AN: Christmas morning from Mark's POV. Enjoy!

Mark woke up to the sound of two pairs of footsteps on the stairs, one set much more hurried than the other. He glanced at Quinn, still asleep in his arms, and smiled at his unconscious friend. She didn't have any nightmares that night, and had only muttered incoherently once or twice.

Looking towards the door to the living room he waited to see who was coming down the stairs. Jake appeared first and at the sight of one another they both smiled. "Hey," Jake said in a loud whisper, trying not to wake the sleeping female.

"Hey," Mark replied.

"I dragged Caim down too," Jake said as he sat on the chair near Mark's head. "He's making coffee because he thinks it's too early to get up even for something like Christmas, even though it's seven and he gets up at six every morning. He doesn't really get Christmas, even though I think he wants to. He likes the part about making people happy though." He ended his talk with a smile and Mark laughed quietly. "He's a pretty weird guy," he commented.

"He is, but he's really great; really nice and really cool."

"I've seen that."

Jake nodded, still smiling, and Mark felt like a slight blush creeping up his cheeks as he watched him. "So I'm guessing you like Christmas? All the high energy and sweets and stuff."

Jake laughed and Quinn stirred a bit in Mark's arms. Jake gave a small apologetic smile before speaking again, "I love it. Everyone's so happy and excited and not a lot of people are sad. Even people like Rogue and Caim come out of their shells a bit and hang around with people and everyone's nice, even Wolverine. Well as nice as he can be, although normally he's nicer with some than others. Like he gives Scott a hard time but he's pretty chill with Caim. So yeah, I really like the holidays because everyone's nice."

Mark blinked and stared at his friend, thinking that maybe Kitchie should take up a job as one of the fast talking MCs that they have at auctions.

Both he and Kitchie glanced over as Caim stepped into the room with a tray carrying four mugs of something steaming. He wore a small smile, as genuine as a smile could get, and Mark was glad that his barefoot friend was happy. Caim set the tray down on the coffee table and set a mug in front of Mark and one in front of Kitchie. "Hot chocolate for you two and coffee for Quinn and me," he explained, his voice still as soft and quiet as ever. "I didn't think she was a fan of sweets."

Mark shrugged a shoulder. "I don't think so, so good thinking." He smiled and Caim glanced over, smiling back. Kitchie took his mug and Caim took his own as he settled on the carpet between the chair and the couch. Mark didn't touch his, his arms having been busy making sure that Quinn didn't roll off the couch that they laid on.

"Where were you last night Caim?" Kitchie asked. "I woke up and you weren't in the room, but I don't remember hearing you…" His voice trailed off unusually as Caim looked over at him, but he barely missed a beat as he started back up. "…getting up. Where'd you go?"

"I thought I heard something down here and I found Quinn awake. We talked for a bit," Caim replied simply. "I wasn't gone long, maybe a half hour."

"Oh. Ok. Just checking." Kitchie smiled.

Caim nodded and glanced over at Quinn, who was moving a bit as she slowly woke up. Mark ran a hand through her short white hair and she grumbled quietly. "What?" she mumbled.

"Good morning," Mark replied. "It's Christmas. Kitchie and Caim are here, and Caim brought you coffee."

A smile found its way onto Quinn's face. "Caim… you're a god…"

Caim laughed quietly and Quinn's eyes fluttered open. "Thank you," Caim replied. Quinn yawned and slowly sat up, allowing Mark to move his arms and start to get feeling back into them, not that he was complaining. She looked over her shoulder at him and gave him one of her small true smiles that she saved for him after they had a moment like that. He smiled back at her and ruffled her hair, which caused her to pull away and swat at his hand. "Feisty in the morning now are we 'mare?" he laughed. She muttered under her breath and turned away from him, picking her mug up from the coffee table. She nodded her thanks to Caim who nodded in response.

Mark watched the two of them and then looked up as he caught Kitchie watching them as well. The two of them caught each other's gaze and a smile passed between them.

A tingle ran up Mark's spine and he looked away, his smile growing.