Morningstar Manor

Bundled up against the early morning chill, Ang was in the gardens with Faith, and an equally well wrapped up Gavin. She'd woken early, and unable to get back to sleep had snuck out of bed and gone about her morning routine. Luckily this pregnancy was seeming to be easier, less nausea for one, so she was doing much better so far.

Faith had done her business, and was now busy letting Gavin chase her about the lawns, entertaining both of them while Ang wandered more slowly around the paths, contemplating life and the essay she had to finish for tomorrow, lunch and how happy Alec had been last night when the Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins to get a place in the next stage of the so called World Series. She snorted a little with laughter, drawing Faith's attention, again amused by the fact that with only American teams in the competition they called it the "World Series". As Faith drew closer, Gavin in hot pursuit, Ang fished a tennis ball from her pocket and lobbed it out onto the lawn, sending Faith barrelling after it. But it wasn't Faith who got to it first....


(OOC: Sal, moved this for you, hadn't noticed it was in the wrong place. Sorry hun!)

There had been shopping earlier, and Alec was confident it had gone well.

Gavin was currently racing - as fast his chubby little legs would carry him - around and around the lawn, chasing Faith and laughing uproariously in time to the little ghost stuffie he clenched tightly in one little hand. Every time the wee tyke squeezed a might too hard the cheerily grinning ghost lit up and shook and shimmied to the "Monster Mash."

Ang would probably kill him later, and make sure the toy disappeared the instant Gavin went to bed, but right now, his son's face made it totally worth it.

Ang had done one of her favourite dinners, good old fashioned Sunday Roast. A beef joint, potatoes, Yorkshire Puddings, vegetables, gravy, horseradish sauce, and of course, for dessert an apple pie of her own bake, with ice cream and custard. She couldn't eat like this much longer though, and it was probably not something Alec hadn't already worked out, but, she did wait until dishing up dessert, even giving Gavin a little piece of pie with ice cream.

"So, er, you know you said about when Gavin was walking? We could, oh, do you want custard with that Gavin?" Ang poured a spoonful into his bowl. "Alec? Custard?"

The night before Ang had packed the suitcases, all three of them, and two flight bags. This morning she'd taken Gavin to the park to wear him out, then this afternoon while Alec had Gavin she'd napped briefly before they had to leave. Now though they were loading the taxi with the cases, and heading for their evening flight. A tactical decision on Ang's part, she felt they'd arrive feeling better if they'd slept on the night flight.

It had been a little tense, Ang being convinced she'd forgotten something important, but Alec had all the paperwork, so in the end she'd had to give up looking for whatever it was (and it was truly nothing, since she'd ticked everything off on her checklist) and get in the lift with Gavin and his stroller, her flight bag and a suitcase, while Alec brought the other cases and his flight bag. Seriously, travelling with small children was a nightmare! However, the taxi ride had excited Gavin, and seeing the airplanes had pepped him up again, until they boarded and settled down, Ang's indulgence in Business Class doing them a favour and giving them a row to themselves.

It wasn't until the plane actually took off though that Gavin fell asleep, and only then did Ang begin to really relax, only to worry about Julie and everything else, until she too dozed off. Alec made sure they were both covered up with blankets, and then went back to staring out of the window into the darkness, and kept his worries to himself.

However uncertain or uncomfortable things could be between them, one thing Alec and Ang could agree on was the importance of family. This would be Gavin's first Christmas, and Emma was expecting the big family meal, they couldn't disappoint.

And, honestly, he had to admit, by the time they were all seated around the big table and the food was being dished out he could almost imagine that it wasn't all for show. It felt, truthfully, the way it should have, the way it had before.

Ang had worked hard to keep everything under control, while feeling fairly stressed and miserable at the same time. Now of course with the meat and Yorkshire Puddings plated up, and a very small plate done for Gavin, all cut up of course, she was quietly hopeful that today would go off without a hitch. Well, at least until she pulled out the Apple Pie anyway. She'd kind of decided to tell Alec and Emma the er, news over dessert. It seemed kinder that way, to not spoil the meal?

( Read more... )

Standing in the mailroom Jazz sorted through her mail, whistling the 12 Days of Christmas under her breath. With the job from Nine finished and, more importantly, having finally been able to spend some time with Tom things were starting to - dare she even think it - look up.

Oh, look! Birthday cards!

Grinning she tucked the rest of her mail under arm and flicked the card open.

~.~

Down in the laundry room Adam was sorting his whites from his colors, singing We Wish You A Merry Christmas softly to himself. As he moved about his sweater, one of his mother's patented bad choices and adorned with dozens of tiny sleigh bells, jingled along festively.

~.~

In the Mocha Alec wasn't crooning Christmas carols, but he was smiling in a bemused sort of fashion as he supervised Gavin, who was currently having just as much fun smearing the cookie Alec had gotten him all over his face as he was actually eating it. Luckily, Alec had a stack of napkins ready for the cleanup so he was, for the time being, content to let the boy enjoy himself.

Gavin had just gone down for his nap and Alec was getting ingredients together to make himself a grilled ham and cheese sandwich when the front door suddenly opened.

Squashing the sandwich together between his hands, Alec took a couple steps and leaned through the doorway, curious as to who was letting themselves in the apartment at this time of day.