Tis the season!

[light_in_sound]

The only thing better than Christmas at home with her husband and family was Christmas at home with her husband, family, and friends. Alison had been eagerly awaiting the return of Rogue and Dakota's bunch to the castle for the holidays. She had already picked out a Christmas tree, which Longshot and John hauled home for her. It had lights on --

Comments

[laertes]

The way his daughter packed, Dakota had the feeling she was trying to get another three month stay. He had managed to get her not to pack every one of her belongings. Especially since she would be bringing presents home. Now, he had a headache despite his normal resistance to such mundane aches. Though he couldn't totally blame the girl bouncing on the balls of her feet next to him.

Dakota knocked on the door before opening it. It seemed polite. Before he could say anything, Gloria Jean jumped in and announced "We're here!"

He chuckled to himself as he followed. The twins were trudging their way up the steps.

[clericpreston]

Lisa hefted her end of the bag and followed Gloria Jean up the stairs. She didn't mind the little extra work. While she had been taking riding lessons, she had also been learning the other parts of horse care. Flinging saddles and hay around was getting her into good horse riding and luggage carrying shape.

"Sparkly stuff is good," she agreed with a nod. Then she laughed. "I don't have any older brother repellent. Mine's been all distracted now that he's got a girlfriend."

[sonofarize]

Longshot wasn't too bothered. Just darn confused as to what the draw of his beard was to women. He brushed the back of a finger gently across Alison's cheek before turning to their guests.

"Maybe now your kids can keep up with me the whole time," Longshot commented to Dakota with a small grin.

Though he couldn't help but sit up a tiny bit when Rogue complimented his beard. Two important women thought it was good. So it couldn't have been all that bad.

[pastthegumbo]

Rogue laughs at Longshot's comment. "Longshot, Ah don't think there's enough sugar in the world that could make anyone keep up with you the whole time."

She picks a couple chocolate-covered pretzels and gives them a nibble.

[light_in_sound]

"Maaaaaaybe." Alison smiled at Dakota. She couldn't help it if her hormones manifested into a need to bake. Or that she enjoyed watching Longshot run the kids ragged.

She stretched her leg out and crossed her ankle with Longshot's. Her toes tickled his leg lightly.

[laertes]

Dakota squinted with mock-seriousness. "You do know, Alison, that my daughter's voice gets louder and more higher-pitched the more hyper she gets? I hope you bought earplugs for the dog."

He glanced at his wife. The corner of his mouth twitched before he stuffed the rest of the cookie in his mouth. Chewing and settling back in the seat seemed to be the best course of action.

"A girlfriend?" Gloria Jean's face scrunched up. The thought of either of her brothers having a girlfriend made her feel icky. Especially for the girl. Her brothers were giant goobers.

There goober-ness became even more readily apparent when the girls got into Gloria Jean's room. Gloria Jean dropped her end of the bag with a heavy floomph. Which shook the bed just enough to shake the small package sitting on it. The side flopped down and both girls were assaulted by sprays of silly string.

[clericpreston]

"Yeah," Lisa nodded. "Him and Miyuki make kissy faces all the time." That wasn't strictly true, since Robbie was still afraid of Asuka's wrath. But, it was close enough in Lisa's opinion.

She blinked at being doused with silly string. It was all in her hair! She narrowed her eyes and looked over at Gloria Jean.

"This means war..."

[sonofarize]

Longshot was distracted by thinking about exactly how much sugar was needed to get anyone to keep up with him all the time when he was tickled. He jumped a little. He blinked at his wife. Then he leaned over and kissed her cheek! That ought to learn her!

"Do they sell ear plugs for Sadie?" He would have to go out and get some. Gloria Jean would be the hyper guinea pig...

Meanwhile... Miyuki was using the opportunity of Asuka being at camp to get kissy faced with Robbie. Also, with added company, she didn't know how much kissing they would be getting in.

[pastthegumbo]

Rogue misses her husband's glance as she's busy being amused by the other married couple being content. And a little jumpy on Longshot's side of things.

"Well, ear muffs might work," Rogue suggests. "If you can keep the things on her head, that is."

[light_in_sound]

Oh, that learned her alright! It learned her that tickling got her kisses. And so, more tickles were had by his ankle. Hee!

"Well, I'm sure she'll manage. If it gets too much, we can chuck the kids outside and let them be loud out there." She chuckled at the image and shook her head. "I don't think the koi will mind. They're hiding under the ice anyway."

[laertes]

"Chuck the kids out instead of the dog? Hmm." Dakota rubbed his chin. "I like the way you think, Ms. Blaire."

The boys were busy setting up yet another prank in Dakota and Rogue's room to care about proclamations of war.

Gloria Jean nodded in serious agreement. Though that left one more question. "Before or after we decorate the cookies?"

[clericpreston]

"After," Lisa said decisively as she picked the multi-colored strings out of her hair. "We gotta have time to plan. Besides, we gotta let them think they're safe. Surprise them."

Not that she was feeling vindictive at all. Oh no.

Robbie was blissfully unaware of any visits, cookies, or declarations of war. Miyuki was the sum total of his focus.

[sonofarize]

Longshot eyed his wife. He knew she was trying to use his tactics against him. So... he turned his ankle a bit so she tickled an itchy spot. Ahhhh! That made it feel better.

"I didn't manage to set up a tube before the pond froze. Nobody can talk to them." He sighed a little. Though if he got the tube set up, Sadie would probably have ended up barking down it. Poor fishie eardrums.

[pastthegumbo]

Rogue is not going to ask why anyone would want to talk to the fish. Really. Instead, she eats more pretzels. Because they are there. They are covered in chocolate. And they are tasty.

"Got anymore decoratin' to do? Things are lookin' a might festive around here."

[light_in_sound]

Alison smiled at Dakota. "Well, the dog wasn't the one making the noise, now, was she?"

She turned back to her husband as she continued to rub his ankle with her foot. "That's alright. I'm sure they'll be just as happy to see us after the spring thaw."

"Oh, there's always more to decorate," Alison grinned at Rogue. "I need people who bend better than I do to help put the ornaments on the trees. And there are still cookies to frost."

[laertes]

"I think your dog would start making noises when my daughter hits those high notes," he commented with a half-smile and a shrug.

Will and Rodney finished putting luggage in Dakota and Rogue's room. They also set up a 'surprise.' They were going down the stairs like a herd of wildebeests. Laughing wildebeests. But just as noise with their shoe less feet.

Gloria Jean nodded in agreement with Lisa's plan. Then she decided to help get some of the silly string out of Lisa's hair. Pretty hair should not have string in it according to Dakota's youngest.