A ‘Captain Scarlet’ story for 2006 Christmas

By Chris Bishop

Captain Scarlet stepped out of the airport’s private call booth. He glared dejectedly at the pen-shaped private communicator, which he was still holding in his right hand. Captain Blue and Symphony Angel looked at him expectantly. “Well, what did he say?” Blue asked.

Scarlet shook his head. He checked around to make sure nobody walking about their business, or using the phones in the other booths close by, was paying them any attention, then, satisfied that it was safe to talk, he turned back to his colleagues. “He said: ‘stay put until the storm is over, and then come straight back to Cloudbase, without any further delay’,” he answered, giving a rather good impersonation of Colonel White.

“There’s really nothing much else he could say,” Symphony remarked, with an amused smile at her colleague’s sulky expression. “He couldn’t very well ask us to risk our lives needlessly in all that snow and high wind. Flying in that could be suicidal, and he knows it.”

“Yeah, well, if it was only me, maybe he would have risked it,” Scarlet answered gloomily. “But since you two are with me…”

“Did he actually say that?” Symphony asked. She thought that would be rather unlike the colonel.

“No… but he practically accused me of being responsible for this snowstorm – just so we could have a few more hours of our furlough. As if I am looking forward to sleeping in an airport departure lounge, jam-packed with people…” He shook his head again. “Not my idea of a fun Christmas.”

“You would rather be in Winchester right now,” Blue commented understandingly. “We know that.”

Scarlet nodded in agreement. He looked up at the information screen set over the walkway, reading the information appearing on it. More civilian planes were now marked ‘delayed’ or ‘cancelled’ and various moans and groans were audible from people waiting all around. Some of them were taking their luggage and walking away gloomily. Many had realised that they would not be leaving Boston tonight to fly to join parents and friends waiting for them for the Christmas Holidays. Everyone would have to wait for the snowstorm that was raging over New England to calm down and dissipate before any aircraft would be allowed to take flight. That included military craft, of course, such as the Spectrum Passenger Jet which was waiting in the specially-assigned hangar at the other end of the airport.

Scarlet had flown it from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after having picked up Captain Blue and Symphony Angel from Symphony’s mother’s ranch, earlier that day. The storm, which had previously raged in the Midwest, followed them as usual across the country, but unlike most of the season’s easterly-moving storms had grown in intensity rather than petering out toward the coast. Unable to avoid it, or to fly high enough to escape the furious winds, Scarlet had followed instructions from Lieutenant Green who had made arrangements with Logan Airport in Boston to receive the SPJ. After the aircraft had been taken to its hangar, the three Spectrum officers, dressed in civilian clothes, had made their way to a restaurant, hoping that by the time they had eaten a light meal, the storm would have died out.

But as they discovered as the time went by, the storm grew even more violent, and they found themselves stuck on the ground.

“We don’t have to wait here until the storm passes,” Blue said then. Like Scarlet, he too wasn’t so keen on staying in the airport for many long hours straight, with nothing to do but wait.

“What do you suggest, Big Blue?” Symphony asked him.

“We could call my parents’ house – and see if we can crash there.” Blue saw Scarlet and Symphony’s eyes turn the same inquiring look on him. He shrugged, guessing what their thoughts were. “Hey, they have plenty of room. I’m sure they won’t mind inviting us for the night.”

“You’re sure you’re willing to make that sacrifice for us?” Scarlet asked meaningfully.

“What sacrifice?” Blue scoffed. “They’re my family, after all.”

“But it’s your father – and if I recall, the two of you don’t quite see eye to eye.”

“Things are a lot easier between us since Las Vegas. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see me.”

“And it is the Holiday Season,” Symphony remarked.

“Certainly beats the prospect of sleeping in the departure lounge,” Scarlet conceded. “Now, how do you propose we get there? If I recall, your house is on the other side of the city. Will we be able to find a taxi driver willing to risk life and limb just to get us there, through all that snow and wind? Seems like a dangerous adventure. Mind you, we could always requisition the Airport SPV from the Spectrum hangar.”

“And risk both the colonel having a fit over unauthorised use of Spectrum equipment and my father having a heart attack seeing an SPV parked in front of his door?” Blue replied, rolling his eyes. “No way! I still prefer the cab! And don’t worry – we’ll get home, even if it takes some time. Taxi drivers here are already experienced in driving in impossible conditions, and believe me they can work miracles when there’s a lot of money involved.” He took his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll call home to make the arrangements.”

“I’ll get the cab,” Symphony announced with a smile.

“And I’ll get the luggage from the SPJ,” Scarlet muttered. “But from my last experience of this city, if we don’t get stuck in traffic now, it really will be a Christmas miracle…”

“Mom! Looks like someone risked his life to come after all!”

Humming a Christmas tune, Peter Svenson was crossing the hallway decorated with pine branches and multicoloured lights when he heard the doorbell. This evening, the family was supposed to be giving a party in celebration of the Holidays, and many people had been invited, from the most venerable families of Boston’s upper society, to various business associates and clients of the family’s company. Unfortunately, with the weather being so bad at the moment, and with all the snow falling and those winds blowing so violently, nearly all of the Svensons’ guests had called to cancel their presence for the evening – either their flights to Boston had been cancelled due to the storm, or, if they were living in the city, they preferred to stay home or to travel a shorter distance to relatives, rather than risk trying to reach the Svenson estate. The turn of events was proving to be a disappointment – the caterers alone, Peter understood, were costing the family a fortune – for Peter and his father, it also meant losing the opportunity to make a few interesting business deals.

Peter had been working at the offices that morning, settling a few details of an important affair, and had left in time to arrive at the house a few hours ago, just as the storm was becoming worse. The mansion, fully decorated for the party with pine garlands, fairy lights, and baubles everywhere, and soft, Christmassy music in nearly all the rooms, felt even larger than it really was, especially as most of the staff were away for the holidays, and the personnel his mother had hired for the party, had still not arrived yet because of the weather.

Aside from Johnson, the butler - who hardly ever seemed to take time off – and Mrs Kruger, the cook, who were both busy in the kitchen, there was only Peter, his two younger siblings and his parents in the house when someone rang at the front door.

Peter hurried to open the door, fully expecting to see either the Moore family, or old man Jessup and his brand-new bride – a young, attractive, blonde model whom he had married only two months ago in Europe. To his knowledge, these people had not cancelled yet. But when he swung the door open, the person he found waiting in the porch, buffeted by the wind and covered with snow, was the last one he expected that day.

“Adam!” Peter’s surprise was plainly obvious in his voice and expression as he looked with bewilderment into the smiling face of his older brother. “What are you doing here?”

“And it’s so nice to see you too, little brother.” Captain Blue grinned, stepping inside and patting the younger man’s shoulder. “Don’t tell me you’re still living here? Can we come in? It’s very cold outside. And my friend is not very accustomed to this weather.” He didn’t wait for the invitation and passed right in front of his brother. Peter followed him with perplexed eyes, before looking outside. He just had time to get a glance of a yellow cab waiting in front of the door, with its motor running, when another man, dark-haired and covered with snow, carrying bags that looked very heavy, nearly bumped into him.

“Sorry, old chap,” he said jovially, and Peter instantly detected an English accent in his voice. “I didn’t see you there. Will you help me with one of those? They weigh a ton each.” He pushed one of his bags into Peter’s arms and entered, following Adam.

Still puzzled, Peter was already pushing the door shut when he found that it wouldn’t close. Looking down, he saw a foot protruding from behind it; he opened it a crack. A young woman, dressed in a short sports winter coat, and with blonde hair emerging wildly from under a wool hat that nearly hid her eyes, was standing in the porch, apparently waiting.

“Oh, sorry.” Peter put the bag down, fished into his pocket, and took out a few banknotes that he put into the young woman’s hand. She looked down at the money with a frown.

“What is this for?” she asked, looking up.

A clueless Peter was about to reply when he saw the taxi leaving in a cloud of snow. Understanding dawned on him. “You’re not the cab driver.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Do I really look like a cab driver?”

“Well… most cab drivers I know don’t look as pretty, but yes …” Peter stopped himself and, embarrassed by his confusion, cleared his throat. “You must be Adam’s friend, then.”

“Among other things.” She put the money back into his still open hand and gestured towards the door. “May I come in?”

“Oh, sure… Please do.” Peter opened the door wide and Symphony stepped in, following in Blue and Scarlet’s footsteps – leaving snow all over the place, Peter noted, with some displeasure. He closed the door, musingly, as he watched his brother approaching the young woman.

“Sorry if I seemed to have forgotten about you, but I had to get Paul to safety,” he apologised. “You know these Englishmen are fragile in such cold.”

“Good going, Adam, blame it on me,” Scarlet shot back with a snort.

“That’s all right,” Symphony answered with a smile. “The taxi driver thanks you very much for your tip – he said he will give his wife a gift that will make her forgive him for working so late today.”

“Good for him, then.” Peter watched with a raised eyebrow as he saw his brother taking the girl by the shoulders and brushing her cheek with a quick kiss. “He was really brave to face this weather and agree to bring us all the way here from the airport.” Blue looked up as his brother approached, the bag Scarlet had given him in his hands. “Peter, I’m really glad to see you.”

“It’s been a little while,” Peter acknowledged. Awkwardly, the two brothers shook hands. “I didn’t realise you were invited to the party,” Peter remarked. “Not that it isn’t nice to have you… but we seldom see you these days, Adam.”

“The party? What party?” Blue asked with surprised. A thought seemed to cross his mind. “Oh you mean, the party? It’s tonight?”

“What party?” Scarlet asked with curiosity.

“The annual Svenson Christmas party,” Blue explained. “It’s a big, social hoop-la to which many of The Company’s associates – and Boston high society – are invited.”

“Oh yes, you’ve told me about that,” Symphony remarked. She was removing her snow-covered wool hat, freeing her hair in the process. It fell wildly onto her shoulder, and she shook her head to put it in place.

She’s not a bad-looking girl, thought Peter. Quite the contrary.

“I didn’t know it was tonight,” Blue continued, speaking to his brother.

“It was tonight, but it’s been cancelled.”

The new voice coming from behind made Blue turn and his face almost cracked in two with a smile when he saw the newcomer entering the hall. Nearly as tall as Symphony, with hazelnut hair, brilliant blue eyes and a radiant smile, the woman crossed the distance to the small group in long and elegant strides; Blue stepped forward to enfold her in his arms. He lifted her up off the floor as he embraced her. “Mom, I’m so glad to see you…”

“Adam, it’s been so long!” Sarah Svenson said happily. “When I received your call earlier, I could hardly believe it was you!” When he let go of her, she stepped back slightly and looked up at him, cupping his face in her hands. “Now you’ve given me the best Christmas gift ever! I thought you would not be able to come for the Holidays. Didn’t you tell me you were busy this year, with all your duties?”

“Well, Mom, actually, it’s…”

“We’ve also had a cancellation,” Symphony interrupted then. Sarah appeared so happy to see her eldest son that it didn’t seem fair to her for him to say that his presence at the family home was only due to the bad weather. “Of a sort,” she added, exchanging a glance with Scarlet standing by her side. She stepped forward. “Hi, Mrs Svenson. I’m Karen Wainwright.”

“Adam told me he was bringing friends along, who are in need of a refuge for the night,” Sarah answered. “Nice to meet you, Karen.”

“And I’m Paul Metcalfe,” Scarlet presented himself, stepping forward in turn and taking Sarah’s hand. “I’m Adam’s regular field partner. It’s an honour to meet you, Mrs Svenson.”

“An Englishman,” Sarah said, recognising his accent right away; her face lit up with pleasure at the discovery. “And such a well-mannered one, too,” she added as he gallantly kissed the back of her hand.

Scarlet winked. “Aren’t we all?”

Blue rolled his eyes. Sometimes, Scarlet could be a real pain when he was making such a show of being more courteous than was really necessary. And it was working too – his mother seemed quite smitten by his friend’s over-blown behaviour.

“I’ve got family in England. Where do you come from, Mr Metcalfe?”

“Winchester, ma’am. And please, call me Paul.”

“Only if you call me Sarah.”

Scarlet grinned. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that, but I’ll try.”

She squinted, looking carefully at Scarlet. “I think I remember you – we’ve met, I believe. At Spectrum’s commissioning ceremony a few years ago. Am I right?”

“I’m flattered you remember me, Sarah,” Scarlet answered with a renewed smile.

“I never forget a handsome face,” Sarah said with a chuckle. “And you were standing right next to my son – so how could I forget? I believe you were there too, my dear,” she added, turning to Karen. “I kind of recall… a white – or cream – uniform. You were one of those Angel pilots, right?”

“Your memory serves you well, Mrs Svenson,” Symphony smiled.

“Mom, what did you mean, ‘the party has been cancelled’?” Peter asked. “Don’t tell me every last one of our guests has called to say they won’t come?”

“Nearly all of them already did,” Sarah Svenson replied. “So I called the rest, and told them we’ll be doing this another time. Considering the bad weather, I thought it would be the best for everyone.”

“Oh great,” Peter muttered. “I had a business deal to complete tonight…”

“Surely, it isn’t important to the point of risking someone’s life to come over here, is it?” his mother remarked.

She noticed her son’s gloomy expression. He hesitated before answering quickly: “Of course not. It can wait. But there’s all that food we have that will go to waste…”

“Nonsense, we can always store it and eat it during the week…”

“You mean, you’ll have food for months,” Blue said with a chuckle, remembering the amount of food his mother would order from the caterers for the annual buffet. “Don’t worry, Mom – we’re all famished after that long and harrowing drive through the snow... We nearly left the road three times on our way here, and we need to replenish our reserves after risking our lives the way we did,” he added with a smile. “And between Paul and Karen, I’m sure whatever the caterers prepared for your party won’t go to waste.”

“Thanks – I think,” Symphony said, with a frown. Blue was forever teasing her about her appetite. On Cloudbase, it was second only to Scarlet’s – and moreover, she didn’t seem to put on more than a pound in weight - a fact that made her the envy of all female staff on base, especially her fellow Angel pilots.

“Adam!” A new male voice, coming from upstairs, made everyone look up and they saw a young man leaning over the pine garland-covered banister, staring down at them with curiosity. He was nearly as blond as Blue, but his hair was far longer and his features much younger. He ran down the stairs, taking several steps at a time and literally came jumping into Blue’s arms, thumping his back vigorously and laughing. He was shorter and leaner than Blue.

“Look who’s here!” Blue said with a laugh. “The great traveller! How’s it going, Davey? How was Europe?”

“I’m fine and Europe was fine too!” David Svenson detached himself from his older brother and punched him in the shoulder. “Great traveller indeed, look who’s talking! How are you, bro? You’ve been bad, you know, not giving us more news of yourself while you’ve been away!”

“You were exactly the same,” Sarah Svenson reminded her younger son, with a falsely reproving tone. “We didn’t receive any news from you for almost all of your trip, David Svenson!”

David barely reddened. “Oh well, I was busy…”

“And I am not?” Blue chuckled. “All those beautiful girls could not have taken that much of your time, little brother…”

“Adam…” This time, David’s cheeks flamed and he chuckled, inwardly recalling some memories from his recent trip – memories that the people standing in front of him had no trouble divining.

“You’ve both been terrible,” Sarah retorted. “So that should settle it. But I’m glad you’re both here for the Holidays. If only for one night, Adam.” She leaned to the side to look behind Blue, where the brooding Peter was standing silently, his hands in his pockets, after putting the bag on the floor. “Isn’t that right, Peter?” she asked, almost warningly.

He seemed to snap out of his thoughts. “Oh yes,” he said with barely an ounce of emotion in his voice. “We’re very happy.” He walked past Blue and towards the living room next door, adding very quietly: “Welcome home, brother.”

Every eye followed him until he disappeared from view. Blue sighed. “Well, some things never change…”

His mother patted him on the chest. “Don’t mind him; I’m sure it has nothing to do with you. He’s just annoyed that the party has been cancelled.”

“You’re sure it’s only that?” Blue asked with a raised brow. “Is Father home? And Katherine?”

“They’re both here,” Sarah answered with a smile. “But they’re working in your father’s office. They should be getting out soon, I expect. Oh, you’re still wearing your coats, the three of you,” she said suddenly, looking at the three Spectrum officers in turn. “You should be changing into more comfortable clothes. Why don’t you take them upstairs and give them rooms, David? I’ll go see what’s keeping your father and sister.”

“They still don’t know we were coming?” Blue asked.

“Oh, I told them, as soon as you called – but knowing them, I think they must be engrossed in their work – as always. Take your time to change, while I remind them.”

“You’re a doll, Mom,” Blue smiled.

“You’re always saying that when you want something from me.” Laughing softly, Sarah walked out of the hall, leaving them. The three Spectrum officers turned to David who motioned towards the stairs.

“Lead on, bro,” he said to Blue with a wink. “You still know the way, I hope?”

“As well as you do, I expect.”

Blue picked up the bag that Peter had left on the floor and led the small group up the stairs, Scarlet following behind, with David and Symphony bringing up the rear. The Angel pilot was re-arranging her messed-up hair, when she noticed that the young man by her side was staring at her fixedly, while smiling from ear to ear.

“Hi, I’m David,” he said, the smile never faltering, as they climbed the stairs. Symphony kept her face straight. She recognised that look and that smile.

“I’m Karen.”

“You know you’re very pretty, Karen?”

“You know you’re very young, David?”

“I’m betting I’m not that much younger than you.”

“I mean mentally.”

Scarlet, walking just in front of them, could not help but grin on hearing her deadpan answer. He wondered if Adam had noticed his brother was obviously flirting with his fiancée.

We’ll soon find out, I suppose…

Once they had been assigned rooms for the night and had changed into more comfortable clothes, Captain Blue led his colleagues back downstairs and into the living room. It was all handsomely decorated, with a nine-foot-tall pine tree standing in a corner, fully illuminated with white fairy lights, shiny red, gold and green baubles, garlands, and various wooden decorations, painted in bright colours. A large table, covered with cold meat, small sandwiches, canapés and various hors-d’oeuvres and drinks was standing right next to a beautiful fireplace, where logs were burning merrily, adding to the warmth of the room. A small - but obviously expensive - music centre set against the far wall beneath a large, wide-screen television, was playing the melancholic tune of 'I'll be home for Christmas’ – most appropriate, thought Captain Scarlet.

Blue went straight to his mother, who was waiting for them there, along with his two brothers – Peter having elected to sit down in an armchair, with a glass of rum. David, who had come down earlier after leaving them in Blue’s company, came to Symphony and – Scarlet noticed – eagerly invited her to sit on the sofa; he was about to sit right next to her when Adam quietly took his place, seemingly unaware of the attention his younger brother was lavishing on his fiancée. Symphony – who had obviously noticed David’s little game – simply ignored it. Scarlet found the situation rather amusing.

“Mr Metcalfe – Paul…” Sarah Svenson smiled coyly, correcting herself. “Would you like something to warm yourself? Whisky, rum…?”

“Rum would do nicely… Sarah. Thank you very much.”

Sarah turned to Symphony. “And you, my dear… Karen, is that right?”

“The same, Mrs Svenson. Thank you.”

“Peter, would you…”

“I’ll get it.” It was David, still standing right next to Symphony, who left his place, to literally spring towards the little bar set not far from the table. Symphony rolled her eyes at his eagerness, and Scarlet quickly hid an amused smile. Blue simply noticed that Peter had not made a single offer to move from his seat.

“Where is Father?” he asked his mother, choosing to ignore his brother’s rudeness. “Will he and Kate be joining us, or are they still busy working in the office?”

“We’re never too busy to welcome the wayward son,” a pleasant female voice said from the door at that exact moment, and everyone turned around to see a young woman standing there, smiling broadly. John Svenson towered behind her, looking into the living room, a thin smile playing on his lips.

“Come on, Kate, that’s no way to say hello to your brother,” he admonished. But as in his daughter’s case, his voice didn’t carry a single trace of resentment when he spoke. And when Blue stood to walk to them, he welcomed his eldest son with a warm embrace. When he gently pushed his son back, holding him by the shoulders at arm’s length, Scarlet noticed the barely-concealed expression of pride reflected in the older man’s eyes, which were as blue as his son’s. Despite the frequent friction and disagreement between them, it was obvious John loved Adam more than he would be willing to freely admit in public.

“You don’t know how glad I am to see you,” John Svenson said, his smile broadening. “You look well… What brings you home?”

“The bad weather?” Blue replied, almost teasingly. “Seriously, Father – I’m glad to be home tonight.”

“It’s been a while since we celebrated Christmas together, all of us… I recall it was, what, five years ago the last time?”

“Christmas was two days ago, Dad,” Kate reminded him quietly.

“Well, that’s close enough – what difference does it really make?” John squeezed his son’s shoulder. “Welcome home, Adam – and Merry Christmas.”

“Thanks, Dad – and Merry Christmas to you too.” The three of them stepped down the single step leading into the living room. David had just given Scarlet and Symphony their glasses of rum, when Blue presented them to his father.

“Father, you remember my friends… ”

“Of course I do,” John acknowledged. “Captain Scarlet, I believe…” He shook hands with Scarlet.

“Paul Metcalfe, sir. I’m not on duty, right now.”

“Of course. Paul. I remember.” He turned to look at Symphony, apparently trying to recall her name. “And you are… Symphony, right?”

“My name is Karen, Mr Svenson,” Symphony corrected him.

He smiled. “I remember that too. But to me, you’ll always remain Symphony in my mind. I can’t forget that red-sequined dress you were wearing in Las Vegas when I saw you first… Do you still have it?”

She groaned, reddening under his probing stare. That dress… he had to remember that! “No, it was borrowed for the occasion – fortunately.”

“It’s a pity – it suited you so perfectly.”

“Well, obviously, you didn’t have to wear it.” Symphony chuckled. “It was too tight and far too revealing for my taste.”

“And I didn’t even get to see it,” Blue complained.

“I did,” Scarlet deadpanned, sipping from his glass, feigning not to notice the annoyed glance Symphony turned on him.

John nodded. “Which is why I actually got to see the dress myself. I wasn’t in the casino, as you remember. I was in that surveillance van and I saw it on the camera screen…”

“Through the camera in my glasses,” Scarlet remembered.

“Exactly.”

“What were you doing in a dress like that, in Las Vegas, my dear?” Sarah Svenson asked with curiosity and an obvious tone of surprise in her voice.

“She was posing as a lounge singer,” John answered before the obviously embarrassed young woman could.

“A lounge singer?” Peter asked from his place.

“All in the call of duty – to find Adam… when he was kidnapped by that bastard Grover.”

“Oh, that dreadful affair,” Sarah muttered, shivering at the mere thought of it. “When your father first told me about it, Adam, I couldn’t believe he’d taken off like that when he heard you were in danger – without telling me about it!”

“Mom, everything turned out okay,” Blue reassured her. “Father didn’t want you to worry needlessly. Anyway, we shouldn’t talk about it now. There’s far better topics of conversation.”

“ ‘Symphony’?” Peter Svenson then said, addressing the Angel. “What kind of a name is that?”

“That’s the name she used in that casino,” John said.

“Where you were working as a lounge singer?”

“Only posing as one, as your father said,” Symphony answered. She hadn’t missed the mocking way Peter was talking to her, but she feigned to pay little attention to it. “And actually, ‘Symphony’ is my codename. I’m Symphony Angel, and I’m part of Spectrum Angels squad.”

“A fighter pilot!” David exclaimed vivaciously. Somehow, he succeeded in squeezing himself in what little space there was between Symphony and Blue. Turning his back squarely on his annoyed-looking brother, he took Symphony’s free hand between his and looked right into her eyes. “How interesting this is! Dear brother, you lead such an exciting life!”

“I heard all the pilots of the Angel squad are women,” Kate remarked. “Is that true?”

“So far,” Symphony answered. She disengaged her hand from David’s and moved slightly away from him, before speaking to Kate again: “Your father met two of us in Las Vegas.”

“Destiny,” John recalled as he motioned for them all to sit again. “Yes, she made quite an impression on me. Such a petite woman, Sarah – but you should have seen her facing those two punks who tried to rob me at the airport! She was not at all afraid of them.”

“Destiny can be quite lethal at times,” Scarlet remarked. “You don’t want to cross her. Nor Karen, for that matter,” he added, as he gave a cautionary glance in David’s direction. But the latter didn’t take any notice.

The boy must be stupid… or blind. He’ll learn the hard way, soon enough, I’m afraid.

As if things weren’t bad enough already, David put his hand onto Symphony’s knee and patted it. Scarlet rolled his eyes skyward and started counting the seconds before Symphony floored the kid.

“I’ve always wanted to date a pilot,” David confided.

Oddly enough, Symphony gently removed his hand. Scarlet tilted his head to one side, admiring the Angel’s uncharacteristic patience. “How flattering,” she answered, hiding her annoyance behind a charming smile. “Sorry, Mr Svenson, but I’m taken.”

“You are? Oh, what a lucky guy he must be…”

“He is indeed,” Scarlet said, looking at David over his glass of rum in a rather warning way.

“Would that be you, Mr Metcalfe? I’m sorry if I seem to want to step on your turf…” David didn’t give the impression he was sorry at all. He sat back onto the sofa, getting comfortable – and not-so-inconspicuously putting his arm behind Symphony. She rolled her eyes again.

“You’re not stepping on my turf,” Scarlet said quietly. “Karen is not my girlfriend – she’s more of a sister to me. No, if you want to know whose turf you’re stepping on, I suggest you look to your left.”

Surprise was plain on David’s face as he suddenly realised the meaning of Scarlet’s words; the latter took tremendous pleasure in watching the embarrassment in the younger man as he slowly turned to face his older brother. Blue was watching him with an amused grin; he knew how immature David was when in presence of beautiful women; the lad was still at an age where his libido was raging, and he would go after anything in a skirt.

“Adam, oh God…” David instantly shot to his feet, reddening as he did so; he looked in dismay as Symphony and Blue got closer to each other, closing the gap he’d just left. “Jeez – I’m sorry, I should have realised…”

“You certainly should have,” John Svenson said, more amused than anything else by his youngest son’s behaviour. “Wasn’t it obvious from the start?”

“You don’t seem all that surprised, Father,” Blue remarked.

John raised an eyebrow. “Should I be? I did notice you two seemed inseparable, in Vegas, all those months ago – and I met Karen’s mother too, remember?” He smiled. “She and I had time to talk. She gave me quite a few hints about you two being close.”

“She did?” Symphony said in surprise.

“And you said nothing?” Blue added in turn.

John shrugged. “I figured you would tell me – us – when you felt ready…”

“It’s nice to know that you are finally seeing a nice girl, Adam,” Sarah said enthusiastically.

“I say!” Kate said in turn, before adding with a teasing tone: “Frankly, dear brother, I was beginning to despair of you…”

“Despair of what?” Blue asked, rolling his eyes. “You’ve been trying to hitch me to one of your friends for years – I figured I’d be safer finding someone on my own – before I found myself engaged to Mary-Jane Willoughby…”

“Who is Mary-Jane Willoughby?” Symphony asked with a faint smile.

“One of Kate’s friends from way back when,” Sarah explained with an amused smile.

Blue shuddered. “She was ten when she started following me around like a shadow… Freckled face, crooked teeth, pigtails…”

“Quite a picture,” Scarlet commented, grinning.

“You should see her today,” Kate replied. “She’s changed quite a lot, Adam – you wouldn’t recognise her. And she’s a lawyer with the company now…”

“A lawyer, really?” Blue said, raising a brow. “Wonders never cease…”

“What did you do before Spectrum, Karen?” Sarah Svenson asked with curiosity. “Where do you come from? Tell me about yourself… You’re an American, obviously.”

“Mom… Don’t start with the inquisition, please? All the girls I’ve ever brought home had to go through it,” Blue confessed apologetically to Symphony. “It’s become like a tradition.”

“Well, why break with tradition?” Symphony replied. “I’m from Iowa, Mrs Svenson. I grew up on the family ranch, and went to Yale University at an early age – rather like your son here, when he went to Harvard… So we have a lot of interesting debates between us about the merits of both universities…”

“Tell me about it,” Scarlet muttered into his drink.

“What were your degrees at Yale?” Kate enquired again.

“Technology and employment of mathematics.” Symphony shrugged. “I don’t know how much good they did me after that, to be frank.”

“Why’s that?” Kate asked.

“Well… maybe I shouldn’t tell you all this but…”

“Come on!” Kate insisted. “You can trust us, can’t you? We’re Adam’s family after all…” She interrupted herself and gave a thoughtful look around. “Why does that sound creepy?” she added with an amused frown.

Sniggering, Symphony finally complied. “After university, I was recruited to undergo a training session at the U.S.S.”

“What kind of training?” Sarah asked. “Administration?”

Symphony chuckled again. “Not quite.”

“Wait a minute,” David said at that moment. “The U.S.S. – that’s the Universal Secret Service. You mean to tell us you were trained to become a spy?”

“We prefer the designation ‘agents’,” Symphony replied. She had lost count of how many times in the past she had said that line – or heard one of her friends say it for her. She caught sight of Blue and Scarlet trying to suppress a smile. “And actually, it was my job to find out spies and to bring them to justice.”

“Karen became one of U.S.S.’s top agents,” Blue explained, getting some amusement from the various surprised reactions of his family. “She was very effective at dealing with industrial espionage…”

“That must have been a fascinating life,” David said, obviously in awe. “Do tell us more about it…”

“Actually, I’ve already told you more than I really should,” Symphony replied. “And so did you, Adam – It’s better that we stop right here and keep our mouths shut.”

“Why?” David asked again.

“Because then, I won’t have to kill you?” There was dry humour in Symphony’s voice as she said those words, just before quietly taking a sip of her drink in the ensuing silence. Peter shrugged dismissively, seemingly not taking any interest in the conversation, and John and Kate exchanged a curious glance, while Sarah seemed a little unsettled. As for David, he was most interested.

“Awww… you’re kidding, of course,” he said with a sly smile.

“How can you tell?” she answered with deadpan aplomb. She took another sip of her drink, and then, smiling faintly, addressed a wink all around; the moment of awkwardness passed, as everyone realised she was joking. Involuntarily, Sarah warmed to the young woman. She found her most sympathetic.

“How did you come to transform from a spy – pardon me, an agent – to an Angel pilot?” David enquired. The way he was looking at Symphony, he obviously found all of this very fascinating.

“I was already a pilot,” Symphony explained. “I learned to fly at a very young age, with my father in Iowa, where my uncle owns a fleet of small planes.”

“That’s nothing to do with piloting fighters,” John remarked.

“No, you’re absolutely right, Mr Svenson. But at one point, my work at the U.S.S. called for me to take a crash course in flying more advanced airplanes. So some years later – here I am.” Symphony smiled. “The love of flying is something I have in common with your Adam.”

“So I can see,” John said, raising a brow.

So often in the past, he and his eldest son had clashed over the latter’s ambition to fly planes. He had agreed for Adam to learn to fly, of course – John had considered it an asset for a future head of industry to know how to fly his own plane. It was when Adam eventually mentioned his ambition of becoming a test pilot – thereby giving up all intention of becoming a part of the family company – that had caused John some headaches, not to mention many heated confrontations with his son. Fortunately, today, the conflict between them had calmed down considerably; but still, John felt a little awkward over that particular subject. He still entertained the hope that one day Adam would come back to the family business.

But now that he was obviously so happy in his work – and was apparently so deeply involved with a young woman who actually seemed as adventurous as himself – John realised that the chances of seeing Adam back working with him were growing even more remote than they had been in the past.

However, it was the Holidays, Adam was with them, and Sarah had asked him to behave for the occasion. That she thought he might start an argument with his son under the circumstances had nearly choked him, but his wife knew him better than anyone in the world and she was still concerned that his temper would get the better of him. Anyway, he had already decided that he would be on his best behaviour.

But obviously, not everyone had decided the same.

“So, you like to destroy things with your plane?” Peter said, taking a sip of his drink. “Must make you feel pretty powerful, doesn’t it?”

His tone was insolent enough, and Sarah glared meaningfully at him. “Peter, you’ve had enough of that,” she said, pointing to his glass.

“I simply meant: they always say that piloting a jet is like an extension of their manhood for fighter pilots. I always reckoned that was why Adam enjoyed it so much. I was mainly wondering how you can translate that when the pilot in question is a woman.”

“Mom is right, you’ve had enough.” Very elegantly, Kate Svenson swept the glass from her brother’s hand and put it on top of the fireplace. He didn’t even try to stop her. “You should learn diplomacy, Peter Svenson.”

“I… you’re right.” Peter probably noticed the warning in Blue’s stare, because he lowered his eyes, apologetically. “I’ve obviously had too much to drink. I’m sorry, Miss Symphony – or whatever your name is. I didn’t mean to offend you in any way.”

“You can call me Karen.” Symphony shook her head. “And there’s no harm done,” she said charitably. “I didn’t feel insulted.”

“It’s still early in the evening, give him time,” Blue remarked. “Something wrong, Peter?”

“Naa… Feel like celebrating, that’s all.” Peter grinned. “My long-lost, big brother is home for the Holidays. That warrants a little drinking, doesn’t it?” Somehow, his words didn’t sound right to Blue’s ears. He could detect a double-entendre in them.

“Peter is probably very disappointed that the party won’t take place tonight,” John remarked, going to sit next to his wife on the other sofa. “We were to meet some would-be clients – who were flying straight from Washington, for a possible business deal.”

“And that was Peter’s baby,” Kate remarked. “He didn’t want to tell us whatever it is exactly… well, not before the deal was concluded.”

“Tonight, possibly,” Peter murmured.

“He was so convincing about it, that I gave carte blanche,” John continued. “I must say – I’m still very eager to see what it is all about exactly.”

“I worked very hard on this,” Peter agreed. “Just to get these people to accept the invitation tonight proved to be an exploit in itself.”

“Obviously, the weather gods had other plans,” Scarlet commented.

“Sorry to hear that, Peter,” Blue said, genuinely sympathetic. “I know your work in the company is very important to you.”

“Oh well,” Peter muttered. “Que sera sera, as they say. I’ll have to make a further effort to get these people into bed with us. It’s not the first time – and won’t be the last – that I have bust a gut working – as you might say, for two – to get things done for the company.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” There was some coldness in Blue’s tone now.

“What’s what supposed to mean?” Peter asked with puzzlement.

“You said you were working for two – what do you mean exactly? Because I’m not there, you have to…”

“Boys, that’s enough,” Sarah interrupted suddenly. “Adam, I’m sure Peter didn’t mean anything…”

“On the contrary, Mom,” Peter cut in suddenly. “I did mean it…”

“Here we go again,” David sighed, rolling his eyes.

“David,” his father warned him.

“Maybe I should say I’m working for three, actually,” Peter suddenly snapped, turning to his younger brother. “You aren’t around much either, as I recall. Pursuing your own dreams in Europe – just like Adam pursued his when he left this house, years ago.”

“Oh Peter, stop complaining!” Kate interjected, before anyone else could say a word. “You’re not the only one who works hard within the company. Dad and I are doing as much as you do yourself. Nobody is forcing you to overdo it.”

“Of course, Kate,” Peter mocked her. “You would like to be the perfect little girl for your Daddy…”

“Peter!” Sarah called angrily.

“Mind your words, Peter,” Blue warned. “That’s no way to talk to her.”

“Shut up, flyboy – you’ve been gone for so long, you don’t have any idea how hard it is to fill the void you left.”

“What are you talking about? I left no void to fill! I’ve never worked for the company – and I always made it clear I didn’t want to work for it, so what difference does it make whether I am there or not?”

“What difference does it make, you say? I’ll tell you what difference…”

“That’s enough, Peter!” John interrupted in a loud voice. “You have said quite enough as it is!”

An uncomfortable silence fell on the room. Scarlet and Symphony exchanged awkward glances. They were ill at ease, to have witnessed such an outburst and didn’t know quite where to stand. And it was obvious they would have preferred to be anywhere else but there. John Svenson noticed it and sighed with exasperation.

“This is no way for us to behave,” he remarked sternly. “In front of guests, no less… What must they think of our family?”

“I have nothing to hide from my friends,” Blue said between clenched teeth. “As far as I’m concerned, they are as much part of my family as anyone else in this room.” He glared murderously at Peter. “I know I can count on them not to stab me in the back whenever the chance presents itself.”

“Adam,” Sarah demanded. “Please, don’t start again.”

“Mom, I’m sorry,” Blue told her. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I should have realised. Maybe it was a mistake coming here after all,” he added gloomily.

“Adam, be fair,” Sarah replied. “We’re all happy to see you here. Peter is a little… preoccupied, that’s all. Aren’t you, Peter?”

“I…” Peter stopped, hesitating. He finally blew a deep sigh. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry, everyone – I’m not in the best of moods.”

“Obviously,” David piped up.

“David, that’s enough,” Sarah warned again. She turned to the still apparently fuming Blue. “Anyway, Adam, where would you have gone, with this bad weather outside? Stay at the airport, sleeping in the waiting room, until the storm cleared? No, Adam – this is your home, and you’re always welcome here. And your friends too. You know that. This is the Holiday Season, and on such an occasion, we should celebrate – not quarrel amongst ourselves. ”

Blue smiled thinly. “Mom, you’re an angel, you know?”

His mother chuckled. “As long as you don’t ask me to fly a plane…”

“That’ll be the day,” John muttered. “You’d be quite unable to learn how to fly, Sarah – you’re too afraid of heights. Anyway, I think there are enough pilots in the family as it is, right now.”

“It’s funny you should mention that, Father,” Blue observed. He gave an inquiring look at Symphony by his side, and she nodded a mute, affirmative answer. “I think it’s time I told you, since we’re all together.”

“Told us what?” Kate asked. “What are you up to, Adam?”

“There will be another pilot in the family very soon.” Blue took Symphony’s hand in his. “Some months ago – I asked Karen to marry me… and I was lucky enough for her to accept.”

There was another stunned silence. The members of the Svenson family looked at each other, obviously not sure how to react to the news. Scarlet mentally started making bets on who would be the first to say something.

“What?” It was Peter again. “You’re serious?”

“Why shouldn’t I be serious?” Blue asked. There was a warning in his voice, obviously advising his brother not to push his luck.

The latter apparently got the message. His tone changed instantly. “I just meant – well, you always struck me as a lone wolf, Adam. I didn’t really see you making the decision to settle down with a girl – any girl – and start a family.”

“I did!” Sarah said, literally jumping on her feet once the first moment of surprise had passed. She went over to her eldest son who stood up with Symphony, and she took him in a warm embrace, kissing his cheek. “Adam, I’m so happy you’ve found someone! Welcome to the family, my dear!” she added, turning to Symphony.

“Thank you, Mrs Svenson…”

“Adam, my congratulations,” John said, shaking hands with his son.

“Thanks, Father,” Blue grinned. “But I supposed that, after your little chat with Amanda, it didn’t come as a big surprise to you?”

“No – you’re right. I had some… vague suspicions, I admit.”

“Vague suspicions. Of course.” Blue chuckled. “But I have to warn you and Mom – don’t count on having grandchildren, just yet – as it is right now, it’s already a big step for us to have our commander to agree to our marriage, in theory.”

“Oh yes, I remember your commander,” John snorted with a frown. “He seemed to me like a stern fellow. How did you come to convince him, then? Threaten to elope to Vegas?”

Blue and Symphony shivered almost imperceptibly, while Scarlet, taking a sip of his drink, nearly choked. He did wonder how detailed the chat between John and Amanda had been in Vegas.