Bjorn stood in the doorway in the doorway to his home and just stared. He didn’t know what to make of the changes wrought to their family residence. Raven was perched on top of a step stool, one hand on their Murphy’s shoulder and the other holding a star shaped object she was attempting to apply to the top of a tree shaped structure. It wasn’t a tree exactly but it was clearly supposed to be a tree, if a tree was drawn by a toddler with her first piece of charcoal. 

Arriving just a few minutes after him, his beautiful Emori came to a stop beside him. He looked down and met her wide brown eyes. He shrugged a little uncertainly and went back to looking around their place. Shiny objects hung from corners, bright fabrics were draped along walls, and small fragile looking colourful bulbs seemed to be hanging next to pictures and dolls of a bearded man wearing a bright hat. Touching his own beard, Bjorn leaned down to murmur to Emori, “Is that supposed to be me?”

Emori looked up at him and shrugged, “I don’t know. Could be ... but you do not wear such hats.”

“Do they want me to?” Bjorn asked. It looked silly and a bit unnecessary given they were always indoors nowadays but if his people wanted him to wear a silly hat, he would wear a silly hat.  

Their softly spoken exchange was apparently noticeable enough to have their Raven and Murphy to turn around and look at them. Raven threw her hands wide in a sweeping gesture and fell from her precarious perch. Tumbling forward, Murphy caught her and set her to the floor. “I thought ravens had wings.” he joked as Bjorn lurched forward and then came to a stop when he realized his female was unharmed from her tumble.

“What ... what is this?” Emori asked, plainly curious. 

Raven just laughed and came forward, tipping her head up to receive a dusting kiss from Bjorn, as was their routine, before claiming Emori’s ungloved hand. “I was doing some math and figured out that it is officially, December. Meaning Christmas. So I thought that it would be fun to celebrate. Have a party! Exchange some gifts. Things like that. I’ve already talked to Harper and Bellamy so they’ll be bringing their families over for a celebration dinner. Bjorn, you might need to persuade Ivar’s family because none of them knew what we were talking about.” 

Bjorn glanced at Emori and then back up at the other two. Confusion was evident. Murphy finally asked, “Did you all just stop having Christmas?” 

“I think I read a book once that said something about Christmas but I didn’t understand what it meant so I didn’t finish reading it. I take it that it is some sort of event?” Bjorn replied, looking around the room again, “Featuring shiny objects?”

“Wow .... I didn’t think I would be the ghost of Christmas present ... who knew that was possible.” Murphy joked and Raven gave his arm a light swat, “More like the Grinch.” 

“What’s a Grinch?” Emori asked in some amazement, baffled by all of this. She could honestly say that she had never seen Murphy this excited about what seemed to be dinner and strange decorations. Approached Murphy, she tucked her head into his shoulder and whispered something but Bjorn couldn’t make it out. Leaving the other two to their conversation, he fixed his attentions on his Raven. 

“All right so this is a special day.” The Master murmured gently, leaning in to claim another gentle kiss from his Raven lips. “Tell me how we celebrate this special day.” he invited warmly.

Which was how, only a few short days later, every member of the family was stuffed into Bjorn’s family residence from the toddling Ruby to his sole remaining parent, his Mama. Murphy had a book open and was reading and to his amazement, everyone was silent. The book was called a Christmas Carol and it was apparently a story he knew extremely well. Murphy had explained that every year on his Christmas, his father had read him this story. 

The scene before him amazed the Healer. Cat was perched between Echo and Bellamy, who still tended to prickle at one another but had settled into a routine with their tiny but bold Master. Micah and Norah were curled up together in one comfortable chair while their daughter, Ruby, was sound asleep on Ivar’s chest as he laid stretched out on the floor by their feet.

Meanwhile Harper and Monty had foregone their typical teasing of Murphy and were listening with rapt attention. Ubbe, their Master, looked as slightly perplexed as Bjorn felt but with his Sofia tucked up next to him, seemingly engaged in the tale, he had no cause for objection. 

Meanwhile, Raven laid her head on Bjorn’s shoulder and just like that, he had no cause for objection either. His Mama was turning over the gift she had been given, a rather pretty scarf, in her hands, clearly pleased with the lovely present.

It had been a strange day. Gifts had been exchanged under the decorated fake trees (which Murphy assured him would be dismantled after the conclusion of the holiday). Then everyone had come over for a feast, bringing food and drink, although the main portions of the meal were prepared by Murphy. Murphy was the unexpected and enthusiastic ringleader. His dad was mentioned often so Bjorn suspected it was this feeling of family he was attempting to recapture. He watched the boy as he read. Emori, seated near him, appeared as fascinated by this version of her man as Bjorn happened to be. He hoped whatever Murphy had been looking for in this day had been found and if so, one Bjorn would be happy to celebrate every year. 

Bjorn loved his family dearly. They were prickly but they were his and he would not change one of them for anyone else.