Christmas Challenge [beck_heather]
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause
Author: Faline
Rated: PG
Summary: This was originally supposed to be humorous. I swear. It, uh, certainly didn't end up that way but I think I like it. :) Enjoy!
At five, he'd been inquisitive. This was the word his mother had labeled him with after he'd found her secret stash of expensive jewelry, in her locked chest in the back of the closet. He wasn't sure what it meant, but knew it wasn't always a good thing.
At five, he'd known enough about life to know that sometimes you should question the higher order of things not because it was unknown or wrong, but because it should be questioned from time to time. He questioned the demand his mother had made that he stay in bed all night Christmas Eve, even though he knew his father was returning from duty.
He lay awake until the early hours of the morning, questioning himself for not investigating when the door opened quietly in the living room and he heard a soft squeal of joy. He questioned himself up until the moment when his feet hit the floor.
In the living room, he expected to find his parents embracing, which would have killed any reciprocal curiosity he might have about his order to stay put. Instead, he found a strangely dressed man attacking his mother.
If he had taken a moment to actually watch the pair, he'd have recognized the red suit and the leather boots. And he'd probably have realized that his mother wasn't being attacked. She was being hugged.
But, in his five year old brain, he was the acting man of the house until his father returned and his mother was in danger. His tiny fists balled and he ran head first in to action, yelling at the top of his lungs.
The strange dressed man cried out in alarm when the ball of fury that was Eddy Beck collided with the back of his legs. He let out a strangled protest before his weight shifted and he fell backwards. Eddy managed to roll out of the way, and stood triumphantly over the man, hands on his hips. He surveyed his victim with an air of accomplishment.
“Oh Eddy.” His mother pushed past him and his smile slowly melted when he realized that it was his father lying at his feet. He took a step back as his mother helped his father off the floor and they took stock of one another, making sure nothing had been broken in the fall.
After a moment, they both turned to look at him. The terrible dread that always came when he messed up filled his stomach and he wanted to run, but knew he would never find a place to hide that his father wouldn't find him in.
A stern look and then Eddy was being pulled in to his father's arms and hugged. “Well, I suppose I know not to come home dressed like Santa again.” His father's voice sent the dread running and Eddy threw his arms around his neck and squeezed, happy that his family was back together once again.
-*-*-*-
Maddy tossed in her sleep and a familiar feeling of dread wound it's way into Edward's stomach. His grip on the door jam tightened and he resisted the urge to smooth his daughter's brow. She settled in a moment and his grip loosened.
She still had nightmares. Hell, he still had nightmares of finding her. For some reason, though, they'd intensified in the craziness that had descended on Jericho with the holiday season. He'd tried to talk to her about it, a few days ago, and had been brushed off effectively. Without her input, he could only watch from the doorway as her personal demons haunted her, almost a year now after she'd been returned to him.
Slim hands slipped around his waist and he felt Heather drop a kiss on his shoulder. He smiled, that dread lightening and slipping away. She tugged on him lightly and he turned to face her. Her hair up in a bun, and bunny slippers on her feet, she was adorable and ready for bed. He bent and planted a soft kiss on her lips before allowing her to lead him back to their bedroom. She stopped, however, in the living room door way and gazed upon the tree. It was lit with a single strand of Christmas lights and had precious few ornaments, but Heather was very proud of it.
She'd cried when he'd held Maddy up to place the homemade star on top.
This time, Heather was cradled in his arms. She leaned back and he dropped a kiss to her neck. He nuzzled there for a moment and she sighed happily. From behind them, he heard feet shuffling in the hallway. He lifted his head and found Maddy looking at them with sleep heavy eyes and his heart melted at the look of love and trust in his daughter's face.
He held out his arm and his daughter came to them, wrapping her arms around Heather's waist. He adjusted his grip, pulling them both in close. He smiled, loving the feel of his family in his arms. The light from the tree gave them a golden glow and it warmed his heart to know that he wouldn't be spending the holidays alone again, ever if he had anything to say about it.
Edward wondered if his father had felt this same sort of complete love while he'd held his family. Edward knew that there was no way he couldn't have.
Author: Faline
Rated: PG
Summary: This was originally supposed to be humorous. I swear. It, uh, certainly didn't end up that way but I think I like it. :) Enjoy!
At five, he'd been inquisitive. This was the word his mother had labeled him with after he'd found her secret stash of expensive jewelry, in her locked chest in the back of the closet. He wasn't sure what it meant, but knew it wasn't always a good thing.
At five, he'd known enough about life to know that sometimes you should question the higher order of things not because it was unknown or wrong, but because it should be questioned from time to time. He questioned the demand his mother had made that he stay in bed all night Christmas Eve, even though he knew his father was returning from duty.
He lay awake until the early hours of the morning, questioning himself for not investigating when the door opened quietly in the living room and he heard a soft squeal of joy. He questioned himself up until the moment when his feet hit the floor.
In the living room, he expected to find his parents embracing, which would have killed any reciprocal curiosity he might have about his order to stay put. Instead, he found a strangely dressed man attacking his mother.
If he had taken a moment to actually watch the pair, he'd have recognized the red suit and the leather boots. And he'd probably have realized that his mother wasn't being attacked. She was being hugged.
But, in his five year old brain, he was the acting man of the house until his father returned and his mother was in danger. His tiny fists balled and he ran head first in to action, yelling at the top of his lungs.
The strange dressed man cried out in alarm when the ball of fury that was Eddy Beck collided with the back of his legs. He let out a strangled protest before his weight shifted and he fell backwards. Eddy managed to roll out of the way, and stood triumphantly over the man, hands on his hips. He surveyed his victim with an air of accomplishment.
“Oh Eddy.” His mother pushed past him and his smile slowly melted when he realized that it was his father lying at his feet. He took a step back as his mother helped his father off the floor and they took stock of one another, making sure nothing had been broken in the fall.
After a moment, they both turned to look at him. The terrible dread that always came when he messed up filled his stomach and he wanted to run, but knew he would never find a place to hide that his father wouldn't find him in.
A stern look and then Eddy was being pulled in to his father's arms and hugged. “Well, I suppose I know not to come home dressed like Santa again.” His father's voice sent the dread running and Eddy threw his arms around his neck and squeezed, happy that his family was back together once again.
-*-*-*-
Maddy tossed in her sleep and a familiar feeling of dread wound it's way into Edward's stomach. His grip on the door jam tightened and he resisted the urge to smooth his daughter's brow. She settled in a moment and his grip loosened.
She still had nightmares. Hell, he still had nightmares of finding her. For some reason, though, they'd intensified in the craziness that had descended on Jericho with the holiday season. He'd tried to talk to her about it, a few days ago, and had been brushed off effectively. Without her input, he could only watch from the doorway as her personal demons haunted her, almost a year now after she'd been returned to him.
Slim hands slipped around his waist and he felt Heather drop a kiss on his shoulder. He smiled, that dread lightening and slipping away. She tugged on him lightly and he turned to face her. Her hair up in a bun, and bunny slippers on her feet, she was adorable and ready for bed. He bent and planted a soft kiss on her lips before allowing her to lead him back to their bedroom. She stopped, however, in the living room door way and gazed upon the tree. It was lit with a single strand of Christmas lights and had precious few ornaments, but Heather was very proud of it.
She'd cried when he'd held Maddy up to place the homemade star on top.
This time, Heather was cradled in his arms. She leaned back and he dropped a kiss to her neck. He nuzzled there for a moment and she sighed happily. From behind them, he heard feet shuffling in the hallway. He lifted his head and found Maddy looking at them with sleep heavy eyes and his heart melted at the look of love and trust in his daughter's face.
He held out his arm and his daughter came to them, wrapping her arms around Heather's waist. He adjusted his grip, pulling them both in close. He smiled, loving the feel of his family in his arms. The light from the tree gave them a golden glow and it warmed his heart to know that he wouldn't be spending the holidays alone again, ever if he had anything to say about it.
Edward wondered if his father had felt this same sort of complete love while he'd held his family. Edward knew that there was no way he couldn't have.