Airwolf Rule The World

Christmas Eve



The preparations in the main Elizabethan house for Christmas had started as always with Alfred planning everything. A tree from the estate had been chosen always by Kristien from her sustainable forest, and always stood pride of place in the huge lounge, some of the smaller rooms had smaller Christmas trees, again grown on the estate. Everything was always put on the 1st of December and the staff usually worked through the night on the 30th of November so that when Kristien awoke it was Christmas. Kristien loved Christmas. Even though as a small child at aged two she had worked out that it was totally impossible for a large man dressed in red, with a sleigh of eight reindeer to deliver presents around the world in one night. The staff were so despondent when Kristien standing only two foot high, dressed in jodhpurs questioned the mathematics and the laws of physics of how the presents could get to the tree in the manner the household staff were relaying to her. They had not had a small child in the house for over forty years so they tried to bestow everything upon her. Alfred had tried to warn the junior members of staff that Kristien would question what they were doing. However, Kristien did go along with what they were doing and felt Christmas was fun especially for the ponies and the dogs she always had following her, so she told them that Father Christmas had come for them instead.



Kristien walked down the main stair case, with a huge white towelling robe around her. She took in the beautiful tree adorned with lights and borbles and tinsel. She smiled and watched the lights twinkle in the darkness. She had had a restless night due to her size of thirty two weeks and not getting comfortable yet again so gave up around five am and came down stairs to probably nibble on some chocolate.



Since Doctor Sarah Parsons had ordered Kristien to bed seven weeks previous, Kristien had only spent a little time up every day, apart from the mission to entrap the cloned Archangel. She had made herself busy by doing another PhD. That filled up barely three weeks as she wrote her dissertation on her laptop in bed and the final four weeks she had been designing a project for Airwolf.



Kristien made her way to the kitchen, which had various Christmas decorations on and she paused at one of the cupboards which had several advent calendars on. She paused at her usual place for hers and quickly found the number twenty four door. Alfred smiled as he watched her now aged twenty six, still getting delight from opening up an advent calendar. Thor her dobermann had eventually caught up with her after checking out the large Christmas tree, firstly for any rogue squirrels that may still be lurking but had then checked a few of the presents out that were under the tree.



Thor sat down waiting for his advent calendar. Kristien smiled as she saw the dog sitting waiting for his treat and she opened his number twenty four door.



“Oooh look a robin.” Kristien told him of his picture, not that he was at all interested as his eyes were firmly on the snack bone that came out of the door every day for the last twenty four days. “Hmmm, best you have this then. Why they put pictures like that on beats me, simple shapes would be better.” Kristien mumbled at the advent calendars appeal to pets. Thor listened intently, focusing on the bone biscuit treat now in Kristien’s hand and gently took it from her when she offered it to him. Thor practically swallowed it whole and then rechecked his mistresses hand just in case there was more.



“Good morning Miss Kristien.” Alfred greeted her in the normal way, he noted that her pregnant bump looked very large this morning, almost as if the baby had moved. Alfred was putting the final things in place ready for the large estate Christmas party that they held every year on Christmas Eve, a small church service and then return to main house with all the state rooms open for the Christmas Eve Celebration. They also did another party on New Years Eve.



“Morning, Alfred the state rooms look lovely.” Kristien replied wedging herself in the Captains chair at the top of the table and lifted her legs over the side of it.



Alfred noted the uncomfortable position that Kristien seemed to crave for her own comfort.



“Yes, for next year with the baby here we will have to raise all of the Christmas ornaments a little higher.” Alfred suggested as he served her a hot chocolate and a freshly baked croissant with warm chocolate sauce for dipping.



Kristien looked down at her bump and gave it a rub. “Hmmm that would be a shame to have bare branches down the bottom though.” Kristien thought carefully about it. “Hang on I can’t remember you doing that with me when I was young?”



Alfred looked at Kristien and fondly remembered that Kristien’s first Christmas was when she was 3 months old and she had already started to walk about. “Yes, your first Christmas where we just followed you around the whole time.”



Kristien looked at Alfred as something dawned upon her. “Damn I haven’t even thought about having someone for this one.”



Alfred cleared his throat, as head of the household he had already done just that for her. “I have taken the liberty to shortlist four Norland Nannys to assist with Metteo’s needs whilst you are busy with the horses and other occupations.” Alfred informed her being as efficient as ever. “I have also asked Cambridge University to supply a few of their Doctorate and Research Assistants for when the time comes to educate Master Metteo as I do not believe he will require a nanny for long.”



Kristien was deep in thought about what Alfred had planned. “A nanny? I didn’t have a nanny, I had you. Why can’t Metteo have you also?” Kristien wasn’t sure that a nanny was the right way to go. “Didn’t do me any harm, now did it? Besides they will just want to play with rattles and stuff and keep him a baby.”



Alfred smiled gently at Kristien. “Thank you Miss Kristien, I would be happy to assist Master Metteo, however I do suggest his own Valet as soon as you wish to choose one.” Alfred responded graciously.



“I am sure you have one in mind already.” Kristien knew Alfred never left anything to chance, everything was planned.



“I do believe that Mary our housekeeper, has a nephew who has is at Cambridge and has just completed his Doctorate in Mathematics and I believe he is continuing to do his Doctorate in Physics now.” Alfred explained a brief resume to who he had selected for Metteo’s education. “He is twenty five and his name is Stefan and has already passed the security checks as he has visited his Aunt before. I believe also his is an artist.”



“An artist, cool! So when do I get to meet him then?” Kristien questioned knowing that Alfred had already set things up.



“Meet who?” Hawke asked as he stood at the kitchen door, he had put his jeans on and just put a shirt on leaving it open, searching for Kristien.



“Metteo’s Professor.” Kristien took a sip of her hot chocolate and looked over at Hawke, her craving for him increased when she saw his lean muscular chest.



Hawke raised his eyebrow at Kristien. “Well before you start planning and scheming, we have a very long day ahead of us so I suggest you return to bed to rest otherwise you will be missing the party tonight.” Hawke decided to drop the education of their baby who was still in Kristien’s womb for another day.



Kristien got her self off the chair and Alfred had picked up Kristien’s hot chocolate and a selection of croissants and a coffee for Hawke on a tray and gave them to Hawke as Kristien finally managed to get to the door and follow Hawke back to bed.



The Christmas Church Service was very intimate and Hawke worked out that the last time he and Kristien were in the Church they had got married. He found it hard sitting next to Kristien brooding over their brief two week marriage whilst the Christmas service continued.



The Christmas Party was amazing. All of the estate staff and their families were having a fabulous time. Everyone wandered back to their cottages on the estate around midnight which surprised Hawke. He stood at the main house door and heard horses hooves outside. He opened the door and saw one of Kristien’s carriages with a team of four white horses pulling it. The carriage had lots of tinsel on. Kristien wandered back from yet another visit to the bathroom, probably the twentieth of the night.



“Oh cool.” She said with a tired but excited voice.



The carriage driver stepped down and walked to the door. “Miss Kristien, Merry Christmas, your carriage awaits.”



Kristien looked at Hawke. “Come on.” And she took his hand and led him towards the beautiful seventeenth century carriage. Hawke looked at the beautiful craftsmanship in the wooden carriage as he helped Kristien inside. Once they were both sat Alfred handed a few warmed blankets to Hawke who placed them around his and Kristien’s legs.



“You took your time.” Hawke commented on her time spent in the bathroom.



“You know I am pissing like a racehorse at the moment.” Kristien reminded Hawke of her pregnant situation and the fact she needed to go to the toilet to wee every hour it seemed. “Didn’t want to stop tonight.”



As the horses set off a pleasant clip clopping sound were being echoed through the very still night air. Although it was very cold outside Hawke was very surprised at how warm it was in the carriage and then he spotted a cleverly hidden heaters under the seats warming the carriage. Hawke watched the view as the carriage and horses made their way around Kristien’ estate.



“You do this every Christmas?” Hawke asked her knowing how he missed last Christmas with her having to stay in America mostly due from getting back from a mission far to late to get over to Kristien and although he could have brought Airwolf over, he was so exhausted and so had to wait until boxing day to get a flight to see her so he had missed all of what went on.



“Well usually Father Christmas is in here and I am driving the carriage and then we can give out the presents during the night.” Kristien informed Hawke. “There are some children here that believe in Father Christmas and some adults I think too.” Kristien smiled.



“So where is Santa then?” Hawke asked.



“He’s coming, he emailed to say he is running late so we were to keep the horses warm.” Kristien smiled. “Oh wow is starting to snow.” Kristien came closer to the carriage window and looked out. “Typical how can I make a snowman like this? I can’t bend over.” Kristien sat back quite sad.



Hawke looked at Kristien and smiled. “Snowmen?”



“Yeah, of course.” Kristien was a bit cheesed off that Hawke seemed to be making fun out of her wanting to go and play in the snow. “Don’t you build snowmen then?”



“I did that when I was a kid.” Hawke told her remembering how he and Saint John used to go up to one of the snow topped mountains and have huge snowball fights. It took two days to hike there so they always went camping.



Kristien dropped the matter. Since the morning Hawke had tried a few times to talk to her about their baby and why a professor was needed, but Kristien seemed to just ignore what Hawke was trying to suggest to her. Had Kristien been in the right frame of mind she would have taken him on, fully, probably exploding also as the kid references and playing references were now getting to her a bit. Hawke seemed to think that Kristien just sat with a book in front of her nose when she was young and did not play. Alfred had given Hawke a couple of stories of Kristien playing, including the story of when she married her two ponies in the house, wearing the family jewels in the state room at aged two. Kristien felt that her two ponies that indeed followed her everywhere should have a foal and to do that then they should get married when Alfred found her and she explained her actions. Alfred decided to tell her that marriage was not necessary and the horses on the stud did not require that. Alfred knew as soon as he said it she would be down to the stud as fast as her ponies could get her there to start her research. That was when she saw the mating of the mares and the stallions. Armed with the new knowledge she promptly found one of the stud stallions to add to her collection of ‘playmates’ that followed her around much to the shock of the staff, however the stallion was gentle and understood his place with Kristien and laid down for her to clamber onto him. Alfred remembered those days well. He tried to suggest that Metteo may be the same as Kristien, but Hawke felt that Kristien was a one off.



The carriage drew up to one of the stable blocks far from the house. Kristien got out and Hawke followed. They left the staff to load up the presents to give out and started to walk through the stables. The horses all popped their heads over to whicker at Kristien coming to visit them, she hadn’t done this for a few weeks due to the size she had now become. Kristien started to stroke their noses and greet each one. Hawke watched her for the first few and then remembered that she had over one thousand horses in the stables. God this would take all night.



Kristien went to the end where the large stable was and she opened the door to her beloved stallion Kalli and one of her ponies Thunder. They lived together. Both horses came over to Kristien and nuzzled her gently, pleased that she was visiting them. Thunder was jet black and stood only 10 hands high, Kalli was a handsome bright bay with two white feet and a blaze down the centre of his head down to a pink velvety soft nose. Kristien gently stroked both horses, who were both quite old. Kalli was twenty three as Kristien bred him when she was two and Thunder was now thirty.



Hawke was just about to suggest that they called Carsten and got a lift back to the house when Kristien started to breath quite deeply and she rubbed her bump.



Hawke entered the stable and put his arms around Kristien. “Hey lets get you back to the house.” Kristien nodded realising that she had done far too much and went to walk but her legs went from under her. Hawke managed to catch her and held on to her.



Kristien grimaced and started to breath deeply. “I need to sit down.”



Hawke looked around the stable block and saw a bale of hay in the corridor and he left Kristien and lifted it into the stable. Kalli and Thunder looked at what was going on and stepped closer to the bale as Kristien sat down on to it. Both horses knew something was about to happen.



Hawke looked at her. “I’ll call Carsten to come and fetch us.”



Kristien looked at him. “No, get Alfred.” Kristien started to take very short breaths.



“Kristie?” Hawke looked at her as she started to sweat as she continued with the breaths and then suddenly Kristien squeezed Hawke’s hand so hard he thought she was going to break it. “You ok?”



“Nooooooo.” Kristien grunted in between her breaths. “Oh, bloody hell this hurts.” Hawke was busy trying to help Kristien and trying to find his cellphone. He hadn’t brought it.



“Tell me what is it?” Hawke stroked her face and tried to rub off the sweat which was beading and making her hair very damp. Hawke looked over at the stable office and wondered if he could run over there and call on the phone for Alfred to help him.



“Metteo.” Kristien struggled to say, in between breaths and she gripped Hawke’s hand so hard again that his fingers turned white.



“Metteo? What about him? I am going to call Doctor Parsons.” Hawke tried to leave her but Kristien gripped his hand again preventing him from leaving her.



“No.” Kristien panted. “Time.” Hawke’s fingers were turning white again with Kristiens vice like grip. “Metteo is coming now.” Kristien finally managed to say as she gritted her teeth.



Hawke looked at her. “Kristie, I don’t know about this, we need a Doctor.”



“I am a bloody Doctor.” Kristien gritted her teeth through the contraction and then panted. “HELP ME.”



“But labour lasts for hours.” Hawke told her about the limited knowledge that he had picked up from various baby books he had ready. “And your waters haven’t broken.”



“Yes they have at the house.” Kristien admitted finally. “But I thought………..” Kristien started to pant again with the huge contraction. “I would…….oh god………” Kristien really wanted to bear down. “Be in labour a couple of hours not twenty………bloody …………..oh fuck………..minutes.”



Hawke looked at her and the stable. He kept holding her hand and stood up and reached for a couple of the horses rugs that where hung up on the rug rack, he opened one and put it on the stable floor. Kristien was breathing so quickly he was worried she would hyperventilate. He knelt down beside her and wiped her face with his jumper sleeve. Kristien pulled off her jumper over her head, she was far too hot, revealing a sweat soaked shirt.



“Oh I need to push.” Kristien gritted her teeth and continued to breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Hawke looked at her still dressed.



“Oh, I’ll undress you.” Hawke offered and Kristien released his hand and got her hand to hold the bale of hay and clenched her fist around it. Hawke undid her trousers and pulled them down. Her legs were so far apart now that she didn’t think she could close them. The baby was already down the birth canal.



Hawke gently squatted in front of her and spoke so gently to her. “Put your hands on my shoulders.”

Kristien kept breathing and placed her hands on his shoulders and Hawke looked up and saw the top of his babies head. Tears of joy filled his eyes as he looked at Kristien’s pregnant body doing its job. He knelt in closer to her and she leant back.



“Kristie, I can see our baby.” Hawke told her.



Finally after minutes of holding back Kristien could finally bear down. Kristien pushed with the contractions and Metteo’s head emerged into the world followed very quickly by the rest of him. There in Hawke’s hands was his baby son, Metteo. Metteo made a few small wimpers into the strange new world that he was part of and was about to create when Hawke placed Metteo onto Kristien’s tummy. Metteo could hear the familiar heartbeat of his home for the last seven months and calmed down. Kristien bathed in sweat put her arms around Metteo and cradled him and smiled at Hawke. The umbilical cord was still attached and pulsing for a few final times before it would not be used ever again.



“We need that cutting.” Kristien told him. “Go grab a med kit.” Hawke placed a kiss on Kristien’s lips and walked out of the stable and grabbed one of the many med kits that were on the walls. He brought it back and opened it.



“Right we need to tie off the cord in two places and then you can cut in the middle of that.” Kristien instructed Hawke. Hawke got the stitching kit out and tied two very tight knots around the umbilical cord. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. And then got out the scissors and placed them on the cord. He looked at Kristien and then Metteo and then cut the cord severing Metteo from the womb forever.



Hawke put his arms around Kristien and he started to stroke Metteo’s head. Metteo was so small but healthy. The placenta came out and Kristien motioned for them to sit down on the floor together now that her body had done everything it needed to. He wrapped a new blanket around him and her and just gazed at Metteo. Metteo nuzzled in to Kristien and started to try to find her nipple. Kristien moved her breast and allowed Metteo to root and latch onto her nipple where he began to get the colostrum that he needed. Hawke’s tears of joy continued to fall as he knew he was now a father.



Alfred walked into the stable armed with a couple of towels, fresh clothes for Kristien, a baby bag full of clothes, blankets and nappies for Metteo and flasks of tea and coffee for Kristien and Hawke and handed Kristien a syringe. Kristien smiled and took it from Alfred and placed it into her thigh and then handed him the empty syringe. Alfred removed the other wrapped up blanket which housed all the afterbirth and acknowledged both of Kristien’s horses who stood standing watch over Kristien and Hawke. Alfred watched Kristien breastfeed the new arrival. Kristien was such a natural mother. Alfred backed away and walked over to the stable yard office where Doctor Parsons stood. Alfred nodded to her quietly and handed her the blanket with all the afterbirth in. Sarah took it away to go and check it over thoroughly.



Alfred remained and allowed Kristien and Hawke this very special intimate moment in their complicated lives before he would officially welcome baby Metteo to the family.