So sorry for the delay – I´ve had so many family and relatives visiting these last couple of days that, between that and all the cakes and food preparing, didn´t have time to be online much.

Anyway, here´s the next update...

Chapter 3

˝Hey, goober, sorry I´m late, I got caught up talking with Santa. ˝Kate said as she entered his bedroom; Jack, this time his real self, following behind. ˝But, hey, look who I ran into in the hallway.˝

˝Hey, buddy. ˝Jack said, leaning down to give Aaron a kiss.

˝We´ll let Jack change his clothes while I read you the bedtime story, okay? ˝Kate offered; picking up the book from the nightstand and placing herself in the chair next to Aaron´s bed.

˝No, I want Jack, not you! ˝Aaron said, rather rudely, as he pushed her hand away.

Jack looked at Kate and she returned him the look, puzzled. ˝Sweetie, what´s wrong? ˝

˝I want Jack. ˝Aaron stubbornly repeated, crossing his arms on his chest and refusing to look at her.

˝O-kay, then…I´ll…I´ll leave you with Jack. ˝she mumbled, hurt; heading for the door.

˝Kate…˝Jack tried, taking hold of her arm, but she stopped him and he let her go; but not before he managed to get a glimpse at her eyes, that were slowly starting to fill with tears. He knew that, normally, she wouldn´t be this sensitive, but she was tired and still a bit feverish, and it all gathered up.

He watched her cross the hallway and disappear downstairs; then turned towards Aaron again, who was still sitting on his bed in the same, pissed off position.

˝Hey, buddy…˝Jack started carefully, deciding to cheer him up a bit before trying to get out of him whatever it was troubling him. ˝Your Mom told me you had a special visitor this evening. ˝he offered, choosing to play the Santa card and not knowing that he was practically adding salt to the wound. ˝Did you have a good time with Santa? ˝he asked softly, sitting down on the chair next to the bed; but Aaron just shrugged.

Jack stared at him, confused. The boy was practically bubbling with excitement a couple of minutes earlier – what could have happened in such a short period of time to make him so angry and depressed? He decided to leave the whole Santa thing for a while and change topic. ˝Okay, …you don´t want want to talk about it, how about I read you a story then? ˝he asked, picking up two of Aaron´s currently favorites. ˝Which one do you want: Santa and his reindeers or The Night Santa Came down the Chimney? ˝he said, holding them in front of Aaron to pick.

˝I want no one. No Santa stowies! ˝Aaron demanded, pushing at the books with all the strength he could muster.

Jack remained puzzled. Did he do something from playing Santa that made Aaron hate the old guy? He played back the events of the evening in his head, but he could find nothing wrong. On contrary, Aaron had been happy and excited the whole time.

He put the books down; then turned towards the boy again. ˝What´s the matter, buddy? Why are you so sad? ˝

Aaron said nothing, but Jack could see his bottom lip starting to quiver.

˝Come on…you know you can tell me anything. ˝he coaxed gently.

˝No, I can´t. ˝Aaron finally said, his voice close to breaking down. ˝I can´t tell you because you´ll get mad at Mommy and you´ll leave. ˝he breathed out, so sad and beat that Jack could feel his heart break for the boy.

˝Hey…˝he said, getting out of the chair and placing himself down on the side of the bed. ˝I don´t know what made you so sad, ˝he said, taking hold of Aaron´s hand, ˝but whatever it is I´m sure it´s not as bad as you think; especially not bad enough to make me leave you and Mommy, okay? Now, come on, tell me. ˝he tried, but Aaron just shook his head.

˝Okay, if I promise you I won´t leave you and Mommy, will you tell me then? ˝he asked; and Aaron looked up.

˝Pinky swear? ˝

Jack laughed. ˝Fine, pinky swear. ˝he said and made the gesture with Aaron. ˝Now, tell me. ˝

˝Mommy put me in bed and t-told me to stay thele while she goes to say bye to Santa…˝Aaron started, playing with Jack´s fingers. ˝But I wemembeled that I folgot to t-tell him s-something so I went downstails a-and…a-and…˝the boy stuttered, his voice breaking down as he fought the tears.

˝And then what happened? ˝Jack asked gently, curious to see what had made him so upset.

˝I…I went d-downstails and…and s-saw…˝

˝Saw what? Come on, buddy, I promise I won´t get mad. ˝Jack said sweetly, thinking Aaron had made some mischief or something.

˝I saw M-Mommy k-kissing S-Santa! ˝Aaron let out, crying in earnest now.

Jack looked at him, confused for a second; then, realizing what it was that Aaron had seen, started to smile. Not wanting Aaron to think he was making fun of him, he pulled him closer to his chest, hugging him tightly and letting him cry it out; not wanting it to last too long, but long enough till he was sure he could face him again without cracking up...


I´d also like to wish you all the best in the new 2011. Sadly, it´s our first year without Jate (at least new Jate, ´cause I´m sure they´ll always be there in our hearts) and it feels weird not to wish you new Jate scenes and a jiss and a jex and a jaby and all the stuff we´d been wishing to each other over the past 6 years; but, on the other hand, we´ve got our last year´s wish fulfilled and we should be happy for it; because we´ve got such epic Jate that we couldn´t have even dreamed all of that was possible. So I hope everyone´s happy about it and as for the jisses/jexes and jabies...well, that´s why we have fics ;)