Title: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Author: Shatterpath
Feedback address: shatterpath@shatterstorm.net
Date in Calendar: 25 December 2007
Fandom: Stargate SG1 / LWM
Pairing: Sam/Janet/Art, Karen/Darya
Rating: PG
Word Count: 681
Summary: On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming.
Advertisement: Part of the FSAC:DW07

Disclaimer:

Note: AJ gave me the idea of the double baker's dozen of people and pets.

Beta: ariestess

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming.

++ Art ++

(12-25-02)

Emily's little voice has finally dropped off. As she has finally put Fawn and Cubby to sleep with the Christmas stories in her new book, her energy has evaporated. Reaching out from beneath the pile of dogs and babies, I gently tug the girl closer, so that she doesn't ruin the new book by drooling on it.

Cassie is the other victim of the pile of bodies, pinned beneath the weight of thirteen half-grown German shepherds and three grown adults, plus Starjumper. I still miss the presence of my beloved Cooper, gone only ten weeks now. There are days I still expect to see him, or smell him, or feel that familiar nose in my ribs.

The pain is slow in letting me go when it never happens.

Thankfully, the big clan around me doesn't allow me to dwell on my loss. With four babies, two toddlers, Emily and a teenager ready to test her wings, things are never boring.

"Y'know, if you hadn't been an overachiever," I teasingly address the quiet room. "We'd be an even dozen."

"Instead of a baker's dozen?" Darya chuckles from her shadowed position curled on the couch, her toes pressed against Sam's thigh where she sleeps soundly sprawled all over Janet. "You should talk."

Running an affectionate hand over first Jesse and Trisha's curly heads, then my own twins, I can't help my chortle at the tease. The firelight turns Emily's mane to flame and casts interesting shadows amidst the darker children. Wiggling around with grumbling supplication, Emily is threatening to suffocate me, forcing me up onto my elbows, her weight on my hands.

This dislodges several puppies, who make their own sounds and fall asleep once more in whatever awkward position they land in. Few things are more wonderful than watching small children or puppies sleep.

++ Karen ++

Art's got that goopy look on her face as she surveys the avalanche of bodies and the carnage of opened gifts that litter the living room. While the new brood has no comprehension of this holiday, the elder twins really got it this year. Emily has been an invaluable help with them; she always is. It amuses me greatly that she's currently sprawled out on Art's arms, forcing her to stay propped up.

"Hey, Taylor," Art smiles over her shoulder at me. "Could you do me a favor and remove the furry mountain climber again?"

"Sure," I laugh quietly and use my unusual height to peer amidst the branches of the Douglas fir until I spy fur. How Jaffa climbs so high, even as small as she is, and then falls asleep in a ball is beyond any of us. Whining at the jostling, the cat cuddles into my chest as I then tug Emily's somnolent body away from her preventing Art lying comfortably. A quick prod at Ferrier ensures that he's not too close to Cory and I can then crowd Darya's body to the back of the couch. "Hey baby," I chuckle and kiss my wife as Jaffa snuggles down happily between our warm bodies. "I found this really cute little woman. Do you mind if I keep her?"

That earns me chuckles and butterfly kisses. "Starting a harem? Dace will be so proud. Oh, she seems harmless enough. Sure, she can stay."

We laugh quietly together as Sam moans and squirms under the weight of my feet resting on her hip, but I have no place else to put them and she settles with a sigh.

This Christmas has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. All the trappings the stories speak of, family and snow and love and cookies, we have had it all. Some days I am reminded of how I began life, with a family cold and distant, and compare that to what I have now. The contrast never ceases to amaze and warm me completely.

A double baker's dozen of humans and puppies with the four adult dogs rest peacefully in the darkness of Christmas day; it's perfect.

Just perfect.


Merry Christmas!