December 13 – Mal<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Doug, Ryan, and Tim made their way back to them, Molly noticed there were tear tracks down Doug\u2019s face as well. She reached out and pulled her cousin-in-law into her arms, squeezing him tight. \u201cI\u2019m so glad you moved out here,\u201d she murmured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSame,\u201d he mumbled into her shoulder. \u201cIt was one of the best decisions we made, outside of getting married and having Ryan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they stepped apart, Drew grabbed him and nearly crushed him in a hug, while Molly embraced Tim and Ryan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFamily. Love family.\u201d Ryan announced, and planted a wet kiss on Molly\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I feel left out!<\/em> Schrodinger cried in mock-anger. No one loves me!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDown.\u201d Ryan demanded, and when Tim set him on his feet, he put both his chubby arms around the CrossCat and gave him a kiss. \u201cFamily,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cFamily.\u201d Then he turned back to his fathers. \u201cUp, please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once he was settled back on Tim\u2019s shoulders, they all turned their attention towards the tree, where a very familiar figure was making his way up the steps. Mal, his ever-present cigarette dangling from his mouth, his flannel jacket dusted with snow and ash, stumped up the stairs and smiled down at the Snow Queen, who barely came up to his chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, Mal, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve seen you outside of the Gate Station in years,\u201d she teased him gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot true, Your Highness. I come to the Ball every year,\u201d he said, and she laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isn\u2019t she a Queen?<\/em> Schrodinger asked. Shouldn\u2019t that be Your Majesty?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor anyone else, yes,\u201d Drew said. \u201cHowever, he\u2019s always called her Your Highness and she\u2019s never corrected him. I wonder if we\u2019re ever going to find out why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mal unwrapped the small package in his hands, and Molly saw the glint of golden glass. Jade apparently recognized it, as her eyes went wide and one hand came up to her mouth. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d she said, looking up at the Station Master in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t think of anything better,\u201d he said, and to Molly and Drew\u2019s shock, there was a glimmer of tears in his eyes as well. \u201cShe always loved to celebrate Christmas.\u201d He held up a glass hard candy, swirled with gold and green, that flashed in the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Molly\u2019s eyes cleared, the crowd around her was moving, and the Christmas tree in the center of the square had its traditional decorations on it. It was snowing lightly, and all the windows in the shops had brilliant window displays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Is that MAL?<\/em> Schrodinger brought her attention to a tall young man, still in the same flannel jacket that the Station Master always wore in winter, a cigarette in his mouth. But he was walking with someone Molly vaguely remembered: a slender older woman, her hair perfectly white and coiffed, carrying two bags. Mal was carrying several more, and Molly half-wondered how he was going to deal with the cigarette when it was done without dropping anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne last stop, Malcolm, and we can go home,\u201d she said. \u201cI just need the last gift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy do you even bother, Mother? We both know he doesn\u2019t give a damn if you give him a gift.\u201d Mal\u2019s eyes were angry. \u201cHe\u2019ll just smash it like he does every year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne year he won\u2019t,\u201d she said. \u201cStay here. I\u2019ll just run across the square and then we\u2019ll head out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFine, I\u2019ll wait here.\u201d Mal watched her dash across the square, shaking his head. \u201cDamn fool. One of these days, she won\u2019t be here anymore, and he\u2019ll have no one to bully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who is he talking about?<\/em> Schrodinger asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProbably his father. They never really got along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So that\u2019s his mother?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, I think so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The woman was as good as her word, and before they knew it, she was hurrying back to Mal. \u201cAll done! Now we can go home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat did you get him?\u201d Mal asked, more out of habit than out of any need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She smiled up at him. \u201cAn empty box.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d That shook him up a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, maybe not empty. There\u2019s a piece of paper in it.\u201d Her smile got even larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fast stream of emotion ran across Mal\u2019s face, starting with surprise and ending with wary hope. \u201cWill he like it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She laughed. \u201cHe\u2019ll hate it. Shall we go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As they walked off, the scene dissolved, and Molly and Schrodinger were back, watching Mal hang the golden candy ornament on the tree. \u201cMom would have loved this, you know,\u201d he said to Jade. \u201cAfter the divorce, she was able to truly celebrate Christmas the way my father never let her. It\u2019s only fitting that the last ornament she made go on this tree.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" December 13 – Mal As Doug, Ryan, and Tim made their way back to them, Molly noticed there were tear tracks down Doug\u2019s face as well. She reached out and pulled her cousin-in-law into her arms, squeezing him tight. \u201cI\u2019m so glad you moved out here,\u201d she murmured. \u201cSame,\u201d he mumbled into her shoulder. \u201cIt …<\/p>\n