Opposites Attract

Stars And Moon Part Four

They had all stayed up late talking, so it was a very bleary eyed crew that stumbled their way around the kitchen the next morning.

Selene had the coffee pot in front of her and was sharing the joy with Virgil, who was slumped in the chair beside her, holding out his cup at regular intervals for a top up.

She'd toasted a pile of bagels -because she didn't want to think what John would be like without at least one- and thrown some frozen croissants into the oven and, after putting out a dish of butter and various jams, had called it good and sunk down into a chair, never to move again.

Gordon was seated across the table from them, his head resting on his arms, asleep again with half a croissant in his hand. Alan and Scott were nowhere to be seen and she knew John was likely still in the shower. When you spent most of your time in space you really appreciated a decent shower when you got back, and his bathroom had one of those tropical waterfall types that soaked you from all angles. He'd could be gone for hours, she just left him to it now.

"We're here!"

They both jumped like they had been shot at, heads snapping up at the booming greeting that accompanied Grandma's entrance. If they had been more awake they would have likely seen the approach of FAB 1 and had more than a second to compose themselves.

"Welcome back, Grandma," Virgil went in for a hug while Selene nudged Gordon awake, brushing crumbs off his chin and finger combing his hair just in time to be semi presentable as Penelope sailed through the door. She was, as always, accompanied by Parker, who had somehow managed to carry six items of luggage at one go.

"Let me help!" Selene eased a couple of the bigger cases out from under his arms and stacked them carefully in a corner out of the way before going back for more but Gordon had beaten her to it.

"Any more in FAB 1?" Gordon asked.

"H'of course there is, " Parker sounded so depressed about the very thought that she had to take pity on him.

After a hasty round of greetings, happy birthday wishes to Penelope, and the hugging of both ladies, Selene took the older man's arm. "Come on, let's get it emptied so we can all have a sit down and relax. It's Christmas after all."

Gordon stared at the car in dismay. "How did that much stuff fit in there?"

The trunk was full to bursting and the passenger area was piled up so far you could barely see the seats. How Grandma and Penelope has squeezed in was a total mystery. There were even a few bags stuffed in around the driver's seat, along with Parkers small suitcase.

"They are two very determined ladies," was all the answer they got.

Even with the three of them it took more trips than they could count. John and Scott had emerged by the time they were done, after having arranged the wrapped gifts under the tree, deposited suitcases in various rooms and packed away the last minute food items that had been bought.

Selene collapsed down on John's lap, having lost her seat to Scott, and took his coffee cup from his hand.

"I could make you your own, you know."

"Stolen food tastes better," she shrugged, leaning over to take a bite of his bagel too.

"She's not wrong," Virgil acknowledged, having swiped and drunk her first cup while she had been busy making breakfast.

Selene shot a squinty eyed glare at him, but he just grinned at her, totally unashamed. Fortunately they knew her too well now to be bothered by any of her threats or moods.

"Anything else you want? Air from my lungs?" Her spaceman was always at his sarcastic best in the morning, which she happened to find utterly adorable.