So in the spirit of Christmas, I decided to start a Christmas story. This will be a series of one-shots. This first one is about Mirta. I decided to do a story focusing on Mirta because not many stories are written about Mirta and she's one of my favorite minor characters. I know it's kind of long, but the others probably won't be as long as this one.

Well read and let me know what you all think.

~aquariawinx6~

Christmas with the In-Laws

Nervous couldn't even begin to describe the way that Mirta felt. Maybe terrified, no petrified, or better yet, scared witless was a better description.

It was the holidays, Mirta's favorite time of year, and she was going to be spending it with the love her life, her fiancé, Chase. Unfortunately that also meant she would be spending time with her in-laws. She'd had the opportunity to meet them over the summer. They were supposed to stay for the weekend, but the trip had been cut short. Chase's mother hadn't exactly played the role of the hospitable host. She picked on Mirta every chance she got. After the first day Mirta begged Chase to take her back home and she hadn't been back to visit since.

"Relax I talked to my mom." Chase said placing his hand on Mirta's, without taking his eyes off the road. "She promised to be on her best behavior."

"I'm sure she did."

Chase could tell by her tone of voice she wasn't all too convinced. "She just needs to get to know you like I do. Once she gets to know you she'll love you."

If only it were that simple. No amount of charm could win her over. Chase's mother hated her. It was because she was a witch. Even still in this day and age witches are still very misunderstood and discriminated against. Most people didn't show their dislike for witches openly, but Chase's mother had no problem voicing her dislike for them.

"We could always turn around. We can celebrate Christmas just the two of us." Mirta looked into Chase's warm brown eyes hoping he would agree.

"They're expecting us, and Callie has been looking forward to seeing you again." Callie is Chase's younger sister, the only person in Chase's family that actually liked Mirta.

Mirta sighed to herself. There was no getting out of this. Originally she'd thought it would be a good idea to come and try and get to know Chase's family better, but now that they were only minutes away from the house, Mirta wasn't so sure anymore, and was moments away from having a panic attack.

That was it! A panic attack! She could definitely fake one. Once Chase saw how bad she was freaking out he'd definitely turn the hover car around and take the both of them back home, but after seeing the look of excitement on his face when he talked about his family, she realized she couldn't do that. Chase hadn't seen his family in months. For the next week she would just have to suck it up and take whatever Chase's mom threw her way.

"Here we are." Chase said pulling into the driveway. Looking up Mirta saw the three story bungalow styled house Chase called home. During their last visit it had been mid July and very warm out, and the flower bed out front had been filled with tulips. Since it was December now the ground was covered in snow and the exterior of the house was decorated for Christmas with Christmas lights all along the porches railing. It looked like a photo you would find on a Christmas card.

Chase's mom must have been watching out for them in the front room, because the moment they pulled up in the driveway she came running out the door and pulled Chase into a tight embrace. "Oh Chasey poo!" She exclaimed. Mirta watched as Chase's face turned beat red in embarrassment. "Have you been eating well? You look sickly." She began scrutinizing his figure.

"I eat just fine mom. Mirta's a wonderful cook." Chase's mom snapped her head in Mirta's direction. She gave Mirta a once over and then after what felt like hours of silence she finally spoke.

"Mirta," She said with a raised brow.

Mirta assumed that was her way of greeting her. "Lydia," She said in response, her greeting just as frigid as was Lydia's. However, Lydia didn't notice. She had already turned back to Chase.

"I made your favorite, lasagna with bread sticks and apple pie for dessert." Chase's mom said linking her arms in his and leading him into the house. "Don't bother with the luggage I'll send your brothers out to get them." She said before Chase could protest.

Mirta followed behind them, as she grumbled to herself. It was only a week. Surely she could survive the week. She watched as Chase and Lydia entered through the front door, and cursed to herself as the door was slammed in her face, which was no doubt Lydia's doing. She quickly regained her temper and then let herself in through the door.

Upon entering the door she saw Chase's twelve and thirteen year old brothers Miles and Hunter sitting in front of the TV, eyes glued to the screen with controllers in hand. They were deeply immersed in some video game and by the looks of it Hunter was beating Miles.

"Hey," Mirta said waving at the two boys. The two boys flashed Mirta an annoyed look, showing that they weren't happy about being interrupted from their game and after seeing it was only Mirta they went back to playing their game.

"Now I know you heard her say hello." Mirta looked up to see Callie standing at the foot of the stairs. "Show some manners and say hello." She said reprimanding her two younger brothers. After giving their sister the dirtiest look they could muster, the two boys gave a reluctant hello and then once again turned back to their video game.

"Hunter! Miles!" Lydia called the boys names from the kitchen. The boys groaned in response. "Go get Chase's bags from the car!" The boys didn't dare disobey their mother's orders, and quickly got up from where they sat, donned their winter coats and boots and trudged out in the snow to retrieve Chase's luggage.

"It's good to see you again." Callie said pulling Mirta into a hug. "Chase said he was bringing you but I thought you might chicken out." And she nearly had, but she had to do this for Chase. "I hope you've prepared yourself for this. Mom isn't gonna go easy on you at all for the next week."

At that bit of news Mirta groaned. This was bound to be the worst Christmas ever!

…

"But didn't you see the look she kept giving me all through dinner!" Mirta shouted, her tone was almost hysterical.

"Mirta she was not giving you any kind of look. Now don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit?" She was definitely not overreacting. Ever since their arrival, Lydia had gone out of her way to make Mirta feel uncomfortable.

"No Chase, I'm not overreacting. Your mother hates me and now she's doing everything she possibly can to scare me off!" Chase could see Mirta's eyes beginning to water and then a single tear streak down her cheek.

"Hey now there's no need to cry," He said wiping away the tear. "You've had a long day. You're tired let's get some sleep." Chase said gesturing towards the bed.

She was exhausted. Maybe a little sleep was all that she needed. The couple pulled back the covers and crawled into the bed. "Tomorrow will be better." He promised.

Unfortunately it wasn't, and neither was the day after that. When Chase's mom wasn't giving her evil looks, she always had a snarky degrading comment. Mirta had gone for a walk, just to get away from a certain someone… Lydia, and upon her arrival at the house, she was ambushed by a brigade of snowballs courtesy of Miles and Hunter. Other than Chase and Callie, no one even attempted to make her stay at their home comfortable in the least bit. Chase's father Greg however, was at least kind enough to ignore her presence, preferring to pretend he didn't see her at all.

If she weren't thinking of Chase and his feelings, she would have left days ago. Greg ignoring her and Miles and Hunter's childish attempts to get rid of her, she could deal with. However, Lydia's rude insensitive comments were unbearable.

Now it was Christmas Eve and Chase's family was all gathered over his house as was tradition. She had met Chase's great aunt Diane, whom had turned her nose up at her the moment she found out she had attended Cloud Tower and his paternal grandfather who couldn't seem to get her name right, but that could be credited to his old age rather than him being careless.

Mirta sat in the family room on the love seat with Chase, talking with Callie who was sitting on the floor, her legs crossed Indian style.

"So next school year Callie will be going away to school." Lydia said bringing up the subject of conversation to her father-in-law who was sitting in the big over-stuffed armchair.

The old man's face rumpled into a frown. "Isn't it a little early for that?" He asked. "She's only thirteen."

"I'm sixteen grandpa," Callie said as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh yes." He said as he rubbed his chin.

"She'll attend Beta Academy just like her aunt." Aunt Diane said puffing her chest out with pride. She didn't see the look of annoyance that flashed across Callie's face. For the past year her entire family had been putting all types of pressure on her, telling her what the best school was for her to attend.

"She'll attend Andromeda's School for Fairy's on the Elektra Nebula, just like her mom." Lydia said with a smile.

"Oh nonsense Lydia," Aunt Diane said with a wave of her hand. "Beta Academy would be a much better fit for her. With Beta's curriculum, rigorous course work and the outstanding teachers Callie would turn out to be a great fairy."

"Yes, but at Andromeda's she'll learn to better control her powers and Andromeda's graduation rate is very high as opposed to Beta Academy."

Mirta could see an argument brewing. She saw the way Aunt Diane's eyes slanted and the dark glare Lydia gave her in return.

"I've applied to both those schools, but I really want to go to Alfea." Callie said keeping her voice low hoping to ease the tension in the room.

Her grandfather nodded his head in approval. "That's where Missy went correct?" He said pointing over to Mirta.

"Mirta grandpa," Chase said correcting his aging grandfather.

He only waved his hand in dismissal. "Yes, yes that's what I said."

Aunt Diane and Lydia ignored Callie's statement all together. "Beta will be a better fit for Callie. Besides everyone on our side of the family went there, Lydia was the disappointment of the family and decided to go to that treacherous school Andromeda." Aunt Diane said with a sneer.

Everyone knew that Andromeda and Beta were rival schools. According to Chase his mom and his Aunt Diane had this argument almost every time there was a big family gathering.

"At Andromeda Callie can get in on scholarship." Lydia countered.

"Did you not here the girl?" Their grandpa said jumping in an attempt to bring the argument to an end. "She wants to attend Alfea, like Marcy."

This time Callie corrected him, "Mirta grandpa."

"There was once I time when I considered Alfea to be one of the best schools for fairy's however, since they allowed a certain witch admittance as an exchange student, I've lost all respect for the establishment." If looks could kill the glare Lydia sent Mirta's direction should have taken her out.

"I have to agree." Aunt Diane said with a nod of her head. "Not even Beta Academy would allow a witch into their school and a Cloud Tower witch at that."

"No highly esteemed school for fairies would do such a thing." Lydia said; her eyes intently fixed on Mirta.

This was it, the final straw. She had put up with Chase's mother for the entire week. Enough was enough. "I'm not putting up with this anymore." She said standing up from her seat. Before exiting the room she shot a look in Lydia's direction. "You've gone out of your way to make sure I felt very unwelcome in your home and now you've gotten your wish. I'm leaving now." She said as she stormed out of the room, Callie following behind her.

"Now wait just one minute." Their grandpa said standing to his feet. "When were you all going to tell me Shirley was a witch?"

"Mom," Chase stood to his feet, ignoring his grandfather's question, giving his mother the worst look any mother could ever receive from their son. "When we talked on the phone I asked you to be nice to her and just get to know her…"

Lydia merely waved her hand dismissing his words. "I told you Chase, you can do so much better, there has to be a nice fairy out there for you…"

"Mom!" He said raising his voice so that the room fell silent. "I don't want anyone else." His words were filled with emotion. "I love Mirta. We're getting married whether you like it or not and me and her are going to spend this Christmas together."

Lydia was completely taken back by her son's words. "You're supposed to spend Christmas with your family."

"She is my family mom."

"Well then…" Lydia was at a loss for words. She was going to lose her son to a witch, in literal terms.

"Well she really is a nice girl…" Their grandfather said from his armchair.

"Lydia." Chase's father Greg called to his wife. "Listen to the boy."

"Oh I don't even want to hear it Greg." She shot her husband a dirty look. "You haven't exactly been hospitable to the girl either." She reminded him.

Greg nodded his head. "I'll admit I wasn't all too keen on the idea of my son marrying a witch, but if he feels that strongly about her, then I'll just have to set my feelings aside."

Chase didn't know what to say. His father hadn't been too happy to hear about his engagement to Mirta, and since hearing the news he expressed his disappointment openly.

"He's marrying her whether you like it or not." Greg said in a matter-of-fact tone. "I suggest you start getting used to the idea."

Lydia hated to admit that her husband was right. But she hated even more what she was about to do. She had to apologize and make amends. She left the family talking amongst themselves in the living room and made her way to Chase's bedroom. From the hall she could hear Callie trying to calm Mirta to no avail.

"Callie why don't you go pour the sparkling for the toast." Lydia said from the doorway. Callie quickly got up from her place obeying her mother's request. Lydia's eyes did a quick sweep of the room and she saw that Mirta had already begun to pack her clothes.

"I owe you an apology." Lydia began. "I haven't been the best host and I haven't' exactly made you feel welcome. I didn't realize how much you meant to Chase and I haven't really even given you a chance or taken the time to get to know you."

Mirta wasn't exactly sure of what she should say. Quite a few snarky sarcastic comments came to mind, but she was careful to bite her tongue.

"It's Christmas Eve and it'll be Christmas in just a few minutes. Stay and at least do the Christmas toast with us."

Mirta could hardly say no to her request. She wasn't exactly sure what Chase said to her to bring about her change of heart or if she should even take her seriously.

"One minute to midnight." Callie announced to the rest of the family as she passed everyone a glass of sparkling grape juice.

"We can hardly give a proper toast without champagne." Their grandfather said with a frown.

"Remember what the doctor said Grandpa?" Callie said placing her hand on her grandfather's arm. "Does everyone have a glass?"

"Ten seconds." Aunt Diane announced.

Mirta along with the rest of Chase's family began counting down from ten and the moment the clock struck twelve they all turned to Lydia, who was supposed to give the speech.

"Christmas is a time for family." Lydia said as she began to recite her toast. "And I'm glad to say that we have a new addition to the family, Mirta." Lydia said looking into Mirta's eyes. "Any woman that can make my son happy the way that you have is more than welcome into this family."

Mirta was speechless. She couldn't believe her ears. And what really blew her mind was that she knew that Lydia had meant every single word.

"Merry Christmas and welcome to the family.

The next story is probably going to be Helia and Flora. I'm in the middle of taking finals, so I'm not sure when the next update will be.

Review and let me know what you think.