The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

By Teegs

(Please note…I doubt anyone actually believes this could happen, and I am aware that there are characters who are dead/missing/enemies/whatever… this is meant as a little Xmas gift…not to be taken seriously…. Also this is the fic that didn’t want to be written… it’s still unfinished… maybe by next Xmas….)

Snow was gently falling past the little windows adding a magical touch to the romantic mountainscape that could be seen from the little log cabin. Yui smiled softly and turned back to her baking… if she didn’t have food ready when they returned Fei would be heartbroken. Voices drifted into the kitchen from the next room…

"And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of site… Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night." Billy nodded for emphasis as he closed the book. He glanced around at the small group of children and young adults who had gotten drawn into the story he had started reading for Midori. Dan, Emeralda, Primera, Margie, Maria, Chu-Chu, and even Elly sat in a loose semi-circle around the room. The indoor decorating had been finished and Yui had shooed everyone out of the kitchen stating that she was going to make dinner by herself, no arguments. Now they were just waiting for the rest of the men to return with the tree. Once they had decorated the tree and hung the stockings it would be time for dinner and off to bed. This was one of Billy’s favorite times of the year and the thought of spending it in such a picturesque location with so many people he had shared so much with just made it all the more important.

Elly smiled and said "Ok…we need some garlands for this tree, I have a feeling the guys have found the biggest one out there to bring home… I think we had better get to work here everyone…" She gestured to a table heaped with paper rings, cranberries and popcorn. Everyone quickly got to work stringing the supplies into decorations for the tree. Margie left the table and poured herself a mug of warmed eggnog, wandering over to the window to gaze at the view. These mountains were so different from Aveh, yet so beautiful.

The little cabin almost glowed with Christmas magic. The soft light of its windows shining out into the gathering darkness like a beacon. The peaceful image it created contrasted sharply with the scene in the woods nearby.

"I’m telling you…we should get that tree we saw back that way…" Jesse swung the axe in an arc trying to convey a rough direction… "That tree was perfect!"

"Jesse, that tree was four feet tall and it’s trunk curved like a corkscrew…" Shitan slowly shook his head, he should have known this was a bad idea as soon as it had been suggested. "Let’s get that nice pine we saw over there." He nodded his head slightly to the east.

"No, no, no… I don’t think that tree was quite tall enough… Let’s try a little further up this path…" Fei wanted everything to be perfect. This was his first Christmas with Elly and Emeralda, it was important to him that everything was just so.

Bart kicked at the snow impatiently, rubbing his mittened hands together, "Look! I really don’t care what tree we get! A tree is a freaking tree, people! All I care about is getting out of this freezing cold…and soon, it’s starting to get dark. " He glared at Fei, knowing that it was he who had rejected tree after possible tree. He had gone along with Fei’s perfectionism so far because they were friends but he was cold and cranky and his feet were wet and he was in no mood to deal with Fei any more than he had to.

"I agree, some of us aren’t used to this climate and would really like to get near a fire and defrost ourselves…" Sigrd shivered as melting snow dripped from an overhanging branch, running down the back of his neck, "Let’s just take that tree."

Everyone turned to look at the tree Sigrd had indicated. It was a sorry thing, twisted to one side and drooping under the weight of the snow. Its branches were sparse and had apparently been sheered off one side in some sort of accident. They all looked back at Sigrd as they wondered if he had completely lost his mind. Fidgeting under the odd scrutiny he smiled sheepishly and shrugged, "Alright…That’s not the best example, but you get my point guys!"

Carlin smiled at his friend, it wasn’t often Sigrd got flustered, but when he did it was quite the sight. Sigrd was still fidgeting, he stared at his feet and his cheeks burned with a blush that looked almost painful. Carlin could feel laughter building up in his chest. He tried to fight it, he really did. It was odd enough that he was spending Christmas with his old friends and their own friends and family, he didn’t want to ruin it by offending anyone. But, the idea of getting Jesse and Hyuga to agree on anything was just too funny. Not to mention tossing Sigrd, Bart, Rico, and Fei into the mix. If it had just been the four of them, the old friends from Eugent, they would have been able to find a compromise, but this?!? This was ridiculous! How did Yui and Elly ever think this was going to work?!?

He remembered once, during their training, in an effort to get these four young men to work as a unit the military had sent them on a scouting expedition to the surface. The first night, when it had come time to set up camp, Jesse and Hyuga had begun to argue. They had debated where to sleep for so long and with such blind intensity that somewhere around the point of cursing each other’s ancestry Sigrd and Carlin had given up and simply unrolled their equipment, choosing to sleep where they were. The two stubborn men had the exact same expressions on their faces now. It was hard to believe that they had supposedly matured and were raising their own families now. Seeing them like this was all too familiar, and yet, oddly comforting. Unfortunately it was also hilarious. Suddenly he burst out laughing. It had been a long time since he had really laughed. He had always been so busy with his career, his need to prove himself, that he had seldom had time to just step back and enjoy life. He hadn’t really laughed since… since… since he was an Element! That had been over ten years ago! But he laughed now, tears streamed out of his eyes, he doubled over as pain raced through his sides, desperately he tried to catch his breath. Laughter rang through the woods, echoing in the mountain air.

All conversation stopped as Carlin startled everyone with his uncontrollable peals of laughter. Fei rolled his eyes, thinking that the tree was funny but not really that funny. Bart sighed; it seemed that no one had any sympathy for the poor frozen desert rats and that they’d be out here well past total darkness. Jesse, Sigrd and Shitan all stared openly at their old friend, Sigrd’s minor faux pas completely forgotten. Carlin desperately tried to convey the source of his laughter to his old friends while still trying to breathe. One by one it dawned on the others what it was that he had found so funny.

Sigrd began to giggle. His eyes started to water as the giggles grew into true laughter. He joined Carlin in the pantomimed explanation. As realization dawned, Shitan desperately tried to smother his own laughter and failed, leaning against his old friend as tears streamed down his face. Jesse stared at them keeping his face stern and authoritarian. His expression, so familiar and so reminiscent of the very incident that had spawned the laughter only made things worse. The three laughing friends fairly squealed as new peals of laughter rang through the hills. Gradually Jesse figured out what was so funny, so much time had passed and yet he and Hyuga still behaved like proud young men, unable to agree on anything.

"I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same," he muttered as he burst into laughter himself. Bart looked at Fei. Fei looked at Bart. They both looked at the four men all laughing and talking at the same time as they rolled around in the snow like children.

"I think they’ve lost it this time," Fei shrugged and turned back to locating the perfect tree.

"I’m telling you, it’s the thin air and all this snow. People weren’t meant to be this cold. It drives them mad. Why won’t anyone believe me?" Bart started on another of his rants about the evils of the mountains. Fei just rolled his eyes as he went to investigate a promising tree. Bart was a good guy, but sometimes one had to wonder about his intelligence.

"I think this tree will do nicely," Fei gestured towards a tall Scotch Pine nearby.

"Finally!" exclaimed Bart as he headed enthusiastically towards the axe Jesse had dropped. Now it was just a matter of cutting the tree down and getting the four fools behaving themselves again and he could go warm up at the cabin.

"Uh… where’s Rico?" Fei asked as he took the axe from Bart.

"I don’t know, he was here with us and then he was just gone… I hope he’s ok," Bart looked around, obviously worried. He didn’t trust the mountains; he preferred the desert where you could see any dangers nearby.

Just then there was a rustling from the nearby trees and a deep voice called out, "Ok… I got the damn tree! Is anyone going to help me carry it? I mean I know I’m bigger than you guys, but seriously!" Rico appeared from the trees half-dragging, half-carrying a monstrous tree. He noticed the former Elements sprawled in the snow, considerably calmer now but winded and tear-streaked. Rico nodded in their direction, "What’s with them?" The two younger men just shrugged as they positioned themselves behind Rico to bear some of the weight of the tree. Gradually, the others, who remained oddly silent except for the occasional smothered giggle, joined them. Slowly they made their way back to the cabin, tree in tow.

"I think I see them," Yui called from the kitchen. Everyone scrambled to get the door open and clear a path for the snow covered men. Shortly the tree and its harvesters were leaning against the wall of the cabin.

"So, how’d it go?" asked Elly as she helped Fei out of his coat, brushing snow off of the shoulders. He shrugged and gestured towards the tree. She smiled and hugged him, she knew that this was going to be a perfect first Christmas as a family. Emeralda bounced excitedly around the room praising the tree and decorations. Despite her incredible age, she was often more child-like than the children she knew. This was the first Christmas she had been able to spend with her father in more time than she liked to contemplate… she was understandably excited.

Fei beamed at the quiet woman nearby. "Yui… Do I smell your wonderful cooking?" He draped his arm over Elly’s shoulders and smiled at Emeralda. This was going to be perfect. "Doc, you are one lucky man… but I’m luckier."

Shitan looked decidedly uncomfortable at the reference to his wife, but he smiled reassuringly at her and nodded at Fei. The other Elements quickly found something else to occupy their attention. Sigrd hugged Margie and led both her and Bart towards the fire. Bart was still shivering and Sigrd didn’t feel much better, the cold weather was hard on the poor desert men. Carlin was helping Rico get the tree set up in the corner. There was much arguing over which way to move the tree to get the trunk straight. Their verbal sparring was giving both Chu-Chu and Maria great amusement as they absent-mindedly snacked on the leftover popcorn. Jesse was sitting on the couch quietly talking with Prim and looking hopefully towards Billy.

Billy had been planning on accompanying the men to get the tree until he found out his father was going. While no longer openly hostile towards Jesse, Billy still keep his distance both emotionally and physically whenever possible. Jesse kept telling himself that things would improve with time, that they already had improved, and that his son was now older than his age suggested. His little boy was a man now and had to be given the respect he’d give to any other man. But he hoped that Billy would show him some indication that the close relationship they had once shared was not lost forever. Other than the occasional glance at his sister, Billy kept himself busy elsewhere, playing with Midori and Dan. Jesse sighed and turned his attention back to the happenings of the room.

Finally the tree was properly positioned and the decorating could begin. Everyone merrily strung garlands around the branches and dangled small glass globes and other ornaments from the boughs. Yui nodded to Shitan and he disappeared momentarily, returning with a battered box.

"What’s that?" asked Bart suspiciously.

"Just something I’ve been working on over the years," said Shitan enigmatically, as he began to pull reams of what appeared to be wiring out of the box.

"Something you’ve been tinkering with, you mean…" teased Fei.

"Not this time…" said Yui; " this time it actually works properly… it’s lights for the tree… he started when Midori was just a baby. He used salvaged console bits from trashed gears… it looks really nice on the tree." She grinned proudly at her husband, who blushed.

"W-w-w-well, I always thought that Christmas trees needed something… I thought that they should sparkle like snow… or stars." Shitan seemed nervous about unveiling his lights. "I’ve never had this many people see my tree before."

"I’m sure it’ll look fine Hyuga," said Sigrd reassuringly.

"Yeah… it’ll be great!" Margie chimed. Everyone nodded their agreement and Shitan began to string his lights carefully on the tree. Shortly they all stood gazing at a fully decorated, sparkling Christmas tree.

"It still needs something…" pondered Elly.

"…An angel…" Billy muttered.

"What?" chorused several people.

"An angel," he repeated, "that’s what the tree needs. An angel on the top branch." He didn’t look very impressed with the people he was spending Christmas with, what kind of people forgot to put an angel on their tree anyway?

"Oooh! Billy you’re right! We forgot the angel!" Margie began to rummage through the boxes that had held the decorations, looking for the Christmas angel. After a few moments she gave up and headed into the next room to see if any of the boxes had be forgotten.

Jesse, Sigrd, Carlin and Fei looked at each other as sly grins slowly spread across their faces. Bart noticed the exchange and, immediately realizing the diabolical plan, grinned as well. Fei slowly maneuvered into position, trying his best to look nonchalant. He slid his arm across Shitan’s shoulders and smiled. "Do you have any idea where we could find an angel for the tree Doc?"

Shitan looked up, blinked, and blinked again as he noticed the glint in Fei’s eyes. All of the color drained from his face as several of his closest friends all stood up sharing the same evil glint as Fei.

"No!" He yelped as he felt strong hands grip him and hoist him into the air, "Yui! Help me out here!"

Yui just laughed at her husband’s frantic tone, "Well dear, we DO need an angel…"

Everyone keened with laughter at Hyuga being carted across the room. His flustered protests only made the scene more funny as he struggled to free himself from his friends’ strong grasp.

"That we do, Yui, that we do," cackled Jesse as he led the men towards the tree.

"Yup," agreed Carlin, who looked Hyuga straight in the eye, "and now that Solaris is no more… you’re the only unemployed angel we know."

"Good point Carlin," chuckled Sigrd.

"Guys… put me down… this isn’t funny… what’s gotten into you?" He pushed his glasses back up his nose as they were jostled yet again.

"Come off it Doc… you don’t want to disappoint the kids do you?" Fei smiled innocently at his mentor, who stammered out a mild curse.

"Over here guys" hollered Bart from beside the tree, "If you start from this side, you can use the chair as a step-stool…" The men veered slightly to the left as they headed toward the chair Bart had suggested.

"Hey guys! I found some rope in the next room… we can tie him on with this…" Rico’s deep voice boomed through the cabin, almost drowning out the laughter of it’s inhabitants. Shitan had given up on escaping the joke and had decided to just go along with it.

"Rope!?! Do you know how TACKY I’ll look tied to a tree?!?! You have to find something better than rope!"

"Oh, I don’t know Honey, I think you’d look cute all tied up," called Yui slyly from across the room, "Wouldn’t you agree Sigrd?"

"Hmmm…" Sigrd let go of Shitan’s leg and stepped back as if to consider this idea, leaving Shitan to flail in mid-air momentarily until Bart dashed over to take his brothers place. "Ya’know Yui, I think you’re right… He would look absolutely PRECIOUS all tied up and helpless," Sigrd smiled seductively and reached up to ruffle Shitan’s hair. Everyone broke into fresh peals of laughter, which only got worse when Shitan first paled and then blushed crimson red and started to cough. Noticing Shitan’s reaction, Jesse arched a brow at Sigrd who just winked and began to whistle as he strolled towards the punch bowl. Hyuga’s blushes had always been his undoing, though Jesse. There was no way the man could be discreet with crimson cheeks… and the slightest reference to his personal life usually resulted in crimson cheeks. Just what the hell had those two been into back when they were roommates?