Moctezuma, Christmas Day

[momslilassassin]

After wishfully believing Val would let them sleep in after their trek to the local cathedral to celebrate Midnight Mass with the rest of their neighbors (yeah, no way. She was up at 5:30, just like every other morning), Ben was--in the spirit of the season--bringing Ender and Big Val giant mugs of coffee from the kitchen while Little Val gleefully made confetti from wrapping paper in the living room.

The house was smelling promisingly of pork and chicken tamales--they were trying to embrace the local traditions this year, and Ben was always in favor of experimenting with anything food related.

"Merry Christmas," he said, heading back into the living room levitating two coffee mugs in front of him as he held his own in his hand. Force powers were so handy.

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[endsthegame]

"We can probably even blow it up so large, she'll never look us in the eye again," Ender said, smiling.

[momslilassassin]

"What an astral Christmas gift," Ben said, ignoring Val's stink-eye.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "Don't worry, Val," he said. "In a week or three, we'll get started on your brother, and you can push the humiliation onto someone else."

[momslilassassin]

"Nah, we'll just have twice the embarrassing photos," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "But shared misery..."

[momslilassassin]

"Just as childhood should be, right?" Ben asked, laughing.

[endsthegame]

"They might gang up on us," Ender pointed out.

[momslilassassin]

"They're going to be brilliant like you," Ben said. "Of course they'll gang up on us. But it'll take a few years before they'll be able to out strategize us."

[endsthegame]

"And those days will pass in a rush, and then where will we be?"

[momslilassassin]

"Hopefully loved enough by them not to be left tied up in a basement without transport off the planet they leave us on?"

How optimistic, Ben.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "Look at her face," he said. "Keep dreaming."

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe they'll leave us a comm unit, too," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"If we're very very good," Ender said, leaning over to kiss little Val on the forehead.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's expression softened, as it always did when he watched Ender and Val together. "I will not be held hostage to my children."

[endsthegame]

"You already are," Ender said fondly, and scooped Val up himself.

[momslilassassin]

"Okay, true, but I'll be better on the next one."

This would not be true.

[endsthegame]

"You're going to be the strict one next time?" Ender said, barely repressing a laugh.

[momslilassassin]

"Sure," Ben said. "I can try."

[endsthegame]

Ender let out a soft laugh. "Do you believe that, Val?" he asked her.

"No!"

[momslilassassin]

Ben, mature adult that he was, stuck his tongue out at both of them.

[endsthegame]

Ender motioned for him to come in and join them, rolling his eyes good-naturedly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben came over and plopped the hat onto Val's head. "Merry Christmas," he said, kissing Ender's hair.

[endsthegame]

"Merry Christmas," Ender echoed, hugging him close.

[momslilassassin]

Ben hugged him back. "Love you," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"Love you both so much," Ender whispered back. "Today is a good day."