Homemade: Emily

Emily smiled and presented Jess and Abby with thin, square gifts.

They giggled as they unwrapped them.

"You're so slow, Abby. Maybe I've opened more presents them you."

Abby laughed. "Maybe. It's not a contest, you know."

Jess smiled. "No it isn't, but I win."

Jess turned the present over. "Oh, Emily, this is lovely. The stitches are so delicate. Thank you, very much."

Emily had given her a pink handkerchief that was embroidered with a bunch of multicolored roses.

"Wow, Em, thank you. These must have taken you forever," said Abby.

She also had a handkerchief but it was yellow, and instead of roses, there were several small animals: birds, rabbits, a bumble bee, and a frog, sitting in grass and on rocks.

"Jess is right, it's lovely."

"I did not make the kerchief," said Emily. "I hope that it is not against the rules."

"Not at all," send the other two ladies.

Becker and Connor wandered over.

"Wow, those are nice," said Connor.

"Did you make them?" asked Becker.

"I embroidered upon a pattern on purchased handkerchiefs," said Emily.

"But you did the sewing," said Jess, showing hers to Becker.

"Very nice, Emily. Mum does sewing too, and trust me, you're good."

"Your mum embroiders?" asked Jess.

Becker nodded. "She also knits and does needlepoint. She's mainly a knitter though, that scarf I wear, hers."

"No way!" said Jess. "I want your mum to make me one, but pink instead of black."

Becker chuckled. "I'm sure she'd love to, Jess, but asking her might cause some problems."

"Like what?"

Abby chuckled. She and Connor smirked at each other.

"Like, who is it that wants a pink scarf," said Abby.

"And how close is she to her son," said Connor.

"Oh," said Jess, blushing. "Sorry, never mind."

Becker smiled. "No, I'm going to ask her. It'll play with her mind."

"You're mean," said Jess, teasingly.

"I know."

Emily cleared her throat, and looked nervously at Matt. He nodded encouragingly.

She handed Connor and Becker gift wrapped squares, like the ones she gave the women.

"I would never give men a present in my time, it would be scandalous, but Matt said that now it is not inappropriate."

"No, Emily, women are quite brazen nowadays," said Becker, looking at Jess, and winking. "Thank you."

"Yeah, Emily. It was nice of you to think of us."

They opened their presents to find two more handkerchiefs. Connor's handkerchief had geometric patterns in blue, green and orange, while Becker's had a simple border of black and red all the way around.

"Very tasteful," said Connor.

"Black," smiled Becker. Emily smiled back.

"Thank you," they said in unison, and she nodded.

"Excuse me, I must find Lester, and give him his," she said.

"What's on his handkerchief?" asked Jess.

"It is bordered, like the one I gave the captain, but in blue and gold."

"I wanted her to get him the 'gone fishing,' one with a guy lying in tattered jeans on his back, his bare feet in the air, but she wouldn't," said Matt.

"Oh, that would have been too funny!" cried Jess.

"So, Matt," said Connor, "did Emily make you one?"

"No. She made me something special. I'd share it with you, but she's very insecure."

"Is this gift appropriate for mixed company?" asked Becker with a smirk.

"Yes, Becker it is. She made a CD, actually."

"Oh, that's right," said Abby. "She asked me for help with the recording . After I informed her what what a CD was."

They all smiled.

"I only heard a little of her piano playing," said Abby. "She was really self-conscious, you're right. She was really good, though."

Matt nodded. "She is, and she also sings."

"Ooh, I want to hear," said Jess.

"Sorry, I can't play it without her permission."

"Of course not," said Jess. She grinned. "I will go and get permission."

Matt chuckled as the petite young woman searched for Emily.

"I don't think she'll get it," said Matt.

"I don't know," said Becker with a laugh, "she's pretty persuasive."

"Know this from experience?" asked Connor.

"Shut it Temple."

A few minutes later, Jess came back, dragging Emily behind her. Lester tagged along behind.

"Em says we can play it, but only amongst us seven, and we must be polite and respectful," said Jess, eying Becker.

Becker put his hands up in surrender, and smiled cheekily at her. "I promise, I promise," he said with a laugh.

They all went into the lounge. Matt played the CD, and Emily stood off by herself, smiling uneasily. Matt saw her discomfort and stood next to her, kissing her forehead.

The piano played classical pieces. Emily began to sing. She was clear, soft, and frankly, angelic. She sang old obscure songs they had never heard. Then Emily sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Silent Night.

Jess began to cry during Silent Night. "I'm sorry. It's so lovely, Emily and I'm... I'm..."

"Jealous," said Becker, smirking.

Jess hit him playfully, but said, "Yes, I am, actually. Very jealous."

"It's very beautiful," said Abby.

Emily smiled, and sighed in relief.

"As a woman of means," she said, "I'm afraid I was expected to spend my days in such productive matters as embroidery, sketching, and music. That was the height of a woman's expected achievements."

They all looked at her rather sadly.

"Maybe so," said Becker, "but the talent is yours, Emily. Just because society thought you had no other worth, that doesn't detract from your talent."

Jess looked at Becker with adoration.

"Thank you, Captain," said Emily simply. Becker nodded.

"Thank you for sharing this with us," said Jess. The others echoed her thanks.

Emily smiled with appreciation.

Matt took her hand. "You can listen, but the CD is mine."

They chuckled.

"I know I'm going to sound like a stuffy old, moth-covered bureaucrat, but I rather miss the refinement of past ages, not that I believe any portion of society should be told what they can or can't do," said Lester. He closed his eyes, listening to Emily sing. "Heavenly," he said.

Emily sneaked up to him, and kissed his cheek, startling him. He blushed, but nodded. Emily smiled.

"Is it just me, or are we kind of deep tonight?" said Connor, "First action man gets philosophical, and then Lester."

"You are correct," said Emily. When the song ended, she turned off the CD, to the disappointment of the others. Emily smiled. "I wish to dance, and get...merry."

Matt laughed. "OK, let's rejoin the party," he said, taking her hand and leaving the lounge.

Everyone followed them out, all except Lester, who turned the CD back on, with Emily's permission.

"Ah," sighed the ARC leader stretching out on the lounge's couch and closing his eyes, "heavenly."

The End

Author's Note: I don't write Emily and Matt very well, sorry. It think the carols I selected were around in Emily's time. If not, please suspend your disbelief. Thank you.