The voice at the other end of the phone was crystal clear, measured with just a hint of warmth.
“Sounds like a sound proposal to me. We can make an appointment for you to come around, if you’re okay with a flight?”

Moira smiled.
“That’d be grand, Erica, grand. I’m very free most of the time, just let me know when is best. Of course, you’re always welcome to come up and visit us.”

Erica’s voice rippled with a single, curt chuckle.
“After last time? No thanks, my head still hurts from that stuff. Take care, Moira.”

Moira said her goodbyes, and put the phone down. Everything was alright. She could feel the snow cascading down over the house, and could feel the frigid sea rolling out across the beach. Winter in Maine was just as harsh as winter in Scotland.

The otter tugged at her woollen sweater, breathing in the smell of old sheeps wool. She had found it in a corner of the old farmhouse, moth-eaten and forgotten for years. Her mother had knitted it for her father, thirty years ago. Moira had mended it as best as she could. It was one of the few things she had left to remember them by. What better time to wear it than Christmas?

Marcus was smiling at her from the doorway, the raven's blue eyes shining.
“You okay?”

Moira nodded quickly. “Aye. Aye, it's just…”

“I'm here to help,” he said. “Whatever you need.”

Moira smiled back. “Thank you. Any word?”

Marcus checked his phone. “He'll be here in half an hour, he says. He had to pick her up from BoS HQ.”

Moira nodded. “Okay…okay.”

The doorbell rang.

Moira went over to check the bell monitor, grinned as she saw two German Shepherds standing on the front porch, then raced over to the door and opened it.

“Hullo, Dora,” She smirked. “Hullo Andrea.”

Dora was grinning from ear to ear.
“C'mere, you seafood muncher.”
She threw her arms around the otter and kissed her on both cheeks.


Andrea shifted awkwardly, then extended a neatly wrapped package.
“I bought socks.”

Moira held her anyway, hugging both women to her chest in a brawny embrace that nearly squeezed the air from their lungs.

“Thank you for coming. Both of you.”

Dora hugged her back, grinning toothily. “I wouldn’t miss it from the world. I brought some supplies, too.”
She held up a shopping bag, as Moira ushered them in.

“Grand,” Moira chuckled. “We’ll need it. Duncan’s coming, and he’s bringing his lady-friend.”
She noticed Andrea shift slightly, and smiled.

“Don’t fret. She’s one of us, ye ken?”

The German Shepherd nodded, and looked around. “Anything I can help with?”

“There’s some decorations to put up in the front room, if ye like.”

Marcus came out, greeting both of them warmly. “Welcome, both of you. Either of you fine ladies fancy a drink?”

“That’s kind of you, Marcus.” Dora smirked, giving the raven a once over that Moria pretended not to notice. “I’ll have some wine.”
“Scotch,” Andrea said quickly, then added a “Thank you.”

Moira beckoned Dora to the kitchen, and gestured to a table replete with ingredients.
“Care to help me cook? We’re having goose fer tomorrow, but fer this evening I was thinking of doin’ a fish curry.”

“I bought spices,” the blonde German Shepherd grinned uneasily, casting an eye over her shoulder back towards the living room.
“Sorry if Andrea seems a bit quiet. This time of year is…painful.”

Moira tensed. Andrea’s own family christmas had been taken from her, years before. She kenw all too well how raw that wound could be.

She clapped a hand to Dora’s shoulder.
“All we can do is help. Besides,” She sniffed, smoothing down her apron. “S’not like you and me don’t have our own demons. I spent twelve Christmasses being the entertainment.”

Dora looked down at the floor, grimly. “And I was raised as a killing machine.”

“Precisely my point. We’re all crazy, messed up eedjits - just the right folks fer her tae spend Christmas with.”

A wan smile returned to Dora’s lips. “You’re a barrel of cheer, Moira, you know that?”

“I try. Now”, she turned to the counter. “-I want you tae try some Atholl Brose.”

She frowned. “What’s that?”

“Cocktail. Made with oat water, whiskey and honey.”

Dora snorted in disbelief. “I have a wine, and you're offering me that too? If I didn’t know better I’d say you were trying to get into my pants.”

“Aw, haul yer whisht Dora, it’s Christmas.”



~

Duncan fidgeted on the driver’s seat, looking over anxiously at Eleanor. The packrat’s fur was standing up on end against the cold, even despite her coat. Yet her face remained stoic, framed by her jet black hair.

“ It’s just…odd,” he said. “First Christmas wi’ ma and da.”

Eleanor breathed in, and sighed.
"I...read up on what happened. I'm just glad you can be together again."

He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. She squeezed it back, flashing him a smile.

"And I'm glad I get to meet them."

Duncan took comfort from that, even as he turned on to the seafront. The wind was lashing against the windows, flurries of snow blowing across the screen. He flashed a smirk at his lover.

“Cold?”

“As if,” she snorted. “I’ve done my share of trekking in desert nights. Besides,” she returned his smirk “-I know I’ll have a very good blanket.”

Duncan flushed, and opened the door.

The door to the house was already open, and he saw her standing there, framed in the light. She was broader in the shoulders, and there was a new light in her eyes.

“Ma!”

He grinned, dashing up to the porch and throwing his arms around her.

“Heaven above, ye’re a big buster,” she wheezed.

She looked over his shoulder, and Duncan turned to see Eleanor striding up the steps. He swallowed, and prayed to whatever god there was that the two women in his life got along.

“You must be Eleanor,” mother said first, letting go of his shoulders to turn to the new arrival. Eleanor was standing with her hands by her side, looking for all the world like she was back on duty.

“I am, Mrs Gunn. It’s a pleasure.”

“Likewise, Eleanor” she replied, her smile all but gone. She turned a stern gaze to Duncan, who cringed inwardly.
“I trust my son is giving full satisfaction in his new position?”

"Absolutely, Ma'am. There were a few close calls on discipline at first, but so far, his performance has been stellar.”

The otter’s face crinkled back into a wry smile. “Glad to hear it.”

She dragged Eleanor into a muscled embrace.
“Thank you for lookin’ after me lad. Now come in, both o’ ye! Marcus, get over here and say hullo to your son!”

They were ushered into the house, and instantly a warm rush of scented air washed over both of them. Eleanor smiled up at Duncan as they hung up their coats on the rack.
“I think your mother and I are going to get along just fine.”

Father emerged from the front room, the raven immediately gripping Duncan in a half embrace while clasping his hand.
“C’mere, kiddo. Do you mind me calling you kiddo? I mean, I-”

“Da, it’s Christmas, quit worryin’ and meet my…”
He swallowed, searching for the right word. Boss was true but too formal. Girlfriend was also true, but somehow that just didn't do her justice.

Eleanor herself came to the rescue, shaking the raven’s outstretched hand.
“Eleanor, and thank you so much for having me.”

Father raised a hand. “Oh, we wouldn’t have had it any other way. Well, I say we, but I don’t really practise Christmas, but it was a good excuse to bring you up and-”

“Hi Duncan!”
Dora said from the open kitchen, the German Shepherd grinning from ear to ear. “I brought beer!”

“I need a hand with the ladder!” A second voice hollered from the front room. Duncan recognised Andrea’s husky growl, and grinned.

Christmas really was a wonderful time of the year.

END

~

Fun little story I meant to post last year, but was shamefully late in finishing. Featuring:

Dora:  Dora_Schutzhund
Andrea:  Grimmeadow
Eleanor:  TheCanidean
Erica Decker:  Vivavulpes
Moira, Marcus and Duncan: Me!