Some Christmas fic for Selyndaep
Title: In a One Horse Open Sleigh
Genre: Despicable Me, Addams Family
Rating: G
Prompt: Gru, Wednesday, Sleigh ride.
selyndaep, I hope you enjoy the story and have a lovely holiday season! My thanks to you and to nursesparky for her beta.
Gru anxiously searched the crowds of people for his daughters. It wasn’t as if he was worried about them. He was a world class villain and no one sane would incur his wrath. Besides, they were with their mother, as Lucy preferred to call herself, and a dozen minions. More likely, it was the crowds that had something to fear from them!
It was just that he’d promised his youngest daughter, Agnes, a proper sleigh ride and had spent much of the afternoon in line. Now it was nearly his turn and they were nowhere to be found.
“So much for best laid plans,” he muttered to no one in particular. The girl in front of him half turned. He would guess her age to be between that of Edith and Margo.
“Life is delightfully challenging in that way. Do your feet ache from the cold as much as mine?”
Gru nodded wearily. “And then some.”
“Delightful, isn’t it?” She looked up the road towards the approaching sleigh. “It is almost a shame to ruin it with a sleigh ride.”
The horses came to a stop and one shook his head and mane, creating a peal of jingle bells. The girl took a deep breath, as if relishing the smell of manure and sweaty horses. They watched the prior occupants of the sleigh climbed down. They looked miserable and Gru was suddenly happy Agnes wasn’t here.
“No unaccompanied minor,” the ticket taker said as she stepped forward and offered her ticket.
“I have paid for a ride, although why now escapes me.”
“And I have a company to worry about and no kid is going to accuse me of anything.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“You heard me.”
“Perhaps I could help,” Gru said, stepping forward. “I have no one to go with either and I would be happy to share the sleigh with her.”
“You’re too kind,” the ticket taker resumed his bored expression. “Climb in.”
“This is very considerate of you.” The girl moved forward and went to the far side of the sleigh.
“You remind me of my own daughter, Edith. She’s a pink-clad ninja.” Gru adjusted the blanket over their knees and then offered her his hand. “I am Gru, world villain, retired.”
“I am impressed. I am Wednesday Addams and my role in this universe has yet to be decided.”
“Addams… why is that name familiar?” Gru scrunched his face up in thought.
“My father is Gomez Addams. He and my uncle Fester like to blow things up.” The sleigh started, the bells on the horses jingling happily. She sighed. “This is so festive.”
“Not a fan of the holiday?”
“Smiling makes my face hurt,” Wednesday said, pulling the blanket closer.
“You would love Edith and I’m fairly sure the minions would approve.”
“Minions… do you have one called Bob?”
Gru grinned. “I do, indeed. How do you know Bob?”
“He is a great friend of our butler’s, Lurch. Apparently, he rescued Bob from a snowstorm. Or Bob rescued him, details are sketchy.”
“That’s it! I knew I was familiar with the name. It must be meant to be that we met.”
“I don’t believe in serendipity or kismet, but I do believe in karma. No good deed should go unpunished.” Then a hint of a smile tweaked a corner of her mouth. “Is it true you have a secret lab and create inventions to take over the world?”
Gru saw the driver’s head swivel slightly and he waved away the comment. “Me? No, no secret lab, no weapons. I am the proud maker of delicious jams and jellies… that no one buys and that the government has suggested I buriy in the outlands of Nevada.” He winked and held up crossed fingers and Wednesday nodded.
“I was misinformed.”
“That happens a lot in my line of work.” He shivered and pulled the blanket closer. “What does anyone see in this?”
“You should be sitting up here,” the driver said, chucking the reins. “We’re nearly done.”
“None too soon, either,” Wednesday muttered. “This is making my cheeks rosy. I can’t go around with rosy cheeks. What would my family say?”
“Better luck next time?” Gru suggested as they drew closer to the arrival. “At least it’s over with.”
“Indeed.”
Gru climbed stiffly from the sleigh, no wonder the others looked so grumpy and then offered a hand to Wednesday. The girl took it and hopped out of the sleigh with the spryness of youth.
He heard someone call his name and saw his little family approaching. At the same time, he heard someone shout Wednesday’s name.
“I would like you to meet my family,” Wednesday said, taking his arm. Gru watched Lucy frown and motioned her over.
“And you, mine.” They started to walk away from the crowd. “And perhaps later, I can arrange a tour for you of my…” he made air quotes, “…jelly factory.”
“I will anticipate that invitation. It was good to meet you, Gru. Thank you for the sleigh ride. We will never speak of it again.”
“I quite agree. Now, I just want to beat the feeling back into my feet.” He bent over to scoop up Agnes. “And perhaps some hot chocolate to celebrate serendipity.”
This time Wednesday did smile and two families began the steps towards becoming one.
Genre: Despicable Me, Addams Family
Rating: G
Prompt: Gru, Wednesday, Sleigh ride.
selyndaep, I hope you enjoy the story and have a lovely holiday season! My thanks to you and to nursesparky for her beta.
Gru anxiously searched the crowds of people for his daughters. It wasn’t as if he was worried about them. He was a world class villain and no one sane would incur his wrath. Besides, they were with their mother, as Lucy preferred to call herself, and a dozen minions. More likely, it was the crowds that had something to fear from them!
It was just that he’d promised his youngest daughter, Agnes, a proper sleigh ride and had spent much of the afternoon in line. Now it was nearly his turn and they were nowhere to be found.
“So much for best laid plans,” he muttered to no one in particular. The girl in front of him half turned. He would guess her age to be between that of Edith and Margo.
“Life is delightfully challenging in that way. Do your feet ache from the cold as much as mine?”
Gru nodded wearily. “And then some.”
“Delightful, isn’t it?” She looked up the road towards the approaching sleigh. “It is almost a shame to ruin it with a sleigh ride.”
The horses came to a stop and one shook his head and mane, creating a peal of jingle bells. The girl took a deep breath, as if relishing the smell of manure and sweaty horses. They watched the prior occupants of the sleigh climbed down. They looked miserable and Gru was suddenly happy Agnes wasn’t here.
“No unaccompanied minor,” the ticket taker said as she stepped forward and offered her ticket.
“I have paid for a ride, although why now escapes me.”
“And I have a company to worry about and no kid is going to accuse me of anything.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“You heard me.”
“Perhaps I could help,” Gru said, stepping forward. “I have no one to go with either and I would be happy to share the sleigh with her.”
“You’re too kind,” the ticket taker resumed his bored expression. “Climb in.”
“This is very considerate of you.” The girl moved forward and went to the far side of the sleigh.
“You remind me of my own daughter, Edith. She’s a pink-clad ninja.” Gru adjusted the blanket over their knees and then offered her his hand. “I am Gru, world villain, retired.”
“I am impressed. I am Wednesday Addams and my role in this universe has yet to be decided.”
“Addams… why is that name familiar?” Gru scrunched his face up in thought.
“My father is Gomez Addams. He and my uncle Fester like to blow things up.” The sleigh started, the bells on the horses jingling happily. She sighed. “This is so festive.”
“Not a fan of the holiday?”
“Smiling makes my face hurt,” Wednesday said, pulling the blanket closer.
“You would love Edith and I’m fairly sure the minions would approve.”
“Minions… do you have one called Bob?”
Gru grinned. “I do, indeed. How do you know Bob?”
“He is a great friend of our butler’s, Lurch. Apparently, he rescued Bob from a snowstorm. Or Bob rescued him, details are sketchy.”
“That’s it! I knew I was familiar with the name. It must be meant to be that we met.”
“I don’t believe in serendipity or kismet, but I do believe in karma. No good deed should go unpunished.” Then a hint of a smile tweaked a corner of her mouth. “Is it true you have a secret lab and create inventions to take over the world?”
Gru saw the driver’s head swivel slightly and he waved away the comment. “Me? No, no secret lab, no weapons. I am the proud maker of delicious jams and jellies… that no one buys and that the government has suggested I buriy in the outlands of Nevada.” He winked and held up crossed fingers and Wednesday nodded.
“I was misinformed.”
“That happens a lot in my line of work.” He shivered and pulled the blanket closer. “What does anyone see in this?”
“You should be sitting up here,” the driver said, chucking the reins. “We’re nearly done.”
“None too soon, either,” Wednesday muttered. “This is making my cheeks rosy. I can’t go around with rosy cheeks. What would my family say?”
“Better luck next time?” Gru suggested as they drew closer to the arrival. “At least it’s over with.”
“Indeed.”
Gru climbed stiffly from the sleigh, no wonder the others looked so grumpy and then offered a hand to Wednesday. The girl took it and hopped out of the sleigh with the spryness of youth.
He heard someone call his name and saw his little family approaching. At the same time, he heard someone shout Wednesday’s name.
“I would like you to meet my family,” Wednesday said, taking his arm. Gru watched Lucy frown and motioned her over.
“And you, mine.” They started to walk away from the crowd. “And perhaps later, I can arrange a tour for you of my…” he made air quotes, “…jelly factory.”
“I will anticipate that invitation. It was good to meet you, Gru. Thank you for the sleigh ride. We will never speak of it again.”
“I quite agree. Now, I just want to beat the feeling back into my feet.” He bent over to scoop up Agnes. “And perhaps some hot chocolate to celebrate serendipity.”
This time Wednesday did smile and two families began the steps towards becoming one.