Zhenya looked at him with a smile, "What's so funny? She sleeps on my bed with me, and keeps my toes warm, but she decided this morning she would use my face as a scratch toy," Zhenya said. Just then, she heard a purr as her cat rubbed past her legs.

Dima? "Oh I apologised to him last night after I left your room," she said happily. She was glad, because it wasn't good fighting with him, especially during Christmas. There was no way she could have slept without hearing an apology from him, and saying one back. "We're okay now. I don't think... we will be sharing each others secrets to our mother again though." She still trusted him, of course, it was all in the heat of the moment. Hopefully now that her family had met Gary they.... more specifically her brother wouldn't tease her as much.

She did what she was told with a small smile on her face. She kept her eyes closed until she felt his lips against hers. Before he could move away she wrapped her arms around his neck and kept kissing him, before everyone woke up. As she opened her eyes and saw him she said "Thanks for coming over, Gary... I... I...." but she couldn't tell him. She was way WAY too scared to tell him the truth. Instead she felt at her neck and looked at it. "I love... it," she said, her smile spreading further up her cheeks. She was about to say... you... but couldn't. She wanted to though.

annoying brother has coming! *evil*
 

"Well, I suppose you're a bit lucky. She only scratched you cheek, right? I couldn't imagine if she peed on you." okay, he couldn't stop laughing now. That would be very funny if she did it and saw his girlfriend murmured around. But.. better if the cat didn't do it otherwise she would be very bad tempered in a long day. Gary listened to her story about Dima and her. Glad to know that they're okay. He realized that her brother just wanted to tease them.

The blonde guy just let her kissed him. Oh man, his girlfriend was such a good kisser. Hehehe. Glad to know that people in this house was still aslept, so he didn't feel shy about that. Ugh, why did he feel like his heart beat faster than before? He just smiled when she realized about the pendant. "I'm glad that you like it." He gave her a big hug and kissed her forehead.

GOOD MORNING! AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dimitri just woke up and yawned loudly. He was very hungry and his stomach started to grumble. Quickly he washed his face and brushed his teeth then he walked downstairs with his pyjamas. Perhaps he could find something to eat. Realizing that it was very quiet, he wondered if everyone was still in their bed or left him alone at the house. While he was dragging himself to the kitchen, suddenly he spotted a boy and a girl.

They were Zhenya and her boyfriend, Gary.

And they were KISSING!

WOOT!

He managed himself to be silent, didn't make any sound to surprise them. Dimitri just stayed there, watched them. If he had a camera in his hand right now, maybe he had taken their pictures and given to them as a good christmas present. Hehehe. Merlin! He just realized that his 13-year-old sister was a good kisser! Wow. She'd grown up much, right?

But suddenly, when he enjoyed this 'romantic scene' he felt dust flew into his nose and make him sneezing.

"ACHOOOO!"

Stupid dust.

She loved it! She would wear it every day, along with her puzzle piece.

She was loving the moment, just looking into Gary's eyes when she jumped. WHOSNEEZED? Her eyes were wiiiiiiiiiiide as she spun around and saw her brother. She narrowed her eyes at him and let her hands fall to her side. Well... so much for their alone moment. At least she had SOME time with her boyfriend before her brother ruined their moment.

She ran towards him and jumped on him, giving him a hug. "MERRY CHRISTMAS BROTHER!" she yelled with a laugh. She let go of him and walked into the kitchen where she cracked some eggs into a pan and made toast for the three of them for breakfast.

Gary just smiled when he saw his girlfriend loved it. Just a moment before he wanted to give her a kiss, suddenly he heard someone was sneezing.

............

BLOODY MERLIN.

Who was that? Was it one of her parents, or Dima or Archer? OHMYGOD! PLEASE don't say that the person had watched them kissing! Or he would be embarassed so much. Then he saw Dimitri was there.. still wearing his pyjamas. At least he felt a bit relief, though he need to do something to close his BIG mouth or he spoiled about their kiss to Alex and Lisa.

"Merry christmas, Dima." said him cool. Pretended that there's nothing happened before. Then quickly he whispered. "Do NOT tell your parents or I will PUNCH you." with a cold tone as usual and showed his fist. Of course he was not serious. "I'm kidding actually, Dima. Well, by the way.." He whispered."Your sister is such a good kisser." he smirked.

OH NO.

...............................

Dimitri just hoped that his sister wouldn't get mad of him anymore. It was accidentally, right? He didn't think that he stalked them (though actually he'd like to do that :evil:) He watched her came toward and hugged him. Oh good, she didn't get mad. "Merry christmas too, Zhenny." he whispered. He let her walked to the kitchen and noticed that Gary walked closer to him. "You too...." and.. "WHAT?" the 20-year-old guy just shocked when he saw Gary showed his fist and threatened him. "Well... okay." he nodded. Huh, he just kidding about that? Dimitri thought he was serious! "but don't worry. I won't tell anyone about your smooch with my little sister." he winked.

His eyes widened when he heard Gary whispered something about his sister? She's a good one? Seriously? Dimitri just chuckled. "I thought so. I don't know where she'd learned that." said him. Then he walked to the kitchen and helped her preparing breakfast.

Hahahahaha
 

Zhenya could hear the two men talking about something, but she chose to ignore it. Whatever it was, she decided that today would be a HAPPY day! She saw Dimitri come and try to help her with breakfast, so she kicked her leg out and said "Bugger off out of my way," with a small giggle at the end. Nope, she wanted to make breakfast for them today. She served up eggs, scrambled, poached and fried, with loads of toast, juice, tea and coffee, at the table and served herself a plate.

"Help yourself guys," she said.

Clearing her throat she said "So... Dima, tell me, how have mother and father been this year? How have Ava and Theo been? I haven't even seen them grow up." she was sad that she saw them and they looked so much bigger than when she left. She missed them growing up and smiling and giggling.

She looked between her boyfriend and her brother and smiled. She was so glad they seemed to be able to joke around together. She would have hated it if they couldn't at least try to be friends. But they seemed to do it pretty well. Even last night, the teasing. Who could have teased her in front of Gary if they didn't like him?

"Ouch!" Why she didn't want him to help her to serve breakfast, huh? Dimitri just realized that.. Zhenya had changed alot. So, the 20-year-old guy just watched her and sat at a stall. But glad to know that she looked happier today. If he remembered the drama that happened last night.. Ugh. He pulled a stall next to and let Gary sat there. "I think she tried to impress you. Gary." said him in low voice, so she couldn't hear them. "She really changed alot since summer."

Then he watched her served the breakfast. It looked so delicious. He took scrambled eggs, put some butter on his toast and eat them. "Mmm..." and why suddenly she started to ask about their parents? He wondered. "They're fine." said him while he was still busy munching his toast. "Well, I think Ava and Theo started to show their magical ability." Then he sipped his tea and suddenly he thought that..

"So, today you want to act like a good wife for Gary, huh?" he started to tease her. Because she served them with breakfast today, just liked their mom.

Gary just chuckled when he saw she kicked her brother. It reminded him when they met each other at the first time and she also kicked him there.

Ah, Memories

Time flew so fast, eh?

Then he sat next to Dimitri and listened him about his sister. She tried to impress... him? Really? "I think so." The blonde guy just smiled. He didn't know if Zhenya had changed alot since they just met this year. But.. she was different than at the first time they met. Hehehe. As his girlfriend served the breakfast, Gary took poached eggs and some toast. "Mmmm..." he really enjoyed the breakfast. How couldn't he enjoy this because the person who served it is someone who he loved. Hehehe.

He took the juice pitch and poured it to himself. When he drank it, suddenly Dimitri started to speak about him and Zhenya who acted like a good wife for him. Accidentally he spurted out his juice to Dima. He was SHOCK to hear him!

"Ah! Sorry sorry.."

WHAT'S ON HIS HEAD TO SAY THAT?

He was just 15 and his girlfriend was 13. Too far to think about that right now!

Zhenya just poked her tongue out at Dimitri who said ouch. She tried not to laugh, otherwise she might drop her food.

Oh, they're showing their magical ability? And she was missing it? "Oh that's too bad. Maybe I'll take one of them back to Hogwarts," she said jokingly. "No I wouldn't ever want to do that." At least she would be able to see one of them grow up, but she had no idea how to take care of a baby. So that was a bad, bad, BAD idea.

She was eating all of her food when she inhaled from shock. What did he just say? Wife? She started coughing to stop herself from choking, and when she cleared the food from her throat she gawked at her brother, then started laughing when she saw Gary spit his juice onto him. It was so funny! Take that Dimitri Burton! "WHAT?" she yelled at Dimitri. No, she didn't want to get married now! She didn't have the first desire to TRY and be a wife now. IF the time ever came, she would be older and more able to do the wife things her mother did. Like.. cleaning, and cooking other meals except breakfast, and taking care of her children.

"You think that Mom will allow you to take them? NEVER!" said him joking. Dimitri knew that their mother NEVER let her to do that. She loved the twins so much and.. Well, sometimes he thought that she almost abandoned her older children. That's not a problem for Dima, he was mature enough, 20 years old was SO much mature enough right? But his sister.. She really need mother's role to pass her puberty phase.

Dimitri couldn't stop laughing when he teased her about being a wife but suddenly...

"BLOODY HELL!" How dare Gary could spurted out the juice to him? Luckily, the 20-year-old guy was still in his pyjamas. But he didn't get mad to her boyfriend. "Oh.. That's okay." said him cool. After he had finished his breakfast, Dimitri decided to leave them. "I'll take shower first. And Zhenny, maybe you could wake our parents up now."


Gary couldn't stop laughing. "Once again, sorry brother." said him. But he couldn't stop to laugh. That's so funny! The blonde guy let him to leave them.. again. Actually he was glad, but suddenly Gary felt awkward, especially when Dima started to tease her about being a good wife for him.

Was she? Really?

Holy crap! You were still young, Gerald! You were too young to think about that.

He just smiled to his girlfriend. Once he had finished his breakfast, the blonde guy put all the dishes to the sink. "You don't need to think about his statement before. It's just a joke." said him. He need to write on his mind. Never thought about what Dimitri Burton had said before. Hehehe. "Well, I just wanted to say sorry about last night." he said as he pulled a stall and sat next to her. Especially about himself, his mother. Gary didn't mean to keep that secret from her but.. Well, he just didn't want to see her sad again about that.

Zhenya poked her tongue out at her brother. Of course she wouldn't be able to take the babies to Hogwarts, but honestly even if she DID she would want to send it back home. It would keep her up and never let her concentrate on her studies... yeah, best to go back alone.

She watched as he left and shook her head. She wasn't going to wake them. If they wanted to keep secrets from her then that was fine.

She smiled at Gary and said "I know it's just a joke. He's a bit of a joker that one. Always saying stuff like that." She laughed again, "Good job about spitting your juice onto him though. Maybe that will teach him." And then he moved next to her and she looked up into her eyes. Her smile vanished but only to keep it serious. "It's okay Gary. Last night was all a bit crazy. I'm sorry too," she said.

After a while she heard one of the babies cry. Oh great... She grabbed Gary's hand and pulled him up the stairs and down the corridor to the nursery. She opened the door and saw that it was Theo that was crying in his bed. She reached in and took him out and wrapped him tightly in a blanket. "Did you get to see the babies last night?" she asked. She wondered if Gary liked babies or not...

Sorry it's late
 

Laura looked at Zhenya and giggled. "Oh me and Daddy are going to take it in the sea, where going to see if we can get it from here to France and if we can then we are going to go even further." Laura couldn't wait. "He's got time off work so we can do it, as long as were back within a week, which will be easy." Laura couldn't wait for the trip.

Laura smiled. "I have it's going to be called the Jollywood." Laura giggled, "I really like that name." Laura smiled at Zhenya. "Nope the first test is when we go on this trip, it's going to be funny though and were sure it wouldn't sink but if you don't hear from me then you'll know we've had problems." Laura and her daddy like jumping head first into things there wasn't anytime for testing.

Did.... Did Gary just.. no... yes? Ask if her brother was right? Was he... no... She shook her head at him with a small smile on her face. No, surely he wasn't serious. But she wanted to freak him out a bit... could she? Was he really serious? "Are you asking me to marry you, Gary Rush?" she asked him. And she was able to withhold her smile or laughs. Of course she was joking but she was showing no signs of a joke on her face. Would he freak out?

Upstairs in the nursery Throdore had put his hand against Zhenya's cheek. "Aww you're hungry," Zhenya said. And then... Ava started to wriggle and reach out. If Zhenya kept her there, she knew she would start crying. Ugh... She turned to Gary and held Theodore out, "Can you hold him?" she asked, thinking this shall be interesting.


"TO FRANCE? Oh wow, that's awesome. Bring me back some bread if you get there, and... well if you ever make it to Russia make sure you stop off. It's where I was born," she said proudly. She wished she could go there. "And if you DO make it to Russia, then that's where you can take me one day."
"Jollywood? I like that name. Oh I hope it doesn't get a leak or anything. Is your dad a muggle? Well... Maybe I'll get my owl to keep an eye on you. If you start to... er... have troubles then she will let me know and... we can figure out a plan of action," she decided.

Laura looked at Zhenya and smiled. "Yeah to France." Laura couldn't wait to go there. "Were leaving this afternoon, I want to know if you wanted to come but your ill so you can't, I don't want you getting a cold or worse." Laura sighed. "I just wanted to say bye incase anything did go wrong not that I'm expecting it to happen."

Laura giggled at Zhenya's next question. "I'm half and half, but was brought up like a muggle my parents didn't want us to know about Hogwarts or magic, they were hoping we wouldn't get the letter, I have no clue which is the muggle and which is magic, I've never asked them to find out." Laura laughed, "Maybe i'll ask them soon." Laura really needed to find out. "Your owl should stay here with you, if you get worse tell it to come and find me and I can come back as quick as I can."

Laura turned away from Zhenya for a few seconds before turning back. "If the boat makes it to France, the next trip will be to Russia then." Laura would love to take Zhenya there but well she wasn't keen on going herself, "Anyway fake sister, you have to come on a trip soon, were fake sisters." Laura smiled, they had sort of addopted each other.

"Woooooooooow. That's awesome! Have you ever been to France before? And worse... I suppose I could drown or get pneumonia or something," she laughed. That would definitely be worse than what she has. Could be the flu... or just a cold. Whatever it was, it was annoying. She pushed Laura and crossed her arms, frowning. "Laura don't say that! Nothing will go wrong. Do noooooot say goodbye," she said. She already had one friend with cancer, she wasn't going to let her other best friend drown or get washed away.

Her eyes widened. She didn't know which parent was magic? "Wow that must be weird. What one do you think it is? As if they didn't want you to know about magic. Magic is awesome, and so is Hogwarts. I'd want to talk about it ALL the time!" Well, she didn't know much about Hogwarts when she was growing up because she was raised in Russia, so she knew a lot about the Russian school... She smiled at Laura and said "Maybe I'll write you letters every day and she can deliver them and let me know how you are. And that way you'll know how I am." It was a great suggestion. She would be really scared knowing Laura was out in the ocean in a boat she had built herself.

He is freaking out now! Lol
 

Zhenya could have rolled on the ground laughing, but she kept her poker face on and said "Well... okay then." As she turned her back on Gary she let a small smile escape. It was fun freaking her boyfriend out. "I... I suppose we are a bit young. I mean... I'm only 13 I should... wait a bit. We should wait," she said, returning to her serious face. She just wanted to laugh and laugh and laugh but she wanted to freak him out eeeeeeeven more!

She picked up Ava and looked over at Gary and laughed. "Are you okay? Have... you ever held a baby before?" She rocked Ava in her arms and gestured for Gary to follow her back down to the lounge room. She turned around when they were at the top of the stairs and said "Are you okay to walk down with him?"

Wait...

Was she serious about marriage? Oh man. Gary had never thought about that before. But he just laughed again. "Yeah.. I mean.. Yes. We are still young. Maybe around 10-20 years later?" said him kidding. WHYDIDSHEASKHIMABOUTHATHUH?

He wanted to punch Dimitri's face right now. Because he started to talk about this right.

Now, could they stop talking about that? Though his face looked calm inside he was freaking out and nervous. His heart didn't stop beating fast.. It was good, right? Because it mean that he was still alive.

"Eh?" Holding baby? "Well, I had. But it was when my cousins were still babies." Then he just followed his girlfriend to go downstairs. You could manage it, Gerald.

10 years... sure, but 20? OH NO HE DIDN'T! She just looked at him for a moment before saying "Y... you want to marry me when you're... 35?" But... that was SO old!

She just had to take a moment from her own joking to think about what he had said. 20 years? 20 YEARS? She would be 33 then, and that was old. She was hoping to start retiring around that age, not getting married. WHOA!

Breathe....

She smiled as he was holding Theo. It was sweet. When she was downstairs she sat on the couch with Ava.

Lisabel woke up and looked at the alarm. It was 10.00? Nobody had woken her! She quickly got dressed and crossed to the nursery but... there was nobody there. She heard talking downstairs and walked down to find the babies were with Zhenya and Gary. huh? She raised her eyebrows, surprised that Gary was holding a baby.
"Good morning you two, and Merry Christmas!" she said, giving them both a kiss on their foreheads, and picking her two babies from them. She walked them to the kitchen where she gave them their bottles and put them in their rocker chairs.

Zhenya watched her mother disappear into the kitchen with the two babies, and looked back over to Gary. She was still half giggling in her head about marrying him. Gosh, she would have a heart attack if this was a serious conversation. She moved across to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

Zhenya sucked in a loud breath, he needed to think about marrying her? She punched him jokingly in the arm and smiled, saying "Gary you'd be lucky to have a wife like me! I'm an amazing cook, you know." It was true, she was quite a catch. But it just so happened that Gary was quite a catch too. Although she was having a lot of fun teasing him, she was secretly a bit puzzled by the turn of conversation. Marriage? Uh.. she just wasn't sure what he was saying. Was he serious? Joking?.... did it even matter? That bloody brother of hers. Next time she saw him... well she would kick him.

He laughed, which made her laugh. Damn you Gary! Zhenya knew she was going to have more fun if he didn't start laughing, but now she was laughing. From the fact that it was funny, ridiculous, and he was having fun teasing her too.

She relaxed against him as he stroked her hair and hummed. She was secretly relieved no more serious marriage discussions. She was only thirteen, after all, and she didn't even think about marriage. Unlike some of the muggle girls she knew. They were weird. "Sooooo what makes you feel relaxed?" she asked. She couldn't stroke his hair, because his was short.

Sleeping? She smiled at him and said "Well DUH! But I mean... when you're awake and stressed." She heard creaking upstairs and saw her father come down the stairs. He looked so tired. Why didn't he just take some time alone from the babies and just sleep? "Merry Christmas Dad," she said. Was he angry at her about last night?

Alexander spotted the two kids on the couch when he walked down, and smiled at them. "Merry Christmas kids," he said. He walked straight through to the kitchen to make himself and Lisabel breakfast.

Now everyone was up. Ugh. No more alone time with him. She just looked at him and smiled.