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]

"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.

[momslilassassin]

"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..."

[momslilassassin]

"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."

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"Of course," Ben said, grinning. "I'm going to need your giant brain for the next version. It's getting harder for me to outsmart a Wiggin."

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed. "I can think of a few failsafes," he said. "Probably."

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"If she's smarter than you already, we're doomed," Ben said, laughing too.

[endsthegame]

"And here I hoped the Skywalker blood would be a tempering influence," Ender said.

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"Maybe in the next one?" Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"The next one will probably be flying circles around the house at age four," Ender said dryly.

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"My kind of kid, actually," Ben said. "We should ask Dad. I think I did that."

[endsthegame]

"I would not be even the slightest bit surprised," Ender said, guiding Ben into the living room. "That's why that's my bet."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him again because it was Christmas and he could.

"It's a sucker bet."

[endsthegame]

"Does that mean you're not taking it?" Ender teased.

[momslilassassin]

"Well, no," Ben said, grinning back. "I'll take the bet just in case I'm wrong."

That's not how betting works, Ben.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "Remind me not to let you set foot in a casino," he said.

"We're waiting," Big Val chanted.

Well, both Vals, after the first time.

[momslilassassin]

"And you've both been extremely patient, thank you," Ben said, grinning at them both in reply.

[endsthegame]

"I wanna know," Little Val said, grabbing for one of the presents.

Ender sank down next to her, taking the present and putting it in her tiny hands. "There you go."