Holidays

Summary: Dave goes home for the holidays. Unfortunately, Prime Merlinians, it seems, do not get vacations.

Disclaimer: All Publicly Recognizable Characters, Settings, Ideas, etc. are the Property of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. The Original Characters and Plot are the Property of the Author. The Author is in no way Associated with the Owners, Creators, or Producers of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. No Copyright Infringement is intended.

Chapter I - Home for the Holidays

Dec 21, 2010, 6:30 pm - Blake Residence

Dave let out a yawn, not because it was late but because he hadn't been getting much sleep due to exams. The physics nerd had just finished the last one a few hours ago and Balthazar had asked him to come over for dinner and help decorate for the Christmas holidays. With the master sorcerer, the words 'ask' and 'order' are interchangeable. At least Balthazar had also invited Becky. The young couple hadn't had much time together of late due to their course work.

All four were currently placing ornaments on the spruce tree, which was already decked out in lights and tinsel.

"Balthazar," said Dave pulling an 'ornament' from the box closest to him.

"Yes?"

"Why is there a bullet tied to a string?"

"I was shot a few decades ago. The surgeon pulled that thing out of me, said it just missed my heart and I was lucky to be alive. This was around Christmas so he tied a string around it and gave it to me as an ornament. Said it should bring me luck."

Dave blinked.

"Oooookay, and you kept it why?"

Balthazar shrugged. "Seemed rude to toss it. He was a nice guy—weird, but nice." The master sorcerer paused as he finished hanging an ornament before clarifying. "The surgeon, not the shooter."

Veronica chuckled as she placed a Santa ornament on the tree. "Sinterklaas hasn't changed much over the years," she said looking at the ornament critically. "Though I can't say I'm fond of the red suit."

"Blame Coca Cola," chimed Balthazar. "Santa perceived as a fat man with a red suit was invented by them at the turn of the century."

"What was he before that?" asked Becky.

"An old man with warm clothes, sometimes with a beard. The weight varied," answered the ancient sorcerer.

"At least the tradition of the tree, holly and lights hasn't changed," said Veronica.

"You guys brought in trees and holly when you were… younger?" Asked Becky diplomatically.

"Those traditions were taken from the pagans," said Veronica. "They are older then Christianity. Holly was considered to be a miraculous plant, because while other plants wither and become barren, the holly's berries ripen. So pieces were cut off and bought inside to keep the spirit of the plant alive. Same with the tree. The tree was a reminder that despite the shorter days and near constant darkness, there was still life and promise of brighter, warmer days to come."

"Wow, I guess back before electricity, that would have been a big deal," said Becky.

Veronica nodded.

The group continued to decorate the tree, joking and swapping stories as they went. Becky turned when she felt a breeze against her face and saw Dave a few feet away, waving at her to step aside. He had his camera out. She smiled and stepped aside. The two master sorcerers, who were far too busy looking at each other to pay much attention to the twenty-year-olds, didn't notice.

Dave quickly took a picture and hid the camera before Balthazar could notice, and the group finished decorating the tree.

"Hey you guys need any help setting up lights or other decorations?" asked Dave as Becky placed the last ornament on the tree.

"Dave, if we don't leave soon you'll miss your flight."

"I don't mind. I can catch a later one or, you know, none at all."

"Dave, you can't use Hendel (1) to take you to Washington," chided Balthazar with a chuckle, referring to the giant steel eagle the sorcerers often used as transport. "You'd be gone for days. People would notice he's missing, and you can't supply him with enough magic for him to make the return trip on his own."

Dave sighed. He really didn't want to go home for the holidays. He never really wanted to go 'home', period.

Balthazar sighed as he looked over his apprentice, he had been cheerful a few seconds ago. He turned to his wife. "Veronica, why don't you make some hot chocolate while I get the presents?"

Veronica nodded. "Does anyone want marshmallows?" she asked as she walked towards the kitchen.

"I'll have two please," answered Dave.

"Same," added Becky.

"None," shouted Balthazar as he reached the closet.

"You want to talk about it?" asked Becky once the elders were out of ear shot.

"About what?"

"About your dad," said Becky, taking his hand.

"Not really, but thanks."

The DJ gave his hand a reassuring squeeze just as Balthazar entered with an armful of presents.

"I'm guessing the nicely wrapped ones with bows were done by Veronica?" said Dave as Balthazar started placing the gifts under the tree.

The master sorcerer shot his apprentice a glare but didn't reply. Veronica entered a few minutes later with four mugs of hot chocolate.

Once everyone but Balthazar was comfortably seated, the master sorcerer grabbed a couple of presents from the tree.

"Becky, this is for you." He handed her a small square box neatly wrapped in green paper with a red bow. "And this is yours," Balthazar continued, handing Dave a poorly wrapped rectangular box with red candy cane wrapping paper. Dave tried to suppress a chuckle and mostly succeeded. He glanced up in time to see Balthazar sigh before taking a seat.

Dave reached for his backpack and withdrew two gifts. He handed one to Becky, who in turn handed it to Veronica, and tossed the other to Balthazar, who deftly caught it as he looked over the rectangular missive with a furrowed brow.

"A leather satchel?" asked Dave.

"Yeah, hope you don't mind. I've got a few things from the store in there."

Dave frowned and opened the bag. "Is that a horse's skull?"

"Unicorn. I broke the horn off during that fight with Horvath. It should be in there somewhere."

"So this bag opens up to a pocket dimension?" asked Dave, a huge grin on his face. This thing was going to make life so much easier.

"Yeah, I picked it up a couple centuries ago."

"This is awesome," exclaimed Dave thinking of all the uses such a bag could have. "Thanks, Balthazar."

The master sorcerer made a quiet grunting sound of acknowledgement and turned to look at Becky. The DJ smiled and reread the card that had come with her gift. 'Thanks for the save back in battery park and pleasant dreams. B & V'

"Thanks guys, but what is this thing exactly?" asked Becky as she held up a small blue crystal orb.

"It's a called a dreamball," explained Veronica. "Merlin made them for us when we were younger. Place it under your pillow and it will give you pleasant dreams. It will also help you remember them."

"Wow, thanks," said Becky as she stared at her gift, a broad smile on her face.

Dave looked at his master. He knew the older man had nightmares. Why hadn't he made a dreamball for himself? At any rate, now was not the time to ask.

Balthazar meanwhile raised an eyebrow at the note attached to his own gift. 'Merry Christmas Balthazar, and remember, no shortcuts. From Dave and Becky'

Both master sorcerer and sorceress frowned at the box labeled 'iRobot Roomba.' Balthazar flipped the box in his hands, read the back, and promptly started chuckling. He turned to his wife who was looking at him questioningly. "It's a small machine that will vacuum the apartment for us."

Veronica cocked her head slightly, not entirely sure what was so funny, but decided it would be a useful gift.

She began to unwrap her own and smiled at the silver locket she found. She opened it to see a picture of herself and Balthazar. She looked at the younger couple. "Thank you both this is a wonderful gift.."

oo0oo

"Come on, Dave," said Balthazar an hour later. "We gotta go."

All four piled into the Phantom to head to the airport to see Dave off. The drive was uneventful and Dave spent it talking to Becky, asking her about her plans and her family. Becky sensed that Dave wanted to avoid thinking about his own family, so she asked him no questions.

Once they arrived at the airport, Balthazar dropped the other three off at the entrance while he went to find a parking place.

Veronica was fascinated and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people. Dave led the way to the express check-in machine and explained to Veronica how it worked as he used it. While they were waiting in line to check in his baggage, Dave went on to tell her how airplanes worked as Veronica was having trouble accepting that those huge machines could stay airborne without magic.

He found the lesson a much needed distraction and was still talking after he finished with check-in and only stopped when Balthazar returned from parking. The elder sorcerer found the group waiting just outside security.

"You sure you have everything?" Balthazar asked by way of greeting.

"If I don't, it's a little late, don't you think?"

"I can drive really fast," assured the master sorcerer with a smile.

"I'm good."

"I'm sure you'll have a pleasant holiday, Dave," said Veronica wrapping the physics nerd in a hug.

Dave turned to Balthazar. The older man smiled and gave his apprentice a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You'll be fine, and it'll be over in a couple of weeks. Call if anything magical happens."

He wrapped his arm around Veronica's shoulder and guided her towards the exit but stopped a few feet away, waiting for Becky to finish her goodbye.

In Dave's mind, it was the third best kiss the two had ever shared. The first had been the one on the Chrysler building (2), the second the one right after Morgana's defeat. It was just so hard to top a first kiss and a 'we've just saved the world and lived' kiss.

Reluctantly, Becky eventually pulled away and told Dave to call her once he was home. Dave gave her a forced smile and another hug, quietly savoring her presence one more time. He was really going to miss her.

Dave sat on the plane looking out the window as they neared the capital. He wasn't as nervous as usual, but all the same he wasn't very comfortable. Dave still hadn't gotten over his fear of flying on planes, though he could handle giant steel eagles that defied all known laws of physics with ease.

He shook his head, clearing it. The flight had been short and uneventful, much to Dave's chagrin. He had been hoping for some engine trouble followed by an emergency landing that would take hours to rectify and get everyone to their destinations.

Though, knowing his luck, that would happen on the return trip.

Ah the joys of being him.

"David!" called Daniel Stutler, giving his son a curt wave to draw his attention.

Dave plastered a smile to his face as he approached his father. The man smiled down at his son and awkwardly wrapped an arm around the young man.

"Glad you're home. Do we need to go to the carousel?"

"No, I packed light."

"Good. How about dinner? We could go to Ray's. We went there on your last visit."

"Yeah, I remember, sounds good," murmured Dave he really just wanted to go to bed, but he was a bit hungry. And he did like Ray's it was one of the few non-upscale restaurants his father was willing to go to. More of a dinner really then a restaurant. Not Daniel Stutler's usual kind of place but it was Dave's, his father must want him in a good mood.

The ride to the dinner was silent with Daniel Stutler continually glancing at his son. He occasionally opened his mouth, but no sound came out and he soon closed it again. His brow furrowed slightly when he saw the ostentatious dragon ring on his son's finger. He remembered that ring. The day of the incident, Dave had insisted the ring was proof of his story.

"Isn't that the ring from the Arcana Cabana incident?"

Dave held up his hand and looked at the glittering dragon. "Yeah."

"Why are you wearing it?"

'Because my magic is stronger with it.' "Because I like it, even if it is a little big."

"Hmmm," murmured the elder Stutler. The remainder of the ride was quiet. They soon reached the dinner which was fairly busy, but they still managed to find a booth to themselves. It was only after the waitress gave them their menus that he finally spoke again.

"Dave, I think it's time you tell me why you hate me."

Dave looked at his father. eyebrow raised. It wasn't like his father to be so direct. Normally, the man was more subtle. He would beat around the bush, poke and prod. He rarely went for the direct approach.

"I don't hate you, Dad."

"Then why have we only spoken a handful of times in the last year? I had to twist your arm to speak to me when I visited you in New York, and that was the first time I'd seen you since last Christmas."

"Been busy, you know, summer school and all that."

Daniel Stutler stared coolly at his son, his face granite. "Why are you mad at me?"

"This is why you wanted to eat out?" asked Dave, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms. "I'm not familiar with the area, don't know the best place to grab a cab. Only place I could go is yours. I don't have a key, so I can't exactly run off, and I'm not likely to make a scene in a restaurant."

"I want to know why you hate me. Every time I try to get you to tell me, you dance around the conversation."

"Take the hint."

"David."

"You never visited mom in the hospital."

"We've been over this. She was no longer my wife. I paid for her treatment, which was costly. I had to work."

"But I didn't. I went to visit her everyday, and in case you don't remember, I didn't have any friends. So, I sat in that room and watched her die, slowly, painfully and no one was there to help me deal with that."

Daniel blinked. "I… didn't…"

"Yeah, I figured. Let's just drop it."

"Dave—"

Dave held up a hand. "Not now, Dad." ordered the younger Stutler firmly, it was Christmas he didn't want to talk about something that was sure to lead to... unpleasant matters.

They waited in silence until a waitress came to take their orders. Dave ordered a burger and his father a steak.

A few moments after the waitress left, Daniel tried to start up another conversation. "So, how did you do in your English class?"

"Got an 'A' minus."

"That tutor of yours worked out well. You two close?"

Dave raised an eyebrow. "He's a friend, why?"

"You serious about your girlfriend?"

"Very," said Dave somewhat dreamily, "but why are you asking about Balthazar?"

"Is that his name?"

"Dad." Dave warned wanting his father to get to the point, what was the man driving at? He couldn't possibly complain about a tutor.

Daniel Stutler forced himself to look his son in the eye. This was going to get awkward. "Okay, honestly after so many years of you not having a date, much less a girlfriend, I was starting to think you were gay. Then, when you started having your tutor at your lab and sleeping at his place…"

Dave stared wide-eyed at his father. "No, Dad, just…no. Oh god, stop talking."

The elder Stutler looked down at his food. "Sorry, it's just that I've never seen you with your girlfriend or any girl, and you almost never let people into your lab, just that Bennet guy and myself. All of a sudden you've got a tutor coming over, bringing over meals… and you're sleeping at his place."

"He's married."

Daniel looked up at his son with a sigh, "Yes, well that would have made it worse."

"Oh, god." croaked Dave as he palmed his face as if the solution used by ostriches would solve his problem

"Again, sorry," continued Daniel, he took a bite of his food and chewed slowly before continuing. "But you know it'd be okay if you were gay, though I would have had problems if you were dating this Balthazar guy. You said the man used to be a professor, so he must be considerably older."

"You have no idea…" trailed Dave, looking up at his father from between his fingers. He removed his hand from his face and sighed. "Can we change the subject, please?" he begged still trying to recover from the shock of his father's thoughts.

"Okay… Things are going well between me and Carol. She'll be joining us for Christmas dinner if that's alright with you."

Dave nodded. He still couldn't believe Balthazar had impersonated him for what was supposed to have been Dave and Carol's first meeting. Still, it wasn't like Dave could have attended, been comatose and all. "Sure. It'd be nice to see her again," he answered before letting out a yawn.

"Tired?"

"A little, haven't been sleeping too well thanks to exams."

"So you've been studying hard?"

Dave nodded his grades weren't a favorite topic but after their earlier conversation it was a godsend. "Yeah, I have scholarships, remember?"

"Yes I do, and my wallet is very, very appreciative," chuckled Daniel. "How go the plans for a master's?"

"Working on a scholarship. I should get enough to pay for tuition, even enough to cover some other expenses like rent, but not everything."

Daniel smiled. "That's great son, very impressive."

"If I get it."

His father scoffed. "I've seen your work Dave. You'll get it. I meant to ask, how's your laptop holding up? You've had it for four years. Would a new one help? You've certainly earned it."

"It would help, thanks," answered Dave just as the food came.

Daniel waited for the waitress to leave before continuing. "I know I'm not the best dad, Dave, but I do try."

"I know, just…"

"Well, maybe we'll be able to work on that this Christmas," said Daniel hopefully.

"Is that why you wanted me to come as soon as my exams were over? Usually I just come over during Christmas Eve and Christmas."

"Yes."

Dave took another bite of his burger as he pondered his father's question. "Is it Carol's idea, to try and patch things up?"

Daniel raised a brow at his son's suspicions. "Why do you say that?"

"Cause you started this attempt when you started dating her. I've gotten more phone calls from you in the past two months than the past two years."

"…Yes, but Dave, that doesn't mean I don't want to try and improve things."

"Right."

"Dave—"

The son held up a hand to silence his father. "Dad, it's fine, really. I don't care about why you've started trying to patch things up between us so long as you're not doing it to impress your girlfriend."

"No, Dave, that's not why. She just talked to me and made me think, that's all."

Dave eyed his father critically. Unlike the budding physicist, the man could lie, very, very well. Still, this was his dad—he wouldn't lie about something like this.

Daniel cough awkwardly under his son's scrutiny, when did Dave learn to stare at people like that? "So, speaking of girlfriends," he said, "how's yours?"

oo0oo

Dave held the ball of fire in his hand, wondering how big he dared make the flame. He sighed. Part of him wanted to tell his father about the magic. It would be easy to prove, and he just didn't want to hide it, but he wasn't sure of his father's reaction. Dave knew the man would keep the secret—that wasn't a problem, but the man might try to forbid Dave from continuing his studies. Not that it would work. Dave truly wanted to learn magic and fight evil.

Dave shook his head. He had actually used the words 'fight evil'. He sounded like a Saturday morning cartoon, or a comic book.

The apprentice dismissed the flame and leaned back against the headboard of his bed and considered the current problem. There was no lab, no safe and secure place to practice his art, and if the apprentice failed to find a means, Balthazar was going to kill him with training upon his return. If he didn't have to bother trying to hide things… Dave sighed again.

He could never tell his dad about any of this.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and looked around his room, spotting his old baseball on top of his old dresser. He levitated it towards him and tossed it in the air. Just as it reached its highest point, the apprentice launched a temporal displacement spell towards it, slowing down time around it. He continued to stare at it, determined to make its journey to the floor last a good hour.

If he couldn't practice his more destructive magic, he would just have to focus on mastering everything else.

oo0oo

Dec 22, 2010, 10:00 am - Stutler Residence in Washington D.C

Dave awoke fairly late, still tired from exams the day before and all the magic training the previous evening. He made his way downstairs, in a stupor not yet fully awake. He would still be in bed if his stomach would allow him.

His father was seated at the table reading the paper, an empty bowl and a spoon off to his right.

"Morning, son," greeted Daniel with some cheer.

Dave mumbled a 'morning' and got out the milk and cereal. A few minutes later, he was feeling more awake and his stomach had decided to stop complaining about its mistreatment. Dave looked at his bowl. While practicing his magic, he had thought long and hard about telling his dad everything, and he believed he had found a way to gauge what his father's reaction would be without having to actually tell him anything, and now seemed as good a time as any.

"Hey, Dad?" said Dave as he put down his spoon.

"Yes?"

"I've been re-thinking the whole 'joining the military thing'."

Daniel's eye's hardened. "Unless you're talking about doing research for the military and staying far, far away from battle, we are not having this discussion."

"I thought you said I could do whatever I want for a living."

"Dave, you want to be a mechanic? That's fine. Heck, you want to flip burgers the rest of your life? Go ahead. I've only pushed you for excellent grades so that if you ever change your mind and want to do something else, that option will be available to you. I think I may have pushed too hard, but… remember that talk we had about taxes when you said you liked your car mechanics class so much that you told me you wanted to be a mechanic?"

Dave smiled—it was actually one of his happiest memories of his dad.

Daniel Stutler looked down at his son and sighed.

"A mechanic? Really?"

"I really enjoy it. Isn't that what matters?"

"Yes and no. Let me show you something. Wait here."

Daniel went to his office and returned with a sheet of paper. He held it out to his son and pointed at a rather large number.

"See this number, son?"

"Yes."

"It's a big one, right?"

"Yes."

"That's what I pay in taxes, and it's a lot more then a mechanic makes in a year. I know you, son—you don't have champagne tastes, but this isn't even beer money. And there's the fact that you may want a family. You won't be able to provide them with every opportunity if you don't have the money for it and trust me, son, there are few things more soul crushing than the idea that you may not be able to provide for your family. You've never tasted 'desperate'. You don't want to. You want to be a mechanic? Alright. But you will maintain a high GPA. If you change your mind, your grades will give you that option. But son, with your brains you could probably invent an engine that runs on water. A lot of people compromise between passion and money. Sometimes it's a happy one, sometimes not. Admittedly, I fall into the 'not' category and I don't want that for you, but surely you can find a job that you enjoy that also pays well?"

Dave smiled as the memory faded. "Look, Dad, I know the military doesn't pay the best—"

"I'm not worried about money, haven't I made that clear in the past? You can do whatever you want with your life, so long as it isn't dangerous. End of discussion."

Dave leaned back in his chair and sighed. He had been hoping to segway from military life to sorcery—after all, both were dangerous and it had been the danger that had concerned Dave with regards to his father's reaction. He had wanted to test the waters, and test them he had.

Telling his dad about being a sorcerer and fighting evil was a very, very bad idea. Daniel Stutler would never accept it.

(1)Hendel was the name given to the steel eagle in another SA fic whose title and author I do not remember. But I liked the name so I used it.

(2) This is a reference to the Jr. novelization in which Becky and Dave kissed when they were at the top of the Chrysler building.