Christmas with the Aetherytes

"Remember the time you almost destroyed the world?" Dartanian asked his wife. The six-foot tall, dark man with the devious smile and short-cut hair stared at his tiny wife as she contemplated making one of the most crucial decisions of her life.

"I'm not ready yet." She said as she let her head fall. Her long, dark hair covered her face from him as she stared at the floor. He stepped closer and placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

"Why would you even bring that up?" She asked.

"My love, if you can do that and can be redeemed, then so can she."
"

But that's different and you know it!"
"Claire?" He sternly yelled. The tiny woman broke away from him and continued to grab ornaments from the newly opened packaging.

"She was going to kill you, Tanner." She said as she raised the ball to place it on a limb of the tree. 

"And so did you." He remarked as he grabbed an ornament to help.

"I don't know why you keep bringing that up. It was literally a timeline that doesn't exist now."

Dartanian paused at the audacity of his wife. He looked at her with an eyebrow raised, witnessing her as she gave nothing but attitude.

"Why are you so invested in her?" She asked as she headed to the kitchen. Dartanian followed closely.

"Because someone has to be the voice of reason. Besides, nobody wants to be alone on Christmas, love."

Claire turned around and looked at him. Her cheeks became rosy and her lips poked out as she pouted.

"I know it was literally a different timeline. But do you remember that feeling? The loneliness?"

Claire's mouth twisted to the side of her face as she grew more upset. The lights flickered in the room and Dartanian looked up to the ceiling with concern. 

Claire stepped away from him and walked to the oven. Dartanian watched as she opened it and reached in with her bare hands. She grabbed the item inside and pulled it out. Dartanian immediately smelled smoke and burned sugar.

"No, no, no!" Claire yelled as the room went dark.

It had gotten quiet as the Christmas music faded and all the motors from fans and electronics stopped.

"Dammit!" She yelped. Suddenly, her arms started to glow, instantly cutting through the darkness. Bolts of electricity extruded from her small body and infiltrated every electronic device and light. Eventually, the power was restored. When he laid eyes on his wife again, he noticed the look on her face. Sadness swept over her as she grabbed foil to cover up her freshly baked pie.

"I don't like to be reminded of that." She said to Dartanian. 

"I could understand why." He responded as he approached her.

"I don't mean to throw it in your face, love. But she has done everything she possibly could to prove herself to you."

"Except for apologizing!" She yelled as she turned to him. "My mission is to keep this family safe and finally live my life as a normal person!"