CH37
It is now one month later: (December)
Kate and Rick step back home, finding a smiling Lucile waiting for them. "That went well." Lucile comments. While Rick and Kate were eating dinner, Kuan and Lucile had been working together to overcome a series 6 AI unit to get the plans for transmat wall jammers.
Together they have already come up with a plan and are running simulations on how that plan would go. In fact they are already making adjustments even as Lucile greeted them at the door. At that very moment Lucile is taking her turn running simulations while Kuan is starting design on a fighter so the Chinese can begin construction.
Except for purchasing the LIDAR system, the Chinese fighter is going to be a home designed and home built ship. The triplets have the contacts to get construction started. What they need to work on is developing a base to house them and the flight wing(s) that will follow.
This means that since the Crystal clan have the Douglas clan and their Naval base out in Seattle to fly from, that put them years out in front.
Kate places the leftovers in the refrigerator for later. "I gotta admit, Kuku knows how to cook Chinese food." Kate says. She's looking forward to eating the leftovers tomorrow.
"Found your new take out place?" Rick teases.
"Maybe?" Kate answers back. The triplets have not been as closed off to them as they feared, however Kate doesn't think they are anywhere near that close yet.
Today Rick, Kate, Abby, Levi and James are picking up Christmas presents and taking them to their house in Montana. Granted Kate is only carrying Abby, however she is dressed up for the holiday season.
They have already spent the last week decorating inside and out for Christmas. New York and Seattle don't have any snow yet, however their home in Montana did, so it looked, smelled and felt like Christmas.
Kate and Abby stay behind while the guys go back to get more Christmas presents. The tree they have set up here is going to be packed this year. Kate is sitting in the living room looking out through the wall of windows taking in the view when Guinness and Maggie go nuts. The dogs soon come back with Caesar and Zoe hot on their heels.
"Merry Christmas mom." Jenn called out as she enters with L right behind her. Both of them are loaded down with Christmas presents. Kate watches the gifts as they are placed or dropped by accident onto the floor near the tree. "How is our new sister?" L asks. She approaches Kate who is nursing Abby. The baby is firmly attached to her nipple, while Alex and Allie get herded around by the dogs.
Kate smiles "Hungry and perfect, just like you two. … Where are the guys?" Kate's question is answered when Tom and Don show up loaded with their own arms full of Christmas presents, only to be followed by Rick and her sons. "Never mind." Kate chuckles.
"Mom and dad should be here momentarily." Tom comments as he places his pile near the tree. "We have one more trip to make." Tom adds.
"I don't think our house is large enough for many more." Kate comments.
That got Tom and Don to chuckle. "Mom and dad are going to need to make two trips too, though in our case we need to go back and get the suit cases and heavy coats." Tom clarifies.
Tom and Don are gone when Natalie along with Crystal in her arms and Jim with an armful of Christmas packages shows up. Natalie stops near Kate and watches as her husband adds to the huge pile of presents. "It's gorgeous; you two really know how to decorate." Natalie is ready to cry. Most of her Christmases never looked like this. Even after having her own family with Jim and her sons, finding the Crystal family has been a big change. Not that they didn't celebrate, it's just that they didn't take it to the extreme that this family did.
"Thanks, it's taken Rick and I close to a week to decorate. … After mom died, dad and I didn't even celebrate Christmas at all. It wasn't until I met Rick that Christmas came back to me. This is all his doing, I just go along for the ride." Kate tries to brush it off.
"Oh no girlfriend, you didn't spend a week doing this just to please your husband. He may have drawn you in, but he's got you enjoying it as much as he does for you to do all this." Natalie waves her arm as she slowly spins around taking it all in. "My god it even smells like Christmas in here."
"It's the candles and the live tree that does it mom." L had sneaked up behind Natalie so she could look at Crystal and stroke her cheek.
Natalie turned to find Jenn right behind her sister. "And you two grew up in all this."
Jenn and L started nodding their heads. "Mom and dad know how to make this time of year feel magical. You might as well get used to it, since the chances of them stopping for our brothers and new sister are nil. They will suck you and this little one in right along with them." L points out.
"Speaking of being sucked in, where are Alexis and Amanda?" Natalie asks and has her question answered when the dogs go nuts at the front door. "Guinness, Maggie!" The sound of Alexis' voice rings out.
Alexis and Amanda drop their presents off as close to the tree as they can only to be followed by Jim dropping off his next load. Tom and Don arrive with their luggage and see Jim leave again for his, Natalie's and the baby's luggage.
The girls all end up in a large group hug with Alexis and Amanda standing around Natalie to coo over Crystal since they see her less than they do Abby. "You ready for a Crystal/Douglas Christmas?" Natalie asks looking at Amanda, since this would be her first.
Amanda looks at Natalie. "Very! … I just wish mom and dad could have seen this, they would have gone nuts over all this." Amanda is reminded that her parents were gone now mostly during big holidays like this.
"Trust me sweetie, they are here. They aren't missing anything except being able to interact with you. Hopefully one day you'll find out or believe for yourself because something happens that will let you know they never really left you." Natalie doesn't know how or when that will happen, just that it will.
"You might as well believe, Amanda. Mom is a Marine and she never loses, … trust me." L hugs Amanda again and heads off looking for her father, getting Natalie to grin at Amanda.
L finds Rick in the kitchen starting on Christmas dinner. "What are we having dad and do you need help?"
Pork Roast with sausage, fruit and nut stuffing.
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup walnut halves
1 cup brandy
12 dried apricots
12 pitted prunes
1 teaspoon finely grated clementine zest
1 pound butifarra or sweet Italian sausage, meat removed from the casings
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Two 6-rib pork loin roasts (8 1/2 pounds total)
1 1/2 teaspoons minced thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons minced rosemary
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
Asiago and Sage Scalloped Potatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
2 imported bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
1 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese (about 3 ounces), preferably aged
1 cup plain dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons finely shredded fresh sage leaves
2 1/2 pounds medium Idaho potatoes, peeled and sliced lengthwise 1/8 inch thick
Spinach Bread Pudding with Lemon and Feta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing the dish
8 ounces whole wheat bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
5 ounces baby spinach, finely chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
6 large eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon chopped oregano
Green Bean-and-Blood Orange Salad
Salt
2 pounds thin green beans
6 large blood oranges
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Apple Cider Sauce
3 pounds sweet potatoes, scrubbed
Salt
2 cups apple cider
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 large egg yolks, beaten
Freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
4 sage leaves, coarsely chopped
Broccoli Matchsticks and Kale Salad
1 pound kale, stems and inner ribs removed and leaves thinly sliced
3 broccoli stems, peeled and julienned (1 cup)
Salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, white and tender green parts only, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup hazelnuts
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup coarsely shredded fresh Pecorino Romano or Manchego cheese
Flash-Roasted Broccoli with Spicy Crumbs
2 ounces sliced pepperoni
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds broccoli, trimmed and cut into long spears
Salt
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Baked Polenta with Mushrooms
4 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups coarse or medium cornmeal
3 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon dried sage
7 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 pounds mushrooms, sliced thin
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
6 ounces fontina, grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
Monte Cristo Strata
Softened butter
One 1 1/4-pound loaf bakery white bread—crusts removed, bread sliced (about 18 slices)
1/4 cup grainy mustard
1 pound thinly sliced Virginia ham
2 tablespoons chopped tarragon, plus more for garnish
3/4 pound Gruyère cheese, coarsely shredded (3 cups)
3 cups milk
4 large eggs
Freshly ground black pepper
Smoked Salmon Toasts with Mustard Butter as an appetizer
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon grainy mustard
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons chopped dill
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 baguette, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 pound thinly sliced smoked salmon
Double-Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (1/2 cup)
1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
8 ounces chocolate wafer cookies (from a 9-ounce package), finely ground (2 cups)
Peanut Butter Filling
8 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 cup)
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup well-chilled heavy cream
3/4 cup salted roasted peanuts, chopped
Kosher salt
Chocolate Topping
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup heavy cream
"MY GOD DAD!? … I'll go get mom and Jenn." L leaves, comes up behind her sister, and wraps her arms around her from behind so she can't escape. "You better come help us in the kitchen mom. Dad has gone nuts." L announces.
"On a scale of 1 to 10?" Jenn turns her head to look at her sister.
"8 easy maybe a 9." L was smiling. "It all sounds delicious, but dad has gone nuts. And yes one of the recipes requires real nuts."
"Why am I not surprised?" Kate chuckles. "I'll take Abby mom, you go help them with dad and his grand plan." Alexis offers and takes Abby out of Kate's arms since Abby is done feeding.
Kate gets up. "Let's go find out how much trouble we are in this time girls." Kate knows Rick is a good cook, it's just that sometimes his ideas exceed his ability to accomplish it all.
"You might as well come too, you can have a glass of wine while pouring each of us one. If my daughter is right, the three of us are going to need one. And you can pull out beers for your sons." Kate offers while guiding Natalie towards the kitchen.
"Can we go play mom?" The boys know nothing about cooking, and this place has snow.
"Sure, just be careful and take the dogs with you." Kate tells them, knowing that there were likely coyotes or even wolves near here. "AND DRESS WARM!" Kate yells at their retreating forms.
Kate finds out that her daughter was right. The feast is easily an 8 if not a 9. "You're in over your head this time babe." Kate kisses his head and the girls get to work, starting with the casseroles, since they cooked the longest, leaving the roast to Rick, while Kate starts work on the pie since it needs to go in the refrigerator. They could do the salads last even after they do the appetizer.
Kate isn't really mad at him, just concerned that he hasn't asked for help. His plan is worthy of them needing to feed 12 people, not including the two babies, one of which Natalie still has in her arms as she sits in the kitchen sipping her wine while talking mostly to the girls.
However Natalie no sooner sits down in the kitchen with her glass of wine when Amanda shows up. "Give me Crystal mom, Alexis and I can watch the babies." Amanda reaches in and takes Crystal from a shocked Natalie.
Natalie's mouth is still hanging open while she watches Amanda leave with her daughter. Kate leans in close to Natalie. "Welcome to my world, … MOM!" Kate rubs it in.
It's just that hearing Amanda call her mom was new. Natalie knew Amanda was calling Kate mom and that her daughters call her mom, but Amanda? Natalie takes a big drink of her wine listening to Kate chuckle at her.
Alexis and Amanda each have a baby in their arms as both of them coo and tell them how cute they are while they took peeks at the other. They avert their eyes quickly to look outside at the guys having a snowball fight while the dogs jumped around barking at them. Amanda noticed her looking at her with those eyes.
"Lucile?" Amanda called out softly, hopefully softly enough that Alexis doesn't hear her.
"Yes, Amanda?" Lucile answers using the communication disk behind her ear.
"Can we have children?" Amanda whispers.
"I presume by your question you mean you and Alexis having your own child? Sharing your DNA?" Lucile asks back.
"Yes." Amanda confirms, not yet ready to talk with Alexis about it or who gets pregnant.
"Earth still does not yet have the medical knowledge necessary for two women to create their own child. It took them roughly 640 tries to accomplish this with rats 6o years ago. They have gotten better at it, however they are not anywhere near ready for human testing." Lucile is forced to inform her, and could hear Amanda sigh.
"However the facilities on the Evergreen are more advanced. The two of you will need to stay there for a couple of days to undergo testing to see if you are compatible. It isn't as simple as combining your DNA to create a baby. However for them it is possible, hence the need for the testing.
Since you two are off the 1st and 2nd of the new year, I'm presently applying for an appointment with the medical facility for you two to undergo testing." Lucile informs Amanda.
Amanda didn't mean to react, however, her head shot up. "But we haven't talked yet." Lucile is jumping the gun.
It did get Alexis' attention though. "Who hasn't talked and about what?" Alexis looks at Amanda.
Amanda looks at Alexis like a deer caught in headlights. She is soooo dead. However Alexis just pushed the question using her eyes along with a nod of her head.
"Promise you won't be mad? …You can tell Alexis, Lucile." Amanda calls out and watches every move Alexis makes while Lucile is talking to her.
Amanda watches as Alexis' eyes grow wide as she keeps her eyes on Amanda. "You want us to have a baby?" Alexis looked right at Amanda.
"I was just thinking about it. I wanted to know if it was even possible." Amanda tries to slow Alexis down from freaking out on her.
"So you don't want to have a baby with me?" Alexis sounds defeated.
"NO!, …I mean I do, I just wanted to find out if it was possible before we talked about it." Amanda amends, afraid that all Alexis has heard is the word no.
"And yet you made an appointment for us on the Evergreen to create a baby." Alexis is conflicted, just what did Amanda want? "Do you or don't you?" Alexis asks point blank.
"I, … I, ..." Amanda looks down at Crystal in her arms. "Is it too soon?" Amanda asks. "And it's just a test to see if we can, one of us isn't going to end up pregnant immediately." Amanda points out trying to diffuse the fight that looked like they were headed for.
"Just a test?" Alexis comments, watching Amanda nod her head. "Just a test." Amanda assures Alexis.
"You can keep the appointment Lucile." Alexis calls out looking at Amanda who looks like the weight of the world just came off her shoulders.
Alexis however was thinking about how they were going to explain this to their family?