An EFC Christmas: Part Six"Deck The Halls"

by Seven





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



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The living room was bathed in a warm glow, both from the fire and from the small group clustered around the Christmas tree. Boxes lined the walls, overflowing with garlands and ornaments. Da'an and Zo'or were watching with more than a hint of curiosity as Suzanne quickly bound red ribbons and carefully-tied holly to the walls.

"The tree's too tall," Sandoval announced, glancing up at the pointed top, almost touching the ceiling.

Liam glanced up. "No, it's not."

"Quiet, both of you," Lili called, comingup from the basement with an armful of red bows. "Liam, go check on the cookies."

"Yes m'm," Liam said with a sly grin, slipping into the kitchen.

"May I ask what this tree symbolizes?" Da'an asked, gesturing at the huge green object by the wall.

Before Lili could answer, there was a bloodcurdling scream from the kitchen, a thunderous hissing noise, and a gout of smoke under the door that smelled vaguely like burned fruit.

Lili dropped her box and dashed to the door, where a very sheepish-looking Liam was standing, holding a huge punch bowl and covered with rather smoky dark marks. Zo'or's mouth was hanging open, and Da'an looked like he desperately wanted to laugh.

"What happened? What was that noise and that..." She wrinkled her nose and waved a hand. "What's that smell?"

Liam gestured despairingly at the bowl and then at the kitchen. "The cookies caught fire from the oven-"

"Fire?" Suzanne asked, jumping off the ladder and dashing into the kitchen.

Liam took a deep breath, coughed for a moment, then continued, "Then the oven mitt caught fire and I grabbed the first wet thing there was. Sorry about your punch, Lili."

Lili's face was twitching madly, as if she were trying hard not to laugh. "It died for a noble cause, Liam." She patted him on the shoulder and earned a mild snicker from Sandoval, who was still hiding behind the tree, festooned in silver icicles. The CD player continued to sing, in a chorus of children's voices,

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

'Tis the season to be jolly..."

****

Zo'or drifted into the kitchen, watching as Suzanne limped up from the garage, wrapped in a huge jacket and holding a large plastic box. He watched as she dropped it on the table with a grunt, then glanced up at him.

"Cider," Suzanne said, pointing at the box. Zo'or watched with interest as she began to peel away the seal and pull off the lid. "Have to make a holiday punch replacement for what Liam extinguished the cookies with."

The lid fell off--and a solid lump of frozen cider fell to the table.

Suzanne stared down at it, confused. Zo'or's mouth slowly morphed into a smirk as he watched the human poke at the huge brown mass, then walk over to a drawer. Suzanne pulled out a huge carving knife, came back to the table, and began to saw the cider into slices.

Zo'or watched her with growing confusion as she sliced the holiday punch.

****

Soon the group was clustered around the fire, on the couches and cushioned chairs, the silver-lined, multicolored tree sparkling like a giant toy. The humans were sipping punch, while Da'an read an outdated almanac and Zo'or read a magazine article called "How To Deal With Holiday Scrooges."

"Mmm, cider," Doors murmured, sipping at the cold concoction with raised eyebrows. "Where was it? I didn't see any cider in the fridge."

Suzanne smiled at Da'an and sipped her own, watching Liam warming his bare feet by the fire. "Au.... Professor Hemingway had it in the garage. That's why it's so-"

"Cold," Liam sputtered, gasping a little.

"Exactly," Suzanne smiled.

"Professor Hemingway" drifted into the room and sat down by Lili, as far from Sandoval and Zo'or as possible. Lili handed him a cup of punch and sighed as the strains of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" drifted from the speakers.

"I hear more than one song simultaneously playing," Da'an piped up, toying with an unused ornament.

"So do I," Lili added, her forehead wrinkling. "Liam, check the CD."

Liam clicked on the remote, stopping the song. But the voices were still heard, singing "The First Noel" softly but clearly. He sat up, frowning, then smiled. "Those are carollers!"

TO BE CONTINUED