25 Scenes of Christmas

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Based on the Christmas tradition of gifting children's books, one per

day leading up to Christmas.

*Lyle Malcolm*

"And under the tree...." He trailed off as he felt the weight in his arms shift.

The child had slumped over, his breath becoming soft as he fell asleep.

Closing the storybook, the man set it down on the couch. Scooping the boy up in his arms he stood.

Carefully carrying the boy, he climbed the stairs, trying not to wake him.

Laying the child on the bed, he settled the blankets over the toddler's holiday pajamas.

Outside of the room, a slim, brunette girl met him on the landing.

Shutting the door most of the way, he walked past her, descending the stairs.

"Lyle," She called, pushing off of the banister and following him. "You are really good at that," She complimented, "The 'dad' thing."

"Thanks," He mumbled, stepping back into the living room.

"Do you ever think about settling down and having puppies of your own?"

"No." He answered curtly, picking up discarded wrapping paper and toys.

As he stood back up, he found that she had moved close to him. She was so close, he could feel her breath fan across his chest.

"Why not?" She asked curiously, looking up at him.

"I'm not a pack animal, Caitlyn."

"No," She agreed, "You are a lone wolf. A nomad without a home or family."

He moved around her out of the room.

"Is that why you brought the boy here?" She continued, turning and following him. "A nomad can't have a family so you just abandon him here with us?"

"I'm not going to keep him around until I run into another nomad. I won't be responsible for getting that 'pup' killed, Caitlyn."

"You don't have to raise him alone," She mumbled softly as she set her hand on his arm.

"I didn't." He pulled his arm away. "My wife helped me raise Grayson for the last two years. From the night he was born."

"So why bring him here? To my father?" She asked, watching the Christmas lights reflect off of his blonde hair.

"One day she picked up a toy he wanted, and he got so mad he bit her."

"She was human," Caitlyn noted. "She died."

He focused on the bear in his hands. "Enough, Caitlyn."

"You shouldn't have married a human." She chastised.

He laughed harshly, "You might as well be human, Caitlyn. You do not have the gene, you will never shift. You get to look like this for the rest of your life, however supernaturally endowed you may be. Your children will never shift, they will always have a human appearance."

Her face suddenly became expressionless. Her brown eyes were focused on him, but they gave no inclination as to her state of mind. 

Lyle looked past her. "Breccan." 

A dark haired man had come to stand in the doorway behind Caitlyn. "Lyle." Came the man's response. "We're going out for the night. Care to join?" 

The nomad nodded. "I need to ask your mother to watch Gray."

"I will watch him." Caitlyn offered.

"No." Lyle growled. "You will not."

She turned to counter his order only to be staring into golden lycan eyes. 

Breccan straightened in the doorway, preparing to step between the pair of them.

Caitlyn finally lowered her stance, ducking around both men as she ran out of the house. 

"Is that the end of that?" Breccan asked his companion.

"If she is anything like her mother, no." Lyle sighed, finally setting down the toys in his hands.