Author's Note: A couple of lines in this part were borrowed from the Season Three episode Samuel Rising.
Part 18
"Hey, check it out," Kyle said, pointing at the activity up ahead.
The Stevens kids were outside, working together to hollow out an area of the snow-filled ditch that ran alongside the driveway. The boys were using the excess snow to create a wall of sorts while Maggie was busy checking out their work and creating a large smiley face in the 'wall'.
As the group neared the boys moved away and Michael overheard Eddie tell her she was the princess of the fort and she should stay inside. The little girl nodded enthusiastically and scrambled into the snow fort without any further encouragement and the boys grinned as they high-fived each other.
Brian turned his head and grinned at them, waiting until they were close before he spoke. "Hey."
Michael nodded. "How's it goin'?"
Maggie popped up to announce, "We got a snow day!"
"Cool." He looked around at the white landscape and silently cursed the cold that was making his feet numb. He wiggled his toes around as he turned back to the kids. "Isn't it about time for breakfast?"
"Um, Mom an' Dad weren't up yet." Brian shrugged uncomfortably as he dusted excess snow from the snowball he was forming in his gloved hands. "No way I'm gonna go knock on that door."
"Brian, duck!" Eddie hollered.
He turned and opened his mouth, barely getting out "What're you – " before a snowball hit him square in the chest. His surprised gaze dropped to his little sister and he hefted the snowball in his hand before pulling his arm back and firing back at her, missing her when she ducked down in the fort again.
"Hey, this looks like fun," Kyle enthused as he and Isabel joined them.
Brian glanced at him. "You can be on our side."
Kyle winked at Isabel. "Guys against the girls?"
"Yeah, you guys can be on our side," Eddie said as he came up beside his brother. He nodded at Isabel and made a face. "You gotta be on Maggie's side since you're a girl."
Isabel narrowed her eyes when Kyle turned and opened his mouth. "One word, Kyle," she warned.
"Michael's on our side," Brian insisted.
"Uh-uh." Maggie ran up to Michael and wrapped her small gloved hand around his right hand as she smiled up at him. "You can come see the castle." She wrinkled her nose and lowered her voice to a stage whisper. "They said it's a fort, but it's really a castle." She turned and motioned for Maria and Isabel to follow them. "C'mon, all the princesses get to stay in the castle."
Michael ducked down at the entrance to the fort/castle and glanced around. "This's kinda cool." More like freezing, he thought. "So you're gonna hang out in here 'cause you're the princess?"
"Uh-huh."
"Who protects the princess?"
"Um…"
"Every princess needs her Captain of the Guard to protect her."
Maggie thought about that for a moment. "What's that mean?" She turned to look at the girls when Maria snorted.
"It means we're strong princesses and he has to listen to our commands," Isabel said.
Maria shook her head. "Strong, yes. In need of protection, no."
Michael ignored them as he dropped to his haunches, bringing him to eye level with the little girl. "What is your command, Princess Maggie?"
She pursed her lips as she glanced around and after a moment she pointed at a nearby tree. "You can guard from there."
Standing guard at the tree didn't keep him from coming under attack as the Stevens boys and Kyle launched their assault on the fort. Kyle took great delight in sneaking around to score a direct hit on Isabel. Michael shook his head at the girls' attempt to fight back. Maggie couldn't get much distance on her snowballs, Maria really did throw like a girl, and Isabel was spending so much time making each snowball perfectly round before firing that she wasn't getting many shots off. It was only a matter of time before the fort fell into enemy hands. The boys were getting bolder as they advanced on the fort and they were getting more hits than the girls were.
He ducked behind the tree just in time to miss a hit and as he came around the other side he saw Maggie take a direct hit in the face with a snowball that had been thrown hard. She fell back to land on her backside in the snow and he could see several emotions race across her expressive features in just a matter of seconds. As the shock wore off he saw her lower lip tremble for just a couple of seconds and he hurried over to help her up. Her blue eyes were swimming in tear that she was trying to hold back.
"What happened?" Isabel asked when she noticed Michael pulling Maggie behind the wall.
"The princess just intercepted enemy fire intended for Maria."
"What?" Maria crouched down next to the little girl. "Are you alright?"
Maggie sniffled and rubbed her gloved hand across her eyes, wincing slightly when it brushed over the spot where the snowball had impacted with her cheek. "I'm okay. My captain saved me."
Maria bit back a smile as she looked up at Michael. "Abandon your post?"
"Mission protocol states clearly that defending the fort and the princess takes precedence over standing a post. Why don't you two see about holdin' 'em off while Princess Maggie restocks the ammo an' I decide which target to take out first."
For the next few minutes Maria and Isabel did their best to defend the fort while Maggie made snowball after snowball, handing them to Michael and watching him as he packed them good and tight before flinging them at the boys.
Kyle turned his head when he caught movement from the corner of his eye and he nodded at Max and Liz. "Better pick a side," he warned.
"I think we'll sit this one out," Max said, eyeing the others warily when they all paused to look at him and Liz, armed with snowballs and just waiting to fire.
"No way, Evans." Kyle shook his head and tossed the snowball from one hand to the other.
"Yeah, pick a side or else we all target you," Brian yelled.
Liz glanced back and forth between the two sides. It really wasn't much of a choice, she thought with a glance at Michael. She saw him say something to Maggie and she scooped up a snowball that he packed, his eyes moving between her and Max. "Good luck!" she yelled and ran for the fort.
Max' mouth dropped open at her sudden defection and he leaned over to scoop up a handful of snow.
"Look at that," Kyle mused. "Looks like it's me an' you again, Evans."
"Shouldn't you be with your wife?" Max asked.
Kyle grinned and jumped back with Isabel hit Max with pinpoint accuracy. Before he could get a laugh out he took a hit between the shoulder blades and went into the snow face-first.
Liz and Maria both started making snowballs and handing them off to Isabel since it quickly became apparent that she and Michael were both adding a little extra force when aiming at Max and Kyle.
Michael stood up, hands braced on the wall as he glanced over at the opposing side. Max and Kyle were lying on their backs after another round of fire and Brian and Eddie had taken cover behind a makeshift wall of snow. "Surrender or end up like your comrades!" he yelled.
"Yeah!" Maggie added as she clambered up on one of the walls, holding onto Michael's shoulder as she pointed at the boys. "It's time to give up!"
Maria glanced at Michael, wincing when she noticed just how red his bare hands were. She saw him flex his fingers slowly as he leaned forward to rest his weight on his elbows.
"Whatcha think, Princess Maggie?" he asked as he looked up at her. "Have they had enough?"
The little girl turned her head to look at the others, smiling in satisfaction when they all stayed where they were. She looked at him once more and nodded. "I think so."
Michael picked her up and settled her on his shoulders. "Time for breakfast then."
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Once inside their outer gear came off and Maggie took Michael's hand to lead him over to the table, pulling out the chair he had used the night before. "I'll make yours," she insisted, making sure he sat down before she scurried across the room to pick up Miss Cindy. She carried the bear over to Michael and rested her chin on its head as she looked up at him. "Can Cindy sit with you? She'll be lonely all by herself."
No. The answer was no. Michael cleared his throat and nodded silently, reminding himself to give Max and Kyle both a good swift kick as soon as the little girl wasn't looking.
Maggie smiled up at him before placing the beloved toy in his lap and hurrying over to the pantry. The boys reached over and around her as they gathered boxes of cereal, the milk from the refrigerator, bowls and spoons, glasses and juice. They unloaded everything on the table so everyone could dig in, ignoring their little sister while she chattered on about Michael's abilities as the Captain. They had first-hand knowledge of his abilities. There was no need to relive their defeat through her retelling of the story.
Maria watched Michael with Maggie, smiling at the little polar bear held snugly under one of his big reddened hands. He had relaxed since being outside playing with the kids. She thought back to last Christmas, remembering watching the way he dealt with the kids while he played Santa. Liz had pointed out the obvious when she had spoken up from beside her.
"He's really good with kids."
"Yeah, he's so adorable. Oh! This is exactly what was not supposed to happen."
She chewed on her lip at the memory. Uselessly she found herself wishing she could go back, change the way she had handled certain things and stop herself from saying other things. She reached over and took one of his hands, warming it between both of hers.
Eddie elbowed his older brother when their parents walked into the kitchen and both boys made identical faces of disgust at the obvious affection between Edward and Julia. Maggie ran to Edward, already launching into the morning's activities and Michael's heroics when he picked her up in his arms.
"We made a fort and Brian an' Eddie made me the princess of the fort an' it was gonna be attacked, Daddy!" She was completely oblivious to the hard look he shot at the boys who were suddenly very interested in the cereal in their bowls.
Edward reached up to brush his fingers over the tiny red spot high on her cheek, a mark leftover from the snowball. He tipped his head back to study it, trying to determine if it was going to bruise as he made a sound of agreement to whatever she had just said.
"That snowball was intended for me," Michael said.
"I see." Edward nodded to the things strewn out over the counter. "Whatcha doin' over here?"
"Oh! Makin' a special breakfast for Captain Michael."
"Captain… uh-huh." He put her down and watched her run over to finish making breakfast.
Maggie pushed the button down on the toaster and hummed to herself while she went to get the jam from the refrigerator. She filled a bowl with Cocoa Puffs and added milk just as the toast popped up. She spread a thick layer of jam over the toast and then carried it over to the table, the bowl held high and her steps slow to avoid spilling anything.
Maria held tighter to his hand when he started to pull it away. "Your hands are freezing, Michael," she said, shaking her head at him.
"Don't worry 'bout 'em, they're fine," he insisted. He gave in and let her hold onto his hand as he looked over the food Maggie was putting on the table for him. "Looks good."
Maggie beamed proudly as she watched him munching on his Cocoa Puffs while Miss Cindy sat in his lap, held carefully between his body and the edge of the table. She tipped her head back to look up at Mama when she came up behind her.
Julia took a look at Michael's hands, seeing the early warning signs of the first stage of frostbite. "Maggie, would you get me a bowl from the bottom cabinet while Michael's eating his breakfast?"
The little girl followed Mama's gaze to Michael's reddened hands and she reached out to touch the one still wrapped around Miss Cindy. "Oh," she said, dragging the word out for several seconds, "his hands got too cold like the time when Daddy tried to fix your broken car, huh?"
"Yes, honey."
Michael shook his head. "Nah, they're fine."
"They're not alright, Michael," Maria disagreed. "You need to get them warm."
"After I finish my breakfast of the champions." He turned his attention back to Maggie and with a smile asked, "May I have seconds on the Cocoa Puffs, Princess?"
Maggie gave him a big smile as she nodded. "Of course, Capt'n Michael."
Maria wanted to roll her eyes at 'his worship' but how could she when he was enjoying the attention he was getting from Maggie and Miss Cindy? He was almost smiling… nearly showing his teeth. She missed this side of him so much. "Michael, as soon as you're done…"
He turned to look at Maria, his gaze dropping to their hands for just a moment before his eyes lifted to hers once more. "Ya know, I was thinkin' I could really go for a hot cup of coffee and later on… maybe a foot rub," he added with a wink. He frowned when she released his hand and got up, but before long she was returning with a cup of hot coffee.
"Don't put your hands on that cup," Julia said just as his hands were moving towards the heated ceramic. "You'll damage the tissue where you're frostbitten."
Maria snatched the coffee out of his reach, earning a glare from him.
Julia ran warm water into the bowl Maggie had gotten for her, constantly dipping her fingers into it to check the temperature. "Maria, would you mind grabbing some hand towels from the hall closet?"
Michael's gaze followed the coffee cup when Maria slid it further down the table and Kyle took it before reaching for the sugar bowl at the center of the table. He shifted to look up when Julia appeared at his right elbow, leaning forward to place a bowl of water in front of him. Maggie appeared at his other side to slide his bowl of Cocoa Puffs on the table.
"Maggie, go see if Daddy wants some toast with his cereal."
Michael watched the little girl as she rounded the table, smiling slightly when Edward picked her up and settled her on his lap. That list of people to envy was getting longer, he thought.
"Mama," Maggie giggled as she laughed at something Daddy whispered in her ear. "Daddy says you promised him cookies for breakfast."
"I did, really?" Julia fought back a smile. "Is Daddy sure?"
The boys groaned as they finished their cereal. "Mom, can we be excused?" they asked at the same time.
She gave them a look.
"May we?" they chorused.
"Go on." Julia eased Michael's right hand into the water. "Let it soak for just a few minutes." She patted his shoulder and moved to the refrigerator, reaching for the cookie tin on top. She opened it and a look of confusion crossed her face as she stared at the contents… that weren't there. "Where'd the cookies go?"
"I dunno." Edward looked at her with knowing eyes. "Must've been a hungry thief in the middle of the night."
Kyle watched the others around the table as he finished his bowl of Rice Krispies. To his right he had Max and Liz, caught up in the secret language of lovers. Across from him Michael was being waited on hand and foot by not one, but three females. And his 'wife' was busy reading the nutrition panel on each of the cereal boxes and unconsciously separating the marshmallow shapes in her Lucky Charms and putting the different shapes in their own little section of the bowl.
He finished stirring the sugar into his confiscated coffee, tapping the spoon against it before setting it aside. He shot a triumphant grin at Michael as he prepared to enjoy the spoils of war but before he could pick the cup up for a taste test Isabel reached over and swiped it, taking a sip and smiling at him.
"Oh, honey," she said, drawing the endearment out, "it's perfect. You made it just the way I like it."
She thought she had him. Kyle just grinned at her as he nodded. "Anything for one of your foot rubs, babe," he said with a smirk on his face. Oh, yeah, he'd pay for that one later, but for right now she was just gonna have to suck it up and deal with it.