A/N: So here's the first part of the six-part Christmas Golden Sun ficlette for '10. Parts 1-5 are called "Day 1, 2..." etc and part 6 is Christmas Day. This takes 10-11 years before Dark Dawn, is AU...and if you like Jasmine, you probably don't want to be reading this. Anyway, this really came about to introduce a new character: Maël...who was born because of many discussions between imoto-san Hoshi and myself. If Garcia's son has golden eyes, we know who the "mother" is. So far, Garcia has no kid...so I can only assume that he is indeed off with Picard somewhere. Knowing Camelot the way I do now...that's probably not the case.

But this is AU! Anything can happen! Take that, Camelot. Take it. Not everyone in the world is straight, Camelot. Living in Japan, you ought to know that. Go to Ni-chōme.

Disclaimer: Golden Sun belongs to Camelot and Nintendo.

Please read, review and enjoy. Countdown to Christmas yay!

Golden Sun: Five Days

Day 1:

Mut's going to be six next month; he's already using Psynergy I could barely control when I was seventeen. Every day, Ivan says he looks just like me…but he has that woman's eyes. When I first held him, I couldn't look him in the eyes…sometimes I still can't, but he's an amazing kid. He's bright and patient, even patient enough to put up with Terry.

He chases Terry through the town, passing by with Maël right on his heels. He looks just like Garcia did when he was that age, but his golden eyes seem a stark contrast under that russet hair. I feel something disturb the ground and turn just in time to Mut trip over a rock, hitting the ground hard. Maël kneels down next to him, helping him sit up while Terry starts blaming him, running to get Gerald. I sigh, standing up and starting over.

He's there. Ivan moves like the gentlest breeze. He's more graceful than when we were teenagers, there is an exotic charm to him—from his deep violet eyes to the slight tan of his skin. He smiles gently as Mut's eyes start to water, clutching his knee and he whispers something to him. He lifts his head, meeting my eyes and I feel my heart skip a beat. Dammit, whenever I see him, it's like the first time I feel in love with him.

Maël looks up, his golden eyes burning, "Terry's being an idiot. He ran of screaming, saying Mut's gonna die." Mut's eyes water more and he bits down on his bottom lip, fighting back tears.

Ivan sighs softly, brushing the corners of his eyes carefully, "You're not going to die, Mut." He smiles, glancing at me as I kneel down, examining Mut's knee. It's raw, blood beading on the surface. I hold my hand over his knee and heal the spot. He sniffs, throwing his arms around my neck and clinging to me. Ivan laughs gently, reaching out and petting Mut's hair, "See? Your father wouldn't let anything bad happen to you."

I rub his back and he pulls away slowly, rubbing his face. I smile softly, "Are you okay now?" He nods, hiccupping a little but he smiles brightly. "Go play with Maël and Terry, try to be more careful."

He waves, running off with Maël, turning around and waving, "Thanks, Dad, Mom!" Ivan lets out a squeak, his cheeks coloring.

"Did he just call me…?" I turn away, pressing my hand to my mouth, trying to keep from laughing. He swats my arm lightly, folding his arms across his chest and trying his best to look indignant but only managing to look all the more embarrassed. I smile, leaning over and smooth his hair back, pressing my lips to his temple. He sighs, "I'm not a woman…if he keeps this up, I'm sure Karis will do it too…"

I chuckle, "I'm sure he picked it up from Karis. Where is she anyway?"

"She was in our room reading when I left the house." He sighs again, softer this time, lowering his arms and smiling at me, "It's going to be Christmas soon; we should do something special for the kids. You know Mary keeps inviting us to Imil, this would be the perfect time to go."

"With the kids…? They've never had to travel that far before and if we run into some trouble…" He smiles softly, tilting his head. I sigh, returning the smile, "If Garcia, Picard and Gerald come with us…we'll be able to do it. If it's just us, we'll have to carry Mut and Karis." I shake my head, "When did you decide this?"

He laughs softly, "It sounds more like you've decided. I just thought it would be nice since they're already this old and they haven't gotten to see snow yet. It isn't like anyone is going to need us here, even if they do, Jas—"

"Don't say that name."

His eyes soften and I instantly regret snapping at him. Before I can do anything, he touches my hand lightly and leans against me. "I'm sorry…I should have been there." He shakes his head slowly, reaching up and touching my cheek. I sigh, closing my eyes and leaning into his hand. "It's been a while since we've traveled. Getting out there again will help you relax."

I smile, clasping his hand and kissing his palm, "You know me so well." He laughs; the sound warms me better than a fire as he slips his arms around my shoulders, holding me tightly.

"I'm sure you pride yourself on being a closed book, but you're not that difficult to read." He rests his chin on my shoulder. He's grown taller since we first met but the top of his head only reaches my shoulder. "So you'll take me away?"

I chuckle, "It won't be that romantic, dragging the kids with us, not to mention Gerald and the others. But yes, I'll take you away."

"Dad, you gotta hide us!" I grunt as someone knocks into the back of me, glancing back to see Mut clinging to my leg. Terry and Maël are right on his heels, coming around and hiding behind Ivan. One of the merchants comes storming up the path, waving an angry fist.

I groan, dropping my head into my hand, "What have you done this time…?" Ivan starts to laugh softly, nudging me gently. I sigh, walking down the path to meet the merchant, catching Maël whisper something proudly to Ivan.

"Dad said we should call ourselves the Musketeers, like those guys in that book you read to us."

Ivan laughs some more, "I think that would suit you three perfectly."

-TBC-

Pity Alex is evil, he can't be in our Christmas story.