Authors' note: A bit of a cliffhanger with this chapter. Come on---it's been a while since we did it!
Hannah had never been more excited for a Christmas morning. Nathan and Isabelle were finally old enough to understand about Santa and the three of them had camped downstairs by the fireplace the night before, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
"And Izzie fell asleep first, then Nathan," Hannah was telling her mother. "I tried to stay awake but I was just too tired. When I woke up all my biscuits were gone, though!"
"He always eats your biscuits," Frankie said with a grin.
"Remember when he left me a note?" Hannah asked. "And told me mine were the best?"
"I do," Frankie nodded. "You still have it, right?"
"In my special box," Hannah nodded.
"Will!" Frankie called out. "Come on!"
"One minute," Will said. "Just getting our little naked beauty into some clothes."
"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" Isabelle exclaimed kicking her little legs in the air.
"Izzie, Izzie, Izzie," Will made a face at her.
Isabelle giggled.
"Are you ready to open some presents?" Will asked her.
Isabelle nodded. "Han!"
"Hannah's waiting for you," Will told her. "So are Mummy and Nathan."
Isabelle settled down and Will finished dressing her. He picked her up and carried her into the sitting room.
Frankie smiled. "I didn't think I'd be able to hold them off any longer."
"I'm ready to get tearing," Hannah said
"Who's going to go first?" Will asked.
"Me!" Isabelle said instantly.
"Me!" Nathan exclaimed, reaching for a package.
"All right," Frankie laughed. "You all better get going, everyone's going to be here in an hour and a half."
Nathan and Isabelle eagerly tore into their first packages while Hannah, Frankie and Will watched.
"Bear!" Nathan said happily.
"Me too!" Isabelle said excitedly holding hers up. "Thank you, Santa!"
"That's a good girl," Frankie said. "Hannah- go ahead and open yours up."
"Okay," Hannah said peering under the tree.
Nathan and Isabelle showed no interest in the clothing they received. They only had eyes for the toys and stuffed animals.
Nathan threw a jumper over his shoulder that hit his father in the face.
"Nathan," Will laughed.
"No," Nathan said, reaching for his toy jet engine.
Will shook his head. "I'm sure my mum's going to love hearing how Nathan liked that jumper."
"He'll look adorable in it," Frankie picked it up.
Hannah smiled when she opened up the present from Frankie. It was a purple journal. "Mummy! This is just what I wanted!"
"I'm glad, sweetheart," Frankie said.
Hannah opened another package that contained new quill and ink set from her father. It was similar to the set he had in his office.
"This is so neat!" she said happily. "Just like yours Daddy."
Will grinned as Hannah gave him a hug. "You always use mine and I thought you could use those with your new journal."
"I will," Hannah nodded. "I'm going to write something soon as I'm done opening presents."
After the children finished unwrapping their presents, Hannah came forward and handed her mother a box. "This is from me, Izzie and Nathan."
"You didn't have to get me anything, baby." Frankie said, tearing open the paper.
"We wanted to," Hannah said.
Frankie looked in the box to find a framed print of her three children and Belle, laughing and waving to her.
Frankie grinned. "When did you take this?"
"A few days ago," Will told her,
Frankie wiped at her eyes. "This is beautiful. Thank you!"
"We're glad you like it Mummy," Hannah said.
"I love it," Frankie said hugging her oldest daughter. Isabelle and Nathan toddled over to hug her also.
Will grinned. "They were fun to photograph, that's for sure."
"We got you something too, Daddy," Hannah said to Will.
"You did?" Will asked.
"It's the one with the gold paper under the tree," Hannah told him.
"I've got it," Will said, grabbing it.
Hannah grinned and looked over at her brother and sister.
"Open it," Nathan told his father.
Will unwrapped the present. "Did you lot make this?"
"Yes," Hannah bounced on the edge of the sofa.
"This is great!" Will exclaimed holding up the picture. "This is going up in my office."
Hannah grinned. "Nathan drew the cows...kind of. Isabelle did the scribbles on the corner there and I did the house."
"It's brilliant," Will said.
Isabelle clapped her hands. "Yay, Daddy!"
Will grinned at her. "Good job on the scribbles, princess."
Isabelle beamed at him.
"You have one more gift under there Hannah," Frankie said, a bit reluctantly. "It's from Mallory."
Hannah grinned. "Really?"
"It arrived a few days ago," Frankie said.
Hannah reached for the present and eagerly began unwrapping it.
Inside was a princess themed photo album. Hannah picked it up and exclaimed in delight. "Look!"
"That's really nice," Will said.
"I suppose you should ring her later to thank her," Frankie said.
Hannah nodded. "Izzie, come here and see..."
Izzie picked up her bear. "Who that?"
"It's my present from my Aunt Mallory," Hannah said.
Isabelle pointed to Belle. "Hannah!"
Hannah grinned. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Isabelle nodded.
Nathan tugged on Frankie's arm. "Hungry, Mummy."
"We can give them a little something to tide them over until everyone gets here," Will said.
"Come on into the kitchen, Mister," Frankie grinned at Nathan.
Nathan toddled eagerly after his mother.
"Me too," Isabelle said, using her free hand to grab Hannah. "Come, Hannah."
"Okay Izzie," Hannah said.
Frankie poured them each a cup of juice.
"Yummy," Nathan reached for his cup.
"Santa didn't eat all of our biscuits," Frankie said holding out the plate.
"I want!" Isabelle said.
"What do you say?" Frankie prompted.
"Please," Hannah said when neither of her siblings said anything.
"Please," Isabelle echoed.
"Please," Nathan nodded, reaching eagerly for the plate.
Frankie smiled. "Just one."
"Hungry," Nathan said.
"Maybe two," Frankie said.
Nathan grinned happily.
"You're easy to please," Frankie said kissing him on the cheek.
"I love Mummy," Nathan said.
"What about me?" Will asked grinning at him.
"Daddy too," Nathan said.
Will mussed his son's hair before he grabbed a biscuit from the plate.
"Daddy you might spoil your breakfast," Hannah said mischievously.
"Seeing as he's already had five," Frankie said looking pointedly at him. "I saw you sneak a few."
Will grinned sheepishly.
"Bad Daddy," Isabelle said wagging her finger at him.
Will laughed.
Hannah laughed, too. "You looked just like Mummy just then, Iz."
"That's not such a bad thing," Will said.
"Absolutely not," Frankie said nibbling on a biscuit. "We have a big day ahead of us, don't we?"
"Yes," Hannah said. "I'm going to get dressed."
"Okay, sweetheart," Frankie said. She watched as Hannah left the kitchen.
The phone rang and Frankie laughed. "What do you want to bet it's your brother and he's running late?"
"Maybe it's your sister and Jon's running late," Will countered.
Frankie shook her head. "Doubtful..."
She picked up the phone. "Jack, you're running late..."
"Um, no," a familiar voice said. "Frankie, it's me...Mallory."
"Oh," Frankie said in surprise.
"Merry Christmas," Mallory said.
"You too," Frankie said. "Hannah loved her gift."
"She did?" Mallory asked happily.
"Yes," Frankie replied. "Very much."
"Can I talk to her?" Mallory asked.
"She's getting dressed," Frankie said. "If you'll give her a few minutes..."
"Of course," Mallory said.
Frankie told Will to go get Hannah and waited with the phone, feeling quite awkward. "So um... how are you?"
"I'm well," Mallory said. "And you?"
"Fine," Frankie replied, unsure of what else to say to the woman.
"And how are Nathan and Izzie?" Mallory asked.
"They're enjoying Christmas morning," Frankie replied.
Hannah ran into the kitchen.
Frankie gladly held out the phone. "Not too long baby. We need to get everything picked up."
Hannah didn't hear her mother as she took the phone. "Hi, Aunt Mallory! Happy Christmas!"
Frankie was dying to hear what the other woman said as Hannah laughed happily.
Will put a hand on her shoulder. "Want some coffee?"
"Sure," Frankie replied absently.
"Its fine," Will reassured her.
"I'm trying to be open," Frankie said. "But I can't forget those things she said to me at the airport."
"She said it was a misunderstanding," Will said. "And that all she wants is to be a part of Hannah's life."
"Of course she'd say that," Frankie shrugged. "But I just keep feeling that there's more."
"Things have been okay since then," Will said thoughtfully.
"Because she hasn't been here," Frankie pointed out.
"It's Christmas, Frankie," Will said putting his arms around her. "Don't worry about this."
Frankie relaxed. "Okay."
Frankie listened as Hannah told Mallory everything she'd received for Christmas.
"And we're having my other aunts and uncles and cousins over today," Hannah finished.
Will poured the twins another glass of juice.
"Hannah!" Isabelle waved. "Play!"
"One minute, Izzie," Hannah promised.
Frankie picked up her youngest daughter. "Why don't we go and play with your new toys?"
"Love toys," Isabelle said.
Frankie grinned. "Someday, you'll like the clothes more."
Isabelle wrinkled her nose at her mother.
Frankie laughed. "Trust me."
Frankie set Isabelle down and went about cleaning up all the wrapping paper from the sitting room.
"Want Hannah, Mummy," Isabelle said.
"She'll be off the phone soon," Frankie told her daughter.
Frankie picked up her framed photograph of her children and smiled.
This one was definitely making her desk at work so she could see it all the time.
Hannah came into the sitting room with Nathan in tow.
"Oh you're off the phone," Frankie tried to keep the brightness from her voice.
Hannah nodded and sat down on the floor with her brother.
"Why don't you get yourself dressed," Frankie suggested. "Then you three can play all you want."
Hannah nodded. "Okay, Nathan. I'll be right back. You set up the blocks, okay?"
"Kay," he nodded.
Hannah gave her mother a quick hug before she ran back upstairs.
Frankie felt better after that. Will promised to watch the twins so she could get herself ready.
Hannah came back downstairs a few moments later and she helped the twins build a tower of blocks.
"Don't you look pretty," Will said to his older daughter.
Hannah beamed at him. "Thanks, Daddy."
"I'm going to go up and get dressed," Will told her. "Can you keep an eye on these two for me?"
Hannah nodded. "Sure. We'll be fine."
Will headed upstairs to take a quick shower.
Hannah helped her brother and sister build a tall tower.
"It gonna fall!" Isabelle worried. "No fall, Hannah."
"No fall," Hannah told her sister.
Nathan handed another block to Hannah. "On top."
"Okay," Hannah had to stand up.
Isabelle and Nathan both grinned when Hannah placed the block on top and the tower didn't fall.
"Told you," Hannah said.
"Yay!" Isabelle clapped her little hands together.
"Do you think we can do one more?" Hannah asked them.
"Yes," Nathan said.
"Izzie, it's your turn to pick one," Hannah said. "Hand me a block."
Unbeknownst to the three children, Frankie was watching them.
Isabelle looked thoughtfully at the pile before finally picking a purple block. She handed it to her sister.
"That's good," Hannah said.
Isabelle smiled and caught sight of her mother. She waved. "Mummy, watch!"
"That looks lovely, you three," Frankie said,
Hannah grinned. "Let's hope it doesn't fall."
"I don't think it will," Frankie said, straightening the sofa cushions.
Hannah placed the block on top of the tower. "Ta-Da!"
"Look Mummy!" Nathan squealed.
"I see," Frankie grinned at him. "You three make a great team!"
"Definitely," Hannah smiled at her siblings.
Frankie picked up Nathan. "You can try one more. Hannah, hand him a block."
"Here you go Nate," Hannah said.
Nathan took the block and with Frankie's help, carefully placed it on top.
"Go, Nate!" Hannah exclaimed.
"No fall!" Nathan shouted happily.
Frankie set him down. "Miss Isabelle..."
"Me too?" Isabelle asked.
"Of course," Frankie said picking her up. Hannah handed Isabelle a purple block.
"Be slow and steady," Hannah coached.
"Slow," Isabelle repeated.
"You can do it," Frankie told her.
"Do it," Isabelle carefully put the block on the tower.
"There you go!" Hannah grinned. "We did it!"
"Big!" Isabelle shrieked.
Nathan clapped as Isabelle hugged her mother tightly.
Frankie kissed her cheek. "You all did a great job."
The doorbell chimed and Frankie grinned. "Who do you think that is?"
"Uncle Jack, Aunt Claire and Mia," Hannah squealed.
"Sukie!" Isabelle guessed.
"They would come through the fireplace," Hannah said.
"Oh," Isabelle said.
"I'll get it."
"I'll go with you," Hannah said eagerly.
Frankie took Hannah's hand.
As Hannah had predicted, Jack, Claire and Mia were standing on the other side of the door. "Happy Christmas!" Hannah exclaimed.
"Happy Christmas," Mia echoed.
"Come in," Frankie ushered them past her. "We're just getting breakfast started."
Jack, Claire and Mia hung up their coats on the coat rack. "Where's that brother of mine?" Jack asked.
"He'll be down in a minute," Frankie gave them all hugs.
Hannah took Mia's hand. "You have to see the tower we just built."
"Okay," Mia giggled when she saw Isabelle and Nathan. "Hi you guys!"
Isabelle waved. "Hi, Hi!"
Nathan toddled over to Mia and gave her a hug.
"Happy Christmas, Nathan!" Mia told him.
"Santa came," Nathan told her.
"What did you get?" Mia asked.
"Bear," Nathan said. "And blocks."
"And clothes," Frankie chimed in.
"No," Nathan made a face.
Claire and Frankie laughed. "At this age, they just don't care about the clothes," Claire said.
"Not at all," Frankie said.
"Nathan was throwing them over his shoulder," Hannah told them.
"He's obviously Will's son," Frankie explained with a grin.
Jack laughed. "Oh, Will liked getting books even better than clothes. I was the one who fancied the toys."
"That's my husband," Frankie said as Will finally joined them.
"What?" Will asked, giving his brother a hug.
"Whenever you got a book for Christmas, you wouldn't even open the rest of your gifts. You'd just start reading," Jack said.
"What's wrong with wanting to learn something?" Will asked.
"Absolutely nothing," Frankie said, putting her arms around him.
Will gave her a kiss just as the fireplace roared to life.
Isabelle squealed when she saw her twin cousins. "Sukie!"
"Hi!" Sukie cried out. "I'm here!"
"Happy Christmas, Snow," Mia and Hannah said to her.
Sukie giggled. "I love being a princess!"
"Hello, Mas," Will said scooping his nephew up into his arms. "How are you?'
Mas laughed. "I was good this year."
"Is that true, Tosh?" Will asked his brother-in-law.
"He's actually right," Toshio said with a grin.
"No, he wasn't," Sukie said in a sing-song voice. "He was bad."
"Sukie," Chiaki said in a warning tone.
"No!" Mas exclaimed.
"You were both fine," Toshio said firmly.
"Chi, you want to help me in the kitchen?" Frankie asked.
"Sure," Chiaki said.
Frankie led the way into the kitchen. "Don't worry. I have lots of vegetarian options for you and Mum."
"You're too good to us," Chiaki said.
Chiaki spotted the photo album Mallory had give to Hannah. "Oh this is nice! Did you and Will get this for Hannah?"
"No," Frankie said. "That was from Mallory."
"Oh," Chiaki said. "That's a lovely gift."
"It's nice," Frankie admitted.
"She coming back to London anytime soon?" Chiaki asked as she helped her sister set the table.
"Not that I know of," Frankie said.
"And how do you feel about that?" Chiaki asked.
"I don't like her," Frankie said. "And the further away she stays, the happier I am. But Hannah does enjoy her very much."
"She is the last link that she has to her biological mother," Chiaki said thoughtfully.
"I just can't help the feeling that Mallory wants more than just being an aunt," Frankie confessed.
"You're Hannah's mother for all intents and purposes," Chiaki reassured her.
"I know," Frankie nodded.
"Just enjoy today," Chiaki told her. "Don't worry about something that is never going to happen."
Frankie smiled at her sister. "I'll try not to."
"Worry instead about whether or not I'll like what you bought me for Christmas," Chiaki teased.
"Oops," Frankie said. "I knew I forgot a gift."
Chiaki nudged her. "Francesca..."
"Just kidding," Frankie said, retrieving the cinnamon rolls from the oven.
"There are some things you do not joke about," Chiaki laughed.
"I'm sorry," Frankie apologised with a grin.
"I'll forgive you as long as it's fabulous," Chiaki said.
"For my completely fabulous sister?" Frankie asked. "Of course."
"Yes," Chiaki grinned.
"I wonder where Allie and Jon are," Frankie said.
"They'll be here soon," Chiaki said. "Allie said they had a late start."
"Dare I ask?" Frankie questioned.
"Adam has a cold," Chiaki said.
"Oh no," Frankie said in dismay.
"Nothing too serious," Chiaki said. "He's fine."
"No one can be sick on Christmas Day," Frankie said.
"Especially not a kid," Chiaki said.
"Will you get the casserole out of the icebox?" Frankie asked her sister.
Chiaki nodded. "You and Will have gone all out."
"We knew everyone would be hungry," Frankie said.
"Of course," Chiaki said. "This lot especially.'
Frankie put the cinnamon rolls on a plate as Chiaki began scrambling up some eggs.
Frankie hoped she would be able to put this drama with Mallory behind her and enjoy the day with her family. She just hoped that Maddie was having just as fun a day at the Burrow.
Maddie was indeed having a good day, enjoying the company of her husband and two daughters.
They'd been among the first to arrive at the Burrow and Molly was currently gushing over her great-granddaughters.
"Hi!" Kiera grinned at her great grandmother.
Molly pinched Kiera's cheeks. "Hello, my pretty girl."
Kiera giggled and reached for Molly.
Molly picked her up and hugged her tightly. "You can be my special helper today, Kiera."
"She'll love that, Nana," Ethan told her. "You wouldn't believe how quick she can get around."
"We can believe it, can't we, Arthur?" Molly asked.
"Sure can," Arthur grinned at the two little girls.
"We're going to have quite the crowd," Molly said to Kiera. "And we have to make it very special because it's Rafe and Gwyn's first Christmas here."
"Oh," Kiera nodded.
Arthur shrunk one of Molly's aprons and handed it to his wife. "Your little helper should have an apron, too."
Molly laughed and tied it around her granddaughter's tiny little figure. "Perfect."
"That's adorable!" Maddie exclaimed.
Kiera examined the apron. "Buh see!" she said to her parents.
"You can go show him," Ethan told her. "But do not let him out of his cage."
Kiera giggled and managed her way over to the cage sitting on the coffee table.
Maddie followed her daughter.
"Buh!" Kiera said to the little pixie. "See!"
Blue rattled his cage in response.
"Doesn't she look lovely, Blue?" Maddie asked.
Kiera stuck her finger through the cage and Blue looped his hand around it. Kiera smiled. "Buh. Love Buh."
Blue cackled and spun back around into his cage.
Maddie touched her daughter's shoulder. "Come on. Let's go help, Nana."
Kiera reached up to her.
Maddie picked her up and carried her back into the kitchen.
"What can we do to help, Nana?" Maddie asked.
"Set the table for one," Molly replied.
"Sure," Maddie said, opening up the cupboard. She waved her wand and the dishes flew to the table. Kiera watched with wide eyes.
Ethan laughed. "Your mummy's pretty cool, isn't she, Kiera?"
Kiera pointed to the glasses as they flew over her head. "Look!"
"I see," Ethan smiled at her.
Kiera giggled as the silverware spun through the air.
Ron, Maddie, Darla, Liam and Rafe arrived and Molly momentarily forgot about cooking. "There's my boy!"
Rafe gazed at her with his wide eyes.
Darla smiled at her grandmother. "Let me just take him out of his carrier, Nana."
"She's not going to be able to wait much longer," Ron teased.
Molly swatted at him. "Ronald, that's enough of that."
"Here we are," Darla surrendered her little bundle to her grandmother.
Molly kissed Rafe's soft cheek. "Darla, he gets more handsome each time I see him."
"Yes he does," Darla agreed with a grin. "Nana, you remember my friend Liam, right?"
"Of course," Molly said warmly. "I'm so happy you could join us today, Liam."
"Thank you for having me," Liam said.
"It's our pleasure," Molly said. "I hope you brought your appetite."
"He eats as much as a Weasley," Darla said.
"You'll fit in just fine," Molly said carrying the baby into the kitchen. Ron and Luna followed, but Liam and Darla hung back. Darla took his cloak.
"Get ready to eat," Darla told him seriously. "Nana always has enough food for an army."
Liam smiled. "So you've told me."
"Right," Darla said. "Just in case you forgot..."
He laughed. "I just appreciate you taking pity on a lonely soul and inviting him."
"You're my friend and I wouldn't want you to be alone on Christmas Day," Darla said firmly.
Liam helped her with her cloak. "Thanks, Darla."
Darla smiled at him. "Come on," she said.
Darla led the way into the kitchen. "Grandpa!" she exclaimed, walking over to hug Arthur. "Happy Christmas!"
"Hello dear," Arthur kissed her cheek.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," Liam said extending his hand.
"Good to see you," Arthur shook his hand. "Glad you could join us today, Healer Thornhart."
"Call me Liam," Liam told him.
"And you call me Arthur," he said with a grin.
This was quite a change from the family Liam had grown up in. Though he'd been around the Weasleys before, he was always amazed at how welcoming and warm they were. He understood why Darla had become the inviting, sweet person she was.
"Come have a seat," Arthur invited.
Liam sat down. "Oh, you have a Muggle Ipod, Mr. Weasley."
Arthur grinned. "Isn't it fantastic?"
"Grandpa loves everything associated with Muggles," Darla told Liam.
"I enjoy some of their technology too," Liam said. "I have one of these at home."
"Aren't they amazing?" Arthur asked. "The box said I could put over seven thousand songs on here."
"It's pretty incredible," Liam nodded. "I don't even know seven thousand songs."
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do with these things," Arthur said holding up the ear buds.
Darla smiled. "Grandpa, you put those in your ears so you can hear the music."
"Oh," Arthur brightened. "Well look at that!"
Darla and Liam smiled at each other.
Arthur went into the kitchen to show Molly the Ipod. "Thanks," Darla said. "Hans never really bothered talking to him."
"Really?" Liam asked. "Why not? He's great."
"He is," Darla agreed. "So are you."
Liam grinned at her. "I meant to tell you earlier...you look really nice today. Not that you don't look nice everyday, because you do, but---I'm rambling..."
Darla flushed a bit. "Thanks Liam. I always like to look extra nice on the holiday."
"So---um, what made you stay at your parents last night?" Liam asked.
"I just didn't want to be by myself," Darla said.
"You sounded a little sad last night when we spoke," Liam said. "Is everything okay?"
"I guess not having someone at the holidays is sort of rough," Darla confessed. "Plus, it was the first time I spent the day away from Rafe. I missed him so much."
"How was his holiday with his dad?" Liam asked.
Darla shook her head.
"Sounds like it was about as much fun as mine," Liam mused.
"Hans is already seeing someone else," Darla admitted.
Liam wanted to say he was surprised, but he wasn't given what little he did know of her estranged husband.
"I just..." Darla sighed. "It threw me for a loop. We haven't been separated that long."
"He's an idiot," Liam said shaking his head.
Darla only shrugged. "An idiot that I married, so what does that make me?"
"My good friend," Liam said smiling at her. "And we can make a deal, okay? We won't talk about my screwed up family today or your idiot soon to be ex-husband."
"Deal," Darla smiled at him.
Luna carried Rafe over to Darla. "I think he wants his Mummy."
Darla reached for her son. "Are you being fussy, my love?"
Rafe let out a small cry.
"Shhh," Darla said soothingly.
"Can I get you both something to drink?" Luna asked. "Molly's made hot apple cider."
"That sounds lovely," Darla nodded.
"Thanks, Luna," Liam said.
"Be right back," Luna smiled at them.
Liam made a goofy face at Rafe and the infant laughed.
"He likes you," Darla said also laughing.
Liam made another face and again Rafe laughed. He reached a hand out toward Liam.
"Want to hold him?" Darla offered.
Liam nodded. "Sure, come here, mate."
Darla smiled as Liam carefully took her son in his arms.
Rafe cooed happily up at him.
"You're a natural," Darla told him.
Liam grinned. "I've had a lot of practise, Darla."
"Yes but he never smiles like this," Darla pointed out.
Liam bounced Rafe gently on his knee and again Rafe laughed.
Darla laughed. She loved hearing that sound from her son.
Luna came over with their cups of cider. "Here you are."
"Thanks Mum," Darla sipped hers carefully. "It's delicious."
Luna smiled at her daughter before she walked away. Darla knew her mother and father were worried about her.
"So," Darla asked Liam. "What are you going to do for New Year's Eve?"
"I don't know yet," Liam shrugged. "I might be working."
"I usually go over to Drew and Brian's," Darla said.
"What do you lot do over there?" he asked her.
"Well, we go to the Ministry Ball and then we'll go back over to theirs afterwards."
Darla replied.
"Oh," Liam nodded. "I'm sure you'll have fun."
"Feeling like a third wheel," Darla said.
"I'll have to find out if I work," Liam replied.
Darla blushed. "I wasn't fishing for an invitation, Liam."
He turned red. "I know-- I was just saying... I don't know if I work... I didn't mean--"
"I'd like to go with you," Darla interjected. "If you were to ask, that is."
"Oh," Liam said. "Well um... let me see if I work and if not... we can go..."
Darla smiled. "Okay."
Liam smiled back at her.
"It will be almost as fun as the St. Mungos ball," Darla teased. "You stepped on my feet how many times when we were dancing?"
"I thought your feet would be black and blue," he said ruefully.
"You did fine after that first dance," Darla reassured him.
"Thanks," Liam replied. "But this time... we'll see about dancing."
"Come on," Darla said. "It's a ball! You have to dance!"
"That means we have to dress up, right?" Liam grimaced.
"Come on," Darla said. "You can dress up for one night. As I recall, you do clean up rather nice."
"When I want to," he said with a grin.
"You should do it more often," Darla said. "Right, Rafe?"
Rafe cooed as he closed his eyes.
"I should put him down," Darla said taking him from Liam.
"He's still sleeping through the night?" Liam asked.
Darla nodded. "For the most part, yes."
"Good," Liam nodded.
"I'll be right back," Darla told him.
Liam nodded, watching her leave the room.
Brian, Chloe and Drew arrived and Drew grinned when she saw him. "Hello, Liam. Happy Christmas!"
"Hi Drew," he greeted her. "Happy Christmas to you all as well."
"Alright, mate?" Brian asked him.
"Hanging in there," Liam shook his hand.
Chloe tugged on Drew's hand. "Mummy, want to help Kiera and Nana!"
"Go ahead in the kitchen," Drew told her daughter.
Chloe dashed into the kitchen.
Drew shook her head. "Where she gets the energy from, I'll never know."
"Weren't we all like that once?" Liam asked dryly.
"I'm still like that," Brian said defensively. "It's Drew..."
"I beg your pardon?" Drew asked, her eyebrows raised.
"Only kidding," Brian said hastily.
"Better," Drew caught Liam's eye and grinned.
"Good save, mate," Liam said.
"Food will be ready soon!" Molly's voice floated from the kitchen.
Drew grinned. "I can't wait."
Darla came up behind her sister. "Happy Christmas!"
"Hi Dar," Drew hugged her sister.
"You look gorgeous," Darla told her.
"If I look gorgeous, then so do you," Drew returned with a grin.
Darla laughed. "I couldn't agree more."
"It smells wonderful," Drew said. "What's Nana making?"
"Better to ask what isn't she making probably," Darla said.
"I'd get a shorter answer," Drew deadpanned.
"Whatever it is smells delicious," Liam commented.
"She'll love you for saying that," Darla told him. "Come on."
Darla grabbed hold of his arm and led him into the kitchen. She didn't let go and Liam didn't say anything. It felt ...natural.
"Everyone sit down," Molly said. "The children at this table."
"That includes you, Katie," Julie pointed out when Katie moved toward the grown-up table.
"But--" Katie began to protest.
"I'm sitting there too," Ashley said grabbing her sister by the arm. "Come on, Katie."
"And I'm there too," Caroline told her.
"Fine," Katie sighed.
"When did you guys get here?" Ashley asked Caroline.
"Just a few minutes ago," Caroline replied. "Adam's feeling better. He had a cold."
"My mum and dad always brew a potion for us," Ashley said. "It always makes us better right away."
"My dad made one for him," Caroline said. "That's why he's feeling better."
"That's good," Ashley said as Adam sat down next to her.
"No sick," Adam announced.
Ashley grinned at him. "I'm glad to hear that."
Adam grinned back at her. "Draw?"
"Well not right now," Ashley said. "But we can draw after lunch."
"Can I draw too?" Emma asked.
"We'll all draw," Ashley promised. "I got a brand new sketchbook I brought with me today."
"Cool," Emma said reaching for a piece of bread. "Adam, remember, don't waste any food."
"I know," Adam said.
"I mean it!" Emma said wagging a finger at him.
Adam glared at her. "Go away Em."
"Daddy! Adam's being mean!" Emma called out.
"Em being mean too!" Adam told.
"Em, come over and sit by me," Caroline suggested. "That way you and Adam are separated."
Emma stuck her tongue out at her brother.
"Emma Madeline," Allison warned.
Emma blushed. She hadn't known her mother was watching.
"Sorry, Mummy," Emma said quietly.
"Go sit down," Allison told her.
Emma reluctantly sat down beside Caroline. "I was just trying to help him, Sissy."
"Yeah but you know what Mummy and Daddy said about bossing him around," Caroline told her. "He knows what to do with his food."
"Not always," Emma tried to argue.
"Yes you do," Caroline told her.
"You never bossed me around," Emma commented.
"I know," Caroline said. "So you don't need to boss around Adam."
"I'll try," Emma said.
Katie smiled at the little redhead. "You know what I miss? How you used to always call yourself 'Em' and say stuff like 'Em want to eat'."
"I can do that again," Emma told her.
"You're going to be six in just a few days," Caroline said.
Emma nodded. "Almost time to go to Hogwarts."
"Em, you're making your dad feel old," Jon called out.
"You're not THAT old," Emma said.
Everyone laughed at this.
"Emma Madeline, how old do you think I am, exactly?" Jon asked.
"Seventy six," Emma answered.
Again, everyone laughed at this, save for Jon. "Seventy six?" Jon asked incredulously.
"And Mummy's twenty," Emma added.
Allison beamed at her daughter. "Thank you, Emma."
Ron guffawed. "My son looks older than me."
Jon looked over at Josh. "Don't laugh. If I look old, so do you."
Josh hid his grin. "Guess you have a point there."
"In case you were wondering, Emma Madeline, your Uncle Josh and I are thirty-five. Not seventy-six. And your mother is thirty-four."
"Thanks, Jonathan," Allison glared at him.
"But she doesn't look a day over twenty," Jon added.
"Good save," Ron told his son.
"And as Maddie always says age isn't anything but a number," Drew said.
Maddie laughed. "I remember learning that from Frankie."
"She used to say that to defend her dating," Allison recalled.
"How many people did she date?" Caroline asked curiously.
Allison laughed. "Too many to count."
"Does Uncle Will know?" Emma asked.
"Yes, he knows," Maddie said.
"And he still loves her?" Emma pursued.
"Yes, because he knows that he's the only one for her now," Maddie said.
"Oh," Emma nodded.
"Some people like to shop around a little before they settle on one," Ethan said.
Emma giggled. "Katie likes to shop."
Katie grinned. "Yes, I do."
Caroline mustered a smile. She felt distanced from her best friend these days.
There were times that the old Katie would show her face and Caroline liked that. But, over this holiday, it seemed that there was a new Katie emerging. One that valued popularity and other superficial things more.
She wished Mia could have come with them to the Burrow but she was still at Aunt Frankie's.
At the grown-up table, Darla snuck a look at Liam across the table. He seemed to be enjoying the meal.
"Is there anything else I can get anyone?" Molly asked.
"No, Nana," Nick said. "Everything's great."
Molly was about to say something to her grandson when she heard a commotion coming from the sitting room.
"Mum!" a female voice cried out. "MUM!"
Molly gasped. "Ginevra?"