"Mmmm, I can smell the ham," Mack said, nodding. "Mom went all out this year. Turkey too! I love turkey!"
Avery snorted. "You love anything Mom cooks."
"Not true," Zoe interjected. "He doesn't like vegetables."
"Vegetables are not a food group!" Mack protested.
"I think you'll find they are," Avery laughed, petting Jade, who was sitting on her shoulder.
Isaac, Nikki, Zac, Saku
Isaac and Nikki arrived at the Hanson house and were opening the door just as Zac and his brood arrived.
"Hi Ike, hi Nikki," Zac waved cheerfully.
"Hi Zac," they called in reply before entering the house and finding the rest of their family.
Saku got out of the car and gave Zac a hand unloading his younger siblings, B'Elanna, Tom, Dee Dee, Elektra, Heaven and Brock. Together they got the six toddlers inside, along with all their paraphernalia.
"Y'know," Zac mused as they entered. "I think this might be the first time B'E and Tom have ever been here."
"Yeah?" Saku frowned. "You sure?"
"... Nope."
Saku grinned.
Avery
"Hey," Avery said, looking up as Ike and Nikki arrived.
"Merry Christmas."
Isaac, Zac, Nikki, Saku and Natalie
"Merry Christmas," Isaac and Nikki said together.
"And how are you all today?" Isaac added.
Zac and Saku entered the room then.
"Merry Christmas all!" Zac greeted.
Meanwhilst, out the front Natalie was getting out of the car.
"Hmm... looks like everyone's beaten us here already," she mused.
Taylor
"It's called 'fashionably late'," Taylor insisted as he opened the back door to get Ezra out.
Natalie and Zac
Natalie giggled and opened up the other back door to retreive presents and Ezra's baby bag.
**********
"Presents," Tom said, pointing to the Christmas tree.
"Yes, Tom," Zac nodded. "And we're going to add more to the collection."
"Yay!"
Taylor
"Here," Taylor held his hand out for some of the bags, "you shouldn't carry all that weight."
Natalie
Natalie smiled at him.
"Thanks," she replied, slinging Ezra's baby bag over her shoulder. "Will you be right with Ezra?"
Taylor
"I'm good," Taylor insisted, "but you'd better open the door for us."
He noticed a flag on the front porch start billowing by itself, and wondered absently if Ezra already had Ike's telekinesis on board.
Natalie and Isaac
"Okay," Natalie agreed.
She headed to the porch and opened the front door wide for Taylor and Ezra to get through.
"Hi everyone," she called.
"Hi Nat," Isaac called in return. "We're in here."
"Okay, just a minute."
Avery
"Ham!" Mackie was saying, nodding emphatically. "My favourite part."
"I like the turkey part," Avery replied, shrugging. "I like birds."
Taylor
Taylor dumped the goods near the door and carried Ezra through.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" he greeted with a smile.
Avery
"Merry Christmas," Avery said, glancing up at her older brother.
Zoe smiled broadly, bouncing in her seat next to Mack.
Saku, Zac and Isaac
"I like bird too," Saku agreed.
"Oh good," said Diana. "Everyone's here. Lunch is ready. Just help yourselves."
"Food!" Zac exclaimed, making a beeline for the plates.
"Merry Christmas, Mom," Isaac said, giving her a hug.
"Merry Christmas, Ike," Diana replied with a smile.
Taylor
"Take a seat," Taylor insisted to Nat, "I'll grab us both a plate. Craving anything particular?"
He shifted Ezra's weight to the other hip.
Avery
"No one does Christmas like you, Mom," Avery said, kissing Diana on the cheek as she went to get her food.
Diana smiled and ruffled her hair. "Thank you, Avie."
Natalie, Saku, Zac, Isaac and Nikki
"Turkey, salad, anything else that's there you'll know I'll like," Natalie replied. "Thanks."
Natalie made herself comfortable on a chair.
"I can take Ezra if you want..."
Saku started heaping up his plate with turkey.
"Hey, save some for the rest of us," Zac scolded. "And have salad."
"Daaaad..."
"Saaaakuuuuu..."
Saku laughed at him, conceeded to picking up one solitary lettuce leaf and headed back to the table.
"Hey Zac?"
"Yes, Ike?"
"He's your son."
"You'd never believe it, would you?"
"I don't know. If it wasn't for the black hair I think he'd look just like you."
Nikki, at the table, shook her head. Too weird Zac having a kid that almost looked his age. Way, way too weird.
Avery
Avery sat down next to Mack, who was still going on about the importance of Christmas lunch.
"Is Tru coming?" he asked.
Avery shook her head. "I think she said she was going to be with Faith and Sam this Christmas."
"Oh," Mackie said, nodding. "Who's Sam?"
"Ah," Avery looked at Zac for a second before replying awkwardly. "I think it's Faith's new boyfriend."
Taylor
"Ok," Taylor nodded, "just be careful."
He handed Ezra over, careful to place him on her lap and no nearer.
Then he went to fetch their lunch.
"Hey Mom," he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
"I see my grandson is growing up well. You haven't been to see us in a while..."
"I know, it's been a little crazy," Taylor apologised, half filling Nat's plate with turkey, "we weren't even sure we should bring him today with all the powers around."
"Can't keep him away from large crowds forever," Diana smiled.
Zac, Isaac and Nikki
"Yeah it is," Zac nodded. "I didn't realise you and Tru were in contact."
"Here you go," Isaac said, putting a plate down in front of Nikki before sitting down next to her.
"Thanks," Nikki smiled.
Avery
Avery tapped her head with her fingers lightly.
"I'm in contact with everyone," she said to Zac. "Except for Ike, I guess."
Isaac, Zac and Natalie
"Aww I miss out," Isaac smiled.
"Ha ha," Zac said, sitting down with his food. "You have to resort to email. Or telephones!"
"Egads! What a horredous idea!"
"That's what I thought."
"Dork."
"Monkey brain."
"Oh good," Natalie grinned. "I married the sane brother."
Taylor
"You just realised this now?" Taylor feigned shock as he returned with their food.
"Hungry!" Ezra exclaimed at the same time.
Avery
"Well, I could break the shield if you want to be included," Avery joked.
Mack was munching happily on the turkey.
Isaac, Zac and Nikki
"Hmm," Isaac considered thoughtfully. "Well, I don't think I'd want to be rid of it, as it has come in mighty useful since I've had it - mores the poty - but if you wanted to create a backdoor that only you could get through, you're welcome to."
"How would you know if Avie was the only one who could get through it unless someone else tried?" Zac asked.
"Because Avie;s special. Aren't you Avie?"
Nikki chuckled.
"Thanks honey," Natalie smiled. "Okay, here you are, Ezra..."
Avery
"Actually, that's a pretty interesting concept," Avery said to Isaac.
"I'm pretty sure I could manage that, especially with all of the practice I've been doing lately. And I'm creating my own objects now, and I'm going to talk to Tanya about writing some of them down, so other Ga'Revali can use them and learn how to make them."
Taylor
Taylor settled comfortably and started on his own dinner.
"Is that too much?" he asked Natalie with half a mouthful.
Isaac and Natalie
"Nope, that's just fine," Natalie replied.
"Interesting," Isaac said to Avery. "Any more sweaters?"
Avery
"If you want one, I can probably make you one," Avery grinned.
"I'm working at keeping it in the physical world without tiring me out too much."