Homecoming Christmas
(Dean)
A man in his late fifties, with light salt and pepper hair, walked towards the living room where the familiar sound of a hockey game blasted from the television set. Andrew McCoppin handed his son one of the mugs he was carrying and Dean grinned, an expression Andy was familiar with but it never got old in his eyes.
“Thanks Dad,” Dean said taking the mug that was filled with hot coffee that had just a touch of Bailey’s Irish Cream.
“What’s the score?” Andy asked easing himself into an old leather recliner. It had been his spot for as long as he could remember since his son has preferred the soft suede sofa. It helped that the sofa was at the perfect angle so that Dean had a good view of both the television set and the tree, which was decorated with brightly coloured lights and dozens of vehicle shaped decorations. Including a motorbike with the scrawling words ‘Baby’s First Christmas’, that his ex-wife had purchased so many years ago.
Dean glanced away from the action of the game for a moment to scan the score, “A tie,” he replied taking a sip of his drink. He and his father had spent Christmas Eve like this for as long as he could remember, a hockey game and a warm beverage.
“Damn, they’ve just gotten worse,” Andy muttered into his own drink, “So how’s the old school?”
Dean groaned and let his head fall back over the arm rest, “Same as it’s always been I guess,” He had avoided the topic with his father because he couldn’t lie to him and things had happened at Hogwarts that just shouldn’t be discussed with the aging man.
Andy laughed at the vague response, “I’ll take that as a ‘butt out Dad’,” He took another sip of his drink and glanced at the time, “I should hit the hay, early morning to get to the children’s ward.”
Dean glanced at the large sac that sat by the door, for the past ten, maybe fifteen years his father had been playing Santa on Christmas morning for the children at the local Hospital.
“Just finish the game, I’ll drive you over to the Hospital in the morning,” Dean said with a no nonsense tone that left very little room for argument.
“You’re on vacation, son, you should sleep in,” Andy insisted, Dean had never slept very well at Hogwarts, even after going there for seven years.
“Dad, I don’t care, besides, I still need to meet this nurse you’ve been talking about,” Dean replied with a smirk.
A slight red tinge appeared on the older man’s cheek and Dean threw his head back and laughed. They both turned their attention back to the television as the buzzer sounded signaling that one of the teams had scored, resulting in a defeated groan from one and a victorious shout from the other.
*****
Santa Baby
(Aquata)
Aquata smiled flirtatiously at a young man and accepted the champagne flute he was offering her. With another smile and a sultry look she walked away, the hem of her bright red dress brushing the marble floor. The Lakeshore annual Christmas party was always a splendid affair, every surface was decorated in gold and silver and if you looked out the window towards the water you could see the lights twinkling off the surface. But what Aquata liked best was that only the best of her parents colleagues were invited and they often brought their sons and they were such fun to toy with.
She delicately lifted her glass and took a small sip of champagne, the dryness of the beverage burned in a pleasant way and she stared absent-mindedly out at the water. Someone rested an arm on her shoulder and leaned against her, she glared over at her brother.
“What do you want Jonathan?” She snapped. Jonathan Lakeshore was eighteen and thought himself to be the most desirable male around, which, Aquata admitted, he probably was. They both had their mother’s warm chestnut hair, but Jonathan had been blessed with their father’s crystal blue eyes, which were several shades brighter than Aquata’s greyish ocean blue.
“What?” Jonathan asked moving his arm, “Can’t a brother wish his sister a Happy Christmas?”
“Not when that brother is you,” Aquata replied taking another sip of the champagne, she and her brother had never been close and they usually only spoke when Jonathan wanted something from her.
Jonathan rolled his eyes, “Point taken, regardless, I need your help,” He turned her to face the crowd of people.
“Do you see that girl, the one in the gold dress?” He pointed subtly, Aquata did, the girl was maybe seventeen, with blonde hair that just brushed the swell of her buttock, she was chatting with a young man her age, they seemed close.
“I need you to distract the boyfriend,” Jonathan whispered in her ear. Aquata rolled her eyes, her brother was worse than she was when it came to conquests.
“Fine,” she huffed and tugged lightly on her dress, revealing more of her cleavage. She strode towards the couple, her eyes focused strait ahead. She casually bumped into the young man, ‘accidently’ spilling her champagne on his expensive suit.
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry,” She fretted, lightly patting the man’s chest, “Oh and silly me I’ve forgotten my wand.”
She grabbed his hand, “Come with me, we’ll get that cleaned up right away,” she pulled him along behind her she glanced back at the girl, her brother was already approaching from behind.
Aquata pulled the young man into a secluded hallway and pulled her wand from the holster strapped to her thigh. A quick “scourgify” and the champagne was gone, not even a stain in memory.
She gave the young man a brief kiss on the lips, a small reward for her task, and smirked, “Hope you enjoy the party.”
She turned on her heel and strode away, the boy seemed stunned but he would still return to the main room in time to see Jonathan flirting with the girlfriend.
*****
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
(Liam)
Liam stood in the kitchen next to a shriveled old house elf, his red hair was pulled way from his face with a strip of leather and he was cradling a bowl in his arm and swiftly mixing the contents.
Nia, the house elf pulled a tray of cookies from the oven with a snap of her fingers while she mixed up another batch. At the table two five-year-olds, Leia and Alanna were happily stamping shapes out of a sheet of sugar cookie dough. Liam was mixing the frosting that they would decorate the finished cookies with.
“Leia, be careful,” Liam warned as the dark-haired twin slammed a cookie cutter down onto the table a little too hard.
“Sorry,” She giggled, Alanna put down the Santa shaped cutter and picked up one that was shaped like a candy cane.
Liam added a few drops of red food colouring to the frosting and kept mixing, Alanna looked up at him, “When will Santa come?”
“Not until later, dearie, he won’t come when the young ones are still awake,” Nia responded as she finished the last batch of cookie dough. Liam filled some bowls and piping bags with Icing and set them on the counter. When the cookies were cool the girls could decorate them. By the time they were totally done with the cookies it would be the twins’ bedtime and he and Nia could start putting the gifts under the tree.
The gifts were the only sign that Mr and Mrs Hurst were even aware that they had children who needed to celebrate Christmas as well. Neither of his parents would be home until well after midnight, once their fancy parties ended and they wouldn’t wake up until close to noon. Liam was well aware that his sisters would be up at the brink of dawn waiting to open gifts.
“Come on you two,” Liam picked the girls up, one under each arm, as Nia put the last tray into the oven, “Time for Christmas Eve gifts!”
It was a tradition Nia had started with him when he was five since he couldn’t wait to open Christmas presents. The girls squealed and squirmed in his grasp, Liam walked to the sitting room and dropped them on a sofa. They giggled as they bounced then looked at him eagerly with matching expressions.
“Okay girls,” He held up two boxes one wrapped tightly in gold paper and the other in silver. He handed the gold one to Leia and the silver to Alanna, they tore open the packages and they each lifted up matching storybooks. Leia’s was a muggle book of fairies and Alanna’s was a muggle book of mermaids.
Nia had given him advice on which books to choose, saying that the muggles idea of the creatures was better than the reality.
The girls were already flipping through the books staring in awe at the water paintings inside.
Nia walked up from behind him and handed him a large mug of hot cocoa, he grinned and settled down into an arm chair. Even if his parents were screw-ups he would make sure that Leia and Alanna ALWAYS had good Christmases.
****
Santa Claus is coming to Town
(Natalie)
Natalie rubbed her temples trying to block the sound of screaming children, “Remind me why we had to come see Santa on Christmas Eve,” she muttered. The eldest of her younger sisters, thirteen year old Mia, turned and grinned.
“Because you didn’t come home in enough time to take them earlier,” she reminded her older sister before turning back to her cell phone and continuing to text her friends.
Nine year old Janice stood next to Mia a bored expression on her face, she had fought to be able to stay home and continue reading. However, seven-year-old Lauren, five-year-old Michelle and four-year-old Sarah were all thrilled at the prospect of sitting on a stranger’s knee. Natalie would have to make sure to purchase pictures of all of them with Santa, it was the only way her parents could experience these things with their daughters.
“Whatever, I just wish this line would hurry up,” She checked her watch, the mall closed in two hours and the line for Santa seemed to go on forever.
It was an hour and half later when they finally got to the front of the line, Sarah and Michelle both asked for the usual things, a pony, a doll so on and do forth. But Lauren’s request just about killed Natalie.
“Santa,” She started in a high pitched childish voice, “I want mommy and daddy to work less, I want to see them more.”
“Dammit,” Natalie groaned as the fake Santa gave Lauren some sort of assurance that he would try his best. Then Natalie ushered all her sisters onto the platform and the six of them stood around the Santa imposter and posed for the photograph.
Natalie paid the elf worker for the picture and escorted her sisters home on public transportation which, as always, was easier said than done with four girls under ten.
When they finally got home, the younger five rushed to the living room and started piling up the traditional Christmas Eve movies, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A White Christmas and The Santa Clause.
Natalie, however, dug out a well-used photo album and put the new Santa picture into an empty slot. She left the album on the kitchen table where her parents could see it when they got home. As the first lines of How the Grinch Stole Christmas Blasted from the Television, she put on a pot of water and set up six mugs for hot chocolate, some with more milk than others.
(Okay This took about 3 and half hours…I don’t know hoe much I like it but it helped me get a feel for my new characters and I got to set up a family dynamic for everyone)
Dean: 485 Words
Aquata: 527 Words
Liam: 529 Words
Natalie: 415 Words
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