Teeside Christmas

[Maira]

Kate laughed at Daine's reaction to his gift, pleased that he seemed to appreciate it. "I don't know if the book does but I remember the ones I used on my kid sisters if you'd like them?" she answered him helpfully.

Jonathan nodded to Mikhail's question and answered perfectly calmly, "I can assure you he's gone Mikhail. Part of the reason Andrew and I left for a while, we were trailing him none to secretively. I think he got the impression that when we left Four Aces you'd snapped us up and had set us on him. It was really quite nice to see the man squirm looking for others besides Andrew and myself." Jonathan didn't smile but his eyes were dancing with merriment at that memory. Jake had practically tortured Andrew during the showdown with Teesside Howl, making him believe that Jezza was going to be 'had' by as many of the pack members as wanted her for deserting. Jonathan could not forgive his ex-Alpha for the mistreatment of his brother, adopted though he may be.

Andrew turned his attention from Anthony at Christine's voice speaking to him. A lopsided goofy grin took up residence on his lips before he answered the Alpha female. "Wild adventures? Me? Miss Christine, you don't know me well enough. I tend to avoid anything too adventurous." His smile lingered as he looked at Jezza sitting by Christine's feet, she seemed to be relaxing a bit now that it was apparent Daine wasn't going to maim either of her guests.

At the knock on the door, Jezza jumped, startled. Natalie too jumped and both girls shared a pathetic grin. On Christmas, of all nights, why on earth should they be jumpy?

When Daine came back into the livingroom with Nicolai following, Jezza smiled warmly at him. Unfolding herself from her position at Christine's feet she got up and walked over to the man, taking enough of his bags (and promptly setting them on the floor) to be able to throw her arms around his neck in a friendly hug. "Merry Christmas Nicolai, I'm so glad you actually made it!" Yet another member of her new extended family 'home' for Christmas, Jezza was ecstatic.

Jonathan and Andrew had both turned to watch Jezza, and to see who the new arrival was. As Nicolai smiled at them, both brother's smiled back warmly.

[Races The Night]

Christine smiled warmly at the new arrival. "Good, now that everyone is here I guess we should hand out the gifts?"

"I'll go get the scotch." Mikhail murmured, lifting his frame from his chair and heading for the kitchen for wine and whisky.

"Yes, something warm would be welcome." Nicolai commented to his Alpha, faking a shiver. "Its rather cold and dismal out there now, I'm afraid." Once again he pushed his glasses back onto his nose. "Merry Christmas all." he took a seat near Natalie and dumped his bag of gifts next to the tree.

"OK, who first?" Christine asked, looking around the room expectantly. "Natalie, thanks for volunteering." She nominated with a wry smile, handing her a box wrapped in green wrapped paper and red ribbons, from behind her chair. It was something simple to start with, just some perfume and bath salts, frm one woman to another.

[Maira]

Natalie blinked a bit with surprise as Christine volunteered her to be first to recieve a gift. When her Alpha handed her the pretty wrapped gift, Natalie smiled. Upon opening it her smile grew. *Thanks Christine," she said as she lifted the salts to her nose to get a good sniff, "they're wonderful!" There was nothing she liked more for relaxing than a nice long hot bath.

Looking around at her packmates, Natalie tried to pick who would be next. A mischevious smile came onto her face as her eye's landed on Nicolai. Grabbing a rather obvious book shaped gift, wrapped in red paper with white snowflakes on it, she tossed it at him. "Since you were the last here Nicolai, you're next." Inside was not only a book he'd been eyeballing for some time, but a giftcard to his favorite book store.

[Races The Night]

Nicolai caught the package, only just and readjusted his glasses in his unique gesture. A blush spread quickly over his pale face. Unwrapping the gift he grinned knowingly and read out the title, "Astrology, physics and prediction for the Gifted."

"Thanks Natalie, I've wanted this for a while now." He smiled warmly at his fellow pack mate and side stepped around the other to rummage in his bags. He produced a small box shaped present. He handed it to Jezza. "I didn't know quite what to get you, young Jezza, but I hope you like it."

Nicolai had, actgually, dragged Anthony out a few days beforehand to shop for gifts for the female members of their clan. The man had no idea when it came to women, he was too shy to ask and doubted his abilities to guess when a woman was involved. So Anthony had grudgingly allowed Nicolai to buy Jezz a simple bracelet. A celtic knot design, it was thin and delicate and Nicolai seemed pleased with the fruits of the shopping expedition. Now it remained for his friends to like his gifts.