Tabitha settled the last mitten in place on Christopher and then grinned.  "He's all set," she said.  "And he's all yours.  If you're smart you'll exhaust him."

"That means exhausting ourselves," Doni protested as she finished bundling up herself.

"Give him to Marc and Stephen and Julian," Dinah suggested.  "It'll do them good.  You can help me stay off my feet."

Doni laughed.  "Marc made sure there was place for you to sit with your feet up.  He was out bright and early setting it up.  You ready?" she asked Dinah.

"Yeah, I know he was.  I tried to stop him too.  But he's like a jihadist on the subject." she said, grabbing the blankets and shaking her head.  "I can't wait until I live like a normal person again."

Doni laughed, scooped up Drianna and followed Christopher, toddling as fast as he could go in his snowsuit towards where Marc, Stephen and Julian were gathered around a bonfire outside.  He finally decided the snow wasn't good for plowing through when you're only two years old and just zapped himself over.

"He's trouble already," Julian said approvingly as he grabbed Christopher and swung him up to sit on his shoulder.

"No idea where he gets it from," Marc commented testing the snow for snowball making.

"Equal parts Lily and Richard," from what I can tell" Stephen said.  "So what did you get Nims for Christmas, Julian?  A new sword?"

"Yup, and a black leather corset.  What'd you get Doni?"

Stephan laughed.  "Sapphire earrings and a bunch of stuff from Victoria's Secret.  I was looking for some nursing bras but apparently they haven't gone into those yet."

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure that's what you were looking at," Marc said wagging his eyebrows which made Christopher laugh. "By the way, we're disappearing until the 30th tonight.  If an emergency comes up let Reno handle it. But don't say anything in front of Dinah. It's a surprise."

"I won't.  We're taking off on the twenty-sixth until then, so Cassidy will just have to cope," Stephen said.  "Speaking of which, Julian have you guys set a date yet?"

"Nope, not yet. Nims is enjoying the getting married more than she thought. Maybe I can drag it out until summer."

"Chickening out?  Or building endurance?" Stephen asked.

"I'm waiting on you and Doni to show me the way.  When are you two getting hitched?"

"Doni decided to wait until June.  She's always wanted a June wedding and she figures she'll be back in shape by then.  After watching what Baz has been going through I told her we were just going over to Clem's office and letting Brother Gerald be the witness while Clem married us.  She got a look in her eyes when I said it that made me fear for my life and wonder why women aren't the ones who fight the wars.  You'd think I suggested the end of life as we know it."

"Hah!  I tried the same thing with Nims. For a minute there I thought it was gonna be an Elvis chapel in Vegas. Thankfully she didn't want to step on Charlotte and London's big night."  Julian turned to regard Marc. "You and Dinah gonna tie the knot?"

"No," Marc said shortly. "not an option."

Stephen laughed.  "There speaks a determined man.  Why not?"

"It's just a piece of paper to me. If I can't buy into the idea, it seems like a lie to sign up for it," Marc replied, shrugging. He threw a snowball that splattered on the doorwall right in front of where Dinah was watching on the deck.

Stephen raised an eyebrow but said nothing.  Christopher clapped his hands and said, "Again, do again!"

"You're gonna grow up to be a criminal too, if you aren't careful," Marc said, poking a snowy glove against Chris' nose.

He grinned at that, batting at the glove.  "Again," he demanded squirming in Julian's arms.  "Me too!"

Marc made a snowball and tossed it at Christopher who squirmed free and then bent down to try his own hand at snowballs. A free-for-all erupted amongst the four of them, making Drianna cry with frustration in Doni's arms.

"You're too little, sweetie," Doni crooned.  "You can barely stand up for more than three steps at a time."  She grinned at Dinah, swathed in blankets on a lounger.  "But we can do something else."  She set Drianna down on the edge of the deck and joined her there while she made a stock of snowballs.  Then she molded Drianna's hand around one and drew her arm back.  When the little girl tried to throw it, Doni zapped it straight to the back of Stephen's exposed neck.

Stephen yelped and whirled around just in time to take another snowball smack in the face.  He wiped the snow away while Doni and Drianna laughed and Dinah zapped one flying that hit Marc on the side of the head.

Christopher was laughing hysterically and reaching for snowballs. Julian took to his heels and Christopher sent snowballs in hot pursuit.  Doni watched him and looked at Drianna.  "How about we make some snow people. sweetie?"  When Drianna clapped her hands Doni wave to Stephen and gave him his orders.  Pretty soon all three men, helped by Christopher and urged on by Drianna were engaged in making snowmen.

Julian revealed hidden talents at this, making a snowman look just like Christopher and then one like Drianna.  "How's that?" he asked, standing back to admire his art.

Christopher chortled.  "More!" he said.  "Do more."

Julian made one like Marc and one like Stephen and then he got a brilliant idea. He closed his eyes and said a spell and bam!  The Christopher one was walking, a bit robotically but walking still.

Christopher's eyes got huge and mouth opened wide and round.  Drianna was so enthralled she started blowing bubbles.  She pointed at the snowman and said to Christopher, "You too!"

Julian shook his head. "Sorry sport. You ain't magical.  How about this instead?"  Julian made the Drianna snowman move too.

Christopher shook his head fiercely.  Me too!" he said and then concentrated on the snowmen of Stephen and Marc.  In a flash there were two more snowmen and then they were moving like the others.

"Now how the devil did you do that," Julian said admiringly.

Chris' face curled up into a concentrated frown and all four snow people began to lurch toward the house.

"How'd he do that?" Marc asked, looking at Stephen.

"And I'm supposed to know that because...?" Stephen  said watching his look alike move around while Christopher and Drianna chortled.  Then Christopher focused again and the ones of him and Drianna multiplied and started moving.

"This is sorta worrying me," Julian muttered. "If that little bundle of trouble magicks up a robe and a pointy hat, I suggest we beat feet."

Christopher clapped his hands and looked at Marc.  Now you!"

"Wait, Chris..." Marc began but then multiple snowmen looking like him were suddenly milling around in the snowy yard.  "This can't be good."

It really wasn't good when the mob of snowmen began heading toward the glassed in patio.

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice," Stephen muttered, looking at Julian.

"Don't look at me; it ain't magic," Julian replied. "It's your bailiwick."

"Oh God," Stephen said as they climbed onto the patio through the open door wall and Doni yelped and grabbed up Drianna.

"Chris," Marc said. "Stop them. Not good. Chris..."

Christopher just giggled and toddled after them.  "Play!"

"Tabitha ain't gonna like it," Julian chortled.  Sure enough she was walking out of the living room and seeing the snow men entering and dripping on her clean floors and carpets and was already frowning. Dinah, Doni and Drianna were huddled in a corner, trying hard not to laugh.

Marc met Stephen's eyes.  "Okay," Marc said aloud. "Surely we can stop the little guy's snowmen."

Stephen nodded and tried to zap them gone.  It didn't work.

Tabitha was dodging the snowmen in the living room as she took a direct path to the patio.  "Get them out! NOW!" she ordered, hands on her hips and the light of battle in her eyes.

"NO!" Christopher said, turning around from watching them melt in the living room.  "Playing!  Like Julan!  Make one like her!" he added looking back at Julian.

"Uhm not a good idea, kiddo.  Tabby's already getting catty."

"Ooo, not good," Stephen whispered as Tabitha started towards them.  "She heard that.  You're on your own here, pal."

"You think this is funny?" Tabitha asked Marc softly.  "Then you can clean up the mess."

Marc was struggling to control his lips. "Well, you have to admit, invasion of the snowmen is pretty funny."

Julian lost it. "Hey, Tabs, it's not pod people."

"And it's my clean floors they're ruining," she retorted.  "And no one gave you leave to be impertinent."  She zapped three mops and held them out.  "Here or I'll use 'em on you."

"Hey, what did I do?" Stephen demanded.

"It'll teach you to choose the company you keep better!  Now get moving or I'll help you!"

"Maybe you better worry about your kitchen," Marc pointed out as the invading snow army seemed headed that way."  He glanced over at Dinah, and rolled his eyes.

"No" Tabitha said in a tone Stephen at least knew well, shoving the mops at them, "You better worry about my kitchen or you'll wish you had."  When they didn't move she took another step towards them and said, "You think I'm playing?  I just cleaned that house and I ain't doing it again. GO!"

Marc shook his head, refusing to take the mop but did hurry off after the snow creatures and Christopher. He scooped Christopher up into his arms and looked the child dead in the eye. "You're going to be confined to your room for a week buster unless you stop them NOW."

Christopher's face crumbled and his lower lip trembled.   Then he scrunched his eyes closed, squeezing out tears and focused.  Instantly the snowmen collapsed into pools of water making Tabitha make a sound that caused Stephen to instantly zap the water away leaving shining floors in their place.

Tabitha met Stephen's eyes.  "You need to do something about that child, or we're all going to be sorry." Then without another word she marched back into the house.

"Good boy, Chris. Good boy," Marc soothed. "But we are gonna have to see to figuring out just what is up with you." Marc hugged the child until his tears dried.

"Sucker," Julian said.

The rest of the houseguests, who'd been off skiing, had arrived in time to see the snowmen collapse.

"Man, I always miss the good stuff," Leroy muttered unhappily.

"Don't worry," Dinah said when she was sure she wouldn't break out laughing.  "You still get to see Marc in green tights."

Jolie giggled.  "You didn't tell me about that."

"Oh yeah," Dinah said enthusiastically.  "The Grinch.  And Stephen's gonna do Santa and Julian will be Mrs. Claus.  We could dress Spence up as one of Santa's little helpers to go with Nicco and Cal as elves if you want."

"Oh yeah!" Jolie said.

"Hey wait!" Spence yelped. "I'm allergic to spandex."

"Oh, don't be such a wuss," Julian said with a frown. "Loosen up, son."

Mabel, seeing the leftovers of chaos, marched toward the kitchen to see if Tabitha needed assistance.  Jeeves, perhaps to avoid being cast as well, followed her.

Betty Jo looked Ian up and down.  "We can't leave Ian out.  It might hurt his feelings."  She thought for a moment.  "Oh I know, she said happily.  "And I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap.  We can put him in a night cap and night shirt."

"I beg your pardon?" Ian muttered. "Remember my dignity."

"Hah, no one around here gets to stand on that old canard," Julian said with a laugh. "Besides, I've seen you naked.  Quite a nice sight, actually."

"Or Scrooge," Doni offered, "If you're shy about showing your knees."

"Ah, now that's a role I could get into," Ian replied with dignity.  "Leroy can play Little John."

"Uhm, of Sherwood?"

"No," Doni explained.  "Cratchet, with the crutch."

"Tiny Tim," Marc explained helpfully.

"You know, you guys are seriously wacky. Every last one of you," Leroy complained.

"Good, that'll work," Dinah said, ignoring him.  "The kids will love it.  Then she looked thoughtfully at Reno, Tommy and Cassidy, just wandering in with Melly, Daisy and Irisa.  "You know, if we're gonna do Scrooge, we need the ghosts of Christmas."

"Good point," Doni said.

"Oh no!" Cassidy said, "I don't do dress up."

"Dress up," Tommy squeaked.

Doni fixed him with a look.  "Yeah and you get to be the Ghost of Christmas Past, Reno can be Future and Cassidy Present 'cause he's so grumpy."

"Geez, am I ever glad I agreed to be the Grinch. Otherwise I'd be toting chains around," Marc chortled.  "Man, Christopher, you better find all this funny. Drianna too."

"Well you better go change," Dinah advised.  "Cause it's gonna be show time soon.  All of you."

"What about Baz?" Stephen asked.

Tsura standing nearby said, "Yes, what about Baz?"

"He can be cupid," Marc called over his shoulder as he headed up to change.  "And how come is it only the guys have to dress funny anyway!"

"Because we thought of it first!" Dinah said.

Everyone who wasn't dressed up was gathered on the glass enclosed patio to be regaled by the angry Grinch who tried to steal Christmas, and the Ghosts who harangued Scrooge, and the poor little Tiny Tim, and cupid who looked quite cute in his suit.  Christopher chortled and Drianna was all wide eyed wonder.  Then as the sunset and the light faded the dragons appeared from their lair, nine of them harnessed together, strung with lights and decked with antlers and bells, Puff with a huge glowing red nose, and Santa driving with his elves helping.  The dragons, coached by Nicco, were singing "Here Comes Santa Claus."

The Grinch and Mrs Grinch sat arm in arm, Mrs Claus, alas, had to wait a bit. Christopher and Drianna looked wide eyed with joy but were fighting back yawns of exhaustion.  Baz and Tsura snuck off to the kitchen, Irisa and Cassidy shared a chair, she in his lap.  Santa passed out a few presents and then Tabitha and Mabel took the children off to bed while Santa passed around the scotch.  "Well," said Stephen, pulling off his beard and taking a large swallow.  "That's over.  We have time to change before dinner?"

"Change?" Doni said.

"Oh the hell with it," Marc said and waved a hand, changing all the guys who were dressed up into normal clothes. "There. That's better. I'm tired of looking at knobby knees."

Julian commented, "Oh, I dunno. I rather enjoyed it.  But I'd better get home to the little woman. Baz, Tsura, see you guys on the 30th. Happy Holidays!"  and the mage winked out.

In the kitchen Baz was backing Tsura against the counter while he distracted her by kissing her.  When he had her positioned properly he said, "Five days left."

"A tiny moment in time," she agreed, wrapping her fingers around the hand that was wandering attempting to find an entry into her clothes.

He eluded her by the expedient of moving them around to her back and then gliding them down to linger over the curves of her bottom.  "Forever," he corrected, kissing her.

"I love you so, Basil Sutcliffe. You're right. Forever."

"I love you too.  So let's just elope tonight.  We can still do the wedding like we planned, we just don't tell anyone," he said, nibbling his way down her neck.

"You, my darling, are the one who wanted a big fancy wedding, so your punishment is you will simply have to wait. I'm very sorry."

"No, really," he said his breath warm in her ear, his hands sliding up her sides to cup her breasts, his thumbs moving unerringly to her nipples, making her gasp.  "We can do both."

She moved like an eel and slipped out of his grasp, perhaps zapping herself out of there. "Ah, no you don't. My father warned me of men like you," she said grinning.

Baz grinned back.  "But he said I could," he replied, stalking her, "He's paying me in horses so I will.  Besides, you said you wanted a man of passion."

"And where are these horses? Do you have them yet?"  She was sidling toward the living room and the safety of the group.

He cut her off and took her in his arms again.  "He's bringing them with him," he murmured and kissed her again, seizing hold of her wits and sending them flying.  When he was satisfied he lifted his head again a little ways.  "He knows I trust him to pay me," he whispered, feathering her mouth with his breath before tracing it with his tongue.  "You're driving me crazy, my love."

"And you are torturing me, my darling. Now, let us go in and join our friends before either of us do something we will regret."

"All the more reason to elope.  You'll pay for all this virtue, you know," he said, letting her go reluctantly.  "I guarantee it."

"I look forward to it," she whispered as she danced away and headed into the living room.

Ian and Betty Jo were dancing which had Marc frowning at them. Although he was relieved Carmine wasn't here tonight.  Leroy, looking rather lonely was sitting off on one side with a drink in his hand staring down at it.  Anja didn't look much happier. Laz brought her a drink and then took her off to dance which made Marc frown even more.  Robyna, who'd been reluctant to come sat next to Leroy.  "You're looking at that drink like you expect it to turn into something."

Leroy looked up and managed a smile. "I'm not really good at holidays. I do envy Chris and Drianna though. How are you doing?"

She shrugged.  "Okay I guess.  Carmine arranged for me to join Ash Jacob but I don't know.  And Dinah said I could stay here if I wanted."  She looked out at the night where the snow had started again.  Then she found a smile.  "How are you?"

"I'm ... I dunno. I don't have a job. I have a sister in Little Rock but we've never been real close. I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna do now that I'm grown up." Leroy gave Robyna an understanding glance. "But I'm a lot better off than you, I'd guess. I asked Carmine about the whole turnsire thing.  I'm real sorry."

She looked at her hands.  "Yeah well, it's over at least.  And I'm still here.  So what would you like to do now that you're a grown up?"

"I don't really know. I'm not good at much. I wasn't a bad cop but well, I've kinda cut that avenue off for myself."

"Why?" Robyna asked.  There's three women here from federal law enforcement that they know really well from what I can tell.  And Little Rock isn't the only police force in the world.  Trevor told me he used to work for Interpol."

"Yeah, but it's like, I dunno, a hand out, you know?"

"Is it?  I mean all you'd get was an interview, not a promise no matter what, right?" she asked.

"Yeah, I suppose," he admitted. "I gotta do something..."

She studied him.  "Or is that you don't want to go back to a police force now that you know what it's like off the reservation?"

"Well, it's more the temptation I think. I don't wanna be a bad cop. But I confess that not having to put up with the rules is ... something I'm not sure I can trust myself with.  Too many good folks suddenly think they're above the law and can be judge and jury. Not a good idea."

"Maybe," she said.  "These guys didn't do too bad."

"True. It's just me I don't trust. You wanna dance?"

"Sure," she said, setting her glass aside and taking his hand.

Daisy pulled a reluctant Tommy out onto the dance floor, but once she got him out there, he did an entirely credible job of it. Marc glanced over at Dinah. "I might be talked into dancing in private but not here," he said defensively.

"I thought I wasn't allowed to dance for the duration?" Dinah said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, good. I forgot," Marc said with a sigh and pulled her in a little closer.

"You forgot?" she asked, snuggling.  "Hard to imagine, jihadist that you are about me being on my feet more than seconds at a time.

"Funny, I don't recall you complaining too much about us warming the sheets a lot."

"Generally I'm either flat on my back or on top of you...though now that I think of it, lately I'm on my side.  But I can't recall the last time we did it standing up," Dinah said.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Once you birth Hell and Spawn we'll repair that little oversight as soon as possible."

She bit his neck.  "You haven't been complaining either," she said.  "I don't recall having to work very hard to convince you."  Then she stretched up and kissed him.  "But if you'd like a break from sex just let me know.  I'll buy a vibrator or something."

"Well, you can buy a vibrator of course.  Geez, I thought I was doing pretty good at keeping up."

She poked him.  "You're doing fine.  And you know it," she said.  "Plus if you stay the course, imagine the shape you'll be in when the kids are born.  I'll never need a vibrator if you give it your all."

Marc grinned and then kissed her tenderly on the lips. "I'll hang in there then."

"You were great with the kids.  Thank you for doing it." she said.

"Tabitha disagrees. But then she hates me.  Chris and Drianna deserve some happiness. They had a pretty tough start in life."

"She doesn't hate you.  She actually cares about you a lot.  If she hated you she'd of hurt you with that mop.  You just like jerking her chain."

"True. My bad boy side. So, you wanna get out of here and let all these sexually deprived types suffer alone?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Spence, his arm wrapped firmly around Jolie was watching Baz working on Tsura. "I wonder if Reno's got a pool on whether or not they last 5 days."

"I already got my bet down," Jolie said.  "My money's on Tsura making him wait."

"Oh yeah," Spence agreed.  "Besides, I'm thinking he'd be real disappointed if she didn't make him wait. He's enjoying the hunt way too much. Speaking of hunts, what's up with Robyna and Leroy. And do you think Tommy's gonna finally get some?"

Jolie looked around and Leroy and Robyna.  "Lonely meeting lost, I'd say."  Then she looked over at where Tommy and Daisy were dancing together, no space to be seen between them.  "We should get a bet down on that for tonight, I"m thinking."

"Ayup," Spence agreed as he pulled Jolie up into his arms and led her out to the dance floor. "But not just yet."

She moved as close as she could get to him.  "I love you," she said.

He met her eyes and said, "I know."  He grunted when she punched him in the stomach.  "Hey, Leia didn't do that to Han Solo."

"I'm not Leia and you're not Han Solo," she said.

"Which is why I love you. I hated the bun ear hairdo."

She bit his ear.  He growled in hers.  She blew in his.

Marc and Dinah waved good night to everyone and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. He zapped them out of there, but not up to their rooms. Instead Dinah found herself standing in the living room at the lodge in Maine. It was decorated and lit up for Christmas. Soft music was playing, the fire was burning brightly and there was a bottle of sparkling water made up to look like champagne.

"Merry Christmas. I thought maybe we could stay here until we have to get back for the wedding. But if you'd rather, we can go back for breakfast," Marc commented as he wrapped Dinah up in his arms.

"Thank you," she whispered.  "This is wonderful.  You get your present on Wednesday.  She kissed him, taking her time with it.  "I love you.  Merry Christmas."

Back at the commune, the crowd was thinning out. Tommy and Daisy, holding hands, winked out. Anja, with a friendly nod at Laz headed off to her room. Jolie and Spence waved night and headed to their rooms too. Doni and Stephen weren't far behind. Eli and Tabitha had retired earlier. Mabel and Jeeves had arranged to be the cleanup crew so they began taking things into the kitchen.  Irisa and Cassidy, and Reno and Melly were long gone as were Betty Jo and Ian.

Baz nearly froze Tsura kissing her so long on the stoop but finally took his departure.

Leroy kissed Robyna.  After an almost imperceptible hesitation she kissed him back.

"It's a lousy night to be alone. You, uhm, wanna spend it with me? I'd like that."

"I would too," she said.  "Thank you."

When the dancing stopped and everyone began saying good bye, Daisy took Tommy's hand and drew him out to the hallway. "I've had such a lovely time, I don't want the night to end," she said, as she smiled up at him.

"Me either," he said getting lost in her eyes like he always did.

"Le'ts walk in the snow. I love it when it's like this. It's so silent you can hear the snowflakes land."

Tommy grinned and curled his hand around hers and led the way out side, oblivious to the fact he wasn't wearing boots, or even a coat.  She had that effect on him.  When they hit the snow he yelped and zapped boots, blushing bright red.  When he recovered his aplomp, or as much aplomb as he ever had with her he looked at her face in the reflected light of the snow and his eyes got lost in hers again, making him forget to walk.  "You're beautiful."

"Nah," she said, blushing bright red. "Doni and Dinah are beautiful. Irisa's gorgeous. I'm just me."

"Yes you are," he said, not a doubt in his mind.

"Uhm, well, thanks Tommy.They walked along, snow falling on them, Daisy sticking her tongue out so flakes could land on it. "We didn't get much snow where I grew up. It's like a fairytale here."

"Really, " he said.  "We got lots," he added, disgust in voice.  "I shoveled it all, too.  But I like it here.  I don't think I"d like living in the city were everybody's strangers."

"Yeah, cities ain't what they're cracked up to be," she agreed. "It is nice knowing most everyone here." She walked along kicking at the snow. "Tommy, don't you like me?"

"Of course I do," Tommy said indignantly.  "I like you like...like...like I dunno what.  Why would you even think I didn't?"

"Well," she drawled and hesitated a moment, "because most guys are, you know, trying to get  a feel, or trying to talk me into bed, and you... well, you've barely kissed me, so I wondered if.. if maybe I was reading you wrong or something."

Tommy flushed scarlet and started kicking snow too.  After a while, when he could talk he said, hesitating over ever word, "I uhm, well, I just didn't want...I haven't ever...you might think I don't...but I just don't know..." he manged before he realized he hadn't finished a single sentence.  "Oh gosh Daisy, I...I like you.  Do I have to act like if I like you?" he finally asked, defensively.

"Oh, gosh, Tommy. You don't have to do anything. I just... I like you a lot. and I thought maybe well, we could go to bed some time and ... and but it seems like you don't want to and well, then I'm not sure what to do, you know?"

Tommy looked like he'd been hit by a truck, flushing even redder than before.  "Of course I want to," he blurted out before he could stop himself.  "Who wouldn't I want to, a beautiful woman like you who's smart and funny and nice."  And then he choked, hearing himself.  He couldn't believe he'd said it.  His eyes were swinging wildly from side to side, but whether it was for a place to hide, an escape route or to see if maybe someone else had said the words wasn't clear, even to himself.

She stepped up close to him and put her gloved hands one on each side of his face, and looked him dead in the eye. "Tommy. It's okay. I didn't mean to pressure you. I'm sorry. It's just that you confuse me."

"Gosh Daisy," he said, his hands coming up without his help to cover hers.  Then before he could say anything else he was kissing her and he had no idea how it happened, and his hands weren't on her face anymore and suddenly there was no space between them either and his head was spinning the way it usually did when he kissed her and he couldn't think of anything but wanting to keep kissing her forever.  So it was a while before his brain kicked into gear again and he realized they'd been standing there for a while and his hands were inside her coat and she was making a noise in ehr throat that made him never want to think again only his brain was making it plain he needed to.  If there was ever a time when he needed to think this was it for sure.

He dragged his lips away from hers and gulped air, the pounding his heart so loud he knew she had to hear it too.  "Daisy I," he said and had to close his eyes to avoid the temptation to just lose himself in the bottomless depths of hers.  "I just, I never have before and...Oh man," he wailed then, hating himself.  "I don't know what to do.  I don't want to disappoint you, I don't want anything to ruin this."  He got it all out in a rush before he opened his eyes again, his whole face pleading for understanding.

She zapped them back to her place and pushed him down into a chair. "We need to talk, and I want hot chocolate to talk over. Stay there."

She dropped her coat and gloves on the floor by the door and kicked off her boots.  She headed into the kitchen, stopping long enough to turn around and say, "Please don't, uhm, don't just leave, okay?  Give me a minute."

He nodded dumbly and took off his coat feeling miserable, trying to figure out what he done wrong to upset her so much.

She returned a few minutes later, and handed him a cup of hot chocolate. She sank to sit cross-legged on the floor in front of him and sipped her hot chocolate.  "I want you to tell me something, Tommy, okay?  I want you to tell me why you haven't ever... you haven't have you?  But I need to know why."

He got a panicked look in his eyes and almost burned his mouth on the hot chocolate.  "Well, I guess," he squeaked out, defensive again, "I uhm never...uhm well this is the first time it ever came up, you know?  I mean you're the first girl I ever dated."

"So it isn't because you're religious?"

"Not like that," he protested.

"Not like what?"

"Like Clem and them.  Religion's got nothing to do with it."

"Oh, because I don't want to like, you know, if you're under some sort of promise or something."

"No!  Nothing like that," he said.  "It's like I said."

"Well, do you want to have sex with me?"

The rush of blood to his head at the thought of it made him dizzy.  All he could do was nod his head and try to breathe.

She finished her hot chocolate and got up. She held out her hand to him. "Come to bed, then."

"N n now?" he stammered.

"Yup, now. Think of it as our shared Christmas present."

Tommy gulped and took her hand.  "You gotta promise me something," he said.  "You gotta promise me you won't ever let Reno know.  Jordon said he's got a pot on when we, when I...you know?  And it ain't right, you being a lady and all."

She grinned.  "I promise I won't say a word." She crossed her heart with her other hand, then pulled him toward the bed. For a wonder, it was made.  "I promise, this won't hurt."

She led and he followed and it was a long time later before he thought to wonder why she'd thought he might be worried it would hurt.  And with her snuggled against him, feeling the length of her warmth all along his, her head pillowed on his chest and his arms around her he was having trouble worrying about anything except how long it was polite to wait until the next time.

"Hey," she said, drawing circles on his chest with a finger. "Whatcha thinking?"

He blushed.  "Uhm well...nothing really, 'cept how nice this is and how great you are and how lucky I am and all."  He had a sudden horrible thought.  "I mean it is nice...right?  I don't want to assume nothing."

She groaned. "Tommy, telling someone how you feel about something isn't 'assuming' anything. I'm laying here worrying about whether you won't respect me now.  A lot of guys don't you know. They want to get a girl into bed and then they lose interest and act like we're, I dunno, tainted or something."

"Respect you?" he asked, stunned that she might think he wouldn't.  "Of course I do!  How could you even think...I...I...I could never not respect you.  This...you...you're the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me.  I can't believe you even wanted to...with me...and that..." And then another horrible thought struck him.  "I mean, gosh Daisy, you doing this for me...I just don't want to you know...read something into it."

"You know, there are times I could just kick you and this is one of them. I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it because I want to. I hope you want to. And I am reading stuff into this. I'm reading into this that we're seeing one another and we like one another. And we both had a great time here and I want to do it again."

"Now?" he asked hopefully.  Then he caught himself.  "Daisy I didn't mean..." He sighed and took the plunge.  "I just meant about you wanting to keep seeing me," he said.  "I'm always tongue tied and I haven't got any experience and I don't know how to make it as good for you as it should be.  I'm always fumbling around about everything, always making it hard for you.  And I don't want to do that."

He shifted in the bed so he could see her face, his own intent and serious.  "I want to make things easier for you.  I don't want you struggling because I'm so hopeless and I don't anything about women or how to behave or what's okay and what's not, and how to give a lady like you what you deserve and not just like this.  You know?"

"You need to do one thing for me, Tommy. I want you to promise me  you'll stop worrying about what you say or what you do. I want you to just be you. If you don't know what to say or do, say so. Just be you, and I'll just be me."

Tommy nodded.  "I'll try," he said.

"Okay, that's all I ask. Well, not quite all I ask. So wanna do it again?"

"Oh yeah!" he said.  "How long are we supposed to wait?"

Daisy laughed uproariously. At Tommy's worried look, she explained, grinning, "Only until the guy can get it up again. I'd say we've got a go on that front."

Tommy looked down and blushed.  Then he grinned.  "I guess so."

"Yeah," she said. "Happy Christmas."

"Oh yeah," he said, just before he kissed her.  "And happy New Year."

They'd spent what time was left of Christmas Eve and most of Christmas morning making love. The cabin in Maine was cozy, the fire tended by Marc mostly mentally, except for the time they'd moved to the rug in front of the fire, when he'd tended the fire with a poke or two and a mental nudge. If they weren't making love, they were lying in each others arms.  But mid-morning, while Dinah was napping, Marc had gotten up to test his culinary skills for breakfast.

The smell of bacon and coffee awakened Dinah and she pulled on a warm robe and slippers and padded into the kitchen to join him.  He kissed her good morning, then poured her a cup of wonderfully scented tea. It smelled of apples and cloves  and he'd sweetened it with honey for her. She looked around and saw he'd laid out stuff for a cheese and mushroom omelet.  He'd moved the table over to the space between the fire and the ceiling to wall windows so they could look out on the dunes and the sea beyond, and appreciate the fresh fallen snow that covered the wood of the deck and the railings. The fire made the room bright and cozy.

There was a small wrapped package on one of the plates on the table, he had the lights lit on the Christmas tree.

She walked up behind him and put her arms around him, kissing his neck.  "You're spoiling me again.  I love you and it.  Merry Christmas, darling."

"I seldom seem to have a chance to spoil you. Tabitha won't let me in her kitchen."

"Well that's your trouble, she said, laughing.  "You keeping waiting for permission."

"Ah, so you think I should plan an offensive and take the kitchen by storm," he suggested with a laugh.

"Just make sure you get up earlier than she does, if it's breakfast you're plotting.  Then you have squatters rights."

"Yeah, but you keep me up late nights, and wear me out so I can't ever wake up before her.  I wish... Well, never mind."

"Wish what?" she asked.

"That we were living up in the aerie, just the two of us. But, well, there'd be four of us at least wouldn't there," he said, resting a hand gently on her tummy.

"We can kick them out the second they turn eighteen.  Or," she said, "when they're born they stay at the commune and we go back to the aerie."

"It's a thought. Would you mind that, terribly? I'm awfully selfish."

"No, I'm just as selfish.  I know you've adapted to it, but I also know you hate living with so many people and I hate sharing what time we have together with them all.  Does that make me an unnatural mother?  Because if it does, you better love me anyway."

"Some parents live through their children, want the kids to exist as a way of achieving their desires. I tried that. Ruined my son. Alienated my daughter. Now... I want them happy, I'll give them what they ask for. But they're lives are their own.  We. Us. That matters most to me. So if that makes me an unnatural dad, well, you better love me anyway."

She kissed him, letting her mouth linger on his, her hands caressing his face.  "It makes us alike," she said.

"Good thing. And I have no doubts the kids will get all the love they need. Tabitha will dote on them, Eli will spoil them. And Christopher will... I'm afraid to think," he said with a grin.

"I know.  He's scary sometimes.  I can't even begin to imagine what he'll be like when he's grown up.  Or what ours will be like."

"Well, we'll find out and it will be an adventure. So, why don't you go sit down and I'll do the omelet. Everything else is ready."

She laughed and took her tea to the table.  "You sound remarkably sanguine about it."

"Sanguine about what? The kids?  Well, let's just say I'm beginning to understand my own parents better.  I resented the fact we were left on our own so much. Now... I think they were like us," he explained as he put the beaten eggs into the hot pan and added the mushrooms.

"I meant about what they'll be like, what they'll be able to do.  But you know, in some ways I think maybe my mother was like us too.  Trouble was my father wasn't and when I look at it like that I understand her better."  Dinah watched him flip the omelet like a pro and whistled.  "Very nice!"

"My only claim to fame in the kitchen.  I did cook when my mother and I went on the lam and hid in a cabin not quite as luxurious as this one.  She was mostly too sick to get out of bed."

"Oh," she said.  "On the lam from?  Sick from what?"

"She was pregnant with my youngest brother. She'd already had five of us, and several miscarriages."

"Ah, so that's where your experience with preggers women comes from.  What was she hiding out from?"

"The law. It was illegal for her to be pregnant. If they'd caught her they would have terminated the pregnancy."

She almost choked on her tea.  "You're joking."

He paused and met her eyes. "No. She was passing on lethal genes and knew it. She got pregnant anyway."

"Maybe instead of me doing the cross examination thing you could start from the top.  Like with lethal genes?  And go from there."

"My family were talented, as Stephen would say. Perhaps Awakened far back in history, I've no idea, really, since the concept was unknown to them.  There was this ...intervention.  Aliens inviting Earth to join in something like the unimensional worlds. But only planets who had reached a certain level of psi abilities could be invited to join them. My family believed in breeding as many of us as possible, regardless of the fact we were also passing on the lethal genetics that made my brother's life a living hell.  My parents knew it, decided to breed again and again and again anyway. The authorities found out about Jack, and she and I fled into one of the few safe places in the US. Up in Washington state. We hid out until she delivered Jack. Then, they wouldn't hurt him, you see."

"And uhm, what was lethal about her genes?" Dinah asked.

"A wasting disease. Jack's body was dying the moment he was born. But his brain... It was magnificent.  I'd known him in the womb. Eventually, his body died and he lived on as merely mental. Jack the Bodiless. Saint Jack the Bodiless eventually."  He paused. "It doesn't matter any more, you know."

"Which, of the many things in all that, doesn't matter anymore?"

"None of it. I changed history. I'll never be born now. Nor will Jack.  You ready?" he asked bringing orange juice and the bacon to the table and going back to divide the omelet and put half on her plate and half on his."  He looked down at it. "Looks pretty good if I do say so myself."

"It does, and it smells wonderful, too.  But before we change the subject, yeah you changed history and you'll never be born....but it all made you who you are and that does matter, to me anyway."  She smiled at him.  "Can I open my present now?"

"Yeah," he said with a lopsided grin. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a present for a woman who owns a galaxy or three?  I hope you like it."

"Yeah well, you're worse," she said, unwrapping the box.  "You get yours tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."  She opened the top and saw a pair of emerald drop earrings in a filigree setting of old gold.  Her eyes got big and her mouth formed a soundless O that she let out on a long breath.  "They're beautiful," she said, putting on first one and then the other.  She grinned.  "Thank you."

"I thought they sparkled like your eyes. You're welcome."

Her smile became beatific.  "Thank you," she said when she could and touched his hand across the table.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "Now eat up. I'm going to ravish you again, and you need your energy."

"My pleasure," she said and began eating.

Later they lay on the rug in front of the fire. Wrapped in a blanket, bare under it, his hands exploring her body, as she lay back with her eyes closed. "How about this?" he asked softly as he moved his hand down and found the warm triangle between her legs.

"Oh yes," she said on a moan, her hips lifting to his hand.

When his hand ceased moving she opened her eyes to see Christopher staring down at her intently, and Marc sitting there contemplating murder.  She slammed her mind shut, making Christopher howl in surprise and sat up so fast it almost made her dizzy.  "How did he get here?"  And she knew even as she asked and reflexively, automatically, as angry as she'd ever been, she sliced through his bond with the twins, severing it completely.  Christopher's howls stopped and an expression of stunned disbelief appeared on his face.

Marc did worse. He severed through Christopher's bond with Drianna and Doni's twins too.

Dinah saw the disbelief begin to change to panic and ignored it.  She zapped clothes for herself and stood up.  "You're going home, now.  And you're staying there."  She felt Christopher pounding on her shields and shook her head.  "No!  No more," she said, her awareness focusing on the twins and their distress, wrapping a comforting sense of herself around them.

"You stay here," Marc said, creating clothes for himself too. "I'll take the little bugger home."  Marc pulled Christopher into his arms.  The child began pounding on his chest but he ignored it.  He was gone less than five minutes.  By the time he returned Dinah had a drink ready to hand him.  Her lips twitching, trying hard not to laugh she said, "drink this."

"I need ten," Marc replied, slamming the scotch down in one gulp.  He poured himself as second and eyed her, as she stood there, lips still twitching. "It isn't funny."

"I know," she said, valiantly trying to suppress her amusement.  Then she gave it up. "It's hilarious.  His timing couldn't have been better and if the look on my face was anything like yours..." she said before succumbing to gales of laughter.

"What look on my face," he asked frowning, then drinking.

"You looked beyond gob smacked."

Marc gave up on the glass and sucked straight out of the bottle. "No kidding," he muttered. But Dinah swore she saw a lip twitch.  She eyed him speculatively for a moment and then zapped their clothes away, moving to stand against him, nuzzling her way along his shoulder towards his neck and then up to his earlobe.  She drew it slowly between her teeth and then said, her voice warm in his ear, "I'm told that as these things go, sex is a wonderful means of sublimation."

"You're just worried I'm going to be too drunk to get it up," he replied, a hand reaching for one of her nipples.

"Not at all," she said wriggling encouragingly against him.  "You've never been that drunk before but if you were you would just find other means of sublimating sexually.  You're very creative that way."

"Thank you. It's nice to know I'm appreciated." He began backing her up toward the bedroom. "You're very distracting."

"And I've only just begun," she said as she hit the bed and fell backwards.

He fell next to her and began laughing. "I was ready to kill the little bastard, and Chris is like, 'what? what'd I do?'"

"Oh yeah, not a clue," she said laughing helplessly.  "Thank God," she added.

"Seriously. I'm wondering if he were worried I was hurting you or something. Well, when we get back I've got to seriously figure out what the hell is up with his brain."

"Yeah.  And now I wanna focus on what's up with you," she said, her hands exploring.  "Ah, I knew there was something, " she said.

"Wow, despite distractions. And no little blue pill, either."

The next morning she woke him with coffee and fresh bagels conjured from somewhere in bed.  She set the tray aside and sat next to him, kissing him awake.  "Good morning, love," she said and evaded his hands by putting a cup between them.

"Ah, the aroma of caffeine. Second only to the smell of your hair."

She grinned and sipped her tea.  "Thank you.  Do you suppose," she said, "that it's too soon to start counting the days until my next cup of coffee?"

"I wouldn't blame you a bit. I don't know how you do it, personally."

"The morning sickness helped with the initial break and now, I'm sure you'd kill me if I even thought about it, given what Joyce said about caffeine and hypertension.  So sheer self preservation, no virtue at all," she explained with a grin.  "However, today you're going to have to just suck it up and deal with the fact that I'm on my feet."

"Is that so," he said with a frown. "And why, if you'd be so good to explain."

"You'll see," she promised.  "And I won't be on them much.  Now eat and get dressed," she told him.  "Quinn and Cola are waiting for us and I don't want to be late."

"Hmmm," he muttered, but decided to indulge her.  He finished eating, sucked down his coffee, showered and dressed in record time.   Cola and Quinn landed on the beach near the cabin. Marc made certain Dinah was thoroughly bundled up against the cold and then carried her out to the dragons.

The dragons wanted to play first and had to be called to order, but they made it to St. Michael's without mishap.  Dinah had arranged for a taxi to meet them even though it was a short distance from the square to the large three story brick colonial building that stood next to a building labeled School of Exorcists and Demonologists on one side and the Ghosts, Ghouls and Demon's Research Building on the other in the midst of the graduate complex for paranormal and supernatural studies.  Dinah whisked Marc inside and out of the cold without giving him time to look around.  She approached the receptionist who appeared to know her with a beaming smile and asked for Dr. Milton Permellan.

"Yes, he's expecting you Ms McNeill.  You're to go right back.  You know the way."

Dinah smiled and holding Marc's hand led him down a hallway and around a corner to a lab and office suite.  She knocked and opened the door, calling "Dr. Permellan?"

"Back here, my dear," answered a rumpled man of about sixty, in a lab coat over a tweed jacket with an unlit pipe in his mouth, a shock of white hair and sky blue twinkling eyes behind a pair of rimless glasses that sat on the end of his nose.  He peered over them as they approached.  "Merry Christmas, Ms McNeill.  This must be Mr. Rogatien," he said, holding out his hand.

Dinah smiled and took a seat, saying.  "Yes, he is.  Marc, this is Dr. Milton Permellan.  He runs this place, the Unimensional Center for Psi Studies and Applied Research.  He's promised to give you all the time you want.  Merry Christmas."

Marc lifted an eyebrow. "Well, this is a surprise. So tell me what you are doing that is particularly interesting."

Dinah sat back, put her feet up on a chair nearby and filtered out the chatter between the two men, which got technical fast. Milton began by lecturing but soon it became a conversation rather than a lecture, and then both men were reaching for paper to put down formulas which included symbols Dinah had never seen used before. Apparently Milton wasn't familiar with all of them either, as it became an animated discussion just to find a common mathematical language. But once that was over Marc looked as happy as a clam, as he and Milton walked over to an old fashioned blackboard and began chalking happily away.

They barely looked up when Dr. Permellan's secretary brought coffee for them and tea for Dinah, though they accepted the cups.  Dinah grinned and settled back in her chair with a book she'd tucked in her pocket leaving them to it.  By lunch time, they'd made it to Marc and Milt and she made intelligent noises when they tried to be polite and watched with delight as they continued their conversation, arguing theories, ideas and possibilities for future research.  Dr. Permellan had been happy to give her the time, no doubt spurred on by the donation she'd made to the center, but he'd been a bit uncertain.  Not anymore, she thought, as she ate and their food got cold.  After a few minutes she rapped on the table and called them back to the world around them.  "Eat, so you'll have the strength for the afternoon."

Marc didn't even look around, although he did pick up the sandwich and take bites as he and Milt talked. Hours later, they began to wind down, and seemed to be coming up with some sort of plan. Dinah looked up and saw Marc looking at her with shining eyes.

"Should I get a room for the night?" she asked, smiling.

He blushed. "Sorry. I got a bit involved. Poor Milt has some work he has to do, but I think we've both got some good ideas to work on, don't we Milt?"

"Oh yes, no question.  This man of yours is amazing, absolutely amazing.  You must help me talk him into coming to work with us."

Dinah grinned.  "That's entirely up to him, Doctor."

"Well, I'll consider consulting, how's that?  Unfortunately I've got some other priorities at the moment, but we can get together when you have time, Milt."

"Anytime, Marc.  Absolutely.  Drop by when ever you have some time.  I have enjoyed today immensely."

"I have too, Milt. Thanks for making my day."  The two men shook hands like they were long lost siblings separated at birth and dying to be reunited.

"Ready to get back, darling? I'm sorry you had to hang around here for so long."

She nodded and tucked her arm in his as they left.  "You've nothing to apologize for.  This was for you. I'm really glad you two got on.  He's such a sweet man."

"Quite brilliant, too. Wow. What a present. And, I think I've got an idea for Christopher too."

"We're donating him and the others to research?" she asked.

He laughed. "Don't tempt me. But I think we can get him pretty thoroughly tested and then maybe go from there. I'll set it up after the holidays."

"Good," she said and let him hand her into the cab.  She leaned her head back against the seat and smiled.  "I've never seen you so happy."

"Oh yes you have. Every morning when I wake up with you next to me. But I admit, I've missed doing that sort of research and experimental formulations."

"You know what I mean.  And I'm sure you could work it out with Stephen if you wanted to work with Milt."

He leaned his head back, and closed his eyes. "Yeah. Would you mind? It'd keep me busy, even more so than now."

"No," she said.  "If it makes you happy, that's what I want.  Besides, I think you'd find a way to squeeze me in.  The real burden would fall on Reno who at this rate is going to need a minion of his own."

"Yeah. I'll have to give that some thought. I wonder if Melly wants to be busier. She might enjoy this sort of scientific stuff. Let Reno handle the other stuff, and Melly, if I can break her away from Stephen, do the science."

"All you can do is ask her, but I bet she would.  It's all puzzles to her, after all.  And if you and Milt can come up with a plan for Christopher then Stephen will fall on your neck, as will the rest of us."

He laughed. "But I don't swing that way."

She giggled as they exited the cab.  "He doesn't either so you're safe.  Now take me home, love.  I'm in withdrawal."

"Home or Maine?"

"Maine.  You promised me I could have you to myself until the wedding.  I may not put on any clothes except a robe once I get these off until then either."

"Sounds like a plan."