A Christmas Gift - Part 2

Words: 2558

Summary: Felix Tobias Kiramman is extremely excited about the upcoming Snowdown and he can barely contain his excitement, much to his mothers' concern.

A/N: Originally this story was published YEARS after the previous part, and that only because I drew inspiration from a John Lewis advertisement titled "Gifts You Can't Wait to Give" which we examined during one of my translation courses in college.

Piltover was engulfed in a soft fog, snow cascading gently from the white sky, the very first heavy snowfall of that year. Already the tops of buildings had acquired a thick duvet of snow while ice stalactites hung from the edges. Vision was reduced significantly and traffic in the streets became a headache, but for those who didn't have to travel, they enjoyed the view thoroughly. It was really hard to focus on the task at hand when outside looked like the page of a children's book, especially for the young Piltovans.

Felix Kiramman gazed outside the window, despite his better efforts to pay attention to his math teacher who was explaining problems on the board. To his defense, he wasn't the only one. Many of his fellow classmates were hypnotized by the view outside, wishing they were outside making snowmen and not stuck in a boring math class. A nudge on his sides broke the daydream only temporarily. Erica gave him a strict glare, but Felix simply shrugged and resumed his oh so important task of looking outside the window. So much snow! It only meant one thing - Snowdown was close!

"Mr. Kiramman, could you provide an answer to this?"

The voice of the teacher finally dragged him back to reality, albeit violently. Felix looked up at the board, trying to make sense of the numbers and symbols and trying to figure out what exactly he was supposed to answer. His prolonged silence made the teacher chuckle whimsically.

"Honestly," he shook his head. Felix's ears were tainted pink, embarrassed at being caught red-handed. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped," he added without any further comments. He was the only teacher who remembered that he, too, once had been a child.

"I'm sorry, professor," Felix mumbled. He glanced one last time outside the window before he resumed his attention back to the lesson with a sigh. He could not afford being so distracted this early in December. Snowdown was close, yes, but there was still a long way to go. Plus, he still wasn't ready yet. Being the son of the Sheriff of Piltover wasn't exactly a walk in the park - especially when they lived in the same house. But he was confident that, with a little bit of luck, he could pull it off. Or at least he hoped so.

At last, the bell rang, signaling the end of the period and the end of the day. The students quickly packed their stuff, grabbed their coats and rushed outside of the classroom, eager to see the snow up close. Their math teacher didn't even have the heart to tell them to be proper. They were still children, after all. And this school wasn't what it used to be only a few years ago, a place where the richest children would be trained into proper etiquette in order to prepare them for the lives ahead of them as members of the most prestigious clans of Piltover. The school's elitist days were over. Now it was a real school that offered opportunities to everybody - at least that's what the administration liked to claim. It certainly wasn't the same as before. Baby steps, as Felix's mother often said.

"Is your dad still picking us up?" Felix asked the Talis-Medarda twins, his "cousins" and best friends.

"Yes," Melissa chirped. "Mum might be home early, too."

"Don't get your hopes up," Erica grunted. "Snow has never affected the work of the council, has it?"

"Neither the Warden's" Felix thought. His mothers worked long hours, which was why he spent most of his afternoons at the Medarda estate, sometimes with his uncle and aunt, sometimes just with his cousins. They would study and have dinner together and if they had time, they would also play. However, his mums would never pick him up later than eight o'clock and they spent the entire time until his bedtime together. He guessed that his mums felt slightly guilty for not seeing him enough, but Felix wouldn't really complain. Besides, weekends were exclusively family time - unless an emergency occurred, which again Felix understood. He was really proud of his mothers and he would hate to be the reason their jobs were hindered. They had indeed a very important task. Yes, there were times he wished they spent more time together, but they were always there during his most important moments - whether it was a performance with the school's theater club, a small concert among the school or an athletic event, they were always there and that was enough to know that they loved him and cared for him.

Sometimes though he really did wish his mother wasn't borderline workaholic - but that might work in his favor this time.

The students exited the school in high numbers, like little ants leaving their home in search of food. A couple of them headed to the school bus while the rest were picked up by a relative. Uncle Jayce waited near the entrance of the school, parked in his expensive car. Some children looked at the car in awe while others were whispering among themselves about its owner. Erica hopped in first followed by her sister and Felix came last. It was a little crowded trying to fit the three of them on the back seats with their backpacks - since they weren't allowed on the front seats yet - but they managed to strap themselves in.

"Hey guys, how was school?" Jayce asked, giving them a quick glance over his shoulders before he fixed his gaze on the road.

"Same old. How was work, dad?" Melissa asked.

"Busy."

Uncle Jayce was always busy. In that regard, he wasn't much different from Felix's mother. Thank the Sun for the other mum to keep them both in line. But uncle Jayce was a genius, it made sense he worked hard. The automobile they were currently driving in was the result of his own thorough research after all. Sometimes he would also help Felix's mother at work. Only sometimes. Caitlyn didn't like him messing around with the Warden's too much. He was a scientist, not an Enforcer.

The traffic was as bad as anyone would expect at this hour, with everybody leaving home from work and picking their children up from school. Jayce tapped his fingers on the wheel, his patience slowly running thin.

"Dad, is mum going to be home today?" Erica asked.

At that, Jayce's shoulders relaxed a bit. "If we keep this up, she might just get there before we do." He attempted to joke, perhaps more to relieve himself and less to the children.

At long last, they were out of the main arteries and off they headed to the Medarda Manor, on the higher levels of Piltover where most of the city's prestigious families and politically important families resided. This part of the city always made Felix uncomfortable. At this age he couldn't exactly give it a name, but he knew it was because of his other mother's more humble origins. Even in his family's house he felt like something was off. As if all this luxury wasn't supposed to be hoarded into one place. On the other hand, he was also aware that it was thanks to this luxury that he lived as comfortably as he did. That left him in a precarious position, torn between two realities to which he was connected by blood. It was very comforting to know that his mothers - and his uncle and aunt for the most part - worked to change all that.

In the distance they spotted the golden gates of the manor. When the car approached, they opened, seemingly by their own accord. Jayce drove the car inside and the gates closed behind them. He dropped them by the main entrance where Jarvis, the butler, waited for their arrival. He offered to carry their school bags but the children refused. They were more than capable of carrying their own stuff, thank you very much! Jarvis then led them in, informing that dinner would be served soon and they had better clean themselves before then.

After getting all freshened up, the children entered the dining room where a long table was already laid. The table was too big even for the five of them and they usually just gathered on one side, on the opposite side of the doors. The children took their seats, talking about their day at school and about their upcoming holidays. Then, the doors swung open and Mel and Jayce walked in, laughing among themselves about something unbestowed to the children. Mel walked over them and offered kisses on their heads, starting with her daughters who were her spitting image and moving next to her nephew. She took her seat at the top of the table and Jayce took his seat to her right, opposite the children. Dinner was served right away.

After dessert, the girls headed out with their dad, each holding one of his hands, talking to him excitedly and they had Jayce's full attention. This was Felix's cue.

"Aunt Mel?"

Mel hummed. "Yes, Felix?"

"Can I ask you for a favor?" he asked.

"Of course, honey. What is it?"

Felix ran from his seat next to her and whispered in her ear. He was tall for his age, he didn't even need to get on his toes to reach her. Mel listened to him attentively the whole time.

"That's a wonderful idea, Felix," Mel praised. "Of course I will help you."

"Great!" Felix exclaimed in relief. "But you have to promise you won't tell uncle Jayce! I don't trust him not to rat me out to mummy!"

"My lips are sealed," Mel promised.

"Thanks, auntie. You're the best!" Felix thanked her before he ran after the girls before uncle Jayce suspected anything.

They had just finished with their homework when Jarvis walked into the twin's room to announce that Felix's mothers were there to pick him up. The children bid their farewells and soon Felix was accompanied by Jarvis to his mother's car.

"Thank you, Jarvis. See you tomorrow!" he exclaimed before he hopped inside the vehicle.

"Good night, young Mister Kiramman." Jarvis waved as the car accelerated.

"Hey man, how was school?" Vi asked as Caitlyn steered the wheel to leave the private road that led to the Medarda estate.

"Boring," he confessed. Caitlyn scoffed. Vi snickered. "Math and science seems way more exciting when you are explaining them to me, momma."

"What can I say, I have a natural charisma." Vi flashed a grin. "What?" she asked, challenging her wife whose face Felix couldn't really see.

"Nothing," Caitlyn replied, although her voice was filled with mischief. Felix rolled his eyes. "I saw that, young man."

Felix giggled.

About twenty minutes later, they were finally at home, an apartment on a lower level than where the Medarda estate was located, but with extra security. Only very few people knew of its existence and understandably so. His mothers had too many enemies. But it was cozy and safe and it was all it needed to feel like home. The first thing Felix did when he got home was to kick his shoes to the side and run to where they had the calendar up the wall. It showed December 3rd. The calendar was decorated with trees, snowmen and little angels.

22 days until Snowdown.

"Hey Felix?" Felix blinked. Vi was looking at him strangely. "You okay there, buddy? Your show is about to start."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," he said, glancing one last time at the calendar before rushing to the couch to watch his favorite spy show which they watched religiously altogether every night. Tonight though Felix found his mind straying away. He couldn't wait for Snowdown to come!

He made it a habit to spend a long time in front of the calendar, staring at the numbers silently. His mothers didn't really question this behavior. They just assumed he was really excited about the upcoming holidays. However, as the days passed and Felix spent more time in front of the calendar, they slowly started getting concerned.

"What's the matter with him?" Caitlyn wondered anxiously. "He's never been like that before."

"I have no idea," Vi confessed. "Should we talk to him?"

"Let's see how it goes. He might cease to do that when schools close for the holidays."

He didn't. In fact, with schools closed he had ample time to spend staring anxiously at the calendar for as long as he desired. The peak of this concerning behavior came on Christmas Eve. They had dinner altogether as usual, but Felix was entirely distracted, too busy staring at the clock they had hanging on the wall. And as soon as he finished eating, he bolted to his bedroom and disappeared.

"I'm going to talk to him," Caitlyn declared. Vi nodded, although even if she had disagreed nothing would have changed her wife's decision. After they finished the plates, Caitlyn stormed off.

Caitlyn walked into her son's room with the air of a determined woman. The lights were switched off and the boy disappeared under his blanket. When she saw him, she hesitated slightly. "Felix?" she called out, worried. She received no answer. How could he possibly fall asleep so quickly? It was way earlier than his normal bedtime and it was also Snowdown Eve. They would normally just watch some kind of thematic movie together before heading to sleep. No matter the reason, he seemed unwilling to talk. She retreated with a sigh.

Vi was waiting anxiously on the couch for her return. "So?" she asked.

"He was asleep. Or so it would seem. I felt bad about disturbing him," Caitlyn confessed as she plopped herself next to her wife. "I really hope it's nothing serious."

"Yeah, let's just hope it's just the Snowdown adrenaline that's getting to him," Vi mused, pulling a frowning Caitlyn close.

"I sure hope that's the case…"

The next morning, Felix woke up way earlier than what he was used to. He shut his alarm off quickly and jumped out of his bed. His mothers were notoriously morning people and although it was the holidays, it wouldn't be long before they woke up. But it was finally Snowdown! He wanted to jump in excitement, yet he restrained himself. Instead, he rushed to his wardrobe and pulled out a big box wrapped in fancy red wrapping paper from the back. He picked it up and left his room. He didn't head to the living room where undoubtedly his own presents were waiting under the tree, but instead he went right to Caitlyn's and Vi's room.

He was right to be so quick. Even now, they had already started steering in their sleep, drifting between the world of dreams and reality, entangled in each other's arms. Felix climbed onto the edge of the bed, almost intentionally jumping, a grin plastered on his face. Soon they woke up groggily, Caitlyn's hair a nest. They both looked equally confused at having their son at their feet this early in the morning.

"Happy Snowdown!" Felix exclaimed, handing the gift towards them.

Caitlyn and Vi shared a relieved look before they started laughing and pulling in their son to shower him with kisses.

It was a happy Snowdown indeed.