The song ‘I’m dreaming of a white Christmas’ could be heard in the mansion grounds as Sam continued to shovel the snow off the main walkways and the main drive. Sure it was hard work and he could use his powers for to quicken the pace but the only thing he had done with his powers is create a golem with two large snow shovels for hands and a large snow shovel for himself.

It was about ten in the morning and the grounds were almost silent. Most of the students had returned home for the holidays to visit their families, however Sam wasn’t one of those kids, far from it. The mansion was his home now and everyone there was part of his large and quite dysfunctional family.

The wind started to pick up as Sam’s breath carried feet from his body as the snow started to fall on his bare chest. Some would call Sam crazy but if they knew his mutation he would seem far from it. Sam looked at the main driveway and smiled, “Almost done big guy” said Sam out loud as he patted the golem on the back.

Continuing to shovel Sam kept singing while the golem tapped a foot on the ground to keep the beat, “’m dreaming of a white Christmas…Just like the ones I used to know…” Sam lifted the large pile as he continued sing the song.

Despite him being tired from all the snow ten inches to be exact he had a smile on his face. This would be the first Christmas that he would be celebrating with people! All his previous Christmas’s consisted of him sitting in his tiny prison cell of a room, last year wasn’t much better seeing as he had no one to celebrate with but this year, this year was going to be great! This year there were people that he cared about and wanted to celebrate with. ‘Today is Christmas!!’ thought Sam as he continued to sing and shovel.

Katrina didn't believe in Santa anymore, but it didn't change the fact that waking up on Christmas morning still brought a feeling of excitement that made it impossible to fall back asleep after her ashen orbs first fluttered open in the early morning light. It was Christmas, a Christmas fresh with new possibilities.

It was one year to the day when she had last spoken to her father, and he had given the impression then that he'd never like to speak to her again. The memory was painful, but already it was dulled by time. Still, Katrina remained hopeful that her father would someday see reason and accept her back.

Since that long winter at Mondragon Labs Katrina had found her mother again and found a family here at Xavier's, and she definitely looked forward to spending the holiday with people she loved. She only wished that everyone she loved could be there to enjoy it with her.

Throwing back the covers unceremoniously, Katrina made her way toward the window and twisted the stick that manipulated the angle of the shades. The brilliant sunlight that reflected off the snow outside made was much brighter than her pupils were expecting, and it took a few moments of blinking and squinting before she was able to see anything but the glare.

The mansion grounds had been transformed entirely overnight from bleak midwinter brown to dazzling wonderland white. Each and every branch and twig on each and every bush and tree was piled high with sparkling white crystals. The colored lights that decorated the two large trees on either side of the newly mended mansion gates were trying their best to be seen despite the thick blanket of white that covered them. Their attempts could be seen in the glowing rainbow circles that dotted the trees' branches from tip to trunk.

From her vantage point in the second story window, it appeared that the snow was entirely untouched, with the exception of rabbit tracks that traveled to and from one of the aforementioned conifers. If the thirteen year old didn't dawdle, she could be one of the first ones to make her mark in that fresh snow, before it was rolled up into snowmen, packed into snowballs, trampled down, or otherwise altered by human or mutant hands or feet.

Katrina didn't like being cold, but for the chance to be the first to walk across the fresh snow it was worth bundling up. She didn't even bother to take off her silky pajamas, and instead put a sweatshirt and sweatpants right over the top of them. The sweats were followed by two pairs of socks, a wool sweater, and a third pair of socks, just to be safe. Downstairs she wrapped her scarf around her face and pulled on a pair of snow pants that looked to be about her size. She hoped that whomever actually owned the snow pants would be too busy digging through their stocking for candy and gifts this morning to miss the presence of the warm, waterproof overalls in the front closet. Finally, a coat, boots, mittens, and a hat completed the wearable safe guards against bitter temperatures, and she was ready to go outside. She repositioned the scarf to cover her nose better, then opened the front door.

It was gorgeous outside. Someone had already shoveled the walkways, but the yard remained pristine and perfect without a single footprint. Katrina took a running start down the shoveled sidewalk and leaped over the small snowbank at the sidewalk's edge into the freshly fallen accumulation of flakes.

She turned in place, so she was facing the front door once again, and flopped backwards into the soft snow. She arced her arms and legs, pushing the snow out of the pathway of her limbs, then carefully stood up again to admire her snow angel. She bent and drew a heart on the snow angel's chest. For my daddy, who still loves me way deep down. She stepped to the side, and soon another snow angel lay next to the first one. This one had pointed ears added to the head. A third snow angel was given a long tail. For the fourth one, she used a broken twig to add an “H” on the bottom of the angel's robe. The sentimental gamine moved on to a fifth angel, fully intending to make one for each of the people she wished could be with her that Christmas, or at least continue until she got too cold to make any more.

Did Christmas always get bleaker as one got older?

Loved ones died (or worse became estranged), the presents were never a surprise (assuming there even were presents), and no matter the amount of tinsel and holly and joy... Ghost just couldn't seem to catch the Christmas spirit this year. Maybe it was the fact that she had to work late closing on Christmas Eve or the fact that this was her first Christmas without any family and she was forced away from home. It was strange to think that last Christmas mom was...

Ghost shook her head and drifted along the sidewalks in her ethereal form. It was too cold to be solid. She'd actually gotten to spook an inebriated bystander into thinking he was in some Dickinson-like dream. It was petty, but she hadn't had a very restful evening even after she returned to the Mansion. She tossed and turned without a single vision of sugar plums. She just had to get out of there for some reason so Ghost left the mansion grounds at first light through her window and she hadn't gone solid since.

She wasn't normally this gloomy. Ghost had thought that shopping for presents would make this Christmas Season easier. It hadn't helped. Now she had some professionally wrapped parcels dumped at the foot of her bed waiting for distribution, but she was afraid no one would like or want their gift. Besides, there was one person that Ghost had yet to find something for and that was her excuse for wandering about the city so early. She was... looking. For a present... This was a stupid idea. Here she was exposing herself for what she was in the middle of New York on Christmas morning.

Except that the city was strangely peaceful, she'd never seen it so empty. For once, most everyone was inside and the whole metropolitan area seemed to be holding its breath in anticipation. Last night the flakes had begun to fall and even now, large fluttering white crystals drifted lazily through her body and her element. It was strangely comforting to be alone with the phenomenon of precipitation. It was like a miraculous hug with icy fingers that reached past the doom and gloom and into something softer.

Was it okay to "let it all hang out" and just be a mutant? It was Christmas. Could she be herself when the humans started stirring? Would mom have approved? Surely she would have said this was a foolish endeavor. It wasn't like any shops were open at this hour, let alone on Christmas Day. And unfortunately, presents didn't grow on trees or wander out of alleyways...

A soft mewling made Ghost blink out of her melancholy.

Leila's hot choclate lay forgotten beside the Desk. It had probably grown cold now, just like the rest of New York City on this beautiful Christmas day. Leila smiled as she held up two scarves. Both matched her white coat, though one was green and the other red. She had the matching hat and gloves of each one too, but which one to put on? Leila wanted to go out today, maybe a walk in the park, listening to children laughing, playing in the white snow. Leila missed Canada more then anything, there, they were used to loads of snow.

Finally, she decided on the green scarf. She pulled on her white knee-high boots and looked at herself from every angle possible. "Not bad Leila-Mariella." she said aloud, the next thing she did was look at the window. To her surprise, more snow then expected lay on the grounds of the Mansion. "Holy crap!" she said in a sing-song voice. "This is awesome! We will have a White Christmas afterall.. Gee, I wonder how long it's been since I did." she whispered, smiling nothertheless.

She glanced at Sam, Raina, Nathan and Ali's gifts laying on her bed, then out the window again. It was then that she heard the singing. Not a few seconds later, she realized her Hearing Abilities seemed to be getting stronger. Though her window wasn't opened, she could hear someone, a man, singing. She couldn't make out the song, but it sounded joyful. Leila wondered if her Hearing Abilities would ever grow stronger. Could she practice making them stronger?

Shrugging, Leila walked out of her bedroom, locking the door as she did so. She had about a thousand bucks worth of presents for friends in there. Leila's head was overflowing with Christmas spirit, as she chanted "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas..." the song seemed familiar, she had heard it many times before, though it seemed very recently that she last heard it. Maybe on the radio this morning? She hadn't been paying much attention anyway.

Finally she was out the Main doors, shivering, not from cold, but from the memories this very place held. The first night she had been here, her arm bleeding, Sam, being hurt but not wanting to give up on his friends. Sam... Speaking of the Ice Man, she grinned as she saw the friendly face a few feet away, but before she could do much else, she realized that she was about to step on a young girl's art. "Oh, does are nice." she grinned, noticing the Tails and the ears. So these were Mutant Angels. Nice. "Merry Christmas!" she added, and stepped around the girl and her many Angels.

She started walking again, intending on going for that walk, but finally she saw the source of the singing earlier, and why she had found the song so familiar as she sung it. "Who knew the Ice Man could sing?" she asked in a flattering tone as she walked closer to him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "Merry Cheristmas!" she added, feeling like that would be her word of the day. She let go of him, realizing that he was shirtless. "Aren't you cold?" she asked, pushing him away a little so she could look at him in the eyes.

It was Christmas! However Luna "Dolly" Highland spent her time sleeping in as though it was any normal day for her. rolling in her cocoon of sheets with a grunt of displeasure, The Doll Mistress rolled a little too far and ended up falling out of her bed with a 'thump'. "Owf!" came the sound of the green haired girl as she landed unceremoniously in a heap on the carpeted floor. The mess of thick covers and sheets tangling around her, after many moments of strangling through the mass Luna's green haired head poked out with a tired and bleary look.

Her hair was a mess though Luna did not care at the moment- she really wanted to go and sleep the day away, because unlike most kids Luna was not the usual joyful little girl waiting for the Big man in red to give her a present. No Luna was more logical and pretty much knew that it was an adult who put your presents under the tree. A fact she got used to living with after she grew up quite fast in such a short time...

Yawning the dyed green haired mutant got up, her pajamas consisting of her usual long white nightgown and her green hippo slippers, Luna drudged towards her bathroom as the door shut with a slam and water could be heard from the shower. Minutes later Luna came out with a white towel wrapped around her frame as she then went and gotten dressed.

Luna wore something a little different, but only because of the weather. Today she wore a deep green sweat hoody, with a cute picture of a snowflake on it in light blues and whites. The hood was up only letting her bangs show and a few curls. Her pants were deep blue sweat pants bunched at the bottom where they met snow boots the color black. All set and ready to go outside Luna stopped towards the kitchen to grab an apple then headed for the mansion door to the outside.

Finally outside the blast of cold and frost hit her like someone put a bucket of ice water on her back. Though Luna only shivered a little, staring with awe at how white the world was today Luna could only imagine how much snow they had gotten this Christmas! Absently she dropped her apple in her shock only to blanch as she realized that she dropped it! "M-My apple!" She stuttered in shock as she then huffed and kicked it slightly before moving to the sudden noise- no music coming from the front!

Walking curiosity through the snow her boots making crunching sounds as she did, Luna stopped dead as she realized who she saw! It was SAM shirtless! Though Luna did not register that Leila was there at that second she could only think hat Sam had a nice- "No! I'm WAY too young to be thinking THAT!" She scolded herself as she finally noticed Leila and deflated a bit at the thought that even in ten years...

Sam would never notice her... With a slight frown her legs moved like casters as she slowly walked up to the two, her hands stuffed in her pockets as she looked at the pristine snowed ground. Glancing up she finally spoke. "Merry Christmas..Sam and Leila..." Though she didn't seem so cheerful at the moment.

Sam sighed and nodded in satisfaction to the job well done. He had finally finished shoveling the large amount of shoveling. The freshly shoveled ground looked like the normal summer driveway, well minus a few sheets of ice here or there.

"Who knew the Ice Man could sing?" "Merry Christmas!" "Aren't you cold?"

Sam blushed slightly when Leila complimented him well at least he thought it was a complement. Sam hugged Leila back and smiled, “Thanks… Merry Christmas Leila The next question struck Sam as odd, “cold?” Sam back stepped from Leila laughing, “Me cold?” Sam held up his hand and shot a beam of ice vacant area on the grounds and formed a twelve foot snow man of ice, “The cold is kind of my thing, never been bugged by it before.” Said Sam with a smile on his face. “Just lucky I guess…”

Looking at Leila his left eyebrow, “What are you doing out here? Going to play in the snow?” Sam teased as he picked up a handful of snow and tossed it at Leila as the snow fell around her. If it was possible she looked more beautiful as the specks of snow swirled around her face. Sam’s face started to fill with blood only for a second and then it quickly disappeared.

Off in the distance Sam could see a girl approaching them slowly as she got closer Sam could spot the green hair. A sudden flashback of the sad little girl played in his head as he smiled as she approached, ‘No way she can be sad on Christmas!’ thought Sam.

"Merry Christmas..Sam and Leila..."

Sam smiled as he walked to Luna and pulled her into a hug, “Merry Christmas Luna,” Sam pulled away from her and smiled, “I think your gonna like your gift I got you!” said Sam excitedly as he looked at her face. ‘Sad on Christmas?’ wondered Sam as he walked towards the snow and noticed the girl that was at the X-Men meeting.

Running through his head the names of the people there Sam called out, “Kat!” Sam waved to her and smiled hoping she would have a more Christmas cheer than Luna. ‘Looks like Luna needs all the cheer she can get’ thought Sam as he gave another look at Luna.

Streak had had a busy last few days trying to figure out what would be appropriate for his friends on Christmas. he'd finally found the right presents, or so he hoped, for them. Most of his closest friends didn't leave the mansion because their family, or lack there of, was about as welcoming as his was. After finally getting to bed quite late the previous night he woke with a start. It was unusual for him not wake with a start most nights. The camps had their effect on him and made him remember with every waking and sleeping minute what he'd gone through and how much his life had improved. The sun light filtered its way through his curtains and, after pulling them back, he realized there was a fresh coating of snow. There were a few people out there already, although he couldn't make out exactly who they were from this distance.

Not being one to own much clothing, heavy or regular, he covered his body in silver. Streak then put pants, shirt and a hoodie sweat shirt over himself. He left his face uncovered so that it would look like he wasn't using his powers. Streak walked outside and finally realize that it was Sam and Katrina outside. Shawn didn't know the other two that were out there, although he did recognized one of them from the fight and one from the party before the Order crashed Raina's birthday party. Was Sam shirtless? Streak wondered as he walked closer. Yup. Oh well what do you expect from an ice manipulator during the winter and in snow. Shawn's face was already getting a little pinkish from the cold weather but he didn't let that stop him from continuing his journey closer to the little group.

Shawn saw Sam throw some snow at Leila and took that as his turn to intervene in the fun. Shawn quickly bent down and picked up and handful of snow and turned it into a snowball. Streak then launched the snowball as fast as he could at Sam's bare chest. After throwing it he walked up to the group. "Morning y'all. Merry Christmas." He said putting on a cheerful face.

Fausto awakened tired,he was unable to sleep well in all the night. actually he fall asleep between thoughts and memories. when you lose someone you love, Christmas lose a lot of sense. in fact the meaning of Christmas was disappearing little by little, it was no longer a religious celebration but an opportunity to fill the shops of gift at high prices that everyone wants buy to prove what many people can not say with words.

But that was not what it the most tormented him , in dreams he was chased from the thoughts that he had caused irreparable damage to a family, that family will be so sad or even more than him . the family lost someone very dear, that would be the first Christmas without his father ... Fausto walk over two years without their parents, two Christmas without them. He knew very well the feeling of emptiness and helplessness generated by the celebrations of this kind.

The only gift he received was from Cielle , it was not really a Christmas gift but it coincided with the date. so she certainly ask any butler to put a nice gift-wrapping paper and a large blue ribbon. Fausto couldnt imagine her ,the whimsical and seductive Cielle doing it by herself.
his gift was a modern and compact cell phone, Fausto didnt like the idea of being pending to the small device at all times. he really didnt give importance to these small advances in technology. but Cielle insisted that it was the best way to maintain communications between them. The only numbers that were loaded into the memory were Cielle and Takumi cell phones numbers , but he also had the number of Leila. After a good breakfast, he will try to enter her number in memory.

He quickly change his pajamas, well which he used as pajamas ... a pair of loose trousers and a shirt of a larger size. he was putting on quite warm clothes of completely opposite colors, fashion does not matter when it's cold. the only important thing is to stay warm. a scarf around his neck complete the outfit.

Fausto remained contemplating the landscape through the window, a sea of white stretched the field of mansion. Everything was completely covered with snow, from the smaller mushrooms and shrubs to large trees in the garden. it really seemed a gigantic wave of white paint had fallen into the place.
Only the entrance had been cleared of snow. A couple of people gathered below. He seemed to recognize Sam, Leila and Kat.
The window growled when Fausto attempt to open it . the cold air in the morning enter the room along with a bit of snow that shut his feet.
the last two Christmas were very lonely and boring but this Christmas would be really spectacular. he was surrounded by people who cared for him, it was appreciated for what he is, a mutant. he really wished that the people in his heart would have a happy Christmas. Katrina, Sam, Luke and Neena.
Fausto looked out through the window, trying to dont fall . he contemplate the five people who were chatting in the snow, they would hear these words thousands of times until the end of the day, but he wanted to say them anyway. So the shout with all his strength.
¨ hey all merry Christmas! ¨

(I have permission to type Ayesac in here. I hope he has time to post.)

Christmas wasn’t something Sara knew the actual meaning of, when she grew up. She could give the definition of about anything, but the definition was just words that she had, had, drilled into her head. To actually know the meaning. To have the chance to learn it, over the years, was both a tease, and a gift.

When Sara was a teen, she experienced her first Christmas. Everything was cold. She Watched in the shadows, as people with wallets filled with money hurried from the shop to car to shop to car to shop. Waiting for a chance to pick a pocket and this time of year, her greedy fingers could find plenty of bills to stuff her pockets with. She was something of a golden haired grinch, to those who didn’t watch their money that well. Me, me, me. Take all and leave nothing because that was the best way to survive.

She knew better now. Sure there was the money side of Christmas. There was the greed, but there was also the love. No not everyone was going to have a lot. The last time Sara completely cleared all the money out of someone’s wallet, she had stolen from a kid, who was trying to buy shoes for his mother.

Mother. There was another word back then that was just a word. A way of describing half of an individual’s lineage. Looking back, Sara felt so stupid. The words of Christmas’s definition no longer fit in her head, with what she fully understood, but she did understand one thing. For five years she woke up next to Ayesac, and Christmas didn’t feel the same when they were forced apart and he wasn’t right there, when she opened her eyes. It was a miracle that happened year round. Things that happened year round, didn’t have the definition in words as being special, as much as Christmas did, but to not wake up, with him there. If his arm wasn’t over her side so she could feel his heart beat, then the holiday couldn’t be the holiday. No matter what words could say.

This morning was no different from Sara’s ideal Christmas. She woke up surrounded by the warmth that told her Ayesac was right there.

. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .

They arrived at the mansion grounds of the sister school later that morning. Sara leaned against the big red dragon man’s shoulder as they got to the gate and Sara rang the buzzer. Jiggling the bag to get the attention of those she saw out. “Hey. We brought cookies.”

Sara had fur, but even she had dressed in a vest with lots of inclined fluff. A scarf was tied loose around her neck. She leaned against the shoulder of Ayesac’s coat. “You can let us in, or we can just jump the gate.” She checked the gate’s height. I wasn’t that high but she didn’t know what security measures they had. They were ready for mutants after all.

It was... disgusting. A red smear speckled with darker fluids that did nothing to bolster Ghost's faith in the Holiday spirit. A mother cat had erringly led her children across the snowy road. There was no way of telling how it happened exactly, but one thing was for certain: they were all dead and very, very flat. Well, she thought they were all dead.

She hadn't wanted to see it, but the soft mewling made Ghost take a closer look. And there he was: scrawny, feeble, frost bitten, and shivering. Smaller than the furred splats in the road, it was safe to assume that he'd been too weak to make it over the heap of blackish snow that edged the street. He cried for a mother and a rescue that would never come. Ghost's mind wasn't on presents. Her attention was suddenly focused. Her whole world shut down so that she could only see that small helpless ball of fur.

Could she take him home? Would he make it through the morning, let alone the day? One thing was for sure, Ghost became solid. She wasn't properly dressed because she'd planned to stay a wisp. Now she was as exposed to the elements as the kitten. She scraped up the greyish fluff and pulled the cold and wet pelt close to her belly, the core of her warmth, before taking off at a run. She only knew of one vet because it was near her bus stop. Ghost was praying that they were open.

...But of course they weren't.

Ghost pounded futilely on the door with her bare hand. Her cheeks were chapped, her nose runny and red, and eyes watered from more than just cold. It was later in the morning now and people seemed to be awake enough to rustle around in their apartments and peek through the curtains at the cause of the noise. Ghost turned around and leaned against the cold glass door with the neatly printed letters that spelled out "Central Bark Emergency Vet Clinic."

Some Emergency Clinic... didn't they know that emergencies happened on Christmas day too?

She snuffled and prodded at the ball of fur in her arms. Her cotton night shirt had a wet spot that covered most of her belly and it was obvious that her grey sweats and bare feet weren't the ideal attire considering the white Christmas for which so many had hoped. It was probably bad that she had stopped being able to feel her feet, but she was preoccupied with worry. It was breathing, that was obvious from the rise and fall of his pelt, but he had stopped squirming and now, excepting the rapid breaths, he wasn't moving any more at all.

She really wanted to save him. For some reason she'd gotten attached. She knew it was stupid that she identified with the little thing and especially stupid that she had staked so much on his survival. But, if she saved him, if they both lived and not just survived, she would be that much closer to saving herself.

Christmas, what does it mean?
Yes, there is the consumerism in the world, where the department stores try to get people to buy presents for people, but is this all it is about? Does monetary value determine the value of the gift? All Christmas is, is the celebration that Christians do, on the birth of their Savior, Yeshua of Nazareth, whom was the son of god.

Ayesac knew this meaning of Christmas, but this was not what it was to him, it was a time to be around family, and friends and enjoy the end of the year… To make amends for the things done last year, so that the in the New Year, things can be forgiven, and all can move on with their lives…

Ayesac desired no presents really, other the then the ‘present’. The present was exactly what it is, a gift, and was to be treasured. For the last Five years, he always woke with his WereCat within his arms, watching her sleep till she woke… By common law standers, they were married -- was this enough? Ayesac is bullheaded, and stubborn - though Sara seemed to be able to keep him from being so with her gentle tact, soft touch, and her lovingness towards him… Sara is his angel.

Things started roughly between the two, but that is a story for another time.
- -- - --- - -- - --- - -- - --- - -- - --- - -- - --- - -- - --- - -- - ---


Standing next to Sara with her leaning on him, he was looking at the gate..

“Hey. We brought cookies.”

Ayesac grinned “Ya know, we could just go over the gate. I told you I crashed here earlier, and they didn’t seem to mind my company.” he leaned against the stone wall beside the gate opening, with his trench coat tucked around him, his arm around Sara's shoulder...

"Chestnuts roasting over an open fire......." Ayesac started to sing under his breath one of the few Christmas songs he knew... his tail idly flicking out from under the bottom of his coat - the brim of his leather cowboy hat hid some of his facial features, but not enough to hide the fact that he was.. well.. Draconic, at least to those that are observant.

Leila laughed at Sam's response to her 'being cold question'. He had made an Ice Man, just to remind her who he was. Leila was no longer surprised, or even scared, of the Ice he created. She had never really been scared of him, anyway. How could you be scared of him? Sam was the greatest. Of course he wasn't cold though, he was litterally Ice himself if he wanted too. "Duh!" she muttered to herself, but the conversation had continued, as if there hadn't been an interuption.

"What am I doing here?" she repeated. "Now that's actually an interesting question." she said, "I guess I just felt like going for a walk, watching all of the New York City Residients on Christmas morning." she said, grinning. "I never had a real Christmas before. Sure, I had a thousand Presents under the tree, but Nannies aren't who you'd like to open them with." she looked down for a second, wondering for the first time since her Nineteenth birthday, where her father was right now.

Then snow started falling around her, some getting in her blonde hair. She looked up, just to see a snow ball hit Sam right in the chest. Leila laughed, "I swear, it wasn't me." and though it was the truth, she couldn't help but laugh some more. Leila spotted Shawn, he was coming this way. She knew somewhat, that it had been him. But before she could tip off Sam, Luna had come along. "Merry Christmas to you too Luna!" she said, wishing right now that she could of had gotten the little girl a present. She looked a little... sad. Not the kind of feeling you wanted people to have on this day.

Then Shawn had arrived. He looked all inoccent, with his cheerful expression and the way he wished them Merry Christmas. "Hey. Merry Christmas to you too." she said, wondering how a first Snowball fight would be like. Before she could do anything, Iron Mouth came along. "Hey IM, Merry Christmas!" she said, feeling as if she hadn't said that word enough today.

Then two people caught her attention. "I think those two want to come in." she pointed out to the gang. She had no idea who they were, though they didn't look all that Human-ish. She seemed to spot some fur on the Female, and was the male... Red?

Ghost fumbled numbly with the back door handle.

"Ah, there's a child lock on there so criminals don't get out. Lemmie get that door for you, lil lady."

The officers were kind enough to not arrest her outright. Although it had taken quite a bit of dazed chattering to convince the nice officers that she wasn't loitering or picketing or worse. Ghost just needed some warmth, a vet, and a ride. After some warmth, she was coherent enough to give them an address. DocProf had supposedly healed an animal before, though Ghost had only heard the rumor second or third hand. The officers were skeptical at first, but they'd come around.

True to his word, the stodgy lieutenant got out and opened the door for Ghost so that she could step out of the black and white and onto the lawn before the Mansion's gate. The grass still hadn't recovered from the scuffle of what was referred to as the 'birthday fight,' but that hardly mattered because someone (two guesses who) had made the mansion grounds into a winter wonderland. Ghost's bare feet touched down into the semi-snowy grass. At least on the outside of the gate, things weren't as ... white.

Turning and giving an honest bow to her saviors, Ghost made her goodbyes. "Thank you so much for the rescue. I will try to remember shoes next time."

The officers chuckled and shook their heads at the little mutant girl who cradled the ball of kitten. They really seemed to enjoy her sincerity and politeness. Apparently, they didn't see too much of it and a "rescue" job seemed an easy and pleasant change of pace. Especially on Christmas Day. The ride home and polite chit-chat with the police had made Ghost realize several things.

Despite what she'd worried about earlier this Christmas Day, there were still people who were kind. People existed at the mansion who still loved her, even if the one she loved the most had left. Perhaps, most important of all was that the Mansion, this place and these people, was home.

Ghost punched in the gate code, slipped past the wrought iron bars, and waved one more time to the vehicle as it pulled away from the gates before taking off at a run toward the actual mansion door. Several people seemed to be out enjoying the morning and the winter wonderland that... Sam had apparently created.

"Why'd you have to make it so cold!" She grumbled toward the group around a ... shirtless Sam. Oh yeesh. "and put some clothes on you show off!" She ran right past all of them though the going was slow in the snow and the cold bit at her lungs. She finally did make it to the mansion door when a thought occurred to her... it was Christmas and she was being grouchy.

So she sent one last message to everyone out in the snow this morning: "Oh and uh-Happy Christmas!" and she disappeared into the warmth to find DocProf.

Laughing after getting hit in the chest with the snowball Sam scooped a ball of snow and whipped it at streak laughing slightly. “Bad move man, I am the king of snowball fights!” Sam’s ears twitched slightly as he heard someone’s voice, “Merry Christmas Fausto!” Sam waved to the egger teen and then turned back to Streak and waved a hand towards the snow as several hands of ice formed in them only to scoop the snow and throw it at Streak.

Those two? Wondered Sam as he followed Leila’s finger to the main gate, “Oh good they both came!” Sam ran towards the main gate and opened it up, “Hey Sara and Ayesac” Sam extended his hand towards Ayesac and clapped him on the back, “Glad you guys could make it! Come on in.” Smiling like a kid Sam looked around, ‘so this is a Christmas with the family?’ thought Sam.

Okay maybe none of them was his blood relative but he felt at home at the mansion with his giant mutant dysfunctional family. Speaking of which Sam noticed Ghost running down the drive to the mansion.

Laughing Sam called out, “Cold is my thing, that’s what I do!” then he realized what she meant when she said put some clothes on. He forgot entirely that he was shirtless. Sam called out, “Come on don’t be a scrooge!” laughing Sam then said “That’s Better!” no reason for any one to be upset on Christmas. This was his first Christmas and he did want it to be a special one!

“Ya know, we could just go over the gate. I told you I crashed here earlier, and they didn’t seem to mind my company.”

Sara smiled and squeezed the Ayesac’s arm. Rubbing the muscle just under his elbow. “It’s polite to knock. Becides, with my luck when I go over, I’ll land in one of those snow banks, sink, and you’ll have to dig me out.”

"Chestnuts roasting over an open fire......."

She hummed with him softly and sang the next words. “Jack Frost nipping at your nose….” Speaking of Jack Frost. Cold Steel was the one to open the gate for them. He certainly did seem more chipper.

“Oh good they both came! Hey Sara and Ayesac. Glad you guys could make it! Come on in.”

“Of course we came.” Sara said still feeling the weight of the bag over her arm. Hmmm Should have brought candy canes too. Sara began following the rest of the group, on their way, inside.