Dickory

Merry Christmas

Connor was fidgeting already. They'd agreed to wait until after dinner to open gifts, but he was anxious. What if Niles was upset? Logically, he knew he wouldn't be, but he couldn't help the undertone of nerves. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea, but it had been Hank's suggestion. Hank had never steered him wrong before. It wasn't Niles' only present, obviously. Connor had spoiled him rotten. At least that's what Hank had said as he'd helped him wrap the gifts. Niles also had gifts from various other people, too. Chloe and Elijah, Gavin, Nines, Colin, and the group at Jericho. Even Hank had bought gifts for him.

"Don't be so nervous. You know he'll love it. It's what he wants," Hank assured as he joined him at the kitchen counter. He watched as his LED slowed from yellow to blue at his arrival. It was touching how he could do that. He wasn't sure exactly when he'd started to notice, but whenever Connor was stressed or upset, he could calm him with just a few small words or a touch. Connor nodded his agreement as he continued stirring the thick gravy on the stove, going over what he had left to do. He was pretty much finished. The meat was resting safely on the counter, the roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips were done, sprouts and broccoli had been drained and the trays of stuffing were ready to be cut.

"I know-I know, but I can help worrying that he'll...change his mind." Connor was stiff and anxious as he took the pot from the stove and set it down, turning off the flaming hob. He smiled as an aged hand laced in his hair and ruffled the neat locks. It was a futile effort. They fell back into place with the smallest shake of his head. Hank nodded towards the living room, where he could hear Niles talking animatedly about his latest baseball game with his friends and how he'd managed to hit two home runs. Colin's softer voice was humouring him kindly, asking him various questions about the sport and offering him praise.

"You won't know until you ask, but I'm damned sure he'll say yes," Hank replied warmly, watching a small smile grace Connor's nervous features. Hank was right. He shouldn't worry about it. A big part of him was still wondering if this was even the right decision in the first place. Everyone he'd spoken to had assured him it was. They all seemed so sure that things would work out. That he was the perfect person for this particular job. They'd all laughed or scoffed when he'd brought up his lack of programming. Apparently, some things weren't supposed to be programmed. As an android, he failed to understand that logic.

Colin appeared a few moments later with Niles and Sumo on his heels. Over the past few weeks of staying in Hank's home, Niles and Sumo had become almost inseparable. Niles always said goodbye to Sumo when he left, and the large dog would sit by the door, patiently waiting for him to come back. It would be almost cruel to separate them at this point. Niles stood waiting in the hallway stroking the large dog's sloppy jowls as Colin offered to help with serving. Connor accepted warmly and directed him to wash his hands and grab some of the serving bowls from the cupboard.

"Niles, can you wash your hands and wait at the table?" Connor called as he handed Hank the carving knives. Hank was no stranger to this sort of thing, though it had been a few years. It felt good to be preparing a family dinner again. The last time he'd done this, his wife had been in Connor's place, bustling about a much larger kitchen while her parents had sat at the large table in the dining room with Cole. Sumo had been the same back then, though perhaps his coat had been a little softer, a little glossier, and he hadn't had the traces of silver in his whiskers that he had now. Niles eagerly hurried to the counter and stood on tiptoe to wash his hands. "Don't touch Sumo again, you just washed your hands!" Connor chided affectionately as he watched Sumo nosing Niles on their way to the table.

"Sumo isn't dirty!" Technically, Niles was correct. The weather was so wet that he was getting hosed down after every walk at this point. It was more an etiquette thing than anything else. You weren't supposed to touch food after touching an animal. It was one of those human social rules. Connor decided it could be bent this once though. Sumo was quite clean, and Niles had at least washed anything else off his hands. Not that he'd get sick anyway. Android children rarely got sick, and if they did, it was due to their programming. They would occasionally synthesise illness for authenticity.