Okay, I wanted to write something for the holidays but I haven't started the series with Rex in college. So this sort of takes place during winter break in college. I did mention that Rex and Caesar needs to introduce their friends to Abuela. When better than Christmas? Oh and Federico and Annie will be coming down as well. And where Annie goes Claire goes… so why not Noah too? It'll be an interesting family reunion… Warning: Mostly fluff! Hope you enjoy it.

I do not own.

"I can't wait for you to meet Abuela." Rex said excitedly to Circe.

"Sure." Circe smiled indulgently at Rex's child-like excitement.

"It'll be great. There'll be so much food… and the best Christmas tamales ever!" Rex said wiping drool off his chin.

"Christmas tamales?" Beverly asked.

"Tamales are traditionally made during festivals like Christmas. Abuela usually makes them year round but on Christmas she makes the special sweet ones." Caesar explained from the control seat of his Research Pod.

"And boy are they good!" Federico agreed. He looked over at Annie. "Thank you for coming." He said shyly.

"Oh, we don't celebrate Christmas. We do Hanukkah." Annie said.

"Lucky, you get 8 days of presents." Claire teased.

"Not really." Annie shrugged. "They start off pretty good but by the eighth day my folks get tired and I end up with socks or erasers."

"Well, at least that's something." Noah said. My parents had money trouble so one year they told me that Santa had broken his leg and couldn't make it down the chimney."

Circe listened to the different family stories and felt out of place. She never had a family to speak of and the holidays were always lonely for her. Even when she was apart of the Pack, they didn't celebrate anything.

Beverly noticed her friend was quiet. She walked over and sat next to her.

"You okay?" She asked softly.

Circe looked over with a wry smile. "Yeah, just holidays aren't my thing."

Beverly gave her a one arm hug. "Hey, it'll be fun okay? Four days of non-stop eating and fun? What's not to like?"

Circe nodded but didn't look convinced.

"Hey, you loved last year's Christmas." Beverly reminded her.

"You mean when we were almost arrested, attacked by a lizard creature, and busted the window of your parent's house?" Circe asked.

"Yeah, it was great!" Beverly exclaimed.

"What was great?" Caesar asked hearing the last of the conversation.

"Last year's Christmas." Beverly answered.

"Hey, if you thought last year was great, wait till this year!" Rex said gleefully.

Circe smiled. Rex's joy was infectious. Far be it from her to bring him down. "I'm sure it will be… fun."

"Fun?" Rex snorted. "Messing with White Knight's video feed is fun. This is going to be estupendo!"

"We're here." Caesar announced as everyone felt a jolt.

"Finally!" Rex said impatiently moving toward the exit. As he passed Annie, he suddenly tripped and sprawled on the floor.

"Rex, are you okay? What happened?" Beverly asked in surprise.

"I guess my laces got caught." Rex grumbled.

"Laces? You have on boots." Circe pointed out.

"Maybe I tripped over a bump." Rex did not want to say what he really thought, that Annie's luck was trying to kill him.

"What bump? The floor is as smooth as glass." Caesar commented.

"Whatever, clumsy then, I guess." Rex slowly edged away from Annie.

"Let me help you." Annie said helpfully getting up. She immediately hit her head on the bin above her head which jostled the luggage stored above. The bin's door opened and the luggage spilled onto a hapless Rex.

"Oww." Rex moaned from under the pile of suitcases.

0o0

Abuela was waiting with open arms to greet her favorite grandsons.

"Caesar! Rex! So good to see you both again. You look so skinny. Have you been eating?" She admonished them. "Federico, come my child. Let me look at you. You've grown since you've left."

"Hola, Abuela. Let me introduce you to my friend, Annie." Federico said putting a hand on Annie's back.

"Hello, Mrs… Um Abuela." Annie said hesitantly.

"Just Abuela, mi querida." She smiled. "Federico has told me so much about you."

"Abuela, this is Circe, my friend Noah and Claire." Rex shoved the three in front of Abuela. They smiled and waved stiffly. Abuela laughed warmly and hugged all three at the same time. "Ah, Rex's friends are always welcomed here."

Caesar cleared his throat nervously. "Abuela, I'd like you to meet Beverly." Beverly shyly waved. Abuela's eyes lit up. "Oh Beverly, bendito sea tu corazón! Nunca pensé que vería el día que mi pequeño científico traería a casa a una muchacha tan hermosa.*"

"Uh, thanks?" Beverly said hesitantly. To Caesar who was starting to blush, she asked in a whisper, "What did she say?"

"Nothing, nothing. She likes you." He said not looking at her.

Beverly was suspicious. She had learned a little Spanish but when people spoke quickly she had trouble following the conversation, something about a heart and pretty girl. She hoped it meant it was good.

"Come, come. I made a little snack." She ushered the women into her house. Turning to the boys, she said, "Bring the suitcases into the house. We will sort them later."

"I think this is going well." Rex nudged Caesar slyly.

"I hope Abuela doesn't embarrass me." He muttered.

"Hey, pay back for cabeza de trapo." Rex grinned wickedly.

"What's cabeza de trapo?" Noah asked.

"Nothing." Rex quickly said.

"Oh, Rex never told you that story?" Caesar asked nonchalantly.

"Bro, shut it." Rex hissed.

"Well, Noah when Rex was little…" Caesar said ignoring his brother's frantic motions.

Bendito sea tu corazón! Nunca pensé que vería el día que mi pequeño científico traería a casa a una muchacha tan hermosa.= Bless your heart! I never thought I would see the day my little scientist would bring home such a beautiful girl.