Alaya confidently knocks on Fiona's door on time with the chime of the foyer clock striking six-thirty.
Fiona softly calls from the inside, "Please enter."
Alaya walks in to find Fiona partly dressed in half-buttoned blouse, un-clasped pleated skirt and cloche hat. Fiona's shaking hands are holding up her skirt and clamping her blouse shut.
"I need help. My hands are not cooperating with the buttons and zipper. Please?"
Alaya grins underneath her veil, "I thought you would never ask. Although ..."
Fiona face reddened and her eyes fill with tears.
Alaya steps back, "I ... I miss our playfulness in our letters."
"I know ... please. Please help me get decent?"
Alaya shuts the door behind her and steps towards Fiona. She finds the clasp, zipper up the skirt and buttons Fiona's blouse from top to bottom.
"Let me try it now." Fiona, triumphantly tucks the blouse only to have her hand tremors ruins her hard work. Alaya calmly watched each failed attempt. Ultimately, after five attempts Fiona lets out a soft sigh. "Alaya, please help me."
"You are better riding a bicycle than dressing yourself," Alaya tenderly tucks in Fiona's blouse and forces herself to concentrate on laying the lapels flat. Alaya fails to notice two quivering hands removing her veil.
Alaya freezes.
Fiona, "I am sorry for my words; honestly I am. I do not hate you." Offering a smile, "My mother is right, you are beautiful. Your brown eyes are perfect."
"Thank you. You, I ... we miss your hair. Make no mistake Fiona there has never been a bald woman as beautiful as you."
Fiona laughs, "Is that so?"
Alaya reopens the bedroom door and comes back to Fiona's side offering her arm to Fiona. Fiona accepts. Alaya leans in and whispers, "Mother Jenny prepared a special dinner for Christmas Eve. You are going to feed yourself." Fiona returned a troubled face, "No it has not been turned into liquid form. You will only need a straw to drink your water."
Alaya slowly walks with Fiona to the foyer following Louisa's rules and guiding Fiona down without unessential physical contact. The first few steps were uncertain and Fiona grabbed Alaya to steady herself. It was a challenge. Alaya has restrained herself from carrying Fiona down.
In the foyer, Vastra and Jenny notice that their Alaya is without a veil.
Vastra asks, "May I take this contraption off my head?"
"Yes, please."
Vastra takes the veil off and studies Fiona's eyes, "Thank you, better."
"You have a beautiful family. Are you the lone Silurian from my stories?"
"Yes I do have a lovely family. I have not been the lone Silurian for many years." Vastra cups Jenny's face and kisses her lips softly.
Fiona looks down at dinner table, "Dinner for five?"
Jenny responds, "Yes, one more family member is coming."
The foyer clock strikes seven and a gentle knock is at the door. Alaya is by Fiona's side offering a helping hand. Alaya opens the front door and it is a police officer with a carpet-bag and multiple packages.
"May I come in? I have a matter to discuss with Madame Vastra."
Fiona steps back and almost trips, Alaya is there to catch her and stand Fiona upright. Alaya grabs the officer's bag and boxes and places them in the foyer.
Jenny comes from behind, "Good evening Officer Henry, come in and follow through to the dining room. You are in time for dinner."
As Alaya closes the front door Officer Henry grabs a bracelet and transforms into April Saint Clair. Fiona runs over, trips forward and clings to her mother. April holds her daughter tight and kisses her on her cheek and forehead before taking a good look at her. "My sweet Fiona, I am so glad to see you up. You look fantastic and I like the hat."
Fiona slowly walks her mother into the dining room. April brings with her two square boxes tied together. "When can I come home?"
"I am sorry by dear Fiona, but until we know more, it is best that you remain here with the Flint Family. We have brought over most of your things. " Fiona starts to tear, "My dear daughter you know I would never deny you anything."
Fiona stood stubbornly and willful to be in her own room. "Please ..."
April cups her daughter's face with her free hand, looks directly into her eyes and firmly states, "We have been through so much together. I want you by my side ... but this is the solution. I do not worry when you are here, please try to understand. If not, please accept this is only temporary. I am sorry."
Fiona nods frustrated. April and Fiona just look into each other's eyes. Fiona notices that her mother isn't looking at her the same way, there is something else. Fiona offers a muted smiles and hugs her mother tight.
Jenny boldly breaks the awkwardness, "What are in the boxes?"
April boasts, "Dessert."
Fiona, "Wonderful! What did you bring?"
April, "Cheesecake and chocolate mousse. But you," turning to Fiona, "will not have a single piece if you do not eat your dinner."
Fiona, "That is three incentives to eat. One, dinner smells delicious. Two, I adore cheesecake. Three, I am a little hungry."
Jenny nods to the compliment.
Fiona examining her food, "Do you always cut everyone's meal?"
Jenny, "No, but we did it for you." Without looking at anything particular adds, "This will also force the old Silurian to eat more like a human."
Vastra looking directly at Jenny, "What is wrong with the way I eat?"
Jenny now focusing on pouring herself a bit of wine, "Nothing, nothing at all."
Vastra waits until the wine bottle is past. She pulls Jenny close and kisses her on her cheek.
"Living here you will have to Ignore them." Alaya said to Fiona and then directed her comments to her parents, "We have a guest. Mind your passions."
Vastra and Jenny pull apart, "Guest? Seriously Guest? She is a family. We will kiss, hug and do as we please in our home. If you don't like it, stay in your room." Vastra gets one more kiss in this time directly on Jenny's lips.
Fiona, "It is perfectly alright."
Fiona looking at Alaya, "Thank you for buttoning up my clothes and zipping my skirt."
Alaya's mouth is frozen open as she was about to feed herself.
April wants to say something, but she is used to Fiona's teases.
Jenny looks to Vastra with her eyebrows raised.
Fiona jokes, "I might need assistance undressing ..." and quickly holds off finishing the sentence as Fiona blushes and tears up at her bravery.
Alaya smiles as she takes a bite of her already cut meat and looks to back and forth between her Mothers with Pride. The mothers smile and enjoy their daughters moment of happiness.
April tells herself that this is a good sign; if they can find light in the darkest time together. She wonders how Ian would be with her new friends but gently reminds herself that he would be full of inappropriate questions, personal questions. April could not help but smile.
The dinner topic of discussion begins with the dry weather but soon it weaves into comfortable, casual conversation and then politics, society and even news events. Vastra, Jenny and April are intellectually equal and their life experiences add much spice to their views on current world events. But, April has an upper hand with already knowing most historic event. She never boasts but instead plays devil advocate. Vastra and Jenny enjoy the challenge of siphoning out the truth.
Alaya and Fiona are in their own world. Alaya understands what Louisa meant, she feels Fiona nearby.
Fiona is enjoying being close to Alaya. In contrast Fiona also sees something new in her mother, friendship. She knows her mother is intelligent, but there is a special bond being created between April from the future, Vastra from the past and Jenny from the present. It is wonderful.
Fiona takes Alaya's hand under the table.
Now Alaya is smiling and trying to chew at the same time.
Vastra feels Jenny tap on her thigh and turns to Jenny. Jenny nods towards Alaya. April also takes the cue and looks at her Fiona. They are smiling and eating.
Fiona and Alaya notices it has gotten quiet and the parents are looking at them. The daughters blush and look down at their plates.
April, "It is good to see you both smiling." She turns back to Vastra and Jenny, "What were we discussing? Ah, the middle east ..."
Fiona does her best as her shaking hands plunge her fork into the food and brings it to her mouth. Sometimes she misses and the plate makes an unnerving scraping sound, which Fiona whispers an apology each time.
Jenny, "Fiona ... We are grateful you are in our lives. Please stop saying apologizing. I don't want every other word out of my mouth 'apology accepted'."
"Yes ma'am". Fiona offers a simple smile and then quickly adds, "I am grateful you did not serve peas tonight."
Everyone expels a hearty laugh. It is a good laugh, a well-needed laugh.
After supper, Alaya and Fiona clear the dishes and clean the kitchen.
The mothers work their way into the drawing-room. April takes her things and places wrapped gifts under the tree. She then takes out items from her carpet-bag a lighted device, tools. And cords.
Jenny checks on the fire and adds more logs.
Vastra gathers books, "April we have a vast library collection, you are welcome to indulge when it pleases you."
Fiona and Alaya enter the drawing-room. Alaya is carrying a tray of tea and desserts April made.
Alaya, "I hear that April has a surprise for us. We are to get comfortable."
Vastra returns to the books to the shelves and takes a seat.
Fiona closing curtains and then sits in an Edwardian Sofa and makes sure there is room for Alaya. Alaya sits as closely as possible to Fiona without being too close. Fiona grabs a blanket and curls up leaning on the arms for support. Across the room Vastra and Jenny cuddled up together.
Currently, all eyes are on April.
April removes items out of her carpet-bag and tinkering with wires and clips two wires to the gramophone needle. She pushing a few buttons and turns to everyone, "This is a classic in any time or any London." She pushes a button and moves to a comfortable chair nearest to the fireplace.
Words come out of the gramophone.
"From A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Chapter One. Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that ..."
Everyone sits back and listens.
"... May that be truly said of us and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Everyone! End of Chapter five. End of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens."
April went to her makeshift device and puts everything gently back into the carpet-bag.
Vastra, "That was wonderful."
April looking over to a sleeping Fiona leading against a smiling Alaya. "We listen to this every year."
Jenny, "Thank you for sharing."
April, "It is the least I can do."
Alaya, "I find it quite incredible. That contraption? Can you tell us more."
April, "These are a few of my things I was carrying when transported to your 'our London'. This is called an iPod and its only purpose is to store music. I have been very cautious. I believe in the Prime Directive - No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet. No references to space or the fact that there are other worlds or civilizations."
Vastra, "I have never heard of the Prime Directive."
April, "It is a popular culture reference, not an actual rule set by any real government."
Vastra, "Interesting."
The foyer clock strikes midnight.
Jenny pops up, "Happy Christmas!"
Vastra, "Yes, dear Happy Christmas!"
April responds as she clasps her carpet-bag, "Happy Christmas to you and everyone you love."
Alaya lightly shakes the sleeping head on her shoulder. Fiona wakes. Alaya, "It is late. Allow me to escort you back to your room."
Fiona nods her head, "How did you enjoy my mother's surprise?"
Jenny, "It was delightful."
Vastra and Alaya nod in agreement. Alaya folds the blanket and assists in Fiona standing. Alaya then offers Fiona her arm and both descend the stairs. Fiona turns her head around, "Good night everyone".
April starts clearing dishes and takes them into the kitchen. Jenny offers to help, but it falls on deaf ears.
Vastra and Jenny bid April a goodnight.
April, "Goodnight to you both. I will wash the dishes giving the girls a bit of liberty and privacy."
Alaya comes down the stairs and hands April abound envelope, "This is an exciting document."
April uncoils the latch and pulls out a stitched bound journal, "Homo-Reptilia and Homo-Sapien Reproduction a Case Study 1892 - 1907".
Vastra speaks directly to April, "If you have any questions, just ask. Goodnight".
April reads the title again, back to Jenny, again to Vastra and back to a smiling Alaya. "Oh, I see,"
April smiles to herself, "An interesting read indeed. Merry Christmas to me."
Alaya meets Fiona back on the second-floor landing and extends her arm again. Fiona accepts.
"Do you require assistance in getting into a sleeping gown?"
"Yes, please. I can slip the gown over my head. As for getting undressed, I will need help." Fiona stands as Alaya unbutton the blouse and unzips the skirt and retreats to the hall.
Alaya waits until she hears her name being called inside Fiona's room. She opens the door the skirt is a circular pile on the floor and the blouse is half off, stuck on Fiona. "Let me help, you a gimpy girl."
Fiona, "Hey! Don't tease."
Alaya, "I am trying to make you smile."
Fiona blushes and tear begin to fill her eyes.
Alaya untangled Fiona's blouse picks up the skirt and gently removes her hat which all get laid out on the chair. She pauses as she gets a nightgown from the drawer, looking at the drawer for no particular reason. "You are paramount to me Fiona. I will learn to have patience."
Fiona looking down as the floor, "I know."
Alaya takes a deep breath and looks to the ceiling as she puts the nightgown over Fiona's head.
Fiona lets gravity take over and the dressing gown is covering her body. "The gown is on."
Fiona's gown is quite shear.
Alaya blushes as she goes over to Fiona's bed holding up a corner for Fiona.
Fiona gets into bed and lays down.
Alaya puts her covers over Fiona's body.
Fiona, "Good night, get me up when you get up. Please? Also, Happy Christmas!?
Alaya, "I will. Thank you for eating tonight. Happy Christmas to you too."
Alaya goes down one flight into her room and sleeps peacefully for the first time in over two weeks.