Darkness.The sky,full of stars,flashing in the frosty Christmas Eve,the big dipper high overhead.The quiet broken by the hoot of a solitary owl,perched on a Joshua tree.Far removed from the sounds of war. A low house,brown adobe.The road leading into the far distance.Sparse vegetation surrounding the property. Slowly the sounds of whimpering break through the peace and tranquility. "No dont?please,not again" Sitting bolt upright,gasping for air.A dark haired man,a red haired woman,his wife,lying asleep beside him.Slowly stirring in the crib beside the bed,his son,Peter. The man,slowly moves towards the crib,taking care not to waken his sleeping wife.Lifting his son,the smell of damp diaper unmistakable.Carrying him over to the changing table,making quick work of changing and replacing it. Sensing that Peter is getting hungry,he carries Peter into the kitchen and takes the formula from the refrigerator and heats it up on the stove.Carrying Peter and the bottle he heads to the old worn rocking chair,cradling Peter,feeding him the formula.Burping him when he finishes. The door to the kitchen slowly opens.A beautiful,long dark haired woman,her eyes,the color of lapis,stands in the doorway,looking in on the scene,her brother seated,cradling his son against his chest,gently patting his back. Walking further into the kitchen,she heads to the stove and puts the coffee pot to heat. "Do you want coffee Tom?" "Yes please Bennie" "Did you and Sloan sleep well last night?" "Sloan and Peter slept well last night" "You had another nightmare didnt you??" "Yes,but less frequent and severe,the counselling is helping,Sloan has helped a great deal" "You know if you ever want to talk to me about it you can ?" "I will if i need to,thanks Bennie for having Sloan and me here,i'm gonna head for the shower and then i'll wake Sloan for breakfast" Slowly getting up from the chair and heading for the kitchen door,Peter peering over Tom's shoulder. Heading back into the bedroom he places Peter back in the crib and heads for the shower.Coming out,a white towel wrapped around his middle.Tom approaches the bed and plants a kiss on his wife's cheek,then stroking her cheek gently. "Honey,it's time to get up and shower".Slow movement under the covers as Sloan begins to stir. "It's sooo warm under the covers,why don't you come back to bed?? Keep me warm?It's too early to get up yet!"Tom assesses her mood and climbs into bed beside her,pullling her close to him,feeling her desire for him.Slowly exploring her body with his hands,kissing her gently,awakening the fires in her.Moving over her,moving together,working towards ecstasy.Crying out as they climax.Awakening Peter,making him cry.Tom gets up out of bed,picks him up and cradles him,carries him back to bed with them,soothing him back to sleep. "Sloan why don't you go shower and i'll come join you?" Half an hour later Sloan and Tom walk into the kitchen,Sloan carries Peter,cradled on her arm and cuddled close to Tom.Ed sitting at the table, a smile spreading across his face when he sees them.Looking at the two people who have become important to him. "I finally beat you awake Tom" Tom gently shakes his head. "Sorry Ed,i was up an hour ago"Ed lowers his head and smiles. "Bennie?what is it with you people?Tom and Andrea are up at the crack of dawn?" "Practice Ed,Practice". "Tom,Sloan what do you want for breakfast?" "Coffee and cereal i think,Tom the same?"Tom nods his agreement. "Where are Karl and Andrew?Bennie?" "Ray and Grace went with Matt and the boys for a walk.Matt was getting excited about opening his presents,Ray and Grace said he had to wait until you both got up.Walter went with Andrea,talking some more about the research facility in San Diego.When Alan left earlier to meet Lawrence,he said they had found our father and they were heading to get him.It's hard to believe that it's the first time in 20 years that we have all been together.Aunt Rachel is driving over now,she said she would be here about 2pm,around the same time as Alan arrives back.Why don't you eat your breakfast and go for a walk,take Ed,while i get dinner ready?" Half an hour later,they head out,leaving Peter with his Aunt.Ed moaning about Andrea going off and leaving him.Sloan catches a glimpse at Tom's bemused look and gently nudges him. Ten minutes into the walk they catch up with Walter and Andrea,leaning against the property's fence.Ed rushes over to Andrea.Tom and Sloan look on.A smile spreading across their faces as Ed grabs Andrea and plants a kiss on her lips.Turning away Tom and Sloan walk away,leaving an embarrassed Walter with Ed and Andrea. Ten minutes later Sloan pulls Tom to sit on a pile of rocks. "Tom how do you feel about meeting your father?It's been twenty years,and a lots happened since then,including what happened to your mom?Becoming a husband and father.Accepting your position as Chosen leader.Stopping the death Warrant on Lewis and had the Exile of your father over-turned.Left the chameleon program,you should be proud of yourself."Tom looks off into the distance.Going over the events of the past two years,his torture and rescue,the treatment at Whitney,the time in hospital,the death of Mark and the birth of Peter.The loss of Whitney. "I'll be fine Sloan.We have a lot to talk about,including mother.It's about time,we should head back."Sloan nods.Tom stands and pulls Sloan up and cuddles up to her,his arm behind her back. Half an hour later they walk into the Adobe,and hear Matt protesting and Tom's cousins laughing. "Mom it's not fair,when can i open my presents?" "When Tom and Sloan get back,why don't you go and play outside with Karl and Andrew,they'll be back soon!" "Grace we're back,let him at them."Sloan and Tom walk into the living room,Matt by the christmas tree,playing with the boxes there,Andrew and Karl,dark-haired,blue eyed like their mom,several years younger than Matt.Standing off to the side,watching Matt,with amused faces. "Whats so funny?Andrew?Karl?"Tom looks down at his young cousins,waiting for their answer. "It's just,we've never been with someone soo impatient to get at toys?Candy yes,but toys? thats strange.Uncle Tom,what is Christmas?" "Karl i think Aunt Sloan can explain better" "Karl,Andrew sit."Tom and Sloan on the floor close to Karl and Andrew,Matt,playing with his presents,a Nintendo Gameboy(tm)with the game cartridge Pokemon and three cartridges,Red,yellow and blue. "Karl,Christmas has always been a time of peace and goodwill to men.During the human first and second World wars,the Axis and Allied forces ceased hostilities on Christmas day and passed food and sang carols.It's also a traditional time for family and friends to gather and share a meal together.It's not only a Christian festival,it has it's roots in Roman Saturnalia and even longer,into the Celtic age of Solstice,Mid-winter,the shortest day."Sloan snuggles closer to Tom. "Aunty Sloan,why do the Humans want to kill us?We don't want to kill them,we are all a part of each other.You and the others don't want to kill us,why do they?"Sloan casts a look at Tom and smiles. "Andrew,Humans as well as Dominants fear what they don't understand,and that fear leads to violence on both sides.The Humans have only met the rogues like Lynch and the Chameleons,not the true face of you,the Quetxon.The Quetxon who hold,that all life is sacred,that no life deserves death.The people who are intune with Nature and the four Elements.Do you understand now?" "Yes,Aunty Sloan" They both chorus.Tom and the two boys sharply look towards the front of the house,seconds later they hear a car pull up and a car door slamming.A woman walks into the house,the spitting image of Tom's mother.Tom on seeing his Aunt Rachel,moves closer to Sloan,holding her tightly. "Tom,she's not your mother,can't you see?sense that?"Sloan hugs him reassuringly.Tom and Sloan head over to Rachel. "Aunt Rachel,this is my wife Sloan.Bennie is in the kitchen.Sloan and i have to go and check on our son" Trying to tug Sloan away from his Aunt. "Hello Sloan,i see that Tom is still quiet and shy,just like he was when he was a child.How are you Tom? Can i see my little grand nephew?Where's Alan and Grandfather?"Tom moves closer to Sloan and shyly looks at the Aunt,that had taken care of him,whom he hadnt seen since eleven and was fast approaching his 32nd birthday."Tom nods and attempts to leave so he can get Peter. "I'll get him Tom,you stay and talk to your Aunt,i'll only be a few minutes,okay?"