Just a one-shot Christmas fic specially written for Capricornus 152, Megara1, Emma Mulwray, Azabeth Knight (and all the other B/E shippers on this side of the planet… ok, maybe for the other side as well)… hope you all enjoy it!

Capricornus 152, thanks for the idea… )

Falling

Emma literally dragged her self out of the Double Helix after a tiring day in the underground. Adam had specifically instructed her and Jesse to orient the new mutants about an upcoming program their mentor had specially designed for them. It had something to do with a new way of altering their DNA to ensure stability for another ten years or so. Emma wasn’t really sure how the program works; she was only half-listening when Adam informed her and the rest of the team of his new project.

The psionic knew she should have listened; it would have saved her the trouble of inventing an explanation for the curious and doubtful new mutants they had to deal with during the orientation. After a while she just allowed Jesse to do all the talking, knowing that the molecular could answer the questions better than she could.

Emma sighed as she walked towards her room. All she wanted to do was crawl in her bed and sleep for a good ten hours or so. Had she not been dead tired, she would have accepted Jesse’s offer for a late-night movie in the recroom. But she feared that she might fall asleep in the middle of the film and leave the molecular to finish the movie by himself.

As she was about to turn to a corner, Emma suddenly heard voices coming from the dojo. Curiosity got the best of her, and she wearily walked towards the practice area, convincing her self that she would only take one small peak and then head back to her room. She stopped in midstep when she saw Shalimar on top of Brennan, a mischievous smile across her face.

“What’s the matter, Sparky? I think you mentioned something earlier about ‘kicking my ass.’ So whose ass got kicked this time around?”

The feral’s eyes were dancing as she let out a coy, little giggle. Brennan smiled appreciatively at the seductive woman on top of him, not minding their awkward position.

“I was just warming up, you know. Now if you wouldn’t mind getting off me, I’ll show you how to kick some real butt.”

The elemental received a playful slap on the arm as Shalimar got off him and put her arms on her hips. She opened her mouth to say something when she caught sight of Emma, who was slowly making her way back to her room.

“Hey Em,” the feral greeted good-naturally. “How did the orientation go?”

Emma slowly turned and forced a weak smile. She silently cursed Shalimar’s keen eyesight, and her own inability to react quickly enough when she saw the feral getting off Brennan.

“Uh, it was fine,” she answered, keeping her eyes fixed on the feral. “Jesse has potential. He should be the next president.”

Shalimar giggled wholeheartedly and started down the dojo’s stairs. “That’ll be the day,” she joked, approaching the psionic and squeezing her hand tightly. “So when do we go shopping?”

“S-shopping?” Emma asked dumbly.

“Yes, you know, the thing people do, especially during the Christmas season? It’s only a week before the grand celebration, Em. We need new outfits!”

“Where’s your sense of the true meaning of Christmas, Shal?” Brennan joked as he stood up.

“Oh grow up, Sparky,” the feral replied, throwing the elemental a goofy smile. “And don’t forget my Christmas gift.”

“What? The five-pound steak or the black lingerie?”

”Both,” Shalimar answered before turning to Emma. She winked playfully at her and started walking towards her own room.

Emma followed Shalimar with her eyes before deciding to head towards her room as well. It was then that she heard Brennan’s voice call her from the dojo.

“Hey Em, how about a one-on-one?”

Emma jumped a little in surprise. She nervously looked back at Brennan and faked a smile. “Maybe next time,” she answered, “I’m kind of tired already.”

Brennan shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

The psionic quickly turned and walked away. She felt the need to get away from Brennan as soon as possible. Nobody in the team had noticed it, but Emma was trying to avoid the elemental for a few weeks already. She wasn’t really sure how it started. All she knew was that one morning she woke up and suddenly realized she admire Brennan more than she should. It had actually taken her by surprise, but she wasn’t able to stop her self from feeling that way.

And that was where the problem began.

Brennan was supposed to be her older brother. Falling in love with him was a big no-no, and she knew it. Besides, it was obvious that he was pinning on Shalimar. She couldn’t blame him though. The feral had everything a guy could have wished for in a girl – good looks, perfect body, a killer smile, and not to mention feline grace and agility. What does a simple, uptight girl like her possess to match the qualities of this irresistible woman?

Emma sighed heavily as she accessed the code to open her room’s door. She waited for it to open, and then wearily entered her domain. She was about to slide the door shut when she heard Brennan calling her once more.

Now what does he want this time?

“Hey Em,” the elemental suddenly popped his head in the doorway. “Can I ask you a favor?”

“What?” The psionic wasn’t really in the mood to be nice. She was tired, and the guy she was slowly falling for was asking her for a favor. And based from experience, Brennan’s requests were usually bizarre enough to throw her off the edge.

“Yeah, well, you heard what Shal said earlier. I need to buy her a gift for Christmas. Thing is, I have no idea what to get her.”

“You have no idea?” You have probably dated over a hundred girls and you still don’t know what to give a girl for Christmas? You’re such a moron.

“Yeah, so I was wondering, if you could help me look for a gift for her.”

Emma stared dumbly at Brennan for one whole minute. He’s got to be kidding.

“Then maybe you can choose the gift you want to have as well.”

That’s it. Brennan Mulwray is an official jerk.

“What gift do you want anyway?”

How about a kiss, you insensitive being, she chided herself quietly. “Anything,” she answered unenthusiastically.

“Ok,” Brennan replied, nodding. “So what do you say?”

Do I have a choice?

“Uh, Em?”

Emma flashed the elemental an irritated look before rolling her eyes. “Fine. Now can you let me sleep now?” Note to self: hide from Brennan the whole day tomorrow until he forgets about our little shopping trip.

“Thanks.”

Emma didn’t wait for Brennan to leave. She slid the door irritably, crushing Brennan’s fingers in the process. She suppressed a giggle when she heard the elemental yelp in pain as the cold metal touched his index and middle fingers.

“Geez Em!” she heard him yell outside.

“Sorry!” she yelled back, rolling her eyes and walking towards her bed. She was about to sit down when she heard a knock on her door. Rolling her eyes, she grudgingly made her way back towards the doorway and slid the door open.

“Ok, I’m sorry, all right?” she blurted out, rolling her eyes at the elemental standing in front of her, who was still rubbing his sore fingers. “It’s not a big deal, is it? I mean, you can just get an ice pack in the fridge and…”

Emma was suddenly silenced as Brennan swooped down and captured her lips with his. She was completely caught off-guard, making her unable to react to the sweet kiss the elemental gave her.

After five seconds or so, the psionic pushed Brennan away. The elemental looked surprised at Emma’s gesture, and offered her a small, reassuring smile.

“What the hell was that for?!” Emma demanded.

“Merry Christmas, Em,” Brennan answered softly.

“What?!”

“You said you wanted a kiss, right?”

Emma gasped. Did I say that one out loud?

Brennan smiled and placed his hands on Emma’s shoulders. “You didn’t have to say it Em. You were broadcasting it very clearly.” He raised his finger and brought it near Emma’s face. “Now don’t tell me you forgot the connection we have. I can easily read you, remember?”

Emma wanted the ground to open up and swallow her there and then. She tried wriggling away from Brennan but the elemental’s grasp was strong.

“Go away Bren.”

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you like it?” Brennan asked playfully.

“No stupid,” Emma replied, lowering her eyes to the floor.

“Oh,” the elemental said, dropping his arms to his side. “I thought you did.”

“No I didn’t, so just go!”

“That’s too bad. I thought that would have been the perfect gift I could give you this Christmas. I thought…”

Emma looked up and met Brennan’s sad eyes.

“I wished you could have given me that as the perfect gift this Christmas.”

“What the hell are you talking about?! Are you rehearsing your lines for Shal on me?!”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t this what it’s about?”

“Whatever are you talking about?”

“Oh don’t try to be sweet now. You know, Shalimar and the whole gift thing…”

Brennan chuckled softly.

“W-what’s so funny?”

“Nothing… it’s just that… Shalimar? You think I’m in love with Shal, don’t you?”

“Aren’t you?”

Brennan laughed wholeheartedly. After Emma realized that the peals of laughter wouldn’t die out, she frowned and proceeded to slide the door shut.

“Whoa, wait,” Brennan suddenly stepped inside the doorway, preventing the door from closing. “I’m sorry, but I thought you knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That I was in love with you.”

Emma stared hard at the smiling elemental in front of her. You’ve got to be kidding.

“I’m sorry Em,” Brennan said, taking the psionic’s hands in his. “I thought you would have already sensed it by now. You’re supposed to be a powerful telempath.”

“B-but… I don’t try to read you.”

“Maybe you should have,” the elemental replied lightly, touching Emma’s cheek.

“But Shal…”

“Shalimar is a very irresistible woman, Em. Everybody knows that. And I’ll be lying if I say that I don’t find her attractive. But it ends there, Em. I’m not in love with her.”

“Oh.”

“So, tomorrow’s a date?”

“Huh?”

“Shopping, remember? Since you didn’t want the kiss, I’ll buy you something else instead.”

Emma couldn’t say anything. She wondered how Brennan could act so cool in a situation like this. Must have taken a lot of experience.

“Em?”

“Huh?”

“I’m serious.”

“Oh… ok… sure, no problem. Our shopping trip won’t be cancelled.”

“No. I mean, I’m serious with what I said earlier. I’m really in love with you.”

“Uh, sure. Let me think about it.”

“Ok.” Brennan lightly kissed Emma on the forehead before stepping out of the room. He gave her one final smile before sliding the door close for her.

Emma remained rooted on her spot for about ten seconds. He just confessed his love for you, and all you could say is ‘let me think about it?’ You’ve been dying to hear those words from him, Emma. Would you let go of the chance?

Emma quickly slid her door open and ran out to catch up with Brennan. She caught up with him as he was about to enter his room.

“Hey Bren.”

Brennan quickly turned around and smiled upon seeing the psionic.

“Uh… I just… uh…”

Brennan grinned when he saw how Emma blushed.

“Oh nothing. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Emma quickly turned and headed back her room. Chicken, she scolded her self.

“Emma.”

The psionic turned and found her self being swept away by Brennan’s intimate kiss. It took her about two seconds to realize what was going on, but instead of pulling away like she did before, she returned the kiss with the same intensity and passion.

After the kiss, the two mutants found themselves gazing in each other’s eyes.

“Uh, I should be going to bed now,” Emma suddenly said, pulling away and started walking towards her room.

“Emma?”

The psionic turned around and was met by Brennan’s adorable smile.

“Merry Christmas.”

Emma flashed the elemental a sweet smile in return

“Merry Christmas too.”

FIN

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ok, I’m not sure how it got there… that hadn’t been my original plan. But what the heck, hope you guys liked it anyway. Yah, yah… it’s kinda cheesy and off, but, well, things like that DO happen.

merry Christmas to everyone!!

--imjuzakyd