Type: Christmas Challenge

Category: Humor

Rating: PG

Warning: War of the Worlds and its characters belong to Paramount Pictures. Bret McAdams is my own character. This story is just for fun, both to the writer and the readers. I do not make money off of these stories so don't bother suing me.

Requirements:

1. Ostrich
2. Holly
3. Christmas Lights
4. Giant Buzz Lightyear
5. Elephant Ear Muffs
6. A robbery
7. Member of team dressed as Santa
8. Reindeer

By Marqaisa McAdams.

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the Cottage every soldier, civilian, and housekeeper was- well, they were pretty darn busy.

(If you're expecting for this to ryhme you got another thing coming!)

The Blackwood Project team members were doing last minute decorations and preparations for that night's first annual Christmas party.

Harrison, being the tallest, was drafted to hang up holly in hard to reach places. Grumbling about being used only for his height, Harrison was rewarded with a sweet smile from Suzanne who replied, "Of course you are, Harrison. You didn't expect to be able to play Santa, did you?"

Suzanne walked over to the snickering Paul Ironhorse, who was not involved in decorating, and handed him a huge ball of knotted Christmas lights.

"Here, make yourself useful, too, Paul. Unravel these and put them on the tree. Nicely!"

Paul looked at the microbiologist and the ball of lights in turn and complained, "I won't be able to unravel these for tonight!"

"Then get some help," was the last reply Suzanne made as she left the living room.

Paul sighed and looked down at the ball of lights in disgust as if an alien was hiding in it. The Cherokee heard Blackwood laughing at him.

"Blackwood, you better be quiet. There's still those cheap plastic reindeer that needs to be put up somewhere and I know the perfect place and it's not on the roof."

Paul's raven eyes laughed as a sly smile crept up on his face. Harrison took the insinuation as a playful threat and Paul's valid attempt to make a joke (which was Harrison's department. We all know that, but give soldier boy some credit will ya?).

He smiled at his younger friend's joke and returned to arranging the holly along the wall. Paul tackled the ball of lights with all the vigor he put into his missions until finally he was able to unravel most of it.

That's when the two men heard a loud clatter in the kitchen. Looking at each other, they sprinted toward the kitchen to see if Mrs. Pennyworth was all right. Before they could open the door, it swung open and out ran an ostrich, frantically trying to escape...from what the men didn't know. The door swung open again and out ran Coleman and Stavrakos in hot pursuit of the runaway ostrich. Stavrakos swung a rope and caught the frantic ostrich, which could find no way out of the house. Alex managed to get the ostrich out of the house before it made a mess or worse. Coleman followed, helping to guide the animal outside. Paul and Harrison smiled at each other and went into the kitchen to check on Mrs. P.

"What was that ostrich doing here?" Harrison asked after the housekeeper assured them she was all right. "There was a mix up on the base. We were supposed to get an already cooked turkey. I don't know how the ostrich became part of it. Probably a side job the delivery man was doing," the housekeeper guessed.

"Did Coleman and Alex catch it?" she asked.

"yes, Alex roped it and took it outside," Paul assured her with a smile.

"Great," the woman said, before kicking the two men out of the kitchen.

Harrison and Paul went to check on the two Sergeants and the wayward ostrich.

"Nice roping there, Alex. Ever thought of moonlighting as a cattle roper or ostrich wrangler?" Harrison joked.

"No, doctor, roping ostriches is just my hobby," Stavrakos quipped, smirking. (Yeehaw, Alex!)

The delivery truck drove up to the foursome and took the animal off of the soldier's hands and gave him a cooked turkey for Mrs. P to prepare.

"Thank God, it wasn't alive. Killing aliens is one thing. Killing a turkey is quite another," Coleman muttered as her and Alex went to deliver the turkey to Mrs. P before returning to their assigned jobs of decorating the outside of the mansion.

The Cherokee and the astrophysicist went in to finish up decorating the living room when they heard female laughter close by.

"What is that all about?" Harrison wondered.

As if hearing his question, the door to Bret McAdams' office opened up and Bret stuck her head out to find the two men in the hallway.

"Paul, you and Harrison, come in here. We need your, um, opinion on something," she said smiling.

The two men walked into Bret's office and started laughing at the sight before them. Suzanne and Bret were fussing at Derriman, the oldest Omegan, who was dressed to the hilt as Santa Claus. John Derriman lifted his eyes to meet the amused ones of his superior and friend, Paul Ironhorse and that of the scientist, Harrison Blackwood. The veterans felt ridiculous in the striking red and white outfit, and snow white fake beard.

"Paul, I don't know how you talked me into this," John said with a sigh.

Ironhorse snickered and said, "I didn't, John. Bret did, if you remember correctly."

The older sergeant looked over at the lovely redhead who had been his friend prior to him joining the Omegans, who smiled at him sweetly.

"That's right," the older sergeant said, smiling at her. "She manipulated me, beguiled me to serve her own ends."

"I certainly did not!" she replied in mock indignation. "Debi's school needed a Santa who could fit this suit and the profile. Debi volunteered you right off and asked me to help persuade you to do it. I did nothing wrong. It was for Debi."

"So she says," Derriman retorted, winking at Harrison at Paul, enjoying teasing Bret.

"She promised me a kiss for my trouble. Right now I think it's time to bargain for something more."

"We don't have time for that now," Bret replied, looking at her watch. "Come on, John. We'll negotiate in the car. You're expected at the center in 30 minutes."

"Hold on a minute, Bret," Harrison said, smiling devilishly at his friend and the Omegan dressed as Santa who was passing through the doorway.

"What?" both said, simultaneously.

Harrison pointed upward to the top of the doorframe. There hung a fresh piece of mistletoe."

"I think you should at least pay what you agreed to first, Bret. So Derriman knows that your intentions are good.

Derriman's face went beat red as Bret reached up and brought his head down in a hearty buss on the lips.

Paul and Harrison's jaws dropped at the way she kissed John. They expected Bret to kiss him on the lips. Plus, John's reaction was not exactly impassive to her embrace.

Bret turned to the Lt. Colonel and the scientist and said, "There. Happy? I always pay my debts. Now, you'll excuse us, Santa Claus and I have a date with 30 anxious little children at the community center."

Bret and John made their way to the door when Harrison called out, "So, Bret, are you going to be Santa's naughty little helper elf?"

Bret turned to Blackwood, looking around to see whom was around them, gave Harrison a sign that couldn't be mistaken for friendly in American terms.

Paul stifled a laugh as Bret and John left the Cottage.

Two hours later the tree was all decorated with lights and various ornaments from both the members of the Blackwood Project and Omegans. Presents started to pile up around the bottom of the tree. Bret and John came back looking tired, but happy.

That night Bret told a Christmas story about a robbery: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" The adults laughed at the different voices Bret did and how she said some of the tongue twisting rhymes Dr. Seuss thought up for the story. When it was time to exchange gifts...or rather for the adults to give Debi gifts. The 13-year-old sat against the front of the couch, opening each gift with care while the adults talked amongst themselves. She liked the given to her by Harrison and Norton and she thanked them sweetly. When she opened the Colonel's gift to her, however, Debi was at a loss for words. She gingerly picked up the elephant earmuffs and looked at them and at the Colonel in turn. She wouldn't hurt his feelings for the world so she said quietly, "Thank you, Colonel."

Paul's back was to her so he couldn't see her reaction to his gift at first glance. He finished filling up with cup with Norton's special coffee blend for the holidays.

"You're welcome, Debi. I hope it fits-," Paul stopped in mid-sentence when he saw the gift. "Wait a minute! That's not what I got you."

Debi tried her best not to look relieved. The earmuffs were cut, but she'd be laughed out of school if she wore them around her friends. Norton and Harrison couldn't help but laugh at the gift and the reaction it got out of both Paul and Debi.

"The department store gift wrap center must have got the gifts mixed up. You'll have what I bought you originally when you get back from your Uncle's," Paul promised her with a small smile, taking the rejected earmuffs away to his office in disgust.

Next, Debi unwrapped Bret's present. The look on the girl's face, when the gift was released from it's covering, was a mixture of horror and curiosity. She looked over at Bret who was trying to calm Paul down about the mix up.

"Uh, thanks, Bret. Never knew I wanted a giant Buzz Lightyear doll," Debi said, trying to be as tactful as she was with the Colonel, but her attempt fell by the wayside.

Bret caught the last two words of Debi's thanks, and walked over to Debi.

"What in the galaxy?" the doctor exclaimed. "I gift wrapped your present myself. I know I gave the right gift-," Bret's explanation stopped when she heard Harrison's laughing. Blackwood was doubled over, laughing hard and Norton wasn't far behind.

Hands on her hips, Bret turned to the astrophysicist and asked, "Retaliation?"

"Revenge for your um reaction to my elf remark," Harrison explained, finally quieting down.

"Same thing," Bret huffed. "Now go get Debi's real from me. I will have to rewrap Buzz to give to Paul later."

"Thanks for spoiling it for me," Paul quipped wickedly, knowing which "Paul" Bret was going to give the toy to.

Bret threw the Cherokee a look of mock annoyance, noticing as she did something she missed before just up above Paul's head. She smiled slyly, realizing Paul nor the others didn't notice what she did.

Harrison retrieved Bret's real gift for Debi out from behind Paul's chair. Debi exclaimed over the shirt and pants set Bret got her. The doctor winked at Paul because she knew the sweater Paul had originally got the girl would go perfectly with Bret's gift.

Debi looked at her mom expectedly, but Suzanne shook her head and said, "No way, young lady. You'll get your gifts from me at Uncle Hanks."

Debi sighed and went around to thank the team members for their thoughtful gifts before retreating to her room with her gifts.

The adults started talking and laughing about a variety of things when Bret walked over to Paul with the Buzz Lightyear in her arms. She knew she had to do this before she chickened out.

"So, do you want your gift now?" she said softly.

Paul shrugged, wondering why Bret got him a gift when they all agreed not to exchange gifts although he got her a gift also. The others looked over at them with mark interest. Putting Buzz down on the nearby table, Bret reached up and pulled Paul's head down and pressed her lips to his in a firm and passionate kiss. This was met with whistles and cheers coming from the onlookers.

When Bret pulled away she heard Norton and Harrison say, "Way to go, Bret."

Paul looked down at her in awe. She pointed up to the mistletoe.

"The gift that keeps on giving, no?" she asked mischievously. Picking the Buzz Lightyear doll back up, Bret gave Paul a wink and left him speechless so she could return Buzz to her room.

"Well, Colonel, I hope you got Bret a nice gift that will equal what she just gave you," Harrison commented, smiling.

Noticing Debi wasn't around; Paul gave Harrison the same hand sign Bret gave the scientist earlier that day. The others laughed at Blackwood's shock as Paul left, taking the mistletoe as he did. The Cherokee intended to steal every kiss he could from his lovely partner without an audience. Not to mention he had a plan he needed Bret's help in.

Going to Bret's room, Paul knocked on her door, anxiously waiting for her with the mistletoe hanging on the doorframe just above him. Bret opened the door with a smile as Paul leaned in and kissed her passionately. A flash went off in the corner of their eyes, causing them to pull away from each other to find Debi smiling wickedly. She held her Polaroid camera, waving a newly shot picture so it can develop.

"Gotcha!" the young girl said, Bret laughed and leaned against Paul, returning the smile as Paul groaned at being caught in the act.

"I knew you two were together, but I just needed to get proof. It was only a matter of time since last Halloween," Debi replied smugly, looking down at the picture she had just taken, handing it to Ironhorse. "Nice picture, Colonel. You're very photogenic, especially when you're kissing Bret. It's de ja vous, isn't it?"

Paul shook his head in mock despair, but the instant picture gave him an idea. Going over his idea with Bret and Debi, Paul knew this was the opportunity he's been waiting for to get even with Harrison. The two females agreed and followed his orders to the tee.

Bret magically put the mistletoe back on the archway of the living room doorframe and waited for Debi to call her mom and Harrison out to help her with something. Debi stayed just outside of the doorway so Suzanne and Harrison would be standing right underneath the mistletoe...together.

"I just don't get it-," Debi pretended to be frustrated with the small hand held telescope Harrison bought her when she "saw" the mistletoe dangling just above their heads.

Stepping back with a smile, she said, "Look, there's mistletoe. That means you two have to kiss and no cheek action. Lip to lip or it doesn't count and a redo will be in order."

The two adults looked up and then at each other. They knew Bret and Paul were involved in this somehow, but they weren't around to witness it. Raising an eyebrow at Harrison, Suzanne felt every set of eyes on them, even ones they couldn't see. Harrison felt a flush of embarrassment come to his cheeks as he leaned down and kissed Suzanne on the lips. A flash went off causing the two scientists to pull apart, almost reluctantly, and look in the hallway to find Paul and Bret smiling smugly at them. Paul waved the Polaroid tauntingly at Harrison and ran off as Harrison chased him into the kitchen.

Harrison found Paul burning up picture-the only evidence of the shared kiss between Harrison and Suzanne.

Paul heard an audible sound of relief coming from the side of him. Throwing the burnt up picture away, Paul turned to his friend.

"And I thought you were going to send that to General Wilson like Debi did with that picture of you and Bret kissing last year at her school carnival," Harrison said, smiling.

"You had no part in that plot, Harrison," Paul remarked, hiding a small smile.

"Um, yeah," Blackwood said almost guiltily.

"Come on, Doctor. Let's go and persuade Bret to sing a few Christmas carols before Debi goes to bed," Paul coaxed him out of the kitchen, with a small wink at Mrs. Pennyworth who had saw the whole thing.

"You know Bret sings?" Harrison asked incredulously.

"Of course, Blackwood, you told me," Paul exclaimed as they went down the hall back to the living room where everyone else was.

Harrison spent the day with Sylvia Van Buren, enjoying her company. Before they left for Christmas dinner, Sylvia gave him a small box. Bewildered, Blackwood opened the box and groaned when he saw a photo of him and Suzanne kissing, in a small gold wood frame. Groaning, Harrison opened up the envelope that accompanied the gift.

Sylvia laughed as she saw the framed picture. "You two make a very nice couple, Harry. Then again, I've always thought so since I first met Suzanne."

Harrison rubbed his hand over his face and sighed. "I'll get even with those two," he vowed.

"No, Harry. They got even with you. Now leave it be and let's go enjoy Christmas dinner at the restaurant," Sylvia said sternly.

Harrison nodded and left with Sylvia for a Christmas dinner at a mutual friend's house with the doors of Whitewood closing quietly behind them.

End.