**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

Comments

[daphne_x]

In many ways Daphne felt more comfortable at the Kirke-Boot residence than she ever did at The Greengrass Manor. Besides the food being absolutely delicious, the dinner table conversation was warm and enjoyable rather than polite and tense. It still amazed her how Terry's father and stepmother had opened up their home to her when she had lost her own. They insisted she join them for every holiday and family gathering and Daphne hadn't refused.

"Mrs. Boot, really I can't eat anymore," Daphne insisted, placing a hand on her perfectly flat, yet stuffed to capacity, stomach. Her plate had been filled with turkey, mashed potatoes, and sautéed greens.

"How many times have I told you to call me Catherine?" she told her, scooping another pile of potatoes onto Daphne plate anyway.

She knew better to refuse her twice and just laughed. Daphne placed a hand on Terry's knee from under the table and smiled over at him.

[allaboot_terry]

"You'd better start listening to her, Daph," Terry winked at Catherine, his hand reflexively touching her knee in reply. "It's part of our relationship agreement," he added matter-of-factly, looking at her with a serious face.

[daphne_x]

"Well, I suppose I've fought to keep the formality long enough," Daphne mused, smiling from Terry to Catherine.

"It might take me a few visits to get into the habit."

[allaboot_terry]

Terry let a grin loose, scooping more of Catherine's potatoes onto his plate. He could already feel the jog he would need to take in the morning to cancel it all out, but it was more than definitely worth it. "No more formalities, you're family." The last piece was a bit quiet, but firm. He gave Daph a kiss on the cheek before returning to his plate.

[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?"