Ella Beatrix Aqubellan-Holmes was nervous. Of course she was, this was bound to be a bad idea. Sure their relationship was getting serious, but was it to this level of serious yet? She takes a deep breath, centering herself just like her uncle had taught her.

First step is to acknowledge the facts surrounding the problem. Her boyfriend of nine months, Tommy, had voiced interest in spending Christmas with her and her family. He has never really met any of her family more than in passing. She acknowledges and accepts that she can not change these facts. Next, her family tends to lean towards the chaotic and/or crazy side, especially during family get-togethers. And Christmas is always all about family in her household, so it’s going to be turned up to an even higher level than a normal gathering. She had long ago accepted that was just how things are in her family.

The problem started when she brought Tommy’s suggestion up to Papa. He thought it was a good idea and now Tommy has been invited to join them… She hasn’t even got around to telling her boyfriend about her family. She hopes he’s not bigoted enough to do something cruel, but… a tiny part of her is too scared he will make a big deal of it, so she hasn’t mentioned it. And even if by some miracle he’s okay with what her family is, her family can still be really overwhelming to someone who isn’t used to it.

Having calmed down Ella realizes what she needs is to talk to someone who understands the situation. She dials the number and waits for the person on the other end to pick up. “Hey, Uncle Dee. It’s Ella, do you have time to talk?”

“Of course, just doing some last minute shopping before tomorrow. Don’t tell the little ones Santa was still working on his shopping list so late. What’s up, Trix?”

“Papa invited Tommy over for Christmas and I don’t know what to do…”

“You know that’s how he is. Why don’t you tell me about the problem and maybe it will help you figure out the solution. And if not, I might be able to help more.”

“Well, I haven’t exactly told Tommy yet that we’re… you know, powered.” Ella isn’t embarrassed about what she and her family are, but she is scared of how people might treat her differently if they knew. There are still a lot of people who are biased. “What if he doesn’t take it well or freaks out? What if he decides it’s too much and wants to break up?”

“Trix, what have I always told you about relationships?”

“Anyone who isn’t willing to get to know and accept the real me isn’t worth my time.”

“Right. So maybe it’s time you find out if Tommy is worth your time. I’m guessing he’s already accepted the invite for Christmas?”

“Yeah…”

“Then I’ll pick you two up for the trip to the family lodge early tomorrow morning and you can tell him before we get there. That way I can be there for moral support and if he’s really not okay with it, we’ll know before you throw him into the rest of the craziness. I might even feel generous enough to not make him hitchhike back home if he’s civil about his possible rejection… How does that sound?”

“Uncle Dee! … Actually, that sounds like a good plan. I’m glad I thought to call you.” She slept well that night.

The next morning her nerves were back, but she keeps them at bay with a reminder that her uncle would be there soon. She starts on a double batch of chocolate chip pancakes, just like Papa had taught her, and is just finishing the last few when she hears his car pull into the driveway. At the same time, she hears footsteps from upstairs. All her roommates are out of town for the holidays already so that means it must be Tommy. Due to his plans to join her for Christmas and how early they would be leaving to get there, he had stayed over in the guest bedroom. She can hear him groggily coming down the stairs when the doorbell rings.

She answers the door to find her uncle looks young, around her age… So that’s how he’s going to play it. “Uncle Dee~! Come in, I just finished making breakfast. It’s your favorite, chocolate pancakes just like how Papa makes them. I figured we could eat before we hit the road.”

“Spoiling me already? You know I can’t turn down anything with chocolate in it. Let me guess, you’re wanting something extra special for Christmas this year. Trying to make sure to stay on my good girl list?” Ella laughs as they walk to the kitchen.

“I wasn’t aware it was possible for me to get off that list.”

“Don’t worry, this Santa gives gifts to naughty girls too.” He gives his usual playful wink just as Tommy walks in.

“Oh, Tommy~. I don’t think you two have met yet. This is my Uncle Dee. He’s going to be driving us to the family lodge.”

“So this is the boyfriend.” Her uncle offers out his hand. “You can call me Sir or Mr. A for now. That might change depending on how the next few days go… Our Trix speaks well of you, but that doesn’t mean we’ll automatically accept you.”

“I hope I am able to a good enough impression, Sir.” As the two shake hands, Ella’s nerves are even more soothed. Maybe the whole introducing him to the family won’t go too badly. Sure, her family can be overprotective, but… She pales a bit at a sudden thought.

“Papa didn’t get approval before inviting Tommy… Does Uncle Blake know I’m bringing a guest?”

“Chill, Trix, Uncle Dee’s got it covered. He’s okay with it. I wouldn’t be here to pick you two up if he wasn’t… Just had some conditions I’ll handle if it comes up. Now, I believe I was promised pancakes and then we should head out soon. It’s a lengthy trip by car…” Leaving no room to discuss, he serves himself a stack and starts digging in. After breakfast the three of them pack their bags into the back of her uncle’s red car before promptly heading out. Ten minutes down the road, older man breaks the silence. “Trix, dear, I believe you had something you wished to tell your boyfriend about our family…”

“Right. So, Tommy… um… You see… my family, they’re not exactly what you’d consider normal. They…” She falls silent, not knowing how to say it. Luckily her Uncle Dee pipes in.

“We have qualities that aren’t normal for humans.”

“What, you mean like weird eye colors or being double jointed?”

“You really picked an amusing one, Trix. It’s, ah, a bit more out of the norm than that. You ever hear of Arcadia?”

“Yeah, that’s that government who gives citizenship to those with supernatural powers. My cousin babysat a little girl that they thought might qualify as a citizen, but when the parents got her tested, it turns out she’s just really talented for her age.”

“We’re Arcadian.”

“Oh… um… I see…”

“Is that…? Is that okay? Are you okay with what that means?”

“I mean… I don’t really understand, but… I’m willing to try. It doesn’t really change who you are, so what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t attempt to embrace the culture and family you are a part of.”

“Thank goodness…" Uncle Dee says. "I don’t know what Luce would do if I had made your boyfriend hitchhike back to civilization.”

“Wait, I thought you were kidding about that part!”

“You know how I feel about heartbreakers. My car, my rules. I don’t give rides to jerks.”

“Fine, if you’re done testing my boyfriend’s feelings, are you planning to show up like that? You look like your kids’ sibling, not their parent.”

“Your uncle likes me like this…”

“You two are soul-bonded, he’d like you if you were a toad…”

“Fine… but I’m gonna remember this next time you want help with your hair.”

“You’re just lucky I don’t tell your husband what you did, Mr. Ambrosia.”

“Wait, Ambrosia as in Dewi Ambrosia, world famous model? You’re related to him?”

“Oh, yeah, I forget how well known Uncle Dee is sometimes…”

"That's because my skills as an uncle outshines that stuff."

"Nah, it's because everyone's so crazy, you start to seem normal…"

Uncle Dee gasps and pretends to sulk the rest of the trip. Ella laughs before turning to talk with Tommy. The rest of the ride is filled with talk of family traditions and funny stories from both their families. The trip seems to just fly right by.

“... So one minute we’re just sitting on the couch and the next Sky falls onto my lap wearing an elf costume.” Uncle Dee breaks his ‘sulking’ to laugh at his own child’s antics just as he pulls into the lodge’s long driveway.

Only forty feet from the garage, the car is ambushed by multiple assailants wielding snowballs. "What do you think, Trix? How many are we against this time?"

"I spotted three on this side before they ducked behind things."

"Two more on mine."

"So, four kids and your hubby. You're going to have to defend us and distract them so we can get inside safe." Ella turns to Tommy to explain. “Bit of a tradition. Anyone who shows up by car when there are family members playing outside will have snowballs thrown at them until they get inside or join in on the snowy fun. We’re going to try the first. Don’t worry about our stuff for now.”

Uncle Dee drives the last few feet and exits the vehicle. Three minutes after he gets out, Ella pulls Tommy out of the car and runs towards the house, dragging him behind the whole way. She opens the door without even knocking and almost runs into a tall blonde.

"Oh, hi Papa. We're home."

He smiles brightly. "Welcome home, Ella. I was just about to call the kids in for lunch."

"Aww… but we just got here. You know how much Uncle Dee likes playing with the kids in the snow. Plus I thought it would be a good idea to ease Tommy into the family craziness. You know, get to meet with some of the more mature members before throwing in the kids…" Her comment directs his attention to her boyfriend as her parent nods in agreement.

"Um… it's nice to properly meet you, Sir."

"Please, feel free to call me Papa Lu. Everyone does, even my siblings and their kids. Now, let me be the first to welcome you to our family lodge." He soon heads back to the kitchen.

Throughout the afternoon, Ella introduces Tommy to her family members, only one or two at a time. It’s not like her family was super large, but she worried some of them together would be… a bit much. Surprisingly, everything is going really well.

The rest of the day is spent doing various activities, from helping with cookies to watching Christmas movies. When her older brother, Matt, and his fiancee challenge them to a game of rummy, they quickly spend an hour playing. Before she realizes it, Papa is calling everyone to dinner and afterwards everyone starts slowly heading off to bed, starting with the young ones.

Eventually, Ella heads to bed in the room she’s sharing with her two younger sisters. At around one in the morning she is shaken awake by the youngest of them, Crystal.

“El… El, wake up. You’ll never guess what I just saw. Daddy’s cheating on Papa.” Well, that wakes her up.

“What?” It’s always been obvious to Ella and her siblings that their adopted parents are madly dedicated to each other.

“Yeah. I got up to use the bathroom when I heard a noise in the family room. I went to find out what it was and saw Daddy kissing Santa Claus. Do you think I should go tell Papa?” Ella shakes her head.

“You probably saw wrong. Remember how Papa always wears pajamas that looks like Santa’s outfit for Christmas Eve night, including the hat? That combined with you being sleepy and thinking about Santa so much probably caused you to think he was Santa. Now go back to bed, we only have six more hours until we have to get up for breakfast.” She makes sure Crystal is tucked back in bed before snuggling back into her own bed.

The next morning, most of the household wakes up to Christmas music playing from downstairs. Ella can just knows that Papa is dancing around the kitchen as he makes the first of the huge meals of the day. When ‘I saw Mommy kissing Santa’ comes on, she can’t help laughing.

Sure, her family can be overwhelmingly crazy at times, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s glad she introduced Tommy to them. Afterall, family is everything to her family and she can’t imagine her life without all of them.