Just a Happy Christmas Story (Part 2) by Domoviye

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Holy Family Cathedral
June, 1991

Flashback into the past, the wedding of Katherine and John, how did John go from someone who can be this dramatic and loving to what he has become in the future? Eloped six months ago after nearly being killed and this is just the official wedding for close friends and family. That is a lot of supervillains and criminals in one location. A restaurant for the party afterward, I love small weddings.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Holy Family Cathedral
Afternoon
Friday, December 21st, 2007

In the present, Katherine is at the same church and lights a candle before praying for her husband. Father Garcia knows her pattern that well, I guess she isn't fully in hiding. Going to pick up Shaun and his friends soon, Smile and Jane, oh boy. Uh oh, she knows what Jane did to the crime boss, but not why.

“John, who is this girl?” she quietly asked the candle. “Is she your daughter? A student? You? Why couldn't you have sent her to me?”

Eep, will the truth come out over Christmas vacation?

A driver that can act as a bodyguard, Katherine is cautious, I wonder what kind of protection she has gotten for Shaun. Gordon, I wonder how many drivers she has? All that to cover up her connection to Mille and one phone call from Jane has her shaken.

She had everything set up to deal with Jane, she just didn't know if she would have to. Or if she could go through with it if there was no other choice.

This is going to be some Christmas vacation.

Downtown London, England
1985

Another flashback, this time further into the past. Orion the Magnificent blames her for only playing in shitty bars, slappy her hard, he isn't just a pig, he is an abusive creep. She did all that for him and the idiot goes on stage drunk, ruining the act, and blames her, he deserves whatever happens to him. He dares to call her that! She is more restrained than I would be, glad that she is leaving this creep behind.

Ouch, running off with no real food in her stomach for hours, that creep drained her resources and treated her like that. 22, hungry, and might have to live on the streets, Katherine needs help and fast. Resorting to pickpocketing to survive, after what she has been through I can't blame her. Oh no, clueless blue eyes, dressed like that, don't tell me John is her first pickpocket target. That was too easy for her, why do I expect the other shoe to drop?

An hour later Katerine is eating a big plate of curry, the I.D. from the guy's wallet his name is Richard De Millard, why does that sound like an alias to me? Enough cash to get a flight back to the US, but she swiped his passport as well, uh oh. Crap, the man sat down beside her, with a faint French accent, and he wants his wallet and passport back, it is Mille!

Tulsa International Airport
Friday, December 21st, 2007

Shaun rushes over to hug his mom, and Jane recognizes Katherine despite a decade and a half since she last saw her. Magali is all grown up and with a family of her own, so that is who Magali is, I forgot her being mentioned in previous stories. Jerald Canali is some lawyer that Katherine has.

Smile holds Jane's hand as they go over, and Katherine is looking more intensely at Jane than Smile, eep. Magali has a son, Felix, how old is he? Embarrassing things Shaun has done at school, mention of crossdressing in the combat finals, oof, Magali reminded of how she used to be a boy. Katherine Solace, so that is her last name. Mr. Canali and his muscle are told the job is done and head off.

No matter where you go airports will always be crowded. Shaun talking with Magali, Smile chats with Felix, and I guess Jane will just sit in silence for the ride. Ouch, Jane saw the only home Mille had ever known again. Aww, cold, but just above freezing so no snow, that sucks. At least Felix has snow back home in Montreal. Jane and Smile sleeping in the same room for Smile's sake, aww. Just stay out of Katherine's office and they can go anywhere else in the house, nice. An individual pie for each of them, yum.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
December, 1990

Another flashback. Mille and Katherine were on a tour of what would become their home. A P.I. license, how did he go from being a P.I. to a mercenary with so many enemies and deaths on his hands? This is after the Detroit job that nearly got them killed, all over a con job, yikes. Mille hasn't had a home since he was 12, don't tell me his parents threw him out for being a mutant or worse.

8 kids! I'm with Katherine, 4 tops.

“OK, we keep trying until we have a minimum of two boys, and two girls.”

She slapped his chest pretending to scowl. “If you want it that badly, you can have one or two of them.”

Shifting into a woman, Mille grinned. “Well if you insist. I'll just need to find a handsome, wealthy man to have his love child.”

“Do that and you'd better not turn back into a man because I will cut your balls off.”

Laughing, he shifted back to a man. “OK. OK. Four kids, doesn't matter if they're boys or girls.”

Boy, Katherine sure had to really love him to put up with jokes like that.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Friday, December 21st, 2007

Oh boy, Jane having to say all those things to herself in the mirror, this is going to be rough. That third eye and the power it gives Magali is certainly useful. Eep, holding hands to say grace, and Jane reacts that way to holding Katherine's hand. Smile worried about her little brother, not knowing if he is safe or even alive; I hope her parents are caught soon.

Aww, Felix is 4 years old.

The four-year-old pressed himself tightly to her and said into her side. “You can be my big sister if you want.”

Magali has raised his right, kind and caring. *eyes bug out* Katherine is really generous to Smile and Jane. Ah, she remembers what her life was like when Mille came into it and likes to help people who need it. Smile gives Katherine a hug, dang, you were right about needing tissues.

Midnight

Katherine is exhausted from nervous energy yet can't go to sleep, oof, I know that feeling all too well. She has a good read on Smile and Jane so far. Camera with top of the filter, time to get to work, what are you doing, Katherine?

A small rented office, hhm. Gerald Dacanay aka the lawyer Jerald Canali, just how many alternate identities does he have? A messenger boy from his current financier, curiouser and curiouser. Threads, someone named Thread is who he is working for, an unusual codename.

Threads, an information broker, middleman, money launderer and financier was ready to talk.

Only meeting through a video screen, very cautious. Payment for getting Shaun and his friends home safely in the form of a power item to help in the creation of his new identity.

A green demonic mask.

“It's not a devise, and can be powered up in five hours to full use using two car batteries. You wanted something regular tech can't copy, and doesn't use magic or devises, that's the best you're going to get without murdering someone,” Threads replied.

Not regular tech, not magic or a devise, what is it, a schimmelhorn device?

“But I was the Crimson Claw. I know how to use hand weapons. This is as far from a hand as you can get. How am I supposed to learn this well enough to use it for New Years Eve?”

“The Crimson Claw is burnt. Your actions in Cincinnati made that persona toxic. The Jade Mask is a new identity that will let you rebuild your reputation.”

This idiot was the Crimson Claw! Yeah, that identity is beyond burnt, you are a dead man if you use that identity again. Go with Jade Mask and hope no one ever connects you to Crimson Claw ever again. Trying to double-cross two supervillains, there is arrogance, there is foolhardy, and then there is just downright boneheaded like this.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Woodland Hills Mall
Morning
Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

Everyone has their cell phone except Felix, he wandered off last time on his own, good grief. Good instructions on where to meet up, when, and what to do if they get into trouble. Jane, don't start thinking like that again, please. Ouch, seeing the hurt Mille left Katherine with, I want to smack him around myself at this point for lacking common sense about the feelings of those he loved.

No, it would not be best for everyone if you disappeared. They would get into more trouble trying to find you than if you just stayed. Her eyes shifted blue, Shaun and Smile knew that meant, she was thinking something she shouldn't be. All those thoughts of what to do to escape, yet Jane didn't do those things, good.

Jane, you are Mille, but you aren't at the same time. He isn't what your friends see you as you have changed for the better thanks to them, don't throw it away due to fear. Confronted about when she is going to tell Katherine that she is Mille's daughter, this web is getting more tangled with time. Jane's thoughts about herself, good lord, I wish they good get her to see she isn't like Mille was in the past.

“You can still be Jane.”

She shook her head. “They know who I am now. They have an idea who Shaun is. They'll try to kill me. They'll get you both too.”

You can't predict the future, or know the threats that will come. You just have to trust your friends to be there for you and able to handle things in their own way.

Shaun started to speak only to be cut off by Smile. “Don't you dare decide things for me,” the tiny girl said, her voice shaking, angrier than anyone had ever heard. “I've faced death before. I was strapped to a bloody table with a body five feet away from me, and only a miracle got me out. I saw my mother slit a person's throat. You do NOT get to decide if I can handle something. If you run, you do not get to say it was to protect me.”

Whoa, I haven't seen Smile get angry in a long time.

“NO BUT'S!” Smile almost shouted. “You've been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on and someone to talk to without any judgment. It's time you realize people are here for you. If you won't tell us why you think you're a monster, then we're just going to have to judge you for what you've done. And all I can say is you've been my best friend. You're quiet and sad a lot, but you've never made me feel bad about my parents, and you've just accepted me even when I've been a crying mess. So let me be your friend now.”

I've been waiting for her friends to confront Jane like this, she needs to hear what Shaun and especially what Smile is saying now. Ouch, Katherine still goes out to all their own haunts to try and find Mille or any signs of him. She hasn't given up on him, so Shaun won't give up on Jane. Jane breaks out crying and Smile and Shaun hugs her as she continues to cry, I need a tissue again.

Whoa, I do some of those things when observing things too, guess it comes with nerves and anxiety too. Books about magicians and con artists, good choice, Smile. Best pickpocket and sleight of artist that John ever knew, I can believe it. Okay, how did Felix get into Santa's workshop unnoticed, even as a 3-year-old he must have been fast and sneaky. A lot of fun in Paris, no story for Shaun about it, rats.

Aww, Felix is such a cute kid, and yes, blue hair is cool. Presents, I wonder what they got. Smile did need a bigger wardrobe. Jane got books and clothes, darn, she is still acting in a shy manner around Katherine. Smile enjoys herself talking about her combat final with Katherine and Magali. Everyone but Katherine and Shaun go to see a movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Ooo, private conversation and a lot to talk about between Shaun and his mom. She knows about the Devisor Coffee, never try it or you might not sleep for a week.

“Something like that. People will hear us talking but it'll be very indistinct and almost impossible to understand. In a noisy place like this, it's perfect.”

That is better than a noise nullifier and draws less attention.

Oh boy, time for Shaun to be told about the Mille that Katherine knew. She almost lost a leg!

“We got a bit too clever and got caught by a supervillain. He decided that torturing us to death was a good response to walking away with some of his fancier gadgets. Those two days still give me nightmares.”

Never steal from a gadgeteer or devisor supervillain, some of them are unstable. *eyes bug out* Healers are worth their weight in gold at the least.

Shaun, what your parents did before you were born doesn't always fit with your image of them now. The MCO agents after Magali, I'm not sure I wouldn't have wanted to do the same thing Mille wanted to, hunting an innocent girl simply for being a mutant.

“I was pregnant with you, and from what I was able to piece together, several of our enemies who wanted to get their money back with interest, including the Detroit supervillain, had a lead on us. And your stupid, stubborn, infuriating father thought that the only way to keep us all safe was to turn himself into a target.”

Shaun's eyes widened. Jane had said she needed to get away to protect him and Smile. She'd picked up the exact same habit that their father had.

Seesh, Jane needs to break the habits of her past as Mille if she is going to live a new life.

Arrgh, if only Mille had thought of another plan to deal with their enemies that didn't involve killing, that didn't start him on the path that turned him into a monster. Information broker and middleman, so that is how Katherine can avoid all these things. So she is Threads, no wonder she keeps that identity so secret. Whoa, she is a smart, cautious, and dangerous lady if you make her your enemy.

Fusco used methods to find out about Shaun which even Katherine doesn't know about. Katherine knows the rumor about Jane being Mille's daughter and believes it is true based on how she acts around her.

It was his turn to dry his eyes. “She said he was a monster, but he didn't hurt her physically. And when he died he wanted her to have a peaceful life, grow up safely, go to college, have a family. He faked his death in Boston, and died a month later after setting things up for her.”

Her lip quivered, and her voice was shaky. “He- he really wanted her to have a peaceful life?”

“Yeah, that's what she said.”

Tears began to fall, but she managed to smile. “Then he wasn't a monster at the end.”

Reaching out to hold her hand, he cried along with her for the man they'd both lost.

Tissues needed again.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Morning
Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

Katherine, what did you just put on Jane's pancakes? Katherine can't go to the zoo with them, rats. Felix likes Smile like a big sister, it has been good for her to be around him. You drugged Jane with something that made her sick, Katherine, what have you done? Pale, the room is spinny, and a little hot, I don't like this. It triggered an uncontrolled shift, crap.

4 small bell ornaments were gifts from Mille to Katherine. Jane was in the guest room reading, Katherine put a tracker on Jane's pajamas, arrgh. Armed with a gun in case something goes wrong, Katherine, when Shaun finds out you did this. Jane can't move and Katherine has questions she wants answers to, there are better ways than this.

Knows things only Mille would, yet Katherine doesn't believe that means anything she has told Shaun is true. Boy, that is an embarrassing secret for Jane to use to prove she knew Mille.

“Worse,” Jane said in a whisper. “He said that leaving you both was the worst thing he ever did. Without you to anchor him, he lost his way and became a monster.”

Jane, you can keep with this lie, but the truth will come out someday. Jane knows about Mathew Fusco and his men, Jane shifts again when confronted with that, she probably has blue eyes right now.

Tells the story in a hard and cold voice, I hate it when Jane gets like this. Crap, Jane is crying now as she finishes talking, I wish Louis could do more to help her.

Katherine lifted her up into a sitting position, hugging her tightly to her chest. Crying, she said, “Thank you, for what you did. But please don't do that again. Ask for help when you need it. Don't become a monster, not for us. I heard that John wanted you to have a peaceful life. If you cared for him, if you care about Shaun, please, don't follow his path.”

“I don't know how to be anything else,” Jane said in a tiny, scared voice.

It is getting hard to read through tear-streaked glasses.

“You aren't a monster. You still have time to change. If you don't trust anyone else, please trust Shaun and I. Ask us for help when you aren't sure. You went for two years living peacefully, you can live like that again. John tried to help you, let me do the same.”

“I killed my foster parents.”

Oh crap, Jane has shifted again, talking like that about killing her foster parents, I know they deserved it, but seeing Jane like this as she talks about it scares me.

It was as if she didn't know how to ask for help, and maybe even thought she deserved to be hurt.

Katherine, you are right about Jane. And it hurts to see her do this over and over again.

Cradling the broken child, she let her own tears fall. “Please, ask me for help next time. I swear I will do everything in my power to protect you. Don't become like Mille. Don't let yourself become a monster.”

She felt tears soaking her shoulder. Jane began to shudder, pressing her face harder into Katherine's shoulder. “Why won't you hate me?” the girl sobbed.

At a loss for what to say, all she could do was hug Jane even harder as they both cried.

I need to clean my glasses, I can't see clearly enough to read through the streaks anymore.

Jane, you may have come up with that tale, but the pain behind it was all too real.

Now Jane knew that Katherine would have done whatever it took to save him.

And there is the real pain of all this.

The voice in her head that she considered Mille. The nasty little whisper that told her to hurt people, to lash out, to hurt herself, it was silent. She imagined the monster in her mind hiding in the darkness, avoiding the truth, keeping hold of its spite and hatred like it was a treasure, because that was all it had left.

It was up to Jane to figure out how to handle things.

I hope that part of her that she considers Mille will go away over time. Dang, Katherine is a master planner to have done all this in advance.

“No. You are listed as a flight risk. They're afraid you'll run away, and with your powers and skills there isn't much anyone could do to stop you. So, if I'd had to-” she bit her lip and looked away. “I had a story and witnesses lined up to say you had started feeling better, went for a walk, and never came back.”

Yikes, Whateley would have approved of this if Jane had tried to run away. Funny stories about Shaun, I bet Katherine could fill a book with those. Shaun did a presentation on Pikachu at 8 for a presentation on animals, heh, I might have too if they had been out when I was a kid.

Smile and Magali say it was 2 Celsius, and Shaun says it is 35 degrees, too bad he is outnumbered. Jane is helping make brownies and wearing an apron, she is feeling a lot better than she has in a long time. I agree with Katherine, we need to see Jane smiling more often. Baking all afternoon, how many cookies did they make?

“What stories did you tell her, mom?” Shaun asked, dreading the answer.

“Pika pika,” Jane said with a grin.

His face hit his palms and he groaned loudly. “Oh god. Please don't tell anyone about that at school.”

“Ash would love to know there's a fellow Pokemon fan on campus. You'd have so much to talk about,” she teased.

Oh god, don't do that to Shaun, Jane. $200 not to tell Cooper about it, whoa, just how much of a killing is Shaun going to make with his dye?

Picking up a tube of white icing he started thinking about how to make a coat that would spray icing out of the sleeve. It quickly turned to a condiments dispenser, and then a way to release chemicals at attackers from over ten feet away.

Aww, but Shaun's ideas are good ones. Drawing with the icing, oops, those devisor fugues can be intense.

Magali has a gadgeteer husband who is worse, oh boy, with two mutant parents I wonder when Felix will manifest and what his powers will be. Smile takes on fairy form to the delight of Felix, he wants to have powers like his mom and dad and be able to fly, he is so adorable.

“You just might, but only when you're older Felix. You will manifest when your Shaun's age in ten or eleven years,” Magali said very firmly. “So no jumping off the fridge again.”

Okay, Magali needs to ask her husband to make a material to pad the floors with to keep Felix safe from himself.

“Please tell me you got to him before he went flying?”

“I didn't,” she replied, with a pained look. “I think he has a guardian angel, or he's already manifested and is almost invulnerable. He got a few bumps and that was it. He barely even cried.”

A safety harness at least for Felix to keep him from climbing too high.

“Pierre's a gadgeteer with a focus on mining, which has done wonders for his career. He works in the mining industry obviously. He loves his work and we're well off, but when something goes wrong, he gets called in. So sometimes we miss him on the holidays like this year.” She cocked her head and gave a little smile. “But he's happy so we don't complain.”

Now that is a very useful specialization to have for a gadgeteer.

“I can also see infrared, UV, microscopic things down to the size of a blood cell, and if I'm willing to risk a migraine, radio waves. If I didn't have to have this big eye open it would be a lot more convenient.”

All that and x-ray vision as well as long as she has her third eye on her forehead open, impressive. A full-time mom and part-time French translator, I can see how her powers help to keep up with Felix.

Aww, I like Smile's idea of a future job, she would be great at helping out kids in need. Jane thought about becoming a librarian but now doesn't know, aww. I wonder how many students have help from Whateley going back into obscurity after they graduate. Shaun as a civilian with his own business making disguises and clothing, boy, I bet it would have the best stuff for Halloween and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Well, I still remember when I had cancer and was in the hospital so much, that there were a lot of kids there with scars, no hair, and other things. And all the kids at Whateley who have GSD and can't really go out in public. So maybe a company that helps them. Affordable clothes to hide deformities while being comfortable. Gadgets that help make things a bit more comfortable for people with harnesses and medical aids. Masks and wigs that are cheaper and cover scars, scales and other stuff. It just seems like a nice thing to do with my power, and I don't need to make a huge profit from the work, since I'll be patenting gadgets for other things.”

Oh my god, I wonder if any of his stuff is available in Gen 2 at the Whateley store.

He was suddenly hugged by his mother. “When you get a bit older I'll help you write up a business plan and work out the details. And I'll match whatever you put into it as your junior and mostly silent partner.”

I hope Shaun's business becomes a big success, the world needs more people who want to help others with their creations so eagerly. With help from Magali and Smile spreading word of mouth, he is going to be a hit when his business opens. Darn it, you got me tearing up again.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mid-Morning
Monday, December 24th, 2007

A Christmas market in place of the usual farmer's market, I would love to see one of those. They have stuff for everyone to enjoy. Katherine helped get it set up, that is so awesome. Staying at Whateley over Christmas without your friends around can be depressing. I'm so glad that Smile realizes what Katherine and Magali have done to help her adjust while being there for her.

Aww, Smile blushes when she mentions Cooper is her boyfriend. Summer with him and his parents will be interesting. Oof, the story of how Katherine bought the house with John and she just can't sell it.

“If you want to talk about them you can give me a call. I know how judgmental people can be, and I know about keeping secrets. I'll listen to you and won't judge. I may even be able to offer some advice.”

I hope Smile takes her up on the offer. Ouch, I hope we get some news on Gregory soon, Smile needs to know he is okay. Scooped up into a hug by Katherine, time for hot chocolate and a chat. Fresh cinnamon donuts and hot chocolate with whipped cream, a good combo.

Ouch, Katherine didn't think Mille died in Boston, but Jane was there and saw it so now she believes, hoping he's found some peace now.

“When your little brother is found, he's going to need help. He'll need someone to look after him, to help him heal, and to face the judgment from people who have never had to deal with anything close to what you and he have dealt with.”

Any who judge children for the crimes of their parents need to get their heads examined. A present for Gregory, I hope Smile can give it to him soon. Every year she left a present for John under the tree, got me tearing up again.

“Jane,” the older woman said with a sad smile. “She's a fixer upper, who will definitely need a lot of work, but I think with patience and quite a bit of tender love and care she'll be wonderful. Now let's go find something for your brother.”

There go more tissues.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Holy Family Cathedral
Christmas Eve Service

Jane is in church sitting between Shaun and Smile, she is wearing a white dress, how did Katherine get her to wear that? Ouch, memories of Mille being married in this church. Smile in a dress that doesn't make her look like a kid and bored, heh. Shaun sounds like he is trying to hold onto something familiar alright. I hope they don't visit the church often for Jane's sake.

Oh, it is the sermon by Father Garcia that has Shaun so focused. Forgiveness and redemption. That many assassinations, yikes.

How was he supposed to forgive a man like that? How was he supposed to hate a man like that?

Leaning forward, he tried to find something in the priest's words that would help him figure out how he should feel.

I'm afraid there is no easy answer even in the sermon, Shaun. This is something you will have to work out for yourself.

Tic Tac Toe with Felix using her skirt, Smile doesn't know if this is her first time in a church. Working on a Sunday, nope, I don't think your parents ever took you to church, Smile. Yeah, I understand what Smile is feeling about her parents right now, her emotions towards them are still raw, she is concerned for Gregory, and this sermon probably sounds like simple platitudes to something more complex in her life.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Christmas morning
Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

Felix keeps being adorable, Santa came and there are presents to open. Shaun is in charge of handing out presents, it is time to see what everyone got. Ooo, Jane has to force her smile upon seeing the silver bell on the Christmas tree, a reminder of what Mille threw away.

Smile got a fairy nightgown early, she needs all the cheering up she can get. Felix opens a loud and flash toy.

“This is because I got Shaun that drum set when he was nine, isn't it?” Magali asked Katherine.

Katherine looking as innocent as could be replied, “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Never get a kid a loud present or they will get revenge when you have kids later on. Smile got a DIY wall collage kit from Magali, now that is a great way to personalize the walls in the dorm room.

Gifts from Katherine to Shaun, Smile, and Jane.

Carefully opening the box, Jane saw it was two matching plain silver bracelets and a necklace. Smile had similar jewellery in gold, and Shaun had a watch and a belt. Each of them came with an odd black pad and a cord to plug in.

Good quality PFGs, she went all out on their presents.

“If you have all of them on they interact with each other for a stronger longer lasting shield, if you just have one on, it's good for two or three hard hits. Try not to have to use them, but if something happens it's better to have it than not.”

This is something they all need, a literal lifesaver of a gift.

Smile got Jane a large teddy bear to hug and talk to, aww.

“A bank account. It has a hundred thousand dollars in it, and it gets about 10,000 dollars in dividends every quarter. Memorize the password then burn it,” Jane said.

A Karedonia bank account with that much money, Jane, you have no idea of how much that is really worth.

Oh boy, Smile is freaking out as it is too much. Katherine asks where Jane got the money.

“Mille,” she whispered.

“How much money did he give you access to?”

Still whispering, not sure how to react, wondering how it had all gone wrong, she said, “About 60-70 million, a lot of it is in stocks and bonds, and there's property too.”

Jane is so embarrassed now she shrinks to her smallest possible size, oh boy.

“I just wanted you to not have to worry about things anymore,” Jane whispered. “And... I wanted m-Mille's money to finally go somewhere good.”

That made Smile pause. Then she launched herself at Jane hugging her tight as tears flowed. “Sorry for freaking out. I just... It's so much. I panicked. Thank you.”

Well, that matter is settled quickly. Her envelope to Shaun has a key inside.

“No, it's a key to a large lab in the Tunnels,” Jane said, still talking quietly, hoping this gift would go better than Smiles. “It needs to be fixed up, but it's secure and has a lot of equipment you'll need. I'm not sure how good the stuff is, but the security system is top of the line. That key lets you set the biometric locks to you. It's all yours.”

That is the best gift you can give any gadgeteer or Devisor at Whateley. Aww, Shaun hugs her and she doesn't feel too tight in her skin for the first time in over two years.

A small crystal bell ornament from Jane to Katherine.

Jane smiled. “Mille would buy a bell every year. It was one of the few things he did for Christmas,” she lied, for once not feeling guilty about it.

It was Katherine's turn to get up and wrap her arms around Jane. “Thank you,” she sobbed. “Thank you for letting me know he wasn't totally lost.”

Both crying as they hug and me crying with them.

This story has been an emotional rollercoaster. The fallout from the combat final and others' reactions to Jane because of it, her fears of both losing her friends and endangering them by staying and all the emotions of the 2nd part. It slowed me down, I had to clean my glasses once because of the tear streaks it was so heartbreaking at points and joyful at others.

The Spy Kids need a stern talking to about invading the privacy of other students and ignoring rules since in the real world doing so would make any evidence they gather inadmissible. Jane had to deal with the Syndicate recruiter, Geist, and more just keep pushing her, her physical injuries were bad enough, but her mental and emotional stability got worse due to them.

The lie of being Mille's daughter has worked a bit too well, even Mrs. Carson and the staff at Whateley believe it without evidence otherwise so far. And it has drawn trouble to Jane that she wishes to avoid, I can only hope that further threats will be dealt with by Whateley in a timely fashion.

Smile doing shoulder fairies with Tink, good grief. I hope in the future she realizes that most of Tink's ideas are ones that will get her in trouble and avoid them. Smile needs a safe outlet for having fun that won't get her in trouble.

Majestic and the New Olympians think too highly of themselves, I was glad to see Jane deal with her the way she did. We can only hope they learned their lesson and will leave her alone in the future.

Ferret, I'm so glad he is getting punished even if it isn't for what he did to Jane. That kind of ambition without caring what happens to a fellow student needs to be nipped in the bud now while he is still young.

All of them home at Shaun's place for Christmas. I expected a lot of things, but the scene where Katherine confronts Jane to find out the truth and even drugs her to arrange to do it while everyone else is out, I didn't see that coming. I'm just glad it resulted in Katherine treating Jane well and Jane being happy again and enjoying herself with friends. All the gifts were great, but all that money to Smile, that nearly gave me whiplash with that one, I was as shocked as she was.

I can't wait to read more of Jane, Shaun, Smile, and everyone else in the future.