an exasperated sigh and throw an irritated glance at my little princess in the backseat.

"When are we gonna be there?"

"Soon" Imogen lets out a slight huff and crosses her arms over her chest. "Who are you so looking forward to seeing again?"

I smirk at the blush creeping up her cheeks and decide to tease her a little. "Is it Francis?"

Her eyes grow wide and she shakes her head so quickly that I fear it might fall off.

"Eww, Mama. No! He's so annoying. He's always tugging on my hair and tripping me and he keeps calling me 'Donut' because of the stupid carnival costume you forced me into. And he's always telling the other boys on my team that I have cooties. And he …"

I have to smile as Imogen starts off into a hate speech of the boy I know will one day be the one she grows old with. I knew the moment I found them fighting in the snow in the kindergarten playground and ever since, it has been killing me of not being able to tell her. Not even Xav knows. We both agreed that we'd let the children finish their school career before they go off into the big, wide world to look for their soulfinder. On the day of each of their graduation ceremonies I'll tell them what I sensed the minute they were born – well, with Caleb the minute I woke up. With Imogen I'd sensed a bond similar to Xav and mine – an undeniable attraction despite banter and heated arguments. And 14 months ago, when our little Ariel Francesca was born, I sensed water. Huge, infinite amounts of clean, sparkling blue water in the middle of nowhere and I have no idea how to tell her that her soulfinder could be right about anywhere near any kind of ocean.

"Donut!" A small voice yells as we pull up to the large cabin near the Ski Resort in the Appalachians where Imogen will be spending the rest of her Christmas vacation.

"Ugh, go away, Francis!"

"No way, Donut. Chip and I are on our way to the snowmobiles. You wanna come?"

"I think Imogen wants to say goodbye first. She'll be up in a minute." I come to the rescue when I catch sight of Imogen's face that has now started to resemble a ripe tomato.

"Hello, Mrs Benedict." Francis' whole manner changes as he straightens up and holds out his hand.

"It's nice to see you again, Francis" I say grinning and shake his hand in a mock-professional way. "Now could Imogen and I quickly have a moment alone?"

"Of course, Mrs Benedict. Goodbye, Mrs Benedict." He scurries away but not without throwing a longing glance over his shoulder at my stubborn princess who looks close to stamping her foot on the ground.

"Imogen. Promise you'll call the moment you are feeling homesick or lonely or bored, okay? You know your daddy and I are always going to pick up the phone."

Silently, she nods and her frown relaxes slightly.

Imogen?

She looks up and I laugh as I see the spark return to her eyes. She loves talking telepathically and Xav and I had to drum it into her not to try it on random kids at school.

Will you do me a favour? A very big one but one that I promise will make you insanely happy?

She looks at me with a suspicious look in her eye and pulls up one eyebrow.

What?

Could you try this with Francis?

No! … Try what?

Talking to him in his head? Would you do that for me?

Why?

Because, I promise you, donut, that you will not regret it a single second in your life.

Why?

Because it'll make sense. You'll see.

Why?

Because she's your mother and you should do as you're told. Xav chimes into our conversation and I turn around just in time to see, Xav's massive SUV pulling up next to the cabin.

"Daddy!" Imogen cries and flings herself into his arms while I go to the back seat to unbuckle Ariel.

"Hey, my little princess!" Imogen scowls at the nickname and rushes over to the car to pull Caleb out, who's so engrossed in his Medical Science book that I don't think he's realised that they've arrived.

"Didn't you pick Trace and the gang up from the airport?" I ask and hoist a sleeping Ariel onto my hip.

"Their flight has been delayed and won't come in until this evening so I decided to take these two on a road trip so that we could all watch our little tough girl ski her first race of the season."
Xav has become extremely proud of Imogen because of her love for sports. During our summer vacation when we visit Karla and Saul in Colorado, she spends every waking minute moving whereas Caleb curls up in a hammock to read the latest Bill Nye or John Hall book.

"Now, hurry along, donut. Talk to Francis." And because Imogen absolutely dotes on Xav's every word, she goes rushing off.

Smooth move, soulfinder.

I learn from the best, Cupcake.

"Since when have you known about Francis?" I ask as I'm curious how he found about our daughter's soulfinder.

"You are horrible at keeping secrets, Beauty." He ruffles my hair and gives Ariel a light kiss on the head. "But I love you anyway."

He leans in and gives me a passionate kiss that leaves me desperately tugging at his jacket to make him come closer though Ariel being wedged between us does not make it easy.

"Get a room. You're gross" Caleb's smug voice comes from the car and I burst out laughing.

"The prodigy has spoken. Now come on, champ, you have a sister to embarrass and a soon-to-be brother-on-law to intimidate."

I realise that this does not actually have any plot though I guess most of the chapters don't really :) Anyway, this chapter was useless fluff and the next one, which I will most definitely post on Christmas Eve, will be the last. I'm looking forward to tons of reviews and feedback and of course, it would be awesome if you'd check out my other fics :)

Please review :)