Disclaimer: I do not own beyblades or any song lyrics that may appear in this fic.

Last time-

"Would you like to dance?" the guy asked Matilda as he smiled down at her.

"I don't know, I don't ever know your name."

"Terry! Yours?" he was still smiling and it was one of the best, if not the best smile Matilda had ever seen.

"Matilda."

"Nice to meet you Matilda, would you like to dance?"

"Sure." She smiled up at him and took the offered hand.

Matilda followed Terry through the dancing crowd to a corner of the room close to the speakers where the new couple began to dance.

"Hey look at that." Jess pointed Matilda out to Kai as they continued to dance.

"Isn't he the guy from the bowling ally?" Kai asked slightly concerned, he had a healthy respect for Matilda and loved her like a little sister.

"The one and only. Just keep dancing and don't make it obvious you are watching her!"

"So have you had a good birthday Tala?" Mai and Tala were now dancing in a fashion that made it possible to talk at the same time.

"Yeah, it's been good, I had a great time. It's nice having Jess back." Mai smiled at Talas' comment about Jess. It had really hurt him when she had run away.

"Come on, I'll give you my present!" She smiled at the look that passed across Talas' face.

"What is it?" He looked like a little boy, all eager and excited.

"Not in public!" Mai breathed into his neck as she turned to give him a kiss.

Chapter 16

Mai led Tala up a flight of stairs blind folded, earlier that afternoon she had rented a hotel room so there was no chance of them being interrupted. Once both of then were inside the room Mai shut and locked the door before leading Tala to the bed.

"Wait here." She fixed Tala a rum and coke before heading into the bathroom and telling Tala not to remove the blindfold until she told him.

Mai whipped off her clothes before spraying herself with perfume. She let her hair out of the French knot it had been in and let it fall down her back before grabbing the little black bag sitting by the sink. She pulled out a lacy, silk black and red camisole and a pair of hot pants made from the same material. After tugging them on Mai walked into the main room. Tala was still sitting on the bed where she had left him.

"You can take the blindfold off now." Mai smiled as she watched Tala put down his drink before removing his blindfold.

"Happy Birthday sweetie." Mai smirked as she stood before him dangling a pair of hand cuffs.

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"It's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas, it's Christmas," Mai was bouncing up and down on the couch while Tala, Jess and Kai watcher her amused, bemused and slightly confused.

"Mai sit still, you are making me feel sick." Kai was getting really sick of the bouncing and chanting.

"Am I really?" Mai asked

"Really what?" Kai was starting to loose his calm but hiding it well.

"Am I really making you feel sick?"

"No, just sit still."

It was a week before Christmas and all through the house everyone was getting ready for their Christmas holiday. School had finished on the Friday for the year but they had to return in three weeks to finish off.

At the present time though everyone was sitting around the fire in the Volkav den sipping eggnog. The room was decorated with tinsel, fairy lights, streamers, fake Santas', mistletoe and anything else you could think of to do with Christmas. Mai and Jess had spent the last week decorating both Kai and Talas' homes and now they were all nice and festive.

"More eggnog anyone?" Jess had finished her glass and was on her way to the kitchen to refill her glass. There was a chorus of two yes's and one no followed her into the kitchen

She had just closed the fridge after getting the eggnog out when Tala came in behind her, helping himself to a fruit mince pie.

"So?" Jess asked as she poured the glasses before filling the other with water and leaving it beside the sink.

"So." Tala replied. Tala and Jess were still as close as ever but since she had come home things had been slightly strained.

"Tala, what is it. I know you have something on your mind you've been watching me all night."

"I have n-" Tala saw the look on Jess's face and decided to change tactics. "Are you going to run away again next time you have a problem with Kai?" Blunt and straight to the point. Nice one Tala!

Jess stood in silence for several moments before she picked up the glasses, "I'll be back in a minute." She told him before she left the room to give Mai and Kai their eggnog. She came back into the kitchen shortly after leaving it and plonked herself down on the kitchen counter facing Tala.

"Well, lets get this over with!" she re adjusted her sitting position so she was comfortable and waited for Tala to begin talking.

Tala took a seat at the small table and looked across at Jess but didn't say anything, just watched her. She had changed, not a great deal but if you knew her you could see the difference. Small things, like the way she held herself and the new found confidence.

Tala shrugged. "You've changed!" It wasn't a question more of a statement but none the less she didn't like it.

"Oh really dear brother, please enlighten me! How exactly have I changed?" she didn't raise her voice but he could feel her tension.

Tala shrugged his shoulders again. "I don't know how, you just don't seem like Jess anymore." It was a straightforward remark but it cut deep. She wasn't her? It didn't make sense, how could she not be her. She felt her eye begin to water with confusion as she looked across the kitchen to the now watery Tala.

Tala saw the emotions welling in her eyes and tried to quickly make amends before she burst into tears. He knew how much she hated crying and decided that he was his mission to stop her from crying.

"Look Jess," Tala crossed the room and wrapped Jess in his arms, "What I mean is your not the little sister that needed me to look after her. Look at you, your beautiful, confident, warn, caring, I still imagine you as this little girl in her frilly yellow dress that needed her big brother to fend off any bullies…. You've grown up into a beautiful young woman." Jess made an odd noise before she burst into tears. 'Shit!' Jess cries so rarely that Tala barely knew how to deal with it. Tala could only remember Jess crying 1…2…3…4…5 times in his whole life. Even when her life was at its worst she never cried. In Jess's mind crying don't achieve anything. It was a waste of energy.

"Ah, shit Jess. I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm sorry." Tala hugged Jess tighter as she continued to sob.

"That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me!" Jess sobbed as she hugged Tala back.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The drive up to Kais' winter cabin took several hours. They had had to take different cars due to the fact that it was snowing where they were going and the Porsche wouldn't be able to handle the road because it was only two-wheel drive. The Skyline would have been able to handle the roads but was too low to go through any drifts. Instead they took a Jeep Wrangler Renegade and a Ford twin cab FX4 truck. Everything was in the back of the FX4 that Kai was driving with Jess beside him as they wound their way up the mountain Tala and Mai close behind in the Renegade. Their destination wasn't too far away, the cabin was on the side of the mountain that didn't house a ski resort but they did have access to the slopes.

"You know, after Voltaire died I never thought I would come here again." The thought had been bugging Kai for the past week, he hadn't even decided to voice it, it just kind of came out. Jess's hand reached out to squeeze his, which was resting on the gear stick.

"I understand, I can't imagine ever going back to my uncles under any circumstance."

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After two days at the cabin it became apparent that there was something wrong with Kai. Well not exactly something wrong, he wasn't sick but there was definitely something on his mind. All three of his friends had noticed and had even questioned him but his response of 'Just tired' didn't fly with Tala and he just happened to be the one person Kai didn't want to discuss his problem with, not yet anyway. Later that night after Mai and Jess had gone to bed Tala confronted Kai as he sat gazing into the fire, glass of whiskey in hand. Tala sat himself across from him waiting for Kai to notice him.

"Kai?" Tala had been waiting for Kai to notice him for over ten minutes. His head whipped around to look at him before a grimace played across his face briefly before being pushed away.

"Tala" Kai chose to use Talas' question as a greeting to avoid confrontation.

Tala let out a sigh, he could see Kai was going to be difficult. "Kai what's wrong?"

Kai looked down into his whiskey and wondered how much more Dutch courage or in this case Irish courage to bring up what he had been plaguing his mind for the past few weeks. Kai reached into his pocket before pulled out a small blue velvet box, which he tossed at Tala. Tala caught the small box but he did not open it, his attention remained on Kai.

"Spose now is as gooder time as any, seeing as you're the closest thing Jess has to a father……. Tala I want to ask for your blessing."

Tala fiddled with the box in his hand considering what Kai had just said. After an inaudible amount of time he spoke. "You are asking me if you can propose to Jess?"

"That's about the gist of it. Yeah!

Christmas morning dawned bright, clear, white and cold. It hadn't snowed the previous day but now everything had been renewed and clean. Everyone made their was downstairs within half an hour of eachother to be presented by a heap of presents under the tree. Everyone had gotten up at various stages through the night to put their presents under the tree. Now before everyone there looked to be nearly one hundred presents. Shadow came tearing into the kitchen in her little doggy coat Jess had gotten for her. Everyone had to admit, it was a cute site.

"If that little….." Kai decided to rephrase his sentence when he caught the look Jess was sending him. "I mean, if Shadow has just unwrapped all the presents it will spent the rest of its holiday in a box." Kai, Jess, Tala and Mai all looked at the dog. Shadow had a happy smile on her face before an uneasy look crossed her features. There was silence before the dog hitched and threw up a Christmas bow onto the kitchen floor. Everyone looked at the bow the to the door into the living room. Jess let out a sigh.

"Stay here, I'll go have a look." Sure enough there were presents and rapping paper scattered through the whole room and even some in the hall.

Jess made her way through the carnage again and back to the kitchen. "You guys have breakfast and I'll rewrap the presents." Jess made a cup of coffee before heading back into the living room.

"Ok what do you guys want for breakfast?" Mai made her way to the fridge to forage and get breakfast for the boys.

An hour later everyone was sitting around the Christmas tree in the living room. Shadow had been lift in the kitchen and the four of them sat four sat down before four equal piles of presents.

"Ok, here is how it is going to work. I have divided the presents equally between the four of us, I don't remember what is in each Pascal and I don't know what was meant for who apart from my presents so if someone gets a present that isn't meant for them the giver says so and the rightful recipient will get their present. Sound good?" Everyone agreed and they all took it in terns opening the presents. Two hours later everyone had a pile of unwrapped present infront of them and a smile on their faces. The presents were pleasing to all but no one seemed as pleased as Jess as she sat on the sofa cuddling a toy of the hippo from Madagascar. Every year Tala would get her something that was completely unexpected and completely different and this year he seemed to have done admirably. Jess loved it. Mai picked up her evil penguin and looked at it, its evil little eyes and crocked smirk made her smile. Kai picked up the box that held his dancing Tigger that Tala had given him. He opened the box , took Tigger out, set him on the floor and then turned him on. Everyone watched as he began to dance and sing to the tune of 'Cant touch this'.

"Put your hands in the air, move yourself from here to there." He sang as he did a cart-wheel. "T-I- double G-R" Mai and Jess both laughed at the T-I double G-R. Kai on the other hand just shock his head.

The four teens sat around the table for a light lunch. Jess and Mai were planning a huge Christmas dinner and after lunch told the boys to go away. Seeing as cooking wasn't their forte the two gladly took their leave of the girls and headed off to assault the ski slopes on the other side of the mountain.

Mai and Jess spent the rest of the afternoon cooking an array of Christmas goodies from the turkey to plum puddings. The kitchen was full of steam and delicious smells; by the time the boys got back from the slopes all the cooking was done.

"You two are like blisters." Jess had just finished washing up for about the seventh time that afternoon.

"What?" Tala must be in one of his dumb moods.

"You show up when all the work is done." She smiled as she finished drying her hands on a tea towel before throwing it at Talas head. Yep definitely a dumb mood, he didn't duck.

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That night after the delicious meal Jess and Mai had prepared Jess, Tala and Kai all sat around the fire singing Christmas carols while Mai played the piano.

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth/Every body stops/and stares at me/These two teeth are/gone as you can see/I don't know just who/to blame for this catastrophe/But my one wish on Christmas Eve/is as plain as it can be/All I want for Christmas/is my two front teeth/my two front teeth/see my two front teeth/Gee, if I could only/have my two front teeth/then I could with you/"Merry Christmas."/It seems so long since I could say/"Sister Susie sitting on a thistle!"/Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be/if I could only whistle (thhhh)/All I want for Christmas/is my two front teeth/my two front teeth/see my two front teeth./Gee, if I could only/have my two front teeth/then I could wish you/"Merry Christmas!" Jess sat in-between both Tala and Kai. She had had a very good year looking back. She had had the best birthday ever even with her uncle showing up. She had gotten Shadow who was now curled up at her feet sleeping soundly. She had gotten Kai! That one was more of an after thought, it wasn't really something she wanted, it just happened but now her life wouldn't be complete with out him and then there was Tala, her dearly beloved big brother. Her protector, her angel, just thinking about him made her smile. And then last but certainly not least there was Mai. Mai and came into her life like a whirl wind bring friendship and hope, yep all in all it had been a great year. Have yourself a merry little Christmas/Let your heart be light/From now on/our troubles will be out of sight/Have yourself a merry little Christmas/Make the Yule-tide gay/From now on/our troubles will be miles away./Here we are as in olden days/happy golden days of yore./Faithful friends who are dear to us/gather near to us once more./Through the years we all will be together/If the Fates allow/Hang a shining star upon the highest bough./And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Kai watched a smile play across Jess's lips. He had to be the luckiest guy in the world to have Jess. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him and now along with Mai and Tala he finally felt like there was a place for him in this world, they were one not so big family. Everyone had their own place and contributed their own little piece to the family. In Kai's mind everything was perfect. Kai pulled Jess closer to him and placed a soft kiss on her temple as she sang. "I love you." He whispered. Kai sat back to watch the smile spread across her face.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening/in the lane, snow is glistening/A beautiful sight/we're happy tonight/walking in a winter wonderland./Gone away is the bluebird/here to stay is a new bird/He sings a love song/as we go along/walking in a winter wonderland./In the meadow we can build a snowman/Then pretend that he is Parson Brown/He'll say: Are you married/we'll say: No man/But you can do the job/when you're in town./Later on, we'll conspire/as we dream by the fire/To face unafraid/the plans that we've made/walking in a winter wonderland./In the meadow we can build a snowman/and pretend that he's a circus clown/We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman/until the other kids knock him down./When it snows, ain't it thrilling/Though your nose gets a chilling/We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way/walking in a winter wonderland./Walking in a winter wonderland/walking in a winter wonderland. Tala finally felt free as he sat watching Mais' delicate fingers make their way over the keys of the grand piano. He had come so far over the past twelve months. He had finally kicked his habit of coke, he had stoped using women but what he was most proud of would have to be Jess, she was her own person. Jess no longer needed him to be a part of her life but wanted him there but that wasn't really surprising. Jess idolised him and always would. But what would happen when she married Kai? Would she marry Kai? Tala decided that he wouldn't think to far ahead and count his chickens and all that rubbish. Jess was too young to I broke my bat on Johnny's head;/Somebody snitched on me./I hid a frog in sister's bed;/Somebody snitched on me./I spilled some ink on Mommy's rug;/I made Tommy eat a bug;/Bought some gum with a penny slug;/Somebody snitched on me./Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas/Mommy and Daddy are mad./I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas/'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad./I put a tack on teacher's chair/Somebody snitched on me./I tied a knot in Susie's hair/somebody snitched on me./I did a dance on Mommy's plants/climbed a tree and tore my pants/Filled the sugar bowl with ants/somebody snitched on me./So, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas/Mommy and Daddy are mad./I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas/'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad./I won't be seeing Santa Claus;/Somebody snitched on me./He won't come visit me because/Somebody snitched on me./Next year I'll be going straight;/Next year I'll be good, just wait/I'd start now, but it's too late;/Somebody snitched on me./So you better be good whatever you do/'Cause if you're bad, I'm warning you/You'll get nuttin' for Christmas. Mai smiled as she watched the interaction between her friend in the mirror above the piano. It was funny to watch them interact with eachother when they think no one was watching. The smile that crossed their lips when they looked at one another or the way Jess looked at Kai and visa versa. And Tala, good old Tala, deep down Mai knew she loved him bit that thought was scary. Mai had seen what love had done to Jess and Kai. Yep love was defiantly something scary but it would be an awesome ride. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL Okay guys, I hope you all enjoyed that chappi. I know that it doesn't really flow but I think it turned out ok. I made it nice and longish for you .isn't that a great word- Longish? Well I like it. Hope you all have a great Chrissi and an awesome New year. All the best for 2006. Read and review. The perfect oasis.