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]

"That seems more like his style," Ender agreed.

"Grandpa!" Val crowed. "Where?"

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"Not here, sweetheart," Ben said. "We can call him after your nap, though, all right?"

[endsthegame]

"I miss grandpa," Val announced, and tugged on Ben's leg.

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Ben picked her up and cuddled her. "Would you like us to ask him to visit us soon?"

[endsthegame]

"Yes," Val said - or rather mumbled, right into Ben's neck.

Ender smiled wryly. "Your father'll make a decent granddad yet."

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Ben smiled back. "I think he enjoys it," he said, rubbing Val's back.

[endsthegame]

"It took him a while," Ender said.

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"Well, yeah," Ben admitted. "But it's Dad. Sometimes he's a little slow."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little.

"Shall we take Val back in for her next batch of presents?" he asked. "Big Val should be done by now."

[momslilassassin]

"I think that sounds like an excellent plan," Ben said. "Hey, Val. Should we see if there's anything else to open?"

[endsthegame]

"More presents?" Val asked, slowly peeling her face away from Ben's leg.

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"More presents," Ben confirmed. "What else would you still like?"

[endsthegame]

Val thought about it, her face scrunching up. "Grandpa," she decided.

Ender laughed softly. "Like we said," he said, "We'll make sure he gets here."

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a noise veeeery close to an "awwwww" at that. "But until then," Ben agreed, "let's see what Aunt Val has for you."

[endsthegame]

"Okay, fine," Val muttered, tugging half-heartedly on Ben's pants.

Ender flashed Ben a smile and hurried quickly into the next room, where Big Val was putting the last touch on Little Val's new tablet.

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Ben grinned at him. "She's going to love that," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"I got her all the books she wanted," Ender said softly.

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Ben smiled and kissed Ender. "Of course you did."

[endsthegame]

"Reading is good for a Wiggin," Ender said, but he took a moment to kiss Ben back anyway.

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"I love you," Ben said, smiling up at him.

[endsthegame]

"I love you too," Ender said, smiling, "Though I hope you have something in the pipeline for her too..."

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"Of course," Ben said, smiling. "I made her a droid."

[endsthegame]

"What kind of droid?" Ender asked. "Should I be afraid?"

[momslilassassin]

"It's one that responds to her using the Force. If she tries to lift it, it'll beep, stuff like that," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"She'll like that," Ender said, "And then try to figure out how it works."