Spirit of Christmas

Chapter 2
Epilogue: Visions of Sugerplums

Epilogue: Visions of Sugarplums

Warmth and comfort, both physical and spiritual, were the first things Rod felt when he awoke. His eyes cracked open to spot the digital readout of his alarm clock, two minutes before it would go off. A grin cracked his lips immediately after as he punched the off button.

The room was still dark, shadows blanketing his surroundings and throwing the area into a soft deep blue fuzziness. He reflected on the events of the past few days as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, once more allowing himself to perceive it all as merely a dream, though he now knew it was not.

If any doubt lingered it was wiped clear as he sat up in the guest bed. The still very large guest bed he easily fit in due to the fact his body was still ten. In a fit of whimsy he reached forward and grabbed the lumps in front of him he knew to be his toes, so very far from the edge of the mattress.

He soon let go of them when he spotted the other evidence his memory was accurate. There was a shape in the room, still and seated. Quietly sliding from under the covers Rod softly padded to the chair, warmed by what he saw.

A robe clad Lori was fast asleep in the chair, baby Lari snoozing in her arms. The smaller sister had a footed pink sleeper on and was resting soundly on her larger sister’s breast. It reminded him a bit of when Lari had allowed him to sleep on her chest and the restful night that had ensued. While he still held some malice towards the newly babified Oni, he could not begrudge her the comfort of a warm place to sleep. For now.

Hurrying from the room Rod made a beeline for the living room and object Lori had promised would be there. He stopped when the light hit his eyes. Despite the darkness of morning the main room was brightly aglow with the flickering lights of the most beautiful Christmas tree Rod had ever seen.

The colors were amazing, almost magical in their own right, though not as magical as the object below the lowest branches. Large and small, cubed and oddly shaped, the floor was littered with wrapped presents. He had to admit, it was an impressive.

With a grin he scampered forward and dropped to his knees, sliding to the base of the tree to hunt through his gifts. He spotted one for Jenny, and another for Mary. Two for Chris he noticed, scowling. Then a large one for Jenny he moved aside. He paused, blinking in mild surprise. “Are any of these mine?!” he wondered to himself.

A cheerful, bell like giggling came from behind him. “Why Roddy, you’re practically screaming in my head. Almost makes me regret being a good spirit.” Lori joked good naturedly as she walked into the room.

“I don’t regret it.” Rod said happily back. “Merry Christmas Lori. Um, what gives?”

Lori sat on the sofa, laying the waking baby on her lap. “And a Merry Christmas to you too. Now, as I recall, Santa Claus gives. Or friendly Oni, take your pick.”

Rod blushed a bit at the comment, but quickly asked. “Not what I meant. Uh, not to be greedy or anything but .....”

“Where are your presents?” she finished for him.

“Exactly.”

The pointy eared redhead grinned at him, moving her baby sister to a sitting position. “Why Rod, don’t you know it’s better to give than receive? What a childish attitude you’ve adopted.”

He smirked back at her, playing the game. “Uh huh. Now gimmie!” he said playfully.

Lori laughed. “Very well.” Reaching behind her back she brought forth a small box and handed it to him as he approached. “I have been speaking with my sister, and I believe she mentioned you asked for this.”

Rod’s eyes were as wide as saucers upon hearing that and he cradled the box as gently as Lori cradled her baby sis.

The comment caused the baby to awaken fully as well and stare at the box in Rod’s hands. Her eyes never wandered as he unwrapped the present, finally pulling out a simple gold ring.

“Um, so am I supposed to throw it into Mount Doom or something?” Rod joked, not really knowing what he held. He did notice a suddenly agitated Lari squirming frantically in her big sister’s arms.

Lori laughed again, finally understanding one of the human’s jokes. “Oh, no Rod, nothing like that. This is the ring you asked for. The one to make you any age you want. I would not normally give a human something like this, but after saving me from my sister’s curse as you did, I believe you earned it.” She told him, winking.

Little Lari whined, reaching her chubby baby hands out to the ring desperately but futilely as it was far out of her reach. Lori giggled at her sister’s antics. “Silly Lari-kins. The ring is only usable by Roddy. What use would a baby have with such a thing anyway?” she asked.

Lari did not stop trying however, still thinking the ring was her only chance back at adulthood. It was sad, almost, though in truth also befitting. The evil Oni had suffered the fate she’d planned for her sister and Rod and soon would not have the maturity to even remember what adulthood was like, never mind return to it in any way other than the traditional.

Finally realizing she would not be allowed to possess the prize the baby scrunched up her face and cried, kicking her little feet and flailing her arms in frustration.

Lori made a sad face as well, though it was condescending. “Awwwwwww. I think baby needs her breakfast.” She cooed, her hand pulling her robe from her breasts.

Noticing what was happening above her the infant Oni cried even louder.

“I don’t think she likes being breastfed.” Rod commented smirking.

“She’ll get used to it.” Lori responded, lifting her sister to her bared nipple. The crying halted the instant Lari’s lips met it, suckling as naturally and automatically as any true baby.

The infant kicked and struggled for a bit Rod noticed, but it was ultimately futile. Within moments she was calmly drinking her meal.

“By the way, there are a few ?toys’ under that tree for my favorite little boy. Though he will have to search.” She told him, moving the baby to the other breast where more useless struggling ensued.

Rod needed to hear no more and trumpeting his own version of a charge leapt back into the gift search fray.

(more to come)