They were all caught up in the moment even Jim was shedding a tear. It was beautiful. Jackson came down full of Christmas Cheer.
"Ho Ho Ho" he bellowed "It is not time to go shopping?" Jackson asked.
"Dad…Why is he saying Ho Ho Ho?" Card was perplexed people where she was from just didn't do that.
Rick looked down at his foster daughter and spoke.
"What you really never heard of Ho Ho Ho or the Jolly Elf or St. Nicholas or Santa Claus? Why my dear you have been missing the spirit of the holidays." Rick said. "We need to remedy that situation now."
Rick dug into his DVD and came up with the animated version Of Santa Claus is coming to town, Elf and his favorite National Lampoon Christmas Vacation.
Well we will begin your education with this one. Rick said handing her the first DVD so she could read it.
"Dad, don't forget the supplies!" Alexis warned.
"Oh Yeah there are rules for Movie nights well technically it is day but it still applies." Rick said.
"Number one is Dim the drapes Rick" Kate said while texting Alexis to alert her what was going on.
"Right you are Kate and what is number 2?" Rick said.
"Always get snacks and drinks before it starts." Alexis said.
"Right you are Alexis" Rick said pointing at her with his thumbs up.
"Can you guess what is number 3 Card?" Rick asked.
"No Dad I have no idea and what are you doing?" Caroline asked.
"Well have you not seen a movie?" Rick asked.
"No I've saw a video once on my laptop but it stopped." Caroline said.
"Well it is like a video but it is longer and it tells a story with pictures and words." Rick said.
"I prefer books that way I do not have to depend on another person's vision of events and settings." Caroline said.
"Yes books are superior I suppose but this sometimes is better. Just watch and tell me afterward whether you enjoyed it or not. Because Rule number 3 is have fun!" Rick said.
Alexis came back with popcorn and Rick's stash of candy followed by Martha carrying the drinks. Once everyone was settled Rick turned on the movie. Then he had to stop it.
"Rick what is wrong?" Kate asked exasperated with her Husband.
"So sorry I needed to make it subtitles so that Alexis could read along." Rick said. "I'm so sorry for the delay."
Rick again pressed play and now the movie with subtitles began.
Card was amazed at the different colors and shapes more than the dialog which was clunky at best but the moving pictures fascinated her.
She used to sketch when alone. But this idea of moving sketches was enough to blow her mind. Unfortunately the movie was over but she did not pay any attention to the dialog, So subsequencely she still had no clue why Jackson said Ho Ho Ho.
Rick was a bit bemused but seeing it from her point of view of Sketching it made perfect sense. Rick thought a change of venue would be in order.
"People I feel Christmas is not getting through to Card. It is a too abstract so she has to experience it herself. But she has voiced an interest in sketching so to aid her I have decided to place the history of Pixar shorts instead of Elf. We can watch Elf another time so here is the History of Pixar shorts." Rick said.
Rick pressed Play and the familiar bounce lens light came into view. Caroline was mesmerized observing the underlining Mathematics at work. She saw not a whole picture but individual vectors. It was quite complex mathematics she was scribbling on her phone. Alexis was watching her work then she compiled the math then on her screen was a copy of what she had observed.
"That is pretty good Card. You created your own rendering engine." Alexis said.
"Rending?" She texted.
"Oh right it is the complex mathematics used to allow an image to form on the screen. Usually it is only found on High end graphic program. Where did you learn to program?" Alexis asked.
"Program?" She sent.
"Program is a set of instructions to allow a computer to do something useful." Alexis said.
"Recipe?" She sent after thinking for awhile.
"Yeah it is exactly like a recipe." Alexis said.
"Oh" she texted.
"Let's watch the rest of the shorts." Alexis said.
"Ok" she sent.
Rick and Kate observed the interplay between Alexis and Card.
"They seem to be getting along well" Kate whispered.
"Yeah but she has a different view on movies. I may never watch a Pixar movie again without seeing complex math equations. Kate I hate math!" Rick said.
Kate just rolled her eyes at her husband.
\\\\\
The Movies were over and it was time to take Card for her first Christmas excursion.
Jackson had called Sophie and she was waiting downstairs for the group to arrive. Sophie decided to change her appearance and went with a blonde wig and hat with sunglasses. She looked very sophisticated. Then to finish off the look she obtained two small dogs.
She spotted the group Alexis was easy to spot since she was older and much taller than Caroline. Jackson looked dapper in his London Fog coat. Martha was stylish too with her faux fur coat. It was false Ermine. The white fur was perfect with her somewhat pink face. Then there was Caroline wearing Burberry Coat full length it almost swallowed her small lithe body. They got into the Limo idling at the curb. Sophie handed off the dogs to the dog walker and caught a cab. There was no way they would shake her.
Their first stop was Macy's Caroline was amazed at the window displays. The item which got her attention was the model train. She watched that for a few minutes. Then Alexis stood next to her.
"You know Dad has that exact train set and if you want he will ask you to help set it up." Alexis said.
"Really…?" She sent.
"Honestly" Alexis said. "Let's go inside the rest of them are already in there."
Alexis led Caroline inside the store which had displays even more magical. Soon they were on the floor to see Santa. Caroline read the blub on the sign for the line to see the jolly old elf.
"So do you want to sit on Santa's lap?" Alexis asked.
"Nah I think I will watch for awhile" Caroline said at that moment a small boy looking really scare let out a wail.
"Well Santa is not for everyone." Alexis said. "Come on let's look at the toy section."
Alexis dragged Card to the 3rd floor. When the elevator opens a massive crowd exited. Still holding on to Caroline's hand she stopped in front of a Monkey Bunky display.
Caroline was amazed to see the same item Alexis gave her.
"Impressive?" Alexis said.
Caroline nodded her head. Alexis noticed Sophie a few aisles over keeping a watch over the two red heads.
"Come on we need to find Grams and Gramps." Alexis said dragging Card away from the display.
Caroline dutifully followed behind her big sister. In this crowd she did not want to lose her.
"You think this toy dept is big wait until FAO Schwartz" Alexis said.
Linking up with Jackson and Martha they left Macy's for a Matinee performance of the Nut Cracker. Everyone was settled in and then the performance began. Caroline had little trouble understanding the music. However she was confused by the title.
"What is a Nut Cracker?" she sent.
Alexis smirked when she read this text from her little sister
Instead of talking and disrupt the audience Alexis texted back.
"I will have to show you." She sent.
Alexis spied Jackson and Martha cuddling and smooching when they thought no one was looking. They were acting like a couple of love sick teenagers. Good for them Alexis thought.
The play was over. They all gathered on the sidewalk.
"So Card pretty good?" Jackson said.
"Yes Jackson it was but I still do not understand what is a nut cracker?" Card said.
Alexis smirked. She could imagine what was going through her grand parent's heads.
\\\\\
Back at the loft Rick had enlisted Javi and Ryan to assist him in bringing in up all the boxes of Christmas ornaments.
"Gee Castle is Fifteen boxes a bit too much?" Ryan complained.
"Yeah this is my 8th trip Bro. I hope you have the Ferrari all wax and washed." Javi said.
"Guys Guys have you not heard of the Christmas spirit and the gift of giving?" Rick said wrapping his arms over both of their shoulders.
"Sure Castle but right now all this is doing is giving me a back ache!" Ryan complained straightening up.
"So Bro how is Bracken's child er Grand Child adjusting?" Javi asked.
"Guys she is so sheltered she did not even know what to do for her breakfast. Her life was so regimented too. She never had anyone to play with. Her Mother never talked to her if she got to see her at all. She had no one to hug or cry on. She was guarded at all times. She had never seen a movie. It just breaks my heart and the worst of all she was not allow to read any of her grand father's books. I knew Bracken was evil but denying your granddaughter anything? It was inhumane." Rick said.
"Gee Castle that sounds you have your work cut out for you and the Lt." Javi said.
"Yeah but don't you worry she will have two Cool uncles to help her out!" Ryan said.
"Ok Guys thanks for the support but whatever you do. Don't watch a CGI story with her. She breaks it down into math equations. All I see now is those silly complex math equations." Rick said with a shudder.
"Ok keep away from realistic cartoons anything else?" Ryan asked.
"She does not know anything fun. She is out with Mother and Jackson along with Sophie and Alexis." Rick said leaning against the boxes.
"Sophie is along?" Javi asked.
"Apparently Bracken's enemies lost much in the melt down at Xe Corp and Card had inherited everything. It was sad to read of her grandmother committing suicide. I have not even had the guts to tell her she is all alone." Rick said. "Sophie has been assigned to watch out for her safety along with Jackson."
"Well from what you have said. She really had no connection to them. They were keeping her a prisoner. There was no love either. I shudder to think all those people wanted were money and they did anything to get it. So I vote don't tell her." Ryan said.
"Nah Numbskull You has to tell her Bro. You have to base your relationship on trust. Not telling her would violate that. Think now she is vulnerable. She needs to know she can trust you." Javi said.
"Yeah you are right Javi I will tell her after she gets back." Rick said. "Now we have had our rest let's get back to the boxes."
Both Javi and Ryan groaned.