For that is the time to eat, drink, and be merry

[sonoflongshot]

They had arrived at Narita Airport on the 23rd after a nonstop flight from New York. Due to Hand activities earlier in the year and the need to hide Angel from having to be fingerprinted when she didn't have five fingers, they departed the flight and got a special escort from a short by even Japanese standards woman. They went through customs with minimal fuss and met up with the welcoming committee. The three students got hugs and shuffled off to the vehicle with their bags and things. They arrived at the twin's home (shown in a Percy made model here) in the evening. Angel was shown a guest room and the twins dropped off their own things after being lovingly mauled.

The next day was a haze of sleep, baking, and wrapping. Also, one sore butt from Aiden slipping and falling on the ice-covered koi pond while trying to show off.

Now, it was currently Christmas Day. Aiden was lounging on the couch. There were presents to open. Though there were nice smells wafting from the kitchen. His grandmother still had not come down yet. He was just going to enjoy the day as much as he could. It was nice to be home.

Though he did hope they could give a little mini-concert with Mom before the present unwrapping began in earnest. Because Tristan was going to take forever with his haul from Santa.

Comments

[crawler-kid.livejournal.com]

Though perhaps still a little bit jet-lagged, Angel was now up, and plopped herself down on the couch next to Aiden.

She kissed him.

"Merry Christmas, Sugah."

[shadeblossom.livejournal.com]

Hana sat on the floor beside the Christmas tree. Or, as close as she could get when it was practically over-flowing with gifts. Big families were good at that. There were a handful of silver wrapped packages with gold bows under there that were from her to her family. She hoped they liked them.

Tristan, though... he would love a box of Cheerios if it meant he got to tear wrapping paper off something.

She reached up to fiddle with one of the blinking lights on the tree as they waited for the festivities to begin. Her keyboard was already brought down and set up next to Aiden's drum kit.

[sonoflongshot.livejournal.com]

No doubt Aiden kissed his girlfriend back. "Merry Christmas to you, too."

He smiled and snuggled in. Who needed a blanket when he had a fuzzy girlfriend? Though he spied his sister waaaaaaay over there. By herself and not looking completely festive. He unsnugged just a tiny bit. Enough that he could pat the couch on the other side of him.

"Hana, come on over. Haven't got a Christmas hug yet..." He would have to totally unsnug, but some sacrifices had to be made. Also, shouting 'boingy' across the room might cause some sort of commotion.

[crawler-kid.livejournal.com]

Angel may not have come from a large family per se, but she grew up in the X-Mansion with all the other X-Kids. So a big family was hardly something she was new to.

"What he said, Darlin'. No need to be all over there by yourself."

[shadeblossom.livejournal.com]

Lost in her own thoughts, her brother's voice startled her. Hana blinked up at them and smiled a little as she got to her feet with a strand of silver tinsel wrapped around her finger. No point in being mopey in a house full of people who would spread the Christmas spirit by any means necessary.

She flopped down beside Aiden and carefully, delicately draped the tinsel strand over his nose. Then the hugged him. "Merry Christmas."

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, there was a little old Japanese lady tottering in. She had a cane though it was mostly for appearances. She thought once she retired from her line of work, she needed to look like she had a reason too. She could probably still whup her son and eldest grandson if it was needed. Thankfully, it hardly ever was.

She had stayed mostly out of the way when the kids had arrived. She had preferred to stay back and watch. Grandma needed to see how her grandkids were doing and what kind of girl her grandson had fallen head over heels for.

Grandma made her way over to an out of the way chair. "Ohiyo, Aiden-kun. Ohiyo, Hana-chan. Hello and Merry Christmas, Angel."

The last part was in flawless English.

[crawler-kid.livejournal.com]

The fuzzy kind! With equal parts swashbuckling elf and southern belle mixed in for good measure.

"Merry Chistmas, ma'am."

[sonoflongshot.livejournal.com]

Aiden went cross-eyed to look at the tinsel on his nose. That wasn't the hug he was asking for! Though he was happier when he got an actual hug. He smiled and hugged his sister back.

"And Boingy Boingy to you, too." Then grandma walked in! Aiden's smile got bigger. Though he didn't remember if there had been any introductions. Even if Grandma already knew lots about Angel.

"Angel, this is Grandma. If she happens to pass under the mistletoe, kiss me instead."

[shadeblossom.livejournal.com]

"Hi, grandma." Hana wanted a grandma hug! Badly. She hopped up and hugged her grandmother gently. She knew the older lady could still kick her butt without trying, but still... gentle hugs for grandmothers!

Then she let go and stepped aside so that introductions could continue.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Grandma hugged her granddaughter back. She hugged a little harder than the gentle embrace she was given. Then she settled down on her chair and arranged her things just so.

"Yes, the kiss would be much more appreciated if it were for him," she remarked with a polite smile. "It is nice to finally meet the one my ichiban grandson cannot stop talking about..."

[crawler-kid.livejournal.com]

"Right pleasure, ma'am," Angel replied. "Aiden was real big on me finally gettin' to meet you too."

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Who's kissing who?" Alison inquired as she wandered into the living room from the kitchen with a plate piled him with Christmas cookies. Her assistant was trailing after her with one hand holding onto her skirt and the other holding a cookie he was nibbling.

When he spotted grandma, though, Tristan scurried over to her for hugs.

[sonoflongshot.livejournal.com]

"I, uhm..." Gosh darn it. He didn't normally blush over this. Why was it the females closest to him made him do this? He rubbed his slightly hot cheeks. Probably because they were so casual about it. Especially when he started it.

Then Mom came in. "Me and Angel," Aiden answered without thinking about it.

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

[sonoflongshot.livejournal.com]

Aiden stood up and gave a bow. The drumsticks in his hand hit the cymbal as he did so. He grimaced and straightened up. He put the sticks in the holder and joined in for the applause for Hana.

Then he jumped from a standstill right over his drum set.

"Present time!" Also, it was time for him to get back to the couch and snuggle up to Angel. Even if he felt Grandma was watching his every move with his girlfriend.

[shadeblossom.livejournal.com]

Hana chuckled as she returned the clapping. She smiled at her mother as she shut off her keyboard and then wandered over to take a seat beside her father and his lap full of wiggles.

It was always a delight to watch Tristan tear into his gifts. Just what she needed tonight.

[crawler-kid.livejournal.com]

Angel snuggled up to Aiden as much as was appropriate in the mixed family company.

"Ah'm guessin' he likes his gifts," she commented, watching Tristan.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

Longshot deposited Tristan the Wiggle Worm on Hana's lap. He grabbed a Santa's hat off one of the end tables and began passing out presents.

The lion's share of presents ended up in front of Tristan, but everyone got at least one. Angel got at least three, counting the one Longshot and Alison got her.

It did take a little grunting and huffing to get the wrapped ottomans in front of his wife.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

To say that Alison was stunned by the gifts set before her would be an understatement. She stared, wide-eyed at the two large packages in utter astonishment.

From Aiden and Percy. Oh dear.

When she unwrapped the two ottomans, one pink and one blue, it took her a minute to connect what they meant. Then she started to laugh helplessly.

[sonoflongshot.livejournal.com]

Aiden giggled a little at his Mom's merriment at his and Percy's gift. His own gifts to other people (http://community.livejournal.com/nextgen_ooc/69228.html?thread=319084#t319084) had been passed out. He just hoped Percy opened his last. Aiden wanted to see what everyone else got before being chased with intent to maim.

One he was waiting to see was Hana and her gift. Provided she got the chance to open it with the Tasmanian Devil of Present Opening on her lap.

[crawler-kid.livejournal.com]

Angel got the feeling she was missing something here, but it was fun times all the same.

She's gotten Aiden a book of drum music scores of rock music from the sixties and seventies, along with a new gold watch engraved to "My Sugar." She hoped he liked them.

[shadeblossom.livejournal.com]

The only way to get to any of her gifts was to lean a bit to one side. Occasionally she still got a bit of wrapping paper in the face from the unwrapping flurry going on.

Aiden's gift happened to be closest, so she reached for it with one hand to tear open the wrapping while the other held Tristan in place.

Then she blinked at what was revealed under the wrapping. Read the box more closely for a moment and then blinked again. Then she squealed in delight! Mechanicalmovingbabyseal! Eeeeeee!

[sonoflongshot.livejournal.com]

Aiden was glad Angel did not remember Percy talking about making grandbaby ottomans with the couch. He liked his girlfriend unweirded out around his family.

Even when he opened a package from his parents and pulled out samurai underwear (http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=7848).

Angel's presents were wonderful because they came from Angel. They also showed thought and affection. The drum books made him woot in happiness! Some songs he hadn't gotten into yet! Aiden inspected the watch with all due seriousness and broke into a wide grin at the inscription. He promptly put it on and gave his girlfriend the biggest kiss he could manage when his family was around.

[crawler-kid.livejournal.com]

Kissing time!

And then Angel opened her present from Aiden.

"Oh my... Aiden, this is beautiful!"

[shadeblossom.livejournal.com]

Hana had a baby seal to un-box! She shifted Tristan gently off her lap and onto the floor beside her. He didn't really seem to notice as he was embroiled in a battle with the box containing his new remote controlled sumos!

While she cut through tape and removed packing material, Hana glanced over at Aiden and Angel on the couch. Their gifts had been wrapped separately and then tied together with a ribbon so that they would open them at the same time. It had taken some consideration to decide what to get them. Hopefully they liked them.

[sonoflongshot.livejournal.com]

Aiden slipped his arm around Angel's shoulders as she unwrapped his present to her. He had a relieved smile she liked it. He hadn't been too sure. She had liked the other flowers he gave her well enough, but this one wasn't going to die on her.

"Yeah. Like you," he agreed as his eyes crinkled in happiness. He was going to have smile lines by the time he was thirty at this rate.

"Now, let's see what Hana got us." Since their presents were wrapped together, it seemed like a good idea to unwrap them together. Especially since one of Aiden's arms was busy being on Angel's shoulder.

When they got the packages open, Aiden got a little misty-eyed at the engravings on the chopsticks.