A.N. I hope to continue this series throughout December and am trying to write ahead a few days to stay on top of it. Hopefully it will work out and we will all have fun with it. I absolutely love rading reviews and hope you will share your impressions of the chapters with me. No flames, please. Also, I realize this is focused on Christmas rather than other holidays of the season, but that's simply how I chose to write it and if it offends you perhaps you'd be happier reading something else.

Disclaimer: I know this is legally necessary, but really... do any of us think I own these characters?

The Advent Season – November 30th

Kurt, who'd gone home for a lengthy visit, had sent her a care package. Rogue opened it eagerly, her anticipation that of a child during the holidays. Inside the immense box were numerous festively wrapped gifts for the residents of the household. Stashing most of them to place under the tree later, she picked up a handful of small blue and silver packages which she dropped off with a jubilant Kitty who would open them during Chanukah which she was going to be celebrating with her family.

Rogue returned to her room and opened the letter that had rested atop the box's other contents.

Rogue,

I hope this finds you well and that you are enjoying all the preparations for the celebration of the birth of the Christ child on December 25th. I will be thinking of all of you, but am very much enjoying the time with my circus family.

You will notice that there are gifts for all those who will be at the mansion for the holiday break as well as for little Kitty. As you sort through everything you will also find that I have sent you more than one gift. The gift in the dark red paper with your name is one which I would like you to open right away as you will use throughout the season.

I still plan to return on January 8th and will look forward to seeing all of you then. Until that time know that I will be thinking of all of you fondly and wishing for you a very special holiday.

With affection,

Kurt

P.S. Please deliver the other envelope and her packages to the elegant Ororo as soon as your time allows. Thank you.

Deciding to draw out her anticipation as long as possible, she shuffled through the remaining packages drawing out another letter and three beautifully wrapped gifts festooned with glistening ribbons and bows delivering them to Storm's room and left them with the gently blushing woman. She'd also discovered letters addressed to Scott, Professor Xavier, and to Logan (although that one read Wolverine). She decided to drop those also to help delay gratification so that she could experience the rush of the surprise a tiny bit longer. Finally, she settled in her room and pulled forth the gift he'd specified in his note to her and peeled back the tape one piece at a time.

Her giggled would not be repressed at the memory of everyone's frustration with her as she opened gifts. Over the past several years she hadn't had opportunity to receive very many gifts so she savored every possible minute of excitement to the fullest. Once it the paper was ready, she folded it back ever so slowly and finally revealed… a thin box with a colorful winter scene depicted on it. There were tiny numbers scattered across the picture with pre-cut doors barely discernable in the surface. A grin spread over her features as she declared in the otherwise empty room, "He sent me an advent calendar. That's so cool! I haven't had one of these since I was tiny." She hung it from the corkboard on the wall before heading down to dinner.

She shared with the other team members sitting near her what Kurt had sent her and where Logan may have mocked anyone else, he simply couldn't do it when he saw her beaming face. Her childish joy was too endearing and he didn't feel right bursting her bubble so he simply looked on benignly, sort of like an indulgent uncle or something. Spying the slightly patronizing looks Jean, Charles, and Logan wore, she suddenly felt a little bit fierce. "Y'all can look at me that way all ya' want to, but I bet by Christmas morning you'll be green with envy." At their patently disbelieving stares she just turned a smug expression on them all and nodded vehemently. "Yep! Just wait an' see. You'll be begging before it's all over." The remnants of her warm southern drawl made several of those gathered smile. Frankly, no matter how much time passed that twang would never be totally eradicated and deep down they were glad. Scott and Logan and, secretly the Professor, simply couldn't resist their resident southern belle.

Later that night, Logan sat with her and Scott in the rec room where the trio watched a late hockey game on the sports channel. During a commercial break Logan brought up a question he hadn't asked any sooner since they hadn't had a quiet moment until now. "So, what I don't get is what's the point of the thing?"

Scott just looked across her head at him while she was distracted by the amusing ad for an English beer. When it ended she ventured, "The point of what thing?"

"The calendar thing the elf sent you."

Tearing her eyes away from the TV she looked at him with no mockery or judgment. She and even Scott, whom Logan had grown into a grudging mutual respect with, both knew the man couldn't remember so many things from his past that is was fairly common for everyday things to trip him up. He tended to wait until he was with only certain people before asking questions he believed may leave him open to ridicule.

With no censure, she explained, "Well it works like this; starting December 1st you open a little door in the calendar picture each day until Christmas morning. It's like a countdown. Anyway, behind each door is something different."

He nodded with understanding before asking, "So what's behind the doors?"

Her shoulders hunched up with excitement and he and Scott shared a smirk she didn't notice at her ingenuous glee. "I'm not sure, exactly. Growing up I can remember all sorts of different calendars. There were a bunch with cute little pictures of gifts and stuff behind the doors and others with verses from the Bible and I even remember one that played a little bit of a different carol each day. That one was really fun." Logan couldn't resist ruffling Marie's hair at the sight of her adorable smile. The truth was, it was all he could do to resist pulling her into his lap for a hug. They didn't do that stuff when One-eye was hanging out with them, though. It made all three of them uncomfortable so that was saved for their alone time. Under the cover of her sweater edge, he twined his fingers with hers and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze which she returned readily.

"Come by my room in the morning before breakfast and I'll wait for you to get there to open it." When he looked hesitant, she added, "Come on, Logan, its fun and it'll be like our little thing to do together."

He shot a glance at Scott who wasn't wearing the amused grin Logan had anticipated but rather looked totally nonchalant, as if talking about the vicious Wolverine meeting with a woman of only nineteen each morning to peek behind the secret doors of a child's amusement was perfectly common. "Okay, kid. I'll be by to get you like usual and we'll do it then."

She actually bounced once in her seat before turning her attention back to the game and yelled at the ref about someone clearly being offside during the last play.