An EFC Christmas: Part Nine "On Christmas Day In The Morning"

by Seven


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



Author's Note:  It's sad to end this, but hey, Christmas morning has to come eventually...



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There was the faint patter of bare feet in the hallway, and the dim beam of a flashlight roved over the walls. Sandoval opened his door and blinked, clad in a rather hastily-donned shirt and pants. "What are you-" he started.

"Shh!" Suzanne hissed, flashing her face only inches from his with a fearsome grimace. "It's Christmas morning, and we have to be quiet."

"Lili, you're stepping on my foot," Liam murmured.

"Sorry," Lili said, stepping to the side. Something crashed as she knocked into it, and Liam groaned. "Now you've done it," he muttered.

"I did-" Lili began indignantly.

"Good morning!" shouted Doors from the room at the end of the hall. "Are you going to wake an old man on Christmas morning, or what?"

"I'll be out in a moment!" Augur yelled from somewhere in the house. "I'm getting my robe on."

Sandoval groaned and started to turn back, but Suzanne caught him by the sleeve and dragged him down the stairs.

****

"I wish you a merry Christmas," Da'an said with a smile, standing like a sentry by the glittering Christmas tree. Zo'or was sitting on the couch, looking uncomfortable. "I took the liberty of arranging the gifts underneath the tree. I believe that it is customary?"

"It's perfect," Lili said with a smile, kneeling down. "Liam, this one is from you... from Suzanne." She grinned as Liam flushed, tearing open the gift to reveal a hardcover copy of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table. She held up another one. "Sandoval, this one is from me..."

Sandoval knelt down and took the gift with a surprised air. "You got a gift for me?" he asked, frowning a little.

Lili nodded, then checked a small package tucked into the boughs of the tree. "Like you got one for me!" she smiled, as Augur came in, then hurriedly ran out, mumbling, "I forgot the presents, darn it..."

"Da'an, this one is something I was making in a craft class," Liam said, holding out a round box. "I hope you like it."

Then he turned to Zo'or, and held out a square box, hastily wrapped in tissue paper. "And this one's for you," he said quietly, feeling awkward.

Zo'or simply stared at the package, then slowly took it and continued to stare. "I know you don't like me," Liam said uneasily, "and you probably never will. And I know you didn't want to be here, and you think this is all a human diversion, waste of your time. But I hated to leave you out of it all. It's a time for goodwill, and..."

Zo'or simply stared at the agent with an odd look on his pale features. Then, with fingers unused to such a task, he ripped the paper from it, and looked intently at the gift. It was a wooden box, with a woodburned drawing of the mothership on top of it, intricate and near-perfect. Dotted around the edges were Taelon letters symbolizing good fortune and wisdom.

Zo'or stared at the box, then at Liam, who was squirming uncomfortably. "I thank you, Major," he said quietly, then took the box and headed for the study.

Liam sighed in relief, then glanced back at Lili, who was smiling up at him. "What?"

"Nothing," Lili replied innocently.

"Agent Sandoval," Da'an said, holding out a square box. "This is from Suzanne."

Sandoval glanced at the grinning blond waittress, then unwrapped his gift. A small smile crept across his face as he held up a round white and red object. "Sugar cookies?"

"I figured I couldn't go wrong," Suzanne smiled as he took a bite, and raised eyebrows in approval.

Lili handed Liam a large square package. "This is for you, from me. Sort of."

Liam unwrapped the package, and stared. "Beckett's runes," he said quietly.

Lili nodded, patting him on the arm. "I got them for you during the official investigation after her death," she whispered. "I've been keeping them for you... thought it would be good for-"

Lili stopped speaking as Liam impulsively hugged her, then pulled back, rubbing his fingers over the rune tiles. Doors smiled, looking slightly sad, and handed Suzanne her gift.

Da'an's smile melted away. "You realize," he said quietly, "that if the storm does not resume, we will probably be contacted this afternoon."

"We'll have to make the morning extra-special, then," Liam said, setting the runes down on the mantle and dashing into the kitchen. "I call dibs on pancakes!"

"Merry Christmas to you too!" Augur called, running down the stairs in his "Professor" disguise, holding an armful of oddly-shaped gifts. "And a more peaceful new year!"

THE END... THIS YEAR