**BACKDATED** Boot-Kirke-Linney-Greengrass Christmas Extravaganza/Proposal :)

[allaboot_terry]

Terry had always enjoyed the holidays, even before his family had quadrupled. His father had always made an effort to make sure Terry had great gifts, and he took the time off despite being a workaholic all other times of the year. Their first Christmas together had been an interesting one. He was a bit resentful of his father's overly anxious

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[marloww]

Although Riley was off with his family (an argument Marlow wasn't willing to acknowledge), she was still in good spirits. It wasn't every day that her family was able to be in the same space at the same time and she had to admit, she was greatly looking forward to it. Jonah might have let it slip that Terry was planning on proposing to Daphne and as she stole a glance at her former classmate, she couldn't help but feel an odd pang in her stomach.

She was happy for them, knowing that Daphne was probably very much looking forward to the question being asked. But it was still a topic she didn't much like thinking about (knowing she and Riley had been together for nearly six years now and still no real discussion of the matter).

She turned toward her brother and her cousin, her brows furrowing as she took in the sight of them.

"Why does it seem as though the two of you haven't eaten in days?"

[drewkirke]

There was a time in Drew's life that he dreaded the holidays. Actually, there was a time in Drew's life that he dreaded nearly everything - the absence of his father apparent everywhere that he turned. He had closed himself off from any sort of emotion, shutting down rather than grieving.

Though, as the years passed, the days didn't seem quite so bad. His family had banded together, Terry and his step-father entered the mix, and time had worked its magic on his wounds. Slowly, his father's absence didn't feel so painfully overwhelming anymore. This year there was even more cause for celebration and Drew found himself more excited for the big event than he realized.

But his mum's cooking was an entirely different reason to love Christmas all together. He was halfway through his second plate when he heard Marlow's comment.

"It's not every day I get a meal like this. I'm going to savor every bite," he told her, fork half way to his mouth.

[chase_em]

The Linney family always made a big deal out of the holidays. There was always far too much food, way too much teasing and some sort of odd over-eating hangover the next day. Combining forces with the Kirkes (and Boots) and it being Christmas Day made for an even more grand experience.

One that Jonah's stomach certainly appreciated.

"Oy- I've got my meal plans, remember?" Jonah perked up from across the table, narrowing his eyes at his sister knowingly. "I've been on kale shakes and lean protein for the past three months. This is golden-"

"You ought to let yourself breath in between bites, darling," Rowan interjected politely from the other end of the table. "You might choke-"

"Mum-"

[drewkirke]

Drew shoved another forkful of mashed potatoes and greens into his mouth, snickering over at Jonah after his aunt had scolded them. Some things never changed.

"You should listen to your aunt, too, Andrew," Catherine added, shaking her head despite the smile on her lips. It had taken a long time for her to start enjoying the holidays again.

Drew groaned, throwing a look over the Jonah.

"How are you even surviving on that rabbit food, mate?"

[marloww]

Although Marlow was ravished (as she always was when faced with holiday food, it was a never-ending feast) she at least managed to eat like a proper human being. That didn't stop her from laughing slightly, her eyes jutting back and forth between Drew and Jonah. It was odd to see the both of them all grown up (even if she was only a year older).

"He's sneaking pastries with Ella Montgomery-" Marlow couldn't help herself, the gossip column providing her with too much fuel for the fire when it came to the two of them. "So, I think he'd doing just fine, right, Jonah?"

[drewkirke]

Drew grinned, swallowing the mouthful of food he had been chewing. Two plates down and he was still starving. Christmas was usually a four plate minimum, but that wasn't including dessert.

"Was this before or after the Holiday Party?" he asked, voice lower now.

His eyes flickered over to their parents and was happy to see they returned to their in depth conversation - which he could only guess was about laundry detergent or the proper vacuuming strategies for straight carpet lines.

[chase_em]

Jonah was halfway to his mouth with a forkful of vegetables when Drew's question registered. It hovered there in front of his lips briefly as he threw his cousin a look before taking the bite. He chewed, an annoyed look flickering across his face as he glanced back and forth between them.

"I don't know what you're talking about-" he said, calmly, trying to bring his face back to a neutral setting, ignoring the red flush creeping into the back of his neck. "Besides, weren't you busy yourself at the holiday party?"

A wry grin tugged at his lips. Jonah might have had his social insecurities with the general public but he'd never miss out on a proper comeback to a family member.

[drewkirke]

As guilty as Drew may have been a few days ago before his encounter with Mandy, now he only grinned. There was a very satisfied look on his face as he reached for another piece of turkey.

"Yeah, maybe I was-" he countered, pouring gravy over his plate. "But at least I remember taking Jemma home-"

He nudged his cousin gently, careful not to draw the attention of their parents.

[marloww]

"Oh- guys- gross-"

Marlow scrunched her nose, bringing her wine glass to her lips to distract herself from the thought of her brother and her cousin bringing women back to their flat... The one they shared...

She tilted her head tot he side.

"You didn't-" she paused, pursing her lips slightly. "Do you mean you both took them back to your place? Did you guys realizing what was happening at the time? That seems a little..."

Awkward.

[drewkirke]

"No, we didn't-" Drew told her as firmly as he could under the circumstances, brows furrowed.

It hadn't been like he planned it that way. After all, he had shown up to the party with Mandy - platonically. It wasn't' until the night was winding down that he found himself with Jemma at all.

Really, they hadn't realized anything until the following morning - thankfully.

"I wouldn't have- I mean, I have more decency than that," he said.

[chase_em]

"It was an odd coincidence-" Jonah said, his face wrinkling as he scrunched his face up a bit. The whole thing had been a bloody awkward nightmare, the way he and Ella danced around the whole subject while drinking their coffee.

He still wasn't entirely sure what came next for them, if anything at all.

"Mate, have you two talked since-" he trailed off, knowing his family being so present (and more than likely eavesdropping in some way).

[drewkirke]

He reached for his wine as he shook his head. It had been awkward enough asking Jemma to stay the night, knowing full well that she wasn't looking for anything more. Then, with the holidays, well - Drew just wasn't sure what to do.

"I ran into Mandy though-" he groaned before taking a good long sip of it. "I still can't figure her out."

[marloww]

Marlow frowned.

"I didn't realize you and Mandy were still-"

She didn't finish the sentence, not knowing quite how to phrase it. She had liked Mandy well enough when they were dating, though her odd friendship with Draco Malfoy always set off a dozen alarms in her head. Still, she was a sweet girl, considering.

"Are you still interested?"

[drewkirke]

"In Mandy?" he asked, refocusing on his older cousin.

Leave it to Marlow to hit the nail on the head. Truthfully, Drew had no idea what was going on with Mandy or what his feelings were trying to tell him. Up until their mistletoe kiss he thought she had moved on.

"I don't think Mandy is a good idea right now. We broke up for a reason," he told her, purposefully dodging the question.

While the war had been long over Drew still remembered their fight Dumbledor's Army. He couldn't stand behind her decision to side step the war when so many people needed their help.

[chase_em]

"I think that's a bloody good idea-"

Jonah had never really connected with Mandy. His own issues aside, he never quite trusted her, never really knew what her deal was. It was obvious she liked Drew but she also had a variety of friends that Jonah couldn't stand. Not to mention she was nowhere to be found during the War.

But he'd never really made that known until now.

"I don't think you two have- erm, grown in the same direction-" he said, then, before busying himself with the label on his beer bottle.

[drewkirke]

Drew threw his cousin a curious look, taken aback by his opinion but also grateful for the backup on the issue. It wasn't a secret that his mother still enjoyed having Mandy around and often invited her to these extended family dinners. It only made things worse for Drew, in the end, trying to sort out his feelings.

"We don't 'mesh'-" he said, using air quotes to emphasis a phrase he often heard Daphne using (and usually she was using it to explain her relationship with Mandy to Terry),

"I shouldn't have agreed to go to the ball with her. I don't know what I was thinking."