Story Market Day

[ComCamGuy]

At the Base, Unloading


Jenson was working the latest project the Sgt Maj gave him. They were talking when they were loading the trucks at Barstow and the Sgt Maj liked a lot of his ideas and suggestions about how to bring the commander’s plan about hardening the base like a combat outpost. Jenson should have known better. When he objected since he couldn’t lift and move stuff, the Sgt Maj’s answer was ‘you drive the plan, I’ll get you bodies.’

Jenson made sure they brought back some more HESCO Barriers from Barstow. These were cloth and wire bins, once they were set up, would be filled with dirt and gravel to create solid walls capable of stopping small arms as well as other dangers If he was building a compound, he needed walls. He also needed to not hog everything.

The Sgt Maj had SSgt Bradley the Mountain Medic working the new clinic’s supply area and SSgt Nolan was setting up the consolidated dining set up with the truckloads of food and the kitchen trailer as the alternate cooking capability.

When they rolled onto base, the trucks went to their targeted locations. Not long after, The Sgt Maj had a swarm of people at the vehicles to get things unloaded and the improvements underway.

One of the first things happening was SSgt Nolan got with the Sergeant Major to have Paige move the empty connexes around to create a sheltered area to set up the Mobile Kitchen trailer. His concept was since they were consolidating at the new clinic building, then the food should be there. With the reduced people, the food supply should hold out till the end, if they supplemented it a bit.

SSgt Jenson put together a crew for stripping some of the fencing from other areas to build the second perimeter around the clinic. They could do that while Jenson plotted where the HESCO walls would go. Soon, he was able to get Paige to drive the front-end loader to fill the barriers while Henrik and a crew moved them in place and set them up.

Silas let his minions work the individual parts as he went point to point to make sure everyone had what they needed to keep going. One project he took upon himself was positioning the fuel supply. He wanted it close to the main clinic perimeter but needed a proper offset for safety. As he went around checking things, he kept building another shopping list if they got another chance to shop down at Barstow.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Ivar’s Office


While Silas started the unloading, Kingfisher went to fill Ivar in on what they brought back and what Brice told them.

“So, how is she?”

“She’s doing fine. She said she might have a few more things she could hide for us but this trip was the last guaranteed raid.”

Ivar could hear a distant, hollow sound to Kingfisher’s voice. He thought he knew why, and he felt for his friend.

“I’ll find out more when I go back down for Christmas.”

“Is it going to be safe enough?” Ivar was worried. Hell, he had the Jenson’s gunned down at the front gate. Kingfisher was talking about a long trip to do by himself..

Kingfisher looked at him, a grim frown on his face. “If it was Sofia, you would make the drive.”

Ouch! Kingfisher was playing dirty.

"Yeah, I would but I still worry. It’s my job, for at least a little while longer, and you’re my friend.”

Kingfisher shook his head. He knew he went a bit too far. Ivar was just looking out for him.

“I know but I should be ok. I’ll load up some fuel cans and take the pick-up so I don’t have to stop anywhere in between. Brice asked me to come down and help her with something and Kestrel will be there.”

Ivar knew things were a bit rough between Kingfisher and Kestrel the last time he saw her. Kingfisher had to take this chance to maybe fix things.

“Let me know if there is anything we can do to help you for your Christmas trip.”

“Sure thing. She sent some boxes for you. I’ll bring them up to the office once we get things unloaded.”

Ivar knew Kingfisher needed to not talk about it right now.

“Once Silas gets things underway, send him my way. I got a few things to chat about.”

“No problem. I’ll tell him.”

Ivar watched Kingfisher leave. He didn’t know what they could do other than support him.

 

[ted]

Thank you.
And
Here's hoping for moar!


no pressure...

 

[Landcruiser]

I'm betting we see Kingfisher, Brice, Kestrel and possibly some others heading North as well before this tale is through...

 

[Freebirde]

I'm betting we see Kingfisher, Brice, Kestrel and possibly some others heading North as well before this tale is through...

I suddenly got a feeling that they may be a book in themselves.

 

[Cedar Lake]

I suddenly got a feeling that they may be a book in themselves.

Yeah, I know what you mean, I get those deja-vu moments myself.

 

[Sportsman]

Thank you! It's the little hints that keep us wondering.... like what's in the boxes she sent to Ivar?
I'll give another vote for a Kingfisher/Brice/Kestrel spin-off chapter or three.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Amber and Silas’ House


Day turned in night as it always does. It was the magic hour of Ivar’s command. It was time to head home. Both Ivar and Silas got the call shortly before they left. Amber and Sofia decided it was time for a quiet get together. The two decided, as in most situations, it was best not to argue with the wives. Instead, the best move was only asking where and what to pick up on the way home.

It was a simple dinner prepared by Sophia and Amber at her home. After much discussion the two of them decided Jonas and Jenifer needed some father-daughter time. He was distracted lately with all the planning and building on base. They could tell she was starting to feel neglected and missing her daddy. So they figured to arrange some special time for them. This also gave them the excuse they were looking for to get the guys alone to discuss somethings they wanted to talk in private about.

Dinner was a bit awkward since the guys were not sure what to expect from the impromptu request for their present. They knew the wives wanted to discuss their plans for when the base close. The conversation started with the usual pleasantries about each other’s day. Then it just went all over the place. It touched on a lot of questions with only few answers.

Finally, it was Sophia, who early in the groups history been dubbed ‘subtle as bulldozer’

Blurted out, “Are we going to move to Paige’s house or not? Their house out there is wonderful and gets us out of the suburbs we both are stuck in.”

Sofia’s comment got a serious nod of agreement from Amber and an internal cringe from Ivar and Silas. They had caught shit every time they came back from Paige’s about how they missed the boat in finding someplace good to live when they moved here.

“Well, it would make sense depending on how long we intend to stay here.” Silas mentioned.

“Well, I still figure to be here until we get everyone accounted for and squared away.” Ivar cut in, holding his ground.

“That’s all fine and dandy to say, but how long is that, and what will we do afterwards? Are you thinking this is six months? A year? Or…?” Sofia snapped, not for the first time. This was well worn ground between Ivar and Sofia.

“I don’t know, damn it!” Ivar snapped back.

Amber knew this could get out of control quickly. She and Silas had been around some of their fights before. They weren’t as epic as Brice and Kingfisher’s, but they were not far off. She had to defuse this if they were going to get anything accomplished.

“Guys! Let’s take this one step at a time! We know we probably won’t stay here long term. Maybe a year at the most. Our current housing won’t be conducive to that. Sabine pitched moving to their place after they left. Whether we know where we will end up in the long run, it makes sense for us to pool our resources and move to Paige’s in the short term while we plan what is next.”

“That means we will have to move twice.” Silas reminded everyone.

“Yeah, but we can use it as a dress rehearsal for the big move to wherever. More importantly, I think we will be a lot safer there. The other option I was thinking of was a couple of the RVs we are setting up in the Spec Ops compound.” Ivar countered.

“Those wouldn’t give us much privacy and those spots might be better left for those staying long term to work the clinic.” Silas reminded him.

“Would there be enough spots for everyone? I know the two master suites would take care of the four of us, but what about the Jenson’s?” Amber asked.

She was happy the talk had turned to logistics instead of the tempers getting hotter.

“There’s some more bedrooms and a bunch of other spaces we could work with. I think if we go forward with this, it will all work out. We just really need to figure out where we want to end up in the end.”

“Well, we still have the idea of going north and meeting up with Paige and the rest.” Silas reminded them.

The debates continued long into the night. At least they were talking about the now, the near future and the distance few. They were now thinking about themselves for once.

 

[Lake Lili]

I suspect that Jensen will be glad not to be left behind as he's likely not in a really good decision making space right now.

 

[Cohickman]

Seemed like a no-brainer desicion. But the logistic could be a pain to coordinate.

 

[ComCamGuy]

T’was the Day Before Christmas


Inside Silas’ garage, he and Petra were going through the systems being installed in the camper. Petra kept reiterating to him how important it was to figure out what all needed to be connected and how so they could make all the matching connections in the truck, once they found exactly what he wanted, and Petra said was sound enough mechanically to work.

There seemed to be a thousand decisions to be made and then all of them had to pass through the filter of if they could get the parts. Twelve-volt electrical system, one-hundred-twenty-volt system, inverters, battery banks, what kind of batteries, solar panels, charging umbilicals, on-board generator, lighting upgrades, plumbing, water storage, grey waste, black waste, toilet, heating, air conditioning, and on and on. The list seemed a great way to pass the time before the tidal wave and the collapse. Now it was the sword of Damocles over Silas’ head. If they were moving north, this might be what he and Amber would be living in for who knows how long.

Petra picked up on his worry. She slid out from under the trailer on the floor creeper so she could talk easier.

“So, what’s got you so twitchy? You got all of this coming together under here. Everything looks solid and we can start re-enforcing the floor before we put the insulation in.”

Silas looked at Petra, trying to figure out how to explain it. He felt adrift. The anchor to his world, the military, was cutting him free. He knew it was going to happen eventually, but not this soon and not into a world so turned upside down. Another thought struck him. If he felt this way, what about poor Petra.

“What do you have on your schedule for tomorrow?”

He could see she wasn’t ready for this question.

“Just scarfing some food and watching some movies at the dorm, Why?”

“No, you’re not. You’re coming with us tomorrow. Christmas isn’t a day to hang around the dorm.”

“OK.”

Silas knew his decision was right. Petra needed to be a part of their group. The time for plausible deniability was past. Now was the time to bring their group together. It’s a shame Kingfisher wasn’t here for the get together, but he knew it was more important for him to spend time with Brice and Kestrel.

 

[Sportsman]

“OK.”
That was a fast answer. I assume she's been thinking about the future a bit. Now, we get to wonder who she will pair up with in the long term. Just another twist in the plot, I bet. This is going to be a complete bookshelf full of novel when he's done with us.

Thank you again!

 

[ComCamGuy]

“OK.”
That was a fast answer. I assume she's been thinking about the future a bit. Now, we get to wonder who she will pair up with in the long term. Just another twist in the plot, I bet. This is going to be a complete bookshelf full of novel when he's done with us.

Thank you again!

Shit, living in the dorm and somebody gives you the option for a home cooked meal over woolfing down a hotpocket or some other dorm food or some chow hall fair, OK, in a heartbeat, it was an offer for a meal, not pack your shit, we are driving out tomorrow.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Post #6968 Re-Edit

 

[Griz3752]

Shit, living in the dorm and somebody gives you the option for a home cooked meal over woolfing down a hotpocket or some other dorm food or some chow hall fair, OK, in a heartbeat, it was an offer for a meal, not pack your shit, we are driving out tomorrow.

Had me at "home cooked"

Can I bring anything?

 

[ComCamGuy]

On the Road on Christmas Eve


Kingfisher left early in the morning. He knew the roads between here and Barstow pretty well with all the trips lately. He wasn’t sure what Brice needed his help for, but all she had to do was ask. He would still do anything he could for her. He still loved her. It made any other relationship since tough and killed them in the end.

Then there was Kestrel.

Their only daughter, she was as fierce and passionate and wild as her namesake. She got the best and the worst from both of them. She was intelligent and quick-witted, strong and fast, quick to both love and fury.

When she was young, he taught her everything he could about the outdoors and their heritage. Brice taught her about their culture and all the old-world skills she knew. She was the child of dual military so there were large gaps of time when she only had one or the other. With his job, it was mostly him gone. He was sure that was part of the reason she blamed him for the divorce. He wouldn’t say anything bad about Brice to Kestrel. Honestly, there just wasn’t anything to say bad other than they were two overly passionate people who loved one another but couldn’t be with one another.

It broke his heart when he left. The look on Kestrel’s face scarred his soul. He wondered if she has forgiven him enough to not hate him.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Barstow

The depot was almost empty when he arrived but with the draw down and it being Christmas Eve, he didn’t expect to find many people around. At least it was what he kept telling himself but as he worked his way back toward Brice’s offices, things got weirder.

It became more like the ghost town they had explored up in the high deserts. He started to hear eerie sounds, he blamed them on the winds blowing through what was left of the trucks and pallets but was it? Then there were the shadows. Were they real or were his eyes playing tricks on him? He was tired from the drive.

He was never as happy to finally reach the little corner where he was to meet Brice in the fenced off area. She looked at the faraway gaze in his eyes as she gestured for him to come into her trailer where her office was.

“You look like you seen a ghost” as she handed him a cup of coffee.

He was totally caught off guard by her comment as he stumbled out of his truck reaching for the coffee. Brice reached out to helping him regain his balance again handing him the coffee giving him a chance to compose himself after the long ride.

“All I meant was you look like hell. Did you see the spirits? Did they give you a message about our daughter? I know you don’t believe in the old ways as much as I do. Now, don’t make fun of me! Don’t get my hopes up. Just help like I ask please.”

“Calm down woman! Let me get my feet under me. I had a long trip. I need this coffee. I came here to help you, not fight. I want to see my daughter. I want to make her not hate me. I don’t want to get into with you right now about anything right now. So, what did you need my help with?” he asked as he climbed out of the truck.

“ Forget the other stuff. All I needed from you is some help moving a couple trucks up to the cabin and you are the perfect person to help me with it. I don’t want anyone from here to know where it is.”

“So, you kept our old cabin?”

He pictured the old run down and abandoned fieldstone house they bought all those many years ago high in the mountains above Palm Springs. Not easy to get to nor glamours enough to attract interest back then, they spent years off and on fixing it up. That was where they were going to retire to when their military careers were done.

Bit by bit, with nickels and dimes, a keen eye for things at salvage sales and old torn down buildings yielded them the right stuff to keep building, they finishing the old house. Before he left, it had a good tile roof and was fully weathertight, the well was strong and clear. He wondered what it looked like now.

“Yeah, I kept it and continued working on it. I think you will like how it came out. I moved one of those old Quonset hut-style airplane hangers out there for a garage. I’m squirreling away for the future right now. I figured Christmas time was the right time to pull this off since not as many eyes to watch what we drive out of here.”

“And then after Christmas, we run back down here? Will the truck be safe here?”

“Yeah, it will be safe we can lock it up back here. Throw some junk around it, put a tarp on it. No one should be back here to bother it. Otherwise, I’ll just get you another one.” Brice said with her trademark lopsided grin.”

 

[ComCamGuy]

Christmas Day

Petra was thinking about the party as lay in her bed early Christmas morning as she willed herself to up. It wasn’t work the bed was warm and the room was cold. The more she snuggled into her grandmother’s comforter the more she thought about the part and more nervous she got.
She finally, willed herself to get out of the warm bed to get ready for the party. She had to stop thinking about it and just do. It took a bunch of time for her to get comfortable enough with the Sgt. Maj and his wife to be ‘Amber’ and ‘Silas’ when she was alone with either one of them and then together but around other people? What other people will be there. She knew they were friends with the Commander and his wife and Kingfisher.

She really liked Maj. Kingfisher. She still didn’t know what to make of him though. When they were working on the vehicles down in Barstow, she saw a different side of him. Or was it more like it was the real him? She didn’t know. Whenever she was around him on the base, he was full of drive and bursting with some untapped energy, ready to explode out of him.

Down in Barstow, he was quiet. She didn’t feel the same energy coming off of him. It was like he was sad about something, but she didn’t know what.

Ha! If her mother could hear her talking to herself in her head now! Next thing you know, she will be just like her mother, dragging out the healing crystals and all that mumbo jumbo she picked on her about.

Her mother. She wished she had been able to get through on the phone to her but with all of Florida pounded by the hurricanes, it was understandable. She looked over at the box on the table. The present for her mother was there, ready to mail, but she held off with all the disruption. It was a beautiful purple crystal with some silver bits added to turn it into a dolphin. She spent time rummaging in her closet for something to wear that looked nice.

Most her clothes were uniforms or t-shirts and blue jeans. Her mother raised her better than wearing blue jeans to a party but she didn’t need anything else. It’s not like she had a social life. Maybe she should buy some nice slack and blouse sometime soon. She looked at herself in the full length mirror on the closet door, she hated that thing, then decided the children’s department didn't have nice clothes without animals or cartoons on them.

Finally, she found something way in the back of the closet she should have thought of earlier. She was as ready as she could be. Her cleanest blue jeans, she made sure to iron them, putting a good crease in them, a black t-shirt, and the sweater her mom got her. It was bright red with green reindeer on it. She might as well try to get into the spirit even if she was not feeling it. She was scared but it was not ok because she had no one to tell she was scared. You don’t say no to the Sgt. Major and you don’t tell him you are scared of his part. Time for music not crystals she thought as headed out for a life changing Christmas.

 

[Griz3752]

Putting more definition to previously shadowy presences; there, but more substantive now.

 

[Sportsman]

Cabin in the woods! Are you dashing our hopes for a Petra/Kingfisher couple? Or tempting the romance readers in the crowd with a Kingfisher/Brice re-hookup?

Thank you, always some new twist!

Christmas Day: either one of the m and

 

[ted]

Thank you, I will not try to guess where you are going next...

 

[ComCamGuy]

the Wife and I were working on the editing of part one (almost halfway done, page 187 out of 400) and we discussed the future arcs. We now have all 10 parts mapped So as long as you guys keep wanting to stay on this rollercoaster, there are four more books planned

 

[ComCamGuy]

Cabin in the woods! Are you dashing our hopes for a Petra/Kingfisher couple? Or tempting the romance readers in the crowd with a Kingfisher/Brice re-hookup?

Thank you, always some new twist!

Christmas Day: either one of the m and

well, Petra is younger than the Vs and Kingfisher is old enough to literally be her father, that would be some May/December stuff. Not saying it couldn’t happen, but…

More to come.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Christmas Eve in the Mountains


The trucks Brice had for them to take were older five-ton cargo trucks, loaded with who knows what. Her plan as she laid it out was to drive the trucks up to the cabin and unload them, then after Christmas, drive them back down to the depot.

Leaving Barstow headed south, the roads got smaller and smaller as they climbed higher and higher into the mountains. It had been years since he made this drive from this direction. Normally, they would come in from the south in the old days.

Following Brice’s taillights, Kingfisher tried to keep his emotions under control, but it was impossible. Everything those two had been through together, the fights, the love, the hardships, it all left its mark. These past couple of months seeing her whenever he came down to the depot kept bringing them to the forefront.

He wasn’t sure what was scaring him more; how well they were getting along or the impending meeting with Kestrel after all these years. No one likes to be hated, especially by their own child. The windshield wipers could keep the snow off the windscreen but not the blurring from the tears in his eyes.

 

[ComCamGuy]

It was dark when they made the final turn off from the road onto the long gravel road into the cabin. The snow wasn’t as thick on the path compared to beside it. Brice had obviously run a blade or tractor over it and kept the path under control.

He remembered the first years when they tried it in his old Jeep. It was all they could do to stay on the trail and claw their way forward, just to end up camping in a tent in the walls of the old house. It seemed so long ago. Well, why shouldn’t it, he thought. It was.

The last turn brought the cabin into view. It was just how he pictured it in his own mind all those years ago. Kinda. In the meadow next to the house, he saw the metal Quonset hanger Brice mentioned earlier. Next to it he saw three of the big military tents he recognized from downrange. Brice has been busy.

They parked the trucks next to some new structure he didn’t recognize. It looked like a small gazebo of some sort, but with walls. Before he could make out what it was, Brice was beside him leading him to the front door.

The front door was still the same massive slabs of wood they hung all those years ago. Hell, he remembered when Brice made the iron hinges. They used five of them and, all together, the hinges must have weighed a hundred pounds or more.

When she swung the door open, he could see a fire in the fireplace and the warm light reflected off the hand-scraped floors and the stucco walls. Gods, how he missed this place, missed being here with Brice.

“Don’t just stand there, you’re letting all the heat out." Brice said, breaking into his memories.

“This place looks amazing. You’ve done so much. It’s how I always hoped it could be.” Kingfisher’s voice was soft and thick with emotion.

“Well, you and I built a great start to work from.” Brice replied. She took his hand and led him towards what he remembered as the master bedroom.

“It’s ok, I can sleep in the guest room or the couch.”

“No.” Brice’s voice was sharp, then it softened as she continued. “I’m not expecting hanky-panky, but the other room is full, and the bed is big and a lot more comfortable than the couch.”

The furniture in the bedroom was the same functional antiques he remembered. A pair of armoires, a dresser, several trunks, and the bed. It was the same big brass bed. He remembered the hours and hours they both spent with brass polish going over every single rail, rod, and post. It was the bed Kestrel was conceived in as well. He had never imagined he would be in this cabin, back in this bed with Brice again.

“We have hot water now. You should rinse off before you come to bed.” Brice’s voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried across the room.

“You go first. I don’t want to use it all up.”

“Don’t worry about that. It’s on demand so I’ll still have some.”

The bathroom had the same claw-foot tub but all the fixtures were new. She was right, the water was hot. He took a quick shower and pulled on some running shorts to sleep in. When he came out, Brice went in. He looked around the bedroom some more. The covers were already pulled down on his side, the old glass ash tray on the nightstand where he kept his keys and other pocket stuff was even there. Either she put it back prior to the trip or she never put it away in the first place.

He heard the water shut off as he climbed into the bed. It was definitely a newer mattress. The old one was soft, lumpy and worn out when they got it all those years ago. His thoughts were broken as Brice came out of the bathroom in shorts and a T-shirt. There was some grey in her straight black hair now but suddenly he was seeing her as she was all those years ago at her father’s cabin. They were both fifteen and thought they had all the answers. They knew they could do anything as long as they did it together.

Brice turned out the light and crawled into bed. As they both lay there, thy could hear the gentle wind outside, the crackle of the fireplace and the silence.

As they lay there, each were swimming in their own minds. Brice was the first to speak.

“You know I never stopped loving you.”

“I know. Neither did I, and I know I never will”

 

[Griz3752]

Well, well, well. ....

An old love, a true love, is by far the hardest to see in a rear view mirror. .....

I'm going to put my feet up over here in the shade.
My wife is practising making mojitos for a girl party so I talked her into a small pitcher made w/ bourbon (yes, I know what that is) so, I'll be quite comfy w/ my pipe & a wee glass.

I'm still in Memphis but today, that's not too bad. .... Aaahhhhhh. ....

 

[ComCamGuy]

Re-Edit #6977 & 6978

 

[Sportsman]

Yep, they’ll make a good couple since there is going to be enough problem solving to deal with the outside world. With the mutual love, the other issues will be less of a problem. We’ll see…. CCG flirts with being a Romance Novelist at times.

Thanks!

 

[ComCamGuy]

Yep, they’ll make a good couple since there is going to be enough problem solving to deal with the outside world. With the mutual love, the other issues will be less of a problem. We’ll see…. CCG flirts with being a Romance Novelist at times.

Thanks!

Problem is, too much Bronte, Poe and HP Lovecraft, so romance novelist could go horribly wrong

 

[ComCamGuy]

In the Cabin Deep in the Night


Kingfisher knew he was dream walking. It had been years since it happened but being here, with Brice…

It was always the difference between them. He understood and could accept the spirituality of their heritage in the smaller, simpler things; the spirit of the Elk and thanking it when he hunted them, the inherited warrior spirit from his ancestors, feeling the connection with the land and nature, but it was the more ‘mystical nature’ of things he struggled with.

Brice, on the other hand, had the gifts of knowledge and understanding of a Medicine Woman. Signs, totems, the spirit world all made sense and she could feel the flow. He never could and feel comfortable with it like her. On the rare occasions when it happened to him, it frequently scared him shitless, like now.

He had to be walking in his own memories. He heard the baby cry. He was walking out of the bedroom to the living room. There was Brice in the glide rocker they had by the fireplace, holding baby Kestrel, gently rocking her but something wasn’t right. He looked around. All he could hear now was the crackle of the fire and the slight squeak of the chair as she rocked.

The room had too much furniture. He looked down at his own hands and arms. He could see the scar from the shrapnel from the IED. That was much newer than this memory. What’s going on?

Brice looked up from Kestrel. She was staring straight at him now. She stood up. Now he really knew something was wrong. He was taller than Brice, but now they were looking eye to eye in the firelight as she walked towards him, her bare feet silent on the wood floor.

“Do you want to hold her?” She held out the baby.

The voice. It wasn’t Brice.

He took the baby out of reflex or habit, the tiny wiggling figure framed in the blanket they were wrapped in.

“Dad, this is your Granddaughter, Shannon Mika”

 

[ComCamGuy]

Surprises


He wasn’t dream walking. This was real. He looked up from the tiny little thing in his arms to his daughter, who once looked this small.

“Damn. When did you get so big?” He blurted out before he could stop himself. He mentally kicked himself for starting things off on the wrong foot.

“It happens.” And she smiled as she reached over and adjusted the blanket.

His brain had a thousand questions but was thrown off course from how he planned and mentally prepared for meeting her again. Eventually a question escaped his lips.

“Gods, she is tiny! How old is she?” He asked as he looked up from the baby to Kestrel’s face.

Kestrel made a point of looking at her watch before answering him.

“Four days come sunrise.”

Four days! No wonder she was so small! He looked back down at the tiny squiggling thing in his arms. He couldn’t help it. She looked just like Kestrel did at that age. Hell, Kestrel looks just like Brice did back then, except she was a little taller and her shoulders were a touch narrower.

“I thought I was dreamwalking in my own memories when I came out of the bedroom. You are the spitting image of your mother back then.” He had to tell her.

“I’m sorry she woke you. You should go back to bed and sleep some more.” She reached out to take the baby back from him.

Kingfisher stood there a moment, watching Kestrel holding his granddaughter. They were beautiful.

“I love you and never meant to hurt you.” There. He said it.

“I know you do. I love you too, and I kinda understand a little better now, but we should talk in the morning. You need more sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

 

[Shotgun Willy]

Yeah, like any guys going to be able to go to sleep after that.

 

[Sportsman]

OK, now we're moving in the right direction for them. Although I really expected to see Kingfisher making the trip to the woods with everyone else. I guess we need to see multiple enclaves when repopulating the world!

Thanks, now we can return to the Christmas activities for a chapter or so.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Christmas Morning at Ivar and Sofia’s


Even after all these years, Ivar still didn’t know how Sofia did it. She did it ever since they were married, it got more complex once Veronica was born, now she was doing it for Jennifer and Jonas. She was determined they would have the Christmas they deserved even on short notice. She usually started planning for Christmas in August. The gifts were a mix of homemade and store bought but it was the food. She made enough food to last 12 days, culminating on Epiphany. During this time friends and family were invited to stop by at their leisure to celebrate.

It wasn’t easy but they managed to get something that would look like Christmas done. It was a good thing they both were good at making things out of what they could find. They ended up staying up to late finishing the presents. They were tired when they put the presents for Jonas and Jennifer under the simple tree.

By the time they were finished Sofia was several sheets to the wind, drunk enough on brandy for her Pennsylvania Dutch accent to show through. Ivar knew she missed her family especially this time of the year. They hadn’t been back to see them since the wedding, and that was a tense affair in it’s own right. It wasn’t that they didn’t like him but they did not approve. It was he was different. When they didn’t come to the wedding, he knew she probably would never go back. She still missed them but she knew she could have never lived that way or go back. She still held on to some of the old ways. She would never let go of them. Ivar always accepted it, even encouraged her. Ivar could see the sadness in her eyes as he pulled her closer. They both just sat there staring up at the stars. A tear in both of eyes, neither really knew why.

They went to bed all of four hours ago, now the smell of food and coffee woke him up. He stumbled into the kitchen, where Sofia was already dressed for the day and had the first round of breakfast almost ready. Sitting at the breakfast bar was a wide-awake Jennifer munching on some cinnamon toast.

Before he could even sit down, Sofia had a mug of coffee on the bar for him. He took the mug and spun around to look at the Christmas tree with its couple of presents under it. They always had a tree for Christmas. It was a tradition from his upbringing, not hers, but they kept it simple. For Ivar it was more about the celebration of nature, just a few white lights on it, reminding him of the sunrises twinkling off the frost on the trees.

Behind him he heard Sofia and Jennifer talking about something, but he wasn’t paying attention. He needed caffeine first.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Christmas Morning at Amber and Silas’


With no kids in the house, Christmas morning had a more leisurely pace these days. They woke up, made coffee and put together some things for a late breakfast after Petra got there. Then it was coffee and Danishes in the living room while they opened presents, most of which were bought for each other long before.

There were some books and clothes all around, along with what they called stocking stuffer things, just little knick-knacks and doodads like a neat pen or flashlight or bookmarker. The stars of the show were a black pearl necklace for Amber and a brown leather trench coat for Silas.

Soon, they were sitting there playing with their ‘toys’, looking at the books and such as they waited for Petra.

“So, when is Ivar and Sofia going to come get that thing out of the backyard?” Silas asked as he thumbed through the book on camper design.

“Sofia is giving it to him on the sixth since we are doing the big gathering thing for Christmas today.”

“Oh, I guess it makes sense. Well, I made sure it was basically sound and cleaned it up once we got it here, and Petra gave it a once over, but Ivar is going to have to do the rest. I have my own restoration project which, by the way, the book will really help me.’ He said, gesturing to the one in his lap.

Well, Sofia has already been out here a couple of times with Jennifer working in it. She already has the new cushions made and the whole thing scrubbed to OR levels.”

Silas chuckled. “Of course, she does. And in her spare twelve minutes, she probably knit a tea cozy to cover the whole thing.”

“Don’t sell her short. Two; one for summer and one for winter.”

 

[ComCamGuy]

A knocking at the door interrupted them.

“Good, Petra’s here. Now we can have some breakfast.” Silas said as he stood up. “I’ll get the door. You want to start the sausage?”

“I’ll do that then you got to get the box on the bed for her.” Amber said as she went to the kitchen.”

It wasn’t long before the three of them were standing around the kitchen as Amber finished cooking the biscuits and sausage gravy they would use to tide them over till dinner.

Amber saw Petra seemed a little nervous.

“Alright, kid. You’re acting all tense and twitchy. This is Christmas. It’s supposed to be fun. We wanted to get you out of your room and have more than junkfood and movies.”

Petra shuffled her feet for a moment before she answered Amber’s question with another question.

“Who else is going to be there?”

Silas saw her worry now and knew what it must be.

“It’s going to be OK. Just a bunch of old friends and new ones. No one for you to be nervous around.”

Petra didn’t seem to be buying it.

“OK, but who all is gonna be there?”

“Should be all people you already have met, I think. Ivar, Sofia, Henrik, Jonas, his daughter Jennifer, Sabine, Andrea and Paige, plus us.”

Petra tried to follow his list and picture their faces. It sounded like it was all the people running the various projects on base, minus Kingfisher. If Silas was trying to make her relax, this sure didn’t do it. Amber saw this right away.

“Look, don’t worry about who is there. We are all friends there and you are friends with us, so you’re going to be OK. Shit, ten minutes after we are there, Sofia will probably be trying to put a dirty Italian Margareta in your hands, and it will be like everybody has known each other a thousand years. At any point you get uncomfortable or more likely bored, let one of us know and we will run you back here. No pressure. Today is supposed to be a fun day to play, act silly and hang out.”

“Sofia is the one I was helping with the project out back, right?”

Silas looked over at Amber, a little confused but she was already answering her.

“That’s her. Our very own punk rock Julia Childs.”

Amber’s description of Sofia, while not a new one, still brought a smile to Silas’ face along with Petra’s

“So, Petra, you have a couple boxes over there under the tree.” Silas pointed. Petra smiled despite her earlier worry. They had presents for her?

The first small box was from Silas. When she opened it, she marveled at what she found. It was a small but hefty Swiss Army Knife, complete with leather pouch. She immediately started opening the blades and tools.

Amber and Silas were happy to see the grin on Petra’s face. It reminded them of watching Violet and Veronica open presents years ago.

“The original multitool. The newer ones are too utilitarian. That one is the smallest one with the pliers and the wood saw. The pouch has more stuff in it like sharpening stone, compass, sewing needles and some other stuff.” Silas added, not sure if Petra even heard her.

Petra knew she would fiddle with this for hours. She remembered she had a second box from Amber.

It was heavy for it’s size and whatever was inside shifted around as she moved the box. She tore the paper open and popped the lid. Inside was something leather!

Silas looked over at Amber. He didn’t know what she got Petra.

“I saw it when I was getting your trench” was all she offered for explanation.

Petra pulled it out and held it up. It was a leather bomber jacket! A real one with real leather, not that fake shit they made kids jackets out of! And in her size! She looked over at Amber and Silas as she slid it on. It fit almost perfect! Maybe a little big but not much.

“This…its too much!” She came over and gave Amber a big hug. Silas looked at this and had to say something.

“Show stealer!”

“You know what Sofia always says, a way to a girl’s heart is with leather.” Amber quipped.

 

[Lake Lili]

You'd have had me with the Swiss Army knife... the bomber jacket is just gilding the lily...

Lili

 

[Gardener]

"You know what Sofia always says, a way to a girl’s heart is with leather.” Amber quipped.

This made me smile.

 

[ComCamGuy]

You'd have had me with the Swiss Army knife... the bomber jacket is just gilding the lily...

Lili

 

[223shootersc]

Very nice tool