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.

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"I love you a ridiculous amount, you know," Ben murmured back.

[endsthegame]

"I'm aware," Ender said, squeezing him tight. "But c'mon. Val--"

Had latched onto Ender's leg without him realizing it.

Other Val was laughing softly in the background.

[momslilassassin]

Ben chuckled and reached down to ruffle Val's hair. "Hi, little one. You'd like some attention too?"

[endsthegame]

"Time to read," Val said mulishly.

[momslilassassin]

"Which one have you decided on?" Ben asked.

[endsthegame]

"Aunt Val wouldn't read," Val sighed, tugging on Ben's leg.

That was an answer, apparently.

[momslilassassin]

"Fair enough," Ben said, lifting her into his lap. "Okay. Choose one."

[endsthegame]

Val frowned at the tablet until her eyes fell on a series of symbols that she liked.

She pointed. "That one. 'Bout... boat."

Ender sat down next to them, smiling.

[momslilassassin]

"Oooh, I like that one," Ben said, beginning the story and doing silly voices for all of the characters.

[endsthegame]

"Oooh," Val said, eyes big.

And started talking back to the characters, because why not?

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "Who's your favorite character, sweetheart?"

[endsthegame]

"I like the lamb," Valentine said obediently.

She kept staring at the tiger.

[momslilassassin]

"And the tiger," Ben said with a smile.

[endsthegame]

"Not s'posed to like the tiger, he's mean," Val muttered.

[momslilassassin]

"Well, true," Ben said, "but he's not real. What makes him catch your attention?"

[endsthegame]

Val looked like this was a Very, Very Difficult Question. "He's smart," she said, reaching out to poke the image. "And pretty."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "Like you," he said. "Only you're not mean. You can find parts of yourself in all kinds of books. That's why it's fun to read lots of different stories."

[endsthegame]

"How many stories?" Val asked, big-eyed.

[momslilassassin]

"As many as you want," Ben promised. "Aunt Val even writes more."

[endsthegame]

"Can we read another?" Val requested.

Ender stifled a laugh.

"As long as your father doesn't insist on making me do back-breaking labor to keep you supplied," Valentine the Elder said, amused.

[momslilassassin]

Ben grinned over at her. "I'm sure you could handle it," he teased back.

[endsthegame]

"Don't assume," Valentine said primly.

Valentine the Younger stuck her hand in her mouth and nodded.

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I'm hardly the author in this group," Ben said, "but if you read everything else in the universe, I'll see what I can do."

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "If you guys are done fighting," he said.

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek. "We're done."