Disclaimer: They is Marvel's but mine is mine. I hate disclaimers. This ( if you don't know the deal by now you ain't never gonna get it) is private thought.

"Mommy, look! It's raindeer!" Sami screamed from the living room. Tabitha rolled her eyes heavenward before going in to see what her daughter was talking about. To Tabitha's surprise there were raindeer on the TV. Well, the puppet kind anyway.

Sami was watching Rudolph the Red-nosed Raindeer. (This is probably one of the best things about Christmas time. Sami's so enthralled by these cheesy TV specials that she wouldn't notice if the house fell in on her. And that means that I can get some present hiding done.)

"We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Good Tidings be bring, for you and your kin, good tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year!" Two voices sang out from outside the house.

Sami's eyes got huge, and she leaped off the chair she was sitting on with a squeal of joy. Sami raced through the small house, with her mother only a step behind her. Reaching the door the child threw the door open and shrieked "Uncle Rictor! Aunt Demi!"

And she was right. Standing in the driveway were Demona Wanger and Julio Richter, both with big smiles on their faces. Rictor swept the joyful child up in a big hug, while Tabitha and Demi shared a more sedated, though no less joyful, embrace. Then they traded, Sami going to the waiting arms of her godmother, and Tabitha being pulled into her best friend's arms.

"It's great to see you guys again! I didn't know you were comin'." Tabitha said, once the happy reunion was over.

"Neither did we." Demi answered in her beautiful German accent. "Or more correctly, I didn't know. I think Rictor is planing something."

"Who, me?" Rictor asked, with artfully achieved innocence.

Demi shook her head, a slow smile playing on her face. Rictor grinned back at her, and asked "So anything new and exciting?"

Tabitha laughed. "You should know better then to ask that around two women such as myself and my daughter."

Rictor laughed too. "I'll take my chances."

Tabitha shook her head. "Let's get inside, so Demi can drop the disguise."

"Best idea I have heard yet." Demi agreed, her face taking on a strained look. Rictor looked at her in worry but she just smiled at him.

Demona Wagner was a mutant like her boyfriend and Tabitha. But unlike them, her mutation, or at least part of it, was physical. She looked very much like Kurt Wagner AKA Nightcrawler of the X-Men. Demi was not a teleporter though. She was a shapershifter, which allowed her to hide her odd appearance rather well. She had long royal blue hair and pointed elf ears. She also had the same yellow eyes and blue fur covered her entire body. Unlike Kurt though, she had the proper number of fingers and toes. A long tail and fangs finished off her decidedly demonic appearance.

However, Demi was anything but demonic. She had been raised by a group of nuns in a small convent in Germany, so she was very religious. She always wore a small golden cross that Rictor had given her for their first anniversary. She was also a bit flighty and could find the humor in almost any situation. Demi was also loyal down to her toes, and would compromise if she had to. She was the perfect counter balance to Ric's stubbornness.

Once inside, Demi dropped her shape. Sami stood in amazed silence, staring at her aunt like some thing out of a movie.

"What is it? You've know that this is what Aunt Demi looks like." Tabitha chided her daughter.

"I've never seen you do that before." Sami informed the German.

Demi laughed sweetly. "Ja, I believe that you are right about never seeing me change."

"That was neat! Do it again!" Sami urged, bouncing up and down.

Rictor laughed to Tabitha; "I bet that was what you were like at that age."

"I was�yeah I was pretty much like her." Tabitha agreed gazing at her daughter as Sami stared in amazement at Demi changing form. "But I wasn't nearly as even tempered."

Rictor nodded. "I imagine she's got a lot of her father in her."

Tabitha hurriedly blinked the tears back that formed in her eyes. "Yeah. Yeah she does."

"Hey Tabitha, are you alright?" Rictor asked in concern, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

"I-I'm fine Rictor. Really." Tabitha's voice broke in the middle of her sentence.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Sami asked, turning from Demi. The child ran to where her mother was standing and wrapped her arms around her mother's hips. Tabitha lifted the child up and hugged her.

"Nothing, sweetie. Mommy's okay." Tabitha tried to calm her distraught daughter. Sami looked at her with a worried expression on her small face, and wrapped her arms around Tabitha's neck.

Burying her face in her mother's neck the child said, "I love you Momma."

Tabitha felt the tears well up in her eyes, again. "I love you too, baby."

Rictor walked over to stand next to Demi, who was watching mother and child. Demi smiled up at the taller man, and reached down to lace his fingers through hers.

"I love you, baby." He whispered to his lover.

"I love you too." Demi whispered back, squeezing his hand.

*****

"So, have you found any of them?" Sam asked from behind Amara. The blonde woman jumped in surprise.

"Yes, actually, I have." Amara answered him.

"Who all did ya find?" Sam asked, trying vainly not to hope.

"Rictor, Shan, and Skids are all coming." Amara said evenly. "Rictor is even bringing a friend."

Sam tried not to let the pain he was feeling show through in his voice. "That's it?"

"Yes. Who else is there? Some one else you would like to invite?" Amara asked, a mocking note dancing through her voice.

"Not at all. Ah was just makin' sure you got everybody." Sam ground out.

"Did I?" Amara's voice held false sweetness.

"Ah think so." Sam snapped, turning on his heel and stalking away.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Bobby asked, wrapping his arms around his wife from behind.

"Because I do not want him to get his hopes up, and have them crushed if Rictor cannot convince Tabitha to come." Amara explained.

"Makes sense my love." Bobby agreed with her.

"Bobby?" Amara asked.

"Yes?" He responded.

"Would you fall into the same state as Sam is in if I was gone?" Her voice held a barely detectable plaintive trace.

"Most defiantly." Bobby told her.

"I love you, you know that right?" Amara asked him.

"I do. And I love you also." Bobby reassured her.

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