An EFC Christmas: Part Four

by Seven


Disclaimer:  Earth: Final Conflict and its characters are copyrighted by Tribune Entertainment Company.  All rights reserved.



Notes from Author:   The application this was on went on the fritz, but I was able to make more of it...



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Liam awoke to light streaming through his windows, sent into sparkling rainbows by the prisms in the center of each pane. He smiled dreamily, snuggling into the many pillows arrayed on his bed...

BAM BAM BAM!

"Liam!"

Liam burrowed deeper into his bed, pulling a pillow over his head. "I'm not awake," he groaned loudly.

BAM BAM BAM!

"Liam, get your backside out of bed. It's Christmas Eve, and we have a LOT to do before nightfall. Life is short, and so is my patience." Lili began cranking at the locked doorknob. "Liam, open the door!"

Liam slowly pulled the pillow from his head and stared at the door, his hair rumpled and sticking out at all angles. "Coming," he said sleepily, then fell face-down on the bed, trying to shut out the sounds coming from the door...

"Liam? Liam? You're not coming to the door, are you? Are you? Liam, open the door!"

****

Lili threw up her hands and gave up on Liam. She would have to try a different approach to haul him away from his room, because she did NOT intend to go get prickly branches and plants all by herself. She wanted company in her misery, after all.

"Lili!" hissed a voice. Lili turned to see Suzanne, her eyes wide and mischievous, beckoning into a side hallway.

"What is-" Lili began.

"Sh!" Suzanne urged, wincing and looking down the hall.

"What is it?" Lili whispered, leaning close to hear what her friend had to say.

Suzanne was laughing helplessly now, strangled giggles interspersing her words as she choked, "Okay... you know those... those jammies that... Augur... put us in?"

"Yes?" Lili asked, trying to discern what Suzanne was getting at.

Suzanne, still snickering, lost the capacity for forming words, pressing one hand to her mouth and leaning against the wall. As Lili stared at her, she seized the Marine's wrist and yanked her to a bedroom door, slowly prodding it open with a forefinger. The hinges, thankfully, did not creak. Just like Augur, Lili thought with a grin.

"Look," Suzanne urged.

Lili looked in. And began to snicker.

Sandoval was sprawled on the bed, the blanket half-pulled over him, fast asleep. He was attired in fuzzy blue pajamas.

"Where'd he—where'd he—" Lili gasped.

"Probably Augur keeps them stocked in all the bedrooms," Suzanne giggled.

The two women glanced at the sleeping Companion agent, then began giggling again, sprinting down the hallway with forced, silent footsteps.

****

"Pancakes, coming up!" Lili called, sending a pancake flying upwards and then catching it neatly. Liam watched her with wide eyes, muttering, "I gotta have her show my how to do that."

Zo'or and Da'an were seated at the breakfast table, more out of Da'an's courtesy than out of a physical need. Da'an was watching Lili sprinkle more blueberries into the batter, while Zo'or seemed to be intent on the back of Doors's head. The millionaire was sitting in his bathrobe, happily sipping at a near-empty mug.

Snow twinkled on the windowsills, and Lili couldn't help smiling at the beautiful memories it brought back, and wincing at the depth of it. The shuttle would be inoperable, she was willing to bet.

As Liam passed by on his way to the basement, he stuck out his hand, mug balanced on his fingers. "More coffee, please?" he said with an almost-smile.

"No more coffee," Suzanne said from the corner, shaking an empty metal tin by her ear. "Au...." She caught herself, and flashed a brilliant smile at Sandoval, who glanced at her suspiciously, now attired in his normal suit. "Uh, Professor Hemingway. All his coffee is used up."

"You said 'au,'" Sandoval said slowly.

"Augustus," Lili interjected. "It was his brother's name, and the Professor likes to be called that." She grimaced, praying for a miracle to come in and distract Sandoval.

"Snowshoes!" Liam shouted, bursting from the basement like a dusty whirlwind, holding up two dusty pairs of snowshoes.

Thank you, Lili thought. "Agent Sandoval, do you snowshoe?"

"No, I don't like to dance," Sandoval replied.

"Snowshoe!" Liam said, dangling the shoeshoes in front of Sandoval's nose. The FBI agent's nose twitched, and he quickly shoved the offending articles away. "They let you walk on top of snow."

"I can't," Suzanne said regretfully. "And neither can Professor Hemingway." She brightened. "But I can stay behind and start cooking things."

"Who needs to stay behind?" Liam said gallantly, patting her on the back. "There are some plastic saucers down there, we can tow you around. If-if you want to, that is."

Suzanne gave him a wavering, warm smile. "Thanks," she said, rising up on her toes to peck him on the cheek. The Taelo