I picked them up at bars and they paid for the motel rooms.”He thought for a minute and said, “Do you think you could track down any of those guys...who preceded me?” She thought maybe she could because of school and work connections. He added, “Actually I’d rather see those because you had a connection with them and I’ll bet your reunions would be pretty inspired.”She got a huge grin on her face and said she’d get busy but had one question herself, “I sure hope you will fuck me right after they. Presentsare always nice, but I mostly loved the joy, the happiness, and thesnow. There was just something special about it. Something magical.The rest of Christmas Eve was certainly an improvement over what themorning had been. When Dad returned home just before lunch we sat downas a family and ate the sandwiches my mom had prepared. Then he took allof the boys into the den and we played video games for most of theafternoon, giving Mom the time to do whatever she needed to do, or justhave time. When the heart stops beating and the brain ceases to function, the body turns into powder. This powder then forms a crystal which is what we use today on our machines, magic enhancers, weapons, assists, and so forth.”“So……is that why we couldn’t save Kemo?”“Dana, please don’t bring him up. I still grieve over his death from time to time.”She frowned with a sad look. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were still upset about him.”I frowned with a sad look as well. “He was a good familiar, a. "You have a little..." Stacy smiled and touched her upper lip."What? Oh!" Wren's face reddened slightly and he frowned, reaching for a napkin. "Sorry." Don't be," Stacy pursed her lips into the tiniest pout imaginable and then spoiled it with another smile as the bartender placed a cup of eggnog in front of her."So, um ... Peace on Earth," Wren offered as a small toast and Stacy dipped her head."And goodwill towards men," she accepted and the two of them drank briefly."See? I told you it was.