The morning light shined from the window above the bed, stirring Jaye awake from deep slumber. The evening before, after Duke and Scarlett left to return to base, Flint quickly cleaned up the evil plastic thing mess from the living room, before Nancy could discover the aftermath of the battle.
Flint's family returned from church and they all had Christmas Eve dinner together. After the enormous meal, they gathered around the fireplace for special treats and caroling.
Jaye rolled over to the other side, touching the empty space next to her bed. She slowly rose her head from the pillow, and discovered Flint's area of the bed, empty. Glancing at the clock next to the bed, she noticed it was still early in the morning. She got out of the warm blankets and grabbed her robe. She was going husband hunting.
After a quick visit to her new best friend, the toilet, Jaye slowly walked down the stairs, and found Flint in the kitchen, doll head in one hand, the body on the counter and some glue next to it. From his frustrated look, she knew that it was hopeless to get the doll back together again.
He hung his head as an aggravated sigh came out of his breath.
Jaye walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind. "We'll just get her a new doll," she said softly and then kissed the top of his head.
"It's not that simple, Allie." Flint turned around. "Nancy loves this doll very much, because it came from someone who loves her very much-- me."
"I'm sure she'll be alright," Jaye said, hugging him tightly. "At least it wasn't you that broke it."
Flint's face to a small grin. "Yeah, we can blame the Blondie and then take her to base with us, so she can kill him instead!"
"Come on. Let's go back to bed," She whispered in his ear. "It's our first Christmas and we should spend as much of it together as we can."
"Hmm, that sounds like a great idea," He whispered back. "I'll take care of our little injured friend late, before Nancy wakes up."
Leaving the doll on the counter, they walked up the stairs and into the bedroom.
A few hours later, they were getting dressed. Flint had on his Santa hat and was trying to get Jaye to put one on. "No, I'm not wearing that, Dash," she said, while brushing through her hair.
Flint gave her his famous puppy dog eyes. "Come on, it's tradition. Now you don't want to ruin tradition, do you?" He put the Santa hat on her head, "See, you look so cute and festive!" He chuckled at her rolling eyes at him, "I'll see you downstairs, got to try again and put together the evil plastic thing." He gave her a kiss on her cheek and left out the door.
Going back to the kitchen, he breathed a sigh of relief that nobody had found the broken item. Taking the doll in his hands, he tried numerous times to put the head back on the doll, but miserably failed.
Suddenly, familiar footsteps pounded down the stairs. Nancy! He panicked, if she found him with the doll, he was dead roadkill. Looking to his right and left and not thinking clearly, he shoved the head of the doll in the microwave, and then threw the body in the snack cupboard. Just seconds before a voice sounded from behind him.
"Morning Dashie, Merry Christmas." Nancy's voice floated in the air.
He turned, "Merry Christmas Nan." he replied, giving her a hug. "You look all festive this morning." Nodding to her red candy cane nightgown and Santa hat.
She rolled her eyes. "We keep have to dress like this every year. Mom and Dad keep thinking we're still kids."
He opened his mouth to reply, but she stopped him. "Say it and prepare to die." Then his sister walked over to the counter to start the morning coffee. "Mom wants me to start on the breakfast, seems she is having problems putting on her seasonal outfit." Making him snicker.
"Dash, can you move from there. I need to heat something for breakfast." She pointed to the microwave.
Nancy took several steps towards but Flint moved in front of the microwave, "No! I mean, can you check on Allie for me. I'll take care of breakfast."
His sister looked at him confused but nodded. "Alright.. you are acting peculiar today." she stated, giving him another odd look, as she left the kitchen and headed up the stairs.
Brenna walked out of her bedroom with baby Molly, each wearing Christmas PJ's and a Santa hat. "Morning Nan. See you downstairs."
"Merry Christmas, Brenna, and Molly," Nancy smiled at them, then headed for the bedroom.
Inside the guest bedroom, Jaye was still refusing to wear the santa hat, she kept eyeing the thing.
There was a knock on the door, and Nancy walked inside.. "Well, at least you got the hat only," Nancy grumbled. "And you don't have to look like a candy cane." She indicated to her own nightgown.
Jaye turned around and showed that she too was wearing a Christmas nightgown. Hers had a big picture of Rudolf on it. "Yeah right."
Nancy burst out laughing, "Oh God! Don't tell me it's the one with Rudolf singing when you touch his nose!"
"Yes, and no, you can't touch it." Jaye grumbled.
Nancy scrunched her nose. "No thanks. By the way. Dash is acting odd downstairs, is everything alright?"
Jaye shrugged. "It's our first Christmas together. Probably all the excitement." She smirked. "You ready to open presents."
Nancy nodded excitedly. "Let's go!" She grabbed Jaye's hand and they both headed down the stairs.
Jaye couldn't help but grin. This was going to be a Christmas to remember. She was practically pulled down the stairs by Nancy. "Dash, come on!" She called into the kitchen. "It's time for presents."
Flint heard Jaye's call from the staircase. "Coming!" He called towards them, then quickly once again hid the doll's head in the microwave. "I'll fix you later." he whispered to the evil plastic thing, shaking his head.
He walked into the living room with a grin. "Allie, where is your Santa hat?" He sent her one of those, 'you have to wear it.' looks.
Jean and Logan Faireborn came down the stairs, dressed in the own Holiday attire. Logan wore his famous Santa Claus outfit, complete with bells on his belt, while Jean wore a Mrs. Claus outfit, complete with a white mob cap and glasses. Both looked fitting for the season. Rowdy followed them down the stairs, with his own outfit. He was wearing an antler set, a green scarf, that had jingle bells on and a red nose completed his role as Rudolf the Red nose Reindeer.
Baby Molly giggled watching the three enter the room.
"Merry Christmas!" Jean said, hugging everyone in the room.
"Merry Christmas," Jaye said, then looked at Flint who gave her a pleading look. She rolled her eyes and put the hat on her head.
"You ready for your first Christmas, Molly?" Brenna asked, excitedly as the six month old tiny girl laughed and cooed.
"Well, shall we go see what is under this fine Christmas tree?" Logan asked in his best Santa voice.
Nancy nodded excitedly." Who is going to play Elf this year?" Then she looked at Jaye. "How about Allie? It's her first time sharing Christmas with us!"
Flint looked towards his wife, with a large grin on his face. "Allie, want to be Santa's little helper this year?"
Jaye smiled. "All right." She handed out some presents and took one for herself.
Molly had to have help with her present. Brenna helped her open it and it was an evil plastic thing from Nancy.
"Glad you like her Molly, her name is Emily," Nancy said, giving her niece a kiss on her head.
Flint opened his box and gasped, taking out the gun that he wanted, "Nan, this is wonderful! Thanks." he said, giving his sister a hug.
Jaye opened the rectangular box from Nancy and her eyes widened. There, wrapped nicely in tissue paper was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, in Russian!
"Look inside the cover," Nancy smiled at Jaye, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Jaye flipped the book open and a surprised gasp left her breath. The book was a first edition and extremely hard to come by. She was touched by Nancy's precious thought. "Where did you find this?" she asked in shock as she looked up at Nancy.
Nancy grinned. "I have my ways."
Logan had received an entire case of Windex from Nancy with a gift card to the local sporting goods store.
Jean loved the new Pampered chef cooking set from Nancy, and hugged her daughter tightly. "Thank you, dear."
"All right, next set of gifts!" Flint said, greedily.
Jaye handed out the next gifts and they were from Brenna. Baby Molly got lots of presents so everyone watched her open her gifts from Mommy and ooo'd and ahh'd over all the toys and outfits.
Logan opened his present and it was a new set of reigns for the sleigh. "How did you find these, Brenna?" Logan asked as he gave his oldest daughter a happy smile.
"Ebay daddy." Brenna said proudly.
"What's an Ebay?" Logan asked in confusion.
"It's an auction on the internet," Brenna answered him with a laugh, cuddling her baby girl to her as she chewed on a new teething ring.
"I'll never understand those new fangled gadgets," Logan said, shaking his head, obviously very happy with his gift.
Jaye opened her gift and inside she found a new mp3 player to replace the one that was lost at the hospital the night Molly was born. "Brenna, you didn't have too." There was a look of pure surprise on her face.
Flint rapidly ripped the wrapping off his gift and then his mouth dropped. "Bren, only you would be able to get me that survival kit with frogs designs on it! Thanks!" he said, giving his sister a hug.
There was a sniffle from Jean, and they all turned towards her, seeing her face in tears, smiling. "Oh Bren, I love it." She was holding an eight by ten picture of Molly wearing Brenna's baby dress, the exact one which Jean Faireborn had made for her daughter, when she was born. The white flower dress fitted little Molly perfectly. In the picture, Molly was also holding a small lamb which once belonged to Flint, the same lamb which Jean had bought when Flint was born. Lastly, around Molly's neck was a gold rose necklace which once belonged to Nancy. Jean had purchased the necklace when her youngest daughter was born
"I knew you'd love it, momma." Brenna said happily. "It was the only thing I could think of to get you." She turned to her little sister. "Now open your gift."
Nancy smiled at her sister, "I have a confession, Bren, I already know my gift. I accidentally opened it when the box arrived. I thought it was my order." She laughed at her sister sticking out her tongued at her. Nancy quickly opened the box. "Oh Bren! I love her!" she said, holding a pretty short haired strawberry-blond doll. "Samantha is going to be thrilled that she got her sister!"
Flint starting choking, thinking of Samantha's head which was still in the microwave. Everyone turned to him. He couldn't breathe.
Jaye opened her gift and let out a gasp. It was a very old necklace that resembled the one that was stolen when her mother was killed. Jean had seen it in Jaye's parents wedding picture. She was speechless.
Mrs. Faireborn smiled at her daughter in law. "We had a dear friend of ours replica the necklace for you, dear."
Flint looked from the necklace to Jaye's tears and then to his parents. "Allie, what is wrong? Is it the wrong necklace?"
"No...it looks exactly the same as the one my mother wore the day she married my father," Jaye said softly. She smiled at Flint's parents. "Thank you. This is perfect."
Next, Jaye handed out the presents that were from her and also the presents for each other except for the very large present at the back of the tree.
Molly was first again. "Oh this is great," Brenna said. "She'll love it. I wanted to get her one but they were all out." Molly started to pound the box that had an Exersaucer in it.
The next gift for her was a bunch of clothes and an envelope with a trust started in her name. "You guys shouldn't have," Brenna said honestly.
"She's our only niece." Jaye replied. "It's not much but something to help with college when she's older."
Logan opened his gift and inside there was new hunting gear and at the very bottom was two camouflaged shirts with writing on the front that read, 'You don't know it but I'm standing right in front of you' and 'You can't see me'. "I love this. This is great." Logan said.
A gasp came from Mrs. Faireborn. "Dear, this is beautiful!" All eyes turned to see Jean hold up a sapphire bracelet. Jean stood up and hugged her daughter-in-law.
Nancy slowly opened her box and took out a piece of paper, Her face tilted reading it, 'Look in the barn.' She then glanced at Jaye. "What's in the barn?" she asked, her eyes full of excitement.
All Jaye did was grin. "You can see when we are all done." She nodded for Flint to open his gift and inside were the plans he had drawn up a long time ago for the home he wanted to build and a note that stated, the building will begin in the spring
He turned towards Jaye, a bright smile on his features, "Allie, you are amazing." He said overwhelmed from the precious gift. He leaned forward and kissed her passionately.
"Get a room!" cried out Nancy, making everyone laugh.
Logan and Jean smiled at each other. "Well, you will not find our gift under the tree this year." They all looked at each other curiously and then back at the parents. Logan put a hand on his wife's hand and squeezed it hard. Jean had tears in her eyes, "After many years of saving, we have not only paid off the farm, but also we want you all to know, have purchased a new house with land in Hawaii." The entire room burst into cheers.
"Mom! That's great!" Flint said, smiling.
"That's wonderful." Jaye said. "You'll love it there."
"Wow, mom and dad." Brenna said in shock.
Nancy nodded. "Can't wait to go there!"
Flint shook his head. "Nan, you are going to be one of those people who goes around the world in eighty days, aren't you?" He laughed at his sister's glare. Then from behind his back, he took out a rectangular box, wrapped in a velvet ribbon. His eyes sparkled with excitement when he handed Jaye the box. "Allie, this is for you." Jaye grinned while she slowly opened the box and her eyes widened at the diamond necklace and bracelet set.
Jaye was speechless as she looked from the gift to him with a stunned look on his face. She then launched herself at him and kissed him happily. "It's beautiful," she said, as she broke the kiss.
"There's one more gift left." Brenna said, pointing at a beautifully wrapped huge box at the back of the tree.
"I'll get it," Jaye said and pulled the box out. "It says it's for Dash." She handed him the box. There was no name on it for who it was from. "Open it." She stood there on the other side of the box right in front of the Christmas tree so that everyone could see.
Flint looked closely at the elegant wrapping paper. "Well, guess Santa brought it to the wrong house, this wrapping paper is too nice for me." Causing laughter in the room. He slowly unwrapped the large box, and gently opened it, thinking something may pop up at him. His features changed into various façades, first from curiosity, then surprise and then confusion. He slowly pulled out a rattle, then a baby blanket, then a few baby sleepers, a teddy bear wearing a t-shirt saying Beary Babies, while his face continued to look perplexed.
He looked at Jaye, then at the items, then back Jaye, then at Molly, then back at the box, then at Nancy and Brenna who were covering their mouths, then back at the box, then at his parents who were holding each other's hand and smiling, then at Jaye, then back to the box and then back at Jaye.
"Allie, I think you gave me the wrong box, this is clearly for Molly."
Jaye smiled and pulled out a few items revealing the small square object at the bottom of the box, sat the stuff on the floor then stood back waiting nervously for his reaction. Hoping that he was happy.
Flint stared at the small rectangular box, staring closely at the pink lines, slowly realizing what the object really was-- a pregnancy test. His eyes opened as wide as they could, identical to his mouth which hung open, and nothing coming out. His color left his face, and for one moment Jaye thought he might pass out. Then his mouth began to quiver slightly, trying to find his voice once more. Flint glanced up at his family, who were all smiling and stated, "I'm pregnant."
"No honey," Jaye said, with a chuckle. "We're pregnant." She smiled at him. "Are you okay?"
Everyone else just sat there, quietly, watching the scene in front of them.
Flint blinked twice, letting it sink in. They were having a baby! It took him seconds to react. He jumped from his sitting position, grabbed Jaye in a tight hug, kissed her passionately, looked deep into her eyes and slowly shook his head. "I… I can't believe it! A baby! Us!" He squeezed her once more. "I love you, Allie." he stated, ending down to kiss her once more.
"I love you too," she replied, smiling then their lips met.
"You know, this is what got you two in this predicament in the first place," Brenna teased.
Logan squeezed his wife's hand. "Another grandbaby."
Nancy looked from Flint and Jaye, who were holding each other tightly, to Brenna who was holding baby Molly and then lastly at her parents. "Well, don't expect one from me anytime soon. All your grandbabies from me are plastic things, for now," she claimed, causing the room to fall into laughter.
Jean stood up and wrapped her arms around Flint and Jaye, "Both of you made this Christmas extra special," she said, kissing them on top of their heads. "Well, let's have some breakfast, and Allie gets double helpings, since she is carrying my grandchild."
Jaye sent a pleading look to Flint, who just grinned back at her.
While his mother set off towards the kitchen. He then turned to his wife. "So, this is why Shana was --" But his sentence was cut off by a blood chilling shriek coming from the kitchen.
Everyone glanced at each other, jumped up and ran into the kitchen. Flint stayed behind the crowd, knowing what had caused his mother's scream. She had found the evil plastic thing. He peeked inside, and slowly shook his head. There, standing two feet away from the microwave's open door was his mother, looking shocked. The doll's head still lay on the plate, rolling.
Nancy turned her face full of shock, "Dashiell?" Her hands were on her hips and her eyes were shooting spheres.
He gulped. "I…uh...Conrad... Allie... Shana..." He took two steps backwards, slowly trying to retreat.
"Nancy, it's not his fault." Jaye explained walking into the kitchen. "You see your brother..." She shot her husband a look then looked back at Nancy. "Was sleeping under the tree last night and when Conrad went to wake him up to tell him goodbye, he was dreaming it was me and started rubbing Conrad's leg, so Conrad grabbed the closest thing to him, your doll, and hit your brother with it, breaking it."
Brenna burst out laughing, causing Molly to look at her funny. "My macho big brother was feeling up his best friends leg?!?"
Logan was trying really hard not to laugh as he comforted his shocked wife.
The youngest Faireborn, looked from Jaye to Flint, who looked ready to bolt out of there as if Serpentor had just waltzed in the kitchen and demanded some tea. Then she burst out laughing. Which caused Jaye to start laughing followed by Brenna and the parents.
Flint looked at his sister, hoping that this had not scarred her for life. "Nan?" He asked quietly.
Nancy turned to him. "Where's the body?" she asked, walking over to the microwave and taking out the head. Flint pointed silently to the where he had hid the rest remains of the evil plastic thing. He watched his sister, find the body and then set the two pieces on the counter. They all looked curiously towards Nancy, who was now holding the doll's head and reattaching it to the body. In moments the evil plastic thing was in one piece. She turned around, a smile on her face. "There, good as new."
Flint was floored. "How did--?" He couldn't even finish his question from the shock.
Nancy grinned. "Easy." She showed all their surprised faces how she had fixed the doll.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Jaye said and walked to the front door.
"Allie!" came the jolly voice of Aunt Brody. wrapping his arms around his niece. "Good to say ya, lass!!!"
"Where is she?" Robert asked loudly, and came around Aunt Brody and hugged his daughter tightly. "Ye have made me the happiest man in the world, lassie!!!" Robert said, then looked over his only child's head to his son-in-law. "Ye better take care of her!!!"
"Yes, Sir." Flint replied, shaking Robert's hand. Then he turned to Brody. "Good to see you, Aunt Brody."
"Good ta see ya, lad!" Aunt Brody said, hugging him tight.
Robert held Jaye out at arms length. "Mi baby is gonna be a momma." He hugged her again. "Yer positively glowing."
"I think her father is just a little happy," Brenna chuckled.
Flint sent her a goofy grin. "A little happy? Say more ecstatic!!" he stated, causing everyone to laugh.
"I see you figured out your present." Jaye said to her father happily.
"Well Dashie..." Brenna said. "That explains her being sick."
"It certainly does," Flint smiled putting an arm over Jaye's shoulder and pulling her close.
Nancy shook her head, "Well, I'm off to the barn to see what you two mysteriously sick people got me." She winked at her brother and sister-in-law as she headed out the door.
"You did remember to pack the earplugs, right?" Jaye asked her husband with a smirk on her face.
"Well, while the lass is checking out her gift. Let me pass out me gifts to ye," Robert said, and handed out stocks for everyone including Molly and the extra gift he handed to Jaye was the deed to the cottage in the Smokey Mountains. Jaye looked at him with surprised eyes. "It were ye momma's favorite place. She woulda wanted ye to have it, lass."
Flint gave his best smile to Robert, "Thank you for the sword, Dad."
Jaye swallowed a giggle, watching Flint's face pale while handling the sword.
"What a wonderful gift, Robert! Thank you!" came Jean's voice, holding two plane tickets to Scotland.
Just as Jaye predicted a scream sounded from outside. Flint and Jaye looked at each other and nodded. "Earplugs."
Nancy burst into the house holding a black and white Great Dane puppy. Her eyes twinkled with happiness, "She's beautiful! Thank you!" She hugged her brother and sister-in-law. She held the puppy tightly in her arms, swaying it back and forth like a baby. "I'm going to name her, Faireborn's Holiday Delight, and her call name should be Holly."
Rowdy, who was sleeping on his favorite pillow, picked his head up, growled at the newcomer and departed the room with a dramatic flare. Everyone watched the cocker spaniel grumble his way to the kitchen.
Jaye laughed. She handed her and Flint's gifts to her father and Aunt Brody.
Robert opened the gift and smiled. It was a shield made with the family crest. "It is lovely my dear." He kissed his daughters cheek then hugged his son-in-law.
All eyes turned to Aunt Brody and waited for him to open his gift.
"Ah will open this later.." Aunt Brody joked, making them all to roll their eyes. "Alright me open, now." He picked up the box from next to him and carefully slowly opened it, every so slowly and carefully, making everyone to become impatient. Finally he opened his box and gasp. "Oh my!" His eyes became all teary, and he sniffled. "Thank you." He said, showing a check for his own Bootcamp school.
"We all went together on that and the necklace in the bottom. I hope you like it. I saw you looking at it when we went shopping last time you were here." Jaye said.
Molly was trying to get to the new puppy.
"Lass, I love it!" Aunt Brody said, with a twinkle in his eye.
Nancy gently picked up Molly, who was now crawling on the floor and held her while holding the puppy on the other hand, "This is Holly, Molly." She took her niece's hand and guided it on the puppy's smooth skin, helping her pet the new addition to the family. "Someday, you can help me train Holly for the shows."
Flint smirked. "Just don't have Molly get confused with Holly and instead of the dog coming to you, you have the a toddler run to you instead." Everyone laughed as Nancy stuck her tongue out at her brother. "So, Miss Evil plastic thing Queen. Where's my beret?"
His sister smiled cunningly, "Santa took it by mistake, thought we had left it for him instead Mom's cookies," she joked, causing more fits of laughter.
Flint shook his head, "Humphh." he gumbled while crossing his arms together. "Maybe you should had received coal in your stocking."
Everyone laughed. Jaye a little to hard and immediately ran to the bathroom.
"I hope her morning sickness doesn't last more than another week," Flint said, heading after his wife, while the others laughed at his wishful thinking.
Jaye was coming out of the bathroom when he pulled her close. "So, Mrs. Faireborn, feeling better?"
"Not really," she said, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I think I'm going to skip breakfast.
He looked at her with concern, "Want to rest for a while?" His hand softly touched her cheek and caressed it.
"No. This is our first Christmas together as husband and wife and I don't want to ruin it." She leaned her head to the side into his caress.
Flint was about to reply to her, when he felt his Santa hat pulled from his head and something very familiar take its place. His hand touched it and a smile crossed his features, Nancy had returned his beret back. He turned and smiled at his sister. "Merry Christmas, Nan."
Nancy giggled and left, without saying a word to him. He turned Jaye who was also biting her lip from laughing. "What?" He asked her curiously and she pointed on his beret. Reaching with his hand, he once more felt around but this time he discovered that his dear sister had added something special, a mistletoe. He chuckled. "Guess, I'll be the kissing booth today, huh?"
"Just for me." Jaye said and kissed him again. "I don't like to share."