Chloe's POV

"Hey, Mom, do you think we can go to Vermont with Valentina, Alek, and Jasmine this time?"

You see, every Christmas, me and my mom would go to Vermont to this house my dad had owned and celebrate there. Maybe because it had reminded me of him, but I loved it there either way.

"Yeah, sure, I don't see the harm. Go ahead and ask them, "Meredith said.

"Thanks, Mom!" I yelled on my way out to Jazz's penthouse.

I ran all the way to Jasmine's penthouse and ran up the stairs trying to calm all my excitement down, and possibly the butterflies of seeing Alek. I was practically banging on their door once I reached 1803.

"Hey... Chloe? What are you doing here?" Alek asked clearly confused. He looked so adorable!

"What? You don't want me here?" I asked teasingly.

"No, it's not that, I'm just a little surprised. I knew you wanted me, but not that much that you would come knocking down this door like a gorilla that has just been stolen of his banana," Alek said cockily. His joke really sucked though.

I rolled my eyes at his cockiness. "Whatever, Alek. I have better things to do than put up with… this… Where is Jasmine?" I asked annoyed.

"In her room, why?"

"Come on, I have something to discuss with you guys. Oh and tell Valentina to come, too."

"Okay….."

Page Break

"Hey, Chloe" Jasmine said putting down her book.

"Hey, Jazz! Come into the living room, we have something to talk about," I said enthusiastically

"What? What happened? Are you okay? Did someone attack you? What did Alek do?" Jasmine asked suddenly on alert.

I laughed. "You seriously need to chill this winter break and just have some fun, come on, let's go out to the living room," I said.

I walked out into the living room and sat down in the middle next to Alek and Jasmine.

"So, guys, I wanted to ask you if all of you would like to go with me and my mom to Vermont to this house we have there to hang out for winter break," I said happily hoping that they would be able to come. I looked at Valentina hoping for a yes or something along those lines to come out of her mouth.

"Well, I guess, Jasmine and Alek don't really get to do anything for Christmas. And plus they won't be able to protect you if you're in another state, so why not?" Valentina said smiling a bit.

"YES! Thanks! I love hanging with my mom, but sometimes I wish I had friends there too, oh and this time, Amy and Paul are going too." I said jumping for joy and hugging them all. "So we are leaving tomorrow morning, we'll come and pick you up and we will head to the airport. Valentina, you will need to get tickets." I ordered.

I heard Alek groan at hearing Paul and Ames was going to be there as well, but when I turned around he was smiling.

"No need for tickets, tell your mom to return them, I have a private plane that can take us all to Vermont, just tell your friends to meet us here at 8 am sharp." Valentina ordered.

"Okay! Hey, Jasmine, do you think I could hang out here for a while?"

"Of course!" Jasmine got up to give me a hug.

"Kay, let me just call my mom first."

Ringgg Ringggg Ringggg

"King residence," Mom said on the other end of the phone.

"Hey, mom I'm going to hang with Jazz for a while, I'll be back before 11," I said.

"Okay, Chloe. Be safe."

Wow. I never heard her agree to anything so quickly before. I ran into the kitchen to get a bottle of water, when I bumped into Alek's chest. I almost fell onto my butt, but a pair of strong muscled arms held me up. I looked up. Straight into the eyes of Alek. All of a sudden, he let me go, and this time, I fell onto my butt. I gave Alek a dedath glare, he was laughing hysterically at my expense. My glare intensified and he stopped laughing and flinched.

He helped me get up and we sat on the couch in an awkward silence. I finally asked him a question to fill the weird silence.

"Soooooo… What do you do for Christmas with Valentina?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing really. We just get each other gifts." He said. I found that really sad. I know Valentina is busy but couldn't she just give up one day to give these two some family time? They probably train on Christmas, too.

"Oh, well, it is kind of sad. Well, this time, it's going to be different. We hang up decorations and listen to Christmas songs. At dinner, we share what we are thankful for." I explained to Alek.

"Oh, that sounds fun," He stated awkwardly.

Page Break (They are on the plane already)

Jasmine's POV

"We're here!" Meredith shouted.

We had lots of fun on the plane ride. Telling stories, Alek and his cocky remarks. But we had finally arrived at the house. It was redish brown on the outside and the windows were painted white. There is a great big oak tree in the front of the house.

"Well, let's go and get settled inside guys," says Valentina.

"Alek, Paul, you guys can take the guest bedroom next to Chloe's there are two bed in there. Amy and Jasmine, you can use Chloe's room with her, there are also two beds in there, two of you will have to share. Valentina, there is a room for you next to the bathroom," Meredith announces. "Go to your rooms and unpack and dinner's at 6!"

Alek's POV

Everyone leaves to go to their rooms to unpack and is ready in the next hour. They decided to watch a movie to pass the time. I go into the kitchen and offer to help with dinner, and Meredith accepts. We have some small talk until Meredith drops the bomb question.

"You like my daughter don't you, Alek," Meredith stated more than questioned. I froze for a minute. I thought of an answer that probably won't get me into some deep doo doo.

"I… uh… you see… well, yeah… I do," I stuttered. Meredith was grinning like crazy. I asked her what? And all she said was nothing.

Meredith's POV

In my head, I was creating a plan to get Chloe and Alek together. At first I honestly didn't like Alek, but I saw the way he looked at Chloe. Like he would do anything for her even die. I has never seen Chloe look this happy ever since her dad left. With Alek though, she's smiling ear to ear. Like she could take on the world. Bring peace to everyone and everything.

"Chloe!" I yelled. Alek gave me a look as if saying 'don't you dare tell her anything'. I just looked at him and shrugged with a little smirk playing on my lips. They heard Chloe coming down the stairs and had gone back to work as if nothing happened.

"Yes, mom?" Chloe asked.

"Could you and Alek go to the market real quick and buy some veggies, I know we have some, but not enough, and buy whatever else you guys want," I said quickly while also calculating how long they will be gone so I can tell the others the plan I came up with.

"Sure. Come on, Alek. Let's go before the market closes," Chloe said taking a glance at Alek shyly. As soon as I heard the door close, I turned off the boiling water to wait for the two lovebirds to come back with the veggies so I can cook them. I dashed out to the living room where Jasmine, Amy, Paul, and Valentina were.

Amy's POV

Jazz and I were just talking about how cute Chloe and Alek would look together. We were just about to devise a plan when Meredith came running in with a mischief smirk on. We all looked at her quizzically. She was grinning widely now. All of a sudden she stated something that had made me know what she was talking about. She said:

Time to start plan Chalek!

Meredith, Jasmine, Valentina, Paul, and I had all devised a plan to make chalek happen.

All of a sudden, Chloe and Alek came back, laughing their heads off. I'm 100% sure that everyone in the plan chalek was either grinning or smiling at these two. Alek and Chloe turned their heads over in our direction and looked at us weirdly. Probably because of the smiles plastered on our faces. Ahhhh, they look so cute together!

Page Break

We were all at the dinner table. Helping each other to reach food, helping to fill each other's plate. Meredith cleared her throat trying to get our attention. All she said was "Chloe, would you like to start?" We all gave them confused looks. They just laughed.

"It's this thing that we do. Every Christmas, when we have dinner on our first night here, we would tell each other what we are thankful for. Then we choose the next person. And yes, mom, I would love to go first," she told them and her mom politely. "I'm thankful for the new friends I made, Alek and Jasmine, for always being there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on. I'm thankful for Valentina; she's like my mentor and second mother. Amy, Paul, and my mom, for forgiving me and loving me through all my faults."

We smiled.

Jasmine's POV

"Jasmine, your turn," Chloe said.

"I'm thankful for finding friends as good as you guys. I'm thankful for Alek, being the best cousin he can be. Cheering me up when I'm going through some rough patches. Always being there when I needed him most. He maybe cocky and annoying sometimes, but I'm soooooo thankful he is like that otherwise my life would probably be as dead and boring as the underworld itself (Sorry about the little comparison to greek mythology. I just love it).I'm thankful for my mom, for watching over me and protecting me. I'm thankful for this moment, right here, right now." Alek, sitting right next to me, gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Mom, how about you give it a shot?" I asked.

Valentina's POV

"First off, I'm thankful for my beautiful and amazing daughter. I hope you know that I'm proud of you, and I know I don't say this enough, but I do love you." She looked like she was glowing with happiness. "Second, I am grateful for having a wonderful nephew. For being there for Jasmine when I couldn't be." I said giving them a sad smile. "I'm thankful for Chloe, Amy, and Paul, for being friends with Jasmine. You guys are like my own kids. And Meredith, for inviting me and my family here. And for taking care of such a beautiful young lady that makes my kids so very happy. Meredith, why don't you go next?"

"Sure, and thank you, you did quite a good job yourself," was her reply.

Meredith's POV

I was amazed at all that Valentina had said. It was my turn next, maybe I can do just as good as her's.

"I'm most thankful for Chloe, my amazing, pretty daughter," I was sitting next to Alek, I heard him mumble and I quote "I'll say. Amazing and pretty must be the biggest understatement ever. Try gorgeous or beautiful." I smiled at that. "I'm thankful for Amy, Paul, Jasmine, and Alek, for being there for her when she needed someone to talk to when I wasn't there. For being good friends. And Valentina, thank you for raising such good children. Some parents just don't know how to raise their kids these days. Alek, would you like to go?"

"Yes, I'd love to," He said in that British voice that not even I could resist.

Alek's POV

"I'm thankful for Jasmine. You have always been there for me from the start. Giving me space when I needed it, being the center and holding on to me when I was being pulled in one hundred other directions. For being my solid rock that I will as I have from the start, need forever." She was crying now, tears of joy, in her eyes. "Chloe. You, Chloe are one of a kind. You're so full of life. Valentina, I'm thankful for you. You took me in when I was a little boy, out on the streets by myself. Not knowing who I was. Amy and Paul, for being my friends even though you guys annoy me to no end! Meredith, I kind of see you like my friend…. I guess I should say. Thanks for the compliments, and for inviting me. Amy, it's your turn." I said to the people I considered my family.

Amy's POV

"I am so very thankful for my best friends Chloe and Paul. For being my best friends and not judging me" I said looking at Alek with a glare. As if I haven't heard him and his jocko friends call me 'Crazy Amy'. "Momma King, for acting like a mother to me, because I only have dads, two to be exact. And sometimes I can't say what I want with them. I'm thankful for my new friend Alek, and probably soon to be best friend Jasmine. And of course to all of you, I consider you guys my family, and my two dads; they are like a second family. You guys, all are my family." I speeched them. They looked happy, and that's all I ever wanted. "Paul, your last to go!"

Paul's POV

"I'm thankful for my girlfriend, Amy. For being her and not trying to be someone she's not. For Chloe, for well, being Chloe, funny, energetic, and happy. Alek, and Jasmine, for being my friend even though I 'Annoy you to no end'" They laughed at that, especially when I put quotation marks around it. "Meredith for being my second mother, and helping to take care of me. You guys are my second family too; I spend almost all of my time with you guys. Okay! Time to eat!" They began to eat, talk, and laugh. I smiled to myself, this is the family that I know and love.