Author's Note: We're going to post on Thursdays and Sundays… see how it works out. Should we decide that it doesn't work we'll let ya know!

Part 6

Maria checked the clock again before wandering over to the window to look out at the driveway, hoping to see Michael walking towards the house. "He should be back by now."

"It's probably just takin' time to – "

"It's taking too long," she insisted, interrupting Kyle when he tried to ease her mind. "It's cold out there."

"You know, you're right about that," Julia said as she stood up. "I think I'll run make some hot chocolate."

"Would it be alright if Kyle took some down to Michael?" Maria asked.

"Of course. I'll get one of Edward's insulated mugs for him."

Maria nodded. "Thank you."

"When did I turn into everyone's gofer?" Kyle asked when they were left alone in the living room.

"You wanted to be with your own kind," Max reminded him as he glanced up from the checkerboard between him and Liz.

"I don't recall that comin' with a gofer sign-up sheet." He shook his head at them. "Kyle, take a walk in the freezing cold to take my boyfriend some hot chocolate. Kyle, take all of our crap and go back to the house to keep an eye on Maria. Kyle, you don't mind sleepin' on the floor… again, do you? Kyle, run in the store and pick up some tampons. Kyle, do this. Kyle do that. Kyle, Kyle, Kyle… I hate my name," he grumbled as he slouched down in the corner of the couch and crossed his arms over his chest.

Maria rolled her eyes at him. "Fine, I'll just take it out to him myself."

"No way, Deluca. He's a helluva lot scarier than you are." He shook his head at her. "I'll walk it out there when it's ready."

"Thanks, Kyle," she said happily and gave him a quick hug before hurrying into the kitchen.

"Way to stand up for your non-gofer status," Liz teased.

He just sighed and shrugged. It wasn't that he minded doing things for them because he didn't. It'd just be nice if once in a while they asked if he'd do things instead of just assuming he would. For better or worse they were his family now. He gave a mental snort at that thought. It was like marrying into the mob, only they were aliens and they weren't involved in organized crime. Yeah, they needed to come up with a support group for 'his kind'. Hi, my name is Kyle Valenti and I'm part of the alien conspiracy.

Isabel's gaze strayed to the empty Christmas tree stand sitting below the picture window that faced the lake that appeared to be frozen. She wondered why they didn't already have a tree up and decorated as close as it was to Christmas. She was pulled out of her thoughts when Maria came back into the room and asked if anyone wanted a hot chocolate.

Max nodded as he looked up from the game. "I'll take one."

"Don't look at me, El Presidente," Kyle said as he shook his head. "This gofer's on strike."

Maria propped her hands on her hips as she looked at Max. "If you want one come in the kitchen and get it." She smiled at Kyle. "And you, your strike can begin right after you get back from taking Michael's hot chocolate out to him."

Liz leaned forward and picked up one of her checkers, jumping over a couple of Max' checkers to land on the back of the board. "King me," she crowed as she got to her feet. Her fingers brushed against his shoulder as she moved past him to join Maria in the kitchen.

His mouth snapped closed as he turned to look at the board and he rolled his eyes when he heard Kyle laughing.

"Saw that comin' about three moves back." Kyle tipped his head as he stared at Max' remaining checkers. "You'd think you'd be better at strategy, wouldn't you?"

"How would you like to be a gopher for real, Kyle?"

He mused over that one for a moment before glancing up at Isabel. "Can you guys really do that?"

Isabel kept her expression serious as she turned her head to look at him. "Molecular manipulation," she said with a shrug, losing control of the grin as she walked into the kitchen.

"Do we wanna know what that grin's all about?" Maria asked when Isabel joined them.

"She's messin' with Kyle," Max said with a quiet laugh. He sat down at the table with Liz and glanced at the clock on the wall. Michael had been gone a long time, he thought as he caught Maria leaning into the living room to check the window once again.

"I was noticing the empty tree stand in the living room," Isabel said as she watched Julia making homemade hot chocolate. "Back home it was always a real occasion to bring the Christmas tree home and decorate it with the family." She shot a 'don't you dare' look at her brother, silencing him before he dared to open his mouth and comment.

Julia wondered at the girl's wistful tone and her use of the past tense.

Liz shook her head at her husband when he ran his right hand over his face in an attempt to control his humor. As soon as his sister turned away a playful grin emerged and she couldn't help but smile in response.

"How does your family celebrate the tree tradition?" Isabel asked curiously.

"Well," Julia mused as she finished filling an insulated mug with hot chocolate and securing the lid in place.

"Hey, so, I've been thinking," Kyle said, only to be shushed by Isabel as he stepped into the kitchen.

"Julia's telling us about their Christmas tree tradition."

"Uh-huh," he said slowly, nodding when he saw the gleam in her eyes becoming more noticeable.

Julia's curiosity piqued at the silent communication between them as she handed him the mug and started to explain. "Normally, Santa brings the tree and decorates it on Christmas Eve," she said with a smile. "That's also when he finishes wrapping any presents he hasn't had a chance to wrap yet. We leave lots of cookies and milk for him." She leaned back against Edward when he came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist.

"Santa doesn't mind wrapping presents at the last minute because his eggnog's spiked with Bourbon," he said with a wink.

Isabel smiled at the thought of sitting up all night, decorating the tree and wrapping presents. It would be so wonderful for the children. And so exhausting for the parents. Talk about your time management issues!

"We'll be doing things a little differently this year since Tony Martin isn't here to have 'Santa on the Lake' for the kids. Maggie's having a hard time understanding what's happened, and although the boys won't acknowledge it, they miss him and the event as well. We thought we might take the kids to a Christmas tree farm to choose our own tree and decorate it this year."

"If you'd like some help…"

Kyle hurried to shrug into his coat and grabbed the insulated mug once more. He knew what was coming out of the Christmas Nazi's mouth next and he needed to make his escape before he was drafted into the plans that he could see developing. He ignored the curious looks he was getting and grabbed the doorknob, jerking the door open and running right into Michael.

"Miss me?" Michael asked, shaking his head at Kyle. He looked down at the mug in the other guy's hand and knew he had been sent on a mission per Maria's instructions. "Didn't know you cared so much, Valenti."

"What took the tow truck so long?" Maria asked, her gaze moving over him to make sure he was alright. She took his coat when he shrugged out of it, hanging it over the back of one of the chairs and glancing at the glove sticking out of one of the pockets.

"Guy said the driver they called first was hungover or somethin'." He took a sip from the mug and just barely controlled the grimace as the too-sweet hot chocolate hit his tongue. "He got there about an hour ago."

"Well, what took so long once he finally showed up? There's no way it took an hour to hook the van up. What was he doin'?"

"Sharin' interesting facts about gloves and anything else that came into his head… facts that were in no way interesting," he said with a scowl as he sat down next to Maria. She reached for his free hand and started rubbing it, trying to warm him up.

"Dean must've sent Buckeye out." Edward laughed at the disgruntled look on the younger man's face. "Yeah, that boy could talk the ears off a mule."

Michael slowly turned his head when he felt someone behind him and his eyes narrowed when he found himself nose to nose with Kyle. "What're you doin'?" he growled.

"He said the guy could talk the ears off a mule… just checkin' to see if you've got any left."

Julia pulled Edward aside when the kids started laughing at Kyle's comment and the look on Michael's face in response to it. "Edward…"

He glanced down at the fingers she had wrapped around his shirttail and then up at the soft expression in her eyes. "Julia," he said slowly, already shaking his head. "No. Whatever it is…"

"You know it's unlikely that Dean will be able to completely repair whatever's wrong with their van today. They'll need a place to stay and we can't just send them to a hotel. I can only imagine what it'll cost to fix their van and adding on expenses like hotel and food… they can't possibly afford all that."

"No, I'm sure Dean'll have that thing runnin' in no time," he insisted quietly. "They'll probably be outta here by dinnertime."

"Edward, the cabins are sitting empty right now."

He shook his head. "I'm sure it won't come to that, Julia."

"But if it does…" she persisted.

"If it does we'll discuss it," he said with an acquiescent nod. "In the meantime we've got a storm comin' in and there's work to be done." He turned and pointed to the young men gathered around the kitchen table. "You boys come with me. We're runnin' low on firewood and we'd best stock up before that storm hits."

Michael glanced at the man even as he felt himself tensing up at the words that weren't exactly a suggestion. He felt Maria's hand on his thigh but it did nothing to ease his apprehension at dividing their group in such a manner.

Maria glanced at Edward, easily seeing the assessing look on his features. He was watching all of them, but it was Michael that his gaze strayed back to time after time. Michael was edgy and she knew how threatening it made him appear. "Michael…"

He turned his head to look at her.

She nodded at the window across from them. "The woodshed, I can see it from here." He followed her gaze and after several long moments she could feel just the slightest easing in his tense muscles, a clear indication that he had received her message loud and clear.