The seventeenth day and a few weeks before Christmas the new couple returned home, change into their workout clothing and make the coffee before the Mothers are up.
An hour later Jenny and Vastra enter the kitchen.
Jenny and Vastra hug her daughters tight, "Welcome home."
Fiona hands over their traditional morning beverages, "Good morning Jenny. Good Morning Vastra."
Mother Jenny tenderly offers, "Fiona, you may call us mother."
Fiona blushes, "Yes, I will try."
Jenny and Vastra both turn to go into the basement as the newly-weds are directly behind.
Alaya responding to Vastra's inquisitive look, "We need to keep fit."
Jenny teases, "Didn't get enough exercise the past few weeks?"
Fiona blushes, "We did a couple rambles in our holiday. It was beautiful."
The sessions have always had a bit of sexual tension in the air, Vastra didn't mind when it comes from Jenny, but from her daughters is a bit daunting. It quickly goes away in hand to hand combat when Alaya attacks which immediately puts Fiona's backside on the basement floor.
Fiona extends her arm to her wife for assistance getting up off the floor, "You are not letting up? Are working hard to knock your wife down?"
"Of course, in fact I will be working you harder. You are my wife and my family has expectations."
Fiona standing shocked, "I see. So before?"
"Our goal was your ability to protect yourself, now you are protecting us." Alaya smiles cunningly, "Unless ... You are a wee lass needing protection."
"Seriously you going to verbally provoke me or train me?"
Alaya smiles, steps back and Vastra explains the attack position Fiona fell victim.
After the Fiona's session which includes her cricket exercises, Vastra and Alaya have hand to hand combat training, which Fiona sits on the steps to watch. Alaya quickly land on her buttocks with Fiona teasing, "Carpe natibus!".
Alaya with frustration holds out her hand as Vastra pulls her upright.
Fiona teases, "You are my wife and my family has expectations, unless ye ur a wee lass?"
Alaya doesn't fall to the basement floor the rest of the session.
Alaya and Fiona transform second floor into a home with the first larger room now a shared office with two desks, shelves, typewriter and a Murphy bed for April. The smaller second bedroom is now the master bedroom. The second floor landing converted into a small sitting area.
Fiona asks Mother Jenny if she may help in Christmas Decorating. Jenny gleefully said yes, finally another human who appreciates the holidays.
Vastra comes out her office in the midst of the two decorating the handrails singing carols. She rolls her eyes, smiles and quickly retreats back into her office leaving the door cracked.
Mother Jenny and Fiona laugh continue to sing jingle bells a little louder.
Jenny and Fiona finish decorating the house with less than stellar voices. They sang so much they need to heal their throats with tea. Now they focus on the Christmas tree.
Jenny sit back threading the popcorn and Fiona is creating a paper train from various colours of sugar paper. They are nearly finished when Alaya comes home from Christmas shopping and notices all the decorations. "How did Mother Vastra respond?" as she kisses Fiona.
Vastra walking down the stairs, "Mother Vastra is pleased the decorations came with a concert. Your mother and your wife have worn out their voices. The nature inside is always annoyed me, but I can overlook every year if the entertainment continues."
Jenny nods and smiles at Vastra.
Fiona looks inside Alaya's bags, "What did you buy?"
"You will find out soon enough." as she takes the wrapped presents out of the shopping bags and places them under the bare Christmas tree with the other presents.
Jenny treads the last popcorn, "Done. Vastra please help in placing these around the tree." Vastra smiles and knows that even though pine needles will be everywhere it is fruitless to argue and helps to decorate the tree.
Fiona hands Alaya the long paper train and weaving in and out between Jenny and Vastra.
Christmas season has officially begun at 13 Paternoster Row.