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Post by brennan on Dec 7, 2008 23:12:40 GMT -5
Brennan grinned as he filtered thoughts through his mind. Brennan had never particularly been good at remembering things, and today was no different. Sure, he knew that in the future he would have no trouble remembering how he had proposed to Niki. He was sure that, when he looked back on this day, he would be disappointed that all he had done was show her the ring and ask. He was pretty sure that, when he and Niki were old people confined to rocking chairs—a silly dream at best—he and his future wife would laugh at his mistakes. But he had been thinking spur-of-the-moment, he had been thinking about the future. He had been thinking about their child, how he could possibly rearrange his life so that he wouldn’t end up a dead-beat father who can’t even pay child support.
Obviously now was not later in the future. Brennan, however, was thinking ahead. In fact, he was thinking so far ahead that his head hurt, which technically wasn’t a good thing. Brennan mentally shook it, and decided to focus just on the here and now. He promised himself that he would not be a dead-beat dad, and that he and Niki would, in fact, live together and end up in dual rocking chairs laughing happily at old memories. He felt Niki move her hand over his, which had been placed on her stomach. She said vaguely that she was not made out of china, and that he could hug her. He laughed, and drew her into a great hug, “It’s not that.” He said, and then kissed her head. “I’m not worried about you, or the baby. In fact, I’ve never been worried about you, with your super strength and all.”
“And a dog would be a great idea, just not now.” Brennan said, changing the subject. “Maybe we’ll get one for Micah one year, if he expresses a want for one.”
After another quick kiss on the top of her head, Brennan wrapped Niki’s arms around his neck and flipped her over so she was on his back. Then, without even bothering to tell her what he was going to do, he flew out of the house, via the open front door. He was up in the air before she could probably think ‘what’s going on?’ and had left the house long before she had taken a breath. He didn’t need sexual intercourse to relieve his feelings. He had long since gotten over that, and even last week had been a rare treat. No, all he needed was Niki around him, and he felt more like himself then he had ever felt like himself before.
Now he was going to take Niki to maybe the best Christmas tree seller he had ever met. No, it was not Saint Nick, though if Santa Clause was a Christmas tree seller, Brennan would have totally bought from him (the guy’s seen so many Chrismtas trees, he’d know which ones were the best and whatnot). However, Brennan did not know how to reach Santa Clause, and so instead relied on the Christmas tree seller that he had gone to since he was a very young boy. It took only a moment to exit the state of Nevada, and only another moment to climb over the Rocky Mountains. His favorite Christmas tree seller lived not in the Pacific or Mountain states, and he didn’t live in the Eastern states. No, his favorite Christmas tree seller lived in north Illinois.
Illinois was covered in white. Brennan realized belatedly that he should have told Niki to grab a coat. He himself was a little cold, and he had grown up in the cold parts of northern Illinois, and this is how he knew this tree seller. He buzzed through the crisp November sky with a cloud of atmosphere trailing after him. He wondered why that happened, but had never been able to explain it. Then he found what he was looking for: an old rusty sign lit up by what once was a string of Christmas lights. The sign read “Newman’s Christmas-y Christmas Trees.”
He alighted at the front of the sign on an old, dusty but remarkably not snow-strewn trail. “We’re here. And promise me, the sign may throw you off, but the Christmas trees are wonderful.” He unwrapped Niki’s arms from around his neck, and held her hand. “We’re going to get a proper Christmas tree, not one of those rag-tag ones that the Home Depot stores sell.”
He walked past the sign, holding onto Niki’s hand as he did so; he wondered if he were pulling her along or if she was following willingly. “Mr. Newman?” Brennan called, cupping his hand over his mouth to make the sound travel.
“Eh?” An elderly voice called back, “Is that you, Brennie?”
An old man with graying hair came around from one of the uncut Christmas trees that made up the man’s front yard. “Why, it is you, Brennie!” The man said, and hobbled up to him, then hugged the much taller man warmly, but feebly. He peered at Brennan, his face gleaming, and then at Niki. “Who’s this pretty vixen, Brennie? She yours?”
Brennan laughed, “Charlie, I see you haven’t changed much. This is Niki Sanders, my fiancé. And Niki, this is Charlie Newman, the man I’ve worked for and who’s given me the best Christmas trees a man can ever ask for.”
“Now, now, don’t go sassing me up, young’un.” Newman said, smiling an almost toothless smile at both Niki and Brennan. “I got the best trees for miles. Where’re you from, Mrs. Niki?”
Not waiting for an answer, Newman grunted, “Don’t need to know. I bet wherever you’re from, Brennan’s been. He’s been everywhere, so he tells me. Come, the best stock of trees is this way.”
The old man started to hobble away while waving his hand in the general direction he was headed. “You gotta tell me everything, young man.”
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Post by niki on Dec 10, 2008 6:00:30 GMT -5
Niki was pretty sure she would remember this day for the rest of her life. Finding out she was pregnant with Brennan's baby and being proposed to in the same day. It was magical. A magical moment Niki would have etched on her brain for the rest of her life, along with the birth of Micah and the day she met Brennan. Of course the day she married D.L. was still etched on her brain too, but deeper set.
She grinned when he pulled her into a great big hug, and then said he wasn't scared of hurting her, but it had seemed that way, obviously she had picked it up wrongly. When he kissed her on the forehead, she kissed him on the cheek. "Well the superhuman strength comes in handy for a lot of things, but it doesn't make me invincible Brennan" she said softly, although she knew he would already know that. Hence the reason why he flew to her rescue that day, otherwise Niki would have been a little pulp of mess on her driveway. She shuddered at the thought.
Niki pouted slightly, "But what if I express a wish for a dog?" she asked and then began to laugh slightly, a puppy would be wonderful she thought, and it would be a good age by the time the baby was born. "Is it only children who are allowed to express wishes for dogs?" she continued to tease with him.
After another kiss to the forehead, Niki felt herself being flipped onto Brennan's back, and they were out of the house before she knew what was happening. Obviously he was taking her somewhere again, she laughed at the spontaneity of it, and the feeling of suddenly being jolted into the air without a warning notice. Of course the whole time they were in the air together, Brennan didn't say a word to her about where they were going. She still wasn't sure where they were when he stopped flying, other than seeing the sign, and realising he was taking her for the Christmas Tree he spoke of.
Niki's face lit up as she walked around the place, taking it all in. It was wonderful. It was all white with snow and very Christmasy, she hadn't even lifted a coat, but at the same time she didn't feel really cold. She felt warm, especially when Brennan took her hand and began walking with her. "Now I know why you wanted me to get a real tree" she said, "It's simply magical here" she added, as she continued to look around in complete awe at all the trees.
Then Brennan was shouting on someone, and before too long they shouted back. Niki had to stifle a laugh, when the supposed Mr Newman called Brennan, Brennie. She had to remember that one. She gently nudged him and leaned up to whisper into his ear, "Brennie?!" and then laughed again a little, but turned to the voice as it appeared louder as the Mr Newman approached them both.
Of course he was more or less talking to Brennan, but he did bring her into the conversation by asking Brennan who the pretty vixen was. Niki raised an eyebrow, looked at Brennan, and then giggled slightly. Of course Brennan introduced them both, and told Mr Newman she was his fiance, it sounded so nice. "Hi Mr Newman" Niki said warmly, "It's very nice to meet you" she added as she took a look around. "You have a wonderful place here" she continued.
He had asked where she was from but had continued to say that it hadn't mattered, where ever she was from Brennan had been there. However she felt compelled to answer the man anyway, "I'm from Nevada actually" she said grinning, as she continued to walk with Brennan, hand in hand, as they followed Mr Newman to the best stock of trees he said he had.
"I'm wondering how good these best of stock are, because the trees I've seen already have been pretty wonderful" Niki said warmly, making sure to give the man plenty of praise for his wonderful winter garden of Christmas Trees. When he told Brennan to tell him everything, Niki just began to giggle again. This was definitely one she was going to let Brennan handle himself.
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